Liv's Reads

There's nothing better than a book hangover!

I love to read and get lost in an imaginary world.  I'm always either reading or listening to a book.

New to the blog world and being a lurker more than a participant

Blind Faith by Rebecca Zanetti

Blind Faith - Rebecca Zanetti

This is the 3rd book in the series, the former Gray brothers Matt, Shane & Nate are now the Dean brothers and they have escaped their compound prison.

 

Nate and Audrey have a past together.  Five years before she left him and broke his heart.  At first I was concerned that this was going to be full of misunderstandings and back and forth blame and angst.  Glad that this was not at all the case.  The romance between these two was very sweet and hot.  The story as a whole was full of a good combo of action and romance.

 

There were a couple of things happening, the brothers are on a hunt for their brother Jory and also the code that will disabled the chip implanted in their backs.  Failure to do so will result in their death in 3 weeks – no pressure!  In the meantime Audrey is working with the Commander and her mother Dr. Isobel Madison to continue their work in genetic experimentation. 

 

This book is aptly titled since Audrey’s mommy issues make her blind to what is clearly in front of her face.  I felt zero empathy for her continual disappointment at not getting any motherly love and affection.  Also at being betrayed again and again by both the Commander and her mother.  She blindly did anything they asked.  I understand wanting to save the man you love but that doesn’t mean you have to trust.  That portion of the storyline just didn’t appeal to me.

 

Spoiler alert!  You’ve been warned. [spoiler] Not sure why Audrey was so shocked that she was artificially inseminated?  What did she expect?  I understand wanting to be loved by the woman who gave birth to you but it was too much for me.  Also, once she found out she was pregnant she becomes a hormonal mess.  I thought that was completely unnecessary.  Luckily that was only a chapter.  Maybe it was meant to give some realness to the situation?  It got irritating.  The one line she tells her mother "My boyfriend can beat up yours” was both childish and spoiled the mood.  I actually had to read it a couple of times to make sure that she really had said that.

[/spoiler]

 

 

Overall I enjoyed this very much.  Audrey was unbelievably too naïve at times, but I did enjoy the few times she showed spunk.  Emphasis on the few.  Really wished she’d grown a pair.  Nate was a good mix of rough and sweet that appealed to my romantic heart and I loved the scenes between him and Matt & Shane.

 

Looking forward to finding out what the future holds for Jory and the rest of the Dean brothers.

 

Advance copy provided by Forever via Net Galley

"Touched by An Alien" by Gini Koch

Touched by an Alien - Gini Koch

Katherine “Kitty” Katt finds herself one afternoon witnessing a spousal dispute.  One minute they’re arguing, the next the husband is transforming into a jelly like creature with wings and Kitty is stabbing him with her Mont Blanc pen.  Right away some secret service Man in Black type guys storm in and whisk her away.  Except these guys are aliens.  They are from Alpha Centauri system (A-C for short), exiled to earth due to their religious beliefs.  There were some criminals sent here with them and they are now infecting humans with this alien parasite beings that make them do naughty things.  In particular Ronald Yates, a terrorist that is out to do harm and the only person that can somehow decipher how to defeat him is Kitty.  Though she is surrounded by intellectual superior beings, Kitty is able to see a old text, pick up nuances and just knows what to do.

The A-C women scenarios were ridiculous.  I appreciate the effort made in making these modelesque women interested in a man’s brain rather than his looks but the actual execution came off very juvenile and not very believable.  I forgot to mention, all the A-C people are drop dead gorgeous.  Cause duh, why wouldn’t they be?  There is also another human in midst, James Reader – gay human and former model who loves to call Kitty “girlfriend”.  Because all gay men call women “girlfriend” right?

I loved the concept and the main characters Kitty and Jeff Martini.  Jeff is the love interest and had me at hello.  But the attempt at humor was over the top and was lost on me.  Overall, this was ridiculous and hard to believe.  Which is a stupid thing to say since this is about aliens.   But part of the beauty of any work of fiction is creating a world that no matter how far-fetched is believable.  This sadly missed the mark.  I had every intention of loving it though.  Does that count for something?  Giving it 2 stars just because I’m feeling generous today but in reality, this almost joined the “did not finish” pile.

Seduce Me at Sunrise (The Hathaways #2) by Lisa Kleypas

Seduce Me at Sunrise - Lisa Kleypas

Lisa Kleypas does it once again!  I love the way she is able to weave a beautiful romantic story with just the right amount of angst and passion.

