Review: Time Out by Jill Shalvis

Title: Time Out

Author:  Jill Shalvis

Publisher:  Harlequin

Format: ebook (NetGalley)

ISBN: 0373796730

Genre: Romance
Release date: February 21st 2012

Number of pages: 224

Sign up for recreational adult programs now!Class: How to Drive Him Crazy Instructional program for women unexpectedly facing the totally dishy guy from their past. Everyone welcome!

NHL coach Mark Diego’s plan to spend his off-season volunteering in his hometown goes awry when he learns that not only is he coaching teenage girls, but that the program is coordinated by energetic (and five feet two inches of trouble) coordinator Rainey Saunders, his childhood friend—and the woman he could never stand to see dating any other guy….

When their tempers flare, Mark and Rainey discover their fireworks don’t just burn angry—they burn very, very hot! But that’ll just sweeten the victory. Because Mark always plays to win. And with Rainey, he’s planning on playing very dirty, too.

My Thoughts

This book brought a theme that always made me fall in love. These two were friends as teenagers and grew up together and afraid of their feelings and how the other would react, the whole relationship was doomed.

 

Mark had the chance of a life time and took it by going to another city and working as a couch for the NHL, but after his players made some screw up, the only way was put them to work and the best place to do this is in his brother school.

 

Rainey went to college and after the fiasco her relationships went, let’s just say no man is good enough and usually is harder to even try to understand why they cant’ be Mark, not that his perfect, but she has her feelings for him since high school and after some truths one night, she regrets not having him in her life anymore.

 

I loved this author writing stile and I’m sure not alone but I do appreciate when a author can make us feel the romance in a book and even better can make us understand the mistakes and cheers for the couple to be together. Rainey and Mark together was kinda cute and I liked how possessive he was and that she put him to work hard on the field and to get her.

Quote

“All you have to do is take a man at face value. Don’t go into it thinking you can change them. Men aren’t fixer-uppers, not like a house or a car. You buy them as is.”

Rating

 

Review: Simply Irresistible by Jill Shalvis

Title: Simply Irresistible

Author:  Jill Shalvis

Series: Lucky Harbor

Publisher:  Grand Central Publishing

Format: ebook

ISBN: 044657161X

Genre: Romance
Release date: October 1st 2010

Number of pages: 311

 

Maddie Moore’s whole life needs a makeover.

 

In one fell swoop, Maddie loses her boyfriend (her decision) and her job (so not her decision). But rather than drowning her sorrows in bags of potato chips, Maddie leaves L.A. to claim the inheritance left by her free-spirited mother-a ramshackle inn nestled in the little coastal town of Lucky Harbor, Washington.

 

Starting over won’t be easy. Yet Maddie sees the potential for a new home and a new career-if only she can convince her two half-sisters to join her in the adventure. But convincing Tara and Chloe will be difficult because the inn needs a big makeover too.

 

The contractor Maddie hires is a tall, dark-haired hottie whose eyes-and mouth-are making it hard for her to remember that she’s sworn off men. Even harder will be Maddie’s struggles to overcome the past, though she’s about to discover that there’s no better place to call home than Lucky Harbor.

My Thoughts:

I love a little town romance and this one was spoken highly off. For months now I’ve seen around the blogosphere people talking how good Jill Shalvis books are. Last year for Christmas challenge I read an anthology that has a novella for this series and it was really good.

 

This is a great story with very emotional parts and I couldn’t help but fall in love with Lucky Harbor. Maddie made everything more alive. Her emotions were really high and it’s Christmas time in town. Everyone wants to find love and be with family.

 

Maddie is starting over and after her mother left an inn to her she decided to try and make things right. Her mother lived like an hippie and never raised her, so she grew up with her father and started working in his area, but when things go wrong Lucky Harbor is her fresh start.

 

Her sisters didn’t want to stay in this little town, but all of them has scars from the past and really miss a family  time. But love also happens for Maddie in this book. Jax is perfect, even thought he thinks otherwise.

