Hello! If you're looking for Nite Lite Book Reviews, please note that we've moved to www.nitelitebookreviews.com. If you already subscribe to the blog, our feed has been updated so you don't have to do anything. Thanks for reading and hope to see you at our new home!

28 February 2013

Stoker - Trailer


Not sure how this movie slipped beneath my radar but I just saw this trailer last week and really want to see it. Stoker looks like a creepy horror flick with tons of atmosphere. Directed by Park Chan-wook, who directed Old Boy, you just know it's going to be all kinds of messed up. I am also a fan of Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode is pretty easy on the eyes. Stoker hits theaters this Friday, March 1. Anyone else going to see this?




26 February 2013

Lord Of Darkness - Review


Publication date: 26 Feb 2013 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 10/13: 1455508306 | 9781455508303
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Historical Romance
Keywords: Historical, romance, second chances, revenge
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley


Synopsis:

When Strangers In The Night

He lives in the shadows. As the mysterious masked avenger known as the Ghost of St. Giles, Godric St. John's only goal is to protect the innocent of London. Until the night he confronts a fearless young lady pointing a pistol at his head—and realizes she is his wife.

Become Lovers...

Lady Margaret Reading has vowed to kill the Ghost of St. Giles—the man who murdered her one true love. Returning to London, and to the man she hasn't seen since their wedding day, Margaret does not recognize the man behind the mask. Fierce, commanding, and dangerous, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles is everything she feared he would be—and so much more.

Desire Is The Ultimate Danger

When passion flares, these two intimate strangers can't keep from revealing more of themselves than they had ever planned. But when Margaret learns the truth—that the Ghost is her husband—the game is up and the players must surrender...to the temptation that could destroy them both.

Review:

I am pretty new to the Maiden Lane series and became a fan of Elizabeth Hoyt after reading Thief of Shadows last year. Full of mystery, adventure, and passionate romance, this has quickly become one of my favorite historical romance series. As such, I was very excited to receive an e-galley of the newest book Lord of Darkness.

Fans will recognize Megs and Godric from Thief of Shadows, where Meg's secret lover was killed - supposedly by the Ghost of St. Giles. In the wake of that tragedy, Godric marries Megs to save her from scandal. Megs has remained in the country for the past couple of years but now returns to London with two goals in mind. One, she must seduce her husband and get with child and second, she must get vengeance for her lover's death.

While I enjoyed Lord of Darkness, it didn't grab me like the other books in the series. Megs and Godric were both admirable, if somewhat stubborn characters. Both have felt love before and have felt its terrible loss. And both are determined never to betray that love by feeling it again with each other. I wanted to shake both of them at times because they kept pushing each other away. I think Godric came around quicker than Megs though and I was somewhat annoyed at her for waiting until the last possible moment to tell her she loved him.

Once they started coming around though, I really enjoyed their romance. Hoyt definitely knows how to write a steamy love scene and Megs and Godric are quite a passionate pair once they let down their guard. I also liked that this wasn't a conventional romance. It was hard watching Godric and Megs struggle with the  guilt over their new feelings. This book is about second chances and embracing life. I think Godric's wife and Megs's lover would have been happy that they found love again.

Though this wasn't my favorite Maiden Lane book, Lord of Darkness is a solid entry in the series and is an engaging and entertaining read. I enjoyed getting to know Megs and Godric and was glad that these two found their happy ending. The book can be read as a standalone though you'll probably enjoy it a bit more if you have some back story on the series. Or you can be like me and start in the middle and then go back and read everything else (because you'll want to). Lord of Darkness also includes a brief excerpt from Duke of Midnight, the next book in the Maiden Lane series. It stars Artemis Greaves and the Duke of Wakefield and sounds fantastic. I am already looking forward to it. :)

*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.elizabethhoyt.com and follow her on Twitter @ElizabethHoyt


Please note that this post contains affiliate links to Amazon and The Book Depository. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here

Top Ten Authors That I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List


Hi everyone! Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Authors I'd Put On My Auto-Buy List. Check it out and hopefully you will find some things to add to your TBR pile.

