ARC Review: Imitation (Clone Chronicles #1)

Imitation (Clone Chronicles #1) by Heather Hildenbrand

Publisher: Alloy Entertainment (Powered by Amazon), 2014

272 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: Young Adult, Science, Dystopia, Romance, Fantasy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:

Everyone is exactly like me. There is no one like me.

Ven wrestles with these contradicting truths every day. A clone of wealthy eighteen-year-old Raven Rogen, Ven knows everything about the girl she was created to serve: the clothes she wears, the boys she loves, the friends she loves to hate. Yet she’s never met the Authentic Raven face-to-face. Imitations like Ven only get to leave the lab when they’re needed—to replace a dead Authentic, donate an organ, or complete a specific mission. And Raven has never needed Ven . . . until now.

When there is an attack on Raven’s life, Ven is thrust into the real world, posing as Raven to draw out the people who tried to harm her. But as Ven dives deeper into Raven’s world, she begins to question everything she was ever told. She exists for Raven, but is she prepared to sacrifice herself for a girl she’s never met?

My Review:

Ven was made as a clone of Raven Rogen. She’s trained to know the details of Raven’s life. But she’s not Raven. I think the stark contrast of the real Raven and Ven is supposed to get the reader to like Ven even more. That just didn’t work for me. I mean, could Raven really be that shallow and conniving? Maybe I just can’t buy the whole nature vs nurture debate within the book. Since Ven is Raven, I don’t think that she is so much an angel to Raven’s devil.

Oh, and there’s insta-love. What I hate more than insta-love, is insta-love that I don’t buy. The relationship between Ven and Linc doesn’t seem genuine. What it does seem is obvious and predictable. I like romance to be exciting and new. I found myself just groaning and trying to see when the real story was going to start moving on to something interesting when Ven and Linc were together.

The story in itself started out interesting. I like conspiracies. I like seeing how far and how twisted everything gets in these types of books. Unfortunately towards the end it became pretty predictable as to what was going on. The mystery of who was good/bad and what was going to happen was lost. I was pretty sad because the book started out strong.

My Rating:

ARC Review: Rivulet (Rivulet #1) (Web of Hearts & Souls #11)

Rivulet (Rivulet #1) (Web of Hearts & Souls #11) by Jamie Magee

Publisher: Smashwords, 2013

284 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal, New Adult, Young Adult, Supernatural, Romance

Link: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:

Unfathomable forces have always contested Genevieve Indiana Falcon, known as Indie. The curse of her cold touch entraps her just as the grief ignited in her past torments her. Yet, her mysterious ability to dream while awake saturates her in the belief that she was not always anguished. There is hope that one day a true peace in her soul can be found.

Foolishly, Indie assumes she has contained her life in an odd balance, and she cherishes the visions she sees of the enigmatic boy that held her in a lost time, but can never reach. She grieves for a life she fears she'll never possess, and that grief is a weapon she uses against her aunt who stands between her and her inheritance.

Weeks away from her twenty-first birthday, the date where she would assume control over her family legacy, a night terror robs Indie of the balance she was clinging to. Like the dream she had before she lost her family, it predicts a fatal catastrophe on the horizon. The fight between life and death, good and evil, began the moment her thundering heart awoke her.

Everything changed after that dream. The one thing that keeps her curse at bay is stolen, and then the enigmatic boy arrives in the flesh. Face to face with her fiery born-again lover Indie realizes that the only way she can prevent the tragedy before her is to surrender everything she was, is, and could be.

Can she bend the laws of nature and fight the improbability that fire and ice could ever be one? As far as Indie is concerned, there is not a myth, spoken fate, or curse that is stronger than her stubborn desire to have it all ... including him.

The Rivulet series can be read on its own or as #11 in the Web of Hearts and Souls Series.

