Review: Asking for It - Lilah Pace

“This is who I am. This is what I want. Now I need a man dangerous enough to give it to me.”

Graduate student Vivienne Charles is afraid of her own desires—ashamed to admit that she fantasizes about being taken by force, by a man who will claim her completely and without mercy. When the magnetic, mysterious Jonah Marks learns her secret, he makes an offer that stuns her: they will remain near-strangers to each other, and meet in secret so that he can fulfill her fantasy.

Their arrangement is twisted. The sex is incredible. And—despite their attempts to stay apart—soon their emotions are bound together as tightly as the rope around Vivienne’s wrists. But the secrets in their pasts threaten to turn their affair even darker . . .

Reader Advisory: Asking for It deals explicitly with fantasies of non-consensual sex. Readers sensitive to portrayals of non-consensual sex should be advised.

Asking for It Series:
Asking for It
Begging for It
Asking for More (Novella)

Visit Lilah Pace's website for more information

Review:
Asking for It touches on a bit of a controversial subject and I'll warn you now that if you have triggers it's probably a book you need to stay well clear of. There are flashbacks to scenes of rape and abuse, not between the main characters but to things that have happened to them or that they witnessed, so that is understandably going to make some people uncomfortable. I don't tend to read many dark books but I like to step out of my comfort zone occasionally and I was intrigued by this one.

I'm not a fan of the term "rape fantasy" because I don't think things are that simple, there is a very big difference between a woman fantasising about rough, out of control, sex with a guy (even a stranger) that she finds attractive to her being forced into something against her will by someone that she may or may not be interested in sexually. I don't have a problem with someone wanting to give up control and experience a darker side to sex but I really don't think the word rape should be used to describe it. The very fact that Vivienne is fantasising about sex with Jonah, that everything they do is discussed in detail before it happens and that they have set rules in place to make sure everything is completely consensual meant I was able to enjoy reading the sex scenes between them. They definitely both like things on the rough side but there is no denying the chemistry between them or how mind-blowingly hot this story was.

What I really enjoyed about Asking for It was how well we got to know the main characters, even though the story is told from Vivienne's point of view I felt like I got to see a bit of what made Jonah tick and I really liked them both. They're both more than a little messed up thanks to things from their past but I enjoyed seeing them get to know each other and it was good to see Vivienne starting to accept her desires and realise that there was nothing wrong with her kink. They go into things determined to keep their relationship purely sexual, they will indulge in their wildest fantasies together but they have no plans to get to know each other or start dating. Of course now that they've both found the person who can give them everything they ever wanted it's not quite as simple as that and it doesn't take long before the lines begin to blur. It was fascinating to see the growing connection between them and I liked that it wasn't all about the sex.

This isn't the kind of story that gives you a happily ever after, or even really a happily for now, but I have extremely high hopes that they'll be able to make things work eventually and I can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the sequel Begging for It. Lilah Pace has tackled a difficult subject with sensitivity, she made me believe in both of these characters and want to see them get the love that they deserve. She's definitely an author to watch out for and her future books will be going to the top of my to read pile.

Source: Received from the author in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Unforgotten - Jessica Brody

Can you ever really be safe from the horrors of the past?

Seraphina and her boyfriend Zen are on the run and in hiding from the scientists who created her.

But will they be able to stay hidden as Zen falls prey to a mysterious illness and Seraphina's creators develop a dangerous new weapon?

Now Seraphina's only hope of saving Zen and defeating the company that made her is a secret buried deep within her mind.

A secret that those hunting her will kill to protect.

Unremembered Series:
The Memory Coder (Free short story on the Tor website)
Unremembered
Undiscovered (Novella)
Unforgotten
Unleashed (Novella)
Unchanged
The Intelligence Director (Free short story on the Tor website)
The Human Engineer (Free short story on the Tor website)

Visit Jessica Brody's website for more information

Review:
Unforgotten is the second book in Jessica Brody's Unremembered trilogy and picks up a couple of months after the ending of the first book. Seraphina and Zen have fled back to 1609 to escape the Diotech scientists and if they can just keep their heads down there is no way they can ever be traced. Unfortunately while Zen has settled in quite quickly Seraphina is struggling and the villagers look at her with suspicion in their eyes. When Zen becomes ill and an accident causes Seraphina to be accused of witchcraft she suddenly finds herself in more danger than ever before and she may just have to team up with the enemy if she wants to save the boy she loves.

