Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.
Then Garrett Frost moves in next door.
He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.
And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
It's been quite a few years since we had a new release from Sylvia Day and as a huge fan of the Crossfire series I was excited to get my hands on a copy of this novella. Butterfly in Frost may be a short read (coming in at just under 200 pages) but it was an enjoyable one, the kind of story you can devour in one sitting when you're spending a relaxed afternoon reading.
Teagan is a doctor who used to be married to a famous actor and star in her own reality TV show but after her divorce she left New York behind and chose to lead a much quieter life in Seattle. It's obvious she is suffering from depression and she has closed in on herself only interacting with a very small group of people and avoiding leaving her house as much as possible. Her world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new neighbour though, the connection she feels to Garrett is immediate and fierce but he's struggling with his own issues and she's not sure whether either of them is ready for a relationship.
I'm not going to say much more than that about the plot so you'll just have to read the book for yourself. I was a bit wary after Teagan and Garrett's first meeting, the attraction felt too instant and I thought we were going to have a very rushed romance between them but although the sparks are flying they actually spend a long time getting to know each other before diving into anything serious which I really appreciated. Garrett was more willing to open up about his past than Teagan but I thought Sylvia Day did a good job of showing the ups and downs of living with depression, how one small thing can tip you over the edge and make it impossible to even find the energy to get out of bed. The thing I loved most was the twist at the end of the story, I did actually have an inking that was where things were headed but it fitted the characters perfectly and was extremely well written.
Personally I could have done without the mentions of Eva and Gideon, as much as I loved their series I don't think there was any need for them to crop up in this story and they were literally mentioned on page 2 and multiple times after. In my opinion it would have been better to leave them out of it but luckily they didn't overtake the whole story so it could have been worse. Overall I really enjoyed Butterfly in Frost, the romance was both sweet and sexy, the characters had a great connection and took the time to get to know each other before starting a relationship and the love story was believable. Let's hope we won't have to wait quite so long for Sylvia Day's next book but if it's as good as this one it'll be worth it even if we do.
Source: Received from Montlake Romance in exchange for an honest review
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Showing posts with label Sylvia Day. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sylvia Day. Show all posts
Wednesday, 28 August 2019
Blog Tour: Butterfly in Frost - Sylvia Day (with both UK & US Giveaways!)
Today I'm excited to be taking part in both the UK and the US blog tours for Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day. I'm a massive fan of her Crossfire series so of course I was ridiculously excited about Butterfly in Frost, especially since it's been a few years since Sylvia's last release. I've already read the book and really enjoyed it so watch out for my review later today, but in the meantime let me tell you all about the book. I have a great excerpt and a couple of giveaways that you can take part in.
Roxy bounces on her feet with excitement. “Les and Marge sold their house.”
I blink. “I didn’t know they were selling.”
She laughs and heads toward the front door. “That’s the thing. They weren’t.”
“Wait, what?” I hurry after her as she steps outside.
I look to the right at my home, a lovingly restored butterfly-roofed midcentury, then on to the traditional house just beyond it that belongs—belonged—to Les and Marge. Including Roxy’s, all three of our homes have unique lots set between the homes that line the street and the Sound, affording us unhindered views of the water as well as exceptional privacy—all within a twenty-minute drive of the airport.
Roxy shortens the length of her stride to allow me to catch up, then glances over at me. “The day after you flew to New York, a Range Rover pulled into their driveway, and the guy inside offered them cash to close—and move out—in fourteen days.”
My step falters, and Minnie gets momentarily tangled in her leash. The dog shoots me what I would describe as an irritated look, then keeps trotting forward. “That’s crazy.”
“Isn’t it? Les wouldn’t say how much the offer was, but I’m thinking it was huge.”
We march up the inclined driveway, my head tilted back to take in the houses scaling the hillside. Designed with big windows to maximize the view, the homes have a look of wide-eyed wonder. Our little stretch of the Sound used to be a secret, but with the housing boom taking over Seattle and Tacoma, we’ve been discovered. Many residences are undergoing major renovation to suit the tastes of new owners.
Reaching the road, we turn left. To the right is a dead end.
“Well, if they’re happy,” I say, “I’m happy for them.”
“They’re overwhelmed. It was a lot to happen all at once, but I think they’re happy with their decision.” Roxanne stops when Bella does, and we wait as the two dogs mark one of their usual spots on the gravel edging the asphalt. There are no curbs on the streets in our neighborhood and no sidewalks. Just beautiful lawns and a profusion of flowering shrubs.
“We all tried prying information out of them,” she goes on, “but they weren’t sharing anything about the sale.” She gives me a sidelong glance. “But they did share a bit about the buyer.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because Mike and I both think the buyer is someone famous. A film director maybe. Or an artist. Can you imagine? First Emily, a bestselling author. Then you, a reality-TV surgeon. Now this guy! Maybe we’re sitting on the new Malibu—beachside living without wildfires or state income tax!”
The mention of Roxy’s husband, Mike, coaxes an inner smile. A New York transplant like me, he adds a welcome touch of the life I left behind to the reality I’ve since created for myself—a reality that’s just been rocked by the loss of neighbors I like.
“What are the clues you’re working with?” I ask, deciding to play along. If I’ve learned anything the past year, it’s to accept the things I cannot change. A tough task for a control freak like me.
“Les pointed out to this guy that he hadn’t even seen the inside of the house. The guy said he didn’t need to. He knew already that ‘the light is perfect.’ I mean, who would say that? Gotta be someone who’s in visual arts, right?”
“Maybe,” I agree tentatively, disquieted by the unexpected conversation. The road rises sharply before us, the incline steep enough to put a little burn in my thighs. “Doesn’t mean he’s famous, though.”
“That’s the thing.” Her words carry a note of breathlessness. “Les wouldn’t give numbers, but he did say it was crazy the guy didn’t just buy that huge compound at the end of the street. That house is listed for three and a half million!”
My mind staggers at the thought. Les and Marge have—had—a beautiful home, but it’s not worth anywhere near that much.
“I think I saw the buyer once through that big arched window in the living room,” Roxy goes on. “The blonde with him was a looker. Supermodel skinny with legs for days.”
I’m panting when we reach the top; Roxy, who hits a gym most days of the week, is not.
A quarter mile farther, there’s a street to the right leading to Dash Point. Beyond that and straight ahead, the road slopes back down and around until it’s at water level. Redondo Beach is there, as is Salty’s, a restaurant on stilts in the water with expansive views of Poverty Bay and beyond. I’m about to wax poetic about Salty’s seafood chowder when a runner dashes around the corner at a full sprint. His sudden appearance rattles me. A closer look makes me freeze midstride. My breath locks in my lungs.
There are too many things to register at once, so my mind attempts to absorb the whole man. Dressed only in black shorts and shoes, he is a visual feast of deeply tanned skin, intricate sleeves of tattooed art, and sweat-slicked, flexing musculature.
And his face. Sculpted. Square-jawed. Brutally, breathlessly handsome.
Roxy, now a few feet in front of me, gives a low whistle. “Hot damn.”
I have one paperback copy of Butterfly in Frost to giveaway to a UK winner. The prize will be sent to the winner by my contact at Midas PR and you can enter using the rafflecopter form below (click here to enter directly via the Rafflecopter website):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
There is also a US giveaway to win a $100 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Butterfly in Frost. The winner will be contacted directly by the publisher to arrange delivery of the prizes. You can enter the US delivery using the following rafflecopter form (click here to enter directly via the rafflecopter website):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels sold in more than forty countries. She is a #1 bestselling author in twenty-eight countries, with tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Visit the author at www.sylviaday.com.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.sylviaday.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SylDay
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sylvia_day
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/list/19823.Sylvia_Day
About the Book:
Title: Butterfly in Frost
Author: Sylvia Day
Release Date: August 27, 2019
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Once, I would never have imagined myself here. But I’m settled now. In a place I love, in a home I renovated, spending time with new friends I adore, and working a job that fulfills me. I am reconciling the past and laying the groundwork for the future.
