woensdag 23 januari 2013

Valkyrie Rising - Ingrid Paulson

Valkyrie Rising (Valkyrie, #1)Serie: Valkyrie #1
Release date: 2012
Stars: 2/5 

Nothing ever happens in Norway. But at least Ellie knows what to expect when she visits her grandmother: a tranquil fishing village and long, slow summer days. And maybe she’ll finally get out from under the shadow of her way-too-perfect big brother, Graham, while she’s there.

What Ellie doesn’t anticipate is Graham’s infuriating best friend, Tuck, tagging along for the trip. Nor did she imagine boys going missing amid rumors of impossible kidnappings. Least of all does she expect something powerful and ancient to awaken in her and that strange whispers would urge Ellie to claim her place among mythological warriors. Instead of peace and quiet, there’s suddenly a lot for a girl from L.A. to handle on a summer sojourn in Norway! And when Graham vanishes, it’s up to Ellie—and the ever-sarcastic, if undeniably alluring Tuck—to uncover the truth about all the disappearances.

I was really looking forward reading this book, but it disappointed me big time. I really did not like the writing styles, there was just to much description. Ellie is the main character, but she wasn't a likeable character to me, she annoyed me. All the characters didn't do it for me, I might add. They where just so shallow and under developed. I just didn't care what happened to them. Then there was this love story between Tuck and Ellie, it was just there. One day they where friends and then guess what, they became a couple. It was just weird and I really couldn't follow where that came from, they had zero chemistry. I could have been a great story, the concept was very good. It wasn't just for me.

Seduced in the Dark - C.J. Roberts

Seduced in the Dark (The Dark Duet, #2)Serie: The Dark Duet #2 
Release date: 2012 
Stars: 5/5 

The exciting, titillating, and action-filled conclusion to Captive in the Dark

What is the price of redemption?

Rescued from sexual slavery by a mysterious Pakistani officer, Caleb carries the weight of a debt that must be paid in blood.

The road has been long and fraught with uncertainty, but for Caleb and Livvie, it’s all coming to an end.

Can he surrender the woman he loves for the sake of vengeance?

Or will he make the ultimate sacrifice?


After I read Captive in the dark, the first book, I couldn't help but immidiately pick up this book. There is this dark and twisted alure to this serie and I can say with all my heart you really have to read this duet books! If you thought Captive in the Dark was good, you have no idea what's waiting for you in Seduced in the dark. It's just such an amazing story, greatly written and so many unexpected twists and turns that even up until the last few pages, you really don't have a clue how the story is going to end. This book was written very differtently than Captive in the dark, so it was kind of weird in the beginning, but you just can help but get suck right in the story and I don't think the story could have been any better if it was written differently. The story is told in 2 different timelines and alternating POV's. You just have to read the story for yourself to know what I mean. There's such great depth to the story that you don't find very often and I can say that's one of the very great books I have read. It's shocking and all consuming. Like I said in my review of Captive in the Dark, you feel something for the 'bad' guy Caleb and you just can't help but find that shocking, because he has done horrible things, yet you understand him and even grow to care for him. Then the main character Olivia, her story is just horrible and shocking, but also wonderfull. You really don't recognize her from the beginning of Captive in the Dark, she has grown a lot and is a whole different woman than the girl she was before. Then there is a new character, a FBI agent, with his own dark sexual events and I was immidiately curious towards him, I even heard he gets a story of his own. YOU just HAVE to read Captive in the Dark and then Seduced in the Dark, I highly recommened it!!!

Fire - Kristin Cashore

Fire (Graceling Realm, #2)
Serie: Graceling Realm #2
Release date: 2009
Stars: 4/5 

It is not a peaceful time in the Dells. The young King Nash clings to his throne while rebel lords in the north and south build armies to unseat him. The mountains and forests are filled with spies and thieves and lawless men.

This is where Fire lives. With a wild, irresistible appearance and hair the color of flame, Fire is the last remaining human monster. Equally hated and adored, she had the unique ability to control minds, but she guards her power, unwilling to steal the secrets of innocent people. Especially when she has so many of her own.

Then Prince Brigan comes to bring her to King City, The royal family needs her help to uncover the plot against the king. Far away from home, Fire begins to realize there's more to her power than she ever dreamed. Her power could save the kingdom.
 

Kristin Cashore did it again, I'm already in love with her first book Graceling and now I'm also in love with Fire. The book and the character. Fire is the main character and I can say she's a favorite of mine. I really liked Fire as a heroine, she's very independent and has a strong will and character. I also enjoyed Brigan as a character, he has this whole manly charm about him. He's mysterious and hard towards himself, but he can be sweet. I'm kind of disappointed that that was so little romance in the book, only towards the end things where heating up. There's another love interest for Fire, Archer. Don't worry it's not a love triangle, it's one-sided. I really liked Archer, he seemed so carefree, just swinging his way in live. There was much grief and sorrow in the book and I couldn't help but pink a few tears away. I just really like the whole story, the action, the romance, the character development. I highly recommened both Graceling and Fire!

zondag 13 januari 2013

The Perfect Game - J. Sterling



The Perfect Game
Serie: The Perfect Game #1
Release date: 2012 
Stars: 4/5   

He's a game she never intended to play.
And she's the game changer he never knew he needed.

The Perfect Game tells the story of college juniors, Cassie Andrews & Jack Carter. When Cassie meets rising baseball hopeful Jack, she is determined to steer clear of him and his typical cocky attitude. But Jack has other things on his mind... like getting Cassie to give him the time of day.

They're both damaged, filled with mistrust and guarded before they find one another (and themselves) in this emotional journey about love and forgiveness. 

Strap yourselves for a ride that will not only break your heart, but put it back together.

Sometimes life gets ugly before it gets beautiful...

