Nite Lite Book Reviews: January 2013

31 January 2013

Etiquette & Espionage - Book Trailer

I am not usually one for book trailers as they generally feature bad special effects and bad acting, but I just had to share this trailer for Gail Carriger's new upcoming book, Etiquette & Espionage. I love the paper cutout figures and the somewhat hoity English voice narrating. I think it's a perfect fit for the tone of the series. I know I keep talking about this book but it's because I am so excited about it!

Etiquette & Espionage hits stores Feb 5, 2013.

Do you like book trailers in general or avoid them like me?

30 January 2013

The Angel - Review

The Angel (Original Sinners #2)
by Tiffany Reisz

Publication date: 27 Sept 2012 by Harlequin MIRA

Category: Adult Contemporary Erotica/BDSM
Keywords: Erotica, BDSM, romance
Format: Paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley

* If you haven't read The Siren yet, you may want to skip the synopsis and review as it contains spoilers for book 1. You have been warned.

Goodreads synopsis:

No safe word can protect the heart.

Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora's lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.

Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora's protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.

But while her flesh is willing, Nora's mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora's past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It's a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.

Review:

Wow. Tiffany Reisz continues to impress me with her ability to write original and emotional character driven stories. She continues to push the envelope while still remaining accessible to all readers (as long as you’re not afraid to try something new). When I read a Tiffany Reisz novel, I go through the gamut of emotions – joy, lust, rage, sadness, frustration, fear – and that’s just in the first few pages.

The Angel takes us deeper into Nora’s world and explores old relationships as well as new ones. It picks up about a year after the events of The Siren, and Nora finds that she must leave town when a journalist comes poking around Søren’s congregation. Nora holes up at the estate of Griffin Fiske, a friend and fellow Dom. She takes with her Michael Dimir, the damaged young man that we met in The Angel. Michael is Nora’s protégé for the summer and Nora plans to teach him everything she knows.

Before reading The Angel, I was on the fence about Søren. I wasn’t his biggest fan after the last book but the Angel sheds a lot of light on his past and now I can see why Nora fell in love with him. He is an extremely compelling character with a very dark past. There’s so much that makes up Søren and I think we’ve only scratched the surface.

The other half of the book focuses on Michael, aka The Angel. Michael is struggling to figure out who he is and to accept himself. I loved that Nora and Griffin encouraged him to be himself. Under their tutelage, he sheds his painfully shy exterior and lets out the confident, funny, and thoughtful young man inside. Ultimately I think Michael’s story is one of healing and acceptance. One summer with Nora isn’t going to cure all his problems, but he is getting there.

I have to say that I fell in love with both Michael and Griffin. They were the cutest couple and it was fun watching them both try not to fall in love and failing miserably. I know that the age difference (Michael is 17) might bother some people, but I did not feel that at all. Age is never an issue as they are well matched in personality and maturity.

With each book, I fall deeper into the rabbit hole that Tiffany Reisz has created. Well written, sensual, emotional, and unapologetic, The Original Sinners series is one that you won’t soon forget. I cannot wait to read The Prince, which will give us more insight into Søren and Kingsley’s relationship. I have a feeling it’s going to be the best one yet!

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at www.tiffanyreisz.com and follow her on Twitter @tiffanyreisz

28 January 2013

Manicure Monday (1): Etiquette & Espionage

As you can see, I am trying out a new feature here on NL. If you follow me on Instagram or Twitter, you've probably noticed that I have a slight obsession with nail polish. I love all makeup really but nail polish is sort of my thing and all my friends know me as a bit of a polish hoarder. So to spice things up I thought I would try out a new feature where I share what I am currently reading as well as what's currently on my nails. We'll see if this feature will stay depending on the feedback.