 

I really loved this story and how much Jax helped her with past and the inn. He’s a great catch and so romantic. I loved how their relationship evolved in the book and he was a great part of her changing. Loved this romance and recommend to anyone who likes starting over stories with lots of tears.

 

Books in this Series:

#1 – Simply irresistible

#2 – The Sweetest Thing

#2.5 – Small Town Christmas

#3 – Head Over Heels

#4 – Lucky in Love

#5 – At Last

#6 – Forever and a Day

Quote:

“If I looked like him,” Tara said. “I’d want to have sex with myself. All the time.”

Review: Noah by Jacquelyn Frank

Title: Noah

Author: Jacquelyn Frank 

Series: Nightwalkers

Publisher: Zebra

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0821780697

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: September 1st 2008

Number of pages: 471
Add it: Goodreads

 

 

The Nightwalkers have lived in the shadows of our world for centuries, gifted with abilities few humans can comprehend. For Noah, duty is all–until he meets the woman who is his destiny…

SHE WILL TAKE HIM BEYOND HIS WILDEST DREAMS.

As Demon King, Noah is dedicated to protecting his kind from their human and Nightwalker enemies. Yet for six months he has struggled with vivid dreams that threaten his very sanity. Every night he’s tormented by images of a woman both achingly real and tantalizingly beyond his grasp. And his bone-deep need leaves him no choice but to force her to leave the life she’s known and enter a world beyond her imagining…

Every day, Kestra risks her life in perilous missions that veer just shy of the law, but she instinctively knows that the imposingly sensual figure before her is a danger unlike any she’s ever faced. Kestra has sworn never to trust or need another man, but Noah’s lightest touch scorches her with fevered desire, branding her as his mate, blinding them both to the terrifying truth. For within the ranks of their own people lies an adversary growing in number and power. And nothing and no one will be safe again…
Desire awakens at night..

My Thoughts:

This was a long book and I find myself disturbed with the path this series has taken. For me the most important thing would be the couple and how they would deal with the passion and the situations this would lead them, but now it’s strange how the author pressed for the devil to find ways and destroy important places and attack again and again the most powerful.

 

I agree with that Noah should at least had tried to find his soul-mate, but knowing what would cause him and the path the destruction was leading him to, was a bit strange to see him forget about everything when he knew a way to save not only himself but Kestra also. I liked his presence and some choices he made on the previous books, but on this one, not the best.

 

Kestra was a bit strange since the start. I didn’t warm up to her and discovered that she could be better with another Nightwalker, because Noah needed a strong women but also someone that has a finesse too. And for me that’s not her. To make things go bum, anyone can do.

 

Not my favorite couple and a strange twist to the story line.

Books in this Series:

#1 – Jacob
#1.5 – Kane
#2 – Gideon
#3 – Elijah
#4 – Damien
#5 – Noah
#6 – Adam

Quote:

“I think there is something to be said for a well-publicized ass-kicking.”

Review: Damien by Jacquelyn Frank

Title: Damien

Author: Jacquelyn Frank 

Series: The Nightwalkers

Publisher: Zebra

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0821780689

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: June 1st 2008

Number of pages: 358
Add it: Goodreads

They are the Nightwalkers, mysterious beings who dwell in the shadows of our world, and Damien, the Vampire Prince, is among the most powerful of them all. But one woman will tempt him with a desire unlike anything he has known, and together they will face a terrifying and relentless foe…

HE’D NEVER LOVED. BUT SHE WAS IRRESISTIBLE.

As reigning Vampire Prince, Damien has tasted every pleasure the world has to offer–consorting with kings and queens and delighting in sensual adventure. Now, tired of such pursuits, he devotes his energies to protecting his people. The war between human necromancers and Nightwalkers has escalated, and when the enemy makes a daring move, kidnapping Syreena, a Lycanthrope Princess, Damien boldly follows. He succeeds in rescuing her, but is unprepared for the erotic longing her lush sensuality awakens in him.

Gifted with rare abilities, Syreena grew up in a cloistered setting and was forbidden to form attachments to others, yet the connection Damien feels with her is immediate, intoxicating, and impossible for either to resist. But claiming Syreena as his mate could have shattering repercussions for every Nightwalker–and leave their enemies more dangerous than ever before…

Temptation tastes sweetest at night.

