Gena Showalter - The Darkest Kiss

Now for a more recent favourite series of mine; Lords of the Underworld.  After reading the first one as a taster, I immediately bought four more to add to my collection because I was hooked.

The Darkest Kiss is the second full length novel in the Lords of the Underworld series from Gena Showalter.  This series follows the same twelve warriors from the first book that released the demon lords from Pandora's Box and were subsequently cursed to be possessed by one of these demon lords and each book focuses on a different warrior and their separate experiences as immortals.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Those that like paranormal books, though definitely for an adult audience.

Favourite Characters: Lucien - really interesting

Favourite Part: "I remember Tartarus," Lucien said.  "I used to bring him prisoners.  He was an honorable man, even handsome, but I did not want to strip him."
"Lucien just made a funny."  She grinned.  She couldn't help herself. - Page 212

Good Points: The love interest wasn't human; completely different story to the others; expansion on the main warrior; makes sense more now after The Darkest Fire

Bad Points: Only a few of the other warrior were featured

About Time

Today I decided to boost the British cinema economy by going to the cinema for the first time not as a student with my mother today to see About Time written and directed by Richard Curtis (Four Weddings and a Funeral, Love Actually) and stars Domhnall Gleeson (Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Never Let Me Go), Rachel McAdams (The Time Traveler's Wife, The Notebook), and Bill Nighy (Love Actually, Pirates of the Caribbean).

About Time is a British romantic comedy with a science fiction twist that revolves around Tim Lake (Gleeson) who discovers from his father (Nighy) that the men in his family can travel through their own timeline. At first Tim doesn't believe him but when told to put this trick to the test (close your eyes, ball up your fists and concentrate on that moment), Tim is ecstatic to discover that he can really go back in time. Now the question is what will he use this amazing gift: get rich, find love, read everything book twice? Well what a British rom-com be without a lovely young man bumbling his way around trying to woo an equally lovely young lady (McAdams).

I warn you now there are minor spoilers in this review though I will try to keep them to a minimum.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Rom-Com lovers; Richard Curtis lovers

Favourite Characters: Tim - he's adorable; Dad - like father, like son

Favourite Line: Tim: Never trust a blueberry

Favourite Part: When Tim is bickering with his dad that time travel is not true

Good Points: Gleeson; more family orientated than The Time Traveler's Wife; Tim's relationships with both his family and Mary; the settings

Bad Points: Could have had a British actress for Mary; reintroducing the first girl that broke Tim's heart, Charlotte

Janet Evanovich - Smokin' Seventeen

Back to one of my favourite series, Stephanie Plum, from an author I love, Janet Evanovich,  Like I've said before, I've read a large number of Evanovich's books and love the main characters of the Stephanie Plum series.

Smokin' Seventeen is the seventeenth full length novel from Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series which follows Stephanie Plum, a bails bond agent (a bounty hunter) and is in an on-and-off relationship with Joe Morelli, a homicide detective, but also has an occasional fling with Ranger, her mentor in being a bounty hunter.  Stephanie bumbles her way through her FTAs (those that failure to appear for court once they've been bailed out) with the assistance of her sidekick, Lula, a former hooker.  Stephanie also has an unfortunate talent of destroying any car she owns or borrows or even gets in, apart from her Uncle Sandor's practically indestructible powder blue '53 Buick Roadmaster (Big Blue).  Stephanie Plum lives in New Jersey, five minutes away from her parents who live in the 'Burg where she grew up and is still close to her family, visiting them whenever she can.

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Chick lit lovers; crime readers; not really necessary to read the previous books but reading the first one, One For The Money, gives you a background on most of the characters and maybe Hot Six for a bit more of information on Mooner (Moon-Man)

Favourite Characters: Morelli - flirty and everything

Favourite Part: 'This is delicious,' Connie said.  'He's a really good cook.'

