Review: Wanderlust by Skye Warren

It's 3:18am and I am writing a review. This happens to me sometimes. Though this book is on a level I have never ventured. Seriously. 

Blurb:


Can love come from pain?

Evie always dreamed of seeing the world, but her first night at a motel turns into a nightmare. Hunter is a rugged trucker willing to do anything to keep her—including kidnapping. As they cross the country in his rig, Evie plots her escape, but she may find what she's been looking for right beside her.



My Review:



I have read a lot of books over the course of my life that have imprinted themselves on me in a certain way and made me feel certain things that were overwhelming to a certain degree, but no book as ever made me feel quite this way. Torn. Afriad. Happy. Completely bewildered...the list goes on. 
Oh, and yes, there will be spoilers! Muahahahaha!



I keep asking myself this question over and over again. And I'm not sure. I started reading this book earlier in the night, just planning to start it before bed and that was all. But now I'm finished...and all I can say is...wow. 
Wanderlust deals with a lot of things that romance novels try to indefinitely stay away from. The front runner being rape. Mrs. Warren does not shy away from it, not even a little. 


You're just as shocked as I am.
Especially because the relationship between the hero and heroine of this novel is based on a twisted barely consensual sexual relationship that just seems to get even more corrupt as we follow Evie and Hunter down the rabbit hole. 

I liked Evie's character a lot. She had to deal with a lot of hardship in her lifetime which seems to only get worse when she meets Hunter. At first Hunter comes off as this psychotic truck driver, though his character evolves to be anything but what he seems to be in the beginning. It becomes clear that he treats Evie the way he does, to prove something to himself--that he is the monster the world thought him to be. 
Which kind of sucks for everyone in this situation. 

Even though this relationship bordered on rape, both characters craved what they received from the other (this sounds so effed up, I know) and both were able to find themselves through the messed up sexual and eventually, emotional connection they form. It was mutually beneficial for both, even if they didn't see it that way in the beginning. 


What I didn't like about the book--
Evie was raped by her mom's boyfriend. She ends up in this twisted borderline non-consensual relationship with Hunter. I can understand and accept the twisted nature of these things, but there is a point in the book where Evie gets away from Hunter and is raped AGAIN by some boys that she meets on a beach. 

And then an old man shoots and kills them both, but not before they could rape and beat the crap out of her. Sigh. Poor Evie. She is like a rape magnet. No joke. If I had been sheltered my entire life and read this book, I would be terrified to go into public for fear that every man I came into contact with would try to rape me. 


Overall, I found this book really entertaining. I love books with damaged characters--especially when both have emotional and psychological problems. Ms. Warren definitely hit the nail on the head with that one. I cheered for Evie and Hunter even when I was tempted not to--even when during the times when I thought they were both ridiculous and stupid. I wanted them to be together because they both deserved happiness and I am so glad they got it. 

I give Wanderlust FOUR stars.

purchased this on amazon.

Review: Sins & Needles by Karina Halle

Hayyyyy! Again it's review day--this week it's Monday (last week it was Thursday, and if you missed last weeks review-check it out here because that book was the beez neez, just sayin').

Anywho this week I read the book Sins & Needles by Karina Halle. I decided to pick this book up because several of my friends read it, not to mention that the cover if off the chain--I mean just look at it!

Pretty amazing looking huh? 

Here is a little bit about the book before I give my review.

Blurb:

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she's much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for - Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie's counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she's not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie's plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn't dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it's one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

My Review:

When I started reading this book I was kind of disappointed. It started off a little boring and I felt like it was never going to pick up. It did though, pick up that is. Like seriously, I went from being totally bored to 'oh my gosh, what?' I ended up not being about to put it down. Ellie is such a complicated character. I loved following her and learning about her present and her past. Camden is equally likable because he had a hard life as well, being the strange kid in school-to becoming the hottie with all of the tats, not to mention an all around nice guy. Don't let me calling him nice put you off of him though, he is definitely rough around the edges, a man who has been pushed too far and take advantage of a few too many times. 

Overall I really enjoyed reading Sins & Needles, so much in fact, that I already went and purchased the prequel to this one (On Every Street). I recommend this. Go check it out. 

I give Sins & Needles 4 Stars.

I purchased this on Amazon.

Review of Temptation with a Giveaway!

Today I am hosting K.M. Golland and her book Temptation. I had the pleasure of reading this book, so please check out my review below. ALSO, check out the bottom of the post for info on a giveaway! Thanks for stopping by!! 

Sometimes being happily married and completely content is not at all what it seems.
This is what 35 year old, happily married mother of two, Alexis Summers finds out when she decides it is time to return to work. After being a stay-at-home Mum for the past nine years, Alexis now realizes a complete career change is just what she needs.
She becomes a Concierge Attendant in a prestigious hotel in Melbourne, working for the owner, Bryce Clark. He resides in the penthouse, is extremely hot, and is a man who always gets what he wants, and what he wants is Alexis. She does a relatively good job at resisting Bryce at first but the undeniable chemistry, sexual tension and playfulness between the two of them is intense. He has copious amounts of money, sex appeal and above all else, is a genuinely nice guy. Bryce has been waiting for his one true love to come along, and he is positive that one true love is Alexis.
There is one problem, she is happily married to Rick, and no matter how strong her feelings are for Bryce, she is adamant she will not cheat. She draws a line in the sand but finds it increasingly hard not to cross. Will she succumb to Temptation?