So I've been reading Gail Carriger's Etiquette & Espionage. I am a big fan of her Parasol Protectorate series and was super excited to hear that she had a new YA series coming out. I am about a third of the way through the book right now and have stalled a bit. It's not that I am not enjoying it. I don't know what it is but it's just not as engrossing as I want it to be. It is very similar to Parasol though and if you like that series, I think you will really like this. I am setting it down for a little bit while I read some books for an author event coming up but I definitely want to finish it.

And on my nails is Barry M Magnetic Violet. Barry M is a brand only found in UK drugstores. It was sent to me by my friend in Scotland. I am not a huge fan of the magnetic trend since it requires a really steady hand, but I have to say that I had a lot of fun wearing this one.

So what did you guys think of this post? Too weird? Am I the only one who likes nail polish? Leave your feedback in the comments below. Thanks!

27 January 2013

Stacked (40)

Hello! Welcome to another week of Stacked, where I share what books (and sometimes other things) that I have received during the week.

Sooo I was being really good last week, but then made the mistake of checking out Edelweiss. Man there were are so many awesome books coming out! I didn't go too crazy but I did put in requests for a few. I've already been denied for a couple (*sob*) but I was approved for a couple of books that I've been dying to read. Wanna see what I got?

West of Want by Laura Kaye - I have heard good things about this paranormal romance series and picked up a copy at the library this week.

The Bridgertons: Happily Ever After by Julia Quinn - I am a really big fan of Julia Quinn's Bridgerton series and was so excited to hear that she was coming out with a book of second epilogues for her characters. Thank you, Avon, for this one.

Dead Man's Dead by Jocelynn Drake - Another one I am super excited about. I really liked the first book in The Asylum Tales series, Angel's Ink. I am really happy that I was approved for this. Thank you, Harper Voyager.

That wasn't so bad, was it? A pretty modest haul, but these are books that I am really excited to read. I have a bunch of review books I need to read for an upcoming author event so, unfortunately, I won't be getting to these right away. But I am still very happy to have them. If you have a book haul post, link up in the comments and I'll check it out. Hope you're all having a great weekend!

25 January 2013

Uncovered (48): The Girl Who Fell From The Sky

Happy Friday, everyone. I hope you have all been having a good week. I am going to keep it pretty short today since it's late and all I want to do is pass our right now. This week on Stacked I have an older book. The Girl Who Fell From The Sky came out in 2010. I don't think I saw until sometime last year though. I was immediately struck by it though. I love the simplicity of the design and the placement of the text and the image perfectly illustrate the title of the book. And because everything is in that vertical line, it actually kind of feels like the girls is falling and that there is movement. A deceptively simply but ingenious cover.

Love it or hate it? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!

24 January 2013

Hansel and Gretel - Trailer

It's trailer time! Today I have the trailer for the new action/fantasy flick Hansel & Gretel. This movie looks pretty awful. I love fairy tales and Jeremy Renner but this just looks like it's going to be cheesy. Am I going to see it? Heck yeah! I love ridiculous action movies and I would not miss this. :)

Hansel & Gretel opens on January 25, 2013.

22 January 2013

One Good Earl Deserves A Lover - Advance Review

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover (Rules of Scoundrels #2)
by Sarah MacLean

Publication date: 29 Jan 2013 by Avon

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Historical, romance, gambling, quirky characters
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss

Goodreads synopsis

Review:

One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is the second book in Sarah MacLean’s The Rules of Scoundrels series, set in a popular gaming hell. Sarah MacLean has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance authors. One Good Earl did not disappoint and I hard time putting this one down.

The novel opens and we find Lady Philippa Marbury in the private office of Cross, notorious rake and part owner of The Fallen Angel. You see, Pippa has a problem. She’s getting married in a week and doesn’t know what to expect. A scientist at heart, Pippa doesn’t like to go into a situation without all the facts. So she enlists Cross to help educate her on the rules of seduction and desire. Pippa is looking for an education without emotion but experiments sometimes have the most unexpected results.

