Blog Tour: Review: Forever, Jack by Natasha Boyd + Giveaways (INT)

Hi and welcome to my stop on the Eversea and Forever Jack Blog Tour. Below you'll find my review for Forever Jack!

I love this series. It's one of my favorite in the new adult genre as you will read below.

Enjoy!

Oh, and don't forget to enter the two giveaways below. Awesome prizes! :D

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Title: Forever, Jack
Author: Natasha Boyd
Series: Eversea #2
Publication: November 25th 2013 by NPRB
Genre: New Adult
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

A feisty small-town girl and the Hollywood star who broke her heart

An all-consuming love threatened by fame

One last chance at FOREVER

Keri Ann Butler's life changed on the night she met movie star, Jack Eversea. She thought she knew a Jack that was very different to the man adored by fans the world over. In the wake of his betrayal and abandonment, Keri Ann has had to pick up and move forward with the life she was supposed to live and has put off far too long.

Suddenly Jack is back, and his explanations for why he left seem more and more plausible, and his declarations more seductive. But being Jack's latest tabloid accessory isn't on Keri Ann's career agenda, no matter how much she is attracted to him. And how can she can ever trust him again?

Jack knows he let the only 'real' thing that ever happened to him slip through his fingers. And his hands have been tied to try and stop it. Until Now.

Jack is now fighting to save his relationship with Keri Ann, even as his crazy life threatens to tear them apart. Again. The question is, can he convince her she can have it all? And have him? Forever?

I am so so so glad I got the chance to read Forever, Jack. It was sooooo good! I even liked it better than the first book, Eversea, and I really enjoyed that one so that says a lot. I'm not sure what it was about this book that made me totally love it. Right from the start my eyes were glued to my Kindle screen and I just couldn't stop reading. I almost read two days straight I think so I had it finished in no time. That's fast, even for me. So that's proof of how absolutely amazing Natasha Boyd is at writing. 

Forever, Jack doesn't start where Eversea ended right away. There are months and months that went by where Keri Ann has been working on her art and gettng into SCAD. Basically, she has been trying to move on from Jack and finding out what she really wants to do. Until Jack returns to Butler Cove and turns her world upside down again.

So I loved the way this book started. Can't go wrong with a prologue in Jack's point of view, right? It was really good. And I loved all the other Jack chapters in his point of view too as I did Keri Ann's chapters. I'm also impressed by the way these two characters really have their own voice. I'm not sure if it will make any sense to anyone, but sometimes when there's more than one character with a point of view they seem to have the same voice. With Keri Ann and Jack it's so different and I loved it.

The story was so romantic and I felt myself so rooting for Keri Ann and Jack even to the point of biting my nails. I just wanted them to be together. I also just wanted to lock Jazz and Joey together in a room. They have got to get together! Maybe in a book of their own? *hint hint*
Anyway... This book was just perfection. Everything I wanted in a new adult book and I must say this has got to be one of my favorite reads in this genre of the year!

Natasha Boyd's writing also has got to be mentioned. It blew me away. I can't remember being this impressed with an author's writing for a while and I also can't remember if I enjoyed it this much in Eversea. She can really write beautifully and I loved every word that I read. 

And I absolutely loved the mentions of Harry Potter, Christian Grey and Gideon Cross. I seriously laughed my ass off at those parts. Brilliant!

Romantic, a love that you're rooting for and some drama, Forever Jack was one wonderful read. I really enjoyed reading it and I just want to applaud Natasha Boyd for writing such a truly amazing book that was even better than the first one. Bravo!

Favorite Quotes:

"This..." he continued and began bunching up my dress in his fist and drawing it up my thigh, "what we have... is extra-sensory overload... where everthing else is a silent fucking movie."

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities," I quoted.
"Oh my God, are you quoting Harry Potter at me?" Jack laughed, rolling me onto my back.
"Well, you are a self-professed book and moved nerd. I'm just a book-nerd."