Richelle Mead - (Favorites: Georgina Kincaid series, Vampire Academy series, Bloodlines series) I know, I know. You guys already know how much I love her. I'll read anything Richelle Mead puts out. Her characters are great and she is good at building up the romance.

Nalini Singh - (Favorites: Slave to Sensation, Branded by Fire, Kiss of Snow, Lord of the Abyss) Probably my favorite paranormal romance author. There's just something about her stories that pull me in emotionally. Also love that she has mulit-cultural characters and really imaginative worlds.

Marissa Meyer - (Favorites: Cinder) I've only read Cinder by Marissa but I have a feeling I am going to like whatever she writes. 

J.K. Rowling - (Favorites: Harry Potter, of course) I don't think I need to explain this one.

Maggie Stiefvater - (Favorites: Shiver) I am totally behind in my Maggie reading. While I don't always love everything Maggie writes, I always think it's worth reading if that makes sense. She has a style and way with words that are very unique and beautiful. Plus she is awesome in person. I want to be her friend. 

Patricia Briggs - (Favorites: Mercy Thompson series) I only discovered Patricia a few years ago but I am a huge fan. She writes very believable characters. 

JR Ward - (Favorites: BDB, esp Lover Eternal, Lover Awakened, Lover Avenged) I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood series. I don't always love every single book she writes, but I love reading them. Again, awesome characters and smoking hot romances.

Courtney Milan - (Favorites: Unlocked, Unraveled, Unveiled) So glad I discovered Courtney Milan about a year ago. She writes the most heart wrenching and steamy historical romances. She can always make me feel like there just might be a possibility that her characters won't get their happy ending even though I know I am reading a romance novel. She is also self-published and does a great job. 

Neil Gaiman - (Favorites: The Graveyard Book, Coraline) I haven't read everything that Neil Gaiman has written but I plan to. Love the unique worlds he creates.

Heather Brewer - (Favorites: Vlad Tod series) I am a Minion. Love Heather's writing and also love her stance on anti-bullying. She encourages kids to be themselves and that's a really great message. Plus, the Vlad Tod vamp smiley face is an awesome icon. 

Who's on your auto-buy list? 



thanks @frootjoos for the nifty new TTT graphic!

25 February 2013

Manicure Monday (5): Sins & Needles + Giveaway


Welcome to Manicure Monday, my weekly meme where I show you what I am reading and wearing on my nails. It was bound to happen sometime that I would be reading a Kindle book and would therefore not be able to get a picture of my nails with the physical book. There's just something about that grey e-ink screen that just looks so drab next to fun nails. To liven it up I tired to take a pic of my nails with the book on my phone's Kindle app which is at least in color. It's not the best pic but I made you guys a photo collage to make up for it.

Over the weekend I read Sins & Needles by Karina Halle. I don't know if you guys have heard of this one but I feel like it's been popping up a lot lately. It's on sale for only $0.99 for your e-book until March 1. 


On my nails is an awesome nail polish by indie polish brand Lacquerhead. This shade is called Lexis and it's a black holo. For those who don't know, holo means that it has a special pigment in it that makes it looks like there's a 3D rainbow in there. I love, love, love holo polishes and was happy to find a true black one. I know the photos above aren't the best but they show what it looks like in shade (top) and in sun (bottom). The holo really comes out in the sun and is super sparkly and rainbow-y. I think this is a pretty fitting polish for this book because it's dark but, in certain circumstances, you can see that there is more to it. It reminds me of Ellie and Camden, the two main characters in Sins & Needles



I have a review for Sins & Needles coming up soon but the sale is ending on Friday and I wanted to do a quick giveaway before then. You all get a free entry but the catch is that you have to leave me the e-book format you prefer as well as the email address to send it to in the Rafflecopter form. That way, when I pick winners, I can buy the books ASAP and send them to you before the price goes up. I know the price difference isn't huge but a girl's gotta save where she can. Oh and did I say I am giving away 3 copies? Yes, 3 copies. Usual rules below. Good luck!

