REVIEW: BAD ROMANCE BY HEATHER DEMETRIOS

Bad Romance by Heather Demetrios
Published by: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
Genre: Contemporary Young Adult
Release date: June 13th 2017

       
          

Grace wants out. Out of her house, where her stepfather wields fear like a weapon and her mother makes her scrub imaginary dirt off the floors. Out of her California town, too small to contain her big city dreams. Out of her life, and into the role of Parisian artist, New York director—anything but scared and alone.

Enter Gavin: charming, talented, adored. Controlling. Dangerous. When Grace and Gavin fall in love, Grace is sure it's too good to be true. She has no idea their relationship will become a prison she's unable to escape.

Deeply affecting and unflinchingly honest, this is a story about spiraling into darkness—and emerging into the light again.

REVIEW: Broken Chords by Carrie Elks

Broken Chords by Carrie Elks

(Love in London #2)
Purchase: Amazon US / Kobo

Genre: Contemporary Romance

     

      

Lara knows she should feel lucky. Married to the man of her dreams, with a gorgeous new baby, she should be enjoying her happy-ever-after. But she never expected motherhood to be so difficult, or for her life to change so dramatically.

Alex has it all: hot, tattooed looks, a beautiful wife, and a band that's finally getting noticed. A lucrative offer of a US tour should be the icing on the cake. But as he leaves the country, distance isn't the only thing that starts to pull their relationship apart.

With half a world dividing them, Alex and Lara have to battle for a marriage they once took for granted.

Author Note: Broken Chords is the second story in the Love in London series but can be read completely as a stand-alone.

REVIEW: BAD ROMEO BY LEISA RAYVEN

Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven

(The Starcrossed Series #1)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release date: December 23rd 2014

Pre-order: Amazon / Kobo / iBooks

GUEST REVIEW: Delinquents by The Elizabeths

Long awaited sequel to Innocents (Dusty #1) has been released today. 

Here is Marta's spectacular review.

Delinquents (Dusty #2)

Written by The Elizabeths

Release date: October 23rd

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

REVIEW: Killer Queen by L.H. Cosway

Killer Queen (Painted Faces #2)

Written by L.H. Cosway

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Purchase: Amazon US / Amazon UK 

B&N  / Kobo / iTunes / Smashwords

Synopsis:

Willkommen, Bienvenue, Welcome…

Come inside The Glamour Patch club to see the star of our show, Miss Vivica Blue.

Do you want to read my diary you nosy little devils? Have a glass of champagne (you’ll need it) and get comfortable because you’re in for some crazy shenanigans brought to you straight from the horse’s mouth.

I can be whatever you want me to be: boy, girl, a little bit of both.

If you have a problem with a man in a dress then best be off with you. If males in make-up give you the willies, then I’ll say au revoir and don’t let the door hit you on the way out.

So, who are we left with? Ah, a fine collection of curious souls. I want to tell you a tale of love, because those are the most glorious kind. I want to tell you about real love, a love that transcends labels and gender stereotypes.

The moment I first laid eyes on my Freda I knew that we were kindred. Well okay, I also knew I wanted to get into her pants, but that’s beside the point. My world was a grey place. I was at my lowest ebb. Then she came along and patches of colour began to spring forth. One day the daffodils were yellow and before I knew it, colour was everywhere, lighting up my life.

Love is not about how we appear on the outside, it’s about the soul contained within.

Our story was not a conventional one, but it was ours, and that’s what made it shine.

Killer Queen is a companion novel to L.H. Cosway’s contemporary romance, Painted Faces. It contains scenes that take place before, during and after the original story. It can also be read as a standalone.

THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

* 5 STARS * Review:

"We human beings are strange creatures, and that strangeness makes us fascinating."

One of the best feelings ever? Getting back to your most favorite characters whom you completely adore and immersing yourself in their story once again. When I found that L.H. Cosway was writing companion novella to my favorite novel of 2012 Painted Faces, I was ecstatic. Written in Nicholas's POV, Killer Queen is a story about life of drag queen Vivica Blue and sassy Dublin-native Freda - the most unforgettable, complex and in depth depicted bookish couple I have ever encountered in contemporary genre. 

Story in Nicholas's POV was exactly as the man himself - captivating, eccentric and very colorful. This book provides a fascinating insight into the psyche of troubled man with sad past and fabulous performer with constant highs and lows in the present. It is one of a kind story and I adore it to pieces. It will break your hearts and simultaneously lift them up. I cried happy tears, I cried devastated tears, I laughed, I swooned. It was perfect reading experience and I can't recommend this book enough.

