Review: My Boyfriend Merlin

My Boyfriend Merlin by Priya Ardis

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: In this modern Arthurian, 17-year-old nice girl Arriane, aka Ryan, DuLac just found out her badass biker boyfriend, Matt, is a little older than he was letting on. By a few eons.

In fact, he is really Merlin--the Merlin, King Arthur's Merlin, the greatest wizard who ever lived. But Ryan's not impressed. Tired of being a relationship loser, she'd rather kick his legendary behind.

Sure, the world has been crazy ever since the sword and the stone fell out of the sky like a meteor. But despite gruesome gargoyles, a new world of magic, and the guy driving her crazy, Ryan knows that family is everything. Will Merlin sacrifice hers to save the world? Will she be able to stop him?

My Thoughts: Oh how I enjoyed this story. It was a fun, funny, adventure.

Who would have thought Merlin and his Brother, Vivane, Vane for short, would get into a fight in a cave and end up entombing themselves in it for eons?? Well they did. Merlin, who goes by Matt, now, and Vane really remind me of the Salvatore brothers from Vampire Diaries.

Poor Ryan has had a crappy year. Her Mom has died and she’s in the process of being adopted by her Mom’s best friend. Had to move from Texas to Massachusetts. The guy she liked broke up with her after 2 dates. Life is sucking, big time. But, she is one of those people who puts others first. She’s smart and kind and she sticks up for the underdog. She’s a born leader!

The story created an ending for the old Camelot and is ushering in a new Camelot. Magic and Gargoyles abound! Of course, Excalibur is at the heart of it all and he, or she, who wields it, is going to have to be up for the fight of their life…literally.

The second installment of this story is out, but apparently only available to Nook readers. I can’t wait to get my hands on it!




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I'm Swearing off Galleys...sort of

When I first started this blog, a year ago, I thought the be all and end all was getting galleys.  Getting access to an as yet unpublished work before the general public got it.  I can admit the power may have gone to my head...LOL!

But now I find I have become a "slave" to the galleys.  I get stressed out when I haven't read the galleys that have already been published. I see the pile of galleys I have committed to reading and get stressed out.  This whole reading and blogging this is supposed to be fun!

So I am going to go back to reading what I want to read...my list is upwards of 1200 and I'll wait and get those "new" titles when they've been released to the general public, cuz God knows I am not lacking in reading material.

Review: Bared to You

Bared to You by Sylvia Day

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Our journey began in fire...

Gideon Cross came into my life like lightning in the darkness—beautiful and brilliant, jagged and white-hot. I was drawn to him as I'd never been to anything or anyone in my life. I craved his touch like a drug, even knowing it would weaken me. I was flawed and damaged, and he opened those cracks in me so easily...

Gideon knew. He had demons of his own. And we would become the mirrors that reflected each other's most private wounds... and desires.

The bonds of his love transformed me, even as I prayed that the torment of our pasts didn't tear us apart.

My Thoughts: This is being marketed as the next “50 Shades of Grey”.
Sylvia Day is an established author with “New York Times Bestseller” attached to her name. So, of course, the writing is going to be better than “50”. But I can’t help but wonder, is this Ms. Day’s version of “50”? Meaning, is this something she would have written if “50” never saw the light of day? Or is she just trying to show EL James how it’s done? Be careful, when you draw comparisons…they may not, all, be pleasant.
We find out what happened in Eva’s life to make her the damaged person she is. We never did find out what happened to Gideon, although it’s hinted at in references to “consensual sex” and that he has nightmares about the house he grew up in. I think we can draw our own conclusions there.
Eva is a fully realized character for the most part. Granted the running away she does throughout the book gets a bit tiresome. At some point I would think she would act her age and face a challenge head on instead of running away. She seemed to face the horror she went through when she was younger better than she faces relationship challenges now as an adult.
Gideon, on the other hand, is pretty one-dimensional. But at least he seems more honest, blunt even. I just want to get to know him better.
The sex is raw and frequent…that is what brings these two people together. But Gideon tries to keep them together because they can be their “broken” selves together. They get each other. Ultimately, you know they will be paramount in fixing each other. So this, like “50” is becoming a story about redemption, and let’s face it…we all have something about ourselves that needs redeeming.
If you liked “50” you will enjoy this too. I will definitely be recommending to my “50” fans, as well as reading the next book in the “Crossfire” series.




