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Title: Nico
Author: Sarah Castille
Series: Ruin & Revenge #1
Publication: December 6th 2016 by St. Martin's Press
Genre: Adult ~ Romance ~ Suspense
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Google Play | IndieBound | iBooks | Kobo
Rating: 5/5
A DANGEROUS PROPOSAL
Las Vegas Mafia boss, Nico Toscani, is used to getting what he wants, whether it is having the City of Sin under his rule or a beautiful woman in his bed. But when he meets his match in the gorgeous, headstrong Mia Cordano, the daughter of a rival crime lord, all bets are off. . .
Sexy computer hacker, Mia, struggles to break free of her ruthless father’s Mafia ties…but she can’t resist the powerful and seductive Nico, who will stop at nothing to possess her. With their families locked in a brutal war for control of the city, Mia and Nico enter into a forbidden game. Will they surrender to the passion that burns between them—and risk tearing apart their families? Or will Nico be forced to betray the only woman who sets his blood on fire?
Nico is the first book in a full-length, standalone series by New York Times bestselling author, Sarah Castille, set in Las Vegas and featuring deliciously sexy mafia bosses and the women who can’t help but love them.
I've been a really huge fan of Sarah Castille's Sinner's Tribe MC series so when I saw she was coming with a new book I obviously was really excited and didn't waste any time signing up for this blog tour. But a part of me was a little hesitant when I started reading Nico because although I do enjoy mafia romances I've never been into them as in biker romances. But damn, this book was good. It was more than good actually. I loved it!
I fell in love with the story (and Nico) pretty early on and it actually never disappointed me at one point or another. And it was oh so steamy! I can't remember when I last read a book that was this hot. The chemistry between the main characters was scorching hot. I had to mentally fan myself a lot.
As for the characters... I totally loved Mia. She must be one of the strongest and independed female main characters I have read about. She was different than how a mafia woman it supposed to be. She's a hacker and her style is punk. She has also stood up to her abusive father no matter how much he beat her. Like I said, strong.
When Nico comes into her life she is determined to show him that women can be skilled at hacking and that she isn't some weak mafia woman even though they have this intense connection right of the bat. Meanwhile Nico is attracted to her because of the fact that she can handle her own against him.
There also was an additonal POV of Ben, an undercover cop. I really liked this extra narrative because it can give readers a break from Mia and Nico and their intensity (not that I really needed a break often). I cared for Ben right away because he was in a really bad position, being underover for so long and not being able to see or care for his six year-old daughter much who lived with his horrible ex and her new slimy boyfriend. I'm also shipping the hell out of Ben and Kat (Mia's little sister). I really hope they'll get their own book at one point.
As usual with a Sarah Castille book there was a lot of action and suspense, which I loved. The writing was also excellent like always. I basically have nothing negative to say. And I'm really looking forward to the next book, Luca.
About the Author:
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha males and the women who tame them. She is the author of the Redemption series, the Sinner’s Tribe MC series, and the Legal Heat series. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and travelled abroad before trading in her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home on Vancouver Island.
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Title: Beautiful Maids All in a Row
Author: Jennifer Harlow
Series: Iris Ballard #1
Publication: October 11th 2016 by Alibi
Genre: Thriller
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo
Rating: 5/5
In this white-knuckle thriller for fans of Lisa Gardner and Karin Slaughter, a brilliant, troubled forensic psychologist finds herself matching wits with a frighteningly talented sociopath.
Dr. Iris Ballard’s glory days are behind her, so when Luke Hudson, her former FBI partner and onetime lover, asks for help constructing a psychological profile of an elusive serial killer who murders single mothers and dumps their bodies in the woods, Iris turns him away. She just wants to be left alone with her infomercials, her German Shepherd, and her vodka. That is, until she gets a peek at the case files.
The media has dubbed him “the Woodsman.” But after Iris learns the sickening details held back from the press, and as she sets foot onto the scene of his latest crime, she assembles a portrait of a more complicated, enigmatic, meticulous man. Control is his motivation. He thrives on it. Soon he even tries to manipulate the investigation by contacting Iris, hoping to rattle the woman he considers an intellectual equal.
The game is on. Iris thinks she has a read on her target, enough to push his buttons, to make him lose control. But when the Woodsman gains the upper hand, Iris faces the most painful reckoning of all—with her own violent past.
