Sunday, March 6, 2016

Review: The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert


The Wedding Pact by Katee Robert
Book Two of The O'Malleys series
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

Carrigan O'Malley has always known her arranged marriage would be more about power and prestige than passion. But after one taste of the hard-bodied, whiskey-voiced James Halloran, she's ruined for anyone else. Too bad James and his family are enemy number 1. 

Hallorans vs. O'Malleys—that's how it's always been. James should be thinking more about how to expand his family's empire instead of how silky Carrigan's skin is against his and how he can next get her into his bed. Those are dangerous thoughts. But not nearly as dangerous as he'll be if he can't get what he wants: Carrigan by his side for the rest of their lives.

What I Liked:

Last year, The Marriage Contract blew me away. It was easily one of my favorite adult romance novels of 2015, and by one of my favorite romance authors too. Katee Robert's Brazen-published novels are amazing and steamy and fun to read, but this Forever-published series... this series has to be her best work yet. I am in awe of this author's storytelling!

Carrigan O'Malley's biological clock is ticking, according to her controlling father. The oldest daughter and second oldest O'Malley child, Carrigan has always known that she would be destined for an arranged marriage that would benefit the O'Malley empire. And when her father hands her a list of eligible suitors and tell her that she has a month to choose, Carrigan knows her time is up. But she can't seem to forget - or avoid - James Halloran, the man left her with rated R memories, kidnapped her, and then helped her escape. James can't get Carrigan out of his mind, and he's not sure he wants to. The O'Malleys hate the Hallorans, but James can't stay away from Carrigan. But with Carrigan's time running short, James will have to decide is pursuing her is worth it.

Oh James. Oh Carrigan. Usually in romance, I'll like one of the protagonists more than the other - and it's usually the male (hehe). But in this book, I loved both of these protagonists. I felt bad for both of them - they had to make incredibly difficult decisions (some of which had nothing to do with each other), and there was no way I could read this book and not want to give them both a hug.

Carrigan is still grieving over her youngest brother's death (he was killed by a Halloran, but not James). It's been four months and the O'Malley family is splintering, though Teague and Callie's wedding is something Carrigan is looking forward to. Carrigan hates that her father has so much control over her life, and she sneaks out and about a lot. I liked Carrigan in The Marriage Contract but I adored her even more, in this book. She is every bit as strong and decisive and bold close up as she was far away, in book one.

James... I liked him in The Marriage Contract, but that quadrupled in this book. With his father in prison, James is now the head of the Halloran family. Except that he has his wild brother Ricky to deal with, and the entire Halloran empire that is slow to accept his leadership, and the fact that he wants to keep seeing Carrigan O'Malley when all of the O'Malleys are out for Halloran blood. James has to make heartbreaking decisions, and he has to be more than human, to protect those he cares about, including Carrigan. It's so sad to see him running the Halloran empire and trying to make things right, but everyone is misjudging him because of his father's and brothers' deeds

There was no doubt in my mind that these two would be perfect for each other, after reading The Marriage Contract, and it's quite clear that this is the case, after reading this book. James is an alpha male to the core, but he is also sweet and thoughtful and fiercely protective. Carrigan is bold and strong, and selfless too. She is willing to go through with the arranged marriage plans only to keep her family together and to throw her father off her younger sisters - they'll end up just like her, but she'd rather they have time to grieve, and for their arranged marriages to be as far into the future as possible. Carrigan takes no crap from anyone, including James. It's fun to see them butt heads and disagree, and then collide.

These two are electric and fiery together, like the hottest part of a blue flame. They can't stop thinking about each other, or staying away from each other, no matter how forbidden Carrigan is to James, or how much of the enemy James is. They have a hate-to-love relationship, although it's more of a immense-lust-to-hate-to-love relationship. Their arguing and banter and then heated passion is incredible! I love Katee Robert's romance novels, and this one does not disappoint, in terms of the steamy scenes.

