Mother.GAMER.Writer

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 Controllers - Diayll; 4.5 Controllers - HeatherReview Source: NetGalleyReviewers: Joint Review: Heather and DiayllMe:Dear Cassie….you made me cry – uncontrollably. When I first started reading you I fell madly in love with your grace and stubble humor. You stirred emotions in me I didn’t foresee coming and I’m so glad I could share in your heartache, laughter, pain and growth. You’re exceptionally well written and I can’t give you enough praise. Well done Dear Cassie, well done… Dear Cassie is the heart-wrenching story of Cassie and the repercussions she suffered from one night of tragic mistakes. When we are fist given a glimpse of Cassie we are introduced to her bad a$$ attitude and foul mouth, a girl who likes to smoke and who doesn’t play well with others. Not having read the previous novel in set in the same world, Pretty Amy, as a reader I was still hopelessly drawn to our main character and kept wondering what happened on that catastrophic prom night and what secret Cassie buried inside herself to make her hold such animosity towards other people, especially boys. Burstein dropped little clues through out the story and this kept me reverently turning pages. And the more pages I turned, the more obsessed I became with the characters. Overall, I can’t say too much about this beautiful novel without spoiling the fun of discovering it for yourselves. If you’re craving a break from the paranormal and want to embrace your emotions, then this is the story you need to grab. I highly recommend it to parents and teens in hopes that you all can laugh and cry together and it opens up the discussion of heavier subjects that most teens find uncomfortable to express to adults. Even though the ending is open and encourages readers to use their imagination, Dear Cassie is a true treasure and should be on every bookshelf.My Rating5 out of 5 ControllersHeather: Dear Cassie marks and records the struggle of one young girl who ends up in a rehab camp after a few bad decisions. It’s a touching story that shows us the journey of trust and love when you’ve known nothing but lies and deception. Each page unfolds her battle, both internal and external. Cassie goes to this camp instead of jail. On prom night, she is out joyriding, with her girlfriends. They had primped, dressed, and were all set to have the night of their lives. That was until their dates failed to show up. In a fit of anger and pain, one of the girls breaks into her boyfriend’s house and steals his stash of weed. The rest is pretty much history, and Cassie pays the ultimate price. In between this night and days before she leaves, naïve Cassie falls for a boy. She lets down her guard and believes his sweet words. Thing lead to other things, and well you’ll get the whole picture eventually, but I’m not giving it away. Camp becomes repentance for Cassie as she struggles through the rehabilitation program. It’s designed to teach survival skills. The kids, under supervision, learn to follow rules, prepare meals, build fires, and pitch tents. Most times they must work together, and this is something the kids have a tougher time with. At night they are asked to write in their journals. It’s an exercise that many of us know, but even Cassie fights writing the bitter truth of why she is here. To her it wasn’t about the drugs or even prom. Only her brother knows the absolute truth of what kind of monster she is. Over all I enjoyed Dear Cassie. I didn’t get a chance to read the previous book in the series, and it isn’t needed to read this one. I might pick it up in the future though because I found the dropped tidbits rather interesting. This is a YA book, but how young would be up to the parent and child. While it is relatively clean, there is sexual tension and sex related themes that make up the plot. Sadly, it’s a bit of a spoiler to come out and say what it is. I’d say 17+ is safe, and probably on par for the author’s audience. The author did a wonderful job in creating Cassie. I liked her spunk, and I found myself laughing at her words/jokes. She reminds me of myself when I was that age, so I can definitely say totally relatable character to anyone who lived through teenage angst. The ending surprised me. Diayll and I both read this (obviously), but I found myself wanting more closure. All in all it was the only part of the book that I didn’t love, but in the defense of the author, if there is more planned to further the story, then I get why she chose to end it that way. When I first picked up Dear Cassie, I didn’t realize it was a part of a series. Definitely an author and series to watch out for. My Rating4.5 out of 5 Controllers

