Waiting on Wednesday 262

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: 

"Anne & Henry"

by Dawn Ius
Simon Pulse
Release Date:  Sept. 2015

Anne
Wild, brazen, mischievous, bewitching

Henry
Driven, haunted, charming, magnetic

Apart, they are bound to destroy themselves. Together, they are bound to destroy each other.

Henry Tudor's life has been mapped out since the day he was born: student president, valedictorian, Harvard Law School, and a stunning political career just like his father's. But ever since the death of Henry's brother—perfect, high-achieving Arthur—his family has been twice as demanding. And now Henry's trapped: forbidden from pursuing a life as an artist or dating any girl who's not Tudor approved.

Then Anne Boleyn crashes into his life.

Anne is wild, brash and outspoken. She is everything Henry is not allowed to be—or to want. But soon Anne is all he can think about. His mother, his friends, and even his girlfriend warn him away, yet his desire for Anne consumes him. Henry is willing to do anything to be with her. But once he has her, their romance could destroy them both.

Inspired by the true story of Anne Boleyn and King Henry VIII, Anne & Henry reimagines the intensity, love, and betrayal between one of the most infamous couples of all time.

I haven't seen a modern retelling of Anne and Henry's story before. Admittedly, I told myself I wasn't going to read any more books about them, they started to be repetitive, but I don't think I can resist this one.

What are you waiting for this week???

Waiting on Wednesday 261

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: 

"A Wicked Thing"

by Rhiannon Thomas
HarperTeen
Release Date:  Feb 24, 2015

Rhiannon Thomas's dazzling debut novel is a spellbinding reimagining of Sleeping Beauty and what happens after happily ever after.

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.

Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.

As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.

Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

I can't resist a fairy tale retelling, and I love that this one starts AFTER her happily ever after.

What are you waiting for this week???

"It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" Writes a Self Help Book Review

 "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today"
by FX Networks
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Release Date: Jan 6, 2015

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

"The Gang" from It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia attempts their most ill-conceived, get-rich quick scheme yet: publishing a “self-help book” to hilarious, sometimes dangerous, and often revolting, results.
The Gang may have finally found their golden ticket. Left alone to close down Paddy’s Pub one night, Charlie Kelly inadvertently scored himself, and his friends, the opportunity of a lifetime—a book deal with a real publishing company, real advance money, and a real(ly confused) editor. While his actual ability to read and write remains unclear, Charlie sealed the deal with some off-the-cuff commentary on bird law and the nuances of killing rats (and maybe with the help of some glue fumes in the basement with an unstable editor on a bender). While The Gang is stunned by the news, and the legally binding, irrevocable contract left on the bar, they are also ready to rise to the task and become millionaires—and of course, help Charlie actually write the book.
In their own inimitable voices, Charlie, Mac, Dennis, Sweet Dee, and Frank weigh in on important topics like Relationships, Financial Success and Career, Fashion and Personal Grooming, Health and Diet, and Survival Skills, providing insane advice, tips, tricks, and recipes (Rum Ham anyone?) as only they can.
Fans of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia rejoice and welcome the most influential work in the history of the written word (or at least since the script for The Nightman Cometh): The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today.

My Review:

The premise of the book entails that the gang from "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" write a self-help book for Harper-Collins. You can only imagine their ideas for self-help. As a fan of the show, I think this is a great book, IF it were quite a bit shorter. When I first started reading the book, I was laughing so much, and I could just 'hear' the characters reading their chapters aloud. However, at about the midway point, I started to lose interest, and I was ready for the book to be over.


A word of warning, I would only recommend this book to readers who are already fans of the tv show. Otherwise, the book would be crazy offensive to...nearly everyone. If you've ever seen the show, you know what I mean. I think you have to go in realizing that the book is going to try to offend everyone, no one is safe-haha.

My favorite chapters were written by my favorite characters on the show-Charlie and Dee. I would have loved to have read more of Charlie's own words, instead of  most of his chapters being written "as told to" other characters. Perhaps more usage of a tape recorder and transcripts would have worked since his writing skills involve crayons and mispellings. Dee's chapters were written spot-on in her voice. I could just hear her reading the pages, cursing and all. Sometimes the characters of Dennis and Frank push the envelope for me personally, so I didn't really love their chapters.

Bottom Line: For fans of the show, this book is a funny companion to the tv show. It could have been great if only it were shortened by half or so.

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"The Duke of Dark Desires" Review

"The Duke of Dark Desires"
by Miranda Neville
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: Dec 30, 2014

Source: sent by publisher

My Rating: 4.5 of 5 Stars

Summary from goodreads.com:

Wanted: Governess able to keep all hours . . .
Rebellious Julian Fortescue never expected to inherit a dukedom, nor to find himself guardian to three young half-sisters. Now in the market for a governess, he lays eyes on Jane Grey and knows immediately she is qualified—to become his mistress. Yet the alluring woman appears impervious to him. Somehow Julian must find a way to make her succumb to temptation . . . without losing his heart and revealing the haunting mistakes of his past.