Buy Links:

Amazon

Smashwords

My Review:
I was very excited to read this book, especially after I discovered what it was going to be about. I love books that have to do with powerful sexy men that stop at nothing to get what they want. With that being said I was concerned that this book would be pretty much a re-make of another popular book (Fifty Shades). It wasn't at all though, in fact it was very different, with a much different dynamic. It is not everyday that you read a romance about a woman who is happily married with two children. 
There were numerous times in the story where I thought, 'How in the world is this going to work out? Who is she going to choose?' 
Alexis's character is very relate-able in how she feels towards both of the men in her life. It is one of those crossroads situations that people come to, though I think it's safe to say that Alexis comes to a very sexy intersection, lol.
I definitely recommend this book and hope you will all go check it out!

I give Temptation FOUR stars!

I was given a free copy of Temptation in exchange for an honest review. 

About the Author:

K.M. Golland was born and raised in Melbourne Australia. She studied Legal Practice for two years, and worked as a Land Conveyancer for four years before putting her career on hold to raise two beautiful children. She always had a love of reading, and decided rather than returning to the Legal Industry, she would become a Writer, publishing her debut novel Temptation (Book 1 in The Temptation Series).

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/temptationseries
Good Reads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6860161.K_M_Golland
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KellyGolly

One lucky commenter will win an ebook copy of Temptation! Make sure to leave your email address in the comment! 

Review: Fire Baptized by Kenya Wright

Set in a caged habitat, where supernatural beings have been trapped by humans, the dark fantasy Habitat series follows Lanore as she solves mysteries while struggling for equality in the face of prejudice among supernaturals.

Since the 1970s humans have forced supernaturals to live in caged cities. Silver brands embedded in their foreheads identify them by species: a full moon for Vampires, a crescent moon for Shifters, a pair of wings for Fairies, and the list goes on, for each supernatural species has been tagged and categorized by humans. Lanore Vesta is marked with a silver X, the brand of Mixbreeds; second-class citizens shunned by society. She stays to herself, revealing her ability to create fire only during emergencies. All she wants to do is graduate college and stop having to steal to survive. But when she stumbles upon a murder in progress, she catches the attention of a supernatural killer. Now all she wants is to stop finding dead bodies in her apartment. Enlisting help from her Were-cheetah ex-boyfriend Meshack and a new mysterious friend named Zulu, she is steered through the habitat’s raunchy nightlife. But their presence sometimes proves to be more burden than help as they fight for her attention. While the corpses pile up, and the scent of blood fills the air, Lanore is left wondering: Will she find the psycho or die trying?

Buy on Amazon

My Review:

All I can say is WOW. I knew that Ms. Wright was an excellent writer based on other things that I have read by her, but this book was phenomenal. I love the world she created inside of The Habitat. There are so many interesting characters, not to mention sexy male counterparts that make you desperate to read more (no joke!)

Lanore is a very complex character as we get to see life from her eyes, a mix breed in a world of pure bloods that control everything. A minority in a world that is fiercely unaccepting of who and what she is. She gives a new meaning to the word 'strong', which is something I highly appreciate. I just love books with strong heroines! 

I have already purchased the second book in the series and can't wait to get started on it. Hope you check it out!

I give Fire Baptized Four Stars!

I purchased this book on amazon.

Review: The Silver Stiletto by Isabella Olivia Ellis

It's Saturday! The perfect day for a review. Of course I am not a proclaimed reviewer, but I've decided that when I do read a book and write a review on it, I'm going to post it on here along with my typical posts on Amazon and Goodreads. Earlier this week I read The Silver Stiletto by Isabella Olivia Ellis. 

Blurb:

In this modern rendering of the classic tale, Cinderella gets a bit naughty. Why settle for one man when you can have two?

Cinderella is an orphan living at the mercy of her unkind stepfamily. She suffers their beck and call; her only satisfaction coming from a secret dominant-submissive relationship with her stepsister's boyfriend. When the time comes for the governor's masquerade ball, Cinderella receives the help of a mysteriously sexy fairy godfather and manages to catch the eye of the town's most eligible bachelor. While the two bond over their mutual love of books, the budding relationship lands her in the middle of her stepmother's evil scheme. Will Cinderella ever get the fairy tale ending she deserves?

My Review:

From the moment I read the blurb on this book, I was hooked. I love the idea of a spicy Cinderella story. Especially after reading that this naughty Cinderella has a secret BDSM relationship with her step-sister's boyfriend. Talk about hitting them where it hurts, lol. 

This short story didn't disappoint and I am so glad that I read it. If you are in the mood for a wild and crazy fairy tale with a very submissive heroine, then this is the book for you. I hope the author will consider writing Blake's story. I would love to read it.
All in all a great read. 

I give The Silver Stiletto 4 stars.

I purchased this book on Amazon.