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Audible purchaseReviewer: MeWell, I am so sad to see this series end. Especially since I discovered it so late. I loved being inside Lena’s head. Hearing her thoughts and feeling her pain, I truly believed she was a real person and her troubles had become my hardships. She was a wonderful protagonist. Fun to watch. Entertaining to listen to. Moreover, her story was compelling and now that she’s gone I miss her like a heartbeat. In Requiem, we are given a taste of Lena’s continued struggle with losing Alex and the Invalids battle towards freedom. Told from dual perspectives of both Lena and Hana, we see how each girl adjusts to their new lives. Hana’s story was both sad and inspiring. Even though she’s cured, she is still fighting to find herself among people who only want her to shut up and do as she’s told. Her pair Fred, was a complete jerk (although that’s not really what I want to call him) and I loved how she learns to deal with him on the outside while secretly thinking of ways to get herself out of the situation on the inside. I think her character growth was something I didn’t see coming and it slowly became one of my favorite parts of the novel. We also get a few surprise guests in the novel, which I won’t spoil, and a few revelations for our characters to come to terms with. The only negative I have for the overall book is that there is no resolution to the love triangle. This, I think should have been resolved. I think for readers it would have given us more closure to the entire series instead leaving us panting and wanting more. I can understand though why it ended without her choosing but I still can’t help but feel like something is missing. The whole novel is about love and the loss of love. And at the end, it should have ended with love. True love prevailing or new love winning. But that’s just my opinion. Overall, I highly recommend this series. The audiobooks are phenomenal and the narrators’ voice engages you every second. I am thrilled this will become a TV show and I hope that Hollywood does it justice because as a trilogy, Delirium is EPIC.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Audible purchaseReviewer: MeGena Showalter is one of my absolute favorite authors! And I can’t help but be a little bit giddy inside when she has a new series. I was skeptical of this one at first because I’ve only read her adult novels and I didn’t want to be disappointed with the lack of smexiness in her YA series. However, I was pleasantly surprised upon finishing Alice in Zombieland. Showalter knows how to craft a freakishly unique story and throw her characters into the bowels of terror. Though I did expect it to more fairytale-ish (and it’s not), I still loved (mostly) every minute of this kick a$$ zombie novel. Alice our protagonist has suffered a great loss and is trying to put the shambles of her life back together. Now living with her grandparents and trying to make it through school, she learns the hard way that her life before, the one she hated so badly, was more full of truth than she could have ever imagined. Enter Cole, a standoffish and sometimes evasive boy, who seems to have a connection to Alice. Their relationship, or should I say their non-relationship, is an on again off again battle to not let feelings interfere with their ultimate goal of killing zombies. He was fun to read at times and I liked learning about his group and how they all got involved with the zombies. I’m looking forward to seeing where they go next and even if they stay together. The only things I didn’t particularly care for in to novel was some of the religious dialogue, and the fact that it’s not really a fairytale story. As with Beauty Awakened, this book had some over-the-top faith talk. Moreover, it seems to be a recurring thing with Showalter’s newer novels. I’m not fond of it because I do think it takes away from the story at times, however I don’t think it’s a reason not to read her work. For those readers who don’t like this sort of thing, just be aware that it is there and it can be a bit heavy. Overall, I do recommend this novel. I think for some, it will be another hit or miss. The audiobook itself was very slow for me. I despised the narrator because she kept putting me to sleep. Her voice sounded 40 years old instead of 16 and I found it hard to believe I was listing to a YA novel. So maybe try picking up the actual book instead.