My Thoughts:

Vampires can be really hot and dangerous but since I first read about Damien my thoughts were always about his humor. He’s fun and knows how to live and be happy about it. Of course he’s still their King so responsibilities and rules are part of life.

Syreena has know all about rules and duties, being a Princess for the Lycan made her life very boring while living with the monks, but now that her sister is the Queen, she can truly appreciate a little more freedom. After the Library was found things between the Nightwalkers became more easy and Syreena was sent to help the scholars. And that’s how the dangerous found her.

Damien was feeling some strange things for the Lycan Princess and after her found out she had been kidnapped his first thoughts were toward her safety.

I liked this couple and how these had to understand things together, plus discover some way to make people accept them. Syreena has wanted to find her mate for so long that Damien was a surprise and I wasn’t expecting this twist for the series, but they match really nice.

Books in this Series:

#1 – Jacob
#1.5 – Kane
#2 – Gideon
#3 – Elijah
#4 – Damien
#5 – Noah
#6 – Adam

Quote:

“She had told him that she loved him. He had known that, but hearing it in the traditional phrase had affected him in new and blinding ways.
Ways that made him believe that he could do anything.
Anything she needed or wanted him to do.
Because her loving him meant so much more than him loving her.”

Review: Elijah by Jacquelyn Frank

Title: Elijah

Author: Jacquelyn Frank 

Series: The Nightwalkers

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0821780670

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: January 1st 2008

Number of pages: 360
Add it: Goodreads

 

 

They are called the Demons, one of the elusive Nightwalker races living in shadow and struggling for survival against their human enemies. Their proudest warrior is Elijah, a man who bends for nothing and no one…until one woman brings him to his knees…

 

Some Feelings You Just Can’t Fight

He is known as the Warrior Captain–a master of every weapon, a fierce soldier sworn to protect his kind. Powerful, relentless, merciless, Elijah has always won every battle he’s ever taken on–until now. Ambushed by necromancers, he is left for dead only to be discovered by the woman who could very well deliver the final blow…Siena, the Lycanthrope Queen.

 

With three centuries of warring, little more than a decade of uneasy peace has existed between the Lycanthropes and Elijah’s people. Now, after a lifetime of suspicion, the warrior in Elijah is consumed with a different battle–winning Siena’s heart by giving her pleasure beyond all boundaries. What starts as attraction and arousal soon burns into a passion with consequences that will echo through the ages for both their people. And as would-be enemies become inseparable lovers, another threat approaches, one with the power to destroy them all…

 

Surrender to the night.

My Thoughts:

This couple was a surprise for me because I thought this series was about Demons finding their Druids, but them I realized that Nightwalkers is about several species and Lycan is one of them.

 

We got to see both Elijah and Siena in the previous books and they are great warriors, so for them to actually be together was a battle. Elijah was convinced really fast since demons believe in Destiny above all else, but for Siena things were a little difficult, especially because of her position as Queen.

 

I loved this couple, both are strong and still fear the unknown. Siena had a crazy father that made war just fro power so now she’s afraid to trust in men. Elijah has lived alone and as Captain in the war against the Lycan he’s pretty much hated, but still work to find his happiness.

 

Now we have a face to evil and it’s disgusting to think about the crazy demon attacking others just for power when he already had a lot. Still loving how in this time all Nightwalkers are working together to destroy the humans attacking them.

Books in this Series:

#1 – Jacob
#1.5 – Kane
#2 – Gideon
#3 – Elijah
#4 – Damien
#5 – Noah
#6 – Adam

 

Quote:

“But I must tell you that…" he paused and his voice filled with infinite gentleness and tenderness. "You are so very precious to me," he whispered against her neck. "You are my heart as it moves within my chest, my soul as it moves through my mind. The breath in my body that so fascinates you is your essence pouring in and out of me in a wave that drowns me over and over again until I cannot breathe for wanting you. Needing you.”