My Review:

This book was an absolute pleasure to read and you so totally get sucked into this world at Falcon Manor. The books synopsis is spot on in the description of this wonderful story as we join Indie and her sister Cadence and almost boyfriends Mason, Gavin and Wilder on their journey to enlightenment, battling the gold digging aunty For Falcon Manor and working out all that is Indie along the way. I really loved Indie’s character and though at times others wanted to see her as someone crippled with grief following the death of a few close family members, she came across pretty level headed especially with how she dealt with her aunty and the efforts she was going to, to strip Indie of her inheritance. I liked how she had been raised, how she dealt with her abnormalities, her ‘two beats’ philosophy, her need to ‘save’ people & put them on the right track & her family values. I connected with her as she went through her journey, I admired her for her outlook, her stubbornness, her need to do right, I pitied her for the hand life had dealt her but I mostly routed for her every step of the way and I loved when she found her warmth, bringing love & hope to her troubled existence.

I was captivated by the story, I literally could not put it down especially when the mystery man turned up and turned the whole plot on its head. Believe me when I say that this is not just another reincarnation book, it is so much more! It isn’t just the souls of our two lovers that need to re unite, it’s larger than that, it involves everything & everyone and I believe this book is just the tip of the iceberg. Falcon Manor - the house that Indie has grew up in – features heavily in the background of the story, helping Indie unlock some memories & mysteries, being the major asset that is fought over and I wished I could see it for real, towards the end of the book I was actually visualising it by the descriptions and I loved that! I love when I can visualise scenes in a book and I love old houses & architecture so that it featured heavily in this story was a plus. There is a lot I could say about this book, I truly want to gush about it but everything is linked and even to hint at what is happening could give away something. Just know that it’s definitely a page turner, it’s mysterious, it’s emotional, it’s filled with twists & turns and one of those soul deep love connections that I adore and that is exactly how I felt about reading it, I adored it and I do hope there will be a sequel because there is so much more I need to find out & I’m desperate to see what’s next for everyone involved.

My Rating:

Book Blitz: Madeline Ash

Love & Other Lies by Madeline Ash

Publisher: Destiny Romance

Release Date: January 20th 2015

Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis:

Small town vet Abby Benson has fled to the country to put her shameful past behind her. She’s just beginning to find her feet again when handsome stranger, Rue Thorn, arrives in town and begins to stir things up. Rue is gorgeous, kind and thoughtful and the two share an instant attraction. But convinced he’ll despise her if he learns about her history, Abby reluctantly keeps him at arms length.

Determined to win Abby over, Rue tries to reshape himself as the sort of guy he thinks she might be interested in. And for a while it seems his act is working. But when he finds out that Abby has been lying to him, it isn’t long before everything start to unravel …

A moving story of trust, forgiveness and the power of love from the author of Uncovered by Love and The Playboy’s Dark Secret.

Excerpt:
Abby ducked out of the examination room mid-afternoon on Friday to stock up on liver treats before her next patient arrived. She pulled the plastic tub from the storage cupboard and dropped it, sending treats all over the tiles.

‘Damn it,’ she muttered, kneeling and starting to scoop up the mess.

She’d been edgy all day, wondering what Rue had planned for that night. He’d kissed her thoroughly in the middle of town, sexy and sure. The onlookers hadn’t thrown him, so Abby was helpless to imagine how confident he would be when they were alone together after dark.

She’d hardly slept. Probably had something to do with wearing his shirt to bed, but she’d been empty with aching and his scent had relieved one of the senses that arousal demanded. But if one sense was all she got, sexual frustration made damn sure she regretted her choice.

It wanted touch, without limitation.

Rue would probably seduce her. At the thought of his palms under her clothes, dragging her against him, she accidentally scattered the liver treats again.

Jasmine spoke from behind her. ‘So, Rue’s here.’ Her subtle Indian accent rolled over his name.
Abby spun around, still kneeling. ‘What?’

The young assistant grinned. ‘You’re doing my job, you know. I’m sure that jar was half full an hour ago.’

‘I need to keep busy. What do you mean Rue’s here?’

‘Out the front. He brought you something.’
‘What?’

‘Coffee.’

She stood, wiping her hands together. ‘He brought me coffee?’

Jasmine nodded. ‘And he looks hot.’

Nerves twisting, Abby followed her out to reception. Rue leaned against the counter, large take-away coffee cup in hand, reading the poster on the wall about dog dental care. Her gut clenched at the sight of him. Workman’s boots, knee-length denim shorts and a loose checked shirt. Calves streaked with dirt, a smear across his sun-tanned forehead. A pencil was tucked behind his ear and a spirit level stuck out of his back pocket. If Adonis laboured for a living, he’d look a hell of a lot like this.