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Review: Dead Time

Dead Time by Anne Cassidy

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: When Rose was twelve, her mother and stepfather went out for dinner and never came back. Now seventeen, she lives with her grandmother and goes to school in London. She’s always wondered about her stepbrother, Joshua, whom she only lived with briefly and who was also relocated after their parents’ disappearance. When Rose and Joshua meet again, they find they have much in common, including a desire to uncover the mystery surrounding their parents’ disappearance . . . and a mutual attraction to each other. But when Rose witnesses the murders of not one but two of her classmates, she must uncover who is behind these violent crimes. And when she and Joshua discover that a much larger conspiracy is underway, both of their lives will be in danger. From international bestseller Anne Cassidy, this first in a fastpaced and romantic new mystery series will keep readers guessing.

My Thoughts: This book was different…not quite sure how to describe it.

Rose is stuck dealing with the murders of two classmates. Because she is the seemingly common denominator in both cases, she feels reluctantly forced into finding answers. At the same time her “step-brother” Joshua enters the picture.

Joshua’s Dad and Rose’s Mom were never married even though all four of them lived together as a family. Joshua’s Dad, Brendan, and Rose’s Mom, Kathy, disappeared one night five years earlier leaving no trace. While Rose has moved on, Joshua has not. Joshua has and is doing anything and everything to find any hint of what happened to Brendan and Kathy.

So, we, the reader, are stuck in the midst of 3 mysteries. One is solved and closed by the police, one is not, and there are clues pointing toward the trail of the third. This book has a lot going on, least of which is romance! But the references, above, to romance are a bit misleading. We get the feeling like Rose might be attracted to Joshua but that’s about all we get. Plus the seeming interest of a couple of other characters in Rose.

We learn so little about Rose and Joshua. They don’t seem to be fully formed. We see tiny glimpses of them before the parents disappeared, but really don’t know anything about them. We know they were miserable while they were apart, but why didn’t they keep in touch? Joshua was able to contact Rose when he moved to London, why not sooner? It was the little things about this book that bothered me.

There is a rather large cliffhanger that will bring me back for more…I’m just hoping that story will be a bit more concise and the characters will be more developed.




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Review: The Hunt

The Hunt by Andrew Fukuda

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?

My Thoughts: Ultimately, not a big fan of this book. It was kind of like a ‘Vampire Hunger Games”...it had potential, but never quite rose to the occasion.

Fukuda dumps us in this world where we don’t know what the deal is, other than it’s a world of Vampires, and the eyes we are looking through belong to a human posing as a vampire. But Fukuda doesn’t do much World building throughout the story.

I had a ton of questions from the reading that were never addressed or answered. We don’t know anything about how long the world has been ruled by vampires...or how long the main character’s family has been in hiding among them. We know the vamps call humans, “hepers”, but now why.

When the main character, whose “name” we learn is Gene over halfway through the book, goes through some seminars prior to the Hunt. They were to provide some insight into how hepers think and operated. During one of these “seminars”, the Director talks about how hepers are a couple of hundred years behind the vamps on the evolutionary scale...which would lead me to believe that vamps have been in power for centuries. How could humans hide that long amongst the vamps? Also, why doesn’t anyone have names in this world? Makes it hard to address people when they don’t have names.

The vamps do some strange things like wrist scratching and apparently “foreplay” has something to do with elbows in armpits...which is never explained or even hinted at. I felt like I came into a movie that was halfway over and missed all the back story...the problem was that there was no backstory.

Overall I found the story predictable. Once the hunt was announced I wrote down my predictions for what I thought would happen and I was spot on with one exception. I thought possible all the “hunters” were hepers. This book frustrated me no end.





