Google+ Secret Book Lover: April 2013

Tuesday 30 April 2013

Sweet Peril Release Day!

Sweet Peril (The Sweet Trilogy, #2)

Today is the day! My Kindle is so happy with me because at 12:01, my pre-ordered copy of Sweet Peril arrived!

Sweet Peril (by Wendy Higgins) is the second book the the Sweet Trilogy. After the gut-wrenching ending in the first book - Sweet Evil - I couldn't wait to get my hands on it! I am about halfway through it, but I am tearing myself away from Kai (the sexiest drummer ever) to update you guys on the sitch.

Here's the synopsis. I'll post a review as soon as I finish it, but for now: Go get yourselves a copy!


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Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things. 

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?



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Sound's good, right? Clicking the picture brings you to Amazon. *hint hint*

Sunday 28 April 2013

Rant - Wrecked by Shiloh Walker

PREMISE
In the nineties, Abigale Applegate and Zach Barnes were the most beloved sitcom child stars in the world. Then they grew up and left Hollywood behind…

Whatever happened to Abigale Applegate?

She’s been wondering the same thing.

With her Hollywood dreams long gone, Abigale now has a nice, neat, uncomplicated life—until the day her perfect fiancé needs to talk. Dumped, a little more than shattered, and totally confused, Abigale turns to Zach, her best friend since forever, to help her pick up the pieces. He does it with a gift—a copy of Wreck This Journal. She can vent her frustrations, and sketch out a new plan. Zach just hopes he’s part of it. Because he’s been in love with Abigale his entire life.

When the journal falls into Zach’s hands, he discovers Abigale wants a new man. And fast. Nothing more than a hot distraction. Zach has a strategy, too. He’s going to be that man. It’s his last chance. Abigale might be out to shake up her life, but Zach’s out to reinvent it. Now, all he has to do is convince Abigale that life can go as planned.
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Looks good, right? Which is why, even though I'm not one for contemporary romance, I was really looking forward to this. In fact, I got so hyped up about this that I pre-ordered it for my Kindle and got up at 12.01 to read it!

..... and I think I've wasted my time. 

Don't get me wrong, it starts out pretty well. The tension between Zach and Abigale is absolutely delicious  and it was fun being in Zach's head. However, this book is supposed to be about "getting the girl" after waiting so long for her, right? 

Well, they have sex at the beginning of the book - and spend the rest of the book having sex. 

Seriously, where did the synopsis go? I must have completely misinterpreted it because I was waiting for this big build up and then a BOOM! at the end, when she discovers that her best friend like likes her and vice versa. Instead, Zach kind of bypasses the whole "friend" thing and head straight to "lover" almost as soon as the book starts. I know that the synopsis says that he wants to be the guy she has an affair with, but they way it was written just didn't ring true. Also, even though they are "Best Friends Forever" who are having sex, he keeps hiding his love for her in case it scares her away. Meanwhile, she tries to figure out:
  1. Whether or not she loves him.
  2. Whether or not he loves her.
  3. Why she's so whiny.
Oh, wait, sorry. Number three was one of the things I was trying to figure out. Which brings me to my next point: I just didn't like Abigale.

As I mentioned above, she was really whiny. She practically fell apart if she didn't have a "plan" to follow. Now that I'm thinking about it, she actually might have had anxiety issues. If she did, I'd probably be more sympathetic. I think that the author was trying to show the contrast between her and Zach, who is supposed to live life on the edge. Which is funny, because apart from owning a tattoo parlour (oooh! Danger, danger!) he seems like a pretty normal guy.

I don't know. I just didn't feel it. I think it deserved:
 Two hats. It was a spell gone wrong.

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Thoughts? Have I completely lost my mind? Do you like it, love it or go "Eh."? Let me know!


Sunday 14 April 2013

Top 5 Sundays!


Okay, so you guys know the drill: every week I post a Top Five list as part of a weekly meme hosted by Larissa at Larissa's Bookish Life. This week's theme is: FAVOURITE FEMALE TV CHARACTERS! I don't watch that much television, so my choices are a little limited, but I'll try my best. :)

AMY FARRAH FOWLER (Big Bang Theory)
Come on, you just have to love the way she put's up with all the Sheldon-related crap.
I think she's great!


