Review: Hidden Wings (Hidden Wings #1) by Cameo Renae

Hidden Wings (Hidden Wings #1) by Cameo Renae

Publishers: Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing

Published Date: January 18th 2013

From: Bought

My rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis:

Seventeen is a life changing age for Emma Wise.

As her family's sole survivor in a car crash, she is left with a broken arm and a few scrapes and bruises. But these are only outward marks; inside, her heart is broken and the pieces scattered.

Whisked away to Alaska, to an aunt she’s never met, Emma starts over. Secrets unveil themselves and now…she doesn't even know who or what she is.

A centuries old prophecy places Emma in the heart of danger. Creatures of horrifying and evil proportions are after her, and it will take Emma, her aunt, and six, gorgeously captivating Guardians to keep her safe. But, if she can survive until her eighteenth birthday... things will change.

Review:

Hidden Wings is a nice easy read if you're a fan of angel stories. What I liked most is that I didn't get too bogged down with centuries of history between warring factors which sometimes happens in books. The story is actually quite simple and nicely written.

Emma is whisked away to Alaska after a terrible car accident that killed her parents. Her Aunt is now her legal guardian and sends an escort to take Emma to her new home. Enter Kade, the dashingly handsome who turns Emma's insides gooey at a single touch.

Soon after Emma arrives at her new home she meets Courtney and Caleb, two other kids also staying with her Aunt Alaine. Trouble begins and soon Emma is caught up in an age old battle between the Fallen and the Angels, and the prize is Emma.

Lots of twists and turns, plots and surprises make Emma's new life more adventurous than she's used to and the shock ending means I'll be hanging and waiting for book 2!

A great start to a new angel series but one question I have to ask the author - why oh why couldn't we have had more Emma and Kade time??!! Hopefully we'll be more rewarded in the next installment!!

You can reach Cameo Renae here: 

Web  Goodreads

Available from Amazon:

    

ARC Review: Believe by Sarah Aronson

Believe by Sarah Aronson

Publishers:  Carolrhoda Books

Published Date: September 1st 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

Janine Friedman is famous. She’s the miraculous ‘soul survivor’ of a suicide bombing in a Jerusalem synagogue ten years ago. The bombing killed both her parents and changed not only her life, but also that of Dave Armstrong, the tourist who dug her out of the rubble and ‘found God’ as a result. Most people can remember where they were when it happened – the image of that little girl with her bleeding, ruined hands being dragged into the light.

Ten years on, Janine just wants to forget the past, though the nightmares persist. Sure, she avoids cameras and journalists like the plague, and her hands will never be quite right, but she’s one leg of a ‘tripod’ of friends – Miriam and Abe are always there for her – and the most she’s worrying about is whether she should settle for boyfriend Dan or still go after gorgeous Tyler.

Janine always knew the tenth anniversary would be tough. But then Abe is nearly killed in a road accident and ‘miraculously’ survives. Another boy gets out of his wheelchair and starts to walk… And the common denominator is Janine, with her supposedly healing powers.

With Dave Armstrong back in town, Janine finds herself at the centre of a media storm. Forced to look more deeply into the past, she must finally seek the truth about her parents, her hands, and the terrible day that shaped her life. What does she really believe about all three – and about herself?

Review:

I think there are very few people in this world that can actually understand the gravity of what life must be like for Janice Friedman. The sole survivor of a Jerusalem bombing that killed almost 70 people. One man heard her voice from the wreckage and saved six year old Janice that day. Dave Armstrong reckoned he felt a pull on the day of the bombing. Gods sign? He was refused entry to the synagogue but turned back after he felt the quake and pulled Janice free.

From that day onward, the world has been interested in Janice and Dave's lives. And ten years on is no different. The ten anniversary is a big deal to Janice because of her parents death, NOT because she was the Soul Survivor. Dave Armstrong has turned his deed on that day into a walking talking ministry. Now he has followers and people that hang on his every word. Janice hates him, doesn't want anything to do with him. She just wants a normal life.

