Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Review! When Pleasure Rules by J.K. Beck



When Pleasure Rules 
The Shadow Keepers, book 2 
J.K. Beck
Bantam 
September 28, 2010 
ISBN-10: 0440245788 
ISBN-13: 978-0440245780

Seven innocents have been brutally murdered in Los Angeles, yet the Shadow Alliance has no suspects and no leads. As the body count mounts, the age-old feud between vampires and werewolves threatens to explode.
Lissa Monroe—a strong-willed, ravishing succubus who entices men to surrender their souls—agrees to go undercover for the Alliance. Her mission: infiltrate the mind of werewolf leader Vincent Rand, a ferociously alluring enemy who exerts a powerful hold over her. As the City of Angels teeters on the brink of apocalypse, these two adversaries must join together in order to survive an even more lethal enemy hidden in plain sight.
In When Pleasure Rules, we meet Lissa. She's a succubus who has fought for centuries for her freedom. As succubi, they're owe by traders and are reborn into that system every single time they die. In her latest lifetime, she's a successful owner of the only club that others can come and be with a succubus for the small price of a piece of their souls. Needless to say, Lissa would do anything to make sure her and her girls - the other succubus who worked for her - keep their freedoms and when she find herself between a rock and hard place, she doesn't have much choice.

Lately, people have been found savagely murdered and the Division, or the group of people that police this shadow realm, have no clue what or who is killing them. But something they do know is that there have been some rumors going around that the Alpha of the werens, or the werewolves, might be involved in this. That's when Lissa comes in. She has a special talent in that she can get into people's head when she takes their souls. While she's done her best to hide this, the Division knows and they'll do anything, including make Lissa get into the head of the Alpha's right-hand man Rand, to found if they're involved in the murders.

While Lissa is more than just apprehensive about this, she doesn't have much choice in the matter and when she first meets Rand, something immediately clicks and their instant attraction ignites. Rand's in town in order to put a stop to the rumors and find whoever is killing but he never counted on Lissa and how she would make him feel. Both Lissa and Rand are in the middle of this hot mess of political intrigue and raging murders and if they don't do everything possible to get out, either one of them could find themselves being the next victim.

When Pleasure Rules is the second book in the new Shadow Keepers series and the best installment yet! I highly enjoyed the first novel but there was a lot of setting done, which is understandable since it was the first book in a series, but in this one it's more about the main characters. Right from the get-go, Lissa and Rand's story grabs you and won't let go. These two have seriously been through a lot and that's only made them stronger. I really liked their story and it was incredibly easy to cheer for them because they're such great characters. When Pleasure Rules is a super fun, action-packed, and let's not forget sizzling story about two people who try to make the best of their options and they might have ended up finding the best thing that ever happened to them. I really enjoyed the story and I'm looking forward to the reading more!

Lush Rating: 4!

Monday, August 16, 2010

Review! Twice Bitten by Chloe Neill


Twice Bitten
A Chicagoland Vampires Novel, book 3)
Chloe Neill
NAL Trade 
July 6, 2010 
ISBN-10: 0451230647 
ISBN-13: 978-0451230645

Shapeshifters from across the country are convening in the Windy City, and as a gesture of peace, Master Vampire Ethan Sullivan has offered their leader a very special bodyguard: Merit, Chicago's newest vampire. Merit is supposed to protect the Alpha, Gabriel Keene-and to spy for the vamps while she's at it. Oh, and luckily Ethan's offering some steamy, one-on-one combat training sessions to help her prepare for the mission.

Unfortunately, someone is gunning for Gabriel, and Merit soon finds herself in the line of fire. She'll need all the help she can get to track down the would-be assassin, but everywhere she turns, there are rising tensions between supernaturals-not least between her and a certain green-eyed, centuries-old master vampire.
Twice Bitten is the third installment in the Chicagoland Vampires series and Merit's back with a vengeance! As a new vampire and also the Sentinel of the Cadogan House, she's got her hands full. Now, the werewolves are coming into town to have a type of conference and Merit has to play bodyguard for Gabriel Keene, the Alpha of the werewolves. Before you know it, Merit's ankle deep in trying to save Gabriel from assassination attempts and to make things even more complicated, she's also dealing with some enemies from the past possibly coming back. Between playing bodyguard for Gabriel, finding out who and why is trying to kill him and stop the conference and dealing with Cadogan House issues, including a certain super-hot Master vampire, Merit has got a lot going on! And she better deal with it soon - before someone ends up dead.

Twice Bitten is a fabulous addition to an already pretty awesome series! I've always been a fan of Merit and her ass-kicking ways but I still think that she's got the worst taste in men! She's had the hots for Ethan, her boss and Master vampire from the get-go and I still don't like him. He's annoying and so full of himself and yes, maybe he is super gorgeous and powerful but I can't stand that man! The thing is, in this story, I actually thought that maybe he was changing a bit and really started liking him. However, he messed up things bad and I'm totally back to hating him. My favorite character makes an appearance, though! Adorable, geeky, sexylicious Jeff. I really wish he'd had a bigger role in the story because he's awesome and I adore him!

I highly enjoyed Twice Bitten! It's an action-packed, gritty and sexy story with really great characters (Jeff!) and I'm definitely looking forward to the next book in this series.

Lush Rating: 4!

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Super Awesome Brenda Novak Giveaway!

White Heat is Brenda Novak's latest book (Which I'm reading right now!). It starts off her great new Department 6 Hired Guns trilogy series and because Mira Books is too awesome, they're hosting this super awesome giveaway! 