‘Hi,’ she said, finding her voice.

‘Abby.’ He faced her and held out the cup. ‘This is for you.’

‘I, um.’ She took it. Their fingers didn’t touch and still she burned. ‘Thanks.’

‘That’s so nice of you,’ Jasmine said, sitting down at the desk.

‘The opposite,’ he answered, and locked eyes with Abby. ‘I have the selfish expectation that she’ll be staying up late tonight.’

Abby’s breath fled.

Jasmine gave a faint, ‘Oh,’ as Rue turned and left.

Both women gaped after him as he strode across the car park, all self-assurance and wild hair. The coffee cup was hot against Abby’s palm.

‘For pity’s sake, woman,’ Jasmine breathed after a good half-minute. ‘Drink the damned thing.’

Q & A With Author:
1. How would you describe your latest novel?
Essentially, Love & Other Lies is a redemption story. The heroine Abby has lied pretty badly in the past and feels unworthy of love or companionship. She has pulled herself into a better place, keeping herself in line, and has coping strategies to stop herself from lying again. The hero Rue is a gorgeous ‘nice guy’ type. Initially he seems like her worst match – Abby believes he deserves to love a flawless soul, not a mess like hers. But he is determined to show her that she’s worthy of good love.

2. Share something small about your characters.
Abby loves the colour green. She wears it a lot, from dresses down to underwear. This isn’t supposed to be a subconscious reflection of jealousy or anything like that. It’s just her favourite colour!
As for the hero, Rue, he grew up on a vineyard in the Yarra Valley, Australia. He still owns and runs it, although he meets Abby while on a road trip around the country.

3. Secondary characters – yes or no?
Yes, absolutely. All my novels have strong secondary characters. Not strong in the sense that they’re on page a lot and dominate the story, but I know their personalities as clearly as that of the main characters. I believe secondary characters bring out traits of the hero and heroine that readers wouldn’t otherwise get to see. We all react differently to different people – I find it important to have the leads interact with a range of characters so that we can see their personalities in all lights.

4. Can you provide an excerpt from Love & Other Lies?
Of course! This takes place the day of their first date. Abby has been resisting him, not fully explaining why – she doesn’t want such a good man to know that she’s acted so poorly – but determined not to pull him into her mess. Rue, of course, has other ideas…

Author Bio:

Madeline lives and writes in Melbourne. She is an author with Destiny Romance and Tule Publishing.

Online, she calls madelineash.net home, although she does have capricious blogging tendencies so might not always have fresh tea ready for visitors. That's not to say she doesn't welcome company.

She writes contemporary romance.

Author Links: Website| Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:
Blitz-wide giveaway (Open Internationally) ENDS JANUARY 29TH 2015
1. eBook copy of Love & Other Lies
2. eBook copy of The Playboy's Dark Secret (a connected book to L&OL, as the heroes are brothers)
3. A print copy of Uncovered by Love
4. $20 voucher for the online book distributor of their choice (Amazon/iTunes/etc);

Book Blitz: Cambria Hebert

#Hater (Hashtag #2) by Cambria Hebery

Publisher: Cambria Hebert

Release Date: January 12th 2015

Genre: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance

Links: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

Synopsis:

It started with unspoken animosity. The bitter bite of jealousy. And now its full blown hate.

It was during my first football game that I first felt the first chill of hate. I looked it right in the eyes and felt its sticky tentacles reach out for me. I’d never experienced something so cold and empty before.

The effect of that look lingered, like an unspoken promise, long after it was gone.

Becoming a couple – becoming the other half of a campus celebrity wasn’t easy. I let down walls guarding my heart and he looked past my glasses and accident prone tendencies. Romeo and I are an unlikely match, a #nerd and a jock. But we made it.

And we’re happy.

Zach doesn’t want us to be happy. He wants Romeo to pay for getting him kicked out of Omega and for the night he spent in jail. He’s going to use anything and everything he can to get his revenge. Including me.

As the weather on campus grows cold and the days become dark, revenge becomes the center of someone’s life and the happiness Romeo and I worked so hard for is threatened.