Lula spooned out more casserole and looked over at me.  'You should marry him.  You could have perfectly good sex all by yourself, but you'll never be able to cook this good. - Page 179

Good Points: Mooner's still here; Steph's back on with Joe

Bad Points: Just pick one; feel a bit repetitive now; Dave

Tarek Malouf - Cake Days

For years, Macmillan Cancer Support have held the World's Biggest Coffee Morning and this year it is being held on 27th September 2013, tomorrow.  This Coffee Morning is the biggest fundraising event for Macmillan and over this wonderful country, people are encouraged to hold a coffee morning to raise money.

This year, my mother's work are holding their own coffee morning and I was asked to bake a few things for her; some mini cocktail cupcakes (mojito, piña colada, strawberry daiquiri) that can be found in Cake Days by Tarek Malouf from The Hummingbird Bakery. I agreed to this because it's a good cause, Macmillan has helped when my grandmother was ill and supported her and my family towards the end; I think I would do anything for this charity because of my grandmother.

Macmillan Coffee Morning

For years, Macmillan Cancer Support have held the World's Biggest Coffee Morning and this year it is being held on 27th September 2013, tomorrow.  This Coffee Morning is the biggest fundraising event for Macmillan and over this wonderful country, people are encouraged to hold a coffee morning to raise money.

If you haven't already signed up, get involved like me. Tomorrow there will be a review of the cookbook I used to make some baked goods for this coffee morning. 

Giovanna Fletcher - Billy and Me

I'm not going to say my next book I'm reviewing is weird but it's different for me because it's just a normal romance novel that goes through general relationship problems.

Billy and Me is the debut book from Giovanna Fletcher; I think the initial appeal for me was because I knew who was the author was because she had married Tom from McFly and they were my favourite band growing up so this sparked my curiosity.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Those that like romance books, though focuses on the less physical side of the relationship

Favourite Characters: Molly - I love her; Sophie - relatable

Favourite Part: You've got to make the most of life and not let these little opportunities pass you by.  Before you know it you'll be old and wrinkly like me and wishing you'd done more. Just make sure you're happy. - Page 168

Good Points: The relationship between Sophie and Molly; the contrasts of the two settings; the story

Bad Points: What happened to her dad should have been told sooner

Gena Showalter - Dark Beginnings: The Darkest Fire

Now for something from a series I've already started to review, Lords of the Underworld. Technically this story is from Dark Beginnings which contains three short stories I decided to review the three stories separately as they take place in between different books within the series along with a guide to the world this is set in.

The Darkest Fire is the prequel to the Lords of the Underworld series from Gena Showalter.  This series follows a group of warriors who released demons from Pandora's Box and were each subsequently cursed to be possessed by one of the demons.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Those that like paranormal novels, though definitely for an adult audience

Favourite Characters: Geryon - he's different from the other men of this series

Favourite Part: They seemed to fall forever.  Geryon retained an iron-edged grip on the trembling Kadence, her hair whipping around them like angry silk ribbons.  She didn't scream something he'd expected, but she did turn and wind her legs around him, something he had not. - Page 38

Good Points: Keeps the passion from the series; Kadence sees there is more to Geryon; explains how the demons get in Pandora's Box

Bad Points: Too short

Kristen Simmons - Breaking Point

Back to an old reliable series that I've started reading already but want to share with you all.  Like every other time, I'll try not to give too much away.

Breaking Point is the second book in Kristen Simmons's series Article 5 which is told from the point of view of Ember Miller and focuses on her and Chase Jennings, a young man that she cared about from her past.  In a war torn America, there are no police but are soldiers who enforce the law of the land, known as Moral Statues, dictating to society the moral code that people should live by.  Punishments are severe if these Statues are broken, going from being arrested to the punishments (with long imprisonments and death being common).  In Article 5, Ember starts as a 17 year old girl who keeps a low profile so to draw attention to her family or home life because her mother has broken Article 5 of the Moral Statues, a child is only considered a valid citizen when they are conceived by a married man and wife.  Unfortunately, the seventeen years of hiding catches up with Ember's mother when she is arrested by none other than Ember's former best friend (and first love), Chase Jennings.  Ember is taken into custody and forced into a reformation school where the inmates are brainwashed to comply with the Moral Statues.  Meanwhile Chase goes AWOL and goes to rescue Ember; once they are together, they find the resistance, seeking shelter.  When they're alone together, Chase confesses that he watched her mother die and did nothing about it which causes Ember to run away so Chase goes after her and is captured and arrested because he went AWOL which means Ember has to save HIM.  Once she finds him again, they fake their deaths so those in charge of America won't come after them both again.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Definitely one for those that like dystopian fiction

