A Review for Death's Daughter (Realm Walker #2) by Kathleen Collins

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: March 31st, 2014
Finished Date: February 10th, 2014

Publishers: Carina Press
Genre: Adult, Paranormal
Source: For Review

Format: eBook
Pages: 176

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

uliana Norris, Realm Walker with the Agency, is an Altered. A fact that she runs up against every time she's forced to work with human police officers, and their species-ist commissioner, on cases they can't solve themselves. Which happens more than they would like to admit.

Her gift—the quality that makes her the best Realm Walker in the business, without boast—is the ability to read magical signatures. Whether the gift came from her father, the dark fae god of death, or the mage mother she can't remember, is anyone's guess. And when Altered children start going missing with only wild magical signatures as clues, her heritage is the last thing on her mind.

She can't afford such distractions, and she definitely can't afford to worry about the fact that her mate, master vampire Thomas Kendrick, hasn't spoken to her since she saved him from a demon—maybe it's because she had to stab him to do so. Because whoever is kidnapping these children must be very powerful to wield wild magic. Very powerful, and very dangerous indeed.

The Review: Death’s Daughter is the brilliant sequel to Realm Walker in the series of the same name and I devoured it!
This time around Walker Julianna Norris is put in charge of a huge case involving the disappearance of ‘Altered’ children. Someone is taking them in broad daylight, from highly populated areas where people should have seen something – but didn’t. Why take the children? What does the perpetrator plan to do with them? When things take a turn for the worse and the bodies start to turn up, the whole team begins to realise that the case is much bigger than any of them ever thought as it becomes a race against time to stop both the abductions & the murders of the innocents.
I loved this book, everything about it and UF is definitely my category of choice when reading a book. I thought Julianna was a great character in the first book and this just cements that. She has everything I love in a character; she’s strong, determined, very capable and kick ass! That would usually harden a character but not with her, she shows a vulnerable & caring side even if she has the tendency to internalise her feelings, it still shines through. She is a machine when investigating, driven & focussed.. so it’s nice to see her getting some sweetness from her mate – Thomas- and I like what their relationship brings to an otherwise harsh plot. I love their connection & chemistry and also how Thomas is still trying to give her independence, battling his alpha instincts to protect his mate and I even love how Julianna becomes unsure of herself when around him…how could she believe he wouldn’t want her?
The storyline was awesome, very gritty, harsh and realistic to the point where it would still have been a great book even without the paranormal element, I could definitely see myself watching this on TV. I love that the author isn’t afraid to give us gruesome & macabre scenes and I really liked how the magic was used in the crimes too. The pacing was spot on and I really felt the urgency, the fear, the panic and desperation as they raced against time to stop more abductions & killings, I couldn’t stop reading, turning the pages wanting to know who was committing these crimes, what was going on, why these kids were being taken and hoping that they would all make it home – it was just brilliant! I’ve said that the main characters are great but to be honest, all of them are and the more that get introduced throughout the story, the more books I want! I love the introduction of the Wardens to the series and their personalities really shone through so I would love more from them, possibly their own stories. The people & setting of this world definitely hold my interest, I love the diversity of the magic users and how they use their power & work with the people around them, not always in harmony but always interesting…. We’ve had a demon riding people in book one, a child snatcher/murderer in book two and I seriously cannot wait for book three….what can we possibly get next? 

A Review for Oracle of Philadelphia (Earthbound Angels #1) by Elizabeth Corrigan

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: February 22nd, 2014

Finished Date: 7th March, 2014
Publishers: Red Adept Publishing
Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal
Source: For Review

Format: eBook
Pages: 222

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Carrie works at a diner in South Philadelphia, dispensing advice to humans and angels wise enough to seek her counsel. But there are some problems that even the best advice can’t solve.

Her latest supplicant, Sebastian, is unique among those who have sought her aid. He sold his soul to a demon in exchange for his sister’s life, but his heart remains pure.

Carrie has lived for millennia with the knowledge that her immortality is due to the suffering of others, and she cannot bear to see another good man damned when it is within her power to prevent it.

In order to renegotiate his contract, Carrie must travel into the depths of hell and parley with the demons that control its pathways. As the cost of her journey rises, Carrie must determine how much she is willing to sacrifice to save one good soul.