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: AuthorReviewer: AimeeKayI had so much fun reading Aladdin’s Samovar. It was a fun and entertaining ride. There are a few things that I wish I could change (yes pun intended) but the good outweighs them. Let’s start with the good. First, I loved Sweet’s characters. I got lucky enough to get another main character that I really enjoyed reading about. Amber is far from perfect…but she is funny and endearing. I also really got attached to some of the supporting characters as well. Indigo was definitely amusing, she pretty much steals every scene she is in. Then there are people like Wanda, the Fairy Dogmother, her soul mate Tim, and ALL the VERY happy puppies! I even found myself laughing at the bad guys and eagerly waiting for what they would say or do next. Second I loved her description of The Garden State. There’s one part where she describes the landscape and how it goes from industrial to farmland in basically the blink of an eye. I’m from Jersey so I can say her descriptions were spot on. Third the story itself just rolled right along. There was always something happening, even when it wasn’t a huge action scene. Sweet even made reading about Amber running the bottle company amusing! The only two issues I have with the story mainly revolve around Jasper. One, I wish I could have found out more about him. The story hints at his back story, but there really isn’t anything conclusive about the genie. Not how he became a genie or his powers or even his genie supervisors. All these things are teased at, but that’s all and it kinda felt like there should have been more. Two, there is this underlying sexual tension between Amber and Jasper. They even start to get hot and heavy but then it, like his back story, just goes nowhere. It hints that there could be a relationship brewing between the two, even to the point that Jasper is breaking rules just for Amber because he cares about her. But the story never really gives any conclusion to their romance. And I don’t mean just between the sheets, but they never even get into whether she cares about him or not. It just seemed with some of the build up earlier on in the book that there would be some definite romance by the end. Amazingly, this is the second book I’ve read where I’ve also wondered about the romantic build up that went nowhere, so maybe it is a new trend? Overall though, I really enjoyed this one. It was fast paced and funny. I’m giving it 4.5 out of 5 controllers if only because it felt like something was missing because of the lack of background or info on Jasper. However as for the characters themselves I want to give the author 5 out of 5 royalty award controllers, her characters were REALLY funny and even without going into an in depth background on all of them I found myself wanting to read more about them.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: AuthorReviewer: AimeeKayA Class Apart started really slowly for me. That, in addition to how it began in the present then went back to lead up to where it started had me wondering when some things would finally click into place.However, once it started to pick up the pace it was well worth the wait at the beginning. There were some definite twists and turns. Up until the last minute I was sure I knew who the bad guys were, and when the truth came out I wasn’t as surprised as I could have been, but it didn’t ruin the story for me. In fact it made the story heartbreaking, but beautiful at the same time.I like the interactions between Sam and James. They were good kids stuck in a crazy situation, but they didn’t let what was happening to them go to their heads.The other characters had some very interesting turns as well. I truly hated some characters even more than the actual villains by the end; but mainly because they were truly horrible people in their own right, even though they weren’t actually the bad guys. I wanted to shake one of them so much and I hope that somewhere in the series she gets her just deserts. However at the same time, if I never see her in any of the following books I won’t complain.I was frustrated by the fact that more of the mystery wasn’t revealed by the end of the story. Yes the ending was a cliff hanger with some VERY ominous undertones, but I think that giving a little more clue about what was truly going on wouldn’t have hurt the story that much.As it is I would gladly read more to find out about who or what James and Samantha really are, as well as whom Lolly is and why she is such a sociopath. I hope the next story comes out soon.I give this one 4 ½ out of 5 controllers. Only because the beginning felt like I had to push to get through, and I wished there had been a bit more conclusions given out at the end. But I definitely liked it and would recommend reading it. I would even recommend it to younger teen/mid grade readers. While there are some very creepy parts I think that it would definitely be a great book for a new reader as well as more experienced ones. The story has enough going for it that I feel it will keep older readers drawn in as well.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: PublisherReviewers: Diayll and HeatherMy Review:Never having read anything by this author before, The Secret of Ella and Micha is a delectable New Adult treat. The emotional journey – and the sexual tension – between these destined lovers, spun my emotional in multiple directions (and sometimes all at once), captivating me until the very end. Every minute of every page was an exploration into their pasts, their unforeseen futures, and endless possibilities. I loved devouring them. I loved crying with them. I loved just learning something new about each character in the book. It’s amazing, fun, and is definitely one of those reads that will make your heart melt and your soul fall in love. Favorite Ella Quote:Holding hands, we walk across the grass and down the sidewalk, leaving a trail of water behind us and something else. Something invisible to the outside eye, but to me it’s more noticeable than the sun in the sky.