Then Garrett Frost moves in next door.
He’s obstinate and too bold, a raging force of nature that disrupts the careful order of my life. I recognize the ghosts that haunt him, the torment driving him. Garrett would be risky in any form, but wounded, he’s far more dangerous. I fear I’m too fragile for the storm raging inside him, too delicate to withstand the pain that buffets him. But he’s too determined…and too tempting.
And sometimes hope soars above even the iciest desolation.
Buy Link:
Excerpt: Butterfly in Frost by Sylvia Day:
Roxy bounces on her feet with excitement. “Les and Marge sold their house.”
I blink. “I didn’t know they were selling.”
She laughs and heads toward the front door. “That’s the thing. They weren’t.”
“Wait, what?” I hurry after her as she steps outside.
I look to the right at my home, a lovingly restored butterfly-roofed midcentury, then on to the traditional house just beyond it that belongs—belonged—to Les and Marge. Including Roxy’s, all three of our homes have unique lots set between the homes that line the street and the Sound, affording us unhindered views of the water as well as exceptional privacy—all within a twenty-minute drive of the airport.
Roxy shortens the length of her stride to allow me to catch up, then glances over at me. “The day after you flew to New York, a Range Rover pulled into their driveway, and the guy inside offered them cash to close—and move out—in fourteen days.”
My step falters, and Minnie gets momentarily tangled in her leash. The dog shoots me what I would describe as an irritated look, then keeps trotting forward. “That’s crazy.”
“Isn’t it? Les wouldn’t say how much the offer was, but I’m thinking it was huge.”
We march up the inclined driveway, my head tilted back to take in the houses scaling the hillside. Designed with big windows to maximize the view, the homes have a look of wide-eyed wonder. Our little stretch of the Sound used to be a secret, but with the housing boom taking over Seattle and Tacoma, we’ve been discovered. Many residences are undergoing major renovation to suit the tastes of new owners.
Reaching the road, we turn left. To the right is a dead end.
“Well, if they’re happy,” I say, “I’m happy for them.”
“They’re overwhelmed. It was a lot to happen all at once, but I think they’re happy with their decision.” Roxanne stops when Bella does, and we wait as the two dogs mark one of their usual spots on the gravel edging the asphalt. There are no curbs on the streets in our neighborhood and no sidewalks. Just beautiful lawns and a profusion of flowering shrubs.
“We all tried prying information out of them,” she goes on, “but they weren’t sharing anything about the sale.” She gives me a sidelong glance. “But they did share a bit about the buyer.”
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Because Mike and I both think the buyer is someone famous. A film director maybe. Or an artist. Can you imagine? First Emily, a bestselling author. Then you, a reality-TV surgeon. Now this guy! Maybe we’re sitting on the new Malibu—beachside living without wildfires or state income tax!”
The mention of Roxy’s husband, Mike, coaxes an inner smile. A New York transplant like me, he adds a welcome touch of the life I left behind to the reality I’ve since created for myself—a reality that’s just been rocked by the loss of neighbors I like.
“What are the clues you’re working with?” I ask, deciding to play along. If I’ve learned anything the past year, it’s to accept the things I cannot change. A tough task for a control freak like me.
“Les pointed out to this guy that he hadn’t even seen the inside of the house. The guy said he didn’t need to. He knew already that ‘the light is perfect.’ I mean, who would say that? Gotta be someone who’s in visual arts, right?”
“Maybe,” I agree tentatively, disquieted by the unexpected conversation. The road rises sharply before us, the incline steep enough to put a little burn in my thighs. “Doesn’t mean he’s famous, though.”
“That’s the thing.” Her words carry a note of breathlessness. “Les wouldn’t give numbers, but he did say it was crazy the guy didn’t just buy that huge compound at the end of the street. That house is listed for three and a half million!”
My mind staggers at the thought. Les and Marge have—had—a beautiful home, but it’s not worth anywhere near that much.
“I think I saw the buyer once through that big arched window in the living room,” Roxy goes on. “The blonde with him was a looker. Supermodel skinny with legs for days.”
I’m panting when we reach the top; Roxy, who hits a gym most days of the week, is not.
A quarter mile farther, there’s a street to the right leading to Dash Point. Beyond that and straight ahead, the road slopes back down and around until it’s at water level. Redondo Beach is there, as is Salty’s, a restaurant on stilts in the water with expansive views of Poverty Bay and beyond. I’m about to wax poetic about Salty’s seafood chowder when a runner dashes around the corner at a full sprint. His sudden appearance rattles me. A closer look makes me freeze midstride. My breath locks in my lungs.
There are too many things to register at once, so my mind attempts to absorb the whole man. Dressed only in black shorts and shoes, he is a visual feast of deeply tanned skin, intricate sleeves of tattooed art, and sweat-slicked, flexing musculature.
And his face. Sculpted. Square-jawed. Brutally, breathlessly handsome.
Roxy, now a few feet in front of me, gives a low whistle. “Hot damn.”
Giveaway 1 - UK only:
I have one paperback copy of Butterfly in Frost to giveaway to a UK winner. The prize will be sent to the winner by my contact at Midas PR and you can enter using the rafflecopter form below (click here to enter directly via the Rafflecopter website):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Giveaway 2 - US only:
There is also a US giveaway to win a $100 Amazon gift card and a signed copy of Butterfly in Frost. The winner will be contacted directly by the publisher to arrange delivery of the prizes. You can enter the US delivery using the following rafflecopter form (click here to enter directly via the rafflecopter website):
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Author Biography
Sylvia Day is the #1 New York Times, #1 USA Today, #1 Sunday Times, #1 Der Spiegel, and #1 international bestselling author of over twenty award-winning novels sold in more than forty countries. She is a #1 bestselling author in twenty-eight countries, with tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Visit the author at www.sylviaday.com.
Social Media Links:
Website: https://www.sylviaday.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SylDay
Instagram: http://instagram.com/sylvia_day
Goodreads: goodreads.com/author/list/19823.Sylvia_Day
Make sure you check out the rest of the stops on the UK Butterfly in Frost blog tour (see banner below) and do pop back later to read my review!
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
Review: One With You - Sylvia Day
Gideon Cross. Falling in love with him was the easiest thing I've ever done. It happened instantly. Completely. Irrevocably.
Marrying him was a dream come true. Staying married to him is the fight of my life. Love transforms. Ours is both a refuge from the storm and the most violent of tempests. Two damaged souls entwined as one.
We have bared our deepest, ugliest secrets to one another. Gideon is the mirror that reflects all my flaws . . . and all the beauty I couldn't see. He has given me everything. Now, I must prove I can be the rock, the shelter for him that he is for me. Together, we could stand against those who work so viciously to come between us.
But our greatest battle may lie within the very vows that give us strength. Committing to love was only the beginning. Fighting for it will either set us free . . . or break us apart.
Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
I've been a huge fan of the Crossfire series ever since Bared to You was first released, there is just something incredibly addictive about these characters that has kept me on the hook since I first met them and it's been quite a torturous wait to finally find out how everything ends for Eva and Gideon. One with You has been a long time coming and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy and dive back into this world.
I hate to admit it but this wasn't the strongest book in the series, there were a lot of weird new plot threads thrown in that seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't really add much to the series, Eva and Gideon had to rehash a lot of problems we've seen them deal with already (although thankfully they have learned to handle things a lot better by now!) and, most disappointing of all, we are left without answers to so many threads that have been going on for several books by now. I just can't understand why we had to have a load of new drama with Eva's mother when we don't ever completely tie up the outstanding issues resolving the abuse Gideon suffered and the people who either covered it up or used it against him. We don't even find out how things turn out for Cary with Trey or Tatiana and the baby!