The review: 2.5 Flowers!

I really dislike having to write less than favourable reviews but this book was just ok for me and I can’t fault the writing or anything because it all just comes down to my personal preference.
The first 40% really dragged for me and I had to force myself to read it. A major problem for me was that during that 40% we keep flitting off to the past, meeting people, finding out about a few things but we weren’t spending enough time in the present to engage me in what was going to happen, just what was past and even though I totally get why we needed to hear these stories of the past, I feel that they could have been better placed so that something current could grip me. It’s really hard for me to explain but that made the book feel off to me. That being said, I did enjoy a good few things about the book as well and as I mentioned, it was well written. I liked the idea behind the book, the reason for Carrie’s immortality is a puzzle that isn’t really answered until the very end and it’s very surprising but good! The book is very much tied to Christianity through Angels & Demons but isn’t afraid to bend the truth of some of the most famous biblical stories and actually injected some humour into them. I liked how many of the fallen angels are Arch-Demons and own their own place in Hell, free to tempt humans into giving up their souls. I really liked the visits to Hell and what came with them, it was a great way to become acquainted with the Arch-Demons and get a feel for each of them and also showing us what Carrie is capable of, it had a quest feel to it and I liked that a lot. I really liked the character Bedlam/Azazel, he was so fun loving and had a great sense of humour – I often found myself smiling when he was off on one of his explanations of disasters he had caused, I enjoyed him better than Carrie to be honest and I was really interested in his & Keziel’s love for each other. I did like Carrie but I wanted her personality to shine through and whilst she did have some nice qualities, she was overshadowed by the personality of Bedlam. As I said this was an OK read for me, the pacing & content at the beginning totally spoiled the feel of the book for me which was a shame because it did get better and I did get more interested and involved but not sure whether I would read a sequel. 

Thank you to Elizabeth Corrigan for the opportunity to review this book, in exchange for an honest review. 

Book Blitz for Upside Down by Lia Riley; Q&A + US/CAN Giveaway

Upside Down (Off the Map #1) 
by Lia Riley 
Release Date: August 5th, 2014

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Buy: Amazon US / B&N

If You Never Get Lost, You’ll Never Be Found

Twenty-one-year-old Natalia Stolfi is saying goodbye to painful memories—and turning her life upside down with a trip to the land down under. For the next six months, she’ll pretend to be a carefree exchange student. Everything is going to plan until she meets a surly surfer with hypnotic green eyes, and the troubling ability to see straight through her act.

Bran Lockhart is having the worst year on record. After the girl of his dreams turned into a nightmare, he slunk back to Melbourne to piece his life together. Yet no amount of disappointment could blind him to the pretty California girl who gets past all his defenses. He’s never wanted anyone the way he wants Talia. A single semester abroad won’t  cover something this serious. But when Bran gets a stark reminder of why he stopped believing in love, he and Talia must decide if what they have is once-in-a-lifetime . . . or if there’s a plane to California with her name on it.

Five Fast Facts about Lia Riley, author of UPSIDE DOWN (Off the Map #1)

1. UPSIDE DOWN is set primarily in Australia. What do you think it is about Australia that so captivates people’s imaginations? And why is Australia the perfect place for romance?

I jumped on a Qantas flight the month before my twenty-first birthday for a study-abroad trip. My expectations were simple: cross the equator, pass the International Date Line and rock out (er, study REALLY HARD) for six months. Instead, I discovered a place that has become my second home.

First and foremost, I love Australians. I mean that quite literally. I married one--the perfect souvenir! Generally speaking, Australians excel at dry wit and have one heck of an anti-authoritarian streak. To me, nothing is sexier than a sense of humor, and when the guy making the jokes has a hot accent and cheeky grin?  Life=made!

Secondly, to say that Australia’s landscape is dramatic is an epic understatement. The continent’s isolation has spawned animal, plant and human diversity that are like nowhere else on the planet. Even a quick jaunt into the wilderness yields a bone-deep sense that you are in an ancient place.

This is a country of extremes. When it’s hot, it’s bloody hot. When animals are poisonous, it means they can kill you with one bite. When there’s a storm rolling in from the Southern Ocean? Those waves are going to be huge. 