I love that the author includes other characters' third-person POV, and not just James and Carrigan's. Don't get me wrong, the vast majority of scenes are in our lead pair's perspective. But we get short scenes in Cillian's POV (he's the hero of the third book, to come), and Sloan's too. We get to see how the other O'Malley siblings are grieving, and Cillian's perspective is so heartbreaking. He is sorely misjudged by his family. I cannot wait to read his book next!

I love the world-building of this series. Mafia families, crime upon crime, scheme upon scheme, betrayal upon betrayal - this book is so much more than a romance novel. There is an unresolved plot that connects all of the books together, and I am excited to see how things will shake down in book three!

I could probably go on and on about this book, but I'll stop here! Believe it or not, I didn't love this one as much as I loved The Marriage Contract, but it would be incredibly difficult for a book in this series to top The Marriage Contract. I loved that book so much. This one did not disappoint though! I loved James and Carrigan, and cannot wait for Olivia and Cillian's book!

What I Did Not Like:

Hmmm, I don't think I am coming up with anything at the moment. As I always say, no book is perfect, but this one had few flaws. And I can't think of any at the moment!

Would I Recommend It:

I highly recommend this novel! If you loved The Marriage Contract, you'll love this one too! And if you haven't read The Marriage Contract, I highly recommend you pick it up. This series seems to be a companion series (in a sense), but it'll make things easier to understand if all of the books are read, and in order. But the author does a good job of building each story so that you don't have to! But trust me, you want to read all of these books.

Rating:

4.5 stars -> rounded down to 4 stars (not quite there). Ahhh, James and Carrigan! I'm very satisfied with their story. Bring on heartbreaker Cillian and off-limits Olivia!


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!

Saturday, March 5, 2016

Stacking the Shelves (#167)


Stacking the Shelves is a weekly meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, in which bloggers share the books and swag they've received in the past week!


So, what did I get in the week of Sunday, February 28th to Saturday, March 5th?


(all links to Goodreads are provided!)


In the mail:

Sorry, folks. I won't be going home this weekend. So I'll share the two-week haul next week! And if my parents come on Sunday, I'll post pictures on Twitter. :) There are least three packages at home!


From NetGalley:



I love Tessa Bailey! This new series - Made in Jersey - has been good so far.


For Review:



This is book 1.5 of the Made in Jersey series! I immediately pounced when I got this one and I liked it a lot. :)


This coming week is my last one before spring break! Hence why I'm not going home. It'll be a busy week before I'm free!

Friday, March 4, 2016

Review: Exposed by Jasinda Wilder


Exposed by Jasinda Wilder
Book Two of the Madame X series
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: March 1, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: eARC from NetGalley

***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers***

Summary (from Goodreads):

New York Times bestselling author Jasinda Wilder presents the second darkly seductive novel starring the mysterious Madame X.

Everything Madame X has ever known is contained within the four walls of the penthouse owned by her lover, her keeper, the man who controls her every move and dominates her desires. While Caleb owns her body, someone else has touched her soul. X’s awakening at the hands of Logan’s raw, honest masculinity has led her down a new path, one that is as exciting as it is terrifying.

But Caleb’s need to own her completely knows no bounds, and he isn’t about to let her go. Not without a fight that could destroy them all…

What I Liked:

This series is SO not what I expected. When I picked up Madame X, it was mostly because the publisher sent a copy, and I've enjoyed Jasinda Wilder's books before. This series is heartbreaking to read, and very difficult to read. Your average romance reader (like myself) may not necessarily enjoy the books. But the story is so heartbreaking and uplifting at the same time, and I love following X's story, no matter how shocking and terrible it can be.

X is still in Caleb's clutches, though she no longer wants to be owned and controlled by him. She can tell that he doesn't care about her, and that he keeps her around because she's beautiful and he wants sex from her whenever he wants. But she hates it. She has nowhere to go, so she stays. He has all the answers about her past (which she can't remember, due to amnesia), so she stays. But she can't forget Logan, from whom she walked away. But as X continues to question her life at Caleb's building, she'll become less and less convinced that she is where she needs - and wants - to be.