BUFFY SUMMERS (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
...Do I need to explain this one?


PIPER HALLIWELL (Charmed)
Another kick-ass lady! She really brought the sass. *wistful sigh for long-lost TV series*



PHEOBE BUFFAY (Friends)
Being a blonde myself, I usually object to those stereotypes, but God, Pheobe just made it too funny!


CAROLINE FORBES (Vampire Diaries)
She is blonde and smart - and she kicks-ass. I'm sensing a theme here...


So what are your faves? Let me know!

Wednesday 10 April 2013

Rave - Twice Tempted by Jeaniene Frost


PREMISE
Dating the Prince of Darkness has its challenges
Leila’s psychic abilities have been failing her, and now she isn't sure what the future holds. If that weren't enough, her lover Vlad has been acting distant. Though Leila is a mere mortal, she’s also a modern woman who refuses to accept the cold shoulder treatment forever–especially from the darkly handsome vampire who still won’t admit that he loves her . . .
Like choosing between eternal love and a loveless eternity 
Soon circumstances send Leila back to the carnival circuit, where tragedy strikes. And when she finds herself in the crosshairs of a killer who may be closer than she realizes, Leila must decide who to trust– the fiery vampire who arouses her passions like no other or the tortured knight who longs to be more than a friend? With danger stalking her every step of the way, all it takes is one wrong move to damn her for eternity . . .

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Okay, so awhile ago I reviewed Once Burned and I wasn't really feeling it. I had hoped that Twice Tempted would re-boot my undying love for all things Jeaniene Frost (and Vlad!)...and it did! Here's what happens:

After so long being told "This far and no further" Leila has finally had enough! She up and leaves Vlad because of his stubbornness and pride when it comes to his feelings. However, more mysterious foes from Vlad's past and deep betrayals cause havoc in Leila's life, forcing them back together for her protection yet again...... (Deja vu  anyone?)

As they get closer to finding out who is behind the attacks, Vlad and Leila both realize some things (mainly Vlad though. Our girl has got smarts!) and find there way back to each other. Just in time though. because the waters are about to be tested in ways that will leave even Vlad out of his depth...

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I loved this book. There, I said it. It was everything I wished it would be - more than I wished for - and completely made up for the angst Ms. Frost put us though in Once Burned. Leila is a strong, brave and smart character who can hold her own against our favourite anti-hero. Granted, she does some stupid things that make me cringe, but she does them because she's in love so it's okay.

Vlad does some stupid, rash things as well but that's okay because he's in love (even if he's being stubborn about it!). He's changed since we last saw him, and Leila's leaving really snapped him out of his own arrogance (okay, not that much but he's a little more tolerable). I feel like if they weren't perfect or ready for each other before, they are now.

Plot-wise, I think that it moved nice and fast. When Leila was apart from Vlad it didn't drag because she had a mystery to solve and assassination attempts to thwart. When she was with him there was a perfect balance between romance, tension and plot - not too much or too little of either. There were some unexpected twists (for me, at least) throughout the novel that made me happy, shocked, angry, sad, e.t.c and some BIG information was revealed at the end that makes me wish for the third book, like, yesterday.

Altogether, I think that it was perfect. I stared at the book for about an hour after I finished it and the only fault I could find was that it ended too soon. Go read it now! This book definitely deserves:

 Five hats!!! I was completely spell-bound!

Sunday 7 April 2013

Top Five Sundays!

As part of a weekly meme hosed by the fabulous Larissa at  Larissa's Bookish Life I'm posting a Top Five list every Sunday! This week's theme is: FAVOURITE BOOK COVER ARTISTS! I'm not too sure who the actual artists are but I'll post my favourite covers anyway and try and find out for you guys. Here we go, in no particular order:

 Tom Egner (Night Huntress series)



I'm not sure who did this but the artwork for the Charley Davidson series rocks!



Ted Naifeh (Modern Faerie Tale series)




Giorgetta Bell Mcree (House of Comarre Series)

And last, but not least:

Russell Gordon (Mortal Instruments series)


What are you favourite covers? Let me know!