Review: Ashes and Ice by Rochelle Maya Callen

Title: Ashes and Ice
Author: Rochelle Maya Callen
Release Date: February 4, 2013
Publisher: C&C Legacy Publishing
Pages: 294
Source: Bought from Amazon.com



Synopsis:
She is desperate to remember.
He is aching to forget.
Together, they are not broken.
But together, one may not survive.

​Jade wakes up with no memory of her past and blood on her hands.

Plagued by wicked thoughts, she searches for answers. Instead, she finds a boy who doesn't offer her answers, but hope. But sometimes, when nightmares turn into reality and death follows you everywhere, hope is not enough.

LUST. LOVE. LOSS. Sometimes, all that is left are Ashes and Ice.

My Thoughts:

When I first read the synopsis of Ashes & Ice, I was very interested and I wanted to find out more about it. Well, this book did not disappoint. I thought it was magical and enticing. The book always had me guessing until the end about what was happening to Jade and why she sometimes acted the way she did. I found it to be very different than anything else I have read before and that is what I loved about it most.

I found the beginning to be a little slow at first. In the beginning, I found I liked Connor’s point of view more. I can feel the depth of his pain and had tears in my hands because I was feeling everything he was feeling. I really liked that they were alternating chapters of Jade and Connor’s point of view. I found I got to know them both more. On the other hand, just when I was getting into, for example, Connor’s point of view the chapter would end and change to Jade’s. Due to this, I felt like some chapters were cut short and it left me a little frustrated.

I absolutely loved the writing. The author has a beautiful way of connecting words together. It is breathless. There is something so honest about it and it left me wanting more.

I liked how with Jade, because she doesn't remember anything, she has to learn small things all over again. Small things we take for granted, for example, Eskimo kisses, is something so significant to Jade and the story line. Small things or incidences make the story.

What I loved most about this story? Love is the be all and end all. Love is what saved Jade from going dark numerous times. Jade could be evil, really evil, after all she is the daughter of a devil, and love is what saved her from dooming the world. I strongly believe that love will continue to be the one thing that will keep Jade on the good side.

This book was a great start to a series and I am looking forward to reading more from the author.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Blog Tour: Off Limits by Sawyer Bennett

Welcome to my stop on the Off Limits Blog Tour! Below you will find an awesome giveaway and my review of the book.

Title: Off Limits 

Author: Sawyer Bennett 

Release date: April 16, 2013 

Publisher: Big Dog Books, LLC 

Age Group: New Adult 

Genre: Contemporary Romance 

Tour organized by: AToMR Tours

Book Description:

“There is a vulnerability there, hovering just below the surface. And I want to pick at it until I expose it. Then I want to kiss it."

Two years ago, Emily Burnham, had an epiphany about the shallowness of her life. And she made it her mission to become a different person…a better woman. Out from under the controlling thumb of her mother, Emily is tasting the real world for the first time. And she likes it.

Nixon Caldwell has served his time in the Marine Corps, surviving two brutal tours in Afghanistan. He is back home, surrounded by what he likes best…isolation. It's certainly the easiest way to avoid confrontation of the consuming guilt that is weighing him down.

When an accident brings Emily and Nix together, he soon learns he is not the master of his own fate. Struggling with his own pain, Nix tries to guard himself against Emily’s charms. He wants her in his bed, but he doesn’t want her in his heart.

Having grabbed life by the horns, Emily wants it all. But is she willing to accept just the small part of himself that Nix is offering? Can she reach the part of his soul that he has deemed to be Off Limits?

This book is the follow up novel to Off Sides by Sawyer Bennett. It can be read as a stand-alone.

Where to find/Buy the book:

Goodreads ~ Amazon

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author:

Sawyer Bennett is the pen name for a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn't have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.

You can contact the author by:

Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Website

My Thoughts:

Sawyer Bennett had an epiphany 2 years ago; she doesn't want to be the same snotty person she was before. She vowed to become a different person, her own person controlling her own life. When Emily & Nix first meet, it is by accident. One thing I loved about Emily, she is not afraid to speak her mind and tell someone off. She is independent, witty and smart and you can see from the first meeting that Nix had a soft spot for her. 