Giveaway Rules:
  1. Open Internationally.
  2. We are not responsible for lost, stolen, or damaged items. 
  3. One set of entries per household please. 
  4. 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. 
  5. Winner will be chosen randomly via Rafflecopter widget a day or two after the contest ends. 
  6. Winner will have 48 hours to respond to to the email, otherwise we will pick a new winner. 
  7. If you have any questions, feel free to email us. You can review our full contest policy here
  8. 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. Thanks!
a Rafflecopter giveaway




24 February 2013

Out and About! (1)


Out and About! is a new meme created by my friend Kimberly over at The Windy Pages. Basically you just show a picture of places you've been out and about reading during the week. I love reading outside but I don't get to do it much. But maybe this will motivate me to make an effort to get outside more. I have a couple of cute parks near me that I have been meaning to check out.

Since I couldn't really get out this week, I went downstairs to the parking lot by my apt complex. I live right next to this daycare that looks like a little house and they have a couple of benches outside. Technically I don't think I am supposed to "loiter" or hang out there but it's literally like 5 steps from my complex. So I sat out there for a bit and read some more of Etiquette & Espionage. I know, I've been reading it forever but I did take breaks to read a couple of other books. 

Thanks for checking out this new meme. If you want to participate, head on over to Kimberly's blog. Out and About! is each Sunday and I hope to see you guys there!

P.S. Die Hard was pretty fun though I liked the last one better. :)



Stacked (43): The One with Gameboard of the Gods


I can't believe it's the weekend again already. And it's almost over. :( Last week was the longest short week over so I am going to try to make this weekend last. I received a bunch of ebooks this week. If you can't tell, I am a huge Richelle Mead fangirl so I was super excited to get approved for the first book in her new adult series this week. I am definitely going to start it soon. Check out what else I got below.

e-Books



A Night Like This by Julia Quinn - I love Julia Quinn's historical romance novels and I got this e-book through the library system. 

Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead - Fangirl SQUEE!

Crystal Cove by Lisa Kleypas - I am way behind on this series. Love Lisa Kleypas's historicals but haven't really gotten into her contemps. This is the fourth book in the series (I have only read the first one).

The End Games by T. Michael Martin - Thanks, Edelweiss, for this one. I love the cover and this book looks super creepy.

Sins & Needles by Karina Halle - This went on sale for $0.99 and I had to try it after seeing so many awesome reviews for it. I have already finished it and, while I had some issues with it. I think it's definitely worth a read. I am working on the review right now (most timely review by me every probably).

Knit Your Socks on Straight by Alice Curtis - A knitting book from NetGalley. I am interested to see what this new technique for knitting socks on straight needles is. (for non knitters, you usually have to use double pointed needles or circulars so you can make a tube). Unless this technique is magical, I don't see myself switching over to it exclusively for knitting socks but I want to see what her method is.


Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - My pre-order of Scarlet finally arrived this week, as well as a free lipgloss that Macmillan offered to those who bought a pre-order. Excited to read this one.

That's my awesome book haul this week. Hope everyone is having a great weekend. I am finally seeing Die Hard tomorrow so woohoo! Love me some John McClane. :)




22 February 2013

Uncovered (52): This Book Is Full Of Spiders


Wow, I can't believe that this is the 52nd Uncovered post. That means that I've been doing post for a year. Time really does go by quickly. Today I am featuring This Book Is Full Of Spiders by David Wong. I have been to a couple of bookstores this week and this cover keeps jumping out at me. This is the second book in a series. I had never hear of it but this cover makes me want to read it.

Besides the kind of creepy title, I love that the cover perfectly illustrates the title. I also like that it uses papercraft instead of photography or illustration. The spiders look really three dimensional when you see it in person. They actually do look like they are crawling out of the book. The bright orange color also helps it stand out on the shelves.

What do you guys think? Love it, hate it? Creeped out by spiders? Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for visiting!
 


21 February 2013

Winterblaze - Advance Review


Winterblaze (Darkest London #3) 
by Kristen Callihan
Publication date: 26 Feb 2013 by Grand Central Publishing
ISBN 10/13: 1455520799 | 9781455520794
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Adult Paranormal Historical Romance
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, gothic, marriage, historical
Format: Mass market paperback, eBook
Source: e-ARC received from Netgalley


Link to synopsis

*This review may contain spoilers for previous books in the series.*

Review:

Kristen Callihan has quickly become one of my favorite romance authors. With compelling characters, intricate plots, passionate romance, and the backdrop of a London full of mystery and dangerous creatures, each book in her Darkest London series only seems to get better.  Winterblaze is no exception and Win and Poppy are my favorite couple yet.