Wow the love story of Cassie and Jack is major EPIC! Though they came together rather quickly, I really enjoyed their story and their road. What I enjoyed most was the fact that it was writtin in dual POV's. I like Cassie and Jack both as characters and I like to read about their development throughout the story. The first half of the book was very good and romantic. You have to know, Cassie lives by a set of rules, but than Jack breaks one of them. Which one I'm not gonna tel. The second half of the book however, left me heartbroken. I have to say that I'm glad they aren't both perfect and that you read how they can screw up. It's more realistic that way. I just had to read on and on just to know how the story would end. I also loved the second characters, Melissa and Dean. It was nice to read another love story on the sidelines.The end was really amazing! I really recommened the book!

Breathe - Abbi Glines

Breathe (Sea Breeze, #1)
Serie: Sea Breeze #1
Release date: 2011
Stars 1/5

Sadie White's summer job isn't going to be on the beach life-guarding or working at rental booths like most kids her age. With her single mother's increasing pregnancy and refusal to work, Sadie has to take over her mother's job as a domestic servant for one of the wealthy summer families on a nearby island.


When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie hadn't spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house she might have been normal enough to be excited about working for a rock star.


Even though Sadie isn't impressed by Jax's fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax but he fights his attraction. Relationships never work in his world and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. By the end of the summer, Jax discovers he can't breathe without Sadie.


I just don't know what to expect with Abbi Glines books. I've read multiple books of her, some very good, some very bad. The writing styles are very different with different books. Breathe was a book I did not like. I think Abbi Glines has very good ideas, with Breathe too, but the writing style and the story just doesn't do it for me. I really am a big sucker for romance, and this book has romance, just not the right one. Let me explain. The main character Sadie is supposed to be this smart, very mature for her age girl (she's 17), yet she doesn't seem that way to me, more like 14. She doesn't see her mother is just a major fuck-up and should be hospitalized. She speaks of herself as someone with no personality, how can someone have none? And then there is Jax, I like his name! But he's a major asshole with overconfidence. And then the way he speaks, uggh! It was instant love and the I love you didn't come much later. I really can't say a positive thing about this book. Do Not Read Breathe!

Tempting the Player - J. Lynn



Tempting the Player (Gamble Brothers, #2)
Series: The Gamble Brothers #2
Release date: 2012 
Stars 4/5


Chad Gamble, all-star pitcher for the Nationals, is one of the best players on—and off—the field. And right now, the notorious bad boy wants Bridget Rodgers. But with her lush curves and snappy comebacks, the feisty redhead is the kind of woman a man wants to settle down with…and that’s the last thing Chad needs. When the paparazzi catch them in a compromising position, Chad’s manager issues an ultimatum: clean up his act or kiss his multi-million dollar contract goodbye. To save his career, his meddling publicist says he'll have to convince everyone Bridget isn’t just his flavor of the week, but his girlfriend.

Being blackmailed into a fake relationship with Chad Gamble isn’t easy, especially when the sizzling physical attraction between them is undeniable. With a month to go on their arranged pretense, it's going to take every ounce of willpower they have not to fall into bed together...or in love.

Pfoeee Tempting the Player is so much hotter and better than Tempting the Best Man. Where the first one was already hot, it was mostly just fun to read. There is just so much to love about this book, it's hard to really know where to start. The main character Bridget is so hilarious. Man, did I have a good laugh at some scenes! She's strong, beautiful (though she doesn't consider herself as beautiful), sweet and she can be very sexy. And hello Chad Gamble, it's really really nice to meet you! I just love the books of Jennifer Armentrout, but when she writes as J. Lynn, I know I'm getting something good, hot and sexy as hell. I really love the Gamble brothers, though it's kind of predictable I loved every minute of it! Tempting the player had more steam and sexual tension than her previous book, which was really fine with me. I loved the story of Bridget & Chad, they where hot together and just bad hehe. Can't wait for the next book!

A want so wicked - Suzanne Young


http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1320688664l/12924307.jpgSerie: A Need So Beautiful #2
Release date: 2012   
Stars 3/5
 
Elise is a normal seventeen-year-old girl until the day she wakes up in a desert park, with no idea who she is. 

After that episode, her life takes a bizarre turn. She’s experiencing unexpected flashes of insight into people’s lives—people she’s never met before. Strangers frighten her with warnings about the approaching Shadows. And although Elise has never had a boyfriend, she suddenly finds herself torn between two handsome but very different young men: Abe, the charming bad boy whose effect on her both seduces and frightens her, and the mysterious Harlin, who’s new to town but with whom Elise feels an urgent, elemental connection—almost as if they are soul mates.

Now Elise begins to question everything about her life. Why do these guys both want her so desperately? What are the Shadows? Why does the name Charlotte inspire a terrifying familiarity? And who is Elise, really? 

I feel terrible for writing so little and reading so much. I just couldn't find the time for stop the reading and begin the writing. So now I have many reviews to write, though I actually have to prepare for a test tomorrow. Okay A Want So Wicked is the first book I've read of Suzanne Young and when I began this one I really didn't know that it was actually part 2 of the A need so beautiful series. And I have to say, the cover is stunning! I liked this one, I was really intrigued with the story and where it was heading. Maybe it was better that I did not read the first one, because it was more of a mystery for me now. I really like the main character Elise, she's a very likeable character and you can easily relate with her. I really enjoyed to read about her struggle with the need and with the flashbacks. I also liked Harlin, even though I didn't know what his deal was, because I didn't read the first book, I was still intrigued with him. I knew something must have happened between him and a girl and although I figured out what must have happened in book 1, I still wanted to read the first book after this one haha. The plot was fast, and a bit predictable but I stil liked it. I would recommened the book, even if you haven't read the first one!