To me it felt fairly obvious in book 4 that the series had been stretched further than it actually needed to be and One with You hasn't really changed my opinion on that. Sylvia Day seems to throw in new problems just to up the word count without really paying attention to the different plot threads she had already started. I'd contemplated rereading the series before picking this book up but I'm actually really glad I didn't because I think I'd have been even more frustrated by the repetitiveness if it hadn't been a year and a half since I last spent time in this world.
Even though I have a lot of niggling issues with this book I did still find it an enjoyable story overall though. I absolutely loved catching up with these characters after such a long break, it was incredibly easy to slip back into their world and it just leaves me with a huge goofy grin on my face to see how far both Eva and Gideon have come from the first book, they have dealt with so many obstacles and they well and truly deserve their happily ever after. The chemistry between them is just as fantastic as always although in this case I'd actually have been happy to have more sex in One with You (which is funny since I complained there was too much in Captivated by You!). I honestly believe that their relationship is strong enough to last the test of time now.
This series, and these characters, have stolen a little piece of my heart and there is no doubt in my mind that I'll end up rereading all of the books again in the future. I'm also excited that Gideon's sister London is going to get a series of her own and I'm looking forward to the glimpse into Gideon and Eva's future that will give us. I'm a huge fan of Sylvia Day's writing and she continues to remain an automatic buy author for me.
Source: Received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Marrying him was a dream come true. Staying married to him is the fight of my life. Love transforms. Ours is both a refuge from the storm and the most violent of tempests. Two damaged souls entwined as one.
We have bared our deepest, ugliest secrets to one another. Gideon is the mirror that reflects all my flaws . . . and all the beauty I couldn't see. He has given me everything. Now, I must prove I can be the rock, the shelter for him that he is for me. Together, we could stand against those who work so viciously to come between us.
But our greatest battle may lie within the very vows that give us strength. Committing to love was only the beginning. Fighting for it will either set us free . . . or break us apart.
Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
I've been a huge fan of the Crossfire series ever since Bared to You was first released, there is just something incredibly addictive about these characters that has kept me on the hook since I first met them and it's been quite a torturous wait to finally find out how everything ends for Eva and Gideon. One with You has been a long time coming and I couldn't wait to get my hands on a copy and dive back into this world.
I hate to admit it but this wasn't the strongest book in the series, there were a lot of weird new plot threads thrown in that seemed to come out of nowhere and didn't really add much to the series, Eva and Gideon had to rehash a lot of problems we've seen them deal with already (although thankfully they have learned to handle things a lot better by now!) and, most disappointing of all, we are left without answers to so many threads that have been going on for several books by now. I just can't understand why we had to have a load of new drama with Eva's mother when we don't ever completely tie up the outstanding issues resolving the abuse Gideon suffered and the people who either covered it up or used it against him. We don't even find out how things turn out for Cary with Trey or Tatiana and the baby!
To me it felt fairly obvious in book 4 that the series had been stretched further than it actually needed to be and One with You hasn't really changed my opinion on that. Sylvia Day seems to throw in new problems just to up the word count without really paying attention to the different plot threads she had already started. I'd contemplated rereading the series before picking this book up but I'm actually really glad I didn't because I think I'd have been even more frustrated by the repetitiveness if it hadn't been a year and a half since I last spent time in this world.
Even though I have a lot of niggling issues with this book I did still find it an enjoyable story overall though. I absolutely loved catching up with these characters after such a long break, it was incredibly easy to slip back into their world and it just leaves me with a huge goofy grin on my face to see how far both Eva and Gideon have come from the first book, they have dealt with so many obstacles and they well and truly deserve their happily ever after. The chemistry between them is just as fantastic as always although in this case I'd actually have been happy to have more sex in One with You (which is funny since I complained there was too much in Captivated by You!). I honestly believe that their relationship is strong enough to last the test of time now.
This series, and these characters, have stolen a little piece of my heart and there is no doubt in my mind that I'll end up rereading all of the books again in the future. I'm also excited that Gideon's sister London is going to get a series of her own and I'm looking forward to the glimpse into Gideon and Eva's future that will give us. I'm a huge fan of Sylvia Day's writing and she continues to remain an automatic buy author for me.
Source: Received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Sunday, 1 May 2016
April 2016 Recap
Let me introduce you to my beautiful new nephew Aidan!
My brother James, sister in law Subasana
and nephews Swopan and Aidan
Meeting Grandad and cuddles with auntie Sarah
Isn't he gorgeous! I'm totally in love & can't wait to watch him grow up :o)
Books read in previous months but reviewed in April:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
- The Square Root of Summer - Harriet Reuter Hapgood (Read in December, review will be posted in May)
- Saga Volume 1 - Brian K Vaughan & Fiona Staples (Graphic Novel) (Read in January, review coming soon)
- Truthwitch - Susan Dennard (Read in January, reviewed in April)
- One Silent Night - Sherrilyn Kenyon (Read in January, reviewed in April)
- Burned - Karen Marie Moning (Read in January, review coming soon)
- Their Fractured Light - Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner (Read in January, review coming soon)
- Red Queen - Victoria Aveyard (Read in January, reviewed in April)
- Ice Planet Barbarians - Ruby Dixon (Read in February, review coming soon)
- Morning Star - Pierce Brown (Read in February, review coming soon)
- The Dark Days Club - Alison Goodman (Read in February, review coming soon)
- One Hell of a Ride - Seanan McGuire (Short Story) (Read in February, review coming soon)
- The Shadow Queen - C.J. Redwine (Read in March, review coming soon)
- Bound to Danger - Katie Reus (Read in March, review coming soon)
- The Dragon Reborn - Robert Jordan (Read in March, reviewed in April)
- Hollywood Dirt - Alessandra Torre (Read in March, review coming soon)
- The Hostage Bargain - Annika Martin (Read in March, review coming soon)
- Wickedly Wonderful - Deborah Blake (Read in March, review coming soon)
- Begging for It - Lilah Pace (Read in March, review coming soon)
- Owl and the City of Angels - Kristi Charish (Read in March, review coming soon)
- The Gray Wolf Throne - Cinda Williams Chima (Read in March, reviewed in April)
Books read in April:
(Links will take you to my reviews)
- High Five - Janet Evanovich
- The Mage in Black - Jaye Wells
- The Dream Thieves - Maggie Stiefvater
- No Place Like Home - Seanan McGuire (Short Story) (review coming soon)
- The Flower of Arizona - Seanan McGuire (Short Story) (review coming soon)
- Possessed by a Dark Warrior - Felicity Heaton
- Very British Problems: Making Life Awkward for Ourselves, One Rainy Day at a Time - Rob Temple
- The Crimson Crown - Cinda Williams Chima
- A Wild Ride - Vivian Arend
- The Light Fantastic - Terry Pratchett
- Blue Lily, Lily Blue - Maggie Stiefvater (review coming soon)
- Let Me - Cecy Robson
- One With You - Sylvia Day (review coming soon)
- Allegiance of Honour - Nalini Singh (review coming soon)
- Z - Larissa Ione (Novella)
- Terry Pratchett: From Birth to Death a Writer - Terry Pratchett, Rob Wilkins, Neil Gaiman & Rhianna Pratchett
- No Quarter - Christine d'Abo
- A Questionable Client - Ilona Andrews (Short Story) (I re-read this book but the link takes you to my original review)
- Flamecaster - Cinda Williams Chima (review coming soon)
Other April Posts:
- Cover Reveal: Gargoyle Guardian Chronicles - Rebecca Chastain
- Book Trailer: Girl From Above Series - Pippa DaCosta
- Book Trailers: Veil Series and Chaos Rises - Pippa DaCosta
- Terry Pratchett A Memorial (#SpeakHisName)
- Terry Pratchett Memorial, a wonderful and fitting tribute #SpeakHisName
- Blog Tour: Let Me - Cecy Robson (Excerpt & Giveaway)
- Cover Reveal: Shadow - Christi J. Whitney
- Cover Reveal: The Graces - Laure Eve (#TheGraces)
- Release Day Blast: Z - Larissa Ione
- My Top Ten Contemporary Romances of All Time
- Video: Sarah J Maas talking about the new characters we'll meet in A Court of Mist and Fury
(Choices are made from books reviewed this month and the links will take you to my reviews)
My top YA read in April:
My top NA read in April:
The Crimson Crown by Cinda Williams Chima (read my review here)
My top NA read in April:
My top adult reads in April:
A Wild Ride by Vivian Arend (read my review here)
The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (read my review here)
April Events:
The Dragon Reborn by Robert Jordan (read my review here)
April Events:
I've been pretty hopeless at writing up events recently so I've decided to start mentioning them in my monthly wrap up posts so they at least get a little attention! As you can see April was pretty eventful in the best possible ways and I got the chance to meet a couple of my favourite authors as well as celebrate the life of an author who I have been a fan of for over 20 years.