Favourite Characters: Chase - many great things about him; Ember - great name as well as other great traits

Favourite Part: Instantly they consumed me, overwhelmed me, like the fact of my love was the only truth I'd ever known.  The only truth there was. Chase Jennings, I love you.  I love the boy you were and the man you've become and even when I don't like you at all I still love you because you are you, kind and safe and good, because you understand me and are not afraid.
As the honesty of my words sunk in, he became very still.  Statue still.  And I waited, more raw and vulnerable than ever.

[...]

"I love you, Em.  I've loved you since I was eight years old, and I'll love you my whole life." - Page 353-4

Good Points: How easy it was to pick back up; the reintroduction of old friends; Chase and Ember's relationship

Bad Points: Tucker - too easily accepted for me after everything

Tarek Malouf - Home Sweet Home

While I was reading Touch of Frost, the main character, Gwen, kept speaking about eating a number of sweet things including pumpkin roll. When this happened, I kept craving something sweet like what Gwen was eating so I decided to make something.

I first looked on the internet but then when I was looking through my many cookbooks, I found a recipe for pumpkin & cream cheese roulade (basically pumpkin roll) in Home Sweet Home which was compiled by Tarek Malouf from The Hummingbird Bakery. When I found the recipe in a book, I decided to review the book based on this recipe, though I have made a couple of other recipes so I will mention them at the end. I'm going to review this book based on how clear the recipes were and how easy it was to follow and the end result.

Jennifer Estep - Touch of Frost

Another Goodreads recommendation, following me reading the final instalment of the Starcrossed series, Goddess.  This has similar mythic themes but the concept is a bit like P.C. and Kristin Cast's House of Night series where it takes place in a specialist school.

Touch of Frost is the first book in the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep.  This series revolves around Gwendolyn "Gwen" Frost, a young Gypsy girl, who started a new school two months prior the beginning of this book.  She is established as the outcast in this young adult book while everyone around her is accepted in their own clique.  She has no friends, though she doesn't care about this, and dresses differently from all of the other students (who wear designer gear and nothing else); she also feels different to everyone else because she isn't a warrior like them and she only has a bit of magic.

Rating: 8

Recommended To: Those that liked the House of Night series and Starcrossed series

Favourite Characters: Logan Quinn - mysterious and aloof; Daphne - appears to be more than a pretty girl which is great; Vic - sarcastic and bloodthirsty

Favourite Part: Arm in arm, we left her room, the beginnings of a real relationship shimmering in the air between us, just like the bright pink sparks fluttering up from the Valkyrie's fingertips. - Page 236

Good Points: The concept; love interest is present but not a focal point; Gwen's determination; the powers and the weapons

Bad Points: School life is not fully explored; myths are vaguely mentioned

Carolee Dean - Take Me There

I thought this book was going to be so easy to introduce because the initial thoughts I had on it from the cover were it was going to be the same as Amy & Roger's Epic Detour; this is because Goodreads recommended this book to me when I had finished Amy & Roger.  However, it was completely different which was amazing from my point of view.

Take Me There is a young adult book by Carolee Dean about Dylan Dawson, a young man with an established background as a bad boy, combined with a criminal record, a jailbird father, and an alcoholic mother who is trying to forget her own past through the bottle.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Anyone - some violence and gore but not horrific

Favourite Characters: Dylan - he's amazing; DJ Dawson - helps Dylan come to terms with his past

Favourite Part: I hear my father's voice faintly, over the telephone, answering for me in a soft drawl.  "He's my son."  He reaches out his hand, pressing it against the glass, as if trying to touch me.  He smiles, and I see a tear making its way down his cheek.
[...]