"Well, I'll be. It looks like Christian Grey just arrived," Mrs. Weaton sniffed.
Jazz almost snorted on her champagne, and I giggled.
"What, you don't think an old gal like me enjoys a saucy book?"
"Not at all," I said, seriously. Jack had eclipsed every single book boyfriend I'd ever had from Darcy to...
"Christian Grey?" Jazz asked haughtily. "Me-thinks more Gideon Cross. That man can wear a suit."

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Natasha Boyd is a writer with a background in marketing and public relations. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, and lives in the coastal Carolina Lowcountry, complete with Spanish moss, alligators and mosquitoes the size of tiny birds. She has a husband, two sons and a cat named Tuna. Eversea is her first full-length novel.

--My Giveaway--

Prize:

One (1) ebook copy of either Eversea (Eversea #1) or Forever Jack (Eversea #2) by Natasha Boyd!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

--Tour Wide Giveaway--

Prizes:

--4 Kindles (Open wherever Amazon ships)

--2x signer copies of both book 1 & 2 + sea turtle pendant (Open INTL)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog tour was organized by - 

Review: Be with Me by J. Lynn

Title: Be with Me
Author: J. Lynn
Series: Wait for You #2
Publication: February 4th 2014 by HarperCollins
Genre: New Adult
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Teresa Hamilton is having a rough year—she’s in love with her big brother’s best friend, but he hasn’t spoken to her since they shared a truly amazing, mind-blowing, change-your-life kiss. She got out of a terrible relationship. And now an injury is threatening to end her dance career for good. It’s time for Plan B – college. And maybe a chance to convince Jase that what they have together is real.

Jase Winstead has a huge secret that he’s not telling anyone. Especially not his best friend’s incredibly beautiful sister. Even though he and Teresa shared the hottest kiss of his life, he knows that his responsibilities must take priority. He certainly doesn’t have time for a relationship. But it doesn’t help that all he can think about kissing the one girl who could ruin everything for him.

As they’re thrown together more and more, Jase and Tess can’t keep denying their feelings for each other. But a familiar danger looms and tragedy strikes. As the campus recovers, the star-crossed couple must decide what they’re willing to risk to be together, and what they’re willing to lose if they’re not…

I'm going to jump right in and say that I loved Be with Me. I actually think it's the best in the series so far. It was even better than Wait for You and Trust in Me combined. Yes, I might be fangirling a little too hard. How does Jennifer L. Armentrout keep doing this?

I just loved both Teresa and Jase so much. Especially together were they perfection. Sure Jase pissed me off a little. Okay, a lot... but I didn't seem to care because, well, he's Jase. I was crushing badly on him while reading. But anyway, he and Teresa (or Tess as Jase calls her) had something very special. I enjoyed reading about their relationship that was finally happening. The book was also full of hilarious moments. I lost count of how many times I laughed out loud with it.

Of course it wasn't all romance and hot scenes. Although those scenes were so so great. There was also some drama with Teresa's roommate Deb that I think was done nicely to give it some excitement. Bonus points for JLA!

And as a little extra we had some appearances of Cam and Avery that hinted at some exciting stuff that's been happening to them. Also I loved the mystery around Jase's "little brother" Jack. Though I already guessed what was going on with that back in Wait for You but even so I really liked this twist.

Yet another amazing by written by J. Lynn (Jennifer L. Armentrout) that I loved. The woman is like a writing robot. She keeps going and writing fantastic books. Be with Me is definitely a favorite of mine now and I can't wait to read the next one! Bring it on! 

Favorite Quotes:

"You think my ass is cute?"
He pulled away, laughing. "Baby, your ass is like my own personal holy ground."

Sinewy muscles in his arms flexed as he lifted Jack out of the driver's seat, holding him into the air above his head. He spun arond in a circle, laughing deeply as Jack shrieked and flailed.
Ovaries go boom.