Believe tells many stories in one volume. Firstly the story of Janice and how she copes with every day life. She has friends who wouldn't betray her, a boyfriend that she has things in common with--mainly their love of clothing designs, and an Aunt who dotes on her while also giving her good advice about staying out of the way of the media.

The next story is about an old Oak tree in the town. The council want to relocate a farm and make use of the land the tree occupies. Her friend Miriam is acting as an activist and wants the age old tree to stay and the farm to remain where it is even though it isn't doing so well.

The next story is about Dave's new protegee, Emma and how Emma affects the lives of those around her with her goodwill and belief in God. She believes that God cares and if you pray enough, believe enough in his power then good things will come.

And lastly the ability to heal through faith. Faith healers are no new thing. When an accident or disease cannot be cured and there is no last resort in the scientific world people turn to the power of Faith, no matter which god you believe in.

Gradually all these stories start intertwining around one another and at the centre Janice is doing her best to keep her head above water. Her friends ask her to use her celebrity status to help save the farm and the tree. Janice knows she is no celebrity. She didn't earn the title, didn't do anything remotely interesting to deserve it. She was saved when others died. The guilt and uncertainty weigh heavy on her and the last thing she wants is to step into the limelight and have more fuss over her than she already has. Unfortunately this example shows us the power of friendship and how one request can end up backfiring. Do you go with Miriam and Sam's interpretation that Janice is being selfish and only thinking of herself? Or do you go with Janice's beliefs that if you give the media an inch they'll take a mile?

The faith healing aspect of the story was what I most wanted to read about when I read the synopsis of this book. I thought it was interesting and very thought provoking. I was worried about the suggestion that Gods word would be preached and I was right, it was, but it is done in a very tasteful way, not in a way that tries to convert you.

The depth of the story is quite revealing because although even the author states in the book, Janice is not always a likeable character, I found I did understand her motives and lets face it. At sixteen we don't really know what we want out of life so imagine when the world thinks you should be more proactive with your status and do more to help others, what would we really do?

Without stereotyping and pushing ideas at us Believe does give me something in the end. And a message that tells you something meaningful is always a good reason to start the day and do things different. Much like Janice, this book took me on a journey and I'm glad I read it.

You can reach Sarah Aronson here: 

Web  Goodreads

Review: My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi

Publishers:  Sourcebooks Fire

Published Date: April 2nd 2013

From: Bought

My rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.

Review:

Its always difficult to rate a book when not only is the subject sensitive but the subject matter isn't exactly one that I would chose to read for entertainments sake. That is why we read after all, right? To be entertained.

My Life After Now is an incredibly touching story about Lucy. She's a member of her schools drama group. Her boyfriend of eighteen months also attends. A casting for Romeo and Juliet is on the cards and the lead part doesn't go to Lucy, it goes to her girl-enemy Elyse. Her friends, Courtney and Max get her to check Elyse's Facebook status one night shortly after rehearsals start. Yep, Elyse and Ty are 'in a relationship'. Lucy is horrified, embarrassed and more than mortified at Ty's betrayal. That and a visit from her estranged birth mother, Lisa, has Lucy and her two friends going out and having an outrageously fun night. One thing leads to another and Lucy wakes up in a lead singer's bed naked. He's only the second guy she's ever slept with.

The story continues with how Lucy copes from here on it. It isn't that she slept with the guy. Her two dads know she was having sex. It's the consequences of not practicing safe sex. Lucy soon finds out she has HIV.

Like I wrote earlier, yes, it is a sensitive issue. All kinds of preconceptions pop into your mind when you think of someone with HIV. But what I really liked about this book was the normalcy of the situation. A girl that isn't promiscuous in any way makes one mistake one night and she's saddled with this terrible virus for the rest of her life.

Lucy takes us through the drama and crises of what happens next, and there are many. I loved her two dads and had little sympathy for her birth mother who used Dad and Papa any which way she could. Evan was a nice, kindly character to add for Lucy's new love interest. But most of all we learn about the virus itself. What are the common attitudes of people when they find out? How do you deal when someone tells you to clean up some blood and burn everything after? Or when you visit a support group and everyone tells you things you really don't want to hear?