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Review: Accidentally in Love with...A God?

Accidentally in Love with...A God? by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Twenty-two-year-old Emma Keane has a secret friend. He’s powerful, mysterious, and devastatingly handsome. In her dreams, anyway.

In real life, he’s an enigma. Maybe just a teensie jealous. Definitely overbearing. He’s also a voice only she can hear.

So who or what is he? He won’t say. But if she wants to be free, to be normal, Emma will have to trek to the jungles once ruled by the Mayans and find the forgotten ruin holding the answers.

However, the ruthless deity she’s about to unknowingly unleash on the modern world might not be so easily extracted from her life. Bottom line, he’s got enemies, and now, so does she

My Thoughts: This was a fun, romantic read. I couldn’t imagine what it would be like to grow up with some guys voice in my head, having conversations with me.

Emma is very unsure of herself. She’s spent her life listening to this guy and isn’t really sure if it is actually happening or if she is crazy. Once she understands who he is and how he communicates she wants to help him free the others like him that also trapped. Meanwhile Guy just wants to keep her safe from the priests who entrapped him. And, let’s face it, Guy is a little to macho for his own good.

Pamfiloff created a fun and unique story that I whipped through in about one sitting. The verbal sparring between the two main characters was so much fun to read and laugh through. The story moved very quickly and she shared only what was necessary to enjoy the story…we weren’t bogged down in history lessons. I enjoyed this one so much I had to immediately purchase her other “Accidentally Yours” title. Much to my dismay, one of the minor characters from this book informed readers at the beginning of the next one that we wouldn’t see the resolution to the cliffhanger for some time yet…while disappointing, it didn’t stop me from reading.




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Review: From What I Remember...

From What I Remember... by Stacy Kramer

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Goodreads Synopsis: KYLIE: Tijuana WHAT? I should be putting the finishing touches on my valedictorian speech. Graduation is TODAY, and is this a wedding band on my finger.

MAX: It all started with Kylie's laptop and a truck full of stolen electronics Okay, it was kind of hot, the way she broke us out like some chick in an action movie. But now we're stranded in TIjuana. WIth less than twenty-four hours before graduation. Awesome.

WILL: Saving Kylie Flores from herself is kind of a full-time occupation. Luckily, I, Will Bixby, was born for the job. And when I found out she was stuck in Mexico with dreamy Max Langston, sure, I agreed to bring thier passports across the border--but there's no reason to rush back home right away. This party is just getting started.

LILY: I just walked in on my boyfriend, Max Langston, canoodling with Kylie Flores, freak of the century. Still, I can't completely hold it against him. He NEEDS me. It's even clearer now. And I'm not giving him up without a fight.

My Thoughts: What a gem of a book!!! I absolutely loved it!

That prologue hooks you completely and makes you want to know who Kylie and Max are, where they are, and why are they married. Well it starts innocuously enough, but then the story takes you on a joyride through adventure after adventure after adventure.

During the ride we learn Kylie and Max are not who they seem. She is stronger than she appears and his strength is mostly a show he puts on because it’s what others expect. They have great dialogue and are just a perfect compliment for each other.

The writing is funny, witty, serious, thoughtful, it’s just everything and then some. The authors poke fun and really don’t take themselves too seriously which makes the story all the more enticing.

This was a fast read, done in one sitting because I had to know the lead-up to the wedding rings, the aftermath and if Kylie was ever going to deliver her Valedictorian address. She does and while it’s not the speech she wrote, her off-the-cuff remarks are something you can see an 18 year old saying, rather than an adult writing for an 18 year old. This is one of the things I so enjoyed about this book...Kylie and Max were authentic.

Kramer and Thomas are on my watch list now. Can’t wait to see what they do in the future.



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Review: Underworld

Underworld by Meg Cabot

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



3.5 Stars


GoodReads Synopsis: Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn’t dead. Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey.

Her captor, John Hayden, claims it’s for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they’ve come back as Furies, intent on vengeance…on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves.

But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there…and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.