No matter how irritated I was with him or how badly I wanted to karate kick him between the legs, when he laughed, it was like the sun was shining in my eyes.

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.
Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV.
She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Review: Blood Reunited by Amber Belldene

Title: Blood Reunited
Author: Amber Belldene
Series: Blood Vine #3
Publication: January 28th 2014 by Omnific Publishing 
Genre: Adult ~ Paranormal
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

Brooding vampire halfling and biologist Bel Maras is determined to create a cure for the wasting disease that plagues his vampire family. His work becomes essential as the Hunters intensify their global and bloody campaign. When Bel's cure fails, only his ancient and estranged godmother Uta Ilirije can help. But seeing the ice-cold Uta reveals something shocking--she is his bonded mate.

She may be a dangerous warrior, but Uta feels her failures acutely. She has been unable to protect her kind from Hunters, and vampires are dying out. Worse, she tied Bel to her long ago in an accident of blood, then abandoned him for his own good--a choice he has never forgiven. Many days, she is convinced Bel and the vampires would be better off if she just walked into the sun.

Biology has fated them to be mates. Now these old enemies must overcome their past to save the vampires and come to peace with the bond they never chose.

I've been so happy that I discovered this series because truly it's become an all-time favorite for me. I love vampires and I'm not kidding when I say it's one of the best ones in the genre out there.

Blood Reunited was amazing. Just like the two other books it centered on the Maras vampires, this time especially on Bel and Uta. I was so glad to finally read in Bel's point of view. Because he's my favorite guy in the series and he didn't disappoint at all. It was also very fun to be inside Uta's head. With English not being her first language, the things she says are to die for. I laughed many times. But I have to admit I had to get used to her and Bel as a couple because of the whole godmother thing but nontheless I learned to love them together and, well, they were great. 

Oh and of course we had Lucas and Pedro to read about. They might be my favorite couple in this series actually. I just really care for them as characters and they're just so adorable together. And can I just applaud Lucas for doing the thing he did (I cannot say for the sake of not putting any spoilers but seriously!). 

The story was a little bit of a rollercoaster. From funny moments to serious to happy and then to sad ones, up and down it went. There were a lot of unexpected twists and gasp out loud moments. When certain people died (not naming anyone!) I was so shocked and kinda cursing Amber Belldene (sorry, Amber!) for doing this to us but a good book can't be without this kind of drama, I guess. *sniffles* 

And that ending! You know how some authors totally screw up and ending? Amber Belldene absolutely didn't do that. It was the perfect ending for such a great series. I loved it so so much. I like how the last chapter was Andre's. It felt right. And I'm glad we got to know how everyone was doing four years later (especially Kos, Lena and their child). Nicely done!

Blood Reunited was just as fantastic as the rest of the series. Full of action, the right amount of steamy romance and so damn funny (Uta, yes I'm talking about you!).  I haven't loved a vampire series this much in a long time. It was original and I love the twists about the hunters and vampires. And one thing's for sure, I will miss these characters so much but I'm glad to have read their story! 5 stars more than deserved!

Favorite Quotes:

Bel laughed. "Sounds about right. I'll rent a car. Be there inside an hour. Cheers."
"Cheerio and tootle-loo, motherfucker."
Bel sighed. His new brother did love to provoke him. "Pedro. Make fun of my accent again, and I'll have Omar rip your tongue out, let it regrow, and do it again until you swear to stop your terrible impressions. Comprende?"

"Cards?" Uta sat down to a game of poker in play. "I hear you are something of a dolphin."
"I think you mean a shark," Zoey whispered.
Uta squeezed her eyes shut and pictured the tiny line drawing in the dictionary she'd studied. "Stupid dorsal fin."

"Bel, it is time to stop pretending you are asleep," she said.
He laughed "Not until Pedro turns off his shite music. Put on my iPod." He handed over the device.
She rubbed her eyes. "Perfect. The sun is very nearly up, and you want me to die listening to Joan Jett. Show some mercy."