First off, I love the dedication to this book which his “For girls who wear glasses.” I think that’s the perfect setup for a book about a heroine who isn’t like the other ladies of her peerage. Philllipa has a decidedly scientific mind and is more interested in learning about the muscles and bones in the human body then the latest London fashions. Pippa is a really unique and refreshing character. She’s extremely smart and tenacious, but also sweet and a little bit naïve. I think a lot of people will be able to relate to Pippa, a woman who’s always felt a little out of place. I love that she doesn’t try to change or compromise herself to fit in.

Cross is an unlikely match for Pippa but ends up being quite perfect for her. He doesn’t find Phillipa odd at all and instead admires her curiosity and intelligence. Unfortunately he has a few skeletons in his closet that he believes makes him unworthy of Pippa’s love. Cross is an honorable man living with a lot of guilt from the past. He’s also quite stubborn, which made me want to smack him a few times. But with a little bit of perseverance, Pippa manages to break down the walls that he’s built. It should also be noted that Cross is a ginger. Yes, ginger. There aren’t enough hot gingers in romance novels so thank you, Ms. MacLean.

The romance in this was surprisingly sweet and the science talk made for some really cute love scenes. The only thing I wasn’t really happy about was the resolution between Cross and his estranged family, or the lack of one. Cross’s past is the thing that has kept him apart from society for so long and the thing that almost keeps him from Pippa. However, the issue all but disappears once Pippa and Cross finally get together. I have an e-ARC so maybe it’ll be added in later, but the omission of it was something that I definitely noticed. Otherwise, this was a great read. Fun, sexy, and emotional, One Good Earl Deserves a Lover is all of the things I love and have come to expect from Sarah MacLean.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at macleanspace.com and follow her on Twitter @sarahmaclean

20 January 2013

Stacked (39)

Hello! You guys don't even know how excited I am that we have a long weekend. Work's been kicking my @ss and I am looking forward to spending Monday reading and recharging. I hope that you all have the day off, too. This week's book haul is pretty small. I've been on a strict budget lately and am really trying to read the books that I have (of which there are many). I don't feel as bad about getting books on NetGalley because they don't take up any room.

For Review

Lush (Delicious #3) by Lauren Dane - I met Lauren at the RWA autograph session last year. I ended up buying one of her romantic suspense novels but her Delicious series looked really fun. Happy this book 3 in the series showed up on NetGalley.

Peregrine Harker & The Black Death by Luke Hollands - I hadn't heard of this one but the cover caught my eye. It sounds like a YA steampunk detective novel. Fun!

Won

On The Edge by Ilona Andrews - I won't something! I won a book from Book Lovers Inc. a couple of weeks ago and it arrived this week. I have been meaning to read this series for so long. Everyone keeps telling me how awesome it is. Glad I finally have it.

See how good I've been? I finally saw Les Mis this week. Let me preface this by saying that I had not seen Les Mis before and therefore, didn't have anything to compare this to. I went in with no expectations and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I love me some Hugh Jackman and it looked great. The singing was good and the story, though sort of depressing, was hopeful.

Thanks for stopping by. Have an awesome weekend!

18 January 2013

Uncovered (47): Sister Assassin (aka Mind Games)

Hi, kids! Thanks for visiting this week's installment of Uncovered. I love a good book cover and this is where I get to gush about them.

This week I have the UK edition cover to Kiersten White's upcoming release. The book is called Sister Assassin in the UK and Mind Games in the US. Most of you have probably seen the cover to the US version. I recently found the UK cover and immediately fell in love with it. While I like the US cover, this one is much more my style. I always love the illustration based covers and I love the stark black and white image. It has a real sketch quality to it. There is something really sinister and compelling in their expressions. And is it just me or do they remind you a bit of Alexis Bledel (left) and Christina Ricci (right)?

I don't know who the artist is on this one, but it reminds me a lot Joey Hi-Fi's work. It has a similar feel to Blackbirds, a previous book on Uncovered. If any of our friends in the UK get a copy of this and could let us know, that would be great. My attempts at finding it keep bringing up pages on Assassin's Creed. :)

Comment question*: Do you prefer the US cover or UK?

