Tuesday, January 3, 2017

[Review] In His Keeping, by: Maya Banks

Slow Burn #2

IN HIS KEEPING

Author: Maya Banks
Publication Date: January 27th, 2015
Read Date: January 3rd, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 435

Abandoned as a baby to a young wealthy couple and raised in a world of privilege, Arial has no hint of her past or who she belonged to. Her only link lies in the one thing that sets her apart from everyone else—telekinetic powers. Protected by her adoptive parents and hidden from the public to keep her gift secret, Ari is raised in the lap of luxury, and isolation. That is, until someone begins threatening her life.

Beau Devereaux is no stranger to the strange. As the head of Deveraux Security, he’s more than familiar with the realities of physic powers. So when a family friend approaches him about protecting his daughter, he’s more than ready to jump on board. What Beau isn’t prepared for is the extent of his attraction to his beautiful and powerful client. What began as a simple assignment, just another job, quickly turns personal as Beau discovers he’ll do anything at all to protect Ari. Even if it costs him his life.

MY RATE


After such a good book, Keep Me Safe, I had to continue the series. This book did not let me down. It is longer than I thought it was going to be and I was a little afraid of reading it, but I did it. I read it all and I enjoyed so much that I really continuing the series after finishing writing this review. This book was even better than the first.

We are thrown back a little in this book. It starts showing us a little background of Arial, aka Ari, who becomes our main character. Ari has psychic powers, telekinesis, and even though she grows up in a wealthy family and being pampered, everything crumbles when her safety is in danger. Her parents get kidnapped and her only hope is Beau. Immediately after Beau notices her existence, he becomes very thrilled of the idea of someone causing her hurt. He swears to protect her and bring back her parents no matter what. You know, love and forever among those lines.

People, this book is pure romance. I'm telling ya and I love every minute of it. Beau is the most, I don't know, less emotional than the others and seeing him break in front of Ari made my heart break a little. Ari's character is totally badass. Better chick cannot she be. Her power is outstanding! You'll see it for yourselves if you read the book.

The book is not entirely romance. There so much action in it. If they are not getting shot at, then Ari's "experimenting" with her powers and exploding things or moving things out of nowhere. I wish I had a power like that, I swear. I would take the nose bleeds and all, I just would love powers. Who wouldn't, really? Anyways, the book was amazing. Five stars those not compare of how many stars I would give it.

   

LAST REVIEW


[Review] Keep Me Safe, by: Maya Banks

Slow Burn #1

KEEP ME SAFE

Author: Maya Banks
Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Read Date: January 3rd, 2017
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 307

A sizzling story of a woman who risks her life and her heart to find a wealthy man’s missing sister — the first novel in a sexy new romantic suspense series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Maya Banks.

When Caleb Devereaux's younger sister is kidnapped, this scion of a powerful and wealthy family turns to an unlikely source for help: a beautiful and sensitive woman with a gift for finding answers others cannot.

While Ramie can connect to victims and locate them by feeling their pain, her ability comes with a price. Every time she uses it, it costs her a piece of herself. Helping the infuriatingly attractive and impatient Caleb successfully find his sister nearly destroys her. Even though his sexual intensity draws her like a magnet, she needs to get as far away from him as she can.

Deeply remorseful for the pain he’s caused, Caleb is determined to make things right. But just when he thinks Ramie's vanished forever, she reappears. She’s in trouble and she needs his help. Now, Caleb will risk everything to protect her — including his heart....

MY RATE:


It was dark, it was late, I couldn't sleep and I wanted something to read. Something that was kind of short, good and with a happy ending. That was my thinking of last night when I trying to find a book, then Keep Me Safe came out of nowhere. You have to understand that my books apps are so full of them that sometimes it throws me off in what I can find.

This book has that formula between romance, suspense and paranormal that I really really love. Plus, I have read Maya Banks books before, so I had high hopes. Ramie (which is a weird name) is a psychic and she can feel and kind of see the deepest evil things inside of someone. Which make her really a good asset to kind kidnapped victims and such, till a killer got loose and is looking for her. Caleb is a bystander that seek her out for help, but then broke her safety bubble. From then on, everything went to shit, so Ramie did what she was left to do, ask Caleb for help. Really, he owed her.

That's how the whole book goes. Trying to catch that killer, who really became even more dangerous than he already was, but that's for you to understand if you read the book. This book only help me to pass the time, but I really loved reading it. I loved the romance. I hated the suspense (which is good). And I loved the paranormal of it. Can't wait to read the other stories of other characters.

You want to pass time and enjoy something sweet and cool? This is your pick.

   

[Book Tour: Review + Excerpt] Rock Chick Reawakening, by: Kristen Ashley



1001 Dark Nights
Rock Chick #0.5

ROCK CHICK REAWAKENING

by: Kristen Ashley
Publication Date: January 3rd, 2017
Read Date: December 20th, 2016
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 120


     From New York Times bestselling author, Kristen Ashley, comes the long-awaited story of Daisy and Marcus, Rock Chick Reawakening. A prequel to Kristen’s Rock Chick series, Rock Chick Reawakening shares the tale of the devastating event that nearly broke Daisy, an event that set Marcus Sloane—one of Denver’s most respected businessmen and one of the Denver underground’s most feared crime bosses—into finally making his move to win the heart of the woman who stole his.