Review: Gideon by Jacquelyn Frank

   

Title: Gideon

Author: Jacquelyn Frank

Series: The Nightwalkers

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0821780662

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release date: June 1st 2007

Number of pages: 337

Add it: Goodreads

 

 

They’re called the Nightwalkers–proud, ancient beings who live in the shadows, existing just beyond the human world. But there are also dangerous humans who hunt them–necromancers who use the blackest magic to manipulate them. And for a Demon named Gideon, the battle against these evil forces will soon be all too personal…

AS A HEALER, HE KNOWS HER BODY. BUT IT’S HER HEART HE WANTS.

For a thousand years, Gideon has healed his people. And as the oldest surviving male of his race, his wisdom has always been respected without question. But Gideon knows that even he is vulnerable to the powerful, primitive desires that befall his kind during Hallowed moons–and nine years ago that truth was hammered home when he found himself claiming Magdalegna, the Demon King’s sister, in a wild embrace. Horrified by his lack of control, he left her wanting and furious–and then exiled himself for the better part of a decade. Now, with necromancers threatening his people–and Magdalegna nearly their victim–Gideon must face another truth. He and the beautiful, stubborn Magdalegna are destined to be together, to share a love as deep and old as time itself. But first he needs to regain her trust. Then he’ll have to save her life…

Every night holds secrets.

My Thoughts:

Ever since the first book we could see glimpses of Gideon and Magdalena but I never really saw these two together as a great thing. Maybe because Gideon sounded like a wounded animal hiding away after the Enforcer caught him with an human. Okay, it’s possible for pretty much all Demons since they need mates during the blue moons. But after I realized that Gideon knew who was his mate and didn’t even try to reach her at least to help her and let her know about their destiny together, he sort of fell in my eyes.

 

Magdalena is a great Demon and her brother is the King, but after thousands of years alive she still sounds naïve and constantly hiding. Not my favorite girl, but she does now how to fight and is kinda good to she her putting Gideon on his place.

 

Their relationship was better than I expected. And the dangerous is still lurking around. And they attacked Bella trying to make her lose the baby, plus the battle was really fun to read.

Books in this Series:

#1 – Jacob

#1.5 – Kane
#2 – Gideon
#3 – Elijah
#4 – Damien

#5 – Noah

#6 – Adam

Quote:

“I am going to devour you, Magdelegna,” he promised her, the darkness of his cravings coming to bear on her fully at last. “You wanted to know my passions? Allow me to introduce them to you.”

Review: Kane by Jacquelyn Frank

Title: Kane (part of the Supernatural Anthology)

Author: Jacquelyn Frank 

Series: The Nightwalkers

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp.

Format: ebook

ISBN: 142010988X

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: September 1st 2011

Number of pages: 50
Add it: Goodreads

 

 

 

Kane knows Corrine was meant to be his… just as he knows that truly possessing the lovely human is forbidden. But on the night of the Samhain moon, the beast in every demon is stronger than reason, and Kane’s hunger is more powerful than any punishment…

 

 

My Thoughts:

This was a short story but we had already met the characters in book one, so is more like an inside look on their private moments (hot moments more like it).

 

I liked Kane and he’s still a child among the Nightwalkers so is really different from Jacob when we got to see him trying to be all grow up and loving while having to explain to Corrine that her life was save and absolutely different from the normal.

 

Corrine has suffered for a long time trying to find her happy ending but not even one man could be able to set her heart in flames like Kane was able to with one little touch.

 

I liked and it’s better to read this one after Jacob rather than stand-alone. But it was sexy and deep.

Books in this Series:

#1 – Jacob

#1.5 – Kane
#2 – Gideon
#3 – Elijah
#4 – Damien

#5 – Noah

#6 – Adam

Review: Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank

     

Jacob by Jacquelyn Frank

Nightwalkers #1

Publisher: Kensington Publishing Corp

Format: ebook

ISBN: 0821780654

Genre: Paranormal Romance
Release date: December 1st 2006
Number of pages: 376
Add it:

 

Book Blurb:

Jacob the Enforcer belongs to one of the many Nightwalker races that thrive on the dark of night. He has a job to do for his species and it’s rather straightforward. He polices his people. During the full moon their animal urge to mate overcomes them, and if they stay within their race they never need to encounter the Enforcer. But if they cross the line and turn their lust to another species…say humans…it’s Jacob’s duty to prevent them and then to punish them severely for it. As this ‘madness’ grows worse and worse for his people, there is hardly a family who hasn’t felt the brutal sting of Jacob’s justice. Punishment is so dire and so feared, Jacob can call very few others his friend and the life the Enforcer leads is a very solitary one.

