anasmith7186896

4 stars

A book that managed to suck me in and not let go.

Beth's life has changed drastically in a short amount of time. She was doing just fine, living with her problem-riddled mother (alcohol, abusive boyfriend)and spending as much time with her best friends Isaiah and Noah. And then it all crashed. Now she's living with her rich uncle in a small town in which she simply doesn't belong. It seems like there's not a person there she could relate to, especially not Ryan, the town's golden boy.

Ryan's life seems pretty perfect. He's popular, his family is like from a poster, he's got good friends and he rocks at baseball. Things are not what they appear, though. And the last thing he needs is to get involved with a girl as troubled as Beth. But he simply can't help himself. And things start to spiral out of control.

I really liked both Beth and Ryan. They are so wrong for each other, they are perfect. :D Beth, with her not-so-good childhood, who was forced to grow up way too fast, and Ryan, the boy with a perfect family, who simply has everything. I love their interactions, and I especially love Ryan. He is amazing.

There were some things that were less then perfect, namely Beth's behavior at times. I understood her, but she still didn't endear herself to me. Don't ask me why...

One thing I particularly liked is that the entire mess with the dare didn't drag on for too long. No unnecessary drama, which is always a plus in my book. :D

As for the other characters, I'm really glad to see Noah and Echo again, and Isaiah - well, I really hope Ms. McGarry writes him a book soon, because that boy deserves a story of his own.

ARC received from Harlequin via Netgalley

5 stars

Ever since Ms. Carter first mentioned this book I was really looking forward to reading it. A clash of Gallagher Girls and Heist Society? What's not to like there? :D So, I was overjoyed when I noticed it on NetGalley (and no requesting needed) :-) .

OK, on to the story itself. Imagine an ordinary society gala. A lot of rich, influential people wandering around. Filled to brims with women adorned in millions of dollars worth of diamonds. And one woman, the proud owner of the Canary diamond shines brighter than of all them.

Sounds like a thief's dream, doesn't it? Well, some would definitely agree, since they actually did decide to relive the guest of their valuables. What they didn't do is count on Macey McHenry and W.W. Hale V.

Macey is bored to tears. Her friends aren't with her, and there's nobody interesting or new in the place. Unless, wait - who is that gorgeous guy and is he stealing something from a guest?

Hale isn't thrilled with the gala either. There's no challenge in her - except for the strange girl who is more than she appears. There is something odd about her, but figuring out what it is would have to wait since the guys with guns showed up.

I adore this story! Seeing the two worlds clash is even better than I imagined.

I liked how well all of them worked together. They didn't trust each other immediately (after all they are all pretty paranoid because of their jobs), but at the end they managed to pull off a perfect plan (one worthy of Kat).

Hale is as dreamy and gorgeous as ever - not long now for [b:Perfect Scoundrels|13580928|Perfect Scoundrels (Heist Society, #3)|Ally Carter|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1340716595s/13580928.jpg|19165894]. And Macey, well she made waiting for the next book in the Gallagher Girls series even more of a torture.

All in all, an amazing short story that will make you crave more of Ms. Carter's writing!

ARC received from Disney Book Group via NetGalley.

1 star

Gemma Parkinson is on a mission. Her boss has finally given her an opportunity to shine, and she will do anything in her power to deserve the trust he put in her. The only problem - things aren't going according to her plan. The moment she stepped out of the airplane she was rushed to a hospital, nobody around her speaks English so she can't explain her allergies - an auspicious start won't you agree?

Thankfully, there is someone who understands her - Luca Andretti. He explains everything and even offers his home as a place for her to stay and recuperate. Everything seems to be perfect - unless you account the fact that he is done who wants to make sure that the business deal doesn't come true.

So, a game begins. One with high stakes. A game whose players seem to loose the sight of their goal. For love has that nasty way of blurring the lines.

I have to admit that the thing that drew me to the book in the first place is the cover. It is simple, and yet compelling. So, I thought - why not? True, the blurb did remind me of a Harlequin Presents novel, but there are HP stories and authors that I like, so I decided to take the plunge. I fear that I shouldn't have.