Nix. What can I say about him? He is HOT, bad ass and definitely an alpha male. For me, Nix made the story. It is heartbreaking the trauma he went through while serving in Afghanistan. I loved his character development. He did a total 180 by the end of the book. At first, he was closed off and mean to everyone (which is a nice way of saying it) except his father and brother. Emily manages to get under his skin little by little as time passes; she understood him because of her own experiences and knew when to push and ask questions and when to just to leave it alone. I think that is one of the main reasons why he let Emily in and started caring for her emotionally, she is very different from other women.

I loved all of the characters. They were really likable. They were all strong and charismatic in their own way. One thing I thought was off was in the beginning of the story, Emily’s mother was so focused on what can be done to help get The Presidency, and by the end of the book her attitude changed 100%. I found the change in her behaviour was sudden and did not feel real to me. I would have liked to see her appear more in Emily’s life after Emily admitted what her ex-boyfriend did to her so we could see how the changes. Other than that, I found the story to be really enjoyable.

I did not read Off Sides before reading this novel, but I found I really liked Danny and Ryan and I may have to buy it and read it. Off Limits is a testament to how relationships, whether they are physical/love or best friends can change a person for the better.

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars

Review: Grave Bound by T.R. Graves

Title: Grave Bound
Author: T.R. Graves
Release Date: March 1st, 2013
Publisher: Create Space
Pages: 348
Source: Received for review from ATOMR Tours 

Synopsis: 

Emily Riddle has lived her entire life inside a patriarchal commune led by her father. There are many rules, but the most important one, 'keep it in the commune', is the most difficult for her to follow... especially since the only people willing to champion her cause live on the outside.

When Emily learns her father has promised her to Lorenzo, a perverted man who has plans for her that extend well beyond marriage and kids, she rebels. Regardless of the consequences, she refuses to marry someone who'd rather beat her than caress her.

A day of hooky that starts out as a tiny act of defiance - sneaking out of the commune for a swim - turns into a day filled with hope. After spending time with Levi, a man camping near the lake, she finds what true romance looks like and catches a glimpse into a future that's filled with love and admiration rather than hate and submission.

That tiny peek is enough to change the course of Emily's existence and makes it nearly impossible for her to go back to the commune and pretend she'll ever be able to tolerate the life chosen for her instead of the life she longs for. One that includes Levi.

Fighting to escape the commune, its leaders, and her fiancé proves to be more dangerous than Emily expected. The secrets she knows, as the leader's daughter, will either follow her to the grave or send her - and Levi - there.

My Thoughts:

Emily lives in a Community where the men rule and women are second class creatures. The men instill fear and the possibility of being beaten in their women. In fact, the men can do anything they want. For example, a man can cheat on his wife and the wife has to ok with it but if a woman was to do it, she would be killed. The women in the commune or Community have to be submissive to their husband or father. I was drawn to this book because it sounded unique. I liked the fact that even though Emily has had years of mental abuse (that woman are nothing), she is outspoken at times and can think for herself. Emily knows her place in the Community and does not show to others that she is defiant in any way. It is not until she meets Levi, is where she realizes that woman can have a say in their lives and ultimately have hopes and dreams other than in the Community for the future. To me, this book is a coming of age story for Emily, defying conformity.

Levi is the ultimate alpha male. He is so protective of Emily when they first meet: making sure she gets home safely, giving her his cell phone so they can talk, trying to protect her from Lorenzo. I am not a fan of insta-love and this book is no exception. On the other hand, I can understand after meeting and spending time with Levi why she would fall for him so quickly. For her, he is like a breath of fresh air from the stuffy commune.

The story started a little slow but the last half of the book I thought was great. I found the storyline to be developed really well and I finished the last half of the book in one sitting. This books reminds me a little of one of my favourite shows called Game of Thrones. You never know who the main characters are so everything is a surprise with twists and turns. The same can be said about this book. What am I talking about you might ask? You will just have to read it, if you have not done so, to know what happens. I am very interested to find out what is going to happen in the second book, Underground, which comes out in October 2013. I am excited to see how everything will play out. I recommend this book for ages 18+, who is looking for an interesting and exciting read. 

My Rating:

4 out of 5 stars!

