Review of If He's Tempted!

Ok this is way more delayed than I wanted it to be, but I'm finally getting to my If He's Tempted review!

About the book:

Publisher: Kensington Books

Expected Publication Date: April 2, 2013

My source for the book: NetGalley.com

Genre: Historical Romance

Description:

New York Times bestselling author Hannah Howell returns to her beloved Wherlocke family and the story of a love destined to heal old wounds…

Lady Olympia Wherlocke has the gift of foresight. When Lady Agatha Mallam asks Olympia to locate her brother so he can rescue her from an arranged marriage, she knows exactly where to find Lord Brant Mallam, Earl of Fieldgate. What happens next is something she never envisioned…

Since his betrothed died, Lord Brant Mallam has drowned his sorrow with wine and women. His dissolute ways have only emboldened his calculating mother. But with the help of the enchanting Olympia, he concocts a daring plan to end his mother’s devious designs for his sister. While each step in their bold scheme works to perfection, the sins of the past could unravel a growing desire that neither Olympia or Brant can control…

 WHAT I LIKED:

Let me start by saying that I adore Hannah Howell's Highlander novels. They were some of the first historical romances I ever read and I fell in love with her writing style. I knew she'd branched out into other sub genres of historical romance, but had never given them a try. Then this book popped up in NetGalley and I knew I had to check it out.

This is the latest in the Wherlocke-Vaughn series, I believe book five. The book started off surprising me with the supernatural angle. It's subtle but I loved it. The interactions between Olympia and Brant were so much fun and the style was what I had come to expect from Hannah's other books. All too often authors start to feel too formulaic once they've put out a significant number of novels, but I can count on Hannah Howell to keep me entertained.

I spent a good deal of the book wanting to throttle Brant's mother and thumb Brant himself for letting things get so bad. That being said, it was a fun ride and when I'd finished this book I immediately bought all four of the previous Wherlocke-Vaughn novels to read.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

I knew going into this book that it wasn't the first, but my rule of thumb is if I'm able to understand 80% of the plot when diving into a mid-series book, the author has done their job. This sort of fit into that category. It's my fault for not starting with the earlier books so I was fully caught up on the characters. I was a bit confused at times but overall still enjoyed the books thoroughly.

My only other complaint was to my wallet. Once I'd finished this book, I HAD to buy the others :D


OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!

Hannah Howell is one of my go-to authors for a fantastic historical romance. I highly recommend starting at the beginning of this series before reading this book, however. If you're looking for well written historical romance with wonderful characters and a bit of a paranormal twist, don't miss out on these books!

Review of 'Til Death by Sharon Sala!!

Hello my lovelies! I meant to do this last week but there have been some issues lately and I've gotten behind on my reviewing and pretty much everything else. The good news is, life is settling down!

I was honored to be approved to read this on NetGalley and let me tell you, I had high hopes for this book. I've read and adored pretty much all of Sharon Sala's books, especially her latest series, Rebel Ridge. If you haven't read a Sharon Sala book, you have no idea what you're missing :) Now then, time for the review!

About the book:

Publisher: Harlequin - MIRA

Expected Publication Date: March 26, 2013

My source for the book: NetGalley.com

Genre: Romantic Suspense

Description:

He left in handcuffs. Now it’s time to set himself free.

Nearly twenty years after he was wrongly convicted of setting the fire that killed his father, Lincoln Fox returns to Rebel Ridge, Kentucky. There, deep in the Appalachians, the truth of that terrible night lies buried—and he’s sworn to uncover it.

His plans take an unexpected turn when, in the midst of a blizzard, he rescues Meg Walker from her wrecked car. Suddenly Linc discovers another reason to clear his name. Meg, his high school sweetheart, had always believed in his innocence, and if he wants a future with her, he has to show the world proof that she was right.

As the community chooses sides, those who once let a teenage boy take the fall for their crime are forced to raise the stakes. They kidnap Meg, leaving her to the mercy of the mountain. And a second rescue may be more than even Linc can manage….

WHAT I LIKED:

Sharon Sala is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. 'Til Death is actually the third book in the Rebel Ridge series but you can read it by itself. I've read the previous two books and highly recommend it because you revisit the characters from Next of Kin and Don't Cry for Me.