While the story is nothing new really, there are authors who can pull it off. Two people on opposites sides of a business deal, both willing to fight with everything at their disposal for the win - and yet the underlining attraction is there. In this case, it simply felt flat.

It feels as if though the characters are simply puppets with no feelings. True, there were lots of "emotional" times, especially when they talked about their past - but I didn't feel it. It was like we were told what they feel instead of shown.

Not to mention that I'm not a big fan of the plot itself. The pseudo-enemies who can't resist each other, and then one of them coming to the conclusion that their stand is not the right one. Not my cuppa. Way too neat.

One more thing that I didn't like much is Gemma. Something about her simply rubbed me the wrong way.

I did like is the setting. A tiny Italian town with a member of aristocracy as a guardian angel watching over it's citizens. I wish I could go there. :D

ARC received from the publisher via NetGalley

4.5 stars

Evie and her business partner, Max, have a problem. They need 10 million dollars to jumpstart a building project that is perfect. Now, the problem is that they simply don't have it. But what Max does have is a trust fund that he will come into when he turns 30 (which is 2 years away) or when he gets married. Since they need the money rather desperately, they come up with a plan - simply get married, use the money, and then divorce after two years. Best laid plans and all that... :D

You see, there is a problem. When Evie meets Max's older brother Logan she realizes that Logan is the man she had a flaming one week affair more than 10 years ago. Obviously, that is quite a glitch. An even bigger problem - she never really got over him. The way they ended things wasn't good. And the attraction is as strong as ever. All of them need to decide how to proceed, because denying their feelings sure won't be easy.

A great book. Evie and Logan make a beautiful couple who deserves to be happy. I really liked them both. Evie is a strong woman willing to fight for what she wants, but still a part of her is unwilling to sacrifice major parts of herself so that she could be with Logan. Logan, for his part is emotionally scarred by his childhood. He doesn't want to care for anybody, because then they have the means to hurt him. But resisting Evie proves to be impossible. :D

While they were some parts when the feelings ran too high, it is still really well drawn with amazing characters that drew me in and refused to let me go.

The other characters are great as well. Especially Max and Kit. Really wish that they had a story of their own. I know that the odds of Ms. Hunter writing an mm story are tiny, but I would like to read it.

One thing I really don't get is the cover. The story is not really light and fluffy. And what's with the balloons? Something a bit more darker would fit better, and wouldn't trick the reader into believing that it's an easy and light story.

All in all, a great read from Ms. Hunter. It affirmed her place on my list of Harlequin writers whose books I truly enjoy. :D

ARC received from Harlequin via NetGalley

3 stars

Oliver Barrett and Mackenzie Williams want nothing to do with each other. They came to the town of Flinders to hide and recuperate. Mackenzie from an accident that scarred her and changer her life irreversibly, Oliver from the fact that his wife cheated from the time they returned from their honeymoon.

So, it's safe to say that company is the last thing they need.

But circumstances are such that they simply can't stay away. Mother Nature conspired against them, but so did their loyal dogs.

As they slowly start to get to know each other better, to learn about all the good and bad things that make the person, they come to the conclusion that maybe, just maybe they could make it work.

A sweet read with two strong characters at its core. It's nice to finally get a heroine who is scarred by betrayal and life, and is grouchy as a result. Grouchy heroes are dimes a dozen, but such heroines are rarer. Oliver and Mac's relationship takes time to develop - they went from antagonism to reluctant friendship to love. And yet is seemed completely natural, no sudden changes in their behavior. Their banter was entertaining, and their talks about their lives definitely not uplifting.

The dogs were pure delight. All the trouble they managed to get themselves in. They truly made me smile. :D

The not so good thing is the fact that I had problems making myself read the book. It seems that the story dragged at times. I don't exactly like using the word boring, but it's applicable in this case. Not the entire book, mind you, but there were parts when it was really hard for me to keep my attention fixed on the book.

All in all, a good read, with some bumps along the way. But I will still look out for Ms. Mayberry's next book, because I truly like the way she writes.

ARC received from Harlequin via NetGalley

3 stars

You all have heard that saying: "What happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas." Now, in some cases that would (kind of) be true - denial is a true life-saver at times, but some things simply can't be pushed under the carpet.