Winterblaze is the story of Poppy, the eldest Ellis sister, and her husband Winston, who have been married for fourteen years. At the end of the last book, Win was brutally attacked by a werewolf and discovers that Poppy is Mother, a paranormal and also the head of a clandestine organization dedicated to keeping supernatural creatures a secret from humans. Feeling betrayed and confused, Win has leaves Poppy to sort out his feelings. While Win is on holiday in Paris, a new threat arises and Poppy must find Win and defeat this threat before it destroys them both.

My first impressions of Win and Poppy from the previous books were not necessarily positive. Poppy always seemed a bit stern and humorless to me while Win came off as a serious, straight-laced police detective. But I was so wrong about the both of them. In Winterblaze, we really get to see their true personalities and there is much more to them than I thought. Poppy is definitely still an overprotective older sister but it’s born out of a deep love for her family. Though she doesn’t always make the right decisions concerning them, she does what she believes is in their best interests. She is also a fighter and extremely intelligent. Win is also extremely smart and not as proper as he seems. He has a love of danger and a dark side to him that we haven’t seen before.

While I loved these two individually, they are even better as a couple. Winterblaze is a different type or romance novel because it’s about two people who have already been married for fourteen years. Win and Poppy have grown apart and this book is also rediscovering each other and falling in love again. Each of them has been hiding something from the other and, as they slowly learn to trust each other again, their bond grows even deeper. I loved that, to the outside world, they are seen a certain way but with each other, they could be their true selves. Only Win is allowed to see Poppy’s soft, sensual side and is privy to her most vulnerable moments. And only with Poppy can Win divulge his darkest secrets and let out his more playful side. They don’t stifle each other and it’s together that they are at their best.

But their journey isn’t an easy one. There is a lot of anger at first and they both know how to hurt each other. They are two people deeply in love who have grown apart and it’s heartbreaking at times.

And if you think being a married couple would be boring in the bedroom, think again.  This may be Kristen Callihan’s hottest book yet! Win and Poppy are estranged at the beginning of the book and the sexual tension between the two is intense. I was dying for them to get together and when they finally do – wow. I never thought that calling someone “wife” would be sexy but Win makes it sound deliciously sweet and debauched at the same time. Be prepared to swoon.

This is definitely my favorite book of the series so far. Poppy and Win are fantastic characters and I could not help falling in love with them.  I can’t think of a better matched pair. This may be Callihan’s most personal and emotional story yet. If you enjoyed the previous books in the series, I think you’ll love this one. There’s also a small teaser for Jack and Mary’s book included. These two have been circling each other for a while now and I can’t wait to read their story!

*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 kristencallihan.com , follow her on Twitter @Kris10Callihan , or on Facebook 


Please note that this post contains affiliate links to Amazon and The Book Depository. For more details, please see our full disclosure policy here

20 February 2013

Star Trek Into Darkness - Featurette


Are you guys ready for the new Star Trek movie? I never watched the original Star Trek series but I thoroughly enjoyed the last Star Trek film from J.J. Abrams. This featurette certainly is action packed and the new movie promises to be just as entertaining as the first film. I don't usually see movies in 3D but this one might be worth it in IMAX at least. Also - Benedict Cumberpatch.

Star Trek Into Darkness hits theaters May 17, 2013.




18 February 2013

Manicure Monday (4): The Taker


Hi again! I love that it is Monday and I am not at work! I am sorry for everyone that does have to work today. I promise I will have fun for you. As you can see, I have a new manicure for you today. Can you guess what book this is?


If you guessed The Taker by Alma Katsu, well then you win an imaginary prize. I just started this book last week because it's my book club pick for this month. I haven't gotten too far in yet but it's pretty interesting. It's not what I thought it was going to be at all and I have a feeling that the plot is going to get pretty crazy soon.