*commment question is a feature totally inspired by Lauren at 365 Days of Reading

16 January 2013

How To Misbehave - Advance Review

How To Misbehave (Camelot #1) by Ruthie Knox

Publication date: 28 Jan 2013
by Loveswept, an imprint of Random House

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Category: Adult Contemporary Romance
Keywords: Contemporary, romance, short story, bad boy
Format: eBook
Source: e-ARC received from author via Netgalley

Synopsis:

What woman can resist a hot man in a hard hat? Beloved author Ruthie Knox kicks off her new Camelot series with this deliciously sexy original novella, in which a good girl learns how to misbehave . . . with all her heart.

As program director for the Camelot Community Center, Amber Clark knows how to keep her cool. That is, until a sudden tornado warning forces her to take shelter in a darkened basement with a hunk of man whose sex appeal green lights her every fantasy. With a voice that would melt chocolate, he asks her if she is okay. Now she’s hot all over and wondering: How does a girl make a move?

Building contractor Tony Mazzara was just looking to escape nature’s fury. Instead, he finds himself all tangled up with lovely Amber. Sweet and sexy, she’s ready to unleash her wild side. Their mutual desire reaches a fever pitch and creates a storm of its own—unexpected, powerful, and unforgettable. But is it bigger than Tony can handle? Can he let go of painful memories and let the force of this remarkable woman show him a future he never dreamed existed?

Review:

I became a fan of Ruthie Knox’s work after reading her swoon worthy romance About Last Night and was super excited to hear that she had a new series coming out. How To Misbehave is a short story prequel to her upcoming Camelot series and is a deliciously fun read that leaves you wanting more.

Amber Clark seems like your typical “good girl.” She does what’s expected of her and isn’t very adventurous. But Amber’s tired of being a good girl and super sexy contractor Tony Mazzaro is just the bad boy to bring out her wild side.

I enjoyed this fun short story and really liked both Amber and Tony. Amber is someone I can relate to. She hasn’t led the most exciting life but she’s not a boring person. She’s kind and funny and brings out Tony’s softer side. Tony is confident and sexy but hides a heartbreaking secret. He’s very closed off emotionally and it takes Amber’s sweetness and honesty to bring him out of his shell. I really felt like there was an emotional connection between the two.

I did wish that the story was a little bit longer. Amber and Nick are great characters and it would have been nice to spend a little more time getting to know them and developing their relationship. I was also a bit confused as to why this story was set in 1999 since I thought it was supposed to be a current contemp setting. I found out later that the next book in the series is set in present time and this story is supposed to take place years before. Mystery solved!

All in all How To Misbehave was a very entertaining and satisfying introduction to what promises to be a great new romance serie. It has all of the witty dialogue, great sexual chemistry, and fun smexy times that I look forward to in a Ruthie Knox novel. I am really looking forward to reading the full length book in the series, Along Came Trouble, which will be released in March 2013.

*I received this book free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This, in no way, affected my opinion or review of this book.

Visit the author online at www.ruthieknox.com and follow her on Twitter @ruthieknox

14 January 2013

No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop (US ends 1/21)

Time for another giveaway. Yup, I am still cleaning out my shelves and you get to benefit. Today we are participating in the No Strings Attached Giveaway Hop. thanks to Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer for hosting. Today we are giving away a paperback copy of About That Night by Julie James.

If you haven't read any books in James's FBI/US Attorney series, you really should. They're really fun contemp romances with a bit of suspense thrown in. Very witty dialogue and they're just fun. If you want to win this book, all you have to do is fill out the Rafflecopter form below. Thanks for playing!