(ebook page 105) Ella is a reformed train wreck. Bad girl gone good, she escaped her old life in hopes of leaving behind her terrible past and the guilt over one mistake that cost her someone she loved dearly. But like they always say, you can run from your mistakes but you sure can’t hide, and her mistakes come back like a tornado in the form of Micha Scott. The bad boy, who’s still sort of a bad boy, but will make you fall in love with him anyway. Their relationship is something straight out of a movie, full of angst, heartbreak, and most importantly unconditional love. However, in order to get to the love, walls have to be smashed, barriers broken, hearts mended, and sins forgiven. And over the course of the novel, we get to experience all of this from both characters perspectives. It’s one romantic adventure, you don’t want to miss! Overall, if I had to describe the phenomenal read that is The Secret of Ella and Micha, I’d say its yummy, raw, and so full of angst you’d want to rip your hair out – or clothes off. Sorensen delivered one heck of an emotional roller coaster ride that I still haven’t recovered from and probably won’t until I get my hands on the next novel in the series, The Forever of Ella and Micha. And I’m pretty sure I just might have a heart attack before October. *sighs* The novel also touches on heavy, very heavy subjects and should be read by a younger audience with caution. Nevertheless, I highly recommend it to parents and teens alike. Heather's Review: The Secret of Ella and Micha is a story about more than secrets. It delves deep with emotions of fear, longing, and heartache. This book is their story, their beginning, and if they can’t push past the pain, it may prove to be their end. Ella is broken, shattered into so many pieces that all she can do is run. Days after her mother’s death, she turns her back on her old reckless ways and buries the old girl. In her place is a prim, proper, and pain filled imposter. Micha loses his mind when he awakes one morning to find Ella gone. He had laid, no all but cut out his heart the night before and told his best friend the he loves her. Deep down Micha know. That he can never love another, but without his Ella he’s lost. At first, he drowns himself in women, attempting to fill the void, but Micha knows only the one he loves will do. After 8 months of hiding, Ella comes home from college. She isn’t back in town for long before she finds that buried girl trying to reemerge. Micha sees her too, and he wants her back, but he will take Ella back in any way he can. Ella has a choice that scares and excited her. She can keep herself closed, or she can face the secrets that sent her running. This is where their new story begins. This story hit close to home. I know all too well about the fear that surrounds bi-polar disorder. It is a battle, even when medicated for those that love you. This is the fear Ella faces, turning into her mother. Micha is intense to say the least and he’s so sure of himself. But everyone has secrets and pain that drive them. He’s sweet, but there is a lot under his hood. I picture him as a hot musician, but a profound being that suffers more than he ever shows. He reminds me of myself, minus the guitar playing and car racing. I’d find it hard pressed to find someone who can’t relate to their pain or to having to hide the real you from the world. Young adults 17+ and adults of all ages, who enjoy romance and discovery should go read this now. I read it in a day and couldn’t put it down. I didn’t want to either and now I’m looking forward to the next chapter in their lives.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: NetGalleyReviewer: MeDark Shadows/Vampirella is the crossover story of two legendary vampires, Vampirella and Barnabas Collins (yes the vampire from that weird Dark Shadows movie with Johnny Depp) who are fangs deep in a gruesome murder mystery. It’s a fast-paced blood splattering thriller binding two unlikely heroes and one crazy goddess-vamp villain. Surprisingly enough, I loved this graphic novel much more than I expected. A threat has awakened and women across New York are being slaughtered right under the cities nose. No one is safe, and it’s even more unfortunate if you happen to be a working woman walking alone at night. Our story beings with Collins and Vampirella on the case, both are seeking out leads on one missing girl in particular – a girl that hold ancient ties to