If you follow me on Instagram, then you've seen these nails already. This is what I actually wore on Valentine's Day. I know, not exactly in themed but I felt like it. The colors in my pics are a little off and the polish seems to match the book cover much more than it does in real life. In reality, the blue on the cover is much more teal and my nails are a straight blue with no green. The nail polish is Essie Butler Please, which came out late last year. I really love how vibrant this color is. I also did an accent nail with Orly Dazzle, one of my favorite silver foils. 


Have a fabulous Monday!




17 February 2013

Stacked (43): The One with The Indigo Spell


Morning, friends! I hope you are all having a great weekend so far. I have been having a really nice weekend actually. It was super warm yesterday and so nice out. I finally saw Hansel & Gretel as well. I have a thing for fair tales re-tellings and Jeremy Renner so I had to see this one. I fully anticipated it being really bad and am happy to say that it wasn't too bad. I didn't have high expectations to begin with, so that may have helped. It did have its cheesy moments and the special effects weren't spectacular, but it was entertaining and fun. 

I had a pretty good book haul this week. I have been trying not to buy a lot of books but I went to the Breathless Reads signing last week (recap here) and made a trip to B&N and the library. So yes, lots of new books. I am going to try to be good for awhile now since I have some big events coming up this summer that I'd like to save for. We'll see how that goes. :) On to the books (staring from the bottom of the pile).


The Curiosities by Maggie Stiefvater, Tessa Gratton, Brenna Yovanoff - I picked this up at the library this week. I have been wanting to read it for awhile now. It's such an odd size. 

Splendors and Gloom's by Laura Amy Schlitz - Another library find. I have heard some good things about this one and the cover looks pretty creepy. 

Paper Valentine y Brenna Yovanoff (signed) - This was the only book from the Breathless Tour that I bought for myself. I love, love the cover to this one and Brenna is adorable in person. 

Little Flower: Recipes from the Cafe by Christine Moore - I am a fan of the Little Flower Bakery in Pasadena. Their pretzel bread is to die for as are some of their other treats. Hoping that this cookbook helps me recreate some of their yummy foods. 

Then Indigo Spell by Richell Mead - So I finally read Bloodlines a couple of weeks ago and wrote a gushy review. Even though I haven't read The Golden Lily yet I knew I just had to pick this up when it came out this week. 

The Murmurings by Carly Anne West - Received an ARC of this one. I think it looks super creepy and scary. Should be fun.

Vengeance Bound by Justina Ireland - Also received and ARC of this one. I don't know much about it, but the premise sounds promising.

The Love Of My (Other) Life by Tracie L. Slatton - This was given to me by a friend. I don't think she was able to get through it but though I should give it a try. It's a smutty book with an interesting premise. Reviews on Goodreads are varied, so I am not sure what to expect. We'll see how I like it. 

Fair Game by Patricia Briggs - This just came out in paperback so I had to get it. I am still several books behind on the Mercy Thompson/Alpha & Omega series but I plan on catching up soon. Plus, I love anything that Dan Dos Santos does and this cover is gorgeous. 

That's my haul for this week. As you can see, I have a lot of good books at my disposal. I still have to finish my book club book for next week but after that, the sky is the limit. Have a great weekend, everyone!




15 February 2013

Uncovered (51): A Conspiracy of Alchemists


It's Friday so that means it's time for Uncovered, my weekly cover love post. This week I have A Conspiracy of Alchemists by Liesel Schwarz. As you can tell from the cover, this is a steampunk series. This is a very busy looking cover, more so than a lot of the covers that I am drawn to. However, I really like all of the elements. I like the unusual perspective of the female looking out into what should be a flat image but is instead a busting city. Of course there's the Eiffel Tower and a dirigible to boot. What could be better than steampunk Paris?

This cover is like a puzzle where, the longer I look at it, the more I see. I wish I had a copy of this book so I could see the picture frame up close. It looks like there are some cool details in there. Female character looks like a badass gunslinger with fashionable headwear. And who doesn't like redheads? While the font doesn't necessarily match what I think the tone of the book is (looks a little too graffiti style for me), I like the boldness of the pink and the placement of the title. It would definitely jump out at me in a bookstore. 