In this story Lucy finds out she is lucky. She has tremendous support from her family and the few friends that know, but as the book tells us at the back, the statistics involving teenagers, sex and HIV are staggeringly high. As Lucy says 'it's called Safe Sex for a reason'.

So this is more of a moral journey, rather than a book to entertain you. It really is a good read, it isn't dark or gloomy and deals with the negative as well as the positive of contracting HIV.

I've given it four out of five because of the strong story line. I really did like it and it's definitely a good book to recommend all teenagers to read.

You can reach Jessica Verdi here: 

Web  Goodreads

Available from Amazon:

    

A quick word about New Adult books genre

by Charlotte Black

I don't write many blogs that aren't book related but now is the time for a quick word about the New Adult genre that is picking up pace around the world. This is entirely my own opinion and I'd love to know what you think.

Many of us reviewers of Young Adult books have seen and witnessed the emergence of this new genre, New Adult. Not quite full on Adult romance, a little spicy description about sex, and the emergence of adulthood in its freshest form. For me the Young Adult genre is getting a little jaded. I've read so many books, whether its angels, vampires, werewolves or some different supernatural content, and the stories just aren't that original any more. Maybe that's why we're all switching over to New Adult.

As reviewers we look back on our teens through the books we've read but as reviewers we're growing up too. We want to read more about the next step and 18-26 years olds coping with new facets of life. I think this is the reason why so many college romances are now topping the Amazon charts. Together with Amazons new category for college romance I can see this genre being more popular than YA. Most of the books so far are contemporary which isn't a bad thing. Recategorising many adult supernatural stories that feature women of the said age group will take time but there are lots out there already.

The problems I'm having with New Adult so far are a repetition of tropes. Tropes that are being used more often are as follows:

Girl has some kind of accident/incident when faced with rip-roaring gorgeous guy. Yes, we all know Ana fell on her knees, Eva fell back on her ass when viewing the extremely dazzling specimen of a man. Not only does this come over as used more frequently but it does dumb down the self confidence that is supposed to be growing for our heroine. Let's face it, it rarely happens in real life. Most of us would look away, or run in the opposite direction from embarrassment. Or just say something really obsurd!

Hints of BDSM. Again lots of authors are falling into the trap of hinting a spicy exotic story when really it isn't anything like it. The only reason I can think is authors are plying for sales, enticing us to want more. Sex sells, we all know that. A good example of this is in a sequel I've recently read of a self-published author who has reached the New York Bestsellers list for her two books. I'm not denying she deserves the accolades. But what does annoy me is when a male protag says something such as “If you tell me that you’ll give yourself to me, I’ll be taking you completely. I’ll have you in every way a man can take a woman. I’ll put you on that bed, or anywhere, for that matter, and I’ll f*** you until you beg me to stop. I’ll take everything you have and then some. You asked me what I need and this is it. I need you. All of you.” Yep, pretty hot and steamy. However! It doesn't happen. They go on building their relationship and its all a little bit of a let down. Authors, don't make promises you can't keep. Yes, we all want to be lured in by a hot male dominant man (I do anyway!) but keep it real.

Sexual abuse. A pretty nasty topic that has affected us, whether it be a friend or someone we know. Again, I'm reading about this more and more and now feel I'm almost an expert on the subject but only from descriptions. One well known author recently wrote a book that broke the rules on this. A sexual act happened, a rape, but because of her parents 'image' the guy got away with it and nobody was charged or indeed prisoned for the vile act. The girl was 14 years old and so that is really unbelievable. Especially in USA, or indeed anywhere in the world. The slightest hint of sexual abuse and the 'system' would be all over the culprit like a bad rash once police are involved. So, in my opinion, the rules and laws shouldn't be flaunted for the sake of a story. Books are supposed to enlight and promote self-confidence. One reader may feel that she too doesn't want to deal with the aftermath of a sexual attack and keep it hidden. It isn't a very good example of what to do.