Then one night during a hunt for one of his own, he encounters the first human woman who will tempt him in all of his 622 years of life. Isabella is a simple Bronx gal who works at her local library, lives with her sister and owns a cat.

She hardly expects a night of moongazing to change her life forever and send her falling for a man like Jacob in all kinds of outrageous ways. Heck, she certainly doesn’t expect that he isn’t exactly a ‘man’… although he sure looks like one, smells like one and boy-oh-boy does he feel like one!

As for the Enforcer, Jacob finds himself tempted beyond reason, needing Isabella to the point that he begins to strain against every law he has always upheld.

But before long the couple finds themselves fighting for their lives against evil, Jacob’s bretheren, and even their own desires for each other. How can they find the way to resist one another before Jacob faces his own punishments…or before Bella ends up dead, torn up from the animal passion inside of him that she, as a human, is too frail to ever endure?

My Thoughts:

Earlier this year I’ve read Christina Dodd series and Goodreads recommended this one on the same genre. That was the first time I’ve noticed this series and at first sight it sounded like something I would enjoy. During the read of Jacob I realized it sounds more like Midnight Breed. But so far is really good.

 

Jacob is like an avenger angel. He’s supposed to stop other demons from committing crimes against the humans. During two times on the year, their sexual hunger is extreme and sometimes they try to use humans, but since they are a bit different in nature things can be dangerous.

 

During one of these times Jacob met Isabella and the chemistry was high. Not that he attacked her, because he’s one the elders and have a great control, but he was tempted and she started to feel strange things for him.

 

I liked Bella, she’s a very normal person and helped a lot on the investigation about the laws. She’s more than just a little human and after she realized this and we get to meet Gideon, last just say, things started to heat up.

 

I didn’t like Gideon from the start, but I understand his fears and why he kept some secrets. This series is looking better than I anticipated.

Books in this Series:

#1 – Jacob

#1.5 – Kane
#2 – Gideon
#3 – Elijah
#4 – Damien

#5 – Noah

#6 – Adam

Other Covers:

  

Quote:

“Whenever I see you, I am overcome with the urge to be rooted within you, to be buried deep so your body can nourish me.”

Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa 

e-ARC provided by NetGalley courtesy of the publisher

Iron Fey #4

Publisher: Harlequin TEEN

Genre: Young Adult 
Release date: October 26th 2011
Number of pages: 394
Rating:

 

Book Blurb:

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

To cold, emotionless faery prince Ash, love was a weakness for mortals and fools. His own love had died a horrible death, killing any gentler feelings the Winter prince might have had. Or so he thought.

Then Meghan Chase—a half human, half fey slip of a girl— smashed through his barricades, binding him to her irrevocably with his oath to be her knight. And when all of Faery nearly fell to the Iron fey, she severed their bond to save his life. Meghan is now the Iron Queen, ruler of a realm where no Winter or Summer fey can survive.

With the (unwelcome) company of his archrival, Summer Court prankster Puck, and the infuriating cait sith Grimalkin, Ash begins a journey he is bound to see through to its end— a quest to find a way to honor his solemn vow to stand by Meghan’s side.

To survive in the Iron realm, Ash must have a soul and a mortal body. But the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible. At least, no one has ever passed to tell the tale.
And then Ash learns something that changes everything. A truth that turns reality upside down, challenges his darkest beliefs and shows him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My Thoughts:

I never thought I would miss Meghan, but this book was almost all about Ash journey to became a human and be able to live with Meghan on the Iron Realm.