So if you fall in love in such a place? Buckle up--the ride’s going to be intense.

2. What are three words describe your hero? Heroine?

The three words I’d choose for Bran are:

• Temperamental

• Perceptive

• Magnetic

The three words I’d choose for Talia are:

• Sensitive

• Playful

• Self-deprecating

3. Can you describe your book in five words or less? 

Offbeat. Witty. Wanderlust. Heart-searching. Chemistry.

4. What did you do before writing?

Drink less! I kid, I kid. But if you ever want to see a KICKASS Michael Jackson lip-synch, slip me a bottle of tequila. I can "Man in the Mirror" you to tears. I have worked in non-profit middle management, as a legislative assistant, and barista. I'm pretty sure my mom believes I still "pour coffee." 

5. What’s your dream travel destination?

I have a massive Antarctica fetish (I’ve been once. A penguin sat on my lap. Yes, it was bliss). My ultimate trip would be to South Georgia Island smack dab in the Southern Ocean. I’d also love to visit Madagascar, Iceland, Svalbard, Palau…islands are sort of my thing.

AUTHOR BIO

Lia Riley writes offbeat New Adult Romance. After studying at the University of Montana-Missoula, she scoured the world armed only with a backpack, overconfidence and a terrible sense of direction. She counts shooting vodka with a Ukranian mechanic in Antarctica, sipping yerba mate with gauchos in Chile and swilling fourex with stationhands in Outback Australia among her accomplishments.

A British literature fanatic at heart, Lia considers Mr. Darcy and Edward Rochester as her fictional boyfriends. Her very patient husband doesn't mind. Much. When not torturing heroes (because c'mon, who doesn't love a good tortured hero?), Lia herds unruly chickens, camps, beach combs, daydreams about as-of-yet unwritten books, wades through a mile-high TBR pile and schemes yet another trip. Right now, Icelandic hot springs and Scottish castles sound mighty fine.

She and her family live mostly in Northern California.
Web: www.liariley.com
Twitter: @liarileywrites
FB: https://www.facebook.com/authorliariley
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/liariley
Tumblr: http://liarileywrites.tumblr.com

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A Review for Clipped Wings (Clipped Wings #1) by Helena Hunting

Posted by Donna
Release Date: March 13th, 2014
Finished Date: March 19th, 2014

Publishers: Orion Books
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review

Format: Paperback
Pages: 391

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

The passionate and addictive love story of two young people haunted by their dark pasts. 

Hayden Stryker is a devastatingly handsome tattoo artist. Covered in ink and steel, his artwork acts as armour while he attempts to move on from a world-shattering loss.

Twenty-one-year-old Tenley Page is new to town and battling demons of her own. The chemistry between the two is instant and unlike anything they've ever experienced before.

When Hayden agrees to apply his art to Tenley's skin, the pair embark on an emotional and intense relationship that neither could have anticipated. But as Tenley's past threatens to destroy their fragile romance, Hayden must find a balance between his desire to protect her and his need to claim her as his.

For fans of J. A. Redmerski, Jamie McGuire and Fifty Shades.

The Review: Passionate, raw and completely gut wrenching, Clipped Wings tells a tale of two broken people coming together in an emotional and intense way.

Hayden Stryker, co-owner of Ink Armour tattoo parlour has had his life back on track  since his addiction to drugs and sex, thanks to good friends around him. Even though he has all that, he still can’t shake the feelings of being lonely. It’s not until the new girl in town starts working in his aunts bookstore does he finally find someone that grabs his attention, and he just has to get to know her.

Tenley Page is hiding a lot of scars. She lost all her family in a horrific accident that she can’t help but blame herself for. She’s made herself believe she doesn’t deserve anyone and that she deserves what she’s been dealt. But when Hayden Stryker does his best to get to know her, she finally sees a way that she can heal. She wants Hayden to tattoo her – one where she will relish in the pain. But with big tattoo like the one Tenley wants, it comes with emotional baggage she’s may not be prepared for, but it also brings her and Hayden together. Can Tenley overcome all her fears and open up to Hayden, or will she allow her past to destroy her future?