I can’t help but worry that our love is going to be overshadowed by hate.

Excerpt:

Romeo caught me around the elbow and gently pulled me around. “What’s wrong?”

“You used to be just like him,” I blurted out. Then I slammed my lips together, cursing myself for not thinking before I spoke.

Romeo’s brows drew together. “Braeden?”

I nodded. “You liked to have fun. You hit on a different girl every day…” I paused and took a breath. “Pretty girls.”

Something very close to anger lit up his eyes and burned there like the hottest part of a flame. Before I could backpedal, his large hands slid beneath my arms and hooked beneath my shoulders. Romeo lifted me off the ground like it was easy, like it didn’t even take effort. My feet dangled in the air as he drew me up so we were eye to eye.

“A thousand of those girls”—he made a slight motion with his head toward Braeden—“couldn’t even make up one of you.”

“Romeo,” I whispered, caught up in the molten blue flame flickering in his gaze.

“You know I was like that once. I’ve never made a secret of it. But you’re it for me now, Rim. There’s no one else. There never could be.”

Even though he spoke softly, I still felt the room around us listening. My neck still prickled with a thousand stares, but I didn’t care. His words pierced me. They took the feelings of doubt creeping up inside me and totally vanquished them.

I smiled and something in his eyes relaxed. Worry I hadn’t seen until that moment disappeared. He gave me one of his oh so charming lopsided smiles and pulled me closer to kiss me.

Author Bio:
Cambria Hebert is a bestselling novelist of more than twenty books. She went to college for a bachelor’s degree, couldn’t pick a major, and ended up with a degree in cosmetology. So rest assured her characters will always have good hair.

Besides writing, Cambria loves a caramel latte, staying up late, sleeping in, and watching movies. She considers math human torture and has an irrational fear of chickens (yes, chickens). You can often find her running on the treadmill (she’d rather be eating a donut), painting her toenails (because she bites her fingernails), or walking her chorkie (the real boss of the house).

Cambria has written within the young adult and new adult genres, penning many paranormal and contemporary titles. Her favorite genre to read and write is romantic suspense. A few of her most recognized titles are: Text, Torch, Tryst, Masquerade, and Recalled.

Cambria Hebert owns and operates Cambria Hebert Books, LLC.

Author Links: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway:
Blitz-wide giveaway (US only) ENDS JANUARY 27TH
1. signed Paperback of #Hater
2. #Hater Swag Bag

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ARC Review: Forever Wild: The Complete Series

One Wild Night (Forever Wild #1) by Magan Vernon

Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books, 2013
58 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

Links: Goodreads | Amamzon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

**This book is now FREE on all ebook outlets**

One Wild Night- EPISODE 1 in the first season of the Forever Wild Serial. (This is a six part series with one book releasing every 3 weeks)

One Wild Night Can Change Everything

Valerie Wilder doesn’t do serious relationships. She also doesn’t usually wake up in Vegas next to a male stripper…

A male stripper who happens to be her new husband.

A quickie divorce seems like the answer, but the Nevada legal system doesn’t think so. When her new husband suggests flying back to Chicago with Valerie she accepts, wondering if one night in Vegas could turn into something much more.

My Reveiw:

This is part one of a six part series. While this is a short read, the books hooks you from the get go. Valerie wakes up to find herself married to Wes, someone she has known less than 24 hours. When the state of Nevada can’t offer any help, Valerie must find another solution. Deciding to just go with the flow, Valerie and Wes find themselves stuck with each other at least for a little while. I found it easy to like the characters. You get a small glimpse into who Valerie and Wes are leading up to them being stuck together and I found myself wanting to know more. I really enjoyed the first installment and can’t wait to find out what happens between Valerie and Wes

Wild Hearts (Forever Wild #2)

Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books, 2013
48 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

Links: Goodreads | Amamzon

Synopsis (from Goodreds):
Going back to Chicago with her accidental husband should have been torture for Valerie. But when Wes has her bent over the first class bathroom sink, torture is the last thing on her mind.

After landing back in Chicago reality sets in. So does the glaring eye of her roommate, and her former friends with benefits, Max, who seems to be a lot friendlier since Wes came in the picture.

