A Review for Bloodfever (Fever #2) by Karen Marie Moning

Posted by Donna
Published Date: October 13th, 2011 (First Published October 4th, 2007)
Finished Date: October 25th, 2011
Publishers: Gollancz
Source: For Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
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The Blurb from Goodreads: I used to think my sister and I were just two nice southern girls who'd get married in a few years and settle down to a quiet life. Then I discovered that Alina and I descend, not from good wholesome southern stock, but from an ancient Celtic bloodline of powerful sidhe-seers, people who can see the Fae. Not only can I see the terrifying otherworldly race, but I can sense the sacred Fae relics that hold the deadliest of their magic. When my sister was found dead in a trash-filled alley in Dublin, I came over to get answers. Now all I want is revenge. And after everything I've learned about myself, I know I have the power to get it.... MacKayla Lane's ordinary life underwent a complete makeover when she landed on Ireland's shores and was plunged into a world of deadly sorcery and ancient secrets. In her fight to stay alive, Mac must find the Sinsar Dubh-a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over both the worlds of the Fae and of Man. Pursued by Fae assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she cannot trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and irresistible men: V'lane, the insatiable Fae who can turn sensual arousal into an obsession for any woman, and the ever-inscrutable Jericho Barrons, a man as alluring as he is mysterious. For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them....

The Review: 3.5 out of 5: After reading Darkfever I went ahead and started Bloodfever straightaway and boy, am I glad I did. This series is slowly getting better and I can’t wait to see what’s next.

Bloodfever starts with Mac and Barron’s still trying to locate the Sinsar Dubh – a million year old book that every Fae member is trying to get a hold of. With dangerous Fae assassins lurking around every corner Mac is sure in for a bumpy ride. But worse of all, she still doesn’t know who to trust. Torn between V’lane; a sex by death Fae or Barron’s; a man full of mystery that keeps all his secrets to himself, Mac realises that the walls between Fae and Earth are coming down and she’s the only thing that can stop it all…..

Bloodfever was a good sequel to Darkfever and I found myself truly enjoying the world Karen Moning has created. This time I felt the story is slowly coming together and getting better with every page I turned.  Although I am still as frustrated as ever that there isn’t any romance in the book. As you can see I’m an impatient person so waiting for something to happen between Mac and Barron’s is slowly killing me. Nonetheless, I’m very excited to get to that point and hoping it will be worth the wait.

I felt Mac as a character was a lot stronger this time around. The troubles she goes through really bring out her strong points and even in moments of weakness, you can see that she’s braver, tougher and even more determined. I loved this Mac and again, I’m glad she fighting hard to keep her girlie there too. Barron’s….I don’t really feel like he developed at all as a character during this book but you still can’t help love him.

The storyline itself was even more dangerous than the first with exciting twists and turns through out. You honestly can’t predict anything because you are so in the dark about what is actually going on until it happens. It’s safe to say this book is just as mysterious as the first and I can’t wait to start Faefever.

Thank you to Gollancz for giving me the opportunity to review this book. 

My Book Boyfriend (#20): Alex Sheaths

My Book Boyfriend is a weekly meme, hosted by Missie at The Unread Reader. What is My Book Boyfriend you might ask.  Well it is a weekly meme where we talk about a literary crush including stats, a picture of what you imagine he looks like and some quotes from him that make you swoon.  If you are interested in participating please check out the My Book Boyfriend Introduction Page over at Missie's blog The Unread Reader.

So this week I wanted to introduce (if you don't know him already), Alex Sheaths of Delirium by Lauren Oliver

Status: Is an 'uncured' from The Wilds. Listens to Lena when she speaks, likes to read forbidden poetry. And is an amazing kisser...

Age: 19

Hair: Golden Brown
Eyes: Amber

Love Interest: Lena Haloway

Description: His hair is golden brown, like leaves in autumn just as they're turning, and he has bright amber eyes.

"Why do you care?" I say, barely a whisper.