Review: Sweet Evil #1 by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Evil (The Sweet Trilogy #1)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Release Date: May 1st, 2012
Publisher: HarperTeen
Pages: 453
Source: Bought from Chapters Indigo


Synopsis:
Embrace the Forbidden
What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?
This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.
Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She's aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but it isn't until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He's the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.
Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

My Thoughts:

Sweet Evil is enchanting, addictive and downright sinful. I have never read an angel book like this before and I absolutely loved it. The storyline was fast paced and exciting. I couldn’t get enough.

We start off with Anna “the good girl” who can see people’s aura and decipher what they are feeling. She doesn’t know why she is able to do this and why she is able to feel people’s negative emotions but she knows she is different from everyone else around her. On her sixteenth birthday, more strange things keep on happening and she meets the elusive, Kaiden Rowe. When she sees him, she knows that he is also different and there is an undeniable attraction between the two of them. Anna starts to learn about her heritage and what it means to be a person of her kind.

I loved the author’s writing. It is fluent and easy to follow. The setting fit the story well and the author was very descriptive, I was able to imagine the places Anna went perfectly in my mind. It felt like I was there to with them.

The title suits the book very well. Anna is always battling between the good and evil/temptation within herself. The cover of the novel is PERFECT. I love how on Anna’s side there is light and on Kaiden’s side it is dark but with some light peeking through. The cover signifies the premise of the novel in every way.

The characters is another aspect that made the book AMAZING. Anna is good to the core and I really liked that about her character. I also like how she always saw the good in other people and made them see it in themselves. Kaiden was a great character as well. Many times he came across as a man whore (mainly because of who his father is) and you would think you would be disgusted with him but it worked well in the book. The chemistry between Anna and Kaiden…I have no words. The author did such an exceptional job portraying their chemistry. All I can say was that it was electric, I could feel it myself. This quote  Jay said to Anna when they first met depicted it perfectly:

“Man, y’all looked like you were gonna rip each other’s clothes off!”

You can imagine how much the chemistry grew and changed into something more as they got to know each other more. The other characters: Anna’s father, Patti, Marna, Ginger, Kopano, Blake, Jay and Veronica were also great and added something unique to the book.

My favorite passages and what makes my heart ache every time I read it:

“There was nothing healthy about desperately wanting something you couldn’t have”

“I’d always know he’d been willing to die for me. Nobody could take those things away.”

This book affected me in ways I never thought possible on a personal level. I was right there with Anna’s emotions because I was feeling the same way too. I don’t know why I waited so long to read this book and I am looking forward to Sweet Peril (book #2) in the series. I am definitely going to get my copy the first day it comes out.

 My Rating:

5 out of 5 stars

In My Mailbox (3)

Welcome to this week's In My Mailbox. In My Mailbox (IMM) is hosted by The Story Siren, who was inspired by a fellow book blogger Alea of Pop Culture Junkie. It features books I have bought or received for review. I am so excited to read the books I got this past week. I have heard all great reviews about them. Sigh, I wish I had more time to read :)

Bought:

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins

The Immortal Rules (Blood of Eden #1) by Julie Kagawa

Starcrossed by Josephine Angelini

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare

Received for Review (ebook):

Frostbite (Touch of Frost #1) by Lynn Rush

Grave Bound (Secrets #1) by T.R. Graves

What books are you excited to read this week???

Review: Reckless #3 by S. C. Stephens

Title: Reckless (Thoughless #3)

Author: S.C. Stephens

Release Date: March 5, 2013

Publisher: Gallery Books

Pages: 544

Source: Bought from Amazon

Synopsis: Can love survive when life gets Reckless?

When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can their love for each other survive the constant pressures of superstardom? The friendships they've formed, the new family they've found, and the history they've forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent waters of the band's exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price-but will it cost Kiera and Kellan everything? 

My Thoughts:

Reckless is the third and final novel in the Thoughtless series by S.C. Stephens. In Reckless, we start off with The D-Bags about to go on tour to be major rock stars. The record label lets them stay at the house in L.A and this is where they meet a major star, Sienna Sexton. The label wants them to collaborate on a song because Sienna’s career is hitting a snag but this is where the trouble begins. Kellan and Kiera’s relationship is tested time and time again to prove that their love will last. Reckless did not disappoint; even after a few days of finishing the book, I can’t stop thinking about it because it has affected me so much on a personal level.

