A Review: Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter

by April | Dec 19, 2017 | Book Reviews

Heart of the Dragon

by Gena Showalter
Series: Atlantis
Published by HQN Books on January 1st 2009
Genres: Fiction, Romance, General, Fantasy
Pages: 384
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Searching for her missing brother, Grace Carlyle never dreamed she would discover a secret world populated by mythological monsters—or find herself facing a sword-wielding being whose looks put mortal men to shame.

But there he was, Darius en Kragin, one of a race of shape-shifting warriors bound to guard the gates of Atlantis, and kill all travelers who strayed within its borders.

Now Grace's life was in his hands, and Darius had to choose between his centuries-old vow and the woman who had slipped beneath his defenses and stolen the heart of Atlantis's fiercest dragon.

Heart of the Dragon Review

Heart of the Dragon is part of the Atlantis series by New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Gena Showalter. The story follows Grace Carlyle, a young woman who braves the wilds of South America in search of her missing brother. Unfortunately, Grace stumbles upon a cave leading her to the mythical world of Atlantis- and straight into the presence of Darius en Kragin, a dragon king sworn to protect the mythical realm. Darius has spent the past couple hundred years keeping his promise to protect Atlantis- even taking the lives of the possibly innocent people who unwittingly stumbled upon the world. This difficult task led to Darius suppressing his feelings and forced him to maintain a cool indifference in his demeanor and life. However, his emotions become fractured, and his impulses less controlled, when he comes face-to-face with Grace.

Darius and Grace build a rocky and unstable alliance in their quest to find Grace’s brother, while contending with their undeniable attraction to one another. Grace’s time in Atlantis, while short lived in the beginning of the book, was fraught with wonder and entertainment. I greatly enjoyed getting to know the other dragon warriors under Darius’s command. I was slightly disappointed when Grace had to flee Atlantis (though I understand her fear for her life since Darius was intent on killing her- though with no great deal of enthusiasm for the task). Luckily, I got to experience more of the mythical realm through Grace’s brother.

The chemistry and attraction between Grace and Darius was palpable and undeniable- so much so that I found myself irritated whenever Darius went on about how he still had a duty to kill her. I was more than three quarters of the way through the novel when Darius had an epiphany about his relationship with her and decided not to kill her. His insistence on ending her life throughout a majority of the novel (despite getting to know Grace and realizing she would never lead people to Atlantis to kill everyone) would be my biggest complaint. Other than that, the characters were delightful and the story was fun and fast-paced. I was so entertained that I finished it in ONE evening!

FOUR stars for Heart of the Dragon!

Review of Wilde in Love by Eloisa James

by April | Nov 13, 2017 | Book Reviews

Wilde in Love

by Eloisa James
ISBN: 9780062389480
Published by HarperCollins on October 31st 2017
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Historical, Regency, General
Pages: 416
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One of Cosmopolitan's Best Books of 2017!

Lord Alaric Wilde, son of the Duke of Lindow, is the most celebrated man in England, revered for his dangerous adventures and rakish good looks. Arriving home from years abroad, he has no idea of his own celebrity until his boat is met by mobs of screaming ladies. Alaric escapes to his father’s castle, but just as he grasps that he’s not only famous but notorious, he encounters the very private, very witty, Miss Willa Ffynche.

Willa presents the façade of a serene young lady to the world. Her love of books and bawdy jokes is purely for the delight of her intimate friends. She wants nothing to do with a man whose private life is splashed over every newspaper.

Alaric has never met a woman he wanted for his own . . . until he meets Willa. He’s never lost a battle.

But a spirited woman like Willa isn’t going to make it easy. . . .

The first book in Eloisa James’s dazzling new series set in the Georgian period glows with her trademark wit and sexy charm—and introduces a large, eccentric family. Readers will love the Wildes of Lindow Castle!

Wilde in Love Review

Wilde in Love is the first book in The Wildes of Lindow Castle series by New York Times bestselling author Eloisa James. After exploring and adventuring abroad, Lord Alaric Wilde returns home to England to discover that he has become quite the celebrity. The novels he penned about his journey managed to draw the attention of a vast majority of the female populace. Unfortunately, the one woman to draw his undivided and appreciative attention does not look upon him kindly. On the contrary, Willa Ffynche has little interest in Lord Alaric Wilde or his novels. She makes this abundantly clear frequently throughout the story, which only manages to deepen Alaric’s interest in her.

The story is set in the late 18^th century on Alaric’s family’s country estate known as Lindow Castle, which sits close to a bog that claimed the life of his older brother. Willa, along with her close friend Lavinia, attend a house party on the estate for about a fortnight. This offers ample opportunity for both Alaric and Willa to exchange inappropriate puns, witty remarks, and to discover that there is a great deal of chemistry to be acknowledged between them.