 

We met Kev Merripen in Mine Till Midnight.  He is a gypsy boy that was taken in by the Hathaway family at a young age and has since become a protector/servant/brother to them.  Merripen showed he was moody and dark.  In this Seduce Me at Sunrise we find out more about his background and also got a couple of chapters taking us back to the early years of the Hathaways.  Back before they were plagued by illness and loss.

 

Merripen’s reason for staying with the Hathaway family has always been Winnifred.  Due to scarlet fever, she has always been fragile.  She leaves her family for France to a clinic that in two years heals her.  I have to say I was just as confused at Win as to the reasons why Merripen always pushed her away.  It was obvious to everyone how he suffered when away from her and how much he loved her.  But Merripen feels unworthy of a love and person as pure as Win.

 

It was lovely to see the passion in their union and how much Win was willing to fight for the man she loved. 

 

As a side note, I’ve begun listening to the audio version of these books and Rosalyn Landor does an amazing job of bringing Lisa Kleypas characters and world to life.  It really is a treat!

Strange Case (Hyde #3)

Strange Case (Hyde, #3) - Lauren Stewart

This is the last book in the series and much like the previous two, I enjoyed it but there is that something that I can't pinpoint that keeps this from being a series I love.

 

I think the main issue is that everyone seems to go around in circles.  The story sucks me in and a few pages later spits me out.  Ruining the flow of the story.  It is never, ever a good sign when it takes me a week to finish a story.

 

Glad I stuck it to the end and know how it all ends.

Sempre: Redemption (Forever, #2)

Sempre: Redemption (Forever, #2) - J.M. Darhower Damn. This was a great continuation. Much like book 1, it was filled with layers. Things were never what you thought they were. Much like in life, nothing is black & white.

Unlike book 1, in my opinion the main character in this was Corrado. Yes, Carmine and Haven are there. We follow their story and the consequences of Carmine’s decision at the end of book 1. But Corrado, who was a minor character in Sempre takes front and center in this and steals the show. I absolutely loved that I had no idea which way was up half the time. Corrado is a true gangsta. He truly believes in the lifestyle and the honor he pledge La Cosa Nostra. Unlike Vincent, he earned his way up the ranks. He does what he needs to do and doesn’t feel any remorse. Something he proved in book 1 more than once.

Carmine, remains Carmine. He doesn’t change much and I wanted to smack some sense into him more than once. He remains angry, lost, impulsive, sad and angry all at the same time. But that’s Carmine. A broken boy who doesn’t think he is worthy of love and happiness.

Haven on the other hand takes the opportunity to come into her own. She tentatively explores her newfound freedom and tries to dig a niche where she can find happiness. Even if that happy world doesn’t include Carmine.

We once again see a whole different side of Vincent! Part of me missed the Vincent of Sempre. This new Vincent is a resigned man who has come to peace with all his choices and wrongs. He slowly unearths plots that uncover the truth of how he has been used as a puppet for so many years.

My slight compliant would be about the last chapters. It felt longer that it needed to be. Though Dominic’s speech at the end was a good summary of the overall story and of Carmine. Overall, a great ending, a great story and an awesome read.

Sempre (Forever, #1)

Sempre (Forever, #1) - J.M. Darhower First off, thank you Mello for recommending this book to me. Even though it took me 2 years to pick it up, it was worth it.

I don’t even know where to begin. I loved how the story slowly unfolded. Just when I thought I knew where it was headed, I was taken down a different road and shown more secrets. This isn’t just about human trafficking; it’s also about the Mafia, secrets, loss and coming to peace with the choices you make for love and those you love.

We first meet Haven. A girl who has lived surrounded by violence her whole life. Her beacon of light is her Mama. One day she escapes only to fall in the hands of Dr. Vincent DeMarco. Vincent was such a complex character. At first he was so cold and brutal but just like every other character in the story, we slowly got to see layer after layer of who Vincent was and how he came to be the man he is now. Haven is naïve and Vincent’s cold ways are really a way to shelter and educate her.

Then there is Carmine, Vincent's son. I was worried about liking him. Never have I met such an angst-ridden, impulsive, angry, broken boy. I felt bad for Vincent. He tried in his own way to make peace with his son but would always hit a dead end. That is, until Haven enters their home. I was glad that Carmine didn’t change. He remained who he was. Angry, moody, impulsive and foul mouthed. The only difference was that he found someone who he related to and loved. Haven and Carmine both slowly help each other deal with all the loss they’ve suffered at the hands of La Cosa Nostra. A crime family that holds the reins of all their lives tightly.