Events and characters on the pages of this novel come truly alive through L.H. Cosway's rich and phenomenal writing. Unique settings? Unconventional situations? Intense and emotional tale of love and friendship? You will find it all in this book.

Killer Queen is written in a form of diary entries. Readers get to see not only events from Nicholas' early life and events that that led him to Freda, but also his life in Dublin itself and period after the end of Painted Faces. Yeah, L.H. Cosway has been generous to her fans.

And even though this novel can be read as a standalone, I highly recommend you to read Painted Faces as well. After all, Killer Queen is "only" companion novel. And if you want the full picture, the proper experience, Painted Faces from Freda's POV is a must-read. Moreover, her POV is a blast to read so I can assure you won't regret it!

NEW RELEASE REVIEW: Coming Down by Carrie Elks

Coming Down by Carrie Elks

Genre: Romantic Fiction

Purchase: Amazon UK / Amazon US / B&N

Synopsis:

Twenty-eight-year-old Beth Lawrence finally has her life back on track. A job she loves, a wealthy husband and a beautiful home are a far cry from the tragedy that struck when she was nineteen. But now that her past seems firmly behind her, an old flame walks back into her life. Bringing back painful memories of a time she's worked hard to forget, reviving a passion she tried to bury years before.

Niall Joseph is an up-and-coming artist, recently returned from success in America. Volunteering to teach in an inner-city drug clinic, the last person he expects to see is the girl who broke his heart nine years earlier. Working closely together allows their old wounds to heal, forging a deeper connection between them. One that slowly starts to burn.

As she becomes tangled up with a neglected child and her drug-addict mother, Beth finds herself drawn to Niall. But neither of them can anticipate how hard it is to tread the thin line between friendship and desire.

My Beth and Niall: 

My * 5 STARS * Review:

"I lost everything that summer. Including myself."

Beth was lost and broken. Until she met Simon. Older kind man who became her husband and helped her to get her life in order. Her life may lack a passion now, but it's better than chaos, right? But than Beth's former love interest comes back, bringing up painful memories and chaos back to her life... 

If you are fed up with contemporary novels which deal with over-the-top drama and would rather read intense and realistic story focusing on everyday's human's troubles, Coming Down is right for you. In this novel you will find everything. There is romance, steam and emotions. But most importantly, Coming Down is a touching journey of 28-years old woman who is trying to find her true self and meaning of her life.

"How terrible to not know where you belong."

Coming Down is not the cheeriest story. But with topics of drugs and addiction, it is to be expected. Author never simplified harsh difficult reality. She laid it all out there and I loved it. I slowly, but strongly, fell in love with this beautifully bittersweet story and complex characters of Beth and Niall!

And a question time at the end. What makes a really great book stand out among other good books? In my opinion, it is all about small details and in depth depicted characters. Coming Down has it all. If my above words haven't persuaded you to pick this book up, I hope following reasons would.

➤ I loved that story wasn't too angsty. Yes, it was sad and bittersweet but Beth wasn't overly broken or damaged. It was all real. Nothing over the top like so many characters in books these days.

➤ I loved flashbacks to the past which gradually revealed what had happened all those years ago when Beth's life changed in a radical way. They had poetic quality into them and I found them utterly fascinating.

➤ Intimacy has a real meaning in this novel. In the world of quick pleasures and books full of doms, stories by Carrie Elks are lovely refreshing change. Plus this author can write anticipation like none other!

QUICK REVIEW: DRAGONFLY IN AMBER BY DIANA GABALDON

Dragonfly in Amber (Outlander #2)

Written by Diana Gabaldon

Genre: Historical Romance

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

SYNOPSIS:

With her now-classic novel Outlander, Diana Gabaldon introduced two unforgettable characters — Claire Randall and Jamie Fraser—delighting readers with a story of adventure and love that spanned two centuries. Now Gabaldon returns to that extraordinary time and place in this vivid, powerful follow-up to Outlander....

For twenty years Claire Randall has kept her secrets. But now she is returning with her grown daughter to Scotland’s majestic mist-shrouded hills. Here Claire plans to reveal a truth as stunning as the events that gave it birth: about the mystery of an ancient circle of standing stones ... about a love that transcends the boundaries of time ... and about James Fraser, a Scottish warrior whose gallantry once drew a young Claire from the security of her century to the dangers of his....