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Google+ | Pinterest

Amber Belldene grew up on the Florida panhandle, swimming with alligators, climbing oak trees and diving for scallops…when she could pull herself away from a book. As a child, she hid her Nancy Drew novels inside the church bulletin and read mysteries during sermons—an irony that is not lost on her when she preaches these days.

Amber is an Episcopal Priest and student of religion. She believes stories are the best way to explore human truths. Some people think it is strange for a minister to write romance, but it is perfectly natural to her, because the human desire for love is at the heart of every romance novel and God made people with that desire. She lives with her husband and two children in San Francisco.

Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Title: The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green
Publication: January 10th 2012 by Dutton Books
Genre: Young Adult
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Cover Rating: 4/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel's story is about to be completely rewritten.

“My thoughts are stars I cannot fathom into constellations.” 

So... I wasn't sure whether or not I wanted to write a review for this book because, well, it's The Fault in Our Stars and it was beautiful, sad, gorgeous and real. Also my first John Green book and so many people had read it already and I don't usually read this genre — realistic young adult fiction — at all, especially not this topic, but I have to say I was very surprised by how much I ended up loving this book. So I really need to say THANK YOU to my friend Em for gifting it to me.

“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” 

Ah, where do I start? I was really impressed by the exquisite and stunning writing of John Green. But it was more than that... it was also the characters and not just the main ones, Hazel and Augustus. Although, of course they played a pretty big part. I just mean that the main characters as well as the secondary characters made this book its perfect whole. 
Also I loved Hazel and enjoyed reading in her point of view and how she slowly fell in love with Augustus. It was something special. And Augustus? Well, he was something else. I would lie if I said I didn't fall a little for him too. Such an amazing characters. I also liked his friend Isaac, though I felt real sorry for him most of the time. Also characters worthy to mention would be Hazel's parents. I don't know why but I really liked those people!

“The world is not a wish-granting factory.” 

And then there's the story. This beautiful and sad story. It's more than just a cancer story, it's a romance and damn it if I wasn't totally swept away by Hazel and Augustus' love story. But all good things come to an end and yes, I did cry (which I don't usually do with a lot with books) so that says a lot for me and how into this book I was. 

“That's the thing about pain," Augustus said, and then glanced back at me. "It demands to be felt”

Funny at times even though a sad but beautiful story, The Fault in Our Stars really did something for me. I loved it, even if it's not my usual genre or topic. The book altogether was something gorgeous. The writing was stunning and the characters each special in their own way. I can't press how much I would recommend this book to anyone who hasn't read it yet. I mean it. Read. It. Now.

Favorite Quotes:

“Oh, I wouldn't mind, Hazel Grace. It would be a privilege to have my heart broken by you.”

“You realize that trying to keep your distance from me will not lessen my affection for you. All efforts to save me from you will fail.”

“Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom. And in freedom, most people find sin.”

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

John Green is the New York Times bestselling author of Looking for Alaska, An Abundance of Katherines, Paper Towns, and The Fault in Our Stars. He is also the coauthor, with David Levithan, of Will Grayson, Will Grayson. He was 2006 recipient of the Michael L. Printz Award, a 2009 Edgar Award winner, and has twice been a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. Green’s books have been published in more than a dozen languages.

Review: Paranormalcy by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #1
Publication: August 31st 2010 by HarperTeen
Genre: Paranormal ~ Young Adult
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Cover Rating: 4/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Evie's always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she's falling for a shape-shifter, and she's the only person who can see through paranormals' glamours.

But Evie's about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal.

It's official! I'm addicted to Kiersten White's books. I've read Mind Games, Perfect Lies, The Chaos of Stars and they were all pretty good. Yet I still hadn't read what I think are her most popular books, the Paranormalcy series. So now that I have finally read Paranormalcy I can only say, wow! I've always had a thing for these type of books where there's lots of different paranormal creatures. I mean, the main character has a mermaid for a best friend, a faerie for an ex-boyfriend and then there's vampires, shifters, hags, banshees and so on. How could I not totally love this book?