First, a little about the book:

A dangerous cult has recently taken over the desert ghost town of Paradise, Arizona. Members worship at the feet—and in the bed—of its charismatic leader, Ethan Wycliff, and obey his orders blindly. They've already tried to murder one woman and they're implicated in the disappearance of another.

Nate Ferrentino, who works for private security contractor Department 6, has been assigned to infiltrate this group. It's a challenge he welcomes—until he learns that colleague Rachel Jessop will be going undercover with him. 

Thanks to their shared history, he'd much rather go alone….

The problem is, only married couples can participate in cult rituals. So, like it or not—and they don't—Rachel and Nate must pretend to be husband and wife.

There's no choice. Because if Wycliff isn't exposed, if he isn't stopped, more people will die. And Rachel might be one of them. 

[Book Trailer here]

You want to read this book, yo. Believe me! Anyway, I have a great prize for a lucky winner! A White Heat prize pack including:
 
  • Tote bag
  • 3D viewer bookmark
  •  White Heat lip gloss – made especially for the book! (Aaah, I want this!)
  • A copy of White Heat
Sweet, right?! To enter, all you got to do is fill out the form below and tada, you're in! This contest is only open to US and Canada and dateline is August 31st. Good luck!

Monday, August 9, 2010

Winners!

First, let me apologize profusely because the dateline for both giveaways completely went over my head! [Note to self: Write dates on stickies for next time!] I AM SORRY. Anyway, I have 2 winners to announce!

The winner of a brand-new copy of The Eternal Ones by Kristen Miller is.. Donnas!

& the winner of Shiver and Linger by Maggie Stiefvater is.. Anne!

Huge congrats to both winners! I'll be passing along your info to the awesome people who hosted these giveaways so be on the lookout for your new books in the mail! Thanks to everyone who enter!

Review! All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins


All I Ever Wanted
Kristan Higgins
HQN Books 
July 27, 2010 
ISBN-10: 0373774583 
ISBN-13: 978-0373774586

One Happily-Ever-After Rocking Chair…

and no sign of any forthcoming babies to rock in ol' Georgebury, Vermont. For Callie Grey, turning thirty means coming to grips with the fact that her boss (and five-week fling) is way overdue in his marriage proposal. And way off track because Mark has suddenly announced his engagement to the company's new Miss Perfect. If that isn't bad enough, her mom decides to throw her a three-oh birthday bash in the family funeral home.

Bad goes to worse when she stirs up a crazy relationship with the town's not so warm and fuzzy veterinarian, Ian McFarland, in order to flag Mark's attention. So Ian is more comfortable with animals…. So he's formal, orderly and just a bit tense. The ever-friendly, fun-loving and spontaneous Callie decides it's time for Ian to get a personality makeover. But dang, if he doesn't shock the heck out of her, she might actually fall for Vermont's unlikeliest eligible bachelor….
 All I Ever Wanted is seriously one of the loveliest books I've read in a long time! Lately, I had been in a bit of a funk and so I was hoping All I Ever Wanted would get me out of it but it did more than that. It's a lovely story about love and finding someone to spend your life with and I enjoyed every single word. I can't tell you how many times I teared up and laughed so hard! Callie is an unbelievable character! She's so bubbly and positive and I could totally see myself in her. Something she said really resonated with me - page 252 

             Sometimes, being an optimist was quite the fucking effort.

I had to reread that line a few times because it so describes how I've felt at times. This story hit me on a personal level. Callie tries so hard to be happy and nice and make everyone like her and I could see that all she wanted was for someone to love her. From the beginning, I loved her character and until the end, I was cheering for her 100%! All I Ever Wanted is an emotional roller-coaster that will make you sigh in happiness and give you hope in finding love. I had never read a book by Higgins before and this one was an amazing way to start because I will certainly be reading more of her works in the future! Highly enjoyable story with unforgettable characters, I really recommend All I Ever Wanted! 

Lush Rating: 5!

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Review! Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Infinity 
Chronicles of Nick
Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin's Griffin
May 25, 2010
ISBN-10: 0312599072
ISBN-13: 978-0312599072

At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity.
Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu.
As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?
Nick Gautier is your everyday high school student. That is, if your average high school student has to deal with zombies trying to eat him. And all I got was bullies so I feel definitely cheated out of a zombie apocalypse. But that's not all yet. After almost being killed in an alley, Nick founds a whole new world right on the streets of New Orleans. The world of the Dark-Hunters, warriors who save humanity every night fighting demons. Soon enough, Nick finds himself knee-deep in trouble because now, more and more students are turning into zombies and he and his friends have to find out who or what is causing this before it's too late.. And he ends up grounded.

From the first time I heard about Infinity, I was highly intrigued. Kenyon sort of goes back in time and tells the story of Nick Gautier growing and how he became part of the Dark-Hunter world. Having read the Dark-Hunter books, Nick always interested me as a character so I was so excited to read his story. The plot is definitely really creative but at times, I didn't feel like I was reading a young adult book. This is not necessarily a bad thing though because Nick and company are great characters and I loved reading about them through a different point of view. 

Overall, I highly enjoyed reading Infinity and the story stayed in my head weeks after I had finished the book. A wonderful set of characters and a fun, action-packed scenes that make for a great read and I'm definitely looking forward to the next installment!


Lush Rating: 4!

He can Chapter-32 me anytime!

Bones is Mine