Now a legacy of blood and desire will test her beautiful copper-haired daughter, Brianna, as Claire’s spellbinding journey of self-discovery continues in the intrigue-ridden Paris court of Charles Stuart ... in a race to thwart a doomed Highlands uprising ... and in a desperate fight to save both the child and the man she loves....

* 5 STARS * REVIEW:

I love Jamie's playfulness, temper and selflessness.

I love Claire's wit and determination.

I love Mrs. Gabaldon's writing abilities and complex storytelling skills.

And I freaking adore this series!

Do not make any excuses, you have to read and experience this epic story yourself!

James Fraser in all his glory:

And just a little advice for my fellow readers:

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NEW RELEASE REVIEW: Innocents by The Elizabeths

Innocents (Dusty #1)

Release date: July 14th 2014

Written by: Mary Elizabeth and Sarah Elizabeth

Purchase: Amazon / Smashwords / Kobo 

Synopsis:

The girl with an innocent heart knows all about bad choices, but has yet to make them for herself. Searching for freedom, she finds it in the delinquent down the hall.

The troublemaker with summer-sky blue eyes knows he should stay away, but can’t resist the blissful wonder who makes his house a home.

She’s a hopeless romantic. He’s just hopeless.

She’s his reason, but he might not catch her when she falls.

She loves him. He loves her crazy.

This is what happens when a love made of secrets is kept with rules instead of promises.

My Bliss and Dusty:

* 5 STARS * Review: 

"I know he loves me. I never doubt his love. I doubt his intentions and respect. I distrust his motives and allegiance. Love? I smother in dictating love. He’s loves traitor." - Bliss

Innocents is a story that will give you butterflies and make you feel all kinds of emotions. It’s a story that will grab your hearts, lift them up and then crush them. It’s difficult read, heavy on angst and definitely not for a faint-hearted. But most importantly, Innocents is the story that readers will never forget!

"Love is a fighting a losing battle."

In this book, Bliss and Dusty went from friendship, through secret young love to obsessive teenage love. Innocents is about the strongest of loves, about hurt and heartbreak, about lies and broken promises, about being emotionally dependant on someone and being unable to let go...

This novel is full of interesting and thoughtfully crafted characters, but Dusty definitely stands out. He lies, deceives and keeps up the pretense. He is temperamental and he always looks for the easy way out. He is not the most lovable hero, yet he earned my sympathies. He is just a messed up boy with good heart, seeking true love but going about it the wrong way. I so cannot wait to see what exactly is in store for Dusty and Bliss in the sequel - Delinquents!

"Love turns blind eye. And it's unpredictable."

I have to admit, that this is the first book in which I didn’t root for main couple to stay together, yet I loved this book to the pieces. Why? Answer is truly simple. The writing. It was lyrical, poetical and beautiful. It was perfect and flawless, I cannot praise it enough. Kudos to authors for creating this epic story. If you are not against reading raw, depressive and realistic story, definitely go for this one, I recommend it from bottom of my heart!

"She’s the friend my sister needed, the daughter my mom wanted, a child my dad doesn’t feel guilty about, and the fucking reason my heart beats." - Dusty

Blog - Tour Giveaway:

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If you’d like to contact The Elizabeths, 
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REVIEW: OUTLANDER BY DIANA GABALDON

In a month this time (August 9th), STARZ will start broadcasting TV series based on worldwide popular book series Outlander written by Diana Gabaldon. The curious creature that I am, I had to find out myself what all that hype was about. And I am glad I did.

Outlander (#1) by Diana Gabaldon

Genre: Historical Romance

Purchase: Amazon / B&N

SYNOPSIS:

The year is 1945. Claire Randall, a former combat nurse, is back from the war and reunited with her husband on a second honeymoon--when she walks through a standing stone in one of the ancient stone circles that dot the British Isles. Suddenly she is a Sassenach--an "outlander"--in a Scotland torn by war and raiding Highland clans in the year of Our Lord...1743.

Hurled back in time by forces she cannot understand, Claire is catapulted into intrigues and dangers that may threaten her life...and shatter her heart. For here she meets James Fraser, a gallant young Scots warrior, and becomes a woman torn between fidelity and desire...and between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

* 5 HUGE STARS * REVIEW:

Outlander is a complex story with multilayered depiction of characters that will touch your heart, consume your thoughts and mesmerize you with the beauty of its settings. This is the kind of book that you will live through together with main characters and you will never be the same once you finish it.