MY RATE:


HOLY SMOKES! There's been time since I read a Kristen Ashley book or since I felt as giddy as I felt when I finished this book. Kristen Ashley is my go-to author always and forever and is my #1 recommendation to anyone and everyone, so this book been super good wasn't a surprise. The surprise was the book itself. We, her fans, never thought this book was going to be possible until she straight announced and I was over the top wanting to read it. My wish came through and it was not disappointing.

Guys/girls, if you haven't read any other book by her I fully recommend you to read the Dream Man and Rock Chick series first (in that order) before this book. You would not understand it yet, but the epilogue of this book (which was aka-perfection) contain serious spoilers. BUT if you don't plan to read anything from the author, just this book. Go Ahead. Read it. You will want more. This author is not one you can ignore or strike as a bad one. She is kickass in her writting and had me sitting one hour straight in my bed reading the whole novella.

Ten chapters and epilogue are not enough to contain my need to keep reading more of these stories. The Rock Chick series is one, that even though is long-long, you want to keep reading about it. I missed these girls and finally having them around once more brought me more joy than any other book this past year. The story of Marcus and Daisy is one to read, plus their happy ending was the most wanted one.

That epilogue was epic. People that had read Rock Chick, you will love this book and its epilogue. It just the best one. I will always recommend Kristen Ashley and I hope her next books (which she has already in store two for this year) are as all her books are, happy and hot.

 

EXCERPT

     Her face was stunning. Wide smile. White teeth and a good deal of them. Big eyes. Elegant nose. Soft cheekbones. All of this she highlighted with the expert use of makeup from what was clearly a gift of superior genes into something that shone like a Hollywood starlet.

     A starlet of a stripper who looked a good deal like Dolly Parton, who also likely got home the night before, earliest, three in the morning, and was right then, only hours later, back on the stage helping another girl by teaching her some moves.

     “Marcus, brother,” Smithie’s voice came at him. “You got a problem with the way I do business, and I give you reason to have that problem, then we have a talk. I don’t give you that reason, we don’t have conversations like this one. That’s our deal.”

     Marcus listened to him while he watched Daisy talking to the other girl and then she ran across the stage, doing it gracefully in platform sandals, her stone-washed jeans tight on her ass and hips and all the way down her legs. Still, after she ran the four steps, she launched herself high, grabbing on to the pole at least three feet higher than she was, her body swinging around by just her hands.

     When the swing ended, she climbed up the pole, hand over hand. Doing this quickly, taking herself up another four feet, she flipped her bottom half over, wrapping her skinny legs around the pole. She dropped back, her hair flowing down, and with her only hold on the pole being her legs, she arched her back and slid down slowly, somehow circling the pole as she did it.

     She ended this doing a layout with her hands on the floor, her legs in slow and controlled movements coming over her head one after the other. Her hands pushing off, she was up.

     Standing straight with perfect posture.


A Message from Kristen:


Dear Reader,

I’m beside myself with glee that this prequel to my Rock Chick series has been unleashed! There was some time when I never thought I’d write it. When I couldn’t be in that terrible place with Daisy. But I’m oh-so glad that she called to me, demanding her story be told so she could give it to me and now I can give it to you! I loved every moment spent with Daisy and Marcus. And I hope you do too!

~Kristen Ashley



AUTHOR

Kristen Ashley was born in Gary, Indiana, USA and nearly killed her mother and herself making it into the world, seeing as she had the umbilical cord wrapped around her neck (already attempting to accessorize and she hadn't taken her first breath!). Her mother said they took Kristen away, put her Mom back in her room, her mother looked out the window, and Gary was on fire (Dr. King had been assassinated four days before). Kristen's Mom remembered thinking it was the end of the world. Quite the dramatic beginning. 

Nothing's changed.

Kristen grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana and has lived in Denver, Colorado and the West Country of England. Thus, she's blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her family was (is) loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. They all lived together on a very small farm in a small farm town in the heartland. She grew up with Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon and Whitesnake (and the wardrobes that matched).

Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music, clothes and love was a good way to grow up. 

And as she keeps growing, it keeps getting better.

WEBSITE * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * NEWSLETTER * GOODREADS * PINTEREST * INSTAGRAM

Top Ten Tuesday [51]

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created at The Broke and the Bookish. Each week they will post a new Top Ten list that one of their bloggers over at The Broke and the Bookish will answer. Everyone is welcome to join! This week Top Ten is...

Top Ten 2017 Debut Books I'm Excited For

*not in any order*

 
 
 
 
 

What about you?

Monday, January 2, 2017

Bout of Books 18 [Day 1]


Bout of Books is here and I started with the right foot [err... maybe]. In my sign up post I said that I was going to read three books in this week and that I was not going to read the short books/novellas I love so much. Well, I did it. I read not one, but two. Oops! Anyways, I read, right? So, what's the big deal? I will start with the big books soon. I hope.

