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: ALL SOULS TRILOGY BY DEBORAH HARKNESS

In preperation for release of final instlament in All Souls Trilogy, I decided to re-read previous books. I am glad to inform you that they are even better second time arround. Here are my thoughts.

Discovery of Witches

(All Souls Trilogy #1)

Written by Deborah Harkness

SUMMARY:

A richly inventive novel about a centuries-old vampire, a spellbound witch, and the mysterious manuscript that draws them together.

Deep in the stacks of Oxford's Bodleian Library, young scholar Diana Bishop unwittingly calls up a bewitched alchemical manuscript in the course of her research. Descended from an old and distinguished line of witches, Diana wants nothing to do with sorcery; so after a furtive glance and a few notes, she banishes the book to the stacks. But her discovery sets a fantastical underworld stirring, and a horde of daemons, witches, and vampires soon descends upon the library. Diana has stumbled upon a coveted treasure lost for centuries-and she is the only creature who can break its spell.

Debut novelist Deborah Harkness has crafted a mesmerizing and addictive read, equal parts history and magic, romance and suspense. Diana is a bold heroine who meets her equal in vampire geneticist Matthew Clairmont, and gradually warms up to him as their alliance deepens into an intimacy that violates age-old taboos. This smart, sophisticated story harks back to the novels of Anne Rice, but it is as contemporary and sensual as the Twilight series-with an extra serving of historical realism.

My Diana and Matthew:

*5 STARS* REVIEW:

I am not exaggerating when I say that this is the most fascinating paranormal story I have ever read in my life. 

Discovery of Witches is splendid combination of history, science, romance and action. This book is full of knowledge and interesting facts wrapped up in beautiful paranormal story.

Discovery of Witches is kind of book that will make you fly over the pages, eager to find out what will happen next and than make you feel like re-reading it all over again right after you finish.

Discovery of Witches is story about independant witch Diana and enigmatic vampire Matthew. And I am happy to say that heroine in this novel is no damsell in distress complaining all the time. On the contrary, she is more than able to take care of herself. And I absolutely loved it.

A must-read for all lovers of smart and paranormal!

_________________________________________

Shadow of Night

(All Souls Trilogy #2)

Written by Deborah Harkness

SUMMARY:

IT BEGAN WITH A DISCOVERY OF WITCHES.

Historian Diana Bishop, descended from a line of powerful witches, and long-lived vampire Matthew Clairmont have broken the laws dividing creatures. When Diana discovered a significant alchemical manuscript in the Bodleian Library,she sparked a struggle in which she became bound to Matthew. Now the fragile coexistence of witches, daemons, vampires and humans is dangerously threatened.

Seeking safety, Diana and Matthew travel back in time to London, 1590. But they soon realise that the past may not provide a haven. Reclaiming his former identity as poet and spy for Queen Elizabeth, the vampire falls back in with a group of radicals known as the School of Night. Many are unruly daemons, the creative minds of the age, including playwright Christopher Marlowe and mathematician Thomas Harriot.

Together Matthew and Diana scour Tudor London for the elusive manuscript Ashmole 782, and search for the witch who will teach Diana how to control her remarkable powers...

My Diana and Matthew:

*5 STARS* REVIEW:

Wow, what a sophisticated and remarkable story! Shadow of Night was like nothing I have ever read before and it surpassed all my expectations. This book offers the most amazing mixture of romance, history, paranormal and action. It was equally good (if not better) as first book and I enjoyed reading this book immensely.

Shadow of Night is that kind of book which you cannot put down because you need to know how things are going to end up. Simultaneously, you are trying to read it slowly because you never want to finish it.

Shadow of Night is eventful book, there is no single boring part since something is happening all the time. It was really fascinating to read about Diana's encouters with famous historical figures and her attempts to merge into world in 1590. And while first half of the book was interesting, second half was absolutely exciting and thrilling because of all that magical things Diana learnt about herself.

This book is full of new characters which I grew fond of immediately. Especially the Matthew's father and nephew. What is it about the men from de Clairmont family? It is impossible to resist them. Matthew in particular! And the bond that Diana and Matthew developed in this book was so beautiful and it made their relationship perfect in my eyes.

Shadow of Night answered plenty of questions about Diana's magical powers, Ashmole 782 manuscript and de Clairmont family. But one questions remained unanswered - how I am going to handle the waiting for the final book?

FINAL INSTALMENT COMING JULY 15TH!

Never Miss a Post:

Follow

REVIEW + GIVEAWAY: Better Deeds than Words

Better Deeds than Words 

(The Words #2) by Georgina Guthrie

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Purchase: Amazon / B&N 

Synopsis:

Aubrey and Daniel’s vow to pursue their dangerous romance despite university regulations takes them down a path of secrecy and lies. With only six weeks left to the end of term, they’re under the constant watch of David Grant—Daniel’s “Dean of Students” father. If that weren’t enough to pressure them, Daniel’s checkered past also casts a shadow over the young lovers who continuously tempt fate until one wrong move leads to an inevitable disaster. Can they salvage a relationship when everything seems to be conspiring against them?

My Aubrey and Daniel:

* 4 STARS * Review:

Better Deeds than Words is a story about new relationship, fresh love developing  under complicated circumstances. How long will Aubrey and Daniel be able to resist the temptation of being truly together?

I loved all those hot and sensual banters between the main protagonists. Chemistry between Daniel and Aubry was palpable through out the whole story. Author apllied the know idiom "forbidden fruit tastes the sweetest" and made a good use of it in this novel.

Moreover, I can't forget to mention thoughtful Shakesperan discussions and little bit of believable drama which made reading this book an enjoyable experience for me.

If you like sensitive men and topic of forbidden love, this series is the best choice for you!

Blog-Tour Giveaway:

I will pick winner on Sunday, May 25th. Good Luck!

About Author:

Georgina Guthrie is a self-professed book hugger and compulsive diarist. Though GG now resides in Canada, she was born across the pond and still considers herself a Brit through and through, which may explain her frequent visits to her favourite local British import shop.

GG is often happiest when reading and writing, but she’s just as likely to be found hanging out with friends and family, almost certainly with a glass of red wine in one hand a bag of cheese and onion crisps in the other.

CONNECT WITH GEORGINA:

Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

THANK YOU GIVEAWAY: Signed Paperback Copy

Recently, I have reached 2000 likes at my Facebook page!

I would like to thank all my followers and supporters. It is such a pleasure to share and discuss all the bookish stuff with you. I have something special ready for on lucky winner to give away :) Enter racfflecopter below. Good luck!

Giveaway Prize:

*Special Signed Edition of Wait For You by Jennifer L. Armentrout*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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!