Collins. When the two meet, as expected there’s an all out vampire brawl. Vampirella quickly gets a taste of the ancient and he is equally impressed with her reputation. And once fangs are retracted and blood settles, the two team up along with Quentin Collins and Pantha to uncover the mysterious deaths and stop the evil hell-bent on destroying the city. Overall, I enjoyed the Dark Shadows and Vampirella crossover. It’s a fun, sexy quick-read with plenty of action and nonstop blood spatter to make you laugh out loud and maybe curse a little bit too. If you love violent tales and snappy one-liners, then I’m sure you find this compilation both satisfying and exceptionally entertaining.Recommendation: Due to Extreme Violence, Nudity, and Graphic Content, This Comic is Recommended to Adults 18 and Over

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4 out of 5 Smexy ControllersReview Source: PublisherReviewer: HeatherIf I Were You …Whoa. Talk about some crazy, be careful what you wish for, fast paced read. It’s rare that i can knock out a book in one sitting, but this one had my gripping my seat. Between the suspense of this mysterious, woman (Rebecca) and the suspense of the life of Sara, I’m not certain where to really begin.First, I like Sara. I can’t relate to everything in her life, but I get her, her actions, and how she begins to feel. She throws caution to the wind and embarks on not only a steamy romance that isn’t supposed to have strings attached, but she falls into her dream job.Now there were things that I didn’t understand. I’m not big on submissive type stories, but this isn’t what Sara is. It is, however, a part of the story. It comes into play pretty early on as it sets the pace for the mystery. If you’re like me, and not bothered by reading it, then this can still be enjoyed for the steamy sex and well, the mystery of Rebecca. That is what drew me in, just like Sara, I had to know about Rebecca. Where is she, is she alright, etc … but then something happened. Quickly we see Sara, sweet but maybe not so innocent as she portrays, unfold as two dark, handsome, and mysterious men battle for her attentions. The problem? They are both from Rebecca’s world, the one that terrorized her, and assumed by Sara, sent her running. Or worse, got her killed … So I tried my best not to give too much away. However, one last warning … this is a major cliffhanger that left me foaming for more. At the same time, I was disappointed. While I came away entertained, I felt there was little closure for me. It won’t stop me from following the trilogy, but if you don’t like to wait then it’s best to wait till all the book are available. For now, I’ll have to be contempt and wait … patiently.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 out of 5 Tantalizing ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: HeatherVampires, Demons, Angels, oh my stars. I don’t even know where to begin… Redemption, The Seven Signs is book #2, and I’m all but salivating to read the first after this steamy, bloody, tantalizing story. I’ll forewarn though, it has a lot of yummy, erotically written sexual scenes (and sexual suggestion) that hold nothing back, tossing you head first (no pun intended) into the moment. Japheth is a fallen angel, tossed from heaven by the archangel Michael and for fourteen hundred odd years, he’s made it his mission to become redeemed. On Earth, he allows himself only the pleasure of hunting and killing evil, the minions of Satan. He takes no pleasure from the flesh and allows nothing gratifying into his life, which earns him the nickname frigid, icy, and frosty. It matches his blue angelfire perfectly until… Rose Harley was just a young woman with huge dreams before she became seduced, confused, and then forced into the world of bloody thirst. She seeks no redemption because she doesn’t believe it possible, not for her, and certainly not after what she’s done. Instead, she is a vampire; Rose is a slave in every aspect from her body to her fangs. Still, her instinct is to fight back, not for her soul, but to stay out of Hell. Her job is to hunt and kill fallen angels, a job she excels at, until… Two unlikely supernaturals are thrown together in this quick paced, suck you in until you beg for more, read. There is passion; there is lust, greed and envy as the story twists and turns in this multiperson point-of-view apocalyptic fight for the future. There is action, sex, mystery, and suspense rolled into one super charged ball of fury that will keep you on the edge of your seat, frozen in stupefying wonder. Want to know how it all plays out? I can tell you that I barely scratched the surface, so you better read it. While I started with #2, I would suggest starting with the first. I was able to grasp it, but I typically won’t read anything out of sequence unless I have to. I’ve read a lot of paranormal/fantasy. This is by far the perfect blend for adults. It’s real, real in the fantasy sort of way, but real nonetheless. This isn’t your wishy washy teenage angst filled romance. The pull, the fight, all of it drips with a human edge, which brings you to the front lines. If you love steamy romance, read it. If you love PNR/UF/Apocalypse read it.