A Conspiracy of Alchemists doesn't hit bookshelves until March 5, 2013 (Del Rey). 

Love it, hate it? What city would you like to see a steampunk book set it?




14 February 2013

Bloodlines - Review


Bloodlines (Bloodlines #1) by Richelle Mead
Publication date: 23 Aug 2011 by Razorbill
ISBN 10/13: 1595143173 | 9781595143174
Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | Book Depository | Indiebound

Category: Young Adult Paranormal/Mystery
Keywords: Paranormal, romance, Vampire Academy, vampires, alchemy
Format: Hardcover, paperback, eBook
Source: Purchased


Synopsis:

Blood doesn't lie...

Sydney is an alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of human and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives. When Sydney is torn from her bed in the middle of the night, at first she thinks she's still being punished for her complicated alliance with dhampir Rose Hathaway. But what unfolds is far worse. Jill Dragomir - the sister of Moroi Queen Lissa Dragomir - is in mortal danger, and the Moroi must send her into hiding. To avoid a civil war, Sydney is called upon to act as Jill's guardian and protector, posing as her roommate in the last place anyone would think to look for vampire royalty - a human boarding school in Palm Springs, California. But instead of finding safety at Amberwood Prep, Sydney discovers the drama is only just beginning.

Review:

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy was one of the first series that I really got into when I started to read YA books. I loved the world of the Moroi and Strigoi and the fact that Mead's characters weren't perfect and were fallible. Since then, Mead has become one of my favorite writers. From YA to urban fantasy to romance - if Richelle Mead writes it, I'll read it. However, I was hesitant to read Bloodlines because I was afraid that it would not be as good as VA. Sydney also wasn't my favorite character, which also added to my reluctance to start this series. But I finally decided to take the plunge and I am so glad I did because Bloodlines is so fun and absolutely addicting.

Bloodlines is told from the point of view of Syndney, the alchemist who aided Rose in Vampire Academy. Her actions have put her in hot water with the alchemists, who believe that she may be getting too friendly with the vampires. Sydney must prove her competence and loyalty on her new mission posing as the sister of Jill Mastrano, sister to Moroi queen Lissa Dragomir. Sydney moves to Palm Springs with Jill along with her guardian Eddie, and VA favorite Adrian Ivashkov.

I was never a huge fan of Sydney. While helpful in Vampire Academy, she always came off as sort of snobby and judgmental. In Bloodlines, we get to understand Sydney a little more and what originally came off as snobbishness is more likely attributed to social awkwardness. Living with the alchemists her entire life, she hasn't had much practice interacting with people her own age. She is also very uncomfortable around the vampires, having been told that they are evil and unnatural her whole life. But she isn't narrow minded and must reconcile what's she has been told with her own experiences with them. In many ways, she is the opposite from Rose. In other ways, she is very similar. She is smart, determined, protective, and every bit as fierce as Rose when it really counts. And I love that she doesn't let Adrian get away with things and calls him on his bullshit.

Now we get to Adrian, the partying playboy. While I felt bad for what happened with him in Vampire Academy, I have to admit that I have always been annoyed by his spoiled and self-indulgent attitude. While he hasn't changed in Bloodlines, there's a definite shift in him. I think we're finally starting to see some of Adrian's true potential come through. He and Sydney also have some great chemistry together. Unfortunately there wasn't a ton of romance in this one, just a lot of banter. And you know what that leads to. :) Mead is a master of drawing out the tension though and I am excited to see where their relationship goes.

The plot moved quickly with plenty of action and intrigue to keep things interesting. Even though I figured out the bad guy pretty early on, I still had fun watching it unfold.

I am so glad that I finally decided to read Bloodlines. I loved jumping back into the VA world and learning more about the alchemists and vampires. Richelle Mead has done it again. I am totally hooked on this series and can't wait to read the next installment. Bring on The Golden Lily!



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

12 February 2013

Top Ten Favorite Romances


Hi, guys. Welcome to Top Ten Tuesday, hosted and created by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's topic is Top Ten Favorite Romances. Haha you know I've been dying for this one. I love romance! You might be surprised to hear that I only really started reading romance in the last few years. It just never really appealed to me. That was before I discovered paranormal romances though. Once you go supernatural, you can't go back. I had a really hard time narrowing it down. 