This series is very different from anything I have ever read. Usually the books I read are about people who have been cheated on but this is a much different perspective. We see Kiera feeling really guilty about hurting Denny even after 2 years of being with Kellan. Kellan and Kiera go through a lot of issues and have to learn to trust each other 100% in order for their relationship to work. Trust and communication becomes 2 of the major identifying factors that keep their relationship going.

I absolutely love Kiera and Kellan. They have grown a lot since Thoughtless. They have both learned a lot from their previous mistakes and are stronger together than they are apart. I love how Kiera has matured in Reckless. When Kiera told Joey to do whatever she wanted with the tape, I had more respect for Kiera than I ever did before. She supports Kellan because she wants him to be happy and successful even though it has the potential to hurt her. I think this is what I love most about Kiera in this book and also because she is not as jealous about Kellan flirting with fans any longer. It shows that she has more confidence in herself and in her relationship.

The other characters like Griffin and Anna have grown a lot and I found myself liking Griffin, where I didn’t really care for him before. After their baby is born, Griffin becomes more responsible (yeah I said it) and I really like how the baby changed him.

I must say I kind of have a new found respect for stars and their private lives after reading this book. The events that occurred are prime examples of how you can’t believe everything you hear on the news (about major stars) because it could be made up. My heart broke for Kiera when she was ridiculed and assaulted by the public because they thought she was the other woman in Kellan’s life. I must say one of my favourite parts is when Kellan confessed the truth at the radio station about his relationship. I read that part over and over again.

This book had me in tears in 3 separate times; not just in tears but a blubbering mess. I felt for Kiera and everything she went through. I am so happy I decided to read the series because every time I read a series by S. C Stephens, she blows my mind. Her other series, the Conversion series, is great as well. I am a huge fan of the author and I am so happy to read whatever she writes next.

5 out of 5 stars

Review: Boundless (Unearthly #3) by Cynthia Hand

Title: Boundless (Unearthly#3)

Author: Cynthia Hand

Release Date: January 22nd, 2013

Publisher:  HarperTeen

Pages: 438

Source: Won from Goodreads

Synopsis: The past few years have held more surprises than part-angel Clara Gardner could ever have anticipated. Yet from the dizzying highs of first love, to the agonizing low of losing someone close to her, the one thing she can no longer deny is that she was never meant to live a normal life.

Since discovering the special role she plays among the other angel-bloods, Clara has been determined to protect Tucker Avery from the evil that follows her . . . even if it means breaking both their hearts. Leaving town seems like the best option, so she’s headed back to California - and so is Christian Prescott, the irresistible boy from the vision that started her on this journey in the first place.

As Clara makes her way in a world that is frighteningly new, she discovers that the fallen angel who attacked her is watching her every move. And he’s not the only one. . . . With the battle against the Black Wings looming, Clara knows she must finally fulfill her destiny. But it won’t come without sacrifices and betrayal.

In the riveting finale of the Unearthly series, Clara must decide her fate once and for all.

My Thoughts: 

**Definitely read Radiant before you read Boundless, it will make more sense if you do**
We start off with Clara getting use to the events that happened in Hallowed, her mother dying, her break-up with Tucker (who she is still missing); she basically feels everything is crashing down around her. In Boundless, she starts getting a new vision which scares her more than any of the other visions she has had in the past. As it gets closer to the vision coming through, it becomes more urgent. 

I love the author’s writing style. Every time I read something by her, it is captivating, gripping, makes me want to forget about everything because I want to know what happens next. For the few days I read this book, I was very anti-social and it was so worth it. I would have to say my favorite part was when Clara goes back into the past. I read that part over and over again. This book is not only about a love triangle or good and evil but love for your family and what one act of kindness can do. Cynthia Hand left Boundless in such a way that she can easily continue the series from a different character’s point of view. I really hope she does, I really love the world she created in this series.

If you enjoyed Unearthly and Hallowed, you will DEFINITELY enjoy Boundless. It will not leave you disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars

*Review first posted on Goodreads