After a meeting with a divorce lawyer, Valerie and Wes find out that they have thirty days for both of them to sign the papers, ending their quickie marriage.

But Valerie doesn’t know if she wants to move on or forever stay Mrs. Wild.

My Review:
I have to say, I wasn't totally sure about Wes after reading the first volume in this series, especially when he admitted to initially looking for a sugar momma in Valerie. His intention was to use her for her money to get to LA and break into the music scene. Of course then he found out she didn't have any money but he still seemed to have a kind of attachment to her. So basically I wasn't sure how I felt about him, I hated the thought if him being the type of person to use a woman like that but on the other hand, there was something about him that I found likeable, he didn't come across as a bad person which seemed at odds with his initial intentions.

In this volume Wes has come back to Chicago with Valerie so they can both file for divorce. He has nowhere else to go so is staying with her in the apartment she shares with her flatmate Paige, who is a complete b*tch, by the way. Now back home, there is another man on the scene. Max, Valerie's long-standing f*ck buddy who has never before wanted anything more than random hook-ups at her house, has never wanted to date her publicly, now all of a sudden is intimating he wants more. I already hate him. He's a douch.

Valerie has started to develop feelings for Wes, will she speak up and tell him or let her sensible side rule and precede with the divorce? I'm definitely more hooked into this series after this installment, Wes is rapidly growing on me and I find myself cheering in his corner.


The Wild One (Forever Wild #3)

Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books, 2014
48 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

Links: Goodreads | Amamzon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Wes never considered himself a lucky man - until one wild night in Vegas that ended with a marriage to Valerie Wilder. She doesn’t consider herself as lucky, and gives him thirty days to sign the divorce papers, forgetting their marriage every existed. There’s just one problem.

He’s fallen hard for Valerie.

Wes loves everything about the girl he married by mistake, except the fact that he doesn’t feel worthy of her - especially when hedge funder Max Green keeps coming back in the picture. Wes can’t compete with the rich and powerful man who also wants Valerie as his own, but he doesn’t want to lose her. To prove his love for Valerie and save their marriage, Wes is going to fight hard for the woman he loves, putting his wild side behind him to be the man she needs. Before it’s too late.

My Review:
This third installment in the Wild series is written in Wes' POV which was great as we get to see things from his eyes and find out how he really feels. Wes, surprisingly, is deeper than his stripper persona first suggested. He's a nice guy but I still have trouble with his tendency to put money above everything else. Of course this is because he doesn't have any, and really it just makes him more real. Because let's face it, when confronted with a wad of cash when previously we had never even seen that much money, we'd all be tempted, even if it was only briefly. So he's not the perfect book boyfriend, like I said, it does make him a more realistic character. But I still judge him for it. I can't help it! I want perfection in my fictional men I guess.

However Wes is finally admitting to himself and to the b*tchy roommate Paige that he has feelings for Valerie, but will he grow a pair and tell Valerie? This story is intriguing but I do wish Wes was a bit more Alpha. I think Valerie has more Alpha in her than him at this point!

I can see some frustrating times looming on the horizon with the next installment, Max is being his usual douchey self and I can see him definitely creating trouble in paradise for the pair.

The Wild Side (Forever Wild #4)

Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books, 2014
51 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

Links: Goodreads | Amamzon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
The Wild Side is the fourth book in the Forever Wild Serial. (This is a six part series with one book releasing every 3 weeks)
Nothing in Valerie Wilder’s life has been the same since she married Wild Wes.

When her two closest work friends drop a bombshell on her, she shouldn’t have really been surprised. 

But their unexpected news means she'll have to answer to her former friend with benefits, Max Green. 

And all of this just in time for a visit from her little sister Melanie and her boyfriend John “John Boy” Walden. 

Now Valerie just has to figure out to see where walking on the wild side takes her and if staying Mrs. Wild is going to be worth it for her career and her heart.

My Review:
This series definitely gets better with each volume, the characters are really becoming more three dimensional and the story more gripping as more is revealed to us.

In this installment we meet Valerie's sister Melanie and her boyfriend John. I've since found out that they have a book of their own, The Only One which I really want to read. They seem like a great couple and I just know their story will be a good one.