This series is so emotionally charged, and in so many ways. It's heartbreaking to follow X's thoughts, her feelings and doubts and insecurities. I wanted to scream at her and shake her so many times - especially when she kept going back to Caleb. She kept letting him use her (you know what I mean), but she was starting to see how wrong it was. Here's the thing - while this was difficult to read, it was SO well-written by the author. X's conflicting thoughts, her indecision, her struggle against Caleb... all of these internal and external issues are really explored. X is weak, but she is becoming stronger. Caleb is a drug she doesn't want to depend on, and she is now seeing how much she wants to be free of him, and find her own way.

Like I said, I wanted to shake X at times. There were times in this book when I thought she was pathetic. But what stops me from hating this book is that she knows it too. She feels just as pathetic and weak and disgusting. Every time he touches her, she can't stand it. And at the very end of this book, I wanted to give her a hug and a fist-bump. While I don't agree with X's lifestyle and choices she made earlier in this book and the series, I LOVE how far she's come.

We learn a great deal about X and her past, including her name, her family story, and what really happened that brought her to Caleb (or vice versa). Everything is unraveling, bit by bit, and while secrets unravel, X begins to want more. 

Logan is a huge player in the plot of this book. He shows up quicker than I thought he would, and I love his interactions with X. I'm a little surprised by how much he cares about X, but perhaps I'd forgotten the depth of his feelings from Madame X. Logan is a sweetheart and totally understand and caring. I like that he puts his foot down in one aspect with X, and tells her that she needs to choose and be 100% sure of her decision, and never turn back. He knows that she can't choose him yet, that she's not ready, but he hates it. And it bothers him just as much (and more) as it bothers us readers, that X is not his and won't stay with him. BUT you just can't seem to hate X (believe me).

Caleb, on the other hand, can be freely hated. He is an awful person, and I commend the author for making him such an interesting villain (NOT a good villain). He seems human like the rest of us, but he isn't. He's a sick monster and I hope he gets what's coming for him, in book three. But like I said, I think it's interesting how the author creates his character arc.

There are some really steamy scenes in this book. X and Logan get really heated, and I love the progression. This book is much steamier than Madame X, and for several good reasons that I won't mention. Just know that X is no longer blind to a certain someone.

Overall I'm pleased with this book. For the most part, anyway. There were some scenes that both broke my heart and disgusted me, but I told myself, X hates it too. So I focus all my rage on Caleb, because he is to blame for EVERYTHING. The ending of this book is actually is meanest ending ever, and I'm totally docking a star for that. I need book three!

What I Did Not Like:

Like I said above, there were some scenes that disgusted me (and I'm not talking about the fact that the scenes were super rated r - I didn't find any of the scenes crazily erotic). I hate Caleb, and I wanted to hate X for going back to him, but then I remember that he is all she knows. He made her who she is, after rescuing her and taking care of her through her amnesia (there was no one else to take care of her, so I guess it's nice?). He's not nice though. He's disgusting and everything about him is cool calm collected precise orderly and totally disgusting. Think: pimp. 

That being sad, I felt so bad for X. So, so bad.

Lastly, the ending. It was so cruel! I'm sure it won't stick but if it does... well, book three is already starting with four stars (versus the full five-star rating) and I'll dock as I go.

Would I Recommend It:

I cannot recommend this book to your average romance reader. You won't like it if you're looking for a fun romance novel, or a clean linear relationship. While the emotional side of things is VERY linear, the physical side is not. And it's heartbreaking, because X is all but forced. Still, I'm highly enjoying watching X grow, and Logan and X's relationship grow (under all the circumstances), and I totally need answers to all the questions left open! 

Rating:

3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. Don't start this series expecting steamy romance with angst. No, this is a heartbreaking and emotional series, and while it's definitely not something I'd enjoy on a normal basis, I'm glad I'm giving the story a chance.


Was this review helpful? Please let me know in the comments section!


Read an excerpt!

I wake sobbing. 