"I told you" he whispers back. I can feel his breath just tickling skin space behind my ear, making the hair prick up on my neck. "I like you."

"You don't know me" I say quickly.

"I want to though"

"You want to hear a different one?" He doesn't wait for me to answer before beginning to recite, "'How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.'"

There's that word again: love. My heart stops when he says it, then stutters into a frantic rhythm.

"I love thee to the deph and breadth and height my soul can reach..."

I know he's only speaking someone else's words, but they seem to come from him anyway. His eyes are dancing with light; in each of them I see a bright point of candlelight reflected.

He takes a step forward and kisses my forehead softly. "I love thee to the level of every day's most quiet need...'"

"Alex-" I start to say, but the word gets tangled in my throat.

He kisses each cheekbone- a delicious, skimming kiss, barely grazing my skin. "I love thee freely..."

"Alex," I say, a little louder. My heart is beating so fast I'm afraid it will burst from my ribs."

"Alex?" "Yeah?" "Tell me that poem
again." My voice doesn't sound like my own; my words seem to come from a
distance. "Which one?" Alex whispers. "The one you know by
heart." Drifting; I'm drifting. "I know a lot of them by heart."
"Any one, then." He takes a deep breath and begins: "'I carry
your heart with me. I carry it in my heart. I am never without it...'"

"The moonlight just touches his shoulder blades so they glow slightly, like wing tips, like pictures of angels I've seen in textbooks. He's thin but muscular too: When he moves I can make out the lines of his arms and chest, so strangely, incredibly, beautifully different from a girl's, a body that makes me think of running and being outside, of warmth and sweating."

Alright well, there you go. Alex is a total s*x pot lol. I love him. Lauren Oliver created one of those boys that makes your heart go all a flutter and you don't stop thinking about him. Actor Shiloh Fernandez is my Alex this week, he's just perfect, and such a s*x pot in his own right.

If you'd like a piece of Alex you can catch him in Delirium by Lauren Oliver. 

I hope you enjoyed this weeks, it's been a while but I'm back lol!

Waiting on Wednesday (#3)

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

So we're going to start featuring two books from our "can't-wait-to-read" selection each week. 
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Jess's Waiting on Wednesday:

Clockwork Prince (The Infernal Device #2)
by Cassandra Clare
Release date: December 6th, 2011

In the magical underworld of Victorian London, Tessa Gray has at last found safety with the Shadowhunters. But that safety proves fleeting when rogue forces in the Clave plot to see her protector, Charlotte, replaced as head of the Institute. If Charlotte loses her position, Tessa will be out on the street and easy prey for the mysterious Magister, who wants to use Tessa's powers for his own dark ends.

With the help of the handsome, self-destructive Will and the fiercely devoted Jem, Tessa discovers that the Magister's war on the Shadowhunters is deeply personal. He blames them for a long-ago tragedy that shattered his life. To unravel the secrets of the past, the trio journeys from mist-shrouded Yorkshire to a manor house that holds untold horrors, from the slums of London to an enchanted ballroom where Tessa discovers that the truth of her parentage is more sinister than she had imagined. When they encounter a clockwork demon bearing a warning for Will, they realize that the Magister himself knows their every move and that one of their own has betrayed them.

Tessa finds her heart drawn more and more to Jem, though her longing for Will, despite his dark moods, continues to unsettle her. But something is changing in Will; the wall he has built around himself is crumbling. Could finding the Magister free Will from his secrets and give Tessa the answers about who she is and what she was born to do?

As their dangerous search for the Magister and the truth leads the friends into peril, Tessa learns that when love and lies are mixed, they can corrupt even the purest heart.

Jess says: I'm so UBER excited about this! I love Clockwork Angel, and this cover is absolutely gorgeous, and I'm glad that Jem has some cover time :) so excited to get back into this trilogy, even if December is a couple of months away, it's on my Christmas list to myself this year.

Donna's Waiting on Wednesday<

The Space Between

by Brenna Yovanoff

 Release date: November 15^th, 2011

Everything is made of steel, even the flowers. How can you love anything in a place like this?