So, what did I like about this book? Pretty much everything! The action starts right away with Meg running into some trouble, literally. Meg doesn't meet Linc right away, instead setting things up from each of their perspectives. Meg's having issues with an unknown assailant and Linc has returned home after a near death experience to try to clear his name. When he finds out about the trouble Meg has experienced, let's just say he's not pleased. They were high school sweethearts and both still loved each other after all this time.

My favorite thing about Sharon Sala is her ability to avoid angst for the sake of angst. Meg never believed Linc was guilty of his crimes and doesn't hold it against them. Linc doesn't avoid Meg thinking he's not good enough for her. They don't jump straight into bed with each other, but you can tell they both want to. I love the balance of romance and suspense and when I made the mistake of reading some of this before work, I ended up being late to work. Yes, it was just that good. If I didn't have meetings that day, I'd have probably called in sick.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

I hated that it had to end :)


OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!!

Sharon Sala is one of my go-to authors when I'm dying for well crafted, well developed romantic suspense. Her paperbacks on my bookshelf have some of the most worn spines of any of my books because of the times I go back and reread her books. This is a must read in my opinion. Can't wait for the next one!!

Review of Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks!!

Hello lovelies! I had the amazing privilege of getting to read and review Maya Banks' upcoming novel, Highlander Most Wanted and let me tell you, I did the serious happy dance when my request was approved. I freaking ADORE her highlander series (well, pretty much anything by Maya) and this was no different. Shall we get to the review?

About the book:

Publisher: Random House - Ballantine Books

Expected Publication Date: March 19, 2013

My source for the book: NetGalley.com

Genre: Historical romance

Description:

Maya Banks, the New York Times bestselling author of erotic romance, romantic suspense, and contemporary romance, has captivated readers with her steamy Scottish historical novels, perfect for fans of Julie Garwood. In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.
Genevieve McInnis is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

 WHAT I LIKED:

Where do I begin? Maya Banks always writes such rich characters, I'm immediately drawn into her stories. I made the mistake of starting this book at 1am when I couldn't sleep thinking I'd just read a chapter or two. The next thing I knew, it was 3AM and I had to be up in 4 more hours. Still, it was so hard to put the Kindle down and I even snuck in some reading time before work. This picks up shortly after Never Seduce A Scot and I'd recommend reading that first. You'll understand this book just fine without it, but Highlander Most Wanted does reference events from the first book so you'll enjoy this more with the whole story.

One thing I love about this book is the heroine isn't physically perfect. Just as Eveline in Never Seduce A Scot was deaf, Genevieve has had her face disfigured in such a way that it inspires strong feelings of pity or disgust in most people who meet her. As a writer myself, I'm guilty of focusing on physical perfection. However, Maya does a beautiful job of crafting strong heroines who overcome their physical ailments and find true love. To do this believably in a historical romance is even more commendable. In addition to the scar, Genevieve is battling the emotional toll of having endured physical, emotional and sexual abuse, but through it all she's a very strong woman who you feel can truly overcome any obstacle, particularly with sexy Bowen.

The plot is intriguing, though in some ways not as exciting as some of her other highlander books. Bowen is everything you'd expect in a sexy highlander and certainly does not disappoint.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

There was very little I didn't like about this. In a very few places I wish things had picked up the pace just a little bit and there's a conflict throughout the book involving Genevieve and the McHugh clanspeople that I thought could have used a bit more wrapping up. I didn't feel like the conflict was completely resolved but it's hard to explain without giving away spoilers.


OVERALL VERDICT: 5/5 Blue Duckies!!

Maya Banks is without a doubt one of my favorite authors. She's one of the rare few who can write steamy contemporary, exciting romantic suspense, and sexy historical highlanders and do it well. You can always count on her books to deliver amazing characters, interesting plots, and rich descriptions that yank you into the story and make you sad the story has to end.

Review of Mark of the Sylph

Hello lovelies! I have joined the ranks of the reviewers on NetGalley.com and have had the pleasure of being approved to review a few books already :) Yes, I know what you're thinking. "But Lindsay Avalon, don't you already interview authors, review indie books, write your own, and work a full time job?! What the hell are you thinking?!" Well, the answer is simple: I'm a masochist who enjoys piling on the work lmao.

Anyway, I digress. You're more interested in the review aren't you? I started reading Mark of the Sylph by Rosalie Lario, an author I'd never heard of before but I liked the cover. Yes, I asked to review the book purely on the cover but when you look at it, you'll understand. After looking on Goodreads, this must be a re-release of the book because it looks like the original edition published back in 2011 with a totally different cover. All I can say is, they did a fantabulous job with the redesign because the new cover is so much more striking. Ready for the good part?