I've written a couple of dislikes into recent reviews of books that are too similar. Authors of this genre are falling into a trap and must be careful not to overdo the same characteristics of already famous books. Otherwise New Adult will implode fairly quickly and that would be a shame.

Yes, this is a new age for reading and reviewing and I'm excited by this genre, I want to read more and more of it and I hope publishers reward us with more beguiling stories in the years to come. Young Adult will always be very special to me as a genre and I will continue to read it but as I wrote earlier, I think I've just grown up again!

ARC Review: Touching Melody (Forever First #1) by RaShelle Workman

Touching Melody (Forever First #1) by RaShelle Workman

Publishers:  Polished Pen Press

Published Date: May 14th 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis:

Maddie Martin's first weekend at college is nothing like she's used to. It's wild, like the wilderness on which the University of Bellam Springs sits. Roped into going to a fraternity party, she literally runs into Kyle Hadley. The boy she's loved since she was nine. The boy she promised all of her firsts to. But that was before his father killed her parents. 

Determined to stay away from him, she throws herself into her music. Practicing piano eases her heavy heart, calms the sadness, and pushes away images of Kyle's face. 

Until it doesn't. 

Her music professor asks her to play a duet for their annual Winter Gala. Doing so means she'll be assured another full ride scholarship. It's an opportunity she can't pass up. 

But Kyle is the other half of the duet. And that means hours and hours of practicing. 

Weeks of seclusion - just the two of them. And it's more than just music. It's passion like Maddie never believed was possible. 

The inevitable happens. She falls in love with him all over again. 

But, will loving him be enough to erase all the hate in her heart for his father? Can she look at him, and not see the evil in his family tree?

And maybe it's all a set up. Maybe Kyle is only pretending to care so he can finish what his father started, and kill her too

Review:

Lots of YA authors are now crossing over to New Adult to write stories with more daring subjects. As readers and lovers of YA I guess the trend of authors is being followed by us reviewers because we too are growing up and want to read about the next step in adulthood.

Touching Melody by RaShelle Workman is a great story about a girl called Maddie who found her parents dead one night. She also saw a glimpse of the killers and all the blood surrounding her parents bodies. She is whisked away days after to live with her Aunt and Uncle and to prevent any backlash after that fateful night, is home schooled. While this may have been in Maddie's best interests she has grown up naive, completely ignorant of the modern world. As a child her best friend was Kyle. They both had tough parents to deal with but stayed best friends throughout, promising each other things that children do, things they know nothing about.

Seven years, Maddie is starting College. At a party she bumps into Kyle. But he appears to not remember her. She then pretends to not to know him. Eventually after a drunken spell they reveal their identities. The romance begins but there are still those who want to keep these two apart no matter what the cost.

Touching Melody is a really good coming of age story. I wouldn't say the story was that original but Workman writes like a genius and I really felt like I knew Maddie and understood her. Her roommate is Gina who carries the weight of the world on her shoulders. Kyle comes off as being an idiot to start with. Rumours of him enjoying a menage a troit and being into kinky sex start spreading.

I also liked the switch between POV's, I thought this worked well to understand Kyle and his motives. Maddie and Kyle's story does come across as being completely natural and believable and what I loved most was the innocence of both of them. Yes, Kyle's dad beat him and Maddie's parents seemed suspicious but neither of them had any idea of what kind of life their parents were living and how their fate got all twisted together.

Little things that made it more enjoyable. Maddies tattooes, her shoe fetish and her friendship with Gina.

The ending did come across as a little rushed, almost a 'tell' rather than a 'show' and read quickly so the emphasis on hoping Maddie survived was like watching a movie in double time. Maddie and Kyle go through lots of heaving petting but this NA book leaves out the big event, and the Aftermath surmises Maddies final acceptance of what happened and allows her to begin a new life.

All in all, a good book.

You can reach RaShelle Workman here: 

Web  Goodreads

Available from Amazon:

    

Arc Review: Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr

Connected (Connections #1) by Kim Karr

Publishers:  Signet Romance

Published Date: May 7 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 3 out of 5

Synopsis:

What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice? 