Nightmares of sirens and flashing lights and a pair of cold cruel dark eyes staring haughty and inscrutable down at me as I am used like a receptacle. Nightmares of a perfect body pinning me to an elevator door. Sorcery, stealing my will, manipulating my desires, cool silk of a tie wiping my face. Rain cold and wet and windblown, shifting shadows and blood and pain.

My dream is pervaded by a voice: “Isabel, you’re okay. It was just a dream.”

Who is Isabel?

The voice is in my ear, soft and tender and warm. 

“I’m here, Isabel.”

Oh, it’s me. I’m Isabel.

I am Isabel; I have to remind myself that it is true.

I am lifted, cradled. I hear a heartbeat under my ear, feel soft cotton under my cheek. I am lying ontop of him, as if he is my bed. His hands smooth in caressing circles on my back.

I cannot stop sobbing.My eyes burn with hot tears, and I try to stop them, but I can’t. “L-Logan—”“Ssshhh. It’s okay. I’m here.”“I’m sorry, I’m sorry—I can’t—can’t stop—

“Don’t apologize, sweetheart. Cry if you need to. I’ve got you. I won’t let go.”

I can only cling to him and cry. My whole body shakes with shuddering, wracking sobs, as if a lifetime of pent-up tears are being ripped out of me wholesale.

I don’t know how long it lasts. Minutes? Hours? A measureless time of weeping. I think I have cried more in the last twelve hours than in all my life.
Eventually, I am able to breathe normally and the sobs and shudders fade.
I remain still, barely breathing now.

On top of Logan.

Aware of him, suddenly.

Completely attuned to every inch of him, stretched out beneath me. His arms around me, his chin tucked against the top of my head. His denim-sheathed thighs beneath mine, thick and hard. His breath on my hair. His hips nudging mine. My hands on his pectoral muscles, my breasts crushed against his sternum.

There is a shift then. A charge to the air. Electricity crackling.

And now, between one breath and the next, it is sexual, the way I’m lying on him.

I can’t breathe again, but for a different reason.

I can’t breathe for wanting him.

Needing him.

“Isabel . . .” he breathes.

“Logan—”

“I need you to get up,” he says, and it isn’t what I expected. “There are still some people working out there, and in a few more seconds I’m going to forget that.”

“What would happen if you did, Logan?” I ask. I don’t recognize the daring, the boldness, the raw hunger in my voice.

His fingers twine gently into my hair and pulls, tipping my face up to his.

It’s me, this time,

kissing him,

and kissing him,

and kissing him.

My fingers wrap around the back of his head, clinging to the nape of his neck, pulling him closer, pulling myself higher on his body, needing needing needing to be closer to him, to press my lips more completely against his, to taste him, to feel him. I breathe him. His hand, resting on my back, slides lower. I arch against him, press my body against his. There is no part of me that isn’t touching him. I pause to breathe, gasping against his lips. I want more of me to touch more of him. I want all of him, all of me, all of us.

I crave completion, of a kind only Logan can provide.

He feathers his mouth against mine, a teasing brush of lips against lips, heat of breath on tasting tongue.

“That will happen,” he whispers.

“Oh,” I murmur.

“Yeah, oh.” His fingers are tangled in my hair, applying gentle delicious pressure to my scalp, keeping my face tilted to his. “And now I can’t stop.”

“I don’t want you to.”

“I have to,” he says. “Or there won’t be any stopping at all.”

“Logan . . .”

“I want you. I need you. But Isabel, you deserve better—we deserve better—than on a couch in my conference room, with a dozen people on the other side of the wall.”

Thursday, March 3, 2016

Swoon Thursday (#162): Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey

Swoon Thursday is a hot meme hosted by the fabulous ladies at YA Bound!


- From the book you’re currently reading, or one you just finished, tell us what made you SWOON. What got your heart pounding, your skin tingling, and your stomach fluttering

- Try to make the swoon excerpt 140 characters (or less), if you are going to tweet about it. Use the hashtag #YABOUND when tweeting


This week, my swoon is from Love, Lies and Spies by Cindy Anstey!


