Showing posts with label 6 stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 6 stars. Show all posts

ARC Review: Dawn of Forever by Jewel E. Ann

18 Feb 2016

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Book Title: Dawn of Forever
Author: Jewel E. Ann
Series: Jack & Jill #3
Release Date: February 18th, 2016
Genres: Humor, Dark Romance, Suspense
**The conclusion to the Jack & Jill series. This is not a standalone novel.

’til death do us part.

Aric James Monaghan promised Jillian Knight Portland. With a heavy heart and a light bag, she travels to the West Coast for the man she loved. In a blink her worlds collide, holding her hostage to a past filled with lies, deceit, and revenge.

Four Caskets
Two Bodies
It all started with a boy and a girl—their tragic love story is shared through the eyes of the enemy.


Every word fades dreams and shatters memories as life slips away. Jillian needs a Knight, Jessica needs a miracle, and together they need a savior.

*WARNING : This book contains explicit language, sexual content, and abusive scenarios that could be a trigger for certain individuals.


ARC Review + Giveaway: The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar

8 Aug 2015

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Book Title: The Paper Swan
Author: Leylah Attar
Series: Standalone
Release Date: August 4th, 2015
Genres: Dark Romance
They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.
They lie.
For 21 days she held on.
But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.
Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

A full-length, standalone novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject matter may be disturbing for some readers.

 
BUY LINKS
AMAZON US || B&N 

{READ MORE FOR ALLISON'S REVIEW!}

Book Review + Signed PB Giveaway! Affairytale: A Memoir by CJ English

10 Jun 2015



Book Title: Affairytale: A Memoir
Author: CJ English
Series: Non-fiction standalone
Release Date: May 20th, 2015
Genres: Non fiction, Memoir
I had an affair. The most forbidden and seductive affair, and I fell in Love. He was a rare gentleman, intelligent and gorgeous; a man every woman desired. Every cell in my body was telling me that he was my happily ever after. I was stuck in a marriage of mediocrity, I ached for red silk romance and carry me away passion, but not with my husband. I craved Him. Living without him was cruel and unusual punishment, even for my wandering heart. Affairytale is a tantalizing memoir of sultry encounters, hidden grottos and secret hillside cabins. From the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes to the Southern shores of Maui you’ll fall in love with this tell-all memoir that pulls back the veil on infidelity and gives you rare look into hearts and bedroom of a real life extramarital affair. Woven with original love letters and scandalous text messages, this engrossing true love story is sure to break then win your heart. True Love always finds a way. Sometimes...it starts with an affair.
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{READ MORE FOR ALLISON'S REVIEW!} 


ARC Review + Giveaway: Trust by Ella Frank

4 May 2015


Book Title: Trust
Author: Ella Frank
Series: Temptation Series #3
Release Date: May 4th, 2015
Genres: Erotica, M/M Romance
TRUST – verb: to believe in the reliability, truth, or strength of another.

Up until now, Logan Mitchell has never had much of a reason to trust anyone. Having struggled with a self-identity crisis throughout college, he’s spent the years since then creating a sophisticated facade to present to the world. It’s an armor he thought was impenetrable—until he met Tate Morrison. The gorgeous, headstrong bartender he’d sat across from only months ago has taken a tight hold of his heart, and Logan is discovering that it’s time to let go. It’s time to let someone inside.

After years of placing his dreams on hold for his family, Tate has finally chosen to do what makes him happy and follow his heart. The one thing he never would’ve imagined was that it would lead him into the arms of a man—and not just any man—the striking, never-takes-no-for-an-answer Logan Mitchell. Tate has fallen hard, and as his world is turned on its axis and they move forward together, he finds his life becoming more entwined with the confident, successful lawyer.

Even though neither man expected the other, it’s time to trust in their relationship—but not everything comes so easily…

BUY LINKS
ON SALE FOR 48HRS - $3.99 at AMAZON ONLY 

{READ MORE FOR ALLISON'S REVIEW!}


Book Review (Spoiler-Free): Fuel the Fire by Krista & Becca Ritchie

4 Apr 2015


Book Title: Fuel The Fire
Author: Krista & Becca Ritchie
Series: Calloway Sisters #3
Release Date: April 3rd, 2015
Genres: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
Protect your family. At all costs.

It’d take the impossible to hurt Connor Cobalt, even for a moment.

Protect your family. At all costs.

At twenty-six, his narcissistic tendencies have made room for the people he loves.

Protect your family. At all costs.

And he loves Rose. But when his love is threatened, when his greatest dreams with her are compromised — what is the cost then?