Daphne is the half-demon, half-fallen angel daughter of Lucifer and Lilith. Life for her is an endless expanse of time, until her brother Obie is kidnapped-and Daphne realizes she may be partially responsible. Determined to find him, Daphne travels from her home in Pandemonium to the vast streets of Earth, where everything is colder and more terrifying. With the help of the human boy she believes was the last person to see her brother alive, Daphne glimpses into his dreams, discovering clues to Obie's whereabouts. As she delves deeper into her demonic powers, she must navigate the jealousies and alliances of the violent archangels who stand in her way. But she also discovers, unexpectedly, what it means to love and be human in a world where human is the hardest thing to be.

This second novel by rising star Brenna Yovanoff is a story of identity, discovery, and a troubled love between two people struggling to find their place both in our world and theirs.

Donna says:  I love this cover! It's so gorgeous and of course, I can't wait to read the book. I've got it on pre-order with the girls from UK Swap so I'm super excited to get started. 

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

A Review for Destined by Jessie Harrell

Posted by Donna
Expected Published Date: November 15th, 2011
Finished Date: October 20th, 2011
Publishers: Mae Day Publishing
Source: For Review
Format: eARC
Pages: Unknown
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The Blurb from Goodreads: When Psyche receives a prophecy gone horribly wrong, she learns that even the most beautiful girl in Greece can have a hideous future. Her fate? Fall in love with the one creature even the gods fear. 

As she feels herself slipping closer into the arms of the prophecy, Psyche must choose between the terrifyingly tender touch she feels almost powerless to resist and the one constant she's come to expect out of life: you cannot escape what is destined. 
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The Review: Destined is a book I came across only a few weeks ago and at first, it was the cover that caught my eye. I absolutely love it, it’s really beautiful. But then when I read the blurb, I was really intrigued with this book because Cupid and Greek Gods tied into a love story, who wouldn’t be?

When Psyche is taken under the wing of Aphrodite, she is thrilled and she is told she will become the new face of Greece. But when Psyche turns down Aphrodite’s request to marry her son Eros, she’s left in a world of trouble, because now the powerful goddess has it in for her.

With Aphrodite on the war path, Psyche tries to keep out of her way but when a prophecy reveals that Psyche will have a hideous future and will fall in love with a creature even the god’s fear, she’s lead straight into Aphrodite’s world. But can she escape what is destined? Or will she fall into the arms of the one everyone fears?

Destined is an exciting, fresh and unique story. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read before and I think Jessie Harrell did an amazing job recreating the story of Greek Gods and Cupid. Greek Mythology has been popping up everywhere lately and honestly, it’s fast becoming my favourite. So automatically….Jessie gets a win from me.

What I loved about this book were the characters that were most memorable for me. I loved Psyche’s character. I loved how strong and willing she was but I also liked her more vulnerable side and reactions during the book was very realistic. Baring in mind she’s a young girl and I thought all the qualities Jessie showed in her reflected very well. Now Eros, oh Eros! I absolutely LOVED him! He’s the type of guy that leaves you breathless and wishing that Cupid was actually real. He’s one of them guys that don’t believe he will ever find love because he’s been hurt in the past but when he finally finds the one, he becomes a completely different person. His love consumes him and he becomes so selfless that he will do anything to protect her. Yeah, you can see why I love him. ;)

The storyline itself was heart-breaking beautiful with twists and turns you don’t see coming. You would think the story would be slightly predictable but Jessie Harrell leaves us readers in suspense until the very last chapter.

Honestly, this is not a book you want to miss it 2011. If you’re looking for a story that will leave you speechless…..then this is for you and I can not wait to read more by this author in the future.

A huge thank you to Jessie Harrell for giving me the opportunity to review this book. 