I press my hand up against my father's and I'm suddenly close enough to the glass to see my reflection, blurred by the tears now filling my eyes.  I wipe them away with my fist and take a good look at my father. - Page 167-168

Good Points: The opening; the poetry; DJ's writing; male perspective

Bad Points: Wade's sudden turn around

Tom Fletcher & Dougie Poynter - The Dinosaur That Pooped Christmas

It's going to be a bit of time until my next review and I thought I'd really mix it up yet again with a kids' book written by two members of McFly; I know it's random but I used to love McFly when I was a teenager and thought it was amazing that two of them wrote a kids' book. My friends thought it was childish but I didn't care, everyone needs to let out that inner child and give in to reading kids' books; they are simple, easy to read and for the most part funny if the reader can indulge themselves in the words.

This is going to be a short review with it being such a short story and even though it's not as long, I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Good for kids and anyone else who can handle the content

Favourite Characters: Santy C - who doesn't love jolly old Saint Nick

Favourite Part: So big Santy C said, "I'll leave a present, but this year his present might just be unpleasant". - Page 4

Good Points: The illustrations; the writing style and story; the lesson

Bad Points: Slightly gross

Sarah Strohmeyer - How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True

From books of the dystopic/post-apocalyptic persuasion to the paranormal, I sometimes like to mix it up with something more normal from time to time.

This time, I have chosen How Zoe Made Her Dreams (Mostly) Come True by 

Sarah Strohmeyer, a book aimed at young adults that revolves around Fairyland Kingdom, a fairy tale theme park.  This story revolves around Zoe, an upcoming high school senior who has landed a summer internship at Fairyland along with her cousin, Jess, and thirty-something other teenagers the same age to work as cast members in the various fairy tales that have been brought to life in this theme park.  While the internship is unpaid, but their living expenses are covered for the summer, all of the interns have the chance to win the Dream & Do grant for the two most exceptional interns, one boy and one girl, who have shown "exceptional Wow™ spirit" and with this, they get to join the Fairyland Executive Training Program.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Teenage girls and girls in their early twenties

Favourite Characters: Ian - funny and many other reasons; Zoe - relatable despite what she's been through

Favourite Part: He bowed deeply before me and slipped to one knee, taking my hand in his and gazing with the perfect Fairyland combination of princely adoration and chaste love.  Andy actually applauded, and even my own heart skipped a head - which Ian must have felt because he squeezed my fingers gently.
"Am I forgiven, dearest?" he asked again, batting his eyelashes.
I mouthed, In your dreams! - Page 178-9

Good Points: The story; the queen; easy to read; the concept of the Dream & Do grant

Bad Points: The backstabbing teens; the message takes a while to come about

Veronica Rossi - Through the Ever Night

Now back again to a series that I have already started and I adore so I wanted to share my opinion with others.

Through the Ever Night is the second book in the Under the Never Sky series by Veronica Rossi; this series alternates between the perspectives (though in third person narrative) of Aria and Peregrine "Perry".  These two live in separate worlds; Aria is defined as a Dweller, she lives in Reverie, a pod where the chosen live to carry on the human race, living in a virtual reality through eyepieces, weeding out the illnesses and ailments that destroy us, while Perry is defined as an Outsider, he lives in the wilderness with his tribe where they fend for themselves, surviving on whatever they can hunt, scavenge or trade for.  Aria's world is turned upside down when she is thrown out of Reverie and stranded until Perry finds her and helps her survive while taking her to her mother who is in one of the other Pods in this world.  Along the way, she discovers she is in fact half-Outsider, from the father she's never known, and possesses the senses of an Audible (being able to hear sounds way beyond normal means).  Meanwhile, Perry is determined to have Aria find his nephew who has been sold by his own father and return to him to the tribe, the Tides, and while he seems primitive to Aria, she falls for him as he for her.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Those that like The Hunger Games

Favourite Characters: Perry - he has a lot of weight on his shoulders for such a young man; Cinder - mysterious and intriguing

Favourite Part: He lay down, gathering her close.  Aria slumped against him, turning her ear to his chest.  She listened to his heartbeat - a good, solid sound - as the warmth of his body melted into her.  She'd been in a fog earlier.  Hallucinating and searching for what was real.  She found it in him.  He was real. - Page 121 

Good Points: Aria and Perry when they're together; the story; Roar and Liv

Bad Points: The end comes very quickly; the slightest hint of unnecessary love triangles

Kiera Cass - The Elite

More dystopia/post-apocalyptic fiction off my bookshelf now and it's back to a series I've already started but not reviewed before; Kiera Cass's The Selection series.

