Review: Oceans Apart

Thursday 16 October 2014 No comments
Oceans Apart Oceans Apart by Emma Fitzgerald
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Another new author for me and another pleasant surprise. I was looking for something easy to read and enjoyable and this book certainly met my expectations.

When I read the synopsis I knew I had to read this book. I mean a surfer (tick), an Aussie hunk (tick) and fun and games in the form of sun, sea, sand and sizzling Sydney sexiness thanks to Cam.

Cam is a pro surfer and after having a head injury is taking a break back in Australia when he comes across Annie, for the second time but this time fighting for her life.

Cam saves Annie in more ways that one and the two soon realise they have a connection that is hard to ignore. Annie has never felt love and warmth from her family and despite her parents no longer being around she still feels their rejection.

Annie soon realises when she's around Cam's family that she has found what she has always been looking for. His mother, father, sister, Sea, and the mysterious Matt who I hope we will soon read more about, complete the family portrait and Annie knows that this is where she's meant to be but will she be able to live with the shocking news that she receives courtesy of Cam's ex.

All of a sudden, Annie is filled with doubt and even though she loves Cam unconditionally, she knows she will never be able to live the life she is now faced with.

This was a dream of a read and a passionate storyline that melted my heart. I can't wait to see where the story with Matt and Chel(Sea) goes though, there are some fireworks between those two which are waiting to erupt onto our ereaders.

This book has no obvious grammar or typographical errors, a HEA, and a healthy dose of unrequited love. What's not to like!!!

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Review: Unbroken

Friday 10 October 2014 No comments
Unbroken Unbroken by R.E. Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Unbroken is a story of love but love without complications wouldn't really be love, or would it? This is the battle of the ex's and by the end you will be torn over which ex you hate the most!!!

Luke and Embry's story continues post "Sydney" and the sudden ending of Undone. As expected, Sydney-gate is the main focus of this book and each time you think Luke has dealt with her up she pops again like an interminable jack-in-a-box!

Jack is the other ex and a problem that Embry still needs to face once and for all but with Luke by her side what could possibly go wrong.

Morgan is again ever present to add the entertainment and the witty one-liners. I love that girl! Brett is another dream character and such a sweetie and I kind of wished at times that the story told this loveable couple's story instead!

I have to say I felt sorry for "Jer", I really wanted him to find his HEA. With a friend like him, what girl wouldn't be happy.

I loved this story but I also felt it was long winded at times. A lot could have happened in the story development but it fell a little short for me. Don't get me wrong, this is a sweet romantic tale with some ups and downs along the way but in between the hurdles were aspects to the story which fell a bit flat. I found things were only just getting interesting at 80% into the story.

Embry also had me torn. She is an atypical heroine and whilst I wanted to love her, she totally got on my nerves at times with her swinging emotions and treatment of poor Luke and I found myself shouting at her (in my head, of course).

All in all this was an enjoyable contemporary romance with some twists and turns along the way. Luke is a dream boyfriend and Embry is one lucky girl!

“I love you more than all the stars in the sky.”

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Review: Collateral

Thursday 9 October 2014 No comments
Collateral Collateral by Callie Hart
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Zeth’s words say it all after reading the final instalment of this outstanding Blood & Roses series by Callie Hart.

I. Can’t. Breathe.
I first saw this series through another blogger's TBR and knowing her reputation for finding great books and great authors I thought what the hell, I'll give it a shot. Little did I know that I would become obsessed with the Blood & Roses series and its extremely talented author.

It's not often that these days we find a series which is so memorable because let's face it, we're all reading so much now thanks to the indie author community and ereaders that it's easy to move on from book to book without looking back. That is certainly not the case with Blood & Roses though and I know I'm going to read this series more than once to enjoy Zeth uninterrupted.

We were hit hard with the first instalment. Zeth the heartless monster, Zeth the sex fiend, Zeth the killer but book by book, Zeth has given up his secrets to us readers until we get to see the real man, his heart, his passion and his love for his angry bird; Sloane. This is a story of beauty and the beast and in true romance style, the beauty slays the beast with her tenderness and a determination to win over this beautifully broken man.

Together with Michael, Zeth’s loyal friend and his sister, Lacey, the group continue to struggle to find a way to overcome the nightmare that is Charlie Holsan. After Charlie spins lies to Lacey to win her trust, Zeth and Sloane must find a way to rescue her from his clutches before it’s too late.

As ever, the group try to move secretively in order to avoid the ever watchful eyes of DEA Agent, Denise Lowell, who is still trying to bring Zeth to justice along with Sloane’s brother-in-law, Rebel.

Now working together; Rebel, Zeth, Sloan and Michael hatch a plan to get Lowell off their backs once and for all but things don’t go to plan and the group have to think of another way to ensure their freedom.

Zeth is starting to accept that Sloane’s love for him is genuine and he knows he already can’t live without her but is he willing to open his heart to this woman and to trust himself to be in her arms, especially at night? For me the turning point in their relationship was when Zeth and Sloane kissed on the mouth and after all the angst, emotional turmoil and raw passion of their relationship, we found ourselves breaking for this damaged man as he trusts Sloane to fight through his penultimate emotional defence.

I read this book willing there to be a HEA especially after all of the heartbreak faced by this group of friends throughout the series so far and whilst I loved the ending it wasn’t read without tears and sadness. Zeth’s fragility is raw and his emotions are tangible and the chapters where a simply a few words were expressed extracted more emotion from me as a reader than the in-depth analysis of the story line.

As ever, the sex in this book is breathtakingly brutal and violent but the pain continues to be welcomed and wanted by Sloane.

”You’re too smart for your own good, angry girl. Now you know our little secret, you’re going to have to be punished.”
This series isn’t for the squeamish but it is one full of suspense, intrigue, violence, sex, and most importantly LOVE.

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4.5 Star Review: Elect (Eagle Elite #2) by Rachel Van Dyken

Monday 6 October 2014 No comments
Elect (Eagle Elite, #2)Elect by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars!!!

This is a really enjoyable series which combines the innocence of school life alongside the darkness of the brutal and controlling spectre of the mafia.

Nixon loves Trace unconditionally. Brought up together they were destined to spend their lives intertwined that was until Trace's parents were killed and she was hidden for her own safety by her grandparents. Now back together, with Trace aware of her past, they must separate again in order to protect Trace from her parent's killer or killers.

Thrust into Chase's arms, Trace knows her heart is torn. She loves Chase but her soul belongs to Nixon. Forced to live a lie though, she must convince those around her who could cause her harm that she is in a relationship with Chase and that twists the knife further all of their hearts.

As Nixon continues to seek out the threats against his leadership, he uncovers some family secrets and an unlikely ally in Phoenix. Liaising with another powerful mafia family from Sicily, Nixon slowly gets the answers he's been searching for his whole life.

The group continue to be supported by Tex and Nixon's sister, Mo. A new addition joins the group of friends in the form of Phoenix's sister, Mil. A feisty and determined girl, she is prepared to do anything to help her brother and to reveal the secrets which have been buried for years.

This story was shocking and disturbing but at the same time fascinating. I must admit I did find the whole family tree a bit confusing and it took me a little while to get my head around the new family dynamics as unknown parents were revealed.

This is a really well written and thought out story line. It is full of twists and turns and I can't wait to read where the story heads next, especially with Mil.


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