Evie was such a fun main character. I liked following her story, her voice was great to read about and even though she has to do a lot of things normal sixteen-year-old girls don't have to like hunt down creatures of the night and tag them, she's still very much a teenage girl who loves pink, teen tv shows and who just wants to not be alone. I loved how she wanted to know how a normal life would be and her obsession with normal stuff like lockers. Kiersten White definitely has a knack with creating interesting characters.

The story also was pretty damn awesome. You just know there's something about Evie and slowly but surely everything gets revealed. I just love that. Paranormalcy was a good story with a very good plot. It was also definitely a more light-ish, cute and quick book to read. One of the reasons I loved it so.

I really liked all the side characters in Evie's life. Let's start with Evie's best friend, Lish, who is a freaking mermaid, thank you very much. I adored Lish. And the way Kiersten White wrote her...So funny, so great and such a good friend to Evie. Too bad things went a little dramatic there with her...
I also really liked her faerie ex-boyfriend, Reth. Some might not think he's a great guy but I sort of have an obsession with faeries and I don't know... I liked Reth. Then there was Lend, the shapeshifter. He was adorable. The romance between him and Evie was so nicely done. There was no rush or anything which was a huge relieve cause I am not a fan of insta-love. Anyway, I approved. 

Overall, Paranormalcy by Kiersten White was such a huge pageturner.The story, the amazing characters, the writing, the action, everything! I loved it all. I can't wait to get my hands on the second book and read where the story is going to take Evie next. 

About The Author:

Blog | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Kiersten White is the New York Times bestselling author of the Paranormalcy trilogy, The Chaos of Stars, and the psychological thriller Mind Games. Kiersten lives with her family in San Diego, California. Visit her at www.kierstenwhite.com.

Review: House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty

Title: House of Bathory
Author: Linda Lafferty
Publication: January 7th 2014
Genre: Historical Fiction
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Cover Rating: 3/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

In the early 1600s, Elizabeth Báthory, the infamous Blood Countess, ruled Čachtice Castle in the hinterlands of Slovakia. During bizarre nightly rites, she tortured and killed the young women she had taken on as servants. A devil, a demon, the terror of Royal Hungary—she bathed in their blood to preserve her own youth.
400 years later, echoes of the Countess’s legendary brutality reach Aspen, Colorado. Betsy Path, a psychoanalyst of uncommon intuition, has a breakthrough with sullen teenager Daisy Hart. Together, they are haunted by the past, as they struggle to understand its imprint upon the present. Betsy and her troubled but perceptive patient learn the truth: the curse of the House of Bathory lives still and has the power to do evil even now.

The story, brimming with palace intrigue, memorable characters intimately realized, and a wealth of evocative detail, travels back and forth between the familiar, modern world and a seventeenth-century Eastern Europe brought startlingly to life.

Inspired by the actual crimes of Elizabeth Báthory, The House of Bathory is another thrilling historical fiction from Linda Lafferty (The Bloodletter’s Daughter and The Drowning Guard). The novel carries readers along with suspense and the sweep of historical events both repellent and fascinating. 

House of Bathory was absolutely an amazing read. I flew through it in no time because my eyes were glued to the screen of my Kindle. It was that good! I didn't know what I expected starting it but it turned out even better than I had hoped.

I've always been intrigued by the story of Elizabeth Bathory. I love history and I've seen documentaries and movies about her so I was pretty excited to read this book. I'm so glad I got accepted for it via NetGalley. 

This book is my first Linda Lafferty book and I'm so excited to have found a new historical fiction author that I can see myself wanting to read all the books from. Her writing was compelling, never got boring and it was fast-paced. Also it didn't shy away from the horror that Countess Bathory inflicted on so many innocent people.