Claire Randall - a witty and compassionate woman from 20th century thrown into dangers of 18th century Scottish Highlands. James Fraser - a selfless and passionate Scottish warrior finding his way in the game of intrigues between Scottish lords and English superiors. What happenes when fate brings these two people together?

First of all, let me tell you one important thing. Outlander is the most epic romance I have ever read. And when I say epic, I really mean epic - grand, impressive, outstanding, remarkable. Whenever I only think about Jamie & Claire, about their epic romance, my pulse speeds up. This book just simply has such a powerful effect on me.

Secondly, author proves her astonishing story-telling skills in this novel. The amount of reasearch author had to do prior to writing this novel, the way she captured historical period, it is phenomenal. I was sucked into the story from early chapters and even the large number of pages never bothered me.

I loved how authentic this story was, thanks to the use of old Scottish. I loved how adventurous and eventful this novel was. I loved how flawed and realistic characters were. I loved it all.

Outlander is not an easy read. Your heart will rejoice for the characters at one point, only to ache terribly for them seconds after. But reward for investing your time, mind and heart into reading this book is more than worth it. And this reward is Jamie Fraser. 

"A big man, with hair like fire, and eyes like the summer skies". He is the perfect example of how to write unforgettable character. Stubborn but kind. Temperamental but courageous. Proud but selfless. Believe me, it is impossible not to fall in love with him. So, are you ready to meet Jamie Fraser?

P.S. Even though story continues, there is no cliffy at the end.

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REVIEW: Find You in the Dark by A. Meredith Walters

Find You in the Dark (#1)

Written by: A. Meredith Walters

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Purchase: Amazon / B&N 

 

Synopsis:

Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades.. normal life. Until him.

Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness. Until her.

Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life. That together, they could face the world. But the darkness is always waiting.

Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

* 3 STARS * Review:

Maggie is opinionated and straightforward 17-years-old teenager with normal life. But when secluded and unpredictable new boy comes to school, her life is about to be completely changed...

What started as ordinary teenage romance story, turned into intense and gut-wrenching story of two young people who learnt the hardest way that love and friendship are not always enough to solve real big problems in your life. This story shows us the disastrous consequences of obsessive and dysfunctional teenage love and believe me, it was not easy to read about.

I have to admit that I really liked author's depiction of teenagers and their thinking. She managed to describe typical teenage behaviour and feelings to a T. Yes, she may have touched some clichés but otherwise, I was impressed with her storytelling skills and I definitely plan to read more by this author.

However, I struggled with paying 100% attention when reading this book. It just never grabbed me, it never captivated me. I was never living this story together with characters. I read some other books dealing with the same isuess of mental illness and unfortunatelly Find You in the Dark did not reach its potential in my eyes.

REVIEW: LOVING MR. DANIELS BY BRITTAINY C. CHERRY

 THIS AWESOME BOOK WILL BE RELEASED IN 5 DAYS! A MUST-READ!

Loving Mr. Daniels by Brittainy C. Cherry

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Purchase: Amazon US / Amazon UK / B&N

SYNOPSIS:

To Whom it May Concern,

It was easy to call us forbidden and harder to call us soulmates. Yet I believed we were both. Forbidden soulmates.

When I arrived to Edgewood, Wisconsin I didn’t plan to find him. I didn't plan to stumble into Joe's bar and have Daniel's music stir up my emotions. I had no clue that his voice would make my hurts forget their own sorrow. I had no idea that my happiness would remember its own bliss.

When I started senior year at my new school, I wasn’t prepared to call him Mr. Daniels, but sometimes life happens at the wrong time for all the right reasons.

Our love story wasn’t only about the physical connection.

It was about family. It was about loss. It was about being alive. It was silly. It was painful. It was mourning. It was laughter.

It was ours.

And for those reasons alone, I would never apologize for loving Mr. Daniels.

-Ashlyn Jennings

* 5 STARS * REVIEW:

* Beautiful - Unforgettable - Touching *

I have a soft spot for teacher/student romances. But a simple fact that author tells a story of forbidden love between teacher and student is no guarantee that I will enjoy it. However, this novel made a huge impression on me. Loving Mr. Daniels is beautiful, complex and powerful story that talks about life destinies of multiple people, story that I will remember forever!

With shocking prologue and emotional first chapter, author managed to hook me into the story pretty easily and since than I couldn’t put the book down. So what is so special about this novel? Sometimes it is writing style that grabs your attention. In other cases, it may be a storyline. Or feelings that book evokes in you. This book has it all.