Suffering from a past full of tragedy, Dahlia London's soul has been left completely shattered. Happily ever after is a far cry from reality in her world. But, when she is reconnected with her past, the bonds that form are irrefutable.

When River Wilde, lead singer of The Wilde Ones, comes back into Dahlia’s life, the intensity that fires their relationship combined with underlying feelings that have never died lead her to believe she has met her soulmate. 

Struggling with confusion as old connections fade and new ones begin, Dahlia's grief begins to lift--but guilt remains. River wants to be the one to mend all that is torn within her. 

But with a past that is never really gone, can their future survive?

Review:

Hmm. Its hard to write a review when others have praised a book to such extent and you didn't quite like it as much.

Dahlia London experienced an epic tragedy. Her boyfriend Ben is shot right in front of her and slowly she builds her life back. But it takes time. Over a year goes by and she's only just about to embark on a new beginning.
Five years previous she had an encounter with a really hot guy in a bar. The experience left an impression on her so when her friend asks her to do an interview and a photoshoot at first she's not interested. Then she finds out its River Wilde, the same guy she met in the bar. Still unsure about whether its the right thing to do she agrees to do the job. He wouldn't remember her anyway, it happened five years ago.

From the moment they meet again River and Dahlia are both aware of each other, desire unfurls but they both keep it in check. Until River asks her for dinner.

My first impressions were that I liked this book. The story of Dahlia and Ben, their romance, the aftermath of college, it all came across as meaningful and wonderful living in their world. Some of Ben's comments annoyed me such as his repetative swearing when giving a compliment. Big turn off for me. But it was clear they were devoted to one another.

However the minute Dahlia 'fell' into the conference room I got annoyed. Why do authors always insist on the MC making a complete idiot of herself at the first meeting. Fifty Shades had Ana falling on her knees, Eva fell on her ass in Bared to You. Dahlia crushed her wrist again the glass door and everything about that moment felt too contrived especially when River said the lamest line afterwards, "No apology necessary, that's the kind of collision I wouldn't mind having every day." Ugh, gag much? Then a little later she drops her bag again and her contents fall all over the floor. She's on her knees picking her stuff up and he's on a chair looking down at her. Again! Too contrived. The author is clearly trying to set the tone that this will be a steamy romance but of dominant/submissive status but actually the book isn't anything like that. So these scenes to me had no meaning or purpose for the feel of the book which is a romance not an BDSM story.

After this scene everything goes badly and is poorly executed. If someone held my hand half an hour after meeting them I would yank it away. Very awkward and uncomfortable. Dahlia is doing a job, she's supposed to be professional and is apparently vulnerable, but in the next couple of chapters she all but throws herself at him and he obliges. Yes, he's giving her steamy eyes and licking his lips a lot so he's getting a vibe that she wants something.

Once they do reach THAT moment the romance does come over as sensual and romantic. then the story really starts being good. Dahlia all but ditches her life and heads back to LA with River, lives with him for a while, meets his family. The undercurrent tones suggest that his sister is hiding something that we'll find out in the next book. The brother clearly has designs on Dahlia. And Ben's secret at the end revealed more of what could be a great intrigue.

So, I enjoyed it mostly. Once the initial 'Connection' (see what I did there!) was out the way, the different characters held form and Dahlia started acting like a human being not a horny teenager claiming self doubt when she projected nothing like it.

You can reach Kim Karr here: 

Web  Goodreads

Available from Amazon:

    

Arc Review: Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Some Quiet Place by Kelsey Sutton

Publishers: Flux

Published Date: July 8th 2013

From: NetGalley

My rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

Elizabeth Caldwell doesn’t feel emotions . . . she sees them. Longing, Shame, and Courage materialize around her classmates. Fury and Resentment appear in her dysfunctional home. They’ve all given up on Elizabeth because she doesn’t succumb to their touch. All, that is, save one—Fear. He’s intrigued by her, as desperate to understand the accident that changed Elizabeth’s life as she is herself.