Nine Rules to Break When Romance a Rake by Sarah MacLean - Historical romance about a spinster and a rake who fight like cats and dogs? Yes, please! But seriously, Sarah MacLean is a fantastic writer and there is so much emotion and passion in her stories. I always get emotional reading them.


It Happened One Autumn by Lisa Kleypas - It was really hard picking my favorite Lisa Kleypas book. It was between this one and Married by Morning, which I also love. But I ended up going with this one. I just love the banter and chemistry between Lilian and Marcus. Both of them are great characters on their own and are irresistible together.

Persuasion by Jane Austen - Like many, I am a fan of Jane Austen. While I love P&P as much as the next person, I have a soft spot for Persuasion. There's just something about this story of two lovers separated by the years coming together again. Lots of furtive looks and simmering passion make this one of my top picks. 

Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery - I love Anne Shirley & Gilbert Blythe! They have that great, bickering chemistry and I love that Anne is smart and outspoken. I also love watching the TV adaptation of this book.

Kiss of Snow by Nalini Singh - Again, I had a really hard time picking my favorite Nalini Singh book. Seriously, I think she needs her own category. But I love this book in the Psy-Changeling series because this story was a culmination of a lot of things. Hawke is the alpha of the Snow Dancer pack and Sienna is the young Psy who has plagued him for years. I think a lot of people weren't sure if Singh could pull off a credible romance with such a big age difference. But she did and these two characters are so perfectly matched. This was a really emotional one, too. 

Lover Awakened by J.R. Ward - I have several favorites from this series but I picked Z's story because I have always had a soft spot for him. If you like tortured heroes, you definitely need to read this one. 


Winterblaze by Kristen Callihan - I haven't written my review of this one yet but let me just say that it's awesome. Kristen Callihan writes fantastic relationships and each new book becomes a new favorite. Love the spark and passion that she shows between the long married couple Win and Poppy in this book. These two characters have such a deep connection and they are a great team.

Succubus Blues by Richelle Mead - I think is probably more of an urban fantasy book than romance, per se, but the romance between Seth and Georgina is the heart of the whole series. Most people know Mead from her YA series Vampire Academy. However, I think the Succubus series is even better than VA (and I love VA). Seth is an author (adorable!) and Georgina is a succubus making ends meet in a bookstore. Mead's characters are written like real human beings and are complex and diverse. Read this series!

After The Night by Linda Howard - This was one of the first romantic suspense novels that I read a few years ago that got my on the romance train. My friend N was my first smut peddler and she recommended this one. It's hard to explain why I love this one so much. The story is a little bit dated but the two love interests have fantastic, combustible chemistry. They also hate each other at the beginning, which is one of my favorite romance tropes. Seriously hot romance that I think will appeal to a wide audience.

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins - This seems a bit out of place on my list of mostly paranormal reads but I really enjoyed this YA contemp by Stephanie Perkins. I thought this book was really sweet and captured young love really well. I liked that Anna and St. Clair didn't fall for each other instantly and were friends first. It's also set in Paris, which makes it even better. 

I could have chosen many more but these are some of my faves. Hope you guys enjoy and Happy almost Valentine's Day!
 



11 February 2013

Manicure Monday (3): Origin


Good morning! Welcome to Manicure Monday, a feature I created to share my nail polish obsession as well as a way of featuring what I am currently reading. This week I am reading Jessica Khoury's Origin. I received this one back at ALA last year and am finally getting around to it. I am more than halfway through right now and I really like it. It's set in the Amazon, a place that has always fascinated and frightened me. I hear the ending is killer. I guess we'll see what happens....

Origin by Jessica Khoury

Origin by Jessica Khoury

I am wearing Cult Nails Princess on my nails this week. The name of the polish is fitting because Pia, the main character of Origin, is treated kind of treated like a princess. This is a really pretty pale blue grey color with a slight pink shimmer. I couldn't get a good shot of the shimmer, but it's there. 

Hope you all enjoyed this installment of Manicure Monday. I have to say that it's pretty fun sharing nails and books with you all. Thanks for stopping by!