Giveaway Rules:

Open to US only. I will send the prize directly to the winner.
We are not responsible for items lost in the mail.
One set of entries per household, please.
If you are under 13, please get a parent or guardian's permission to enter, as you will be sharing personal info such as an email address.
Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends.
Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner.
If you have any questions, feel free to email us. You can review our full contest policy here.
PLEASE DO NOT LEAVE ANY PERSONAL INFO IN THE COMMENTS. Sorry for the caps but we always get people leaving their email in the comments. Rafflecopter will collect all that without having personal info in the comments for all the world (and spambots) to find.

Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

13 January 2013

Stacked (38)

Happy Sunday, all. I hope you have all had a relaxing weekend thus far. I baked a bit this weekend (a delicious pumpkin bread) and read a bit, too. My reading has been a bit slow in 2013 but I am getting back into the swing of things. Let's see what I got this week.

The Psychopath Test by Jon Ronson - This is my book club book for this month. Not my usual fare but it's got great reviews and looks really interesting. It's kind of hard to explain but this book is about the psychopaths and the industry of madness. Check out the Goodreads link if you want to know more.

Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan - Ahhhhh! I love Callihan's Darkest London series and did a squee when I saw this one on NetGalley this week. Yes, I have already read it and yes, it is awesome. Hope to write a review soon.

I also picked up a fun selection of picture books from the library this week. Included in the lot are Marcel the Shell, Oh No, George, Ugly Fish, and Library Mouse: A World to Explore. Excited to read these.

I also got a copy of Finale (yay!) from Alethea this week. I loved Hush, Hush but didn't love the sequel. I still have book 3 and now 4 to read. And I bought myself Season 3 of Archer. Thanks to Alethea again for introducing me to this series. It's the most inappropriate and hilarious TV show I've seen in a long time. If you like Arrested Development, you will like Archer.

The last thing I got this week has nothing to do with books but I wanted to share it. It's a really cute knitting bag the Alethea designed for a local yarn store in my area. I love it and am excited to use it. One of my goals this year is to do a lot more knitting and this cute little project bag will be just the thing to house a cute project.

Thanks for checking out my book haul this week. Hope everyone is having a great start to the new year!

11 January 2013

Again The Magic - Review

Again The Magic (Wallflowers #0.5) by Lisa Kleypas

Publication date: 27 Jan 2004 by Avon

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Romance, historical, childhood love, revenge
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased

Synopsis from Goodreads

Review:

I had no idea that this book even existed until about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Under The Covers Book Blog, one of my favorite review blogs, had a post about the unsung heroes of romance. In this list was McKenna from Again the Magic, the prequel novel to Lisa Kleypas's Wallflower series. How on earth did I miss a Wallflower book? I immediately downloaded a copy to my Kindle (and this is where I praise the advent of ebooks because I had this book in my hands in no time flat). I started it immediately and read it in almost one sitting. Yes, it was that good.

Again the Magic is the story of Aline Marsden, the sister of Marcus Westcliff, and John McKenna. Westcliff's sister Livia and her beau Gideon Shaw also play a role in the book but Aline and McKenna are the main focus so let's talk about them first.

Aline and McKenna are childhood friends whose friendship grows into love over the years. Unfortunately McKenna is a servant of the household and any romance between the two is strictly forbidden. But young love cannot be stopped and McKenna and Aline continue to see each other secretly. One day they are found out and Aline must send McKenna away with a lie. Twelve years pass and McKenna comes back to Stony Cross a rich man, having made his fortune in America. He hasn't forgotten Aline and vows revenge by seduction. What he doesn't know is that Aline still loves him. However, she has her own secrets that threaten to keep them apart.

I loved this book so much! If any two people belong together, it's Aline and McKenna. Even after twelve years apart, the chemistry between the two is undeniable. And it's not just the physical stuff. I was surprised by how emotional I got while reading their story. My heart broke for Aline when she had to send McKenna away and again when she finally told him the truth about what happened all those years ago. She was the most frustratingly stubborn woman at times, pushing McKenna away for all the wrong reasons.

I loved McKenna, even though he comes back to Aline a cold, cruel man intent on revenge. I loved his strength and determination and the tenderness that he showed Aline. They are a great match and I gave a sigh of relief when they finally found their HEA.