And unless Pierce is careful, this time there’ll be no escape.

My Thoughts: I was expecting that his trilogy would be about convincing Pierce to join John in the Underworld…and dealing with the Furies. This installment wasn’t what I expected. Pierce joining John in the Underworld wasn’t the issue. The issue was about the Furies and what they will do to Pierce or her family in her stead.

The pace was fast and the book hard to put down. Pierce has resigned herself to a life in the Underworld with the love of her life, John, but is concerned about the family she has left behind.

Alex, Pierce’s cousin, is pivotal in this story and should figure prominently in the next and last book of this trilogy. In learning more about Alex, we also learned what caused Pierce’s Mom to leave the island, and what prompted Uncle Chris’s stint in jail. I believe that “Awaken”, the last book in the series, will be a fight to the death with the Furies and about righting the wrongs for Uncle Chris and Alex.

I do enjoy this series. I love the dark, brooding John Hayden and we did learn more of his history which was troubling. Mr. Smith, the cemetery sexton, encourages Pierce to find out why John became a death deity…I think we only learned part of the story, but not the “why”. Meanwhile Pierce seems to have fallen unconditionally in love with him and comes up with a justification for everything he has done. I suspect this may bite her in the butt later.

If you are a fan of Hades and/or Persephone, I suggest you check out this retelling from the creator of the “Princess Diaries”.




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Review: Last Rite

Last Rite by Lisa Desrochers

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: In this final installment of the thrilling, edgy Personal Demons series, the battle between Heaven and Hell has become critical, and Frannie Cavanaugh is right at the center of it.

With the help of the powerful angel Gabe and demon-turned-mortal Luc, Frannie has been able to stay one step ahead of the forces of Hell. But when the demons killed Frannie's best friend and destroyed her brother, they raised the stakes. If Frannie wants to keep her family and friends safe, she knows she has no choice but to go on the run.

Their best defense is the power Frannie has been struggling to master, but her attempts to hone her skill go horribly awry. If Frannie doesn't learn fast, the consequences could be devastating--even apocalyptic.

What happens when you can't outrun Hell...or trust the ones you love?

My Thoughts: Just when you think you know where a story is going, BAM, Lisa DesRochers throws ya a curve ball.

We always knew it was going to come down to a battle with King Lucifer…all the revelations leading up to that battle and then what goes down during that “battle” were surprising and “edge of your seat”. There is still so much we don’t know about Frannie…a lot Frannie doesn’t know about herself as we start “Last Rite”.
I thought we would see more of Matt and Gabe’s transformation made for some compelling reading. A couple of new characters are introduced to add tension and will become pivotal. And all the talk of King Lucifer and his motivations was really interesting and thought provoking. Ultimately Frannie has to follow her heart and figure out what and who to believe. Which isn’t as easy for her to do as you might think.

From beginning to end, this was a very compelling and enjoyable series. I loved all the characters, especially Luc, Gabe, and Grampa Ed. I’m a sucker for stories of redemption. And while I’m sorry to see it end, just like all really good series, I’m emotionally invested in the characters and look forward to revisiting the books in the future.




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Review: Passion

Passion by Lauren Kate

My rating: 2 of 5 stars



GoodReads Synopsis: Luce would die for Daniel.

And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever.

My Thoughts: This was not a favorite book of mine. The whole point was for Luce to get a better understanding of “the curse”. I believe this could have been accomplished without a whole book dedicated to just that. I found the whole traveling back through time and watching herself die over and over again very tedious. We also spent some time with Daniel, reliving some of his time in between Luce’s lives, and actually learned a lot more about the curse through him.

The other purpose of this book was to set up the “final conflict” that will be fought in the fourth and last book, “Rapture”. Prior to this installment, we assumed that the series was going to focused on breaking the curse that keeps killing Luce. While that is still important, it has become secondary to a much grander scheme Lucifer has revealed.

After this book, I am anxious to get back to the “present” and see what Luce, Daniel, the Outcasts and the Nephilim will be faced with and if the curse will be broken for once and for all.




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