Terry Pratchett Memorial:
I already posted about the Terry Pratchett Memorial that I attended with my Dad at the Barbican Theatre in London (you can read all about it here if you missed it) but it was such a wonderful event and definitely one of the highlights of April so it has to be mentioned again in my monthly wrap up!
Penguin Random House Party for Syliva Day:
I was also lucky enough to be invited to the Penguin Random House offices (they have an AMAZING view across the thames from their terrace!) for a party to celebrate the release of One With You by Sylvia Day. I absolutely love the Crossfire series so I was sad that it's over but I've enjoyed every minute of the journey and chatting to Sylvia it sounds like she has a lot of exciting new books planned for us to look forward to. It was great to meet her again (I actually met her about 5 years ago at Authors After Dark in Philadelphia) and I was able to get my copies of the entire Crossfire series signed so they now have pride of place on my shelves.
Nalini Singh Signing at Forbidden Planet:
I was also thrilled to get the chance to meet Nalini Singh again, she is without a doubt my favourite author and I'm totally addicted to both her Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series. Last time she was over (about 3 years ago) I took about 20 books for her to sign so luckily this time I only had to carry books she had written in the last 3 years. She's quite a prolific writer so that was still 9 books and my back suffered for it the next day but it was totally worth it. If you've never read anything by Nalini you really are missing out, she creates such wonderful worlds and her characters are just amazing. If you're not a huge paranormal fan then you should try her Rock Kiss contemporary romance series because they're brilliant too!
Terry Pratchett Memorial:
I already posted about the Terry Pratchett Memorial that I attended with my Dad at the Barbican Theatre in London (you can read all about it here if you missed it) but it was such a wonderful event and definitely one of the highlights of April so it has to be mentioned again in my monthly wrap up!
Penguin Random House Party for Syliva Day:
I was also lucky enough to be invited to the Penguin Random House offices (they have an AMAZING view across the thames from their terrace!) for a party to celebrate the release of One With You by Sylvia Day. I absolutely love the Crossfire series so I was sad that it's over but I've enjoyed every minute of the journey and chatting to Sylvia it sounds like she has a lot of exciting new books planned for us to look forward to. It was great to meet her again (I actually met her about 5 years ago at Authors After Dark in Philadelphia) and I was able to get my copies of the entire Crossfire series signed so they now have pride of place on my shelves.
Nalini Singh Signing at Forbidden Planet:
I was also thrilled to get the chance to meet Nalini Singh again, she is without a doubt my favourite author and I'm totally addicted to both her Psy-Changeling and Guild Hunter series. Last time she was over (about 3 years ago) I took about 20 books for her to sign so luckily this time I only had to carry books she had written in the last 3 years. She's quite a prolific writer so that was still 9 books and my back suffered for it the next day but it was totally worth it. If you've never read anything by Nalini you really are missing out, she creates such wonderful worlds and her characters are just amazing. If you're not a huge paranormal fan then you should try her Rock Kiss contemporary romance series because they're brilliant too!
My Challenge Updates:
These are the challenges I've signed up for in 2016:
2016 Read 100 Books in a Year Challenge - Read 65/200
2016 British Books Challenge - Read 11/50
2016 New Author Challenge - Read 15/50
2016 Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Challenge - 30/100
2016 Contemporary Romance Challenge - 5/20
2016 Romantic Suspense Challenge - 5/20
2016 British Books Challenge - Read 11/50
2016 New Author Challenge - Read 15/50
2016 Urban Fantasy & Paranormal Romance Challenge - 30/100
2016 Contemporary Romance Challenge - 5/20
2016 Romantic Suspense Challenge - 5/20
Wednesday, 27 April 2016
My Top Ten Contemporary Romances Of All Time
The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.
The April Prompt is:
My Top Ten Contemporary Romances Of All Time
(Links below will take you to my reviews)
I've kind of cheated a little because it was impossible to narrow it down to just 10 books! So I've picked my Top books for three different categories, Young Adult, New Adult and Adult. I read a lot less contemporary YA so I've only chosen 5 of those but I've picked my top 10 NA and Adult books.
Young Adult:
- Perfect Chemistry - Simone Elkeles
- If I Stay - Gayle Forman
- Pushing the Limits - Katie McGarry
- Saint Anything - Sarah Dessen
- The Square Root of Summer - Harriet Reuter Hapgood (review coming soon)
New Adult:
- Rock Hard - Nalini Singh
- Come Back To Me - Mila Gray
- Once Pure - Cecy Robson
- Losing It - Cora Carmack
- Before I Fall - Jessica Scott
- Deeper - Robin York
- Ugly Love - Colleen Hoover
- Sins & Needles - Karina Halle
- Easy - Tammara Webber
- Anything but Broken - Joelle Knox
Adult:
- Forever and a Day - Jill Shalvis
- Ride With Me - Ruthie Knox
- Hearts in Darkness - Laura Kaye
- Wrecked - Shiloh Walker
- The Siren - Tiffany Reisz
- Bared to You - Sylvia Day
- A Wild Ride - Vivian Arend
- On Dublin Street - Samantha Young
- 30 Days - Christine d'Abo
- Hollywood Dirt - Alessandra Torre (review coming soon)
So what do you think of my choices? Would you pick any of the same books as me? Have I missed off any of your favourites?
Monday, 25 January 2016
My Ten Most Anticipated Contemporary Romances for the First Half of 2016
The Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge is hosted by Gone with the Words and Love at First Page. As part of the challenge they are setting a different topic every month that participants can choose to join in with which I think is a brilliant idea so you can expect a post like this to appear at random most months throughout the year.
The January Prompt is:
Ten Most Anticipated Contemporary Romances for the First Half of 2016
(Links below will take you to the book's Goodreads Page)
- Sweet Little Lies - Jill Shalvis
- Hard Ever After - Laura Kaye
- One With You - Sylvia Day
- Emergency Engagement - Samanthe Beck
- All Chained Up - Sophie Jordan
- Naked - Gina Gordon
- Submissive Seductions - Christine d'Abo
- Against the Wall - Jill Sorenson
- Listen to Me - Kristen Proby
- After Love - Kathy Clark
Are any of these books on your list? Which other contemporary romances should I be adding to my wish lists?
Thursday, 20 November 2014
Review: Captivated by You - Sylvia Day
Gideon calls me his angel, but he's the miracle in my life. My gorgeous, wounded warrior, so determined to slay my demons while refusing to face his own.
The vows we'd exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn't sure I was strong enough to bear.
At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we'd worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we'd had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream . . .
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
Fans have had to wait a long time for this latest instalment to the Crossfire series and with long waits come high expectations. I have to admit that as much as I loved the first 2 books in the series I was a little disappointed with book 3 so although I was looking forward to Captivated by You I wasn't quite as desperate as I had been with the last two books. In fact, this is the first time I hadn't reread the previous books just before the new release and I think that actually went in my favour. Since it's been well over a year since I read about this couple I was excited to spend time with them again, I enjoyed revisiting them and although the story is pretty much a repeat of the previous books in terms of drama and constant sex that didn't actually bother me this time around. Unfortunately I think anyone who has read the other books more recently are probably in for a little disappointment though.