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: PublisherReviewer: AimeeKayI was soooo excited I got to read this anthology. I am sooo glad I wasn’t disappointed. I have to admit the only reason I jumped at the chance to read and review Songs of Love Lost and Found was because it has a story by Tanith Lee in it. She is one of my all time favorite writers. Fortunately, all the stories were good, not just Lee’s, and before I knew it I found myself already finished!There are only five stories in the book and they are all about love in one way or another. Not all the stories had happy endings, but each was well-written and drew me in, from the first page to the last. The Marrying Maid – sweet and funny.The Blue Boots - I so thought would end differently than it did!You, And You Alone - so mysterious and moving at the same time.Under/Above the Water – definitely had to pay attention during this one.Demon Lover – wasn’t sure how this one was going to end either. I think if I have any complaint about the anthology or any of the stories it contains, it would be that I wish there could have been more stories or that I wish some of them were longer. I’m definitely giving this one 5 out of 5 controllers! The ones with the little crowns this one was that good!

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Audiobook PurchaseReviewer: MeAs I sit here and write this review, I am feeling very apprehensive. I am a HUGE Showalter fan, and you can usually catch me tooting her horn on a daily basis, however, after reading Beauty Awakened, I feel somewhat disappointed. Now, don’t get me wrong, this is a beautiful love story and epically written as only Showalter can, however for those fans who are accustomed to her over-the-stop sexiness I feel this novel is lacking it. Was it a shock? Absolutely. Does that make Beauty Awakened any less awesome? In my opinion, no. It just makes this novel….different. The story centers around Nicola and Koldo, two very, very, very, different people. Nicola is about as frail as fail can get and she is probably one of my least favorite of Showalter’s heroines (SN: if you want to see a strong heroine, check out Anya from The Darkest Kiss). Nicola and her sister, both have serious health conditions, which cause them to lead very limited lives. You can’t help but feel sympathy for the pair and at times you may even want to shake them a little and force them to wake up! However, over the course of the story, we are able to see growth within Nicola. And this growth is very specific, it’s spiritual. Basically, the entire story consists of strengthening oneself in faith. This in my personal opinion forced the novel to move away from sexual tension and epic descriptions to, vague encounters and dodgy language. It made the reader focus more on the overall story than the Will-They or Won’t-They. I can honestly say, I wasn’t attracted or attached to Koldo in the least (which is a first!). The moment I meet Showalter’s alpha males, I am usually head-over-heels drooling nonstop for them. But I didn’t get butterflies. And I didn’t get any sort of, omg-he’s-freaking-awesome brewing inside of me. Instead, I felt like I was reading the story of someone I would consider my brother or a good friend. But – yes there is a but – Koldo is a strong character. Broken, but strong. He’s a fighter, a survivor, and very gentle underneath it all. He’s someone you want in your corner when all heck is about to break loose. Overall, Beauty Awakened was as I said…extremely different. I haven’t read any reviews (but I am as soon as I post this) so I don’t know how others will perceive it. The general story is sweet, maybe too sweet – although Koldo sure is put through hell from time to time. I loved the first novel, Wicked Nights, which was less about faith, and more about soul mates finding steamy hot passionate love. Will I continue the series? You bet! Nothing, will stop me from reading Showalter, and with the next installment of The Lords of The Underworld coming up, I am hoping and reverently praying I will get the smexy Showalter I am use to, or even better, a mix between the new and the old one. I recommend Beauty Awakened to those of you looking for a dark romance, with sweet undertones, and don’t mind a lack of descriptions in your love scenes.