I’ve noticed lately that a lot of fan fiction stories are being published, and of course, I want to see what all the hype is about. I’m becoming to realize that some of the best stories have originally come from fan fiction, and Clipped Wings definitely fits into that category.

Told in dual points of view, we see the impact of the two characters that have lost so much in their lives, trying to move on. But Tenley and Hayden’s story isn’t as easy to fix as it would seem.  It’s beautiful the way these two come together, but while Hayden – from my opinion – is happy to try to overcome his issues, Tenley doesn’t find it that easy. She struggles and can only find real comfort while in Hayden’s presence. You would think she recognizes how Hayden makes her feels better, but she’s still hell bent on punishing herself. She does progress throughout the story, but unfortunately there isn’t a happy ending for Tenley just yet.  I loved both of the main characters, even with their issues, it’s impossible not to. The connection they have is beautiful and heart-breaking, and I loved how slowly everything developed between them. It added to the suspense and insensitivity of the story, so when it finally did happen, I was completely invested in these two together.

In all, Helena Hunting has written a great story. It’s one that’s captured my heart and I can’t stop thinking about what’s to come next. Luckily we don’t have to wait too long, as the sequel; Inked Armour is due to be released at the start of May, and I’m already counting down the days.

Favourite Quotes: "Everyone has scars, Tenley. If we're lucky they're only on the outside."

Thank you to Orion Books for the opportunity to review this book, in exchange for an honest review. 

A Review for Sex and the Single Vamp by Robin Covington

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: March 24th, 2014
Finished Date: March 17th, 2014

Publishers: Entangled: Covet
Genre: Adult, Paranormal
Source: For Review

Format: eARC
Pages: 200

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US

Cici Trent, vampire and media darling, spends her days finding true love for humans and supernaturals (the "Others") at her dating agency. But someone is trying to sabotage her business and she needs help. Unfortunately, the best man for the job is the one who broke her still-beating heart two hundred fifty-four years ago.


Deacon is a patient vampire. He’s only loved one woman in over three hundred years— CiCi— and she chose another. So when she shows up in his office asking for help, he finally has the chance to lay that demon to rest. He’ll help her, but for a price—a night in his bed.


Adrenaline, mischief, and a little late-night B&E light the passion that even a couple of lifetimes couldn’t put out. But Deacon has a secret and when Cici is suddenly mortal, his deception might be the only way restore her immortality. Can love bridge the gap between a heartbeat and forever?

The Review: Sex and the Single Vamp is book candy to me, definitely my kind of book as it hits just about everything I like in a story.
We have an alpha male vampire – Deacon – who runs a security firm and has been a cop aswell as working for the government during the wars…. We meet up with him in current times when Felicity ‘CiCi’ Trent -owner of a dating agency for supernatural and human connections - turns to him for help because someone is killing her clients, putting her in the frame for it. It takes a lot for her to turn to Deacon because he broke her heart 239yrs ago but he is the best and that’s exactly what she needs. Deacon on the other hand accepts CiCi’s case – even though she betrayed him and chose another man – on the understanding that while he investigates and until the case is settled…..she doesn’t pay him money, she will pay with her body and they will both finally get a chance to put their demons to rest and move on…. But when the unthinkable happens, they are both forced to look through each others eyes and challenge everything they once believed.
This was a really good story and I was sucked straight into it. I love when we get a couple who have history together that didn’t end well and reunite later to find out that everything was not as it seemed. I loved the history between these two, even though they had met throughout centuries, they had never managed to air their issues, therefore never being able to move on and both holding on to the flame of their love. Whilst Cici became an advocate for true love and believed in soul mates, Deacon did not and was very vocal about. Cici was blatant in the media about her beliefs and Deacon counteracted that by vocalising his opinions leading them to have a sort of love/hate thing going on…. Personally, I love this type of relationship, I like to see them work through their drama and begin to open up, so I was not disappointed here. I really liked their chemistry, you could feel it, they had some really hot moments that added just the right amount of spice to the book. I liked the storyline, you can see that this has the potential to become a series because we are introduced to not only vampires, fey, weres & witches but also a threat in the form of a hate group that has been around as long as there has been supernaturals and with the events that happen in this book, it reintroduces that group into the world again. I did like the threat, its history is touched upon in this relating to our two main characters but you know there are more out there and there will be a lot more people that have been affected by them in the past, so they do hold a promise to cause more trouble even if it did feel like an introduction to them in this. I always like a good whodunit and it will keep you waiting right up until the last couple of chapters to find the culprit but I think the focus of this book for me was the relationship, I loved it, I loved the bickering, I loved the secrets, I loved the smexy times and I loved how this brought out not only Deacon’s protective side but his belief in love and his realisation that Cici was his everything and gave me a good old HEA fix that I adore – it was simply a great read!