The Elite is the second book in Kiera Cass's The Selection series with the first being The Selection which follows America Singer, a underprivileged young woman who works as a musician to earn money along with her family while they live in a society ruled by the royal family of Illéa.  America is chosen, along with another thirty five girls to be part of the Selection: this society's way of allowing the prince to choose his bride while the public watch.  While America signed up for this, she is reluctant to continue because she is still reeling from her break up with Aspen, her former neighbour and boyfriend, who left her to join the Army.  She insults the prince on the first night but she starts to come around and eventually falls for him (he has already fallen in love with her) and their relationship grows over the course of the first book and America makes the final seven of the Selection.  However, the book then ends when Aspen reappears in America's life as a member of the Palace Guard.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Those that liked The Hunger Games

Favourite Characters: America - she is a symbol of hope in a suppressive society; Marlee - she's stronger in this book

Favourite Part: I was overwhelmed. He understood me so well, how nervous I was about making this commitment, how frightening it was for me to become a princess. He was going to give me every last second he could and, in the meantime, lavish me with everything possible. I had another one of those moments when I couldn’t believe this was all happening.
“That’s not fair, Maxon,” I mumbled. “What in the world am I supposed to be able to give you?”

He smiled. “All I want is your promise to stay with me, to be mine. Sometimes it feels like you can’t possibly be real. Promise me you’ll stay.”

“Of course, I promise.” - Page 81 

Good Points: The concept; the importance of family to America as well as Maxon; America and Maxon's relationship

Bad Points: Love triangles (Maxon/America/Aspen and America/Maxon/Kriss)

JoAnna Carl - The Chocolate Cat Caper

And yet another mystery/crime book taken off the shelf of Stef Streatfield, what a surprise.  Maybe my collection isn't as eclectic as I like to think.  Like my previous full book review, it is a new series that I got from Goodreads so even though it was similar to others I have read, I hoped something would make it stand out against the others.

The Chocolate Cat Caper is the first book in JoAnna Carl's series A Chocoholic Mystery which is told from the point of view of Lee McKinney, who has gone from being a trophy wife to a wealthy Texan to an independent young woman, keeping the books for her aunt's chocolate business.

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Chick lit lovers

Favourite Characters: Lee - interesting protagonist; Joe - intriguing romantic interest

Favourite Part: He went on to the outside door, opened it, and stepped back to let me out.  Or I thought he was going to let me out.  I stepped forward and he stepped sideways, and we bumped into each other again.  Suddenly we were standing in the doorway, nose to nose.  This time neither of us moved.  We stood just there.
The moment would have passed if either one of us had reacted normally.  Or maybe we did react normally.

It was a heck of a kiss. - Page 160

Good Points: The idea and background; the story; the random facts

Bad Points: Lee and Joe's relationship; really quick 

Joanne Fluke - Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder: Candy for Christmas

In my edition of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder, there was an additional story within it called Candy for Christmas.  This short story follows the events of Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder but before the rest of the other books; there is a letter prior to this short story in the book where Hannah writes to Joanne Fluke where she requests her biographer (Fluke) to write about something other than the murder investigations Hannah becomes involved in.

This is just going to be a short review of the story as it isn't a full book so I'm not going to rate or recommend it to anyone as it's a story found in a reprint of the first book.

Favourite Characters: Candy

Favourite Part: Candy loved to shop and she couldn't seem to shop smiling.  They'd gone out the front door of The Cookie Jar and into the next building over.  There were party dresses on the mannequins in the windows, and Hannah has said they were going to buy something for her to wear to the party tomorrow night. 