Livia and Gideon also have a sweet side story in this. I liked them both and enjoyed learning their back story. While I liked Livia and Gideon's romance, I have to say that McKenna and Aline were the real stars of this story for me..

Again the Magic is an intense and passionate love story that made me believe in true love and soul mates. It is a wonderful addition to the Wallflowers series and can be read as a standalone or in chronological order. The Wallflowers is truly one of my favorite romance series and I highly recommend it.

Visit the author online at www.lisakleypas.com and follow her on Twitter @Lisakleypas

*FTC disclosure: I participate in the BookDepository & Amazon affiliate programs. Clicking on the link and making a purchase may result in revenue for this blog. Find our full disclosure policy here.

Uncovered (46): The Brief History of the Dead

Happy Friday, everyone. You don't even know how glad I am that the week is finally over. Work's been super tough this week and it's just going to get tougher. I am hoping to take this weekend to decompress and chill out. I haven't read very much at all this week. Anyway, no more whining. Let's get on with this week's installment of Uncovered. Today I have The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier. I haven't really heard mnuch about this book but it has popped up recently and I was struck by the cover. It's very surreal and also a little spooky. It reminds me a bit of a Dali painting. I just look it looks really cool. Here is the synopsis in case you find this one intriguing as well.

From Kevin Brockmeier, one of this generation's most inventive young writers, comes a striking new novel about death, life, and the mysterious place in between. The City is inhabited by those who have departed Earth but are still remembered by the living. They will reside in this afterlife until they are completely forgotten. But the City is shrinking, and the residents clearing out. Some of the holdouts, like Luka Sims, who produces the City’s only newspaper, are wondering what exactly is going on. Others, like Coleman Kinzler, believe it is the beginning of the end. Meanwhile, Laura Byrd is trapped in an Antarctic research station, her supplies are running low, her radio finds only static, and the power is failing. With little choice, Laura sets out across the ice to look for help, but time is running out. Kevin Brockmeier alternates these two storylines to create a lyrical and haunting story about love, loss and the power of memory.

Have a good weekend, everyone!

08 January 2013

Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge

So...you know how I said I wasn't going to sign up for any challenges because I suck at them? Well, I signed up for one. I found out about the Women of Genre Fiction Reading Challenge over at She Wolf Reads. It just sounded like a really cool way to support female writers while broadening my reading pool. There are also a bunch of authors/books on the list that I already wanted to read this year and I figured this would be an additional motivation to read those books.

Basically you pick twelve authors from the list whom you've never read before. I think for each book you read, you can mark as read on your account with the site. If you actually write reviews for those books, you can be entered into some contests. The 12 authors I've picked are:

Kelley Armstrong
Amber Benson
Franny Billingsley
Libba Bray
Sarah Rees Brennan
Rae Carson
Kristen Cashore
Alma Katsu
Seanan McGuire
Erin Morganstern
Robin Hobbs
Sarah Waters

I have books for each author pickd out as well though that might change. For Jan I think I am going to read Chime by Franny Billinsgley. I just go it so it might be good to read it soon.

This is the only official challenge I've signed up for this year. With me luck. Does anyone else suck at reading challenges like I do challenges quake in your presence?

07 January 2013

YA Faeries & Fantasy Giveaway Hop (US ends 1/14)

Hi, guys. It's time for another giveaway. This is a fun one since I am a huge fan of fantasy. Thanks to I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and The Modge Podge Bookshelf for hosting.

For this hope I am giving away my ARC of Throne of Glass by Sarah J Maas. I had a real blast reading this one and cannot wait for the next book. Hopefully you will enjoy it as much as I did. Giveaway is US only. Sorry but gotta save on shipping when I can. We'll have so me international giveaway soon, promise. All of our contest rules are below. As always, you don't have to be a follower but if you like the blog, please come back. And don't forget to visit the other blogs on the hop. Good luck!