Protect your family. At all costs.

Love will guide his choices. For the first time in his life.

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{READ MORE FOR JASMINE'S SPOILER-FREE REVIEW!}

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Coda by CD Reiss

20 Mar 2015


Book Title: Coda 
Author: CD Reiss
Series: The Submission Series #9
Genres: Erotica, BDSM

" Did you want a pat little ending about Jonathan and I riding off into the sunset? Did you want flowers and stars? Man, I wish it was all soft filters and violins. I wish we could fight about who cleaned the bathroom or who was cooking dinner. But I knew I was never destined for simple contentment. 

 I almost committed murder for him. I almost tore us apart to save him. How do you get back on the horse after that? Because, I promise you, nothing is the same. Nothing. 



 I’ve earned our happily ever after. Now I have to survive it. "
BUY LINKS
AMAZON // IBOOKS // B&N // GOOGLE // KOBO


{READ MORE FOR ALLISON'S ARC REVIEW!}

Book Review: The Contradiction of Solitude by A. Meredith Walters

8 Mar 2015



BUY LINKS
AMAZON US // AMAZON UK // AMAZON CA // AMAZON AU

You may notice me, but you will never know me. 
 I prefer it that way. 
 I am the daughter of a monster. 
 Born from blood and lies. 
 Dead before I have truly lived. 
 But Elian tells me that I'm different. 
 He tells me that I'm beautiful. That I'm an enigma wrapped in irresistibly complicated skin.
 Elian says that he loves me. 
 These words terrify me. I can't trust love. Or hope. Or truth. 
 Because I fear the beast inside. 
 It threatens to drown Elian and his sweet, unconditional love. I
t's a beast that will destroy everything. 

 **Reader Warning**
 There is NO warning. I won't tell you if there's a HEA, a cliffhanger, or a love triangle. 
Just read it and find out for yourself but please don't post spoilers. 
 The fun of a story is figuring it all out!

{READ MORE FOR JASMINE'S REVIEW!}


Book Review + $0.99 SALE! The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by LB Simmons

25 Feb 2015



BUY LINKS ($0.99 SALE NOW!)
AMAZON // B&N

Death. 

For some, it's simply one of life's certainties, nothing more. For others, it's merely a fleeting thought, one often overshadowed by the reckless delusion that they have been blessed with the gift of immortality. 

For Aubrey Miller, death is the definition of her very existence. Overcome with the guilt resulting from the loss of her beloved family, she alters her appearance from the once beautiful, blonde-haired, blue-eyed little girl to that of one shrouded in complete darkness, enveloping herself in her own unbreakable fortress of solitude as a form of protection for others. 

As she enters her first year of college, her goal is simple: Earn a degree with the least amount of social interaction as possible. What she never anticipates is the formation of very unlikely relationships with two people who will change her life in ways she never believed possible: Quinn Matthews, the boisterous former pageant queen, and Kaeleb McMadden, a childhood friend from her past who never really let her go. 

Over the years, as their connections intertwine and grow, a seemingly indestructible bond is formed between the three... 

But when death painfully reemerges, Aubrey is lost once again, burying herself deeper than ever before inside the familiar fortification of her fears. 

Will the refuge of friendship, the solidarity of life-long bonds, and the power of unconditional love be enough to do the impossible? 

Will they be enough to finally bring about... 

The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller?

{READ MORE FOR JASMINE'S REVIEW!}

Book Review - The Hooker & The Hermit by LH Cosway & Penny Reid

11 Feb 2015





BUY LINKS
AMAZON US // AMAZON UK // B&N // KOBO // IBOOKS

New York’s Finest Blogging as *The Socialmedialite* 
 April 22 LADIES AND GENTS! 
I have an announcement! 

 You know that guy I featured on my blog a few months ago? The really, really hot Irish rugby player who plays the position of ‘hooker’ in the RLI (Rugby League International)? The one with the anger management issues, the body of a gladiator and the face of a movie star? The one with the questionable fashion choices leading me to ask whether he was the lovechild of a leprechaun and a hobbit? Ronan Fitzpatrick? Yeah, that guy. Well, I have a confession to make… 

 THE HERMIT 
 Annie Catrel, social media expert extraordinaire at Davidson & Croft Media and clandestine celebrity blogger, can make anyone shine in the court of public opinion. She is the Socialmedialite, anonymous creator of New York’s Finest and the internet’s darling. Virtual reality is Annie’s forte, but actual reality? Not so much. 