I've gotta say out of all the books Jennifer Harlow has written, this one is definitely one of her best (I feel like I say this about every new book she writes lol). She writes the best heroines. So it's no surprise that I absolutely loved Iris Ballard. She definitely was flawed and a total wreck when the book started, which made her more realistic to me, so I loved how once she got back to work with the FBI when Luke Hudson, her former partner asked her for help with the Woodsman killer case. Her inner thoughts and humor were actually right up my alley. She made me laugh a couple of times out loud with the things she was thinking about and said. And also, she doesn't take shit from anyone. Gotta love that!
The cat and mouse game between Iris and the killer was really suspenseful, even when she knew who he was. The way the author wrote this guy was raising the hair on my arms. I never knew what was going to happen from what moment to the other so the unexpectedness of it all made this story even better.
I also really liked the relationship between Iris and Luke. They have quite a lot of history and chemistry between them, which made the dialogue between them always fierce. I'm definitely rooting for them. The ending was sort of abrubt and explosive so I can't wait for the next book in this series to find out where things are going next for Iris.
Overall, I don't read a lot of thrillers but when I do I like them to be just like Beautiful Maids All in a Row. It was well written with a protagonist who is sharp tongued but also flawed who went up against a arrogant yet intelligent sociopath where I wasn't sure what he wasn't going to do next. It was suspenseful right until the very end and I loved it all. I can't wait for the next book!
About the Author:
Jennifer Harlow spent her restless childhood fighting with her three brothers and scaring the heck out of herself with horror movies and books. She grew up to earn a degree at the University of Virginia which she put to use as a radio DJ, crisis hotline volunteer, bookseller, lab assistant, wedding coordinator, and government investigator. Currently she calls Atlanta home but that restless itch is ever present. In her free time she continues to scare the beejepers out of herself watching scary movies and opening her credit card bills.
Title: The Torment Of Rachel Ames
Author: Jeff Gunhus
Publication: November 10th 2015 by Seven Guns Press
Genre: Adult ~ Thriller ~ Suspense
Purchase: Amazon
Rating: 4/5
Suffering from writer’s block, novelist Rachel Ames escapes to a lake cabin to calm her mind and regain a sense of herself. The location is perfect. Isolated. Beautiful. Inspiring. It even comes with a good-looking landlord who shows an interest in her. But she can’t shake the sense that something terrible has followed her to the lake, something just beyond her consciousness, something out on the edge where the sounds of a raging fire and sirens linger whenever she slows down to listen. Determined to make the cabin work, she tries to settle in and give her new life a chance. But when strange things begin to happen around her, she wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. As the darkness that’s followed her manifests itself in inexplicable ways, her concept of reality is stretched thin and she realizes nothing at the lake is what it seems. As she fights to survive with her sanity intact, she understands too late that the location she’s chosen for herself is far from perfect.
My first thought after finishing The Torment Of Rachel Ames was: Chills. This book gave me chills. And although it wasn't my usual genre, I actually enjoyed it a lot. So if you're on the fence about it, I'd say give it a shot because it's a really good read.
This book is about author Rachel Ames who's struggling with writer's block and rents a lake cabin to work on her next book. Everything seems perfect at first—beautiful location, perfect for writing and a handsome and funny landlord. Then strange and horrible things start happening...
This story was a bit of a mindfuck, to be honest. I kept guessing of what was actually going on, much like Rachel in the book. Along with her I really wanted to find out what exactly was going on with this cabin. There was even a bit of Stephen King thrown in there, which I really liked.
I really found myself liking the writing style of Jeff Gunhus. That's always a good thing. The book was on the shorter side with 112 pages so it was a really quick read for me but even so it doesn't mean that there isn't enough of the storyline or character developement in it.
I also gotta say I was pretty surprised by the turn the book took towards the end. I had a lot of theories, of course but I hadn't seen it coming at all. And that's what I want with books like this, be surprised and The Tormant of Rachel Ames definitely succeeded in that!
About the Author:
Jeff Gunhus is the author thriller and horror novels for adults and the middle grade/YA series, The Templar Chronicles. The first book, Jack Templar Monster Hunter, was written in an effort to get his reluctant reader eleven-year old son excited about reading. It worked and a new series was born. His books for adults have reached the Top 100 on Amazon and have been Foreword Reviews Book of the Year Finalists.
After his experience with his son, he is passionate about helping parents reach young reluctant readers and is active in child literacy issues. As a father of five, he leads an active lifestyle in Maryland with his wife Nicole by trying to constantly keep up with their kids. In rare moments of quiet, he can be found in the back of the City Dock Cafe in Annapolis working on his next novel.