I really enjoyed Unremembered so I was looking forward to continuing the series and seeing what happened to Seraphina next. I really enjoyed the beginning of the book, it was great to see Seraphina and Zen so happy together and I was enjoying the glimpse into the past through their eyes, everything is so different to what they were used to but neither of them cared about missing modern conveniences as long as they were together. Then Zen got ill and things started going horribly wrong, Seraphina's actions caused a record of her existence to be created which meant Diotech were able to track her down and suddenly Kaelen is on the scene. Kaelen was created by Diotech just like Seraphina and he has all of her abilities and then some so Seraphina is in deep trouble. There is something hidden deep in her memory that Diotech wants and when Kaelen promises to give Seraphina the cure Zen desperately needs she has no choice but to travel with him into the future while she tries to unlock her memories.

I hate to say it but I was disappointed by Unforgotten, it isn't a bad book and I definitely still want to finish the series but for me this just didn't quite live up to the potential of the first story. I think I was just disappointed that Seraphina and Zen were apart for so much of the story, after everything they'd been through together I wanted to see them continuing to work as a team. I definitely wasn't happy that it seemed like a convenient way to introduce Kaelen as a potential love interest, I would have been fine with him as an enemy or a potential ally but I didn't want or need a love triangle in this series. Come on authors, how many times do we have to read these trilogies where the main plot point is a love triangle? I'm so sick to death of that trope that I'm actually bored of complaining about it. It's definitely makes me wary of picking up new series and I hate that.

So if I wasn't so annoyed at the triangle I probably would have enjoyed this more, there was plenty of action, some intriguing plot twists and it was interesting to see the future the way Jessica Brody has imagined it. I'm invested in these characters enough that I want to see how things resolve themselves so I will be picking up the final book but I am now more wary about reading it and my expectations have definitely been lowered. Let's just hope that the series can end on the high note that it started with.

Source: Received from Macmillan in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Blameless - Gail Carriger

Quitting her husband's house and moving back in with her horrible family, Lady Alexia becomes the scandal of the London season.

Not only does Queen Victoria dismiss her from the Shadow Council, but the only person who can explain anything, Lord Akeldama, unexpectedly leaves town. To top it all off, Alexia is attacked by homicidal mechanical ladybugs - indicating, as only ladybugs can, the fact that all of London's vampires are now very much interested in seeing Alexia quite thoroughly dead.

While Lord Maccon elects to get progressively more inebriated and Professor Lyall desperately tries to hold the Woolsey werewolf pack together, Alexia flees England for Italy in search of the mysterious Templars. Only they know enough about the preternatural to explain her increasingly inconvenient condition, but they may be worse than the vampires and they're armed with pesto.

Parasol Protectorate Series:
The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar (Novella)
Soulless
Changeless
Blameless
Heartless
Timeless

Finishing School Series:
(This is a YA series set in the Parasol Protectorate world but set 25 years before the first book)
Etiquette & Espionage
Curtsies & Conspiracies
Waistcoats & Weaponry
Manners & Mutiny

Delightfully Deadly:
(A series of standalone adult novellas set in the Parasol Protectorate world featuring characters you may recognise from the other series, they fit into the timeline between the Finishing School and Parasol Protectorate books)
Poison or Protect
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Custard Protocol Series:
(This is another adult series set in the Parasol Protectorate world but set several decades after the last book)
Prudence
Imprudence

Supernatural Society Series:
(A series of standalone adult novellas set in the Parasol Protectorate world featuring popular LGBT characters you may recognise from the other series)
Romancing the Inventor
Romancing the Werewolf (2017)

Visit Gail Carriger's website for more information

Review:
Please note that although this review is spoiler free for Blameless it will contain major spoilers for previous books in the series so look away now if you've not already read Soulless and Changeless.

The end of Changeless saw Alexia discover that she was pregnant then immediately get accused of infidelity by her husband Conall. She has now returned from Scotland and after Conall told her he never wanted to see her again she's had to resort to moving back in with her family. We've all seen just how badly her mother and stepsisters treated her before so having her move back home in disgrace hasn't improved their relationship at all, especially not when the whole of London is talking of her assumed indiscretion. Alexia is determined to find out more about the abilities of the Soulless so that she can clear her name but when it becomes clear that the vampires have decided to execute her she realises it might be time to leave London. She sets out to Italy in search of the Templars in the hope that they'll have the information she desperately needs but danger isn't far behind her and she's going to have to figure things out quickly if she wants to survive.