The story also was just amazing and dark. And very exciting, not knowing what was going to happen next or if my favorite characters would survive...
I loved how it jumped from the 1600's to 2010 and how everything fit together. I just love books like that.
There were a lot of POVs  that may be a little distracting to some. Even I must admit that at first I had to get used to it but I soon got used to it and now I think it was perfectly done that way.

Another thing I loved was how Carl Jung was a big part of this book. In the last year I've come to be a little intrigued also by Jungian psychology. Coincidence. Or not? 

Overall, House of Bathory by Linda Lafferty was a fantastic read. I loved the writing and how the author could suck me right into the story, especially the 1600's chapters. It was like I was there. So amazing!

Favorite Quote:

The most frightening terror in the world was not ghosts, or monsters, not vampires, or any of that nonsense. The most terrifying creature in the world is a madman.

About The Author:

Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

  The daughter of a naval commander, Linda Lafferty attended fourteen different schools growing up, ultimately graduating from the University of Colorado with a master's degree and a PhD in education. Her peripatetic childhood nourished a lifelong love of travel, and she studied abroad in England, France, Mexico, and Spain. Her uncle introduced her to the sport of polo when she was just ten years old, and she enjoys playing to this day. She also competed on the Lancaster University Riding Team in England in stadium jumping, cross country, and dressage. A veteran school educator, she is the author of The Bloodletter's Daughter and The Drowning Guard. She lives in Colorado.

Also posted on Owl Post Reviews

Arc Review: Quintessentially Q by Pepper Winters

Title: Quintessentially Q
Author: Pepper Winters
Series: Monsters in the Dark #2
Publication: December 15th 2013
Genre: New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 4/5

Review copy provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.

“All my life, I battled with the knowledge I was twisted… fucked up to want something so deliciously dark—wrong on so many levels. But then slave fifty-eight entered my world. Hissing, fighting, with a core of iron, she showed me an existence where two wrongs make a right."

Tess is Q’s completely. Q is Tess’s irrevocably. But now, they must learn the boundaries of their unconventional relationship, while Tess seeks vengeance on the men who sold her. Q made a blood-oath to deliver their corpses at Tess’s feet, and that’s just what he’ll do.

He may be a monster, but he’s Tess’s monster.

My Thoughts:

Oh, man... Quintessentially Q was one hell of a tough book to read. I thought I knew what to expect after reading Tears of Tess. I heard that this one was darker though but I was like, 'bring it on, dude!'. Turns out people were right when it was darker but that's what I loved about it. Pepper Winters doesn't skim over the bad things even though a lot of people would shy away from it. She's an amazing writer.

In this book we see a whole lot of different sides to both Tess and Q. We even get to be inside Q's head because every other chapter is told in his point of view. I loved reading his chapters and to get to know his torture soul more. Another thing I liked in this book was to get to know Q's friend Frederick more. I love him! He was so interesting to read more about and to see him interacting with Q aside from that time we saw him in Tears of Tess. 

I do have to say that I didn't love Quintessentially Q as much as I loved Tears of Tess. I had kind of a hard time getting into it in the beginning. It was a little slow for me and I couldn't agree with some of the things both Tess and Q did. For instance, how could Tess forget about the tracker in her neck? It seems so careless. And also I can't believe Q left her alone, even if it was in his office. And I'm also not sure I liked the ending all that much. It seemed so typical for a book like this. Those are my only minor points though, aside from those things, I really did like the book and after the first 45% I couldn't tear myself away from my Kindle.

Like I said before, this book is so much darker than the previous one. It really teared my heart apart, everything that was happening. To Tess because she was in such agony and to Q because he felt so hopeless. At some point I really didn't think everything would work out alright. So I just kept reading and reading. I won't say too much to spoil the book to others with saying if it worked out okay or not but I'm glad we saw a side of Q that can actually love. It was amazing to read about.

Also, this author? Her writing was remarkable. I already noticed in Tears of Tess but in this book she really wrote some truly beautiful things. I can't wait to read other work by her. She's going places!