Really I think Sylvia Day could have wrapped this up Gideon and Eva's story in three books, lets face it, the only reason to extend this to a series of 5 books was for the money. I think she would have been better off sticking with a trilogy and then writing a few spin offs about some of Gideon & Eva's friends. I would happily read a book about Cary or Ireland and either of those characters would have allowed us to revisit Gideon & Eva without them having to be the main focus of the story. As it is we've got a series that has been extended by a lot of unnecessary drama. Captivated by You finds Gideon and Eva plagued by ex partners (on both sides) who want to split them up and family members who either completely deluded or deliberately malicious. We also once again see Gideon and Eva having trouble communicating with each other in any meaningful way outside of the bedroom. We're now in the fourth book and they STILL use sex to resolve all of their issues which is getting more than a little frustrating. Thankfully that finally seems to be starting to change by the end of this book but in some ways it is a case of too little too late and I know plenty of readers will be really irritated by one particular turn of events.
I know that I've spent most of this review complaining so far so you're probably wondering why on earth I've given the book a 4 star rating but in spite of my issues Captivated by You is incredibly readable. I love this couple, they are dysfunctional and messed up and have more issues between them than they know what to do with but I love reading about them. They have fantastic chemistry, the sex scenes are always hot and perversely I was complaining about too little sex in this book when I'd been annoyed by too much of it in Entwined with You! I enjoyed getting half of the story from Gideon's POV, it feels like we're finally getting inside his head a little, learning what makes him tick and why he behaves in the way he does, and I'm glad that Eva is learning to stand her ground and fight for what she wants a bit more. This is a book I could have happily devoured in one sitting if life hadn't got in the way and as it was I ended up having 2 extremely late nights because I kept allowing myself "just one more chapter" over and over again before I eventually turned out the lights.
Do I think this series was extended unnecessarily? Yes. Was I frustrated by the number of issues thrown at the couple in this book, especially when we didn't get a resolution to any of them? Absolutely. Will I be reading the next book anyway? You can bet your life I will be! Syliva Day has created characters that I'm incredibly invested in, I want to see them get their happy ending and I want to see how things turn out for Cary and their other friends and family members too. I just hope we don't have such a long wait for the conclusion of the series and I really, REALLY hope that the final book focuses on resolving the issues they're already facing rather than adding more drama to the mix.
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
The vows we'd exchanged should have bound us tighter than blood and flesh. Instead they opened old wounds, exposed pain and insecurities, and lured bitter enemies out of the shadows. I felt him slipping from my grasp, my greatest fears becoming my reality, my love tested in ways I wasn't sure I was strong enough to bear.
At the brightest time in our lives, the darkness of his past encroached and threatened everything we'd worked so hard for. We faced a terrible choice: the familiar safety of the lives we'd had before each other or the fight for a future that suddenly seemed an impossible and hopeless dream . . .
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
Fans have had to wait a long time for this latest instalment to the Crossfire series and with long waits come high expectations. I have to admit that as much as I loved the first 2 books in the series I was a little disappointed with book 3 so although I was looking forward to Captivated by You I wasn't quite as desperate as I had been with the last two books. In fact, this is the first time I hadn't reread the previous books just before the new release and I think that actually went in my favour. Since it's been well over a year since I read about this couple I was excited to spend time with them again, I enjoyed revisiting them and although the story is pretty much a repeat of the previous books in terms of drama and constant sex that didn't actually bother me this time around. Unfortunately I think anyone who has read the other books more recently are probably in for a little disappointment though.
Really I think Sylvia Day could have wrapped this up Gideon and Eva's story in three books, lets face it, the only reason to extend this to a series of 5 books was for the money. I think she would have been better off sticking with a trilogy and then writing a few spin offs about some of Gideon & Eva's friends. I would happily read a book about Cary or Ireland and either of those characters would have allowed us to revisit Gideon & Eva without them having to be the main focus of the story. As it is we've got a series that has been extended by a lot of unnecessary drama. Captivated by You finds Gideon and Eva plagued by ex partners (on both sides) who want to split them up and family members who either completely deluded or deliberately malicious. We also once again see Gideon and Eva having trouble communicating with each other in any meaningful way outside of the bedroom. We're now in the fourth book and they STILL use sex to resolve all of their issues which is getting more than a little frustrating. Thankfully that finally seems to be starting to change by the end of this book but in some ways it is a case of too little too late and I know plenty of readers will be really irritated by one particular turn of events.
I know that I've spent most of this review complaining so far so you're probably wondering why on earth I've given the book a 4 star rating but in spite of my issues Captivated by You is incredibly readable. I love this couple, they are dysfunctional and messed up and have more issues between them than they know what to do with but I love reading about them. They have fantastic chemistry, the sex scenes are always hot and perversely I was complaining about too little sex in this book when I'd been annoyed by too much of it in Entwined with You! I enjoyed getting half of the story from Gideon's POV, it feels like we're finally getting inside his head a little, learning what makes him tick and why he behaves in the way he does, and I'm glad that Eva is learning to stand her ground and fight for what she wants a bit more. This is a book I could have happily devoured in one sitting if life hadn't got in the way and as it was I ended up having 2 extremely late nights because I kept allowing myself "just one more chapter" over and over again before I eventually turned out the lights.
Do I think this series was extended unnecessarily? Yes. Was I frustrated by the number of issues thrown at the couple in this book, especially when we didn't get a resolution to any of them? Absolutely. Will I be reading the next book anyway? You can bet your life I will be! Syliva Day has created characters that I'm incredibly invested in, I want to see them get their happy ending and I want to see how things turn out for Cary and their other friends and family members too. I just hope we don't have such a long wait for the conclusion of the series and I really, REALLY hope that the final book focuses on resolving the issues they're already facing rather than adding more drama to the mix.
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Thursday, 16 October 2014
Review: Misled - Sylvia Day
Special Task Force agent Derek Atkinson has a craving for luscious vamp Sable Taylor. But Sable’s a bounty hunter, which makes him direct competition in the capture of wanted criminals. Despite the obvious attraction between them, she won’t give him a chance and after two years, he’s tired of waiting for her to come around.
So he’s got a plan to give them both what they want . . . each other.
Sable’s on a dangerous mission. She’s not who Derek thinks she is, so anything personal just isn’t possible. But like most master vampires, Derek’s wily and used to having his way. When he traps her on his ship, she decides to indulge. Two straight days of mind-blowing sex should be enough, but it isn’t, not for either of them. Her heart is involved now, but Sable can’t let Derek get too close. If he finds out what she’s doing, he’ll never forgive her.
Derek, however, refuses to let go.
Now he’s getting shot at and asking questions she shouldn’t answer. Sable has to reveal the truth . . . Derek’s love has been misled . . .
Carnal Thirst Series:
Misled
Kiss of the Night
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
Sylvia Day is best known for her contemporary romance Crossfire series (which I love!) but she has also written a lot of other stories varying from historical romances to erotic science fiction like Misled and the Carnal Thirst series. I snagged this story from Amazon months ago when it was offered as a freebie but for some reason (probably my mountain of a to be read pile!) I'd hadn't got around to picking it up until recently.
Sable is an undercover agent posing as a bounty hunter while she is working a top secret case, she has been in the field for a long time and has to keep her true identity firmly under wraps so that nobody can discover what she is up to. Derek is also an Agent but he doesn't know that Sable is undercover. They have been attracted to each other for a long time but Sable can't risk starting anything with him in case her cover story is blown. Derek has spent two years trying to capture Sable's attention and he is fed up of waiting for her to notice him which makes him very determined to finally make her listen. He's owed some time off so he sets out to help her capture her latest bounty, and to prove to her what a fabulous couple they would make.
I'm going to be upfront and say that as an erotic romance the focus of this story is definitely sex rather than world building. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, after all it is incredibly hot sex and I definitely enjoyed reading it, but I want to put it out there because if you go into this expecting something else you could be disappointed. These characters spend a lot of their time going at it like bunnies - in bed, up against the wall or on pretty much any solid surface that is available to them - they have scorching chemistry and this story will definitely leave you in need of a cold shower or two. Although sex is the main ingredient there is more to the story and I did enjoy what we saw of the world and getting to know both of the characters.