Elizabeth and Fear both sense that the key to her past is hidden in the dream paintings she hides in the family barn. But a shadowy menace has begun to stalk her, and try as she might, Elizabeth can barely avoid the brutality of her life long enough to uncover the truth about herself. When it matters most, will she be able to rely on Fear to save her?

Review:

Elizabeth can see Emotions and Elements. Not in a queer colour orientated form, although that does occur, but as people. Joy, Anger, Resentment and especially Fear. Fear is the only one not intimidated by Elizabeth. She is the one that the other emotions cannot affect. For she feels no emotion, as if its been stripped from her being entirely. she only feels numb inside. When Fear comes calling he tries to entice her with images of rape, war, physical violence, but none of it effects her at all. She doesn't feel anything. 

This was either a bizarrely brilliant book or barking mad but either way I really did like it and loved the concept of the story much more than I thought I would.
Elizabeth's family are as strange as they come. Her father is abusive, mostly succumbing to drink. Her mother can't stand the sight of her, and her brother Charles pretends like everything's normal But things haven't been normal since Elizabeth's car accident when she was four. And the family haven't been the same since either. 

At school Elizabeth has no friends but soon starts speaking to a boy in her class because of a school assignment. She's known him since they were very young but never got to know him. She doesn't let on that she likes his company, she know he likes hers because the Emotions around him tell her. 

Elizabeth has strange dreams and pretty soon the dreams get weirder and weirder to the point she can't sleep at all. Coupled with the visits from Fear and Joshua's friendliness  Elizabeth has a hard time keeping her numb wall up. She doesn't want it to fall, she can't let that happen. It very nearly does when Elizabeth's only childhood friend Maggie dies from cancer. Maggie always accepted that Elizabeth was different and was never one to show her emotions, but Maggie knew that Elizabeth loved her. Also Morgan, who is autistic, is another that has broken through Elizabeth's wall in her small way. Elizabeth is the only person Morgan will talk to or interact with. I almost, at one point, had a feeling that Elizabeth herself was autistic but the story drifted into a different direction. 

What really captured the story for me was the emotions. I wanted to keep reading and wait for the moment when Elizabeth's wall broke down because I was damn sure it would soon enough. The reason was simple - Joshua. A revelation happens soon after and life is never the same for Elizabeth or Joshua. And the truth is much harder to believe than anything! 

Overall, I liked it but I must warn readers to keep an open mind!

You can reach Kelsey Sutton here: 

Web  Goodreads

Latest Blogs from our Favourite YA Authors - 12th May 2013

Here's a round up of blogs from our favourite YA authors:

• Aimee Carter - Want a character named after you?
  

• Alexandra May - Elemental: Origin, Circle of Fire, News, Covers and Stuff!

• Alyxandra Harvey - YA Scavenger Hunt Winners!
  

• Amy Plum - Signed Bookplates Offer Extended for IF I SHOULD DIE

• Andrea Cremer - May Tour Stops!  

• Becca Fitzpatrick - Let's Talk Covers 

• Cara Lynn Shultz - Read Spellbound for FREE for a Limited Time! 

• Carrie Jones - My tweets

• Courtney Allison Moulton - Chicago Author Lunch Meet Up 

• Cynthia Hand - Want Me To Be Your Teacher? 

• Jennifer L. Armentrout - I WANNA GET ATTACHED

• Jeri Smith-Ready - Grey hair 'a thing of the past'  

• Julie Kagawa -Eternity Cure winner 

• Kiersten White - Contentedness Kills My Muse

• Kimberly Derting - THE SUMMER LOVIN' TOUR 

• Lauren Kate - Fan Art Fridays  

• Rachel Hawkins - SCHOOL SPIRITS! A WEEK FROM TOOODAAAY!

• Rachel Vincent - Are You Smarter Than My Fifth Grader?

• Richelle Mead - Gameboard of the Gods, Excerpt #3 

Is there an author you'd like to see updates from?
Just let us know and we'll add them to our list!