Juliana laughed lightly and opened her mouth to argue but Spencer was no longer hesitant. He placed his bandaged hand behind her head and drew her close. With his other hand, he gently tilted her chin and then slowly trailer his fingertips down the side of her neck, until his neck until his hand came to rest on her shoulder. He pulled her closer still, even as their lips touched.

It was a tender kiss at first. Their lips barely met. But the warmth of their shared breath, the press of their bodies and the heat pulsing between them lengthened the kiss and deepened it. Juliana grabbed tightly at Spencer's lapel.

She heard a soft moan and a hum of pleasure but had no idea which one of them made which sound. It didn't matter. Her eyes were closed, and the only things that existed in the world were Spencer's tender strength and the sense of intoxication rushing through her body, warming her all over. 

- ARC, page 339



I adored this book! Historical fiction in YA - such a cute, swoony read. :)

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Blog Tour: A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab

Hi, lovely readers! Today, I'm hosting the one and only V.E. Schwab, author of Vicious, A Darker Shade of Magic, and now available, A Gathering of Shadows! I loved A Darker Shade of Magic and loved A Gathering of Shadows - if you haven't had the chance to read these books, fix that immediately! Today Ms. Schwab is going to be answering a question about the series. Check it out, and be sure to follow the blog tour!



The Question:

How challenging was it to come up with the title of book two - were you trying to follow the same form as book one's title 
(A ____ of ____)?


Ms. Schwab's Response:

Hahahahaha. I laugh to keep from crying. Titling this series has been no small feat. The original title of ADSOM was TRAVELER, but after months of not being able to decide whether it should have one L (US spelling) or two (UK spelling) and a lot of paranoia since people had so much trouble spelling VICIOUS and one-word titles can be tricky to promote, we decided to embrace the other end of the spectrum. I’d ALWAYS wanted a long title, and it was finally my chance.

BUT. Finding that title—A DARKER SHADE OF MAGIC—took 73 wrong turns. And then when it came to the sequel, almost as many, as we tried gruelingly to match the two beats of DARKER SHADE instead of the syllables. It was a blessed soul in-house at Tor who came up with A GATHERING OF SHADOWS.

The third title is the only one I successfully did myself, and I have to say, it’s my favorite one!!!


Thank you for taking the time to join us today, Ms. Schwab! Congratulations and PLEASE WRITE FASTER. :D


About the Author:


V.E. Schwab is the bestselling author of A Darker Shade of Magic, which came second in the Goodreads Choice 2015 Book Awards, the forthcoming A Gathering of Shadows, and of Vicious, which was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2013, an Amazon Best Book of the Year (as well as Best Book of the month), a semi-finalist in the Goodreads Choice 2013 Book Awards, and the ALA top pick for Fantasy for their 2014 reading list. She is known for her stunning prose and swift plot, as well as characters who blur the line between hero and villain.



About the Book:


A Gathering of Shadows by V.E. Schwab
Book Two of the A Darker Shade of Magic series
Publisher: Tor
Publication Date: February 23, 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Source: ARC sent by the publisher

Summary (from Goodreads):

Four months have passed since the shadow stone fell into Kell’s possession. Four months since his path crossed with Delilah Bard. Four months since Rhy was wounded and the Dane twins fell, and the stone was cast with Holland’s dying body through the rift, and into Black London.

In many ways, things have almost returned to normal, though Rhy is more sober, and Kell is now plagued by his guilt. Restless, and having given up smuggling, Kell is visited by dreams of ominous magical events, waking only to think of Lila, who disappeared from the docks like she always meant to do. As Red London finalizes preparations for the Element Games—an extravagant international competition of magic, meant to entertain and keep healthy the ties between neighboring countries—a certain pirate ship draws closer, carrying old friends back into port.

But while Red London is caught up in the pageantry and thrills of the Games, another London is coming back to life, and those who were thought to be forever gone have returned. After all, a shadow that was gone in the night reappears in the morning, and so it seems Black London has risen again—meaning that another London must fall. 

Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository


Waiting on Wednesday (#166): Recreated by Colleen Houck


"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.