Waiting on Wednesday (#78)

 

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Jess's WoW

On The Fence 
by Kasie West
Release Date: July 1st, 2014


She's a tomboy. He's the boy next door…

Charlie Reynolds can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at a chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world. To cope with the stress of her new reality, Charlie takes to spending nights chatting with her neighbor Braden through the fence between their yards. As she grows to depend on their nightly Fence Chats, she realizes she's got a bigger problem than speeding tickets-she's falling for Braden. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

Fun, original, and endearing, On the Fence is a romantic comedy about finding yourself and finding love where you least expect.

Jess's thoughts: I love books like this. I think this will be a little like "My Life Next Door" which I also loved, I really can't wait to read this. I think it's going to be a good summer read :) 

Donna's WoW

 Tease (The Ivy Chronicles #2)
by Sophie Jordan 
Release Date: May 27th, 2014

A young college woman gets schooled in life, sex, and love in New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan's sizzling New Adult romance series--where three Ivy League suite-mates testing their boundaries as they seek higher knowledge of just how far they can go.

A born flirt and good-time party girl, Emerson has never had a problem finding a willing guy. She's always chosen her hook-ups carefully, and she's never broken her three cardinal rules:

Never let them see the real you.

Never fall in love.

Always leave them begging for more.

Then comes Shaw. A hotty from the wrong side of the tracks, he's immune to her flirtatious banter and come-hither smile. After rescuing her from a disastrous night at a biker bar, he doesn't even try to take her to bed--he calls her a tease and sends her home instead. Unable to resist a challenge, or forget the sexy dark-eyed bad-boy biker, she vows to bring him to his knees.

But instead of making Shaw beg, she finds herself craving him. For the first time in her life, she's throwing out her rulebook. Suddenly, she's the one panting for a guy she can't control. A guy who won't settle for anything less than the real Emerson, who forces her to do things she's never imagined, including facing a past she thought she'd buried.

A guy who just might leave her wanting more . . 

Donna's thoughts: I really enjoy Sophie Jordan's work, so I'm really looking forward to another novel from her.

<What's your "waiting on" pick this week?

Want to participate? 
Grab the logo, post your own WoW entry on your blog, and leave your link at Breaking the Spine. 

Happy Reading!

Blog Tour for 16 Things I Thought Were True by Janet Gurtler; Review + Guest Post

Posted by Donna
Release Date: March 4th, 2013
Finished Date: March 5th, 2014

Publishers: Sourcefire books
Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: For Review

Format: eARC
Pages: 304

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

Heart attacks happen to other people #thingsIthoughtweretrue

When Morgan's mom gets sick, it's hard not to panic. Without her mother, she would have no one—until she finds out the dad who walked out on her as a baby isn't as far away as she thought...

Adam is a stuck-up, uptight jerk #thingsIthoughtweretrue

Now that they have a summer job together, Morgan's getting to know the real Adam, and he's actually pretty sweet...in a nerdy-hot kind of way. He even offers to go with her to find her dad. Road trip, anyone?

5000 Twitter followers are all the friends I need #thingsIthoughtweretrue

With Adam in the back seat, a hyper chatterbox named Amy behind the wheel, and plenty of Cheetos to fuel their trip, Morgan feels ready for anything. She's not expecting a flat tire, a missed ferry, a fake girlfriend...and that these two people she barely knew before the summer started will become the people she can't imagine living without.

The Review: 16 Things I Thought Were True is another charming read by Janet Gurtler that is highly relatable!