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: HeatherWounded is a story that has a lot of potential. It is a story about courage, emotional strength, and survival. It is also about love and trust. All of these messages are fairly strong, and good, in my opinion. This is a parallel story between an Iraqi woman named Raina who is forced to sell her body in order to survive. During a battle on the streets, she meets a marine, and decides to save him. It goes against everything she knows. This man is an American, he is her enemy, and they are at war. The man’s past isn’t nearly as dramatic. Hunter’s been hurt, away at war more than home, and he’s lost his family. His high school sweetheart crushed his heart, and he doesn’t know if he even understands what love is. Now he is being treated by this woman, separated from his people, and at risk of killing them both if he is caught. Raina is misguided. All she knows of love is sex. She doesn’t take enjoyment from what she does, but it does shame her greatly. Hunter is attracted to her, he wants her, but he realizes how impossible it is. There are many barriers for them to overcome, and at times, the war is the easiest. Do they fall in love? You’d have to read it. Alright. I hate when I don’t thoroughly enjoy a book. I love romance and sexual tension in books, and both of those were good. BUT when it came down to the nitty gritty, I feel it lacked luster that it deserved. While I enjoyed the back and forth between Raine and Hunter through the story, when it came to these intense scenes, I felt it slowed the story too much for me. Now, aside from that here are some really great aspects I loved. The story was original. Raina is a pretty, naive girl who got herself into her own predicament. At the same time, we pity her even though the choices to sell herself were her own. Tucker, eh, I did like him and his rescuing, sweet side. I also don’t know how believable his story is, with all those injuries. I know marines are tough and they have the most hellish training, but the guy was shot numerous times, had broken bones, was battling infection, and he didn’t have pain killers. Toward the end, there were things he did or said to Raina that made me want to smack him. Anytime he compared things to his ex, things that she did for him (or even didn’t do). I just felt like he didn’t even know half of what he was teaching Raina. Overall, I really loved Raina, and at times Tucker too. Their love and romance felt right, and I did feel the story was original. I could have done without the sex altogether (as soon as it began I lost interest), or if it had been more single focus. I am sure others will disagree, but to each their own. I’d gladly read more from the author, and I’d still recommend this one to others for the love story alone.

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: PublisherReviewer: AimeeKayI have been waiting forever to read Be My Enemy, the sequel to Planesrunner by Ian McDonald! (Okay it’s been less than a year…but still!) So I was uber-excited to see this one in my box of goodies from D. Luckily I wasn’t disappointed and enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed the first book. Be My Enemy picks up where Planesrunner ended. Dr. Singh is still missing and Everett is stuck on a frozen version of earth trying to figure out a way to find him. I think that Be My Enemy is slightly darker than Planesrunner. In Planesrunner there is the sense that everything will somehow work out alright in the end. It didn’t, but it still had that vibe. Maybe because Everett is more optimistic? In Be My Enemy however, Everett finally begins to realize that fixing his problems might not be as easy as he believed. I think that this change in Everett is interesting and it definitely shows him maturing and fills him out as a character. I also really liked that McDonald began to really introduce the fact that in the alternate Earths there are also alternate people. Yes it had already been presented in the first book, but in this one it really looked at it and examined a lot closer. How different circumstances change the alternates and can cause them to take divergent paths from each other. Yet, even with huge differences there seem to be some ingrained traits, choices, and actions, that remain the same. I won’t go into too much detail because I don’t want to spoil it. This one ends pretty much the same as the previous one. There is a cliffie and still LOTS of unresolved issues. Course this one also ends with a possible nano-plague invasion of Everett’s home world, so the cliffie here is a bit steeper. Overall, I loved this book. Again, I was pulled in from the very beginning and enjoyed every minute of the ride. If you haven’t already read Planesrunner I would recommend reading it before you pick up Be My Enemy. The second book can be read separately…but there are some things that the reader might not understand as much if they missed out on the first one. For example Sen’s Airish slang. If you haven’t read the first book then it might get a bit confusing as to why she speaks that way (Again though there is a handy little Palari dictionary in the back). I’m giving it 5 out of 5 controllers and I can’t wait to see where Everett goes to next!