-CB xx

Review: Elemental: Origin (Primord #1.5) by Alexandra May

Elemental: Origin (Primord #1.5) by Alexandra May

Publishers: Pauma Publishing

Published Date: April 4th 2013

From: Bought

My rating: 4 out of 5

Synopsis:

What happened to the two missing bloodlines?
How did the Xipilé’s amass their fortune?
Who was behind Mira’s accident?
And what is Amy’s secret?

Spencer Phillips, Daisy Frost, Andrew Orelían and Aiden Deverill open up their hearts and minds to reveal some of the secrets from Elemental: The First in this in-between short story.

Review:

This wasn't what I expected at all. Elemental: Origin goes behind the scenes before that last chapter of Elemental: The First with a final chapter just after. Told from 5 different side-characters, it delves into the background of the Dacomés and Xipile´s. We learn a little more about the characters and motives. The one thing Origin taught me is not to assume anything! The world Alexandra May is weaving is becoming more clearer as another book is announced. Now I can't wait for Circle of Fire! Only marked down because it's a novella and I wanted to read more!

You can reach Alexandra May here: 

Web  Goodreads

Available from Amazon:

    

Review: Wreck Me (Wrecked #1) by J.L. Mac (New Adult)

Wreck Me (Wrecked #1) by J.L. Mac

Publishers: Self

Published Date: February 20th 2013

From: Bought

My rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Life can be cruel. People can be ruthless and evil. The world can be cold and uninviting. No one knows these things better than Josephine Geroux. By her own definition, she is a twenty-five year old “nobody with nothing,” and she is content to stay that way. Growing up an orphan has made her tough and indifferent to the people around her until she meets a strangely familiar man with a face that haunts her for reasons she can’t understand.
Despite the pain that will inevitably ensue, she makes it her mission to discover what parts of her tragic puzzle she is missing. On her journey to discovering why the she feels an alarming connection to an absolute stranger, her greatest fear is reawakening the demons and darkness from the past that will surely overtake her if she lets her guard down.
Little does Josephine know that the past should be the least of her worries. She is toying with a man who has already broken her heart once. She just doesn’t realize it.
Although she makes it a point to avoid interactions with others, Josephine’s life becomes entangled with the enigmatic stranger. Before she realizes it, she has given herself over to the one person who is close enough to wreck her.

Review:
 Written in the same vain as Fifty Shades, Wreck Me has a different kind of twist to it. Firstly I loved that Jo worked at a book store for a cantankerous old buzzard. She's cocky, speaks her mind, says what she feels and she swears a lot.
Jo had a tough upbringing. At the age of 9 she was involved in a car accident that killed both her French parents. A stranger on the scene pulled her out of the car and rescued her. From then on she did the foster homes for a while before taking her chances on her own, on the streets to fend for herself. When she was old enough she marched into Sutton's store one day and told him she would work for him. Why? She loves books. She visited the library regularly and read books. From that day on her life changed. Her and Sutton have a great relationship and he helped her get on her feet.
Now she lives in an apartment, small and grubby it may be, but her wants in life are few. What she does like is sex without the strings. She isn't what you might think of her. She never promises the guys anything in return but she does need 'comfort' every now and again.
Per chance, she is manhandling a thief who stole one of the stores books one day and she meets Damon Cole. He's young, sophisticated and definitely good looking enough for what she has in mind. She orchestrates having coffee with him and instead of small talk she cuts to the chase and arranges to meet him that night. Her dad was a chef so Jo does know how to cook so she makes him dinner. One thing leads to another and they end up in bed. She never likes to stay over but he persuades her to. Unfortunately he then finds out why she doesn't stay over at anyone's house.
There are a lot of similarities between this and Fifty Shades, I won't tell you different. If you liked the other then you may like this too. There is a lot of sex. But it starts to become very meaningful between the two of them when the love starts to filter in.
The story is great although you start getting hints and realise who Damon actually is and why he may have a soft spot for Jo. The ending is a huge cliffhanger! If you hate cliffhangers then I'm happy to tell you the next book, Restore Me, is also out now.
All in all it had little twists that I hadn't read before as a New Adult book and I thought Jo was an extremely likable character. Also, Grams! I want to adopt her!!

You can reach J.L. Mac here: 

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