Morgan is a sixteen year old girl who is completely obsessed with Twitter. She lives her life through Twitter, updated her status every five minutes and feels like the only friends she has are through the internet. Especially since her ex-best friend posted a video of her on line for the world to see. Since then, Morgan keeps to herself and tries to hide away from what everyone thinks about her. It’s not until Morgan’s mother is rushed to hospital that she finally accepts some help from her moody boss; Adam, when she needs a ride to the hospital. It’s then that Morgan’s mother finally tells her some information about her father – the guy who has had nothing to do with Morgan since she was born. Feeling like she needs to reach out to her him, Morgan finds herself in a car, on a road trip with two of the most unlikely people she ever thought she’d befriend, but she’s finding there are many surprises along the way!

I’ve only ever read on another book by Janet Gurtler – Who I Kissed – which I really enjoyed. Now she’s back with 16 Things I Thought Were True and I finished knowing that I really need to read some more of Janet’s other work, because each time I finish her book, her work leaves a very good impression on me. 16 Things I Thought Were Tue definitely has a little bit of everything, a good plot that was emotional and fun, many twists that keeps you guessing, great characters and great secondary characters, and a romance that is sweet and very tender.

Morgan was a likable and relatable character. Her obsessiveness over Twitter and Chap Stick made her an even more real character. People, even me, can really relate to things like that. Me, I’m addicted to lip balm. See, she’s relatable. I loved that. Not only that but she’s fun, especially when she having fun. And Adam, he was such a sweet guy. He’s what every girl’s needs, someone strong, loyal, kind and loving. Another character that stood out what Amy. I loved how she couldn't control the things popping out of her mouth and that she was there to support Morgan, when they had only just become friends. I though Amy's secret was very well done and definitely turned up the emotional feelings towards the end. I loved Amy, but more importantly, I really loved it when Morgan, Adam and Amy were all together. It was so much fun.

Overall, #16thingsithoughtweretrue is a great summer read. Mark it on your TBR lists guys! Enjoy!

Favourite Quote: "You make me want to be a better person," he says softly. "To deserve you. I want you to know how right you feel to me."

How did you come up with the idea behind 16 Things I Thought Were True? 

Sixteen Things evolved from an idea about a girl who is hiding from the world via social media while ironically being “overexposed” (by a viral video) by the Internet.  To me it’s about a girl discovering who she is and she goes about it in ways that are so different than when I grew up.  I find it interesting.  I would have LOVED social media as a shy teen. I know I would have been very addicted to it.

It’s pretty easy to hide behind a keyboard in today’s world. I know I’m guilty of  social media addiction sometimes. I imagine it would be easy for many teens to get caught up in that world as well.  I know, having a teen of my own that phones are the most important thing a teenager owns. It’s kind of scary really.  I can’t imagine what life is going to be like for the kids of today’s teenagers when I think about how much things have changed in my lifetime.

Anyhow, at the risk of sounding like an old codger, I think that this book was inspired by the social media world. And finding yourself.

AUTHOR BIO

Janet lives near the Canadian Rockies with her husband and son and a little dog named Bruce. She does not live in an Igloo or play hockey, but she does love maple syrup and says “eh” a lot. 

Website: http://janetgurtler.blogspot.com/

European Divergent Premiere - WIN!

Experience the world of the hotly anticipated DIVERGENT movie in Leicester Square and attend the EUROPEAN PREMIERE!

On Saturday March 29th and Sunday March 30th Leicester Square will be transformed into the dystopian world of DIVERGENT, where fans will be invited to undergo initiation tests and, like Tris Prior, choose where they belong. Would you survive in Dauntless? Fans will be put through their paces with Dauntless training to see if you are brave enough to join their faction!

But that’s not all – we have 1 pair of tickets for the European premiere of DIVERGENT at Odeon Leicester Square on the Sunday at 1.30pm, attended by stars of the film Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet! So not only can you discover the world for yourself, you can walk the red carpet, mingle with the stars and watch the film before it’s released in the UK!

Enter below for your chance to win this once in a lifetime experience! If you aren’t lucky this time, you are still in with a chance - get down to Leicester Square early as we will also be giving out a limited number of premiere tickets to fans on both days!