I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of 18^th century fashion and the comical dialogue between the numerous different house guests. Willa’s friend Lavinia added a lot of humor to the story, especially with her ongoing feud with Alaric’s close friend Parth. I found myself chuckling a few different times at the antics of these two (I’m keeping my fingers crossed that their dislike of one another will change into something a bit more pleasant in a later novel).

The addition of the deranged character Prudence, a missionary’s daughter, added a great deal of drama and suspense to the story. The strained relationship between Alaric’s brother North and his fiancé also added a bit of intrigue. With such an interesting mix of characters, a perfect setting, an ominous bog, humor, and strong chemistry between Alaric and Willa, I would say that Wilde in Love is a new favorite historical romance of mine. I cannot wait to see what stories unfold within the Wilde family and I’m eagerly awaiting the next installment.

And thanks to Willa Ffynche…I now want a pet skunk named Sweetpea. Lovely.

Be sure to check out my other reviews here!

Check out “Wilde in Love” on Amazon below!

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Review of “Uninvited” by Sophie Jordan

by April | Nov 1, 2017 | Book Reviews

Uninvited

by Sophie Jordan
ISBN: 9780062233646
Published by HarperCollins on January 27th 2015
Genres: Young Adult Fiction, Science Fiction, General, Romance, Action & Adventure
Pages: 400
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From New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan, Uninvited is a chilling and suspenseful story about a girl whose DNA brands her a killer, perfect for fans of The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer and Confessions of a Murder Suspect.

Davy had everything—a terrific boyfriend, the homecoming crown, a bright future at Juilliard—but when her genetic tests come back positive for Homicidal Tendency Syndrome, she loses it all. Uninvited from her prestigious school, avoided by her friends and family, she is placed in a special class with other "carriers" who are treated like the murderers they someday might become.

Only Sean, a fellow HTS carrier, can relate to her new life and tells her that she alone controls her actions—not the code embedded into her DNA. But even if she can learn to trust him, can Davy trust herself?

Review of Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Review by: April Hughes

Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Review of Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Uninvited is the first novel in the Uninvited series by New York Times best-selling author Sophie Jordan. The story follows Davy, a musical prodigy from a wealthy and respected family. Her life starts off perfect in the novel- the perfect boyfriend, perfect family, perfect school, and perfect friends. Davy herself is beyond reproach. Unfortunately, her ideal life comes crumbling down around her when she is discovered to be genetically flawed.

This story takes place in the not-so-distant future when the “kill” gene is discovered. This gene is found in almost all people with homicidal tendencies. As crime rates climb to staggering numbers, Davy finds herself the victim of judgmental, ignorant, and presumptuous individuals. Everyone diagnosed with the kill gene is treated like lesser beings. I would say the only “positive” outcome of this discovered gene is that Davy meets Sean- another kill gene carrier. Sean basically shows her that just because you’re labeled a certain way by society does not mean you’re necessarily what they claim you are.

I enjoyed the characters- I loved seeing the different dynamic between those who are carriers and those who are considered “normal”. I enjoyed the different locations utilized by the author- the public school with its “cage”, Mount Haven, and the cabin in the woods. Each location brought a new element of intensity and surprise.

The story was fast-paced, action-filled, suspenseful, and provided enough chemistry between Davy and Sean to satisfy the romantic in me. Uninvited ended perfectly! I cannot wait to see how they get themselves out of the situation they are currently in. When the whole world thinks you’re dangerous and wants you eliminated and there’s nowhere truly safe to go- what do you do?

Pick up your copy today on Amazon!

I can’t wait to find out what happens in the sequel titled “Unleashed”.

See my other book reviews here~

Review of “Against the Ropes” by Sarah Castille

by April | Oct 27, 2017 | Book Reviews

Against the Ropes

by Sarah Castille
Series: Redemption #1
Also in this series: Full Contact
Published by Sourcebooks Casablanca on 2013
Genres: Fiction, Erotica, General, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 349
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"Fifty Shades of Grey meets Fight Club."-RT Book Reviews

A Publishers Weekly TOP 10 Romance for Fall

He scared me. He thrilled me. And after one touch, all I could think about was getting more...

Makayla never thought she'd set foot in an elite mixed martial arts club. But if anyone needs a medic on hand, it's these guys. Then again, at her first sight of the club's owner, she's the one feeling breathless.

The man they call Torment is all sleek muscle and restrained power. Whether it's in the ring or in the bedroom, he knows exactly when a soft touch is required and when to launch a full-on assault. He always knows just how far he can push. And he's about to tempt Makayla in ways she never imagined...

