Waiting on Wednesday (23)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Infinity" (Chronicles of Nick #1)
by Sherrilyn Kenyon
St. Martin's Griffin
Release Date: May 25, 2010

The following description is from Goodreads.com:


At fourteen, Nick Gautier thinks he knows everything about the world around him. Streetwise, tough and savvy, his quick sarcasm is the stuff of legends. . .until the night when his best friends try to kill him. Saved by a mysterious warrior who has more fighting skills than Chuck Norris, Nick is sucked into the realm of the Dark-Hunters: immortal vampire slayers who risk everything to save humanity. Nick quickly learns that the human world is only a veil for a much larger and more dangerous one: a world where the captain of the football team is a werewolf and the girl he has a crush on goes out at night to stake the undead. But before he can even learn the rules of this new world, his fellow students are turning into flesh eating zombies. And he’s next on the menu. As if starting high school isn't hard enough. . .now Nick has to hide his new friends from his mom, his chainsaw from the principal, and keep the zombies and the demon Simi from eating his brains, all without getting grounded or suspended. How in the world is he supposed to do that?

I love Sherrilyn's historical romances (writing as Kinley MacGregor) so I'm excited to see that she has a YA paranormal coming out! It seems like a couple of romance authors (Sophie Jordan's Firelight) are expanding into YA, my two favorite genres!!

What are you waiting for this week?

"Beautiful People"

"Beautiful People"
by Wendy Holden

Source: provided by Danielle at Sourcebooks

My Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

My Review:

I wouldn't even begin to a do a detailed summary of "Beautiful People", because I want this review to be spoiler-free. But this story is about a handful of strangers all mixed together in some juicy Hollywood scandals. Some are already divas fully immersed in the Hollywood culture, others are reluctant newcomers to this dazzling world. There's never a dull moment in this one and I flew through all 400 pages!

There are so many characters and all of their lives become intertwi...more I wouldn't even begin to a do a detailed summary of "Beautiful People", because I want this review to be spoiler-free. But this story is about a handful of strangers all mixed together in some juicy Hollywood scandals. Some are already divas fully immersed in the Hollywood culture, others are reluctant newcomers to this dazzling world. There's never a dull moment in this one and I flew through all 400 pages!

There are so many characters and all of their lives become intertwined in the most unexplainable ways. It's like a soap opera and you never know who will be thrown together next.

I loved Emma, the nanny, and Orlando, the dreamy guy who wants to avoid the Hollywood spectacle even with agents hounding him. These characters were so down to earth and almost naive and innocent, they really helped to keep the book in perspective. I loved to hate Belle (and her equally evil chihuahua, Sugar) and Christian! They were so typical of the dark underside of Hollywood's most "beautiful people." Still, their escapades were fun to live vicariously through. I liked being able to indulge that scandalous side with Belle and Christian but still see characters more like myself in Emma and Orlando, and also Darcy and Marco.

Whenever there are so many varied characters there are bound to be some that are uninteresting. I wasn't a fan of the Hollywood agent or the model scout even in a 'love to hate them' way. They just didn't interest me at all.


Main Characters: 4/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 3/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: This book is the perfect scandalous guilty pleasure. The lines are clearly drawn between the good characters and bad characters, so the outrageousness is nicely balanced out.

In My Mailbox (22)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

"Never Less Than a Lady"

by Mary Jo Putney


I won this one from Romantic Crush Junkies, it is even personalized and autographed by Mary Jo Putney! Thank you!

"Lament"
by Maggie Stiefvater


I finally got this book, I've heard so much about it!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week???

"Stay a Little Longer"

"Stay a Little Longer"
by Dorothy Garlock

Source: provided by Anna at Hachette Books

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

My Review:

Rachel Watkins' life irreversibly changed when her sister Alice died in childbirth. Rachel became a mother to her niece, Charlotte, and took over from her mother as the town midwife. Rachel's mother lost her courage to help bring new lives into the world after the loss of her daughter. Rachel is also in charge of the boarding house that her mother owns with her uncle. Rachel blames her sister's death as well as all the struggles of her new life on the fact that Alice's husband, Mason, died in the war. If he hadn't died, would everything be the same as it was before? Would he be able to fix everything if he could come back?

"Stay a Little Longer" had a really good story, but it was a little too simplistic at times. There were moments that were really exciting and even had me gasping, "Wow! I can't believe that happened!" This story was kind of like "It's a Wonderful Life," but people's lives really did fall apart because they thought Mason was dead, it wasn't all a dream.

The romance was okay, but I wouldn't really call this a romance book because the love story was on the back burner. It was more about Mason learning to live his life again. Some of the scenes with the villains were a little too grisly for me and at times I wondered how much more Rachel would have to endure.

However, I loved Charlotte's character and her faithful and loyal companion, Jasper the dog. These two really breathed life into the slow story. I also thought Rachel's mother and how Alice's death affected her was really interesting. These characters and their facets of the story really kept me interested in the book.

I really liked the poem at the beginning of the book and how it was the basis for the whole book. The poem is about a man who had survived a war and he doesn't want his wife to see his scars, both on the outside and inside. I think the book would have been more meaningful to me if Mason had been able to truly go back to his wife and see that she still loved him for who he was, regardless of the scars.