The Divergent Fan Experience Timings

Saturday March 29th 

11.00am – 6.00pm

Sunday March 30th

11.00am – 12.00pm

3.00pm – 6.00pm

Premiere timings 

Sunday March 30th 

Doors open – 1.30pm

Doors close – 2.30pm

Film starts 3.00pm

DIVERGENT is released April 4th 

FB handle: DivergentUK

Twitter: @Divergentmovie

#Divergent

Only people over the age of 16 can enter!

 

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Showcase Sunday (#47)

Showcase Sunday is a new weekly meme hosted by Vicky @ Books Biscuits and Tea. We will now be taking part in Showcase Sunday instead of In My Mailbox. If you'd like to join see HERE for more details.

For Review:

* Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting

* That Touch of Magic by Lucy March

* Love, Lies and Lemon Pies by Sarah Cannon

* True Fire by Gary Meehan

Bought/Gifted:

* The Shadow Reader by Sandy Williams

* Gravity by Melissa West

* Primal Law by J.D. Tyler

eBooks for Review: 

 

* The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

* Cupcakes and Ink by Helena Hunting

eBooks Bought:

 

* Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout 

* One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy

Thank you to Quercus, Stripe Publishing, Orion, Pitakus, Harlequin Teen, Galley Books and Natalie!

 

A Review for Frozen Desires (Asylums for Magical Threats #2) by Jessie Donovan

Posted by Melanie
Release Date: February 24th, 2014
Finished Date: February 27th, 2014

Publishers: Self Published
Genre: Paranormal, Adult
Source: For Review

Format: eBook
Pages: Unknown

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US 

Camilla Melini is a high-ranking soldier with an organization fighting to free elemental magic users. Her latest assignment is to find one of the legendary elemental Four Talents, and she’s determined to get in and out of Mexico as quickly as possible to avoid running into the man who nearly destroyed her life. But when the dangerous man from her past finds her, Cam must work with Marco Alvarez, a man she’d dismissed as a playboy, to prevent the powerful magic of the Talents from falling into the wrong hands. She never expected the charming playboy to be a cunning warrior worthy of her heart...

Marco Alvarez is sent to Mexico with two goals—to watch Cam’s back and to investigate a series of arson fires targeting former AMT prison employees. But when a shadow-shifter shows up looking for Cam, Marco decides he needs to stick close to her to help her mission succeed. As he gets to know the strong-willed woman, he’s torn between telling her the truth of his elemental magic and keeping the others who share his secret safe. But when Cam sacrifices herself to save her colleagues, Marco must expose the secret of his elemental magic or risk losing the only woman who can match both his passion and his strength.

The Review: 4.5 flowers! 

Frozen Desires was a great read, equally as good as Blaze of Secrets (book 1) and equally as HOT!!

We had already met our two main characters in book one and I had been looking forward to this story because I just knew we were in for a clash of wills. Camilla Melini is a soldier through and through, she is all about the job, all about duty and all about being in control so when Marco Alvarez turns up on her latest mission, she makes it clear who is calling the shots and that she doesn’t trust this ‘man wh*re’ one little bit. It pains her to realise that she is in danger and he is the back up she needs but she isn’t ready to trust easily and sets him some tasks to show his usefulness and he does - much to her dismay – and he also shows that there is more to him than meets the eye. I thought the pairing of Cam & Marco was great!, they had great chemistry and you could even feel it in book one, so that carried over really well in this book….we have two Alpha personalities, dominant in both their jobs and in the bedroom making you wonder who will cede. I loved the emergence of Marco’s dominant side and that Cam was willing to let a little control go in certain situations, they were so hot together and complimented each other, bringing out the best in themselves again, both in the bedroom and out, some scenes are so hot between our lovebirds and I really liked the control play they had going on. Marco really showed a different side to what we ‘assumed’ he was and I liked getting that insight. They had an awesome witty banter going on between them too & I liked how they were both hiding behind a mask until their feelings crept upon them and then their softer sides emerged which made me like them all the more.
The storyline was great, the continuation from book one was really good and I love the elemental magic in these books and how it is wielded, I especially liked Marco’s magic and what he was hiding, his skills brought about some amazing scenes that begged to be seen, not just read about. We had learned in book one about four exceptional elementals known as the ‘Talents’ and we knew that Cam had been put on this mission to find the other three and I thought this was a great direction for the series because the mission was really good, I liked what is was about, how they had to go about collecting clues, etc. it gave it more of a scavenger hunt type of feel and that along with the setting gave it a great atmosphere. I appreciated getting the other characters inputs as things were going on elsewhere too, keeping us in the loop about what is going on in the world of AMT aswell as DEFEND.  I liked that Cam had an extra threat aside from her mission that brings a new threat to life which seems to be just as sinister as AMT, which also brings about more questions about her past and about what the new threat wants and where they came from. I love that these stories show strong, capable women - I’m not just talking about Cam - and that these women do not ‘need’ these men to complete them, they have them to compliment what and who they are, showing a softer side to not just the women but the men too. This book had lots going on, it was exciting, dangerous and passionate… the fight for the ‘First Borns’ freedom’ is stepped up with unexpected people emerging into the situation but for every question solved, there are  more brought to my attention, and with the introduction of new characters, new threats and new discoveries…. I can’t wait for the next book. 