 

Puck as always is the fun part on the travel, plus we get to see again the Wolf and of course Grimalkin, he’s such a smarty cat. I liked how Puck chose to help and decided to trust Meghan and his longtime friend Ash.

 

At first when I first read about the return of Ariella it got me thinking of what Ash would do, because he blames himself and Puck, but after some more reading I realized that Julie was right again and both needed closure. Mostly to became again friends because their relationship was going really bad.

 

So the journey made this book the darker so far and I thought in moments that somebody would die and I kept hoping to not be Puck or Ash. It would be devastating.

 

I wanted more time with Meghan and to get to know more about her way of ruling the Iron Fey.

Books in this Series:

#1 – The Iron King (Iron Fey, #1)
#1.5 – Winter’s Passage (Iron Fey, #1.5)
#2 – The Iron Daughter (Iron Fey, #2)
#3 – The Iron Queen (Iron Fey, #3)
#3.5 – Summer’s Crossing (Iron Fey, #3.5)
#4 – The Iron Knight (Iron Fey, #4)
#4.5 – An Iron Fey Valentine

Trailer:

Quote:

“I have come from the End of the World…. From the River of Dreams, through the gauntlet and the Briar and the Deep Wyld, in order to stand before you today. I have but one request – to take my place at your side. To resume my duty as your knight, and to protect you and your kingdom for as long as I draw breath.”

Review: The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa

The Immortal Rules by Julie Kagawa 

Blood of Eden #1

e-ARC provided by NetGalley courtesy of the publisher

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: Young Adult 
Release date: April 24th 2012
Number of pages: 504
Rating:

 

Book Blurb:

In a future world, Vampires reign. Humans are blood cattle. And one girl will search for the key to save humanity.

Allison Sekemoto survives in the Fringe, the outermost circle of a vampire city. By day, she and her crew scavenge for food. By night, any one of them could be eaten.

Some days, all that drives Allie is her hatred of them. The vampires who keep humans as blood cattle. Until the night Allie herself is attacked—and given the ultimate choice. Die… or become one of the monsters.

Faced with her own mortality, Allie becomes what she despises most. To survive, she must learn the rules of being immortal, including the most important: go long enough without human blood, and you will go mad.

Then Allie is forced to flee into the unknown, outside her city walls. There she joins a ragged band of humans who are seeking a legend—a possible cure to the disease that killed off most of humankind and created the rabids, the mindless creatures who threaten humans and vampires alike.

But it isn’t easy to pass for human. Especially not around Zeke, who might see past the monster inside her. And Allie soon must decide what—and who—is worth dying for.

My Thoughts:

When I first read the summary the only though crossing my mind was something along the line: “It sounds like Morganville Vampires from Rachel Caine.” But when I started reading things changed pretty fast.

 

I have to say that after so many ravishing reviews I expected more of this book. I read the Iron Fey series this month and loved How Julie can create an world completely different and sometimes terrifying, but The Immortal Rules was a bit dull for me. Shocking right? But sometimes I was bored, and things take like forever to happen.

 

The vampires rules the world but we got to actually see them only for short times, except Allie and she has more feelings like humans than vampires. I liked her and her principles. But sometimes she needs to think more of herself, because the rest won’t.

 

I liked Zeke, he has lived in fear and still can be gentle with kids and try to save everyone around. Jeb was someone that really made me sick, was it really necessary for him to act so uptight the hole book, and them he made a really bad them to Zeke. Totally deserved what happened.

 

Overall, it’s a big book and if you like vampires, try this one, but remember is more dystopia than paranormal.

Books in this Series:

#1 – The Immortal Rules

#2 – Untitled

 

Trailer:

Quote:

“We are vampires, Kanin had told me, on one of our last nights together. It makes no difference who we are, where we came from. Princes, Masters and rabids alike, we are monsters, cut off from humanity. They will never trust us. They will never accept us. We hide in their midst and walk among them, but we are forever separate.

Damned. Alone. You don’t understand now, but you will. There will come a time when the road before you splits, and you must decide your path. Will you choose to become a demon with a human face, or will you fight your demon until the end of time, knowing you will forever struggle alone?”