I was incredibly disappointed with Conall's behaviour at the end of the previous book, I can understand why he was sceptical because werewolves can't have children but surely the fact that his wife's touch turns him human should be enough to make him pause before accusing her of something so horrible. It was the fact that he didn't even speak to her that really annoyed me, she wasn't even given a chance to defend herself before he had her thrown out of the house and basically abandoned her. Alexia is rightly mad at her husband and even though she wants to prove to him that he's the father she isn't so sure she can forgive him for doubting her, something I couldn't blame her for in the slightest. I was hoping that Conall would come to his senses quite quickly but he spends the majority of the first half of the book drinking away his sorrows and feeling sorry for himself. Meanwhile Alexia is dealing with the shock of her pregnancy, the disapproving frowns wherever she goes and multiple attempts on her life thanks to the vampires.

The poor girl has a lot on her plate but she copes admirably and I was pleased that she takes action rather than sits around mooning. Alexia has always been a practical woman and that really shows here, she reaches out to a few trusted allies and before we know it she is on her way to Italy with Madame Lafoux and Floote for company. As I'm sure anyone who is familiar with this series would expect plenty of hijinx ensue and Alexia is in for quite an adventure as she crosses Europe. One thing I was really pleased with is that Conall's second, Professor Lyall, believes Alexia is innocent. He tries talking sense into his alpha but the man is stubborn as hell and he's so drunk on formaldehyde that it takes quite a while for the truth to sink in.

I have to admit that as much as I still love Alexia and I enjoyed seeing her adventures I'm still annoyed at Conall. He takes far too long to come to his senses and when he finally did go after Alexia it was a case of too little too late for me. I expected him to do some major grovelling and for Alexia to make him work at earning her forgiveness so I was angry that she took him back so quickly and I'm no longer feeling quite so confident in their relationship. I'm hoping that we will see him really make amends to her in the next book, he's made a start but he has a long way to go in my eyes before I'll forgive him completely.

As much as Conall irritated me I still really enjoyed the rest of the story, there are lots of crazy antics, the story moved at a fast pace and this whole series really keeps me on my toes wondering what could possibly happen next. I'm very curious to see how Alexia copes with impending motherhood, she seemed quite cold when she thought about the baby in the beginning but by the end of the story it is obvious she has already become quite attached to the "infant-inconvenience" and I think it'll be fun to see her as a mother. Whatever happens I think the baby is going to make life interesting for the whole pack and it's sure to have a knock on effect when it comes to the whole supernatural community so I'm definitely looking forward to Heartless.

Source: Purchased

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Review: The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar - Gail Carriger

A short tale of mummies, werewolves, and well preserved felines set in the world of the Parasol Protectorate.

Alessandro Tarabotti and his valet, Floote, are on a mission in Egypt when they encounter visiting tourists and things go all pie shaped. What is his real mission and will his Aunt Archangelica approve of his treatment of her cat?

In this short story, New York Times Bestselling Author Gail Carriger uses her comedic voice to delve into the history of one of her most beloved characters. If you have ever wondered about Alexia's father, this will give you a glimpse into his adventures and character. This story was first published in The Book of the Dead, a Jurassic London anthology. 8,300 words.

Parasol Protectorate Series:
The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar (Short Story)
Soulless
Changeless
Blameless
Heartless
Timeless

Finishing School Series:
(This is a YA series set in the Parasol Protectorate world but set 25 years before the first book)
Etiquette & Espionage
Curtsies & Conspiracies
Waistcoats & Weaponry
Manners & Mutiny

Delightfully Deadly:
(A series of standalone adult novellas set in the Parasol Protectorate world featuring characters you may recognise from the other series, they fit into the timeline between the Finishing School and Parasol Protectorate books)
Poison or Protect
Future titles and release dates to be confirmed

Custard Protocol Series:
(This is another adult series set in the Parasol Protectorate world but set several decades after the last book)
Prudence
Imprudence

Supernatural Society Series:
(A series of standalone adult novellas set in the Parasol Protectorate world featuring popular LGBT characters you may recognise from the other series)
Romancing the Inventor
Romancing the Werewolf (2017)

Visit Gail Carriger's website for more information

Review:
The Curious Case of the Werewolf That Wasn't, the Mummy That Was, and the Cat in the Jar is a short story set in the world of Gail Carriger's Parasol Protectorate series that gives readers the chance to meet Alexia's father Alessandro Tarabotti. Although this technically is a prequel I wouldn't recommend it as a starting point if you're new to the series but if you've already read at least Soulless then you'll probably enjoy this glimpse into the past.