Misled is a very quick, hot read and it's one I'd definitely recommend when you're in the mood for something spicy. I have to admit I would have loved it to have been longer so it could have had a little more depth but that isn't always what I'm looking for and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel (Kiss of the Night) at some point in the future.
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Kindle:
So he’s got a plan to give them both what they want . . . each other.
Sable’s on a dangerous mission. She’s not who Derek thinks she is, so anything personal just isn’t possible. But like most master vampires, Derek’s wily and used to having his way. When he traps her on his ship, she decides to indulge. Two straight days of mind-blowing sex should be enough, but it isn’t, not for either of them. Her heart is involved now, but Sable can’t let Derek get too close. If he finds out what she’s doing, he’ll never forgive her.
Derek, however, refuses to let go.
Now he’s getting shot at and asking questions she shouldn’t answer. Sable has to reveal the truth . . . Derek’s love has been misled . . .
Carnal Thirst Series:
Misled
Kiss of the Night
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
Sylvia Day is best known for her contemporary romance Crossfire series (which I love!) but she has also written a lot of other stories varying from historical romances to erotic science fiction like Misled and the Carnal Thirst series. I snagged this story from Amazon months ago when it was offered as a freebie but for some reason (probably my mountain of a to be read pile!) I'd hadn't got around to picking it up until recently.
Sable is an undercover agent posing as a bounty hunter while she is working a top secret case, she has been in the field for a long time and has to keep her true identity firmly under wraps so that nobody can discover what she is up to. Derek is also an Agent but he doesn't know that Sable is undercover. They have been attracted to each other for a long time but Sable can't risk starting anything with him in case her cover story is blown. Derek has spent two years trying to capture Sable's attention and he is fed up of waiting for her to notice him which makes him very determined to finally make her listen. He's owed some time off so he sets out to help her capture her latest bounty, and to prove to her what a fabulous couple they would make.
I'm going to be upfront and say that as an erotic romance the focus of this story is definitely sex rather than world building. I'm not saying that's a bad thing, after all it is incredibly hot sex and I definitely enjoyed reading it, but I want to put it out there because if you go into this expecting something else you could be disappointed. These characters spend a lot of their time going at it like bunnies - in bed, up against the wall or on pretty much any solid surface that is available to them - they have scorching chemistry and this story will definitely leave you in need of a cold shower or two. Although sex is the main ingredient there is more to the story and I did enjoy what we saw of the world and getting to know both of the characters.
Misled is a very quick, hot read and it's one I'd definitely recommend when you're in the mood for something spicy. I have to admit I would have loved it to have been longer so it could have had a little more depth but that isn't always what I'm looking for and I'll definitely be picking up the sequel (Kiss of the Night) at some point in the future.
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Kindle:
Sunday, 30 June 2013
Review: Entwined with You - Sylvia Day
From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognised something in him that I needed. Something I couldn't resist. I also saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside - so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession . . .
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
I have been a huge fan of the Crossfire series ever since I first read Bared to You so it feels like I had to wait forever for Entwined with You to finally be released. Gideon and Eva are my favourite dysfunctional couple and I have to admit to having a huge crush on Gideon so I was excited to spend more time with them both. I was a bit nervous when I discovered that the series had been extended from the trilogy originally planned into a five book series though, I was worried that there wouldn't be enough story to fill that many books and that we'd end up with a couple of filler books. It remains to be seen how much there is to learn in the next two books but I enjoyed this latest instalment and will be at the front of the queue for Captivated by You when it is released.
In the previous book we saw exactly how far Gideon is prepared to go to keep Eva safe but now he is facing the fallout. Not only does he have to try and come to terms with what he did but he also has to make sure nothing can be pinned on him and he can only hope that it doesn't change the way Eva looks at him. He is pushed into taking extreme measures to keep his secret and it shows just how far his and Eva's relationship has progressed when she is able to trust him no matter how bad things look. Their relationship still isn't perfect by a long shot but things are better than they ever have been. I really want to see the pair of them talk to each other more rather than constantly using sex as a way of communicating but it was good to see them start to get a handle on their jealousy issues and have a little faith in each other.
One thing I think I missed was the conflict that was so prevalent in previous books, there are things that happen that could have added more drama to the story but on the whole they were handled much more quickly and with a lot less stress than before. This is partly because of the growth that both Gideon and Eva have gone through but it does make for a less dramatic read and lets face it one of the reasons we love this couple so much is because of the drama! I never thought I'd hear myself say this (especially about an erotic romance novel) but I actually reached the point where I started to get bored of the constant sex scenes. As you'd expect from Sylvia Day the scenes were all well written and incredibly hot but there are only so many ways to describe inserting tab A into slot B before it starts to get a little repetitive. Gideon is still one of the sexiest literary heroes I've come across so I don't want to lose the sex scenes completely but I'm hoping to see a little less of them in the next book and I'd love more focus to be on the couple spending time together outside of the bedroom.
I was really pleased that we have finally started to learn a little more about Gideon's past, we are still left with plenty of questions about what happened to cause his nightmares but it was nice to get a few answers. I found myself getting incredibly annoyed with his mother in this book which surprised me because she has always seemed so nice before. Her attitude and behaviour was completely out of order this time around so it was nice to see Eva stand up for her man. I'm hoping for some kind of showdown with Eva's mother in the future too because she is driving me crazy with the way she stalks Eva, the way that everyone just panders to her only makes her behaviour worse. Then you have the side story with Cary that shocked me and made me want to shake some sense into him! I still can't quite believe what he's got himself mixed up in this time and I'm really hoping that he sorts himself out soon.
Although Entwined with You wasn't my favourite book in the series it was still a great book and I'm happy to have had my much needed Gideon fix. I'm glad that the story didn't end with a huge cliffhanger so as much as I'm looking forward to the next instalment I'm not quite as desperate to get my hands on it as I was this one. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Gideon and Eva and I find myself feeling happy that we have another 2 books to look forward to.
Source: Received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I'd been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession . . .
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
I have been a huge fan of the Crossfire series ever since I first read Bared to You so it feels like I had to wait forever for Entwined with You to finally be released. Gideon and Eva are my favourite dysfunctional couple and I have to admit to having a huge crush on Gideon so I was excited to spend more time with them both. I was a bit nervous when I discovered that the series had been extended from the trilogy originally planned into a five book series though, I was worried that there wouldn't be enough story to fill that many books and that we'd end up with a couple of filler books. It remains to be seen how much there is to learn in the next two books but I enjoyed this latest instalment and will be at the front of the queue for Captivated by You when it is released.
In the previous book we saw exactly how far Gideon is prepared to go to keep Eva safe but now he is facing the fallout. Not only does he have to try and come to terms with what he did but he also has to make sure nothing can be pinned on him and he can only hope that it doesn't change the way Eva looks at him. He is pushed into taking extreme measures to keep his secret and it shows just how far his and Eva's relationship has progressed when she is able to trust him no matter how bad things look. Their relationship still isn't perfect by a long shot but things are better than they ever have been. I really want to see the pair of them talk to each other more rather than constantly using sex as a way of communicating but it was good to see them start to get a handle on their jealousy issues and have a little faith in each other.
One thing I think I missed was the conflict that was so prevalent in previous books, there are things that happen that could have added more drama to the story but on the whole they were handled much more quickly and with a lot less stress than before. This is partly because of the growth that both Gideon and Eva have gone through but it does make for a less dramatic read and lets face it one of the reasons we love this couple so much is because of the drama! I never thought I'd hear myself say this (especially about an erotic romance novel) but I actually reached the point where I started to get bored of the constant sex scenes. As you'd expect from Sylvia Day the scenes were all well written and incredibly hot but there are only so many ways to describe inserting tab A into slot B before it starts to get a little repetitive. Gideon is still one of the sexiest literary heroes I've come across so I don't want to lose the sex scenes completely but I'm hoping to see a little less of them in the next book and I'd love more focus to be on the couple spending time together outside of the bedroom.