 THE HOOKER 
 Ronan Fitzpatrick, aka the best hooker the world of rugby has seen in decades, despises the media—social or otherwise. The press has spun a web of lies depicting him as rugby’s wild and reckless bad boy. Suspended from his team, Ronan has come to Manhattan to escape the drama, lay low, fly under the radar. Only, Ronan isn’t easy to overlook, and he can’t escape the notice of the Socialmedialite… 

THE PLAN 
When Ronan is sent to Davidson & Croft Media to reshape his public image, he never expects to cross paths with shy but beautiful Annie, nor does he expect his fierce attraction to her. He couldn’t be happier when her boss suggests pairing them together. What lengths will Annie take to keep her virtual identity concealed? And what happens when the hooker discovers who the hermit really is?

{READ MORE FOR JASMINE'S 6 STARS REVIEW!}

Book Review - Sempre (Forever #1) by J.M. Darhower

26 Oct 2014

5++ PER SEMPRE STARS! ★★★★★


PURCHASE ON AMAZON: CLICK HERE

Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco grew up under vastly different circumstances. Haven, a second-generation slave, was isolated in the middle of the desert, her days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life of privilege and excess. 

Now, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide. Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that while different on the surface, they have more in common than anyone would think. 

In a world full of chaos, where money and power rule, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free, but a string of events that began before either of them were born threatens to destroy them instead. Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price—especially not freedom. But how much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And, most of all, what does it mean to be free?

{Read more for my 5++ stars review!}

Book Review - Her Master's Teacher (The Masters #2) by Lily White

11 Oct 2014


5++ MY BRAIN IS CRYING STARS!! ★★★★★++



PURCHASE ON AMAZON: CLICK HERE

"She believes she knows everything about how the mind works and I believe I can prove her wrong." 
I can't remember the last time I hyperventilated like a crazy woman, let alone acting this way over a book. But ladies, I swearover my dead hamster's body that THIS BOOK IS FUCKING BRILLIANT ON SO MANY LEVELS.



I couldn't stop shaking once I put it down and then I questioned my sanity for a good 5 minutes before I started running to Lily White herself and spazzed all over her (God she was so freakin humble!!). The first thing I asked her was if she secretly had a PhD in psychology which she humbly said no. BUT HOW IS IT POSSIBLE?! Well, lemme tell you Lily:



Okay I'll try my best to sound as coherent as I can possibly be in my review as I have a plane to catch in a few hours time and I just can't leave GR without posting a review on this one! So please bear with me ;)

*******

This time around, Her Master's Teacher centers aroundHolland Strong. At 21 years old, he's one of the youngest Master in-training within their society of wealthy and influential men. The target of his choice is his psychology professor who is the 31-year old Claire Elliot. Having both beauty and brains, Holland sees Claire as one of his greatest challenge yet.

In a game of seduction and domination that pushes all boundaries in terms of psychically, sexually and emotionally; the question is ultimately who is the student and who is the teacher.

******* 

If you've ever read Lily White's writing before, then you should be well prepared that her books are NOT for the faint-hearted. I expected nothing less from this brilliant woman after putting down Her Master's Courtesan and I thought just MAYBEthat this one will leave the same effect on me as it did for HMC.

But how terribly wrong I was. So SO wrong.



This book blew everything I thought I expected out of the freakin water. I feel like it's important to tell you that this one was so VERY different than the first book. 

Yes, the darkness is still there which will make you cringe & squirm.
Yes, the erotica is still off-the-charts hot.
Yes, Aiden is still a fucking crazy bastard. 

But Book 2 brought the psychological element to a WHOLE NEW LEVEL; whatnot with Claire being an expert on the subject itself. The mindfuck we're dealing with throughout isn't the usual "explosive wtf just happened" mindfuck but it's more of a literal "I am thoroughly fucking your mind right now with my words and actions" mindfuck. 

Who am I kidding though right? Put a bunch of psycho-experts under the same roof, of course it's gonna be an ultimate mindfuck. 



******* 

I would love to say more about this book but doing so might spoil the experience for you. And trust me, this is another book that you just have to go in blindly and take it for what it is. I'm not gonna lie that I struggled a little at the beginning because honestly I had NO IDEA what I was getting into. It really brought on a different set of feels than what I felt during Book 1 & that threw me off a little. 

But you know what? That was exactly what made the book worked for me. To expect the unexpected is an understatement here. Lily White will throw you into an intricate web of thoughts which made this read so brilliantly complex that definitely questioned my sanity by the end of it all.