Good Points: The letter; the story

Bad Points: Too short

Joanne Fluke - Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder

So now for another chick lit crime book but this time it is a new series that I haven't read before now. This came from the recommendations on Goodreads which suggested series such as Jack Daniels Mysteries and Chocoholic Mysteries series as well as this series, Hannah Swensen Mysteries.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder is the very first book of the Hannah Swensen Mystery series from Joanne Fluke; all of the books in this series have recipes in them which makes it different and allows the reader to make some of the original creations that Hannah also makes in the books. Chocolate Chip Cookie Murder was originally written in 2000 but was rereleased in 2011 with even more recipes and other stories included.  

Rating: 7

Recommended To: Chick lit crime buffs; similar to the Stephanie Plum series so those readers might like them

Favourite Characters: Hannah - she's a clever cookie; Andrea - she makes me laugh

Favourite Part: Two dates in one night - not bad at all!  Hannah's frown turned into a grin as she lifted the lid and dropped her very favorite five-year-old pair of Nikes inside. - Page 299

Good Points: The story; the sense of family; the recipes 

Bad Points: Similarities to other chick lit crime books 

Janet Evanovich - Sizzling Sixteen

Now for a book from one of my favourite authors, Janet Evanovich, and series, Stephanie Plum. I've pretty much read everything of Evanovich's that I can get my hands on and I've always loved the Stephanie Plum series and the characters within them. 

Sizzling Sixteen is quite obviously the sixteenth normal book from the Stephanie Plum series that just feature Joe and Ranger, the two men in Stephanie's life who she is constantly flitting between which complicates her life along with her job, and the twentieth book that includes the "Between the Numbers" books that feature another man in Stephanie's life who complicates her life even more. Stephanie Plum is a young woman who at the start of the series is an unemployed ex-lingerie saleswoman who blackmails her cousin, Vinnie Plum, into giving her a job as a bounty hunter; at this point in the story, Stephanie has pretty much bumbled her way through apprehending the many FTAs she's been given by Vinnie, gaining a trusty sidekick in the ex-hooker, Lula, and has been on and off with Joe multiple times and slept with Ranger once.

Rating: 9

Recommended To: Chick lit lovers; crime readers; not really necessary to read the previous books but reading the first one, One For The Money, gives you a background on most of the characters and maybe Hot Six for a bit more of information on Mooner (Moon-Man)

Favourite Characters: Mooner; Morelli; Connie. All these characters make me laugh

Favourite Part: Morelli grinned down at me. "I don't know where he's getting it, but he's got some really good shit in those brownies." - Page 232

Good Points: Completely random in the grand scheme of things but still relevant to the previous books; Stephanie; Morelli

Bad Points: Pick Morelli or Ranger, for God's sake, Steph; Vinnie really grossed me out

Jaye Wells - Green-Eyed Demon

Now for a paranormal book from a series I've started a while ago with Green-Eyed Demon by Jaye Wells.

Green-Eyed Demon is the third book in Jaye Wells's Sabina Kane series which picks up from where the second book left as Sabina searches for her twin sister with Adam and Gighul after her sister was kidnapped by their vampire grandmother because in her opinion, they are contaminating the vampire race with their half-vampire half-mage blood.

Rating: 10

Recommended To: Those that like vampire book, better than Twilight

Favourite Characters: Adam - he's hot and protective of Sabina and his friends and family; Sabina - spunky, strong, independent woman

Favourite Part: I didn't think about what I was doing. Didn't try to rationalize it. Didn't second-guess. I just raised my lips to his and allowed my kiss to tell him what I was feeling. And when his hands gripped my arms and he returned the kiss with a fierceness that should have scared me, I didn't pull away. 
Adam and I had kissed before. Passionate kisses that left both of us wanting more. But this kiss wasn't a lusty tangle of tongues and lips like the others. Instead, it was an unfurling of emotions denied for too long. And for the first time, being in Adam's arms didn't spark the fear that normally made me want to run what he offered. - Page 229

Good Points: Sabina and Adam together; Gighul; the combination of Sabina, Adam, and Gighul; the well thought out story

Bad Points: How long it took for Sabina and Adam to really get together