Title: The Drafter
Author: Kim Harrison
Series: The Peri Reed Chronicles
Publication: September 1st 2015 by Gallery Books
Genre: Adult ~ Science Fiction ~ Suspense
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Rating: 5/5
Review copy was provided in exchange for an honest review.
Detroit 2030. Double-crossed by the person she loved and betrayed by the covert government organization that trained her to use her body as a weapon, Peri Reed is a renegade on the run.
Don’t forgive and never forget has always been Peri’s creed. But her day job makes it difficult: she is a drafter, possessed of a rare, invaluable skill for altering time, yet destined to forget both the history she changed and the history she rewrote.
When Peri discovers her name on a list of corrupt operatives, she realizes that her own life has been manipulated by the agency. She joins forces with a mysterious rogue soldier in a deadly race to piece together the truth about her final task, unable to trust even herself.
It's been three years since I read a Kim Harrison book but now that I have read The Drafter, the first in a new series, I'm reminded again why I like her books so much. This book totally blew my mind. I loved it!
This story revolves around Peri. She is a drafter, she has the ability to alter time. The only drawback is that she forgets whatever it is she changed. When she gets betrayed by the organization she works with and the man she loves her, she is forced to go on the run, leaving her world forever changed.
I've always thought this author writes very interesting female characters. Strong yet they have a vulnerable side to them as well. Peri was no exception. I loved that she could kick some serious butt, even men who are twice her size but there was also her softer side with not knowing what was going on and forgetting important things whenever she drafted.
I was really impressed with how the author build up this world. It was extremely well written, in my opnion. The story takes place in Detroit 2030. It's 15 years into the future but I can totally see some of the futuristic things that were in this book happening eventually.
Although the story is mainly about Peri, there were a bunch of side fascinating side characters as well. Silas, being one of them. Actually, he also has a POV in the book. I loved reading about him and especially his interaction with Peri.
The thing with this book is, you don't quite know who the villains are and who the good guys are. Much like Peri in the book, you just can't know for sure. The lines are very blurred but I loved how suspenseful it all was. And I also have to mention that I although this book is 432 pages, I read it really fast.
Overall, The Drafter was a fantastic book. It was so good that I could hardly stop reading. My expectations were definitely met and even more than that! If you're looking for a fast-paced, futuristic, suspenseful read with a hint of time travel, you definitely need to read this book. Highly recommended!
About the Author:
I'm Kim Harrison, best known for penning the Hollows series though I've tried my hand at YA, traditional fantasy, graphic novels, and a one-of-a-kind world book. I grew up reading science fiction and fairytales, which means my fairy garden has Daleks in it. Recently, I've moved back to my home state of Michigan after a ten year stint down in South Carolina, and it feels good to be home--even with the snow and cold. I've been traditionally published for almost twenty years, and a good day is still one where there is nothing to distract me from my keyboard.
Title: Nearly Mended
Author: Devon Ashley
Series: Nearly #2
Publication: April 7th 2014
Genre: New Adult ~ Dark Romance ~ Suspense
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Rating: 5/5
Megan Whitaker desperately wants to forget what the Malone brothers have done to her over the past two years – the haunting images and sensations still plaguing her thoughts and dreams – but she can’t. Charles may be dead, but Zander isn’t. I’ll bring you back to me. She wants to believe she’s safe with Nick in their secluded new home, but it doesn’t keep her from looking over her shoulder, jumping over unexpected sounds, carrying a concealed weapon or even preparing for the worst. Because she fears the time is near.
Nick Ellis has seen a change in his long, lost love. Battered emotionally and physically, Megan spends her days at self-defense classes and researching things that’ll never allow her to let go of the past. And he feels guilty even wanting her to, because he knows that heathen will return, it’s only a matter of time. And when he does, Nick knows he will do everything possible to save her, even if it means taking another shot to the heart.
But for Megan, there is no escaping the world of sex trafficking, nor the band of men who continually aid one another to keep it thriving. And as her nightmarish world encroaches on reality, Megan soon realizes there are far worse evils to fear than the sadistic man who haunts her dreams.
New Adult Romantic Suspense / Dark Realistic Fiction
Recommended for 17+ for mature and disturbing situations, language and sexual content.
I'm sure I'm not the only one when I say that Nearly Mended blew me away. It took me a while to actuallty get to it, but I really wish I had read the book sooner. I absolutely loved it!
I thought the first book, Nearly Broken, was likable but not as amazing as I wanted it to be. Nearly Mended was a thousand times better, in my opinion. It did surprise me because I hadn't expected it to be as dark, twisted and crazy as it was. And yes, these are very good things with a book like this. It just was so much more different than the first book and liked it so much more that I wish I could've given it more than five stars!
I don't know where Megan gets her strenght but I was very surprised by how strong she was in this book. She might've had a hard time in the beginning of the book, readjusting and everyting but once she gets taken again by Zander she's doing everything she can not to break down. There's a different factor this time around, though. I won't reveal what it is, for the sake of spoilers but damn, such a good twist!
I'm not sure what to say about Nick in this book. He definitely had his good moments but I'm just not a big fan of his. But I have to say that at least he never gives up on Megan, no matter what crap Zander makes both of them go true. That's something at least!
Also, I heard (before reading Nearly Mended) that people want Megan to end up with Zander. Of course, I was wondering what that all was about because Zander was a pretty fucked up psycho in the first book but now? Now I'm totally seeing it and damn it, Devon Ashley actually made me care about Zander. I still think he's a bastard and I want to hate him so much but yeah, there's something about him, I won't deny it.
Overall, Nearly Mended definitely had everything I'm looking for in a book like this. It had so much suspense, I almost couldn't take it anymore. The sex scenes were scorching and panty-dropping hot. And the last couple of chapters literally made my jaw drop. I can't wait for the next book. I want to read it as soon as it comes out!
About the Author:
I'm a mom, a wife, a lover and a fighter, a coffee addict, a total smartass, wicked knitster, a Microbiologist, a baker of fine yummy treats, and someone who will fight you to the death for that last Twinkie bag of M&Ms during the zombie-apocalypse. Seriously, my addiction is that important to me. Oh, and I say seriously way too much. Seriously…
Title: The Fall
Author: Bethany Griffin
Publication: October 7th 2014 by Greenwillow Books
Genre: Young Adult ~ Horror ~ Retelling
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Review copy provided in exchange for an honest review.
Madeline Usher is doomed.
She has spent her life fighting fate, and she thought she was succeeding. Until she woke up in a coffin.
Ushers die young. Ushers are cursed. Ushers can never leave their house, a house that haunts and is haunted, a house that almost seems to have a mind of its own. Madeline’s life—revealed through short bursts of memory—has hinged around her desperate plan to escape, to save herself and her brother. Her only chance lies in destroying the house.
In the end, can Madeline keep her own sanity and bring the house down? The Fall is a literary psychological thriller, reimagining Edgar Allan Poe’s classic The Fall of the House of Usher.
Nothing here is just anything. This is not just a house. We have never been simply children. We are Ushers.
The Fall of the House of Usher is one of my favorite stories by Edgar Allan Poe so when I had the chance to read and review a retelling of it, I was pretty excited and didn't wait too long to jump into it. It's my first Bethany Griffin book and it was so freaking good! I can't wait to read more books by her!
First of all I should mention that this is not a typical story. The chapters are really short (which I love) and they jump between Madeline's age, between nine and nineteen. At first it was a bit confusing as I didn't really understood it all yet. But soon I really came into it and came to genuinely like how this book was written. It was just so original!
I liked reading about Madeline in every age. I loved learning more about the house, about everything going on in there and how it affected her and the other characters throughout the years. There were also some twists I hadn't seen coming, which made my jaw drop all the time and the horror factor was a pretty big part. Some scenes really creeped me out. And I usually don't get creeped out easily. I would not recommend reading it at night like I did most of the time. I had to stop a few times because I was freaking myself out too much. But oh how I loved that.
The ending really took me aback. I literally had to read that last chapter three times to really get what had happened. It was surprising and also shocking. I hadn't seen it coming at all. But those in my opinion are the best story endings, the ones you don't see coming.
Overall, The Fall by Bethany Griffin is one of the best retellings I ever read. The writing was excellent. It was beautiful, creepy, superb and it, together with the amazingly dark story and omnious yet interesting characters just pulled me in. I loved it!
Favorite Quotes:
Mother told me once that no matter how brave you think you are, how sure you are of your faith or your convictions or of the rules of science and nature, you can barely glance at the House of Usher. Your eyes won't let you take it in.
I want my own memories, my own stories.
"The spirit of the house—the conciousness of it—gets inside our heads. It sees through our eyes and feels what we feel, especially moments of extreme emotion, moments of passion. Or grief. It loves grief."
About the Author:
Bethany Griffin is a high school English teacher who prides herself on attracting creative misfits to elective classes like Young Adult Literature, Creative Writing, and Speculative Literature. She is the author of Handcuffs & MASQUE OF THE RED DEATH (April 2012). She lives with her family in Kentucky.
