ARC Review: His Frozen Heart

Author Nancy Straight will be touring His Frozen Heart from November 3-14, 2014.  Click here to join us for reviews and more!

His Frozen Heart

Author: Nancy Straight
Series: Brewer Brothers, #1
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Self-published
Publication Date: November 9th, 2014
Format: ebook
Pages: 400
Source: WordSmith Publicity
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | Kobo

Rating: ★★★★ . 5

For best friends, Candy and Libby, money is tight with hardly enough to cover their living expenses. When they are desperate for grocery money, the girls bet on their pool playing skills to add to their income.

A simple wager on a quiet winter evening has devastating results, with a stalker determined to kill them both. With Libby in the hospital after a vicious attack, and Candy being pursued by the same stalker, she vows to find Libby's attacker.

What she finds is Dave, an old friend with a secret past filled with misfortune. Will Dave’s past provide the answer to all of Candy’s problems or will it become Candy’s worst nightmare realized? (Goodreads)

**I received an advanced copy from the author in exchange for an honest review. All quotes taken from a pre-published copy may be altered or omitted from the final version. **

Opening Lines

“I ran to the shadow of an enormous maple tree and crouched low to the ground. I couldn’t believe I had let Libby talk me into this. We had set our alarm clock for 2 AM, then sneaked out of my house while my parents were sound asleep.”

The minute I read the synopsis for His Frozen Heart I signed up for the blog tour. There was no way I was going to pass up the opportunity, this was my first read by Nancy Straight and it was definitely a good one. The first chapter or two left me a little hesitant in a way, I just wasn't really sure what I was getting myself into and how this story was going to be delivered, but a few more chapters in and I was hooked! I read this is one sitting, I just couldn't put it down! The suspense of it all kept me on my toes, and there was a perfect blend of romance. I really liked how Candy's and Libby's problems were realistic and ones that I believe a lot of people can somewhat relate to. Mind you, yes there were easier solutions to their problems but then we wouldn't have this amazing book now would we?

“I’m saying I didn’t know how lonely I was until you came into my life. Before you I had a frozen heart, and you were like a nitro charge.”

As much as this story is more about Candy all I cared about was Dave! Don't get me wrong I really liked Candy's character, but Dave just took my heart and he was all I cared about. He's been through so much and when we get information about his past I felt my heart break. I just wanted to hug him, hold him, and tell him everything would be okay and that he's not alone! I also have a thing for Obsessive-Compulsive characters, so that just added to the swooning! All the characters that we were introduced to played an interesting part, even if it was small. I liked that towards the end we get an update of some of the characters and their parents. It was a nice way to not leave everything hanging. The romance was beautifully written, what I liked most about it was that it didn't fall prey to the typical New-Adult romance standard. I admit this genre seems to get a lot of frowns from readers because a lot of them focus on sex, but that wasn't the case with His Frozen Heart. There was a real romance written that gradually built, yes it happened in a some-what short time span but it wasn't instal-love and it was clean!


What kept His Frozen Heart from getting 5 stars?

Really minor, hence the 4.5 Stars, but I was left with so many questions when His Frozen Heart came to an end! Then when I was first putting my review together I noticed that Amazon has it listed as a series. Well dang!! If only I knew that before hand! I was expecting this to be a standalone (I'm not complaining!) so I thought what we saw of these characters would be all we got, I wanted to know what would happen to Mark and his background. Guess I'll get my questions answered in the books to come! Fingers crossed!

Overall, His Frozen Heart was a great suspenseful read! Like I said above, this is my first Nancy Straight read but it won't be the last! This was well written, flowed, and I didn't come across any errors. Will I be continuing with the series? Yes. Would I recommend His Frozen Heart? Yes! I recommend this to anyone that looking forward a great combination of New Adult, Suspense, Mystery and clean Romance!

Giveaway!

$100 Amazon gift card, 10 signed paperbacks, 10 audiobooks, and 20 ebooks

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About the Author

I LOVE Starbucks’ White Mocha Latte and Mountain Dew, (but not together). I have a lead foot so I set cruise control when I drive, even in 25 MPH zones. I almost never win when I play Angry Birds, but have my 9 year old close, so he can clear the hard levels for me. I grew up on a farm and am opposed to eating fresh chicken (not opposed to meat - just opposed to any meat that was alive a few hours before lunch). I am a huge fan of the show, Big Bang Theory, on CBS. I share my life with two fantastic sons, three rotten dogs and a husband that I adore.