A Review for Doomed (Ancient Legends #2) by Jayde Scott

Posted by Guest Reviewer Melanie

Published Date: July 3rd, 2011

Finished Date: 24th October, 2011

Source: For Review from Author

Format: Kindle 

Pages: Unknown
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The Blurb from Goodreads: Enter a paranormal world of dark magic, rituals, love bonds and legends… Fallen angel Cassandra wasn't supposed to fall in love with Dallas. It should've been just a bit of fun she couldn't resist. The bond they share could save her from her curse before she's forever bound to Hell. Trouble is, she's Lucifer's daughter and Dallas is mortal, and mortals don't survive in Cass's world. When strange things are starting to happen in Hell, Cass knows she must protect Dallas at all costs because where Cass comes from, losing one's twin flame is a fate worse than death... Will chaos-loving Cassandra find a way to sway her immortal family in time with a revengeful killer wracking havoc in Hell in her quest to get the one thing half the paranormal world desires? 

The Review: 3.5 out of 5: Doomed is the second book in 'The Ancient legends' series by Jayde Scott. This book picks up a few weeks after the events of 'A Job from Hell' but the focus of this book is on Cassandra 'Cass' and Dallas (Amber's brother). Following a random phone call from a disgruntled customer to her place of work Cass is re united with Dallas and there is no mistaking what that 'spark' they had in book one has kindled into regardless of the time and space that had separated them  for the past few weeks. Things move ahead really quickly but with both of them keeping secrets, is their relationship 'Doomed' from the start?

Soon Cass has her hands full dealing with her fathers growing demands to learn the 'trade' and his insistence on making Hell a more desirable place to be, spending time with Dallas and their growing relationship . . .  knowing he is keeping something from her and needing to know what, whilst also keeping him in the dark about who she really is . . . oh, and then there’s also a pesky curse to deal with . . . Has she bitten off more than she can chew?

Both Cass and Dallas were stand out characters in book one for me and I was hoping we would get a book about them because they obviously had a 'spark' between them and I’m glad we didn’t have to wait too long. I LOVE the humor in this book especially Cass, she’s fun-loving, mischievous, independent, rebellious, feisty, used to getting her own way  . . . . .  . . Well, she would be all of those things considering she is Lucifer’s daughter! I liked the fact that by being with Dallas we also saw another side to her. She became vulnerable and unsure about herself, wondering if she left Dallas's side that he would find someone else and then we had her protective side, knowing that Dallas could be hurt and trying to protect him at all costs even by helping him through helping others and it ended up not stopping there either. It was funny in some ways the lengths she would go to in order to keep Dallas in the dark and I think she is my favourite character so far in the series and I must give a shout out to Kinky and Pinky the sidekicks from heaven & hell.

There was a lot going on in this book that all came together nicely in the end and I enjoyed the fun, easy read that it was. I liked the way Hell is described not just as a place of cruelty but having different layers to it depending on circumstance and we get a glimpse at their function. We got a little of the old blended in with the new, met new people and saw new places as the Ancient Legend world expands, maybe giving us some insight into future books ? Cass and Dallas's story is far from over as the book ends with an awesome cliff hanger that is going to leave you wanting more . . . . .  I know I do!

Teaser Tueday (#30)

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should be Reading

Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

1) Grab your current read

2) Open to a random page

3) Share one (1) OR two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)

4) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers! 

*Note: No teasers for Donna as she's only just started Bloodfever* 

Jessica's Teaser Tuesday: Delirium by Lauren Oliver

*Note: It's just one long teaser today guys, because I thought it was a beautiful moment that I had to share with you all...

" "My mother used to dance," I say. The words slip out, and I regret them almost instantly. But Alex doesn't question me or laugh. He keeps watching me steadily. For a moment he seems on the verge of saying something. But then he just holds out his hand to me across the space, across the dark. "Would you like to?" he says. His voice is hardly audible above the wind-so low it's barely a whisper. "Would I like to what?" My heart is roaring, rushing in my ears, and though there are still several inches between his hand and mine, there's a zipping, humming energy that connects us, and from the heat flooding my body you would think we were pressed together, palm to palm, face to face. "Dance," he says, at the same time closing those last few inches finding my hand and pulling me close."