Take Megan, for instance. The morning after her cousin's bachelorette party, she wakes up in a stranger's bed, and she's wearing a wedding ring!

Now if only she could remember how exactly did she ended up there, all would be all right.

For his part, Connor is surprisingly pleased by the turn of events. He wants to settle down and have a family, it's just that he hasn't been lucky so far. But after he got to know Megan he realized that she is perfect for him. Now, all he has to do is to convince her of that.

A likable story about two people learning that loves takes no prisoners.

The plot is engaging and interesting. The fact that the hero is the one who wants to stay married, who is pursuing the heroine, trying to convince her that marriage is a great thing is truly refreshing.

I enjoyed the first half of the book. While Megan was a trifle annoying with trying to sabotage the marriage, Connor made for it. And then he was the one who went cold on her overnight. And that negatively impacted my enjoyment of the book. I dislike character who have major attitude changes, and Connor was truly a shinning example of the type.

I'm truly intrigued by this new Harlequin series. It sounds as if it will be really enjoyable.

For those interested, this book is free at both amazon and eHarlequin (and probably other retailers, but I can't guarantee it).

ARC provided by Harlequin via NetGalley

3.5 stars

After reading numerous 5 stars reviews my friends wrote, I was really intrigued about this book. Lately, I'm not a big fan of Romantic Suspense books with black ops agents. You know, all the running around in foreign countries, hiding from terrorists. Give me a good sadistic killer on the loose, hot cops searching for him and I'm happy as a clam. But, I made an exception, thinking there's gotta be something to it. And there was, but tastes do differ. Anyway, what is it all about?

Mike Brown can't believe he fell for it. He let his guard down around a beautiful woman and woke up handcuffed to the bed. Like that's not bad enough, the crazy woman is picking on old wounds, accusing him of betraying his country. Now, he does feel guilty about certain things, but she is still way off line. If only he could get free...

Eva Salinas hates Mike. After all, he is the reason she's became a widow. But she's got to admit that his story makes sense (unfortunately). That means that somebody high in the Navy ranks buried the truth. And she's just itching to uncover it all. The revenge will be hers.

Now all they have to do is to catch the bad guy, and of course, stay alive long enough to celebrate it.

I really like Mike. He is the amazing alpha, black ops, I know fifty ways to kill you with a spoon kind of guy. But he does have the gentler side that he doesn't show often. For the last eight years he has been miserable, trying to ignore the guilt, and now Eva shows up offering him a chance at redemption.

Eva is a swell character. She is tough and strong, and willing to fight for what's right.

Neither of them is ready for a relationship, and yet resisting each other is near impossible.

I like them as a couple, but I have hard time buying that they fell in love. I know, I know the adrenaline and near dying brought them closer together, but it's not all that satisfying to me.

Other than that, I have no real misgivings with the book, it's just that my general dislike of the genre made it hard to actually enjoy the book. I did enjoy the genre earlier (I have fond memories of Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters), but I kind of grew out of it.

Putting that aside, the book is truly well written. All of the characters are amazing, and the future heroes of this series are incredibly yummy.

I would honestly recommend the book to readers who love this genre.

ARC received from the publisher via Edelweiss.

4 stars

Reviewed for InD'Tale magazine. The review can be found here.

1.5 stars

While browsing through the titles available on NetGalley, I came across this book. When I read the synopsis, I was intrigued (although I have to admit that the cover is what actually made me stop and notice the book - love the shoe!). Unfortunately, it didn't live up to my expectations.

Ellen Webster is, and has always been, a good girl. Always nice to people, and willing to help, even when it inconveniences her. One day, she she simply has had it with it all, and decides to follow the advice in a self-help book she found at the supermarket. After all, it's high time for her to actually put herself first.

One of the first things she does is to try and flirt with Jonah Blake, the handsome and mysterious man who is rumored to work for the FBI/CIA, or was it that he is mercenary?

Finally, things are going swell for her, until it crashes and burns.

The first chapter was really interesting and looked promising. And then Ellen started on her campaign. I get that she doesn't want to live her life putting other first (always), but she was simply cruel at times. There is no need to be brusque and curt to people, there are nicer ways of dealing with it all.