I've been wanting to know more about Alessandro's past ever since I first started reading the series so I had high hopes for this story but while it was a fun read I have to admit I think it needed to be longer. At only 32 pages we don't get much of a chance to get to know the characters, it was great to see another side to butler Floote but the length of the story doesn't allow for much character development of Alessandro or anyone else. I was excited when I realised we were witnessing his first meeting with Alexia's mother but it was incredibly brief and didn't even seem to show him being attracted to her so I have no idea how they ended up married which is one of the biggest mysteries of the series!

This story does have all of the humour you'd expect from this author, I liked the Egyptian setting and I did enjoy seeing Alessandro working a case for the Templars but I think it could have been a much more satisfying read if it had been at least double the length.

Source: Purchased

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Review: Breaking Nova - Jessica Sorensen

Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she's getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next ... until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life — too bad he doesn't want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he's done, what he's lost. He's sworn to never allow happiness into his life ... but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he's too damaged to get close to her, yet she's the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

Nova Series:
Breaking Nova
Saving Quinton
Delilah: The Making of Red (Novella)
Nova and Quinton: No Regrets
Tristan: Finding Hope (Novella)
Wreck Me
Ruin Me

Visit Jessica Sorensen's website for more information

Review:
Jessica Sorensen is one of my favourite NA authors, she always creates such realistic characters, ones who are deeply messed up and who don't always deal with their problems in the healthiest ways but that just makes them all the more compelling to read about. Breaking Nova is about two of these damaged people and about one of them learning to move forward with their life. It doesn't really end with a happily ever after but I'm kind of hopeful that these characters will sort themselves out eventually and I'm looking forward to following their journey.

Nova lost the love of her life when he committed suicide and she was traumatised when she found the body. Quinton survived the car crash that killed both his girlfriend and his cousin but because he was the driver he blames himself for what happened and suffers with survivors guilt. They're both in a bad way and have turned to drink and drugs as a way to make the pain stop. I definitely don't agree with a lot of the choices they make but it's easy to understand why they act the way they do. Their lives have been turned upside down and they've got to make the choice to get past what happened so they can find a way to move forward.

I think Breaking Nova was probably the darkest book I've read by Jessica Sorensen but I absolutely loved it. This isn't always an easy book to read, in fact at times it's downright depressing, but I enjoyed seeing Nova make such huge changes in her life. She has had it tough but she has come out on the other side stronger than ever and I was really proud of her. On the other hand Quinton is still heading towards rock bottom, I'm kind of scared to see how much harder things are going to get for him before he manages to pick himself back up but I have confidence that he can do it. What I really appreciated was that the romance between them doesn't automatically solve all their issues, they still have to find a way to deal with the past. Nova has some difficult decisions to make but I really felt like she did the right thing and it was good to see her put herself first for a change.

This was a heart wrenching story that really tugged at my emotions and I can't wait to see these characters continue to turn their lives around.

Source: Received from Sphere in exchange for an honest review

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Review: Forsaken - S.J. Harper

Join Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong
She protected him. He loved her.
They can trust one another with their lives, but what about their hearts?

Special Agent Emma Monroe is a Fallen Siren seeking redemption. Thousands of years ago, she was banished from Mount Olympus by Zeus and cursed by Demeter for failing to prevent the kidnapping of Persephone by Hades. Now she’s working for the FBI, seeking salvation while searching for and finding the missing. Her partner, Zack Armstrong, is a werewolf with a grievance of his own.

The former Black Ops sniper who once carried out a string of questionable assignments is atoning for his past. Ironically, Zack’s just discovered an important piece of his past has been magically wiped from his memory—an affair with Emma. It doesn’t matter she used the spell to save his life, that’s something he’ll never know. With trust eroded and love overshadowed by betrayal the only thing holding them together is the job.

When the son of multi-billionaire Roger Maitlan is kidnapped and his babysitter murdered in cold blood, Emma and Zack travel to New York to work the case. They go undercover, infiltrating a playground of private dungeons where those who are rich and powerful can live out fantasies without consequence. What they find is a conspiracy born of a twisted mind and fueled by greed. The clock is ticking. Will Zack and Emma be able to find the missing boy and their way back to one another?