Valerie is propositioned by her friends and colleagues in this book which will mean a change in her career path that may just mean that Max, a.k.a. king of the douchebags (in my opinion) will be more present in her life. I'm bracing myself in preparation of him causing some mayhem. Things seem to be going more smoothly between Wes and Valerie at this point, they're opening up to each other more, but can things remain plain sailing for them? I bloody well hope so but I feel like I'm waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Wild For You (Forever Wild #5)

Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books, 2014
53 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

Links: Goodreads | Amamzon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Things seem to be finally looking up for Valerie and Wes.

Valerie finally left her job and started a new company with two of her closest work friends and if that wasn't enough of a stress reliever, she finally decided to let her true feelings show for Wes. And when they’re reciprocated everything seems to be falling in place for the girl that once thought that she’d never get anything right.

But there are secrets that Wes has been keeping from her that involve her former friends with benefits, Max Green, and when they come to the surface it could put an end to Mr. and Mrs. Wild.

My Review:
That other shoe that I knew was going to drop? Yep, it hit me in the face like a ton of bricks. Aaand here's the frustration. Max has now reached new heights on the Douchebag Scale. I want him killed off! Ok, that's too strong a reaction, maybe he just suffers from a particularly bad case of diarrhoea or something equally as hideous? Yes, that'll do, he deserves it!

Things were going so well! The ending of this volume makes me want to scream! I'm tired, too tired to be reading, but I MUST know what happens!

I'm a little disappointed in Wes, it seems like he just rolled over without a fight, as I've said in a review of an earlier book in the series, I do wish he was more alpha. That has never been more apparent than at the end of this installment, he needs to stop being insecure and claim his woman!

Wild (Forever Wild #6)

Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books, 2014
53 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary, Erotica

Links: Goodreads | Amamzon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Wild- EPISODE 6 is the conclusion in the Forever Wild serial.

All roads led Valerie and Wes back to the Vegas desert where they first met.

Valerie is ready to do whatever it takes to get back her husband, even if it means getting help from an old friend and signing confidentiality contracts.

But nothing has come easy for Valerie and Wes in their wild relationship and when they're hit with some extra surprises they have to figure out if one wild night will lead to being Forever Wild.

My Review:
This final installment in the Wild series I found wasn't as well written as the others. I can't put my finger on what exactly it was that makes me think that, there were a few more spelling and grammatical errors in this one than I noticed with the others, maybe it was rushed? There were a few cringe-worthy moments in the dialogue that I picked up on that further enforced my conclusion that this last book had a different feel to it than the others, maybe more of an immature vibe than the others.

It was clear right the way through the series that Valerie had body issues and sometimes struggled with self-confidence, this didn't bother me at all because as we all know, us women always have issues with one part of our body or other. I can see how it would become annoying if it was repeatedly played on in a book but I didn't think that was the case until this last book. I actually found myself rolling my eyes at one point.

That being said I enjoyed the ending, it was sweet and gave me the happily ever after I needed. I do wish that Max had been dealt with in a more vengeful way, he deserved to be brought down to earth.

My Rating:

ARC Review: Impulse (Submerged Sun #2)

Impulse (Submerged Sun #2) by Vanessa Garden

Publisher: Harlequin Teen/Mira, 2014

288 pages, eBook edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Fantasy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

When Miranda Sun returns to Marin on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, this time of her own free will, she quickly learns that her worst fears have been realised. The glittering underwater city is not as she had left it, nor too is Marko, the young king who has dominated her thoughts and heart for the last twelve months since leaving Marin.

Miranda, however, has not made the journey to Marin alone, and now must contend with not only Marko’s evil brother Damir but more surprisingly her sister Lauren who has an agenda of her own. Marko’s power begins to wane and with cracks beginning to show in the domed Utopian city, and veiled danger lurking everywhere, she quickly learns that in this dazzling city full of beautiful people she can trust no-one but herself.

If Miranda wants to survive, she must decide between the hardened sensibilities in her head and the hungers of her heart. Will her decision cause more heartache or can she help to save Marko’s throne?