Main Characters: 3/5
Supporting Characters: 4/5
Setting: 3/5
Romance: 2/5
Uniqueness: 3/5
Cover: 4/5
Writing: 3/5


Bottom Line:Overall, the story was nice, but a little slow and simplified for me. For fans of Garlock and Americana stories, I think this would be a nice, cozy read.

Waiting On Wednesday (22)

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking the Spine, and it is a way to show off the books you can't wait to be released!!

This week I chose:

"Nightshade"
by Andrea Cremer
Philomel
Release Date: Oct 19, 2010


The following description is from Goodreads.com:

While other teenage girls daydream about boys, Calla Tor imagines ripping out her enemies’ throats. And she wouldn’t have it any other way. Calla was born a warrior and on her eighteenth-birthday she’ll become the alpha female of the next generation of Guardian wolves. But Calla’s predestined path veers off course the moment she saves the life of a wayward hiker, a boy her own age. This human boy’s secret will turn the young pack's world upside down and forever alter the outcome of the centuries-old Witches' War that surrounds them all.

Oooh, I love how the girl is the supernatural creature instead of the boy in this one! And I definitely love that she sounds so strong!! Don't you love the cover?? It seems to contrast with the description a little, but that can be a good thing!


Ok, I'm cheating a little because this is not a book but I can't help it- I absolutely can't wait for the Prince of Persia movie!!

"Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time"
Walt Disney Pictures
Release Date: May 28, 2010

Summary from IMDB.com:

Set in the mystical lands of Persia, a rogue prince (Jake Gyllenhaal) and a mysterious princess (Gemma Arterton) race against dark forces to safeguard an ancient dagger capable of releasing the Sands of Time -- a gift from the gods that can reverse time and allow its possessor to rule the world. Written by Walt Disney Pictures


What are you waiting for this week???

In My Mailbox (21)

In My Mailbox is hosted by The Story Siren, and is a way for everyone to show their new books for the week, including those bought, swapped, won, or received for review.

Bought:

"Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist"

by Rachel Cohn and David Levithan


I finally bought this book, I've never even seen the movie! I think maybe because of the movie I was hesitant to read this one, I thought it might be all hype or something. But I've read the first 20 or so pages and I was wrong, this one is so much more than what I expected!!


"Lessons from a Scarlet Lady"
by Emma Wildes


I loooooved this author's debut book, "An Indecent Proposition" (my 5 star review), and I've been wanting to read her second book ever since. If it's only almost as good as her first, I won't be disappointed!

What did you receive in your mailbox this week?

While you're here, check out my 5 copy giveaway for "Ravished by a Highlander" by Paula Quinn!

Review and Giveaway! "Ravished by a Highlander"

Contest Closed! Thank you to everyone who entered!!

As part of the "Ravished by a Highlander" blog tour, I have my review of Paula Quinn's new historical as well as a 5 copy giveaway of the book, sponsored by Hachette! So read on to see my review of this fantastic Highlander romance and please enter for your chance to win!!

"Ravished by a Highlander"
by Paula Quinn

Source: ARC from Anna at Hachette Books

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

My Review:

"Ravished by a Highlander" was a rare mix of in-depth historical and political details combined with a moving, emotional love story. It's pretty unique for an author to succeed so well at both ends of the spectrum.

Davina has been hidden away in a convent for her whole life in order to protect her from political plots to kill her. Everything comes to a peak when the entire abbey and the soldiers guarding her perish in an attack. Fatefully, the son of a Scottish laird, Robert MacGregor, and his clansmen happen by the siege and join the fray. Rob heroically rescues Davina from the fire, but she holds onto many secrets about the cause of the battle and why someone will go to such lengths to murder a nun in training. On their journey back to Rob's home, they develop feelings for each other, but will Rob ever know all of her secrets.

Rob is my favorite kind of hero, the always honorable, strong and protective warrior. He's been so busy training to be a laird and take care of his clan, he hasn't had time for love-until love finds him with Davina. Rob loves her at all costs and will defend her safety no matter what.

I loved that Davina was a bit of a free spirit and full of life once she saw the world outside of the convent. Her spontaneity and Rob's no-nonsense way didn't always mix, but they love and accept their differences and don't try to change each other.

I love complex secondary characters, and the men in Rob's clan just jumped off the page for me. After Davina's rescue, all of the men practically fell in love with her. Who doesn't want a handful of handsome, charming highlanders catering to her every whim? Of course, all of the men are complete gentlemen and the flirtations are so innocent, it makes for the perfect fantasy. All of the clansmen have unique, three dimensional personalities, and Davina has a unique friendship with each one. My personal favorite of the group is Finn. He's just too sweet and cute, as well as a little bit fragile, as he follows Davina where ever she goes like a puppy.

Sometimes, I preferred a bit less historical detail, because I wanted to read more about the vivid characters and their interactions than the politics. But the historical landscape was essential to the magnitude of the story, so I felt like it was a bit like eating my vegetables to get to dessert.


Main Characters: 5/5
Supporting Characters: 5/5 (I can't wait to see them in their own books!)
Setting: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Uniqueness: 4/5
Cover: 4/5 (what's not to love?)
Writing: 4/5


Bottom Line: This romance is for the reader who wants a deep, emotional love story with lots of historical details and action to fill out the story. i can't wait to read the rest of the series and see more of the MacGregor clan.



GIVEAWAY RULES:

Hachette books has generously provided FIVE copies of this awesome historical romance for readers of this blog! All you have to do is follow my blog and leave a comment on this review!

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