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 3.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: MeThe Crimson Hunt began as a slow read for me, however as soon as the plot thickened and we began discovering the hidden depths of Ariel’s world, I slowly began to fall in love with this novel and its story. With many secrets and people constantly dying, The Crimson Hunt is an interesting take on…well; I can’t give away what they are without spoiling the big reveal! Ariel is a girl whose life was destroyed by fire. But she is determined to be normal and live the fullest life possible and always seems to do the right thing. Her best friend, a charismatic girl who lives her life on the edge, tries to shake Ariel into living a life that is free and uninhibited. So, she decides to take her advice when she meets heart-throb Luca, a guy with killer eyes who seems to ignore her at every turn. After Ariel’s world is rocked once again by death – and yes this death is so unexpected – she has to learn to trust the one person who may or may not have her best interests at heart. Overall, The Crimson Hunt is full of wonderful surprises. One’s I never expected and was shocked after they happened. It’s a quick read with a lot of pizzazz, and I’m sure others will also fall in love with its charm. The author did a wonderful job of keeping me guessing and I would definitely read the next book in the series!

Originally Reviewed At: Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: HeatherTimespell is a cross between and urban fantasy and a historical novel. It revolves around three different girls who are born to become the Daughters of Fate. We follow these three 16 year old girls as they discover the bonds of friendship and save the world from the Sorceress. Daughters of the Past, Present, and Future must travel back in time to Pre-Revolutionary France to close off the portal that threatens to undo history as they know it. But first they must accept their fate and chose to join together. This is easier said than done, when it’s discovered that the final daughter is an enemy. This journey shows us pain, but it also reminds us about forgiveness too. We get to see each girl, and the internal struggles they face as Daughters and as teenagers. They hate, they love, and they find ways to achieve the impossible in both the present and the past. I loved the historical aspect. What can I say, I’m a sucker for history. Add in some magic and well, I’m there. It was nice to get sucked in, but I really wanted more. I wanted more background on the Daughter of the Past too. Overall though I found the story entertaining and the world is solidly built. If this will become a series, I’ll follow it closely as I’m intrigued to see how it will all play out. Especially after the end, which I won’t say anything about.

Originally Reviewed At:Mother/Gamer/WriterRating: 4.5 out of 5 ControllersReview Source: Blog TourReviewer: HeatherThe Midnight Spell isn’t my usual read. I wasn’t even sure how much I would relate to it. However, I decided to read it anyway. What is so different? Well I can’t lie, it’s right there in the blurb. It’s not that I have anything against it. I’m just not the audience the author is trying to reach. After all I’m a *coughs* 30 something *coughs* woman reading YA, which is rare for me. I enjoyed the story. It had a unique angle, felt fresh and was well written. The characters were very believable, and I really liked seeing them grow both apart and together. In a short time they were really forced through a lot of turmoil and teenage crap. The witchy angle wasn’t completely new, but the author was comfortable in the world she created. On a side note, I would have liked to know a bit more, but I get that it wasn’t necessary for the story to unfold. Now this wasn’t your average PNR. It has more to do with love in the sense of family and friendship, which I think teens and adults both need to pay attention to. We get so wrapped up in who is hot, who is dating who, and all that crap that sometimes we forget who really matters in life. That, guys, is a message that rings loud and clear. While it is obvious by the blurb, the second protagonist is a gay teen. I state this for anyone who would have an issue with this, and will tell you that very innocent smooches (think cheeks, yes the ones on the face.) do take place. It also talks of the emotions anyone feels when they’re in love. I found it to be terribly sweet and the whole story was entertaining. This story can be enjoyed by anyone fifteen or older. Boy, girl, teen, adult, it doesn’t matter. The story really has something for everyone. Personally, I’d like to see a continuation of the story, friendships, and the cat and broom too.