A Review for Façade (Games #2) by Nyrae Dawn

Posted by Donna
Release Date: September 23rd, 2013
Finished Date: March 8th, 2014

Publishers: Headline Eternal
Genre: New Adult
Source: For Review

Format: Paperback
Pages: 320

Buy: Amazon UK / Amazon US / The Book Depo

No one knows who twenty-one year-old Adrian Westfall is behind his façade. After what he's done, he deserves to live alone with his pain, even if he'd do anything to forget. Anything for a moment of quiet without his past haunting him.

Eighteen year-old Delaney Cross wants nothing more than to absolve her family from her father's sins. To keep her suicidal mom off that ledge, and help her brother Maddox get the light back in his eyes. She thinks their road to freedom is through Adrian.

Adrian and Delaney are bound together by tragedy... Only Adrian doesn't know it. As their lives intertwine, they find a solace in each other they never knew existed. Laney knows she needs to tell him-to come out from behind her smoke screen, but to say the words could mean losing him.

Two people. Two disguises. True love. Will it be enough to save them when all secrets are bared?

The Review: Powerful, emotional, beautiful, ugly, raw and intense, Façade is a story that was impossible not to love. 

Delaney’s father makes a fatal mistake that leaves two families shattered. Told from both Delaney and Adrian’s points of view, we see the aftermath of the mistake made and how it affects both their families. Feeling like she needs to redeem her father’s actions, Delaney sets out to try and makes things right, and that means trying to make things better for Adrian Westfall; a guy that she can’t help be attracted too, even though she’s suffering just as much. 

Living a lie and always trying to run from his feelings, Adrian has put himself in a horrible routine that he can’t escape. It’s not until Delaney enters his life that he finally feels a connection to the world. Unbeknownst to Adrian, he and Delaney have a lot more in common then he realises. Can two people rocked by the same tragedy find love and heal together? 

At the start of 2013, I was introduced to Nyrae Dawn with her book Charade. Now it’s 2014 and Façade was everything I wanted it to be and gosh, I loved it. I think it was because it such a moving story that touches on a difficult subject – more so than Charade ever was – and because of this, it’s a more memorable story. 

Delaney and Adrian’s lives were far from easy, both struggling with their own demons and could never find the end of it. When they enter each other’s lives, it’s like they finally had some release, like they could finally breathe and see the end they both desperately needed. Their story was passionate, and even though the way they came together was possibly a little wrong, in the end, the outcome was beautiful. I really loved both Delaney and Adrian – flaws and all – their characters were so mesmerizing from start to finish of the book.  It was a pleasure to read their story.

One thing I love about standalone books that are a part of a series is that we get to catch up with previous characters, like Colt and Chey. It’s so good to see they are doing well and I really enjoyed how much involvement they had in Delaney’s and Adrian’s story too. It definitely got me excited to get Maddox; Delaney’s brother’s story. I can’t wait to crack open his head and find out his secrets! 

In all, Façade was a fantastic read! 

Favourite Quote: “You reminded me what it feels like to love. You made me fall in love and, f**k, I don't want to lose that. I don't want to lose you.” 

Thank you to Headline Eternal for the opportunity to review this book, in exchange for an honest review.