Links: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

Review: My Guardian Angel

My Guardian Angel

Author: Evangelene
Genre: Romance, Suspense
Publisher: Evangelene
Publication Date: April 7 2014
Format: PDF
Pages: 140
Source: Book Enthusiast Promotions
Purchase: Amazon

Rating: ★★★. 5

Kassia Preston, a best selling author whose a bit of recluse, but who could blame her after what had happened to her all those years ago. Thankfully, her brother Darios and her friends Genna and Tara had always been there for her. One day in Darios' gym, she meets Jason. He's young, fit and mouthwateringly sexy. Kassia is drawn to him, not only because of his looks but because of something else, something indescribable.

Jason Theroux, a young SWAT officer has his own demons that he keeps hidden deep inside.

What happens when these two broken souls get together? Will they be able to survive their past and forge a new future? Or will their demons begin to threaten their relationship, destroying it completely? (Goodreads)

Opening Lines

"The wind was howling, as the heavy rain hammered at the windows, making them rattle. I was lying on my bed with my blankets barley covering my eyes. As I looked out the window, a bright flash of light came across the dark sky. The lightening lit my room only for a few seconds and then vanished just as quickly. A loud thunderous clap followed making me jump."

Can I just saw that I LOVE the cover for My Guardian Angel? I love how dark and mysterious it is, and honestly it was what drew me into reading the synopsis for this book.

One of my favourite things about My Guardian Angel would have to be the opening chapter. It was so strong and descriptive! The perfect way to start off a book, once I read that I was hooked! I read this in one sitting just waiting to see how this story would play out.

It's obvious that Kassia and Jason are attracted to each other but they both try to resist it. Deciding to become friends we quickly see that line start to blur. Both Kassia and Jason experience something in their past that continues to haunt them and when they meet each other at Darios gym and start to hangout things really start to unravel! I love how suspenseful this really was, I was worried this would end up being an erotica novel that lacked plot and character depth but that was not the case! My Guardian Angel kept my attention right up to the end!

Another one of my favourite parts was the Epilogue at the end from Jason's perspective. I really wish we had more chapters from his POV! There were so many times that I kept trying to figure out what was running through Jason's mind.

What kept My Guardian Angel from getting 5 stars?

• At times I felt there was a bit a character flip flop with Kassia and Jason, it bothered me and made me have whip lash while I was trying to figure out their character. There just didn't really seem to be consistency in terms of their behaviour and how they're perceived. 

• I quickly became tired of all the  "Junior", "Granny" and "your old" comments through out My Guardian Angel. I get it, there's an age difference but I feel like it was mentioned and joked about more times then it was necessary. 

• ! - There were way too many escalation marks throughout this book. Did Darios, Jason, and Kassia really yell that much?

Overall, My Guardian Angel was an suspenseful read! I really enjoyed this one and recommend it to readers that want a good amount of suspense mixed with romance. This is defiantly one I will be re-read sometime soon.

Giveaway!

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About the Author

Evangelene was born and raised in Montreal Canada. She currently lives with her husband who at times drives her nuts. She has been studying Classical Civilization and Linguistics at Concordia University for over ten years. The pull of the ancient world was too great for her to let go, so she continues her education to feel closer to the world she identifies with.

She reads nonstop, devouring books like its food, loving the feeling of being lost in a world that another author has created.

Evangelene started writing her stories ten years ago to express and bring to life all the wonderful characters that inhabit her imagination. She writes for herself and invites readers to join her journey.

Links: Website | Goodreads | Twitter | Facebook

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Review: Eyes On You

Eyes On You

Author: Kate White
Series: Standalone
Genre: Suspense, Mystery
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publication Date: June 24th, 2014
Format: ebook
Pages: 258
Source: Edelweiss
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Chapters | Kobo

Rating: ★★★★

A Los Angeles Times "Best of Summer" Read

From New York Times bestselling author Kate White comes a riveting psychological suspense in which a media star must battle a malevolent enemy who may be disturbingly close to her.

After losing her on-air job two years ago, television host Robin Trainer has fought her way back and now she’s hotter than ever. With her new show climbing in the ratings and her first book a bestseller, she’s being dubbed a media double threat.

But suddenly, things begin to go wrong. Small incidents at first: a nasty note left in her purse; her photo shredded. But the obnoxious quickly becomes threatening when the foundation the makeup artist uses burns Robin’s face. It wasn’t an accident—someone had deliberately doctored with the product.