She went from one extremity to another. And that makes it hard to actually like her.

Then there's the relationship itself, that took a backseat to the process of Ellen discovering her inner strength in saying no to people. If the main story was more enjoyable, this wouldn't have been such a bad thing, but in here I really needed something to improve my opinion of the book.

Jonah looked like a nice guy, truly wish we learned more about what makes him tick. I mean, a guy with a job like his can truly be a delight to read about. :D

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

2 stars

Reviewed for InD'Tale magazine. The review can be found here.

1.5 stars

Reviewed for InD'Tale magazine. The review can be found here.

4 stars

Emma simply can't stand the ticking of her biological clock anymore. Something has to be done. Unfortunately, her gay best friend won't be her sperm donor (even though he promised :-( ), but help comes in an unexpected way. Her playboy colleague offers to do it for her, with one stipulation - they have to do it naturally. *Emma completely shocked*

Tick, Tock, Tick, Tock

Aidan isn't exactly sure why he offered. True, he is immensely attracted to Emma and really wants to sleep with her, but this is an all time high for him. Nevertheless, he sure won't give up on the idea. And once Emma said yes, well, things are going splendidly for him.

Of course, none of them really thought it trough. The forced intimacy isn't making it easy to stay practical and detached. Messy emotions get involved.

Best laid plans and all that jazz

The book is truly a joy to read. The writing, the plot (while not original, it's still entertaining), most of the time the characters. The problem was with Emma and Aidan. As I said, most of the time, they were great and I loved them. However, Emma's behavior (be really, really careful and slow so that Aidan won't get spooked) and Aidan Picking up another woman!!! REALLY!!! True, he didn't go through with it, but it still rubbed me the wrong way.

Their families are awesome, and I can't wait to hear more about them.

And, of course, there's the all present CLIFFHANGER!!!! At least the wait for [b:The Proposal|16117804|The Proposal|Katie Ashley|http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1352081808s/16117804.jpg|21936139] won't be too long (January), but I still prefer some sort of closure.

All in all, an intriguing book whose sequel I'm definitely going to read. You know, the moment it comes out. :D

2 stars

Reviewed for InD'Tale magazine. The review can be found here.

4.5 stars

Reviewed for InD'Tale magazine. The review can be found here.

4.5 stars

Crimson Frost is the fourth book in the Mythos Academy series and it follows the life and adventures of Gwen Frost, an outsider in her school filled with kids who are descendants of mythical warriors, a Gypsy girl with a gift of psychometry, and of course Nike's champion.

It finally looks as if things might be slowing down. True, there is an evil God on the loose, but when on a date with Logan Quinn, a girl sure won't be thinking of those nasty stuff. Until everything kind of crashes.

And now she's accused of a crime she did not commit, judged (and abused by her peers), oh, and did I mention that the punishment for her "crimes" is death? It's definitely not easy being Gwen Frost.

I really like Gwen and her entire crew. The Valkyrie (and her Celt), the Spartans, even some of those girls from the first book are nice here. And of course, there's the awesomeness that is Logan - we learn a lot about him and his past in the book, and here I thought that he simply couldn't get more attractive. One more character that stood out is Alexei, the new (Russian) guy, simply cute (and deadly).

Of course, let's not forget the teachers, and especially Nickamedes, the librarian. He is actually one of my favorites. He's so grumpy, but it is also obvious that he cares for Gwen.

The plot itself is OK, although I guessed who the bad guy way too soon. There was suspense, and a bit of moments when I wondered how will Gwen manage to get herself out of such a mess.

However, the book didn't really wow me. There were no major things that bothered me, some smaller irritating stuff, yes. Mostly Logan being a martyr and Gwen who sometimes rushed when she should have stopped and thought it through. But the entire book failed to impress me, as a book with a five star rating should.

Don't get me wrong, I liked it a lot, and I'm anxiously waiting for the next one to come out. August 2013!!!!

All in all, a good edition to a great series!

ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

1.5 stars

Reviewed for InD'Tale magazine. The review can be found here.