Twisted, dark and beautiful, Quintessentially Q was an incredible read. Though I had some minor issues with it, I loved it so much. I am once again awed by Pepper Winters' way with words. I'm both excited and terrified what the next book will bring. 

Favorite Quotes:

"You'll never be free of me. I'll never be free of you. It's fate who decides, and fate gave us each other."

I wanted to howl to the bloody moon and shed my body in favour for something vicious with claws and fangs and no fucking conscience. I wanted to be the devil.

"You stole my loneliness. I may have given you wings, but you've become my gravity. I'll never be free of your force."

Gravity shifted. Again. I dragged Tess into my lap, wrapping my arms tight around her. In my embrace, I held the moon and stars and planets. I held my future fucking happiness, and I'd kill myself if I ever fucked it up.

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex. 
She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends.
Her debut book Tears of Tess will be followed with Quintessentially Q. You didn’t think Q could stop so soon, did you? Her other two titles, Last Shadow and Broken Chance will be coming soon.

She loves mail of any kind:

pepperwinters at gmail dot com

Arc Review: Secret by Brigid Kemmerer

Title: Secret
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Series: Elemental #4
Publication: January 28th 2014 by Kensington Books
Genre: Paranormal ~ Young Adult
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Cover Rating: 1/5 (Dafuq?)
Overall Rating: 3/5

Review copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Nowhere is safe. Not even home…

Nick Merrick is stretched to the breaking point.

Keep his grades sky-high or he’ll never escape his hometown.
Keep his brother’s business going or the Merricks will be out on the street.
Keep the secret of where he’s going in the evenings from his own twin—-or he’ll lose his family.

Keep his mind off the hot, self-assured dancer who’s supposed to be his “girlfriend’s” partner.

Of course there’s also the homicidal freak Quinn has taken to hanging around, and the Elemental Guide counting the hours until he can try again to kill the Merrick brothers.

There’s a storm coming. From all sides. And then some.

Nick Merrick, can you keep it together?

~My Thoughts:

I feel kind of bad giving Secret only three stars. Though it's still a good rating. But I had a hard time deciding whether it would be three or four and settled on three eventually. Looking at the whole story and comparing to how totally amazing the previous book "Spirit" was, I was kind of disappointed. And also seeing some kind of theme here with this series. I went from loving book one, Storm, to be disappointed in book two, Spark, to be awed by book three, Spirit, to once again being disappointed with this one. It sucks but I love this series nevertheless!

So for the first 50% in this book I was just bored to death. Seriously, this book wasn't on the same level as Spirit by far. I think it mostly featured on Nick and Adam and their romantic relationship that began growing. Don't get me wrong, I loved them so much. They were adorable together and these two were the only thing I was looking forward to. There really should be more gay couples in young adult books. I actually think it was really smart of Brigid Kemmerer to make Nick gay because I'm sure we all were expecting for Nick to get a real relationship with Quinn or maybe meet a new girl like his brothers did. I hadn't seen the gay thing coming at all but I really loved that twist and I loved Nick's short story in Breathless too! So as far as his new relationship went, perfect, nothing to say about that but that was the only good thing. I also couldn't help but feel that Nick should get over himself and just be with Adam. I get that this wouldn't be easy but he was whining a little too much for my taste sometimes. Still love him though.

Quinn on the other hand... I hated her. I'm sorry, but I really did. I never liked the girl. Yes, she goes through a lot with her family but I don't know, she's just not likable to me as a character. I didn't want to read about Quinn, her chapters were boring, which is probably why I disliked the first half of this book so much. But I gotta say the twist with her and Tyler was pretty great. I love Tyler! I can't believe I'm saying this because we've seen such a bad side of him in the previous books but he's really not so bad. Well, maybe a little. Boy, he was hot! As much as I dislike Quinn, she's right there.