I loved the journey this story took me. It was full of drama, love, loss, violence and laughter. So much that I had to pick up book 2 right away!!

Slave (Finding Anna, #1)

Slave (Finding Anna, #1) - Sherri Hayes This isn’t at all what I expected. First BDSM book that has no actual sex, though plenty of D/s behavior. This book is further proof that I am a heartless bastard. Brianna has been through 10 months and then some of hell. This has understandably left her insecure, jumpy, afraid of men and just a tad mental. And yet… I, the heartless asshole, was annoyed halfway by her constant crying and panic attacks. She just was so shy and I wanted her to snap out of it!! Unfair, I know but that is why I am heartless.

The other thing that annoyed me was the time sequence of events. In one sentence it would be insinuated that weeks had passed, and then the next paragraph would say it had only been days. So I have no idea if by the end if months or weeks had passed.

Stephan wasn’t your usual broken asshole. Though of course he is rich and lavishes her with all the comforts possible. I did enjoy this and I am curious to see where this goes and may pick up book 2 eventually.

Overall 3.5 stars!

Obsidian: 8 (New Species)

Obsidian: 8 (New Species) - Laurann Dohner,  Vanessa Chambers First book in this series that I truly didn't like.

The Rose Garden

The Rose Garden - Susanna Kearsley Once again I was caught up in the imagery created by the words of Susanna Kearsley. This is a quiet book, meaning that not much happens. There isn't crazy drama. It's a story about Eva who ends up in Cornwall, a place that represents happiness. She is grieving and trying to find her place in this world once again. I can see why some people wouldn't enjoy the far fetched story created. But for me, it was a nice balance of magic and romance.

Jekyll (Hyde, #2)

Jekyll (Hyde, #2) - Lauren Stewart It's been over a year and change since I read book 1. Much like that one, I liked some aspects of this, hated others. Part of me cares what happens to Mitch and Eden, the other could give a shit. Some of my GR friends have given this 5 star and once again I am left scratching my head wondering what is wrong with me. I gotta know what how it all ends now though.

Pretty When She Dies (Pretty When She Dies, #1)

Pretty When She Dies (Pretty When She Dies, #1) - Rhiannon Frater This is one of those books that I've been putting off forever just because everyone said it was dark and gory (I mean look at the cover...eeck!). What a disappointment! Where was the darkness?? Where was the gore?? They're vampires so yeah there is blood sucking and killing as expected but nothing out of the ordinary.

Amaliya wasn't a very compelling main character. She's a lost girl that comes from well... a white trash background... trying to find her place. She was so whiny and full of self pity. Her judgment was horrible and while these attributes usually make me cheer for the underdog, I could have cared less what happened to her.

She eventually meets up with Cian who is also so bland. His fiancée and human servant walk all over him and while this is part of the drama and development of him as a character, I was bored. The character Samantha was - ANNOYING. Nothing more to say about her.

Not at all the horror, dark, sexy vampire story I expected. Yes, there is a twist of Amaliya's powers that is cool but nothing that hasn't been written about before. Not sure I'll continue.
Married with Zombies (Living with the Dead, #1) - Jesse Petersen,  Cassandra Campbell Hmmm.... short and entertaining. Funny? Not so much to me. Sure there were a couple of chuckling moments but overall I was annoyed by the marriage drama. Not sure if I'll continue.

Tiger (New Species, #7)

Tiger (New Species, #7) - Laurann Dohner Been a couple of month's since I visited New Species land. Missed the whole "I am Tarzan, you Jane" dialogue and storyline. This was pretty damn hot and I was glad that Zandy wasn't super annoying like some of the other women have been.

The Darkest Edge of Dawn (Charlie Madigan, Book 2)

The Darkest Edge of Dawn - Kelly Gay 3.5 stars

Such potential but there is something lacking. The pace is so slow at times as well. Not sure if I want to continue.

Fated

Fated - Benedict Jacka Reminds me too much of Dresden files. Maybe I'll come back to this later.

Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, #1)

Mine Till Midnight (The Hathaways, #1) - Lisa Kleypas 4 stars with a sprinkle more!

It's Cam's story!!! Finally. Just as I expected it had some sizzling scenes. Amelia is the type of heroine I've come to expect from Lisa Kleypas. Headstrong. Independent. Unconventional and open to love. My only complaint was that the pacing felt a but rushed at times. Looking forward to reading more about the Hathaway sisters.