My Review:

This novel beings almost twelve months after Miranda has returned to the surface and her thoughts soon return to her promise to Marko to return to Main on her 18th birthday. Torn between not wanting to leave her grandparents now the only parents she knows and living with Marko, and calling the underwater kingdom home. But with her sister Lauren ensuring their safety it is time for Miranda to take a chance on the king that was once her reluctant captor. In Marin the women are unable to conceive and the hope of the citizens rest upon her and the King to carry Marin into the next generation.

Twin siblings Sylvia and Damir can’t be trusted and Maranda knows all too well, but loyalty to Sylvia continues to could Marko’s judgement and refuses to listen Miranda’s pleas, but allows her concerns to drive a wedge between them. I warmed to Marko in Captivate in Impulse he was downright cold and unforgiving. Miranda has given up her life, her family and seeing the sun for a life underwater and it seems is not wanted, rumors of other women entertaining Marko in Miranda’s absence are rife throughout the palace but Miranda’s biggest issue is now Lauren, demanding to live within Marin as well. Lauren’s character put me on edge, her endless flirting with any male that moved, she demands to be the center of attention eve thought it is finally Miranda’s time to shine through.

But without a doubt my favorite character from Impulse is Robbie, he is a good friend of the kings he is lovely and an absolute pleasure to read. The romance, or lack thereof was actually more engaging and realistic, no instant and awkward declarations of love but rather frustrating, slow burning and delicious. As indecisive as I find myself about Miranda, I admire her fire and ability to uphold morals, even at the sake of her own happiness. She's adamant that Sylvia is working against Marko and is willing to risk her tentative relationship to ensure Marko's safety.

My Rating:

ARC Review: Storm Fall (Rebel Wing #2)

Storm Fall (Rebel Wing #2) by Tracy Banghart

Publisher: Alloy Entertainment (Powered by Amazon), 2014

230 pages, kindle edition

Source: Netgalley

Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction, Romance, Fantasy

Links: Goodreads | Amazon

Synopsis (from Goodreads):

In the action-packed sequel to Rebel Wing, Aris battles for life and love . . . and not everyone will survive.

Aris Haan gave up everything to join the Atalantan Military: her family, her boyfriend, even her identity. In the end, though, it didn’t matter that she was a war hero. When the all-male Military discovered that she was actually a woman, she was sent home and erased from history.

Now she has a chance to go back to the battlefield—as herself. But as hard as it was to be a soldier in disguise, it’s even more difficult now. The men in her unit undermine her at every turn. The Safaran army has spies everywhere, perhaps even on Aris’s stationpoint. And she’s falling for her mysterious superior officer, Milek. But their relationship is forbidden, just stolen moments between training sessions and missions. There’s no room for love in war.

Then Aris discovers that Safara’s leaders have set their sights on her, Atalanta’s hero. And she must find them before they find her . . .

My Review:

This book is the sequel to rebel wing, it has almost been a year since Aris Haan left the village of Lux behind and took up the mantle of Aristos in order to serve in the Atalantan military. It’s been 2 months since Aris was discharded from the military after her true identity was exposed, Aris has not exactly had an easy time readjusting to civilian life. Her love for flying has taken a big hit, Calix is no longer in her life, has a big issues with PTSD also has scars and dreams about very awful things. Her action while serving as Aristos has pretty much been buried by bureaucratic bullshit, but things are starting to change thanks to some supports behind the scenes like Ward Galena Vadim who is looking for a hero and someone the troops can rally behind.

Thank you to Aris’s actions in Rebel Wing, Women are now officially allowed to serve openly in the military, with the arrival of Major Vidal, Aris is very much encourage to come back to the military, this time this time with big time promotion and a chance to once again make a difference. Aris no longer has to hide who she is or her abilities from anyone, she does face hostilities from her male colleagues, but that does not cause her to run away with her tail between her legs and neither does being number one on Safara’s to capture or kill list.

This is an entirely new Aris we saw in Rebel Wing. While she still gets her time in the sky, and does remarkable things, she has a whole new view on life thanks to her romance with Major Vidal. I will say that Storm Fall is much more romance intensive than Rebel Wing was. I will also say that Storm Fall leaves a pretty apparent cliffhanger ending that bridges to the next installment, I also would definitely encourage readers to start reading Rebel Wing before jumping into Storm Fall.

My Ratings: