Wednesday 28 November 2012

Timeless

Timeless (Immortal Love, #1)Timeless by Amy Richie

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Where to start? The book took a little while to really get flowing, in this time we got some back story on Eva. We learned of her changing relationships with Neleh and David and of her mission to go back in time and kill Dominick Letrell. But Eva is betrayed by the men sent to help her on her mission and is injected with memory eraser. As she flee's fearing for her life she begins to forget why she is running and who she is running from, when she is found by Nickolas who takes care of her.

Richie has a wonderful writing style that just captures the mind of the reader and carries them along for the ride. I could not put this book down. I urged Eva to reassess other people actions and to make up her own mind about whether people were good or bad.. ultimately I was very happy with her choices.

I can't wait to read the next instalment in this series, and I'm incredibly happy to discover that it will be 6 books long.



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Saturday 24 November 2012

Bitter Blood

Bitter Blood (The Morganville Vampires, #13)Bitter Blood by Rachel Caine

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this series. So much so that words cannot fully express how much.
This book is told from several points of view including Myrnin's which was a huge plus for me (I love Myrnin).

This book, I felt, wasn't as good as some of the others in the series but it was still great. It started out a little slow, but the pace soon picked up and we were greeted with some good old-fashioned Morganville violence, hatred and warfare and once again its down to Claire and her friends to help save the town from the vampires, save the vampires from the town and hope that every one gets out alive.

I was not a fan of the ending, but that's because I hate when a book that I am enjoying ends, especially when I have to wait 6 months for the next instalment.


Thank you for reading.

Monday 19 November 2012

The Mad Scientist's Daughter

The Mad Scientist’s DaughterThe Mad Scientist’s Daughter by Cassandra Rose Clarke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received and ARC of this from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. I can't actually remember what I imagined when I first read the blurb, but I know the book wasn't what I expected. It's like nothing I have ever read before. It's kind of mix of AI, Bicentennial Man, I Robot with Finn coming across a little like Data from star Trek, told from the perspective of 5-year-old Cat as she grows up.

The story is told over 3 parts. The first part reads like diary entries, sometimes with years between entries, and several entries being told in one chapter. At this point in the book I was mostly reading for the sake of reading, I didn't dislike it but it felt that nothing was really happening. Then I put the book down between chapters while I did some normal every day things around the house and I realised I was thinking about the story, thinking about Cat and Finn and how their relationship was developing. Wondering if Finn had any feelings for Cat, who I realised was falling in love with Finn even if she didn't realise it herself.

When Cat gets married its only because she wants to be normal, she knows she can't have Finn and she settles. When Finn refuses to see her now that she's married her heart breaks, and then it breaks some more when Finn decides he is going to work on the moon. I think my heart broke a little then too.

This is a completely unexpected love story. A story of two people who don't actually spend all that much time together but Cat is always thinking of Finn. The story doesn't race along, it seems to slowly unfold and draw you in without you realising.

The book is due for release in February next year, and is currently available for pre-order. For UK orders go here.

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Thank you for reading.

Friday 16 November 2012

When the Siren Calls

When the Siren CallsWhen the Siren Calls by Tom Barry

My rating: 2 of 5 stars

First up let me just thank the author Tom Barry and his publishers for sending me a copy via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This story begins with Isobel being chased through the streets of Marrakesh by the street kids in the hope she will give them money. She is rescued by a local shopkeeper who then tries to force her to buy something from his shop as payment for saving her. When things turn sour she is rescued by the handsome Jay, who just happens to be staying at the same hotel as her. They have a chat/flirt at the side of the pool, say their goodbyes and go their separate ways. Isobel is unhappy with her marriage, her husband is so caught up with his work that he ignores her at every turn and soon she is dreaming of that day in the Souk and fantasizing about what could have happened. At this point in the story i am hooked... when the story skips forward a few months I had anticipated a steamy affair had already been started but instead found they had shared an email or two where Jay had invited Isobel and her husband to come and look at his new investment opportunity in Tuscany. Which she finally agrees to simply so she can meet him again.

The entire premise of the book is thus... Jay is setting up a time share in Tuscany, he knows it's not going to work the way he is marketing it, and has set up an old friend as a scapegoat so that when it all falls he can walk away scot-free. His team encourages Isobel and her husband to buy not one, but two apartments at the unfinished complex, and even though Jay begins an affair with her he doesn't try to warn her that she will be losing a lot of money.. he even tries to get her husband to invest heavily in the scheme.

There seems to be a lot missing from this story. While I was more than happy with Barry's style of writing (it's the only reason I continued to read if I'm honest) I found the story line itself lacking. I had made it to roughly 60% of the way through, and we had skimmed over sex scenes, making me go back and re-read them just to be sure it had actually happened. There was no sign of romance from Jay and his wife, Jay and his girlfriend, Jay and Isobel or Isobel and Peter. At this point I was very close to giving up, but it was at this point that the story kicked in and I found myself reading the last half of the book in one sitting (it has still taken me 5 days to finish though which is rather unusual for me). The ending seemed rushed and maybe I was too tired by the end but it didn't really have a conclusion, there didn't appear to be any repercussions for Jay from a legal standpoint. Isobel seemed tortured by her feelings about Jay trying to scam them and her passion for their relationship. I'm actually really happy with her decision at the end of the book and feel it was the only option for her.

This is the first in a trilogy but I honestly don't know if I would bother picking up the second.


Thanks for reading.

Thursday 15 November 2012

I love my slow cooker

I Love My Slow Cooker: More Than 100 of the Best-Ever Recipes - Delicious*Nourishing*Easy to MakeI Love My Slow Cooker: More Than 100 of the Best-Ever Recipes - Delicious*Nourishing*Easy to Make by Beverly Leblanc

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I think this book has to stay on the permanently reading list, simply because it has some wonderful meal ideas.

I love my slow cooker. I think there is nothing better than throwing the ingredients together in the morning, going out for the day with the family and coming home to a nice hot freshly cooked meal just waiting to be dished up. Especially in these cold winter months. I just struggle for meal ideas and we end up having the same beef stew and sausage casserole time and time again. Well not anymore. I have fantasized about cooking curries, soups and chicken dishes in my slow cooker and now I can. I cant wait to try the French 'roast' lemon and thyme chicken.

The recipes are simple and easy to follow, even with the preparation times the whole cooking process is so quick. And to top it all off I have a lovely list of dessert recipes to try out too.

If you're looking to buy a slowcooker and unsure which kind to get then definitely take a look at this book. At the front of the book there is some good advice about what shape and size slowcooker would be best for you, along with tips about portion sizes.




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Sunday 11 November 2012

More than Magic: Semester Aboard.

Semester Aboard (More than Magic, #1)Semester Aboard by Elizabeth Kirke

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this as part of a book club on Facebook. I'm not sure if it is something I would have picked up by myself and if that's the case I would have seriously missed out because this was freaking amazing.

The first chapter or two was a little slow, and honestly most books are, but this laid the foundations for a great story that did not let up until the very end.

The book follows Jen as she learns about Magics. Werewolves, Vampires, Mermaids, Witches and more. Be prepared to learn yourself as these magical creatures are different to the ones we are used to. This is the first book in a while that has had me laughing and crying as I read. As soon as I finished reading this I immediately did an amazon search for the next book in the series as I want to read it NOW! but alas for me I shall have to wait :'( but if it is anything like this one it will be worth the wait.

Thanks for reading.

Thursday 1 November 2012

Reaper

Reaper (The Guardian Legacies #2)Reaper by Emily Goodwin

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book picks up a couple of months after the first book end. Anora has settled into her new house living with Ethan. She begins hallucinating and soon realises that someone or something is out to get her. Again.

The book starts out a little slowly, mostly centering around the things attacking Anora which Hunter (her Guardian dog) and Ethan can't see. She thinks she's going crazy and the story seems to drag a little as it seems nothing real is going on. Soon you realise it's all building to something much bigger and then the story doesn't let up until the end.
While Anora learns more about her magic there are more questions asked and left unanswered about her abilities. Which is great for us readers as it gives us something to look forward to in the next instalment.


Thanks for reading.