There is more after that, but I'm going to stop there lol.

What's your Teaser Tuesday today?

Leave us your links below.

A Review for The Rising Moon by Nilsa Rodriquez

Posted by Donna
Published Date: September 12th, 2011
Finished Date: October 17th, 2011
Source: For Review
Format: Kindle
Pages: 318
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The Blurb from Goodreads: How many lives do you have to live to realize that love is stronger than time and death? Orphaned at the age of five, Angelia (Lia) Lafosse was left with questions about whom and what she truly was. One thing was clear. Lia was different. Some might even say cursed. With the help of her best friend, Ryan Woodruff, she begins to unlock the secrets of her families past and discover answers that prove more startling than she ever imagined. Not only was she a werewolf, but a reincarnation of the immortal werewolf, a werewolf with immense powers beyond any of her kind. A werewolf that if discovered by the Lobison’s to have returned, can jeopardize both Lia and those she love. As destiny finds her love does too…and they couldn’t be more different. Torn between Lyle Ulric, the charming werewolf whose bloodline is as ancient and powerful as her own. And Adam Ambrose, the mysterious and alluring vampire who’s determined not to allow fate or anyone tear their love apart again. Lia has to make a choice… Destiny or Love…Run or Fight…Live or Die.
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The Review: Wow! Firstly, I absolutely adore cover for this book. Don’t you think it’s gorgeous? It’s definitely one of my favourite Indie covers yet. I love it! 

Anyway, I’d seen this book pop up over some of my favourite blogs for a blog tour and just knew I had to read it…and overall, I did enjoy it.

Lia is a high school student who doesn’t have many friends. She always tends to keep away from other people and has many questions about who she truly is because she was orphaned at a young age. When one of the hottest guys at school fast becomes Lia’s best friend, he helps her unlock her family secrets and soon she discovers that everything is not as it seems. Suddenly her life is filled with werewolf reincarnation, vampires and a love triangle that is powerfully dangerous.

I really enjoyed this novel. Nilsa Rodriquez really did a good job with creating an interesting and unique storyline. The concept of the novel was amazing; I loved how the werewolves, vampires and witches were all tied together. The new take on Werewolf/Vampire relationship was awesome and interesting and I also really liked the Werewolf/Werewolf relationship but I wish we’d seen more of Lia and Lyle together as wolves. The love triangle was a highlight for me, both male characters were totally swoon worthy and it was hard for me to choose between them but I think in the end I was Team Adam. I was totally Team Lyle until Adam came on the scene and stole my heart.

What let the book down for me was the writing. I don’t think Nilsa did a bad job but there just weren’t enough descriptions and not enough emotion during the story and it almost felt choppy. There were some important scenes that I really enjoyed and again, I loved the concept of the book but I couldn’t enjoy it to its full potential because of the writing.

Overall, The Rising Moon is a fast paced, exciting and interesting novel. Despite my three star rating, I liked the book and I think everyone should give it ago.

Thank you to Nilsa Rodriquez for giving me the opportunity to review this book.

A Review for Darkfever (Fever #1) by Karen Marie Moning

Posted by Donna
Published Date: September 8th, 2011 (First Published October 31st, 2006) 
Finished Date: October 42th, 2011
Publishers: Gollancz
Source: Received for Review
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336
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The Blurb from Goodreads: MacKayla Lane’s life is good. She has great friends, a decent job, and a car that breaks down only every other week or so. In other words, she’s your perfectly ordinary twenty-first-century woman. Or so she thinks…until something extraordinary happens. When her sister is murdered, leaving a single clue to her death–a cryptic message on Mac’s cell phone–Mac journeys to Ireland in search of answers. The quest to find her sister’s killer draws her into a shadowy realm where nothing is as it seems, where good and evil wear the same treacherously seductive mask. She is soon faced with an even greater challenge: staying alive long enough to learn how to handle a power she had no idea she possessed–a gift that allows her to see beyond the world of man, into the dangerous realm of the Fae….As Mac delves deeper into the mystery of her sister’s death, her every move is shadowed by the dark, mysterious Jericho, a man with no past and only mockery for a future. As she begins to close in on the truth, the ruthless Vlane–an alpha Fae who makes sex an addiction for human women–closes in on her. And as the boundary between worlds begins to crumble, Mac’s true mission becomes clear: find the elusive Sinsar Dubh before someone else claims the all-powerful Dark Book–because whoever gets to it first holds nothing less than complete control of the very fabric of both worlds in their hand.
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The Review:3.5 out of 5. Ever since I joined Goodreads just over a year ago all I've heard about is the Fever series, but because of my schedule I’ve not been able to fit them in. So....finally a year later, I’ve be able to start all thanks to Gollancz Publishing’s and overall, I really enjoyed it. 