I was really pleased that we have finally started to learn a little more about Gideon's past, we are still left with plenty of questions about what happened to cause his nightmares but it was nice to get a few answers. I found myself getting incredibly annoyed with his mother in this book which surprised me because she has always seemed so nice before. Her attitude and behaviour was completely out of order this time around so it was nice to see Eva stand up for her man. I'm hoping for some kind of showdown with Eva's mother in the future too because she is driving me crazy with the way she stalks Eva, the way that everyone just panders to her only makes her behaviour worse. Then you have the side story with Cary that shocked me and made me want to shake some sense into him! I still can't quite believe what he's got himself mixed up in this time and I'm really hoping that he sorts himself out soon.
Although Entwined with You wasn't my favourite book in the series it was still a great book and I'm happy to have had my much needed Gideon fix. I'm glad that the story didn't end with a huge cliffhanger so as much as I'm looking forward to the next instalment I'm not quite as desperate to get my hands on it as I was this one. It will be interesting to see what the future holds for Gideon and Eva and I find myself feeling happy that we have another 2 books to look forward to.
Source: Received from Penguin in exchange for an honest review
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Thursday, 31 January 2013
Cover Reveal: Entwined with You - Sylvia Day
I have been dying to get my hands on Entwined with You by Sylvia Day for MONTHS now - I nearly cried when Amazon emailed me to say that the release date had been pushed back from December 2012 to May this year! I absolutely loved Bared to You (read my first review here and my 2nd read review here) and Reflected in You (read my review here) so I'm looking forward to the final instalment of Gideon and Eva's story.
Anyway, Sylvia posted the US cover for Entwined with You on her Facebook page this afternoon so I thought I would share it with you here:
What do you think? I love the fact that Gideon's name is on the luggage tags but I guess we're going to have to wait for the book to see how the tags fit in with the story. I really like the US cover and think it matches well with the covers for the first 2 books, I also like the fact that each book is a different colour but they are still obviously part of the same series.
Now lets have a look at the UK covers for the series. I'm not sure if this is the final UK cover for Entwined with You but it has been posted on Amazon UK & Goodreads so I'm going to include it here.
Which do you prefer the UK or the US cover? It's hard to tell if the perfume bottle or the luggage tags have more meaning to the story until I've actually read the book but at the moment I think I'm leaning towards the US cover being my favourite of the two. The UK cover fits very well with the rest of the series though and so I'll be buying this one to match the paperbacks I already have on my shelves. I think I'm just getting a bit bored of the numerous grey and black covers that seem to be dominating the shelves ever since Fifty Shades of Grey came out.
Before I go I'm just going to leave you with this synopsis of Entwined with You (it was taken from Goodreads so it may not be the final version):
The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires…
From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…
Have you read any of the Crossfire series? Are you dying to read Entwined with You just like I am? Do you prefer the UK or US covers for the series?
Anyway, Sylvia posted the US cover for Entwined with You on her Facebook page this afternoon so I thought I would share it with you here:
US cover of Entwined with You
What do you think? I love the fact that Gideon's name is on the luggage tags but I guess we're going to have to wait for the book to see how the tags fit in with the story. I really like the US cover and think it matches well with the covers for the first 2 books, I also like the fact that each book is a different colour but they are still obviously part of the same series.
US Covers of Bared to You and Reflected in You
Now lets have a look at the UK covers for the series. I'm not sure if this is the final UK cover for Entwined with You but it has been posted on Amazon UK & Goodreads so I'm going to include it here.
UK Cover of Entwined with You
Which do you prefer the UK or the US cover? It's hard to tell if the perfume bottle or the luggage tags have more meaning to the story until I've actually read the book but at the moment I think I'm leaning towards the US cover being my favourite of the two. The UK cover fits very well with the rest of the series though and so I'll be buying this one to match the paperbacks I already have on my shelves. I think I'm just getting a bit bored of the numerous grey and black covers that seem to be dominating the shelves ever since Fifty Shades of Grey came out.
UK Covers of Bared to You and Reflected in You
Before I go I'm just going to leave you with this synopsis of Entwined with You (it was taken from Goodreads so it may not be the final version):
The worldwide phenomenon continues as Eva and Gideon face the demons of their pasts, and accept the consequences of their obsessive desires…
From the moment I first met Gideon Cross, I recognized something in him that I needed. Something I couldn’t resist. I saw the dangerous and damaged soul inside–so much like my own. I was drawn to it. I needed him as surely as I needed my heart to beat.
No one knows how much he risked for me. How much I’d been threatened, or just how dark and desperate the shadow of our pasts would become.
Entwined by our secrets, we tried to defy the odds. We made our own rules and surrendered completely to the exquisite power of possession…
Have you read any of the Crossfire series? Are you dying to read Entwined with You just like I am? Do you prefer the UK or US covers for the series?
Saturday, 13 October 2012
Review: Seven Years to Sin - Sylvia Day
The longer the resistance . . .Seven years ago, on the eve of her wedding, proper Lady Jessica Sheffield witnessed a licentious scene no innocent young miss could imagine. Shocked, yet strangely titillated, she'd held her silence regarding scandalous Alistair Caulfield, and walked down the aisle as expected. But through the years of serene, unremarkable marriage, Caulfield's image remained burned into her imagination, fueling very illicit dreams . . .
. . . the sweeter the reward
Alistair ran far from the temptation of the prim debutante with the fire of passion in her eyes - all the way to the West Indies. As a successful merchant, he has little in common with the rakehell youth she knew. But when newly widowed Jessica steps aboard his ship for a transatlantic passage, seven years' worth of denied pleasures are held in check by nothing more than a few layers of silk - and the certainty that surrender will consume them both . . .
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
Jess spent many happy years married to her husband before she became a widower but she never forgot the night that she saw Alistair locked in a passionate embrace with a married woman. She has mourned her husband for a year and is finally ready to face the world again and what better way to start than by travelling to Jamaica to visit the plantation she inherited. Alistair has a reputation as a ladies man and a rake but the one woman who he ever cared for was the one who was beyond his reach. But now Jess is travelling on one of his ships he sees it as the perfect opportunity to finish what they started all those years ago. He will do whatever it takes to bring Jess's passionate side to the surface.
As a massive fan of Sylvia Day's Bared to You series and a lover of historical romances I couldn't resist reading Seven Years to Sin. This is supposed to be the story that inspired Bared to You but I have to admit I didn't find as many similarities as I expected to. Even so I am happy to say that I absolutely loved Seven Years to Sin and would highly recommend it to anyone who loves erotic romance novels.
Jess is a great character and I loved the fact that she isn't a shy virgin or someone who had an unhappy marriage. Her arranged marriage with Benedict may not have been the most passionate but they both loved each other deeply and had a good life together before his death. Devastated as she was by his loss Jess is slowly rebuilding her life on her own, thankfully Benedict left her financially secure which gives her the freedom to do as she chooses, something she intends to make the most of by travelling. Before her marriage Jess had a very unhappy childhood at the hands of an abusive and controlling father and she won't risk ending up in a similar situation by being forced to marry again. For years memories of Alistair have haunted her and when he makes his move she finds him impossible to resist.
As the fourth son of an Earl Alistair has been allowed to live his life as he pleases, he spent his time building a successful business but also seduced more than his fair share of women. In spite of the fact that he is so successful he has always felt like a disappointment to his father and they have a very strained relationship. Alistair has been half in love with Jess for seven years and there is no way he is going to miss this chance of proving to her that they belong together. Although Alistair has a naughty streak a mile wide he is also incredibly sweet and caring when it comes to Jess, he will do anything to make her happy and he always puts her needs above his own. The couple have scorching hot chemistry that burns up the pages but they also have a deep emotional connection and I loved watching the way they both helped to heal each other.