Redemption SeriesAgainst the Ropes In Your Corner Full ContactFighting Attraction (coming Spring 2017)

More praise for Against the Ropes: "Smart, sharp, sizzling and deliciously sexy."-Alison Kent, bestselling author of Unbreakable

Against the Ropes by Sarah Castille

Review of “Against the Ropes” by Sarah Castille

Review by: April Hughes

I mentally DEVOURED this novel…

Max Huntington, known in the underground fight world as “Torment”, is a millionaire business man by day and an intense, well-known fighter by night. When Makayla, a trained medic, first meets Torment- those sparks fly! Heck, they do more than that- they SIZZLE and burn! I can still remember how my heart thumped in tandem to Makayla’s daring entrance into that fight ring in the club Redemption. That moment displayed just how courageous she can be, and just how much of a challenge Torment was going to find her.

From there, the book falls into a progression of intense, hot encounters for our two main characters. However, there is more to our characters than just their inability to resist one another and their susceptibility to the others attraction. We learn that Makayla struggles daily with crippling financial issues, uncertainty about her future and goals, and troubling childhood memories. Torment also struggles with guilt from a tragic event in his teen years and a disconnect with his family. Both characters ghosts cause a lot of conflict during their passionate, tumultuous relationship.

I greatly enjoyed watching them navigate unfamiliar emotions and deal with their pasts together. I also took delight in reading about the other members of Redemption. In fact, by the end of the book, I found that I couldn’t wait to see what this group was going to do next! I cannot wait to pick up the second book in the series and continue indulging in a novel filled with alpha, tattooed fighters and strong, challenging women!

Check out New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille’s Redemption series today!

You can pick up your copy on Amazon Here.

See my review of “Full Contact” by Sarah Castille here!

Also, Check out my other reviews Here.

Review of Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires

by April | Oct 9, 2017 | Book Reviews

Tormentor Mine (Tormentor Mine #1)

by Anna ZairesDima Zales
Published by Mozaika LLC on March 28th 2017
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Suspense, Action & Adventure, New Adult, General
Pages: 560
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A new dark romance from New York Times bestseller Anna Zaires

He came to me in the night, a cruel, darkly handsome stranger from the most dangerous corners of Russia. He tormented me and destroyed me, ripping apart my world in his quest for vengeance.

Now he's back, but he’s no longer after my secrets.

The man who stars in my nightmares wants me.

Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires

Tormentor Mine is the first book in a series by New York Times bestselling author Anna Zaires. I will warn you that there are some situations in the book that might be somewhat disturbing to some. For example, you will often ask yourself as you read through whether the heroine, Sara, truly cares for the love interest Peter because of the way he “takes care of her” or because she might be suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. To be honest, by the end of the novel I wasn’t quite sure myself.

The story starts off with Peter’s quest for vengeance. Sara happened to be an innocent bystander who had the misfortune of being married to a man Peter is determined to kill. Peter attacks Sara in her home and basically tortures the information of her husband’s whereabouts from her. The methods he used to extract this information is reflective of his experiences working in Russia’s special forces. I found myself outraged and horrified for her. I don’t blame her for unwittingly disclosing the information (he did waterboard her, tie her to a chair, and then drug her after all) which resulted in the death of her husband. We do later learn of Sara’s now deceased husband’s actions which led to Peter’s vengeance.

This is the first romance novel I have read where the heroine suffers from PTSD, anxiety, and panic attacks due to the harrowing actions of the love interest. After attacking Sara, Peter finds himself thinking of her. He then decides it would be a great idea to set cameras up all over her house and have people follow her every move. His interest slowly grows into obsession, until finally he decides to play house with Sara. Peter forces Sara to endure his presence, despite her knowing he had tortured her and killed her husband (which she suffers a tremendous amount of guilt for).

This story is seriously unconventional and if you’re not into the whole stalking, obsessing, torture, or psychological, and seriously twisted form of “love” found in this novel, then it might not be for you. However, if you’re wanting to read something completely different from the mainstream love story, then this one will be perfect for you. I will admit to being intrigued by the concept, shocked by the situations presented in the story, and intrigued by both the main characters. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be in Sara’s situation. I can’t imagine what it would be like to be loved by someone as intense, dominant, and somewhat scary like Peter.

Finally, Tormentor Mine was well written and the characters provided enough depth that you enjoyed getting into their heads a little. Anna Zaires certainly knows how to leave the reader gasping at the cliffhanger! Ah! Now I’m going to have to pre-order the next one so I can see where the hell Sara is being taken now. The second novel in the Tormentor Mine series, Obsession Mine, is scheduled to be released on November 14^th, 2017.

Like this review of Tormentor Mine by Anna Zaires? Checkout my other reviews here!

You can get this book instantly for the Kindle on Amazon for $4.99.

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Hi there!

I discovered my love of reading at an early age and spent a great deal of my time devouring novels from mysteries like Nancy Drew, whimsical fantasies like Harry Potter, and eventually the turbulent and passionate stories in the romance genre, I found myself engrossed in a completely different world than this one. I believe it is through my experiences and the books I read, that I have developed a keen interest in a myriad of things. For that reason, The Vagaries of Us represents multiple areas of interest

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A Review: Heart of the Dragon by Gena Showalter

Heart of the Dragon Review