Before I leave, take my word for it. READ THIS BOOK. In fact if you haven't read the first one, READ IT LIKE YOU NEED TO. JUST READ IT PEOPLE. But this goes without saying that PLEASE ENTER WITH CAUTION.



Sidenote: This book should not be read as a standalone and to be read after Book 1 in the Masters Series (Her Master's Courtesan)


Book Review - Her Master's Courtesan (The Masters #1) by Lily White

24 Sept 2014

6 MIND RAPE/FUCK/TWIST UBER DARK STARS! ★★★★★★

 


"He was skilled in seduction, demanding in his domination, and haunting in the hedonism in his desire." 

This book definitely deserved a bookshelf on its own which I now proudly call the ‘book comatose’ shelf. After putting it down and even sleeping over it, my mind is still utterly consumed by this read and I can’t stop mulling over it even while at work.

I'll admit, this has completely stumped me and exceeded all possible expectations I've ever had on dark reads. It felt like all these while I was in an absolute delusion about this genre and reading this was like a rude awakening, almost as if someone poured a bucket of ice water over me. Needless to say, this book doesn't even hold a candle to any dark reads I've read out there. Period.



********

I'm not gonna divulge into the plot because I think the blurb is sufficient enough to prepare you for this read. And mostly because I don't want to spoil the read for anyone. This is just one of those reads that you should just go in with an open mind and just experience it for yourself.

What I will however emphasize, is that you should take the author's warning VERY SERIOUSLY and know that this is NOT a love story. So if anyone is looking for fluffy unicorns and rainbows or anything close to hearts and flowers, STAY AWAY. This book is absolutely dark to its core, it’s dark with a capital D. So for the love of your sanity and possibly your stomach contents, please avoid this read if you’re unprepared. And for those who are, get ready to strap on for this crazy mindfuck ride and where applicable: prepare alcohol, valium and maybe some moral support from any willing party (not sure if your pets are deemed safe to be around during this read either).

 

********

I think I can easily say for everyone who has read that the contents of this read will leave you shocked, appalled and highly disturbed. And while I find this an absolute 6-stars read, please do not assume that I’m a sick masochist who condone the behaviors of both MCs nor did I find myself comfortable reading most scenes. If anything, I found myself almost chickening out this read by 70% and by the time I hit the 90% mark, I felt like throwing up my dinner. I think those who have read it can testify to my statement that the 90% mark was one of the most disturbing and brutal scene in the book.

 

I’m giving this 6 stars mainly because of the author’s bloody amazing writing in which she could turn such a disturbing read into something so completely thought-provoking. The psychological elements and twists in this book astounded me to say the least. Lily White has somehow managed to subtly weave in these twists without me realizing and planted little seeds in my mind that made me believed in what Aiden would have wanted me to believe in. I swear to God sometimes, it was almost like Aiden was speaking in my mind O__O

And of course, that’s where the mindfuckery comes into play and boy, was it a damn good one well-played by Aiden and Lily White herself. IT FEELS LIKE INCEPTION.



Another strong winning point for me was the consistency in Aiden’s character. Let me tell you, Aiden is an anti-hero at its best. If you think you’re gonna see a softer or vulnerable side of him, you have been deluded. From the very beginning, he has clearly made his stand and he damn well stuck to it. This wicked and twisted man is completely driven and unwavering that will leave you in complete awe if not mostly appalled by his actions.

You must know this fact to understand my story. I capture women. I break them down. And I rebuild them. And I am - in no way - a good man. I do not want love. I do not want kindness.



The dual POV element also made this read an absolutely riveting one as it allows the readers to tap into both the minds of Aiden and Rebecca, which I actually found to have greatly enhanced the mindfuckery element in this book. Absolutely brilliant actually. I can't spoil too much but it was rather disturbingly awesome.



********

Overall, I may fall in the minority for this but I loved the ending of the book. Actually, I even expected worse but thankfully it was much different from my imagination. For me, I thought it was perfect given the circumstances.

So how can I motivate you dark/mindfuck read junkies to pick this one up? Well, the next book in the series is coming out soon in October!! Do yourself a favor and check out this awesome review written by the ever-amazing Feifei HERE on the next book (she even beta-read it)! Seriously, it can't get any better than that! :D



********
IN SUMMARY (in case anyone got sick of my word vomit):

Are you tired & bored of the same ole' dark reads? 
Do you enjoy psychological mindfuckery? 
Do you want to read about a truly dark anti-hero? 
Are you okay with non-consensual sex scenes/BDSM (which btw is highly erotic)?