An adversary with a dark agenda wants to hurt Robin, and the clues point to someone she works with every day. While she frantically tries to put the pieces together and unmask this hidden foe, it becomes terrifyingly clear that the person responsible isn’t going to stop until Robin loses everything that matters to her . . . including her life. (Goodreads)

Opening Lines

“The shoes had made a nasty dent in my paycheck, but I wasn’t sorry I’d splurged. They were Chanel, black-textured with a peep toe and a gold zipper up the back, really more of a booty than a stiletto. And not what you’d ever call “Fuck me” shoes-there was nothing about them that would make a guy want to bed you, unless he was the type who liked a razor-sharp heel at his throat.”

Finally getting around to writing some reviews for books I read earlier this year, as you can see I read this back in June. Better late than never, right?

When I first read the synopsis I was definitely intrigued. But my first thoughts were, "Wait. Kate White? Doesn't she write those self-help kind of books?" Close but no. I had no idea that she wrote a variety of different books until I came across Eyes On You on Edelweiss. Once I started reading I just didn’t want to put the book down! You know the board game Clue? Well I felt like my Clue senses were tingling! I kept trying to figure out who was after Robin. I was torn between two characters at around 35% but then by 70% I knew for sure who it was but that didn't deteriorate me.

What kept Eyes On You from getting 5 stars?

At times I found myself I little confused with Robin’s narration. At certain points I couldn’t tell if she was making a statement or questioning something, which often had me going back a page and re-reading trying to figuring it out. But I’ve chalked this all up to the fact that it’s an advanced ebook copy and there will most likely be changes by time it was published.

Overall, Eyes On You was a great mysterious read that kept me on my toes. I was so eager to get to the end, even when I guessed who the culprit was. I look forward to read more by Kate White, I noticed that she has two books coming out next year. I hope they're suspense novels!!!

Review: Crossing the Line

Crossing the Line

Author: Frédérique Molay
Series: Paris Homicide, #2
Genre: Mystery, Suspense
Publisher: Le French Book
Publication Date: September 23rd, 2014
Format: ebook
Pages: 194
Source: NetGalley
Purchase: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Rating: ★★★.5

It's Christmas in Paris. Chief of Police Nico Sirsky returns to work after recovering from a gunshot wound. He's in love and raring to go. His first day back has him overseeing a jewel heist sting and taking on an odd investigation. Dental students discovered a message in the tooth of a severed head. Is it a sick joke? Sirsky and his team of crack homicide detectives follow the clues from an apparent suicide to an apparent accident to an all-out murder as an intricate machination starts breaking down. Just how far can despair push a man? How clear is the line between good and evil? More suspense and mystery with the Paris Homicide team from the prizewinning author Frédérique Molay, the "French Michael Connelly". This is the second in the prize-winning Paris Homicide series. (Goodreads)

Paris Homicide series!

  

Opening Lines

"Nico Sirsky breathed deeply, concentrating on his stride. His arms were bent at ninety degrees, and his eyes were focused straight ahead. The harsh cold bit his cheeks, but he kept a good pace, pain notwithstanding. He had been shot int he leg a few months earlier, and he was still recovering from the injury. The endorphins raced through his body. The effort felt good."

I just have to say that I really like the cover for Crossing the Line. I love the use of space, colour, and the contrast that really highlights the photo and helps it "pop". It's simple yet definitely stands out. When I first received Crossing the Line I was a little worried about the fact that it was the 2nd book in a series. I wasn't sure what to expect, where the story would start off, or if I would be able to follow without feeling like I was missing key information. None of this was the case, even though it's the 2nd book this can easily be read as a standalone and you won't feel lost and confused.

"I was murdered." 

I laughed, so hard. It's not funny but I think it was just the irony of the situation that really got to me. The plot was well thought out and executed perfectly, I didn't come across sections that felt like fluff. What made this the ideal mystery and suspense novel was the fact that I felt like I was constantly kept on my toes. I tried guessing how it would all end and I was most certainly wrong!

I've never been to Paris, so what I really enjoyed was Frédérique Molay's ability to bring the story to life! I felt like I was in Paris it was like having my own personal tour guide with a side of crime.There was only one thing I really struggled with while reading Crossing the Line, and that was being able to connect with the characters. For me I found they lacked depth and were just one dimensional. Maybe I was expecting too much, but I feel there was room for improvement on the characters growth throughout the story.