Miserable. That’s how our 19 years old heroine Ashlyn feels at the beginning of this novel. Devastated by her twin’s death, hurt because of her broken relationship with her mum, angry because she is forced to move in with her dad and his other family in different town to finish high school. Not the best outlook for a teenage girl, right? Can attractive musician Daniel she meets on train be her saving grace?

Daniel was perfect mix of nerdy and sexy young man. However, living in his own world of grief, there was a lot of misery in the life of Daniel Daniels. Connected by emotional pain and loneliness, a huge spark was ignited when Daniel and Ashlyn got to know each other one fateful night. If only they knew that what they felt that night would quickly become forbidden...

What happens when you meet your other half at really wrong time of your life?

I could write really long list of reasons why I loved this book but I’m going to mention just couple of them in this review. I absolutely adored Ashlyn’s way of thinking and parts written in her POV. There was no over-the-top drama, just plenty of realistic emotions that were pouring out of this novel at every page, making me completely immersed into Ashlyn’s and Daniel’s life stories. Moreover, author created unique and unforgettable characters. Main or supporting ones, alive or dead, everyone played important role and touched me deeply in one way or another.

Ashlyn and Daniel were so "perfectly imperfect" together. Sharing all those nerdy quirks made them such an adorable and lovable couple for me, that I was rooting for them despite the fact that it was "forbidden". All I can say is that you need to experience this exceptional connection and love between those two people yourself. For me, Loving Mr. Daniels is a definite must-read!

REVIEW: Love, in English by Karina Halle

Love, in English by Karina Halle

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Pre-order: Amazon / B&N / iTunes

Release date: April 20th

Synopsis:

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.

***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.

THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

My Vera and Mateo:

* 5 STARS * Review:

"My name is Vera Miles.
And in the story of my life, I am the villain.
But I’m starting to think that most villains aren’t evil – they are just misunderstood.
Or victims of that most manipulative force: love. " 

We don't choose love. Love choses us, attacks us, surprises us when we least expect it. You cannot ignore love, you cannot simply turn your back on love when it comes to your life. Vera Miles knows it the best and this is her story to tell. Don't judge, read it. Just remember that nothing comes without consequences or sacrifice...

Even within otherwise worn out genre of contemporary romance, Karina Halle was able to come up with new, fresh and engaging background story. English language practicing camp for adults where bunch of strangers lived together in Spanish countryside like a family was a great set up for intense interactions and funny situations. Add forbidden love, slow burn romance, thoughtfully written characters and you get this powerful story that will stay with me forever.

"Love was scarier than deep space."

Love, In English is realistic and beautifully emotional love story. It is a character-driven book that made Ms. Halle’s writing style stand out and shine.This book will make you feel everything from laughing, swooning and lusting, to being depressed, anxious and on the verge of panic attack. Karina Halle played with my emotions like a master puppeteer in this novel. It was, without the doubt, my best reading experience of this year.

For some poeple, subject matter may be a taboo topic. Married guy with kid and young college student? Karina Halle mastered it tastefully. Vera was strugling with her feelings, resisting, never shamelessly going for Mateo. No matter how much she wanted him. Did I see her as villain, as a bad person? Never. She was just a human being who found herself in a tricky life situation. Same goes for Mateo. He was just a loving, passionate man looking for real hapiness in his life, trying not to hurt anyone in the process. I cannot fault him for that.

“Love is like a thief, it robs you of all thought and logic and all you have left is a heart that you can only pray is strong enough to survive the rest.”

Age difference, different life-style, appearence... At first sight, Vera and Mateo seem like the biggest possible opposites. But when I got to know them better, got to know their fears, dreams and passions; it was clear that they would be a perfect fit. Plus chemistry between those two was off the charts! Gradually, I found myself falling in love not only with Vera and Mateo as individual characters, but also with them as a "couple". By the end of the book I was so strongly connected with both of them, that it felt like I was right there in the story, experiencing all feelings, hopes and heartbreaks alongside Vera and Mateo. And that is exactly how a great love story should make you feel like.

Do not hesitate to pick this book up when it is out. I love it from the bottom of my heart and cannot recommend it enough!

Giveaway:

Together with my fellow bloggers from Lit Slave and My Book Muse,

we have this awesome giveaway for you guys. Good luck!

*Kindle copies to be  gifted on release day*

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