If your answer is 'YES' or 'MAYBE' or 'IDK maybe with alcohol/valium/moral suppport I could do this': then by all means, TRY THIS BOOK.

If you're looking for a nice romance topped with a HEA, fluffy kittens and puppies surrounded by rainbow and sunshine: then by all means, STAY AWAY.

Book Review - The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller by L.B. Simmons

2 Sept 2014

6 SUN AND MOON STARS! ★★★★★★

 


"My name is Aubrey Miller, or Raven Miller, depending on what part of my life I'm referencing, and this is my story." 
I just wanted to curl up in my bed for the entire rest of my day after putting this one down. It caused a riot of my emotions & not to mentioned, my box of Kleenex fell victim to my ugly crying while going through this one. This was like Sea of Tranquillity meets Hopeless and entered into a threesome with Ten Tiny Breaths. ALL which sums up to my feelings for this book: 

  

****** 
The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller is a story of how a little girl witnessed the death of each of her family member & lived through loss than most people of her age. Traumatised at a young age, her misplaced sense of guilt made her believed that she was the cause of death to everyone she ever loved or cared of. As a defense mechanism, she goes by an alter ego, Raven; whose appearance mimics a goth-punk to repel everyone away & ensure they're safe from their impending "doom of death". 

Well almost everyone steered clear of her except for her perky pink-lover roommate, Quinn and the one person she thought she'd never see again after all those years; her childhood friend, Kaeleb

Okay okay I know, I can easily draw parallel from this to SoT where: 
1. Natsya goes all gothic & pulling the same stunt with everyone. 
2. Josh was also the similar walking "boy of death"; similar to Aubrey/Raven here. 
3. The whole "Sunshine" endearing term. What a coincidence LOL! 

Also the whole Kaeleb finally finding Aubrey after all those years would definitely spark up memories from Hopeless. 

So why still the 6-stars rating? 

Because I decided to rate this based on the overall execution of the story (which I found to be incredibly powerful and brilliant) rather than the originality of the premise brought to the table. Many authors can easily recycle a similar idea & play it out differently in their own books, but rarely one can transform that idea into delivering such an emotional power-packed punch read like this one. This not just a depressing read about how a girl will find her life back (or "resurrected her life again") but a journey of self-discovery and finding that light at the end of the tunnel as 3 individuals form an unbreakable bond & helped each other to heal their broken selves. 

And for this, I must commend L.B. Simmons for this astonishing feat (and also for all that ugly crying she put me through).

  

On the surface, this really does come off as superbly morbid & honestly I was afraid to put myself through such a depressing read. But you would be surprised that there is a good balance of that melancholy tone mixed with some light-heartedness coated in between. 

Quinn's character definitely stood out for me; she was like the sunshine in this dark book although beneath that perky girl lies a damaged soul. Kaeleb on the other hand, is nothing short of swoon-worthy ♥♥ He's that sexy, witty & charming guy who is constantly supportive of Aubrey and Quinn & cared for them endlessly. 

Even when Aubrey hit rock bottom, Kaeleb was her only anchor left & he would have gone to the depths of hell to bring her back. Even as he struggled with his own demons, he never stopped trying to save Aubrey.

"I'll help you get lost anytime, Sunshine. The only deal is you have to promise to come back. I never want to lose you again."

 

I think the story as an overall was well-paced, the romance also wasn't too heavy or rushed which I appreciated because it focused more on the original premise itself. By 70% onwards, that's when the powerful punch kicks in and my sob-fest begin (thanks LB Simmons, you owe me half a box of Kleenex now). All I can say that it was heartbreaking, depressing, inspiring and uplifting; ALL OF THOSE FEELINGS COMING TOGETHER throughout that entire stretch.

 

Was the story predictable? Well it wasn't hard to guess what was coming but that doesn't change the fact that when I got to it, I was still crying like a baby. The writing was impeccable and the words flowed effortlessly which really hit me strong in the gut. 

And that goes without saying that this book is one that will stay with me for a while as I soak it all in. A beautiful, uplifting story of friendship, heartache and love. A story of how death can bring someone to the deepest end of hell and to truly experience pain & sorrow before realizing the true meaning of life.


“Without heartache, there is no understanding of the true meaning of love. Without anger, passion cannot be comprehended. Without fear, there is nothing gained when overcome. And without sorrow, happiness can never be realized.”

It's just one of those reads that you have to read to experience it. I regret nothing even after all it put me through because I absolutely loved it ♥


“You know, if the sun and the moon were to actually collide, it would set off a cataclysmic reaction of epic proportions. Are you ready to have your world completely obliterated?”