Lasting Impression

Overall, Crossing the Line was an enjoyable read that kept me on my toes! I look forward to picking up the first book in this series and The City of Blood which comes out January 18th, 2015! If you want to read a great mystery book that isn't extremely predictable than I suggest picking this up!

Click HERE to follow the blog tour!!

Giveaway!

5 print copies for 5 US residents

5 digital copies for residents of any country

Entry-Form

About the Author

Called, “the French Michael Connelly,” Frédérique Molay graduated from France’s prestigious 

Science Po and began her career in politics and the French administration. She worked as chief of staff for the deputy mayor of Saint-Germain-en-Laye, and then was elected to the local government in Saône-et-Loire. Meanwhile, she spent her nights pursing a passion for writing she had nourished since she wrote her first novel at the age of eleven.

The first in the Paris Homicide series, The 7th Woman, won France’s most prestigious crime fiction award and went on to become an international bestseller, allowing Molay to dedicate her life to writing and raising her three children.

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About the Translator

Anne Trager loves France so much she has lived there for 27 years and just can’t seem to leave. What keeps her there is a uniquely French mix of pleasure seeking and creativity. Well, that and the wine. In 2011, she woke up one morning and said, “I just can’t stand it anymore. There are way too many good books being written in France not reaching a broader audience.” That’s when she founded Le French Book to translate some of those books into English. The company’s motto is “If we love it, we translate it,” and Anne loves crime fiction, mysteries and detective novels.

Review: Risky Shot

Risky Shot

Author: Kathleen Brooks

Series: Bluegrass, #2

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Publisher: Laurens Publishing

Publication Date: July 28th, 2011

Format: ebook

Pages: 245

Source: iBooks

Purchase: Amazon | B&N | iBooks | Kobo

Rating: ★★★★

Danielle De Luca, an ex-beauty queen who is not at all what she seems, leaves the streets of New York after tracking the criminals out to destroy her. She travels to Keeneston, Kentucky to make her final stand by the side of her best friend, McKenna Mason.

While in Keeneston, Danielle meets the quiet and mysterious Mohtadi Ali Rahmen, a modern day Prince. Can Mo protect Dani from the group of powerful men in New York? Or will Dani save the Prince from his rigid, loveless destiny?
(Goodreads)

Bluegrass Series

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First Impression

After reading Bluegrass State of Mind back in 2013 I knew I would continue with this series, I was so excited to read more about Dani, Paige, Cole and Mo! But off course, being like most book lovers I continued to add books to me TBR list and this series managed to get buried in the pile of series I need to finish. So I'm very excited to jump back into Keeneston, Kentucky!  

Opening Lines

“Danielle De Luca pulled her rusting-out, muffler-dragging, piece-of-shit Chevy Lumina off to the side of the road and rested her head against the wheel. Well, more like banged her head against the wheel—repeatedly.”

The Good

When it comes to reading series, or in this case a trilogy, I always worry about the 2nd book suffering from middle book syndrome. However, Risky Shot was not a book that fell into that category. Risky Shot definitely exceed my expectations, it was filled with more action than the first book and I enjoyed the romance between Dani and Mo more than Will and McKenna. 

After getting snippets of her from the first book I knew that Dani would be one of my favourite characters, but to be honest when I read the first read chapters 1 - 3 I wasn't sure if I would actually like her. I wasn't a fan of how she acted towards McKenna, or more so her thoughts on how McKenna seems to be "living the life" kind of bothered me. So I re-read those chapters and really thought about how I would be feeling if I was Dani and went through all the things she endured and I realized that Kathleen Brooks managed to portray realistic (perfect) emotions.

Now, the romance between Dani and Mo, sigh. SWOON!! I knew they would be good together, and Kathleen Brooks did not disappoint. I loved how intense their first meeting was, it was like instant attraction. Although the attraction was instant, I like how the relationship gradually started to build and how they encountered problems. This made their relationship more realistic.

The Bad / The In-Between

• Nothing.

Lasting Impression

Overall, Risky Shot was an AMAZING read! Kathleen Brooks is a talented writer who has a niche for combining the perfect amount of romance with suspense. I'm also convinced that she likes to keep her readers on their toes! After the way Risky Shot ended (CLIFFHANGER) I can't wait to start Dead Heat.