I couldn't get enough of Seven Years to Sin and was sad to reach the end - I loved Jess and Alistair both individually and as a couple but I also loved the side story with Jess's sister Hester. As soon as I finished I wanted to turn back to the first page and start reading it all over again and I don't think it will be too long before I end up re-reading it (if you had any idea how rarely I re-read books then you'd understand what a high compliment that is!). I became a fan of Sylvia Day when I read Bared to You but this has just proved to me how much I love her writing style, she is able to create characters I am emotionally connected to and I always feel invested in their stories. I am now planning on working my way through her back list and can't wait to see what else she has in store for me! If you're looking for a raunchy and erotic historical romance then Seven Years to Sin is one I would highly recommend. Even if you don't usually pick up historical romances I'd still recommend this book - especially to fans of Bared to You.
Source: Received from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Thursday, 4 October 2012
Review: Reflected in You - Sylvia Day
Eva and Gideon return in Reflected in You, the second novel in the erotic romance Crossfire series, following on from Bared to You - this is the perfect read for those who loved Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed by E.L. James.
Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction . . . my every desire . . . mine.
My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We'd never work. It was too hard, too painful . . . except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.
We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession . . .
Intensely romantic, darkly sensual and completely addictive, Sylvia Day's Reflected in You will take you to the very limits of obsession - and beyond.
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
I absolutely loved Bared to You - in fact it was one of my favourite books of the year - so I couldn't wait to spend more time with Gideon and Eva in Reflected in You. I've had the paperback on order for months but when the release date was pushed back I couldn't wait and had to buy the Kindle version too. As soon as I got home yesterday I started reading and I literally devoured this book, Sylvia Day did it again and kept me up until 5am reading for the second time! I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read Bared to You so this may contain slight spoilers for the first book - if you haven't started the series yet then you really need to!
This series isn't one you're going to enjoy if you don't like angst and drama in your relationships but for anyone who loves emotional upheaval and characters who are deeply flawed and psychologically damaged by their pasts then you're going to love Gideon and Eva. They both have serious hang ups about themselves and trust issues with each other and that doesn't make for smooth sailing in any relationship but it does make for gritty and realistic reading. The attraction between them is intense but it is about more than physical lust - they just both have difficulties explaining their feelings. Because they find it so hard to communicate they often use sex as a way of expressing themselves which can sometimes cause more problems than it resolves.
What I love most about them is that they both know they are messed up, they both admit to having issues and they are both determined to make a success of things. They understand that they are both going to have to compromise if they want to be together and they are both open to accepting the help of a couples counsellor to make things work. Because the story is told by Eva we get to see exactly what goes on inside her head, how her jealousy effects her and why she does the destructive things she sometimes does which allows us to relate to her and see her side of things. We know a lot less about Gideon's emotions and until quite near the end of the book we don't learn any more about his past than what Eva guesses from witnessing his nightmares. At times this makes him seem a bit closed off but although he finds it hard to express himself there are times when he manages to say exactly the right thing to make you fall for him. I'll be upfront and confess I am majorly crushing on Gideon right now, I didn't think I could like him more after Bared to You but I was proved wrong!
Reading Reflected in You is like going on an emotional roller coaster; there is drama and angst; there are secrets and misunderstandings; there are arguments and punishment fucks but then you also have the hot sweaty make up sex and some incredibly sweet moments between them! Gideon swears he isn't romantic but he really, really can be. Eva sums it up herself when she says "The simple fact was, Gideon and I were the best and worst things that had ever happened to each other." They know how to push each others buttons in both a positive and negative way but they understand exactly what they are doing and are surprisingly insightful when it comes to their actions. This is one messed up couple who desperately deserve a happy ending and I can't wait to get my hands on Entwined in You to see if they get it!
I'm going to leave you with a couple of my favourite quotes:
"...It turns me on when you challenge me, Eva." His voice lowered and became rapier, dripping with sex and sin. "It makes me want to fuck you. For a very, very long time."
"I'd rather argue with you, angel, than laugh with anyone else."
“People get over love. They can live without it, they can move on. Love can be lost and found again. But that won't happen for me. I won't survive you, Eva.”
“I am obsessed with you, angel. Addicted to you. You're everything I've ever wanted or needed, everything I've dreamed of. You're everything. I live and breathe you. For you.”
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn't stay away. I didn't want to. He was my addiction . . . my every desire . . . mine.
My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We'd never work. It was too hard, too painful . . . except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.
We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession . . .
Intensely romantic, darkly sensual and completely addictive, Sylvia Day's Reflected in You will take you to the very limits of obsession - and beyond.
Crossfire Series:
Bared to You (2nd Read Review)
Reflected in You
Entwined with You
Captivated by You
One with You
Visit Sylvia Day's website for more information.
Review:
I absolutely loved Bared to You - in fact it was one of my favourite books of the year - so I couldn't wait to spend more time with Gideon and Eva in Reflected in You. I've had the paperback on order for months but when the release date was pushed back I couldn't wait and had to buy the Kindle version too. As soon as I got home yesterday I started reading and I literally devoured this book, Sylvia Day did it again and kept me up until 5am reading for the second time! I'm going to assume that anyone reading this review has already read Bared to You so this may contain slight spoilers for the first book - if you haven't started the series yet then you really need to!
This series isn't one you're going to enjoy if you don't like angst and drama in your relationships but for anyone who loves emotional upheaval and characters who are deeply flawed and psychologically damaged by their pasts then you're going to love Gideon and Eva. They both have serious hang ups about themselves and trust issues with each other and that doesn't make for smooth sailing in any relationship but it does make for gritty and realistic reading. The attraction between them is intense but it is about more than physical lust - they just both have difficulties explaining their feelings. Because they find it so hard to communicate they often use sex as a way of expressing themselves which can sometimes cause more problems than it resolves.
What I love most about them is that they both know they are messed up, they both admit to having issues and they are both determined to make a success of things. They understand that they are both going to have to compromise if they want to be together and they are both open to accepting the help of a couples counsellor to make things work. Because the story is told by Eva we get to see exactly what goes on inside her head, how her jealousy effects her and why she does the destructive things she sometimes does which allows us to relate to her and see her side of things. We know a lot less about Gideon's emotions and until quite near the end of the book we don't learn any more about his past than what Eva guesses from witnessing his nightmares. At times this makes him seem a bit closed off but although he finds it hard to express himself there are times when he manages to say exactly the right thing to make you fall for him. I'll be upfront and confess I am majorly crushing on Gideon right now, I didn't think I could like him more after Bared to You but I was proved wrong!
Reading Reflected in You is like going on an emotional roller coaster; there is drama and angst; there are secrets and misunderstandings; there are arguments and punishment fucks but then you also have the hot sweaty make up sex and some incredibly sweet moments between them! Gideon swears he isn't romantic but he really, really can be. Eva sums it up herself when she says "The simple fact was, Gideon and I were the best and worst things that had ever happened to each other." They know how to push each others buttons in both a positive and negative way but they understand exactly what they are doing and are surprisingly insightful when it comes to their actions. This is one messed up couple who desperately deserve a happy ending and I can't wait to get my hands on Entwined in You to see if they get it!
I'm going to leave you with a couple of my favourite quotes:
"...It turns me on when you challenge me, Eva." His voice lowered and became rapier, dripping with sex and sin. "It makes me want to fuck you. For a very, very long time."
"I'd rather argue with you, angel, than laugh with anyone else."
“People get over love. They can live without it, they can move on. Love can be lost and found again. But that won't happen for me. I won't survive you, Eva.”
“I am obsessed with you, angel. Addicted to you. You're everything I've ever wanted or needed, everything I've dreamed of. You're everything. I live and breathe you. For you.”
Source: Purchased
Other Reviews:
If you have reviewed this book on your blog please leave a link to your review in the comments & I'll add the link here.
Paperback / Kindle:
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