If I haven't said it before, I'm saying it now:  I love the Merrick brothers (and Hunter) so so much. They're all super great guys but shit keeps happening to them. Will they ever get some peace? Anyway... I loved them all in this book. Chris is such a great little brother to the others and I miss him. He was awesome in Storm. Gabriel might've reacted a little wrong to Nick and Adam but I'm glad it's all worked out now. And Michael? *dreamy sigh* He's the best. I loved how he reacted when Nick told him his secret. He's the best and I can't wait for his story (finally! finally!) next!

The overall story was pretty much only about Nick and Adam's relationship and Quinn going through shit with her family and getting to know Tyler and oh yeah her whining. The real action didn't occur until the end which left me the most disappointed because Spirit was FULL of it. But I do have to admit that the end was also a big twist. Can't wait to see where THAT is going. I only wished there would've been more Hunter. I missed him. Althoug he had a pretty great scene with Nick.

All in all Secret by Brigid Kemmerer was a good book, not the best in the series and also definitely not the worse. I wish there'd be more elemental action in it and less main character whining. But overall not a bad read and it did leave me at the edge of my seat and wanting to keep on reading. 

Favorite Quotes:

"He's looking forward to it. See?"
She held up her phone.
A smiley face.
A smiley face? Nick had no idea what that meant. Was that casual happy? Excited happy? An obligatory response that didn't mean anything? It wasn't even a D smiley. It was one of the parenthesis ones.
God, he was trying to puzzle out the hidden meaning of the punctuation in a friggin emoticon.

After they were seated at a four top, with sodas in front of them, Nick was desperate for anything to lighten the mood.
"Fast service," he said wryly. "Do you want me to accuse you of dazzling the waitress?"
Adam choked on his soda. "Is that a Twilight reference? How is it possible your brothers don't know you're gay?"

He felt so unprepared to be with a guy, like he only knew the choreography for one dance step, and this was a completely different type of music.

"Is everything okay with your brother?" Adam asked.
Nick nodded. "I think so." He paused, then smiled. "He offered to make out with Hunter if it would prove that he's okay with me being gay."
"Hmm," said Adam. "Yeah. I think I need to see proof."
"Shut up."
"Tell him it has to be shirtless. Wait, let me get my phone out—"
Nick shut him up with a kiss.

About The Author:

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Brigid Kemmerer was born in Omaha, Nebraska, though her parents quickly moved her all over the United States, from the desert in Albuquerque, New Mexico, to the lakeside in Cleveland, Ohio, and several stops in between, eventually settling near Annapolis, Maryland. Brigid started writing in high school, and her first real “novel” was about four vampire brothers causing a ruckus in the suburbs. Those four brothers are the same boys living in the pages of The Elemental Series, so Brigid likes to say she’s had four teenage boys taking up space in her head for the last seventeen years. (Though sometimes that just makes her sound nuts.)

Brigid writes anywhere she can find a place to sit down (and she’s embarrassed to say a great many pages of The Elemental Series were written while sitting on the floor in the basement of a hotel while she was attending a writers’ conference). Most writers enjoy peace and quiet while writing, but Brigid prefers pandemonium. A good thing, considering she has three boys in the house, ranging in age from an infant to a teenager.

While writing STORM, it’s ironic to note that Brigid’s personal life was plagued by water problems: her basement flooded three times, her roof leaked, her kitchen faucet broke, causing the cabinet underneath to be destroyed by water, the wall in her son’s room had to be torn down because water had crept into the wall, and her bedroom wall recently developed a minor leak. Considering SPARK, book 2 in the series, is about the brother who controls fire, Brigid is currently making sure all the smoke detectors in her house have batteries.

Brigid loves hearing from people, and she probably won’t refer to herself in the third person like this if you actually correspond with her. She has a smartphone surgically attached to her person nearby at all times, and email is the best way to reach her. Her email address is brigidmary@gmail.com.

My other reviews in the series:

#1: Storm

#2: Spark

#2.5: Breathless

#3: Spirit