READ ON DAY 1:

*click on picture for review*
 

November, by Audrey Carlan
119 / 119 pages
December, by Audrey Carlan
128 / 128 pages

CURRENTLY READING:



The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald
23 / 180 pages

STATS:

Books Finished: 2
Currently Reading: 1
Pages Read: 270

TODAY'S CHALLENGE:


Introduce Yourself #InSixWords

The challenge is simple: introduce yourself on Twitter, Instagram, or on this post using six words, no more, no less. Use the hashtags #BoutOfBooks and #InSixWords so we can learn all about you.

BONUS: Share a picture of your smiling face or your bookshelves!

Grown Up. Bookworm. Future Teacher.

Sorry, my little fellas, but no picture of my bookshelves because I am not home. I am in Texas, spending Christmas break with my mom, but here is my smiling face.

That's it for now, hope all of you are reading lots and lots!

[Series Review] Calendar Girl, by: Audrey Carlan

CALENDAR GIRL SERIES

Author: Audrey Carlan
Publish Dates: from January 15th, 2015 to December 29th, 2015
Read Dates: from December 29th, 2016 to January 2nd, 2017

OVERALL RATE:

I was very very surprised to understand at the end of the first book that this series was not going to be one of a bunch of stand alones, it was actually a series following the girl's year as an escort (not a whore, mind clear that out). I had this kind of idea that every book was going to be about a different girl that was working as an escort, but it was only Mia's life. It was surprising, almost annoying because I really wanted Mia with Wes from the beginning.

When Alec came along, it was not that bad at all. I love French and actually reading it was delicious. He was always the perfect French man and so much an artist that it was not that hard to fall in love with him. Wes was always going to be the number one, though.

Then Tony and Hector came in the third book. In the back of my mind, I knew something like what happened in this book was going to occur, but never expected that soon. Plus, it was very very sweet to read it. Wes appearing out of nowhere just to see her was the best part yet. Made me fall in love for him even more.

Mason & Rachel. Mason is the usual sports player guy that every girls swoons and he is very easy to comply with sex. Until someone finally puts him in his spot, that girl being Mia. Mia showed him that he loved Rachel and that Rachel was in love with him. Mia have this thing of knowing who is what to who. Mason was the perfect character in that moment, until I read about Tai.

Tai is aka-perfection, but very stick to his culture. He and Mia understood that they were only going to last a month and did everything to enjoy it, but her heart was somewhere else and his heart belong to someone out there. That one being Amy. The last thing that Mia could do for his new friend, now almost brother, was to hook him up to find his forever.

Warren was the next client, who had a son called Aaron and that his lover, Kathleen, was also the housekeeping woman. Warren's cause to help people was a very good one and Mia loved to help. But Mia had other plans, like hooking up Warren and Kathleen to become an actual couple no matter what Aaron said. Aaron had other plans for Mia, which were destroyed after Mason almost broke his face and then Tai came to heal up Mia. Love these boys, but hated that Mia didn't called Wes.

Latin Lov-ah came next, Anton, and Heather (his manager and BFF). After Mia being wrongfully treated by Aaron, she couldn't even hug another men other than Wes (yey for me, sucks for her). But, Anton, as a good Puerto Rican (you know, from where I am from) taught her to be fine again. Anton was good, but not perfect. Damn, authors, if you are going to write something in another language please have all your translations set, just saying. Otherwise, everything was cool.

Max, oh, Max. He was the totally plot twist. Something you would never expected in this series. Her long lost brother. From August on, Mia stops being an escort because so many shit hit the fan that really... what more? Only for you to find if you read the books. *winks*

Really, the end was a very good one. I am sad to see them go, but happy that everything came out as I wanted. I am even more than happy. I was in need of something this happy. I recommend them, plus, they are super short.

   

Book To Movie [5]


THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

[poem - movie]

Author: Tim Burton
Published: unknown

Director: Henry Selik
Released: October 29, 1993

You might think that this movie did not come from a book and you are right, it came from a poem written from the one and only, Tim Burton. Poem, titled same as the movie, was the inspiration of the movie. If you have read the poem, you obviously know that the movie has more things, details, characters and plot.

If you haven’t seen the movie, I totally recommend it to anyone, but if you have not please read the poem first. The poem is very lovely, but then when you watch the movie, is mindblowing and even lovelier. The poem only has a few characters (Jack, Santa, Zero and a few others that have not name and mentioned briefly) and it’s solely about Jack taking Christmas in his hands and making it his. The movie goes in deeper, exploring emotions and adding a lot more of characters (even a “villain”), but the best addition is Sally. In the movie, Sally represents everything that Jack doesn’t have and desperately needs.

The movie being in Stop Motion makes everything better. Makes it look creepier and a little bit scarier, which is mostly how the poem makes you feel. What I like even more in the movie is that it has a very happy ending, when in the poem we only have an ending.

If you ever have the opportunity after watching the movie, please search for the soundtrack of it and hear the Epilogue. It’s perfect! Jack will always be mischievous, but it shows how happy he is in his kingdom, Halloweentown.

Jack is so lovely, you know, what's not to love?

Sunday, January 1, 2017

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!


xoxo, stephanie aimeé (aka sam)