Review of Mark of the Sylph by Rosalie Lario

About the book:

Publisher: Entangled Publishing, LLC

Expected Publication Date: March 26, 2013

My source for the book: NetGalley.com

Genre: Paranormal romance

Description:

Half-demon Taeg is desperate to free his pregnant sister-in-law, who is spellbound to an indestructible book that will create an army of the undead. He is convinced that an ancient sword can destroy the book and the spell forever, but this relic has been hidden for a millennia by a powerful glamour. The clock begins to run out on his search when an old rival goes after the book and Taeg’s family in his quest for revenge.

Librarian Maya Flores has a secret: she’s immune to magic and is well aware of the supernatural beings prowling the streets of New York City. Haunted by a brutal demon attack that took her family, she is on a one-woman mission to destroy the evil demons who did it—and any others who get in her way.

Maya is Taeg’s best hope for uncovering the sword.

Unfortunately, she wants nothing more than to kill him. As he fights for her trust and to save his family, she is forced to face the truth that not all demons are evil. And the worst part? She might be falling in love with one, too.

WHAT I LIKED:

Let me start by saying this is book to of the Demons of Infernum series. I didn't realize this was part of the series because I was drawn in my the cover. I mean really, look at that cover. Talk about yummy. The blurb seemed interesting and nowhere did NetGalley say it was part of a series so I just dove right in.

I'll give the author a lot of credit here. Without having read the first book I had no trouble following the plot. There were references to events in the first book that left me itching to go buy that book, but I didn't feel the need to stop reading because I'd gotten lost. In my opinion, the mark of a good series is to be able to pick up any book and be able to follow at least 80% of the plot without having read the previous books.

I thought the ideas were fresh and interesting with the idea that demons aren't hellspawn but rather beings from another dimension. The interactions between the brothers was awesome and I adored each of their personalities as well as the fact they each had distinctly different abilities. As for our hero, Taeg? Holy hell was he hot. I went into this book expecting a damn sexy hero after such a sexy cover and I wasn't disappointed at all. Loved his character, his wit, the right blend of alpha male without being over bearing. This book had plenty of action and the sexual tension was sizzling. I made the mistake of starting this before bed and didn't fall asleep for hours because I couldn't flip the pages fast enough.

By the end I was left dying to go back and read book 1 as well as dying for the next brother in the series.


WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:

I hate to say it but I didn't like Maya very much at first. She starts the book loathing all demons and there's a damn good reason for that. Demons were responsible for a very traumatic experience and going through that, I'd hate demons too. My issue was how bitchy she was. She keeps trying to kill Taeg, alternating between begging to be let go and subsequently attacking him when he frees her. Sure their relationship started off a bit rocky when he kidnaps her, but it grew tiresome fast. Taeg ties her to the bed so he can try to explain himself without losing his head in the process. Maya calls him all sorts of names. Maya then calms down and promises to hear him out if he'll untie her. Taeg unties her. Maya proceeds to try to kill him. Taeg restrains her for his own protection. Maya gets all offended and pissed off.

I'm not saying she should've immediately trusted Taeg but her behavior really started to grate on my nerves. I'll be honest and say I skimmed parts of the beginning because I really couldn't understand how Taeg was so attracted to her when she was going after him.

Luckily Maya finally comes around, joins forces with Taeg, and becomes far less annoying. She's by no means my favorite heroine ever, but I grew to like her by the end.


OVERALL VERDICT: 4/5 Blue Duckies!

Like I said before, I really didn't like Maya at first. In fact, I wanted to reach through the Kindle and shake some sense into her or at the very least gag her. What saved this book and kept me reading was the interesting premise, fast pace, and Taeg. I loved Taeg. Didn't understand the initial attraction to Maya but hey, nobody's perfect right? Taeg was a damn sexy character with wit and charm and I couldn't wait to find out what happened next with him.

I also loved the fact that I started reading this book without realizing it was the second in a series and I had no trouble following along. I'd recommend reading the series in order just because that way you get a more rich experience and understanding of the characters, but you should do fine if you start on this one.

If you're looking for snappy dialog, action filled paranormal romance, and a very sexy hero, definitely give this one a read!