Desired: Duke skilled in the seductive art of conversation . . .
Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of Denford. Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her family—and take her revenge. She certainly can't afford the distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the smoldering desire he ignites within her.

But as Jane discovers more clues about the villain she seeks, she's faced with a possibility more disturbing than her growing feelings for Julian: What will she do if the man she loves is also the man she's sworn to kill?

My Review:

This was a very enjoyable historical romance. The plot and time period were just different enough to stand out from the pack of historical romances. A lot of times with romances, I find the 'mystery' plots so forced and over the top. However, in this book, I genuinely cared about just who was truly responsible for what happened to Jane's family, something that Julian had always blamed himself for. I also was on pins and needles waiting for the moment that Jane and Julian would discover each other's true identities.


I looooove this cover, and I think it captures the book so well. It's a bit dark, but not grim, and definitely beautiful as well. The cover captures Julian's character especially well. Julian wears all black, he's a bit of a grouch, and wants everyone to think he is horrible, but he isn't the least bit horrible at all. His relationship with his three young sisters proves that he's a caring, tender person.

I loved the three girls so much, each of them had a distinct, well-rounded personality, and they were never used for their cute factor. The girls were their own characters, not just children thrown in to move the story along. Family was such an important part of the book, and both Jane and Julian had such great relationships with the three girls. It was wonderful to see their relationships grow.

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

Bottom Line: I loved this historical romance, the lead characters were strong yet tender, and the plot kept me on the edge of my seat. This one definitely stands apart from other books in the genre.

Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

"Hitrecord on TV! Season One" Spotlight

"Hitrecord on TV! Season One"
by Joseph Gordon-Levitt
Publisher: Dey Street Books
Release Date: Dec 2, 2014

Source: sent by publisher

Summary from goodreads.com:

HITRECORD ON TV is a new kind of variety show. Join host Joseph Gordon-Levitt as he directs a global online community of artists to create eight episodes of television--all made collaboratively. Each installment focuses on a different theme and features short films, live performances, music, animation, conversation, and more!

HITRECORD ON TV invites anyone with an internet connection to contribute, create, and develop art and media collectively through hitRECord.org, an online collaborative production company that brings together artists from all over the world to participate in the creative process, bridging cultural divides and false distinctions that separate professional artists from those who simply love to make art.

Through hitRECord.org, 1,295 artists contributed their original artwork to all of HITRECORD ON TV's eight episodes.

This nine-book box set is the official companion to the first season, taking fans deeper inside the show's themes and the making of the series as a whole. It comes with special download codes for all eight episodes and the complete soundtrack album.

Find out more about the book here: http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062372031/hitrecord-on-tv-season-one

Disclosure: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
 

"Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire" Spotlight

"Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire"
by Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: Dec 30, 2014

Source: sent by publisher

Summary from goodreads.com:

New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks delivers the exciting conclusion in the Love at Stake series, where a Marine-turned-vampire finds love with the shifter princess forbidden to him...

Russell wakes from a coma to find he's become a vampire. Now he has a thirst for revenge. Determined to hunt down the master vampire who turned him, he's used to working alone . . . until he meets Jia. She is after the same vampire for murdering her parents and insists she can help Russell on this mission. Reluctantly, he agrees, and sets up some ground rules:

Rule #1: Their partnership is strictly business. If he holds her a little too close . . . if she looks at him with those exotic eyes . . . well, that has to stop.

Rule #2: He's in charge. Jia isn't used to taking orders and questions every move he makes. So he stops her the only way he knows how.

Rule #3: Don't fall in love. But the kiss that was supposed to quiet her awakens something else in him . . . something forbidden. Because Jia is engaged. To someone else.

This is the 16th and final book in the "Love at Stake" series!

Find out more about the book here

http://www.avonromance.com/book/kerrelyn-sparks-crouching-tiger-forbidden-vampire

Disclosure: I received an e-copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for this post.

Sunday Shout Out 59

Recently, I introduced a new feature here at In the Hammock on Sundays. It's called "Sunday Shout Out" and it's a place where I can give a special shout out to those publishers and authors who have sent me books over the week, as well as those bloggers who have hosted contests that I've won! I'll also be giving shout outs to any other cool books, blogs or bookish news that I've spotted during the week.

For Review

 "The Everyday Supermodel" by Molly Sims

 "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia: The 7 Secrets of Awakening the Highly Effective Four-Hour Giant, Today " by FX Networks

What books did you receive this week?