This week, I'm featuring:


Recreated by Colleen Houck
Book Two of the Reawakened series
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Summary (from Goodreads):

From Colleen Houck, New York Times bestselling author of The Tiger’s Curse, comes Recreated, the second book in the epic Egyptian-inspired Reawakened series, in which a seventeen-year-old must literally go to hell to save the love of her life. 

Lily Young thought traveling across the globe with a reawakened sun prince was a grand adventure. Now she’s about to embark on the journey of a lifetime. 

When Amon and Lily part tragically, he transports himself to the Netherworld—what mortals call hell. Tormented by the loss of his one true love, he’d rather suffer in agony during Lily’s mortal years than fulfill his duty to protect humanity. 

Heartbroken, Lily seeks refuge on her grandmother’s farm. Yet she can feel Amon’s pain, and she has been having dreams—dreams of Amon continually suffering. 

For before he departed, Amon gave Lily something very special, an item that connects them even though they are worlds apart. Now Lily must use this object to free him, and to free their realms from darkness and utter chaos. She will do whatever it takes. 



Despite not liking Houck's Tiger Curse series, I loved Reawakened. The ending was so painful and I need this sequel right NOW!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

Sweet Talk with the Sweet Sixteens: March 1st


Welcome to Week Nine of Sweet Talk with the Sweet Sixteens! To see more details about Sweet Talk as well as previous posts, see the introduction post. Thanks to Charlene (Bookish Whimsy), for designing the banner and button for Sweet Talk.


Today, I'm featuring the authors and books publishing during the week of March 1st!


The Questions:

1. Describe your debut novel in sixteen words.
2. Pitch your book! For fans of _____, _____ meets _____, etc.
3. What are you working on now – is it related to your debut novel?


The Authors:

Ava Jae, Author of Beyond the Red

1. A violent uprising on a distant, alien planet threatens the reign of a teen alien queen.

2. For fans of THE GIRL OF FIRE AND THORNS and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE comes a story about betrayal, love, and loss—all on a technologically advanced alien planet where monarchy reigns, but lies rule.

3. I'm currently working on revisions for a YA Fantasy project that is 100% unrelated to BEYOND THE RED. I hope I get to share it with you guys one day! :)

Follow Ava Jae: Blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter



Shannon M. Parker, Author of The Girl Who Fell

1. In which a high school senior mistakes her boyfriend's physical and emotional attentions as love. 

2. For fans of contemporary YA with feminist themes.

3. Another YA Contemp, due out in 2017!

Follow Shannon Parker: Website | GoodreadsTwitter | Instagram
Find The Girl Who Fell: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository


K.C. Held, Author of Holding Court

1. A rollicking romantic mystery featuring a blurting girl, an unattainable boy, and a disappearing dead body.

2. For fans of the Stars Hollow feel of Gilmore Girls, the interconnected affect of Amélie, and the impossible romance and quirky characters of Pushing Daisies. 

3. It is not related to my debut novel. But it is a mystery. :)


Follow K.C. Held: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
Find Holding Court: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository


Robin Yardi, Author of The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez

1. Mateo Martinez must wage a midnight neighborhood war when two skunks steal his little sister's trike!

2. For fans of THE HOBOKEN CHICKEN EMERGENCY, FLORA & ULYSSES, and THE MOUSE AND THE MOTORCYCLE, this contemporary tale with a touch of fantasy is a perfect fit for readers ready for a stinky skunk filled quest!

3. Impulsive, intelligent, and passionate, Colorado Sky Jukes is an outlaw obsessed third grader who just keeps messing up!

Follow Robin Yardi: Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter
Find The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes and Noble | The Book Depository


The Books:

  

  

(Click on the cover to go to Goodreads!)


Other Sweet Sixteens Books Publishing This Week:

    

  

(Click on the cover to go to Goodreads!)


The Giveaway:

- Beyond the Red swag
- The Girl Who Fell swag
- Holding Court swag
I Woke Up Dead at the Mall swag
- Save Me, Kurt Cobain swag
- The Serpent King swag
The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez swag