Fallen Siren Series:
Captured (Novella)
Cursed
Reckoning
Forsaken (Novella)

Visit S.J. Harper's website for more information

Review:
Forsaken picks up the story right after the ending of Reckoning so things are pretty tense between Emma and Zack. It's not been long since Zack found out that Emma had messed with his memory and he's angry and hurt. It doesn't help that Emma can't explain her actions because she refuses to risk his life by telling him the truth. She is terrified he is going to walk away from her forever but at the same time she knows that is probably the safest option for him. They have to put their feelings to one side when the child of a well known billionaire is kidnapped though. The two are sent to New York to work the case and they know that the child's life is more important than any hurt feelings between them. Can Zack and Emma find a way to work together in spite of their issues or will a child suffer because of them?

I've really fallen in love with this series so I was incredibly excited to read Forsaken, after the way things ended in the previous book I was nervous about how things would be between Zack and Emma. It's hard because as a reader we can fully understand where they're both coming from. If I was in Zack's position I'm not sure I'd be able to forgive Emma's actions because he doesn't know her reasoning but obviously knowing what we do about Demeter and Emma's curse we can understand why she keeps the secret. There really isn't an easy answer to the issues between them and it's hard to see how much pain they're both in. I do love that they are able to put their problems to one side and get on with their job though, of course there is tension between them and they still have that spike of attraction that isn't going anywhere but they will do whatever it takes to find the missing child and I respect them both for that. It was nice to see them starting to work things out too, they still have a long way to go but we're left with a feeling of hope that Zack has started to figure out that something is going on that Emma can't talk about.

This was a great addition to the series and I'm sure fans will love it. My only issue was that I wanted it to be longer, not because the story wasn't satisfying because it definitely was, but because I love this world and these characters and I wanted to spend more time with them! I can't wait to get my hands on the next instalment of the series!

Source: Received from the authors in exchange for an honest review

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Trailer Reveal: Every Last Breath - Jennifer L Armentrout

We are very excited to bring you the trailer for the Epic Finale in Jennifer L. Armentrout's Dark Elements Series, EVERY LAST BREATH! Published by HarlequinTeen, EVERY LAST BREATH is a young adult paranormal filled with romance and danger being released on July 28th, 2015. Be sure to pre-order your copy today and enter to win some AMAZING Dark Elements prizes!

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

EVERY LAST BREATH Synopsis:

Some loves will last ‘til your dying breath

Every choice has consequences—but seventeen-year-old Layla faces tougher choices than most. Light or darkness. Wickedly sexy demon prince Roth, or Zayne, the gorgeous, protective Warden she never thought could be hers. Hardest of all, Layla has to decide which side of herself to trust.

Layla has a new problem, too. A Lilin—the deadliest of demons—has been unleashed, wreaking havoc on those around her…including her best friend. To keep Sam from a fate much, much worse than death, Layla must strike a deal with the enemy while saving her city—and her race—from destruction.

Torn between two worlds and two different boys, Layla has no certainties, least of all survival, especially when an old bargain comes back to haunt them all. But sometimes, when secrets are everywhere and the truth seems unknowable, you have to listen to your heart, pick a side—and then fight like hell…

“Armentrout is a major talent…I just can’t stop reading!”
--New York Times bestselling author Gena Showalter

“Armentrout works her magic with swoon-worthy guys and a twist you never see coming.”
--#1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines on White Hot Kiss

And here's the amazing trailer for EVERY LAST BREATH...

https://www.youtube.com/embed/QLM2WuvsX4g

And don't forget to preorder your copy of EVERY LAST BREATH today and enter to win!

Enter now to win an INCREDIBLE Dark Elements prize pack including a VISA GIFT CARD!

Register your pre-order of Jennifer L. Armentrout's EVERY LAST BREATH now to enter PLUS help unlock MORE prizes! ► http://bit.ly/1Fy7ekS

EVERY LAST BREATH Preorder Links

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

Don’t miss the first titles in the Dark Elements Series!

BITTER SWEET LOVE

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** BAM ** Kobo

WHITE HOT KISS

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** BAM ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo

STONE COLD TOUCH

Amazon ** Barnes and Noble ** iBooks ** IndieBound ** Kobo ** BAM

About Jennifer L. Armentrout:

# 1 New York Times and # 1 International Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

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