This story follows the life of MacKayla Lane. A twenty two year old girl, who lives in Georgia and has a pretty decent life, well, that is until her sister is murdered in Ireland and Mac’s life is turned upside down. She decides to move to Ireland to try and find her sister’s murderer and with the help of a mysterious man Barron’s and evil Fae popping up everywhere, life for Mac soon becomes very interesting…….but also very dangerous.

Darkfever was a great start to an exciting series and I am left wanting more. I really enjoyed the story even though I found it a little slow to start with, but I can honestly see why people love this series so much. It’s exciting, dangerous and totally hot with swoon worthy characters. What I enjoyed most about Darkfever was that we got to see the Fae in a totally different light. I've read a lot of Fae books which have been mainly young adult books and even though I enjoyed them, it's still nice to step away from it and read something slightly darker and Darkfever hit that spot. I loved how there were so many different evil Fae and all of them unique from one another. The creativity and imagination that has gone into this story really reflects well and is very believable.

Mac is an awesome female lead. She's determined, strong minded and stands up for what she believes in. I loved that even though she's a strong character, she still has her girlie side. She loves her long blonde hair, her pink nails and loves dressing in bright colours. I really enjoyed that there was two sides to Mac and even when she's feeling low, she still tries to look on the bright side. Now Barrons, where do I start with him? He's a tricky one. I liked him but I didn't love him, however because I was already prepared for how Barron's acts in book one, I'm still pretty hopeful that I'll end up loving him. And finally...V'lane....wow! He's one hell of a character and I can not wait to see more from him.

Overall, Darkfever is a book I'm glad I've finally read and I can not wait to read more of Ms Moning's work. I'm picking up book 2 straight away tonight to find out what happens next.

A huge thank you to Gollancz publishing for giving me the opportunity to review this book. 

US vs UK (#29)

Welcome to Book Passion for Life's 29th US vs UK book cover battle. We've seen this posted on a few other blogs, and thought we'd jump on the band wagon!

The idea of this battle is once a week we'll post 2 sets of books of our choice, one US cover and one UK cover, and we'll just give our opinion on which one we love the most. Which cover captures the story, which one would catch our eye if we saw it on the shelf in a shop. The US cover will be on the left, and the UK cover will be on the right.

The Scores so far are: 

US: 6  UK: 13  Draw: 8

US vs UK Round 29

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi 

vs 

Jess says: Hmm, I think I'll go with the US cover. I do like the pink on the UK cover, but I don't get why the people are like that? It's odd. The US cover just stands out a lot more for me.

Donna says: I can't wait to read this book but the covers, I have to say US wins for me. I actually really like the UK cover but I don't like the way the people look. I love the pink colours they've used but I think with the person on the US and the different blues...the US stands out that much more.

Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder

 vs  

Jess says: Pfft...no contest. The US wins this one. Everything about it is beautiful. The UK cover is just...mehhh...dull. US is just stunning and I would pick it up if I saw it on the shelf.

Donna says: No contest here! US wins! I love, love, love it! So gorgeous, bright and colourful. Where as the UK cover is really boring and bland. US for me!

Which do you prefer?

__________________

Okay guys, this weeks US vs UK goes to....US!

Come back next week for more US vs UK! :)