Beautiful Bastard (Beautiful Bastard #1) by Christina Lauren

I'd like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for giving me a chance to read this book for free in exchange for an honest review.

Title; Beautiful Bastard

Author; Christina Lauren

Series; Beautiful Bastard Book One

Publisher; Gallery Books

Publication Date; February 12th 2013

Description; An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling.
Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard.

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other.

Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over 2 million reads on fanfiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

Goodreads Average Rating; 3.69

My Rating; 4.75*s out of 5*s

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Who would I recommend it to? Fans of adult romance

Review; Mostly I read this book because I was curious. I'd seen several good reviews, and some bad, I was also aware that this was originally Twilight fan fiction. So, I thought I wasn't really going to like it, but my curious side always wins and so when I saw this title on Netgalley I requested it.
Now that I've read this book I can say that I am glad I did.

I liked the characters. I liked them because Chloe wasn't a stupid childlike character, she actually had a bit of a backbone and because Bennett was also a strong characters, but not stupidly so.
If I hadn't of been so tired I probably would have finished this book last night.
It is an east read. I liked the characters a lot, and bits and bobs in the book had me smiling or laughing slightly.
The characters had great chemistry in my eyes, although I felt it may have dived into the story, and the sex just a bit too quickly, but...that also seemed to suit the story.
The sex scenes were good because the characters did have chemistry, I liked Chloe's love of lingerie and Bennett's love of tearing the lingerie from Chloe.

At first, I was worried about this book, because it's an erotica, and originally a Twilight fan fiction, just like fifty shades was, but this is nothing like fifty shades was, this book was so much more than better. I recommend you pick up your copy to read...if you haven't already.
I will definitely be buying myself a copy of this book in the future!

A Shimmer of Angels by Lisa M. Basso

Review copy received from NetGalley in exchange for honest review. 

Title; A Shimmer of Angels

Author; Lisa M. Basso

Series; Angel Sight Book One

Publisher; Month9Books, LLC

Publication Date; January 29th 2013

Description; Sixteen-year-old Rayna sees angels, and has the medication and weekly therapy sessions to prove it. Now, in remission, Rayna starts fresh at a new school, lands a new job, and desperately tries for normalcy. She ignores signs that she may be slipping into the world she has tried so hard to climb out of. But these days, it’s more than just hallucinations that keep Rayna up at night. Students are dying, and she may be the only one who can stop it. Can she keep her job, her sanity, and her friends from dying at the hands of angels she can't admit to seeing? 

Goodreads Average Rating; 3.69

My Star Rating; 4*s/5

Would I read anything else by this author? Yes, I would. I would like to continue with the series.

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Who would I recommend it to? Fans of Paranormal Romance, YA, and Angels.
Fans of Fallen and Hush, Hush (though even if you didn't like those books you should give this one a try anyway.)

Review; This book started really well for me, I was quite into it from the get go...but then it began to feel like it was dragging on. Then, when we get closer to the end I began to like it again.
This might be because of my tiredness, but I kind of felt the book was repetitive in places, especially with some of Rayna's "issues."

Now, don't get me wrong, because I really did enjoy reading this book, and I would like to continue with the rest of the series, I just feel like I can't love the series, and so am instead in like with this first book.

The Characters;
I felt sorry for Ray, but I couldn't quite connect with her.
I loved Lee, I think there should have been more of him in the book.
There was only one Sally scene, but I quite liked her character because of the eccentric-ness.
Kade. Ah, Kade, I quite liked his character, even if I feel there isn't much to say about him, I just feel like he could become my favourite character.
Cam, I feel there's something more to him, something we don't know yet, and I want to find out what it is, if anything.

The beginning of this book, for me it was good because it started somewhat differently than the other books involving angels that I have read. I was excited for something different in an angel book, and I certainly got that something different.
I also quite liked the writing.

The middle was full of what I'm sure is vital information for the rest of the series, but it was as if we were following a routine, as if she were doing the same things everyday, the only difference was a little more information, so there was a bit where I felt I had to push myself to keep reading. But it got better again, and I started to get back into the story as things started to get a bit more interesting.

The ending makes me want the next book. It was in no way what-so-ever a cliffhanger, but it still made me want to read the next book.

Overall this was an enjoyable book, and I certainly want to read the next book.
Even if it isn't at the top of my to-read list.

Three Stages of Love: Lust by T. C. Anthony (Blog Tour.) Giveaway and Review!

I'd like to thank Smith Publicity, Inc. for my free review copy. 

Title; Three Stages of Love; Lust

Author; T. C. Anthony

Publisher; Createspace

Publication Date; November 28th 2012

Series; Three Stages of Love trilogy, Book One.

Description; Evangeline Chase is standing at the edge of a crossroad. After choosing to be blissfully ignorant for far too long and willfully ignoring what her life has been lacking, fate is about to intervene. When Alexander Mason, a striking and powerful venture capitalist, is introduced as her new boss, Eva is overwhelmed by an intoxicating cocktail of hormones and lust that leaves her struggling to maintain her composure and more importantly, control of her life.

With an undeniable urge to dominate her new boss, her own lust-filled fantasies lead to a transformation that shakes her to her core. But when Alexander challenges Eva to satisfy her carnal urges, she is forced to choose between her career, her desires, and an unconventional and lustful relationship. Consumed by fear and forced to maintain control at all costs, Eva must decide if having it all is worth risking her career, her world, and possibly, love.

Three Stages of Love: Lust is the first book in a suspenseful new erotic romance series that explores the questions that young women have while embarking on their journey through life and love. Eva’s transformation from prim and proper to fun and dominating proves to be one of the most erotically intriguing personal makeovers around. Her passion for her career and life goals ultimately gives way to uninhibited encounters that leave her intoxicated and yearning for more. Eva’s emotional battle between her heart and mind leave her juggling with a desire to have it all and a profound fear of losing everything.

Written to illustrate the average, driven woman’s point of view, Three Stages of Love: Lust tackles the everyday fears and desires that young women have in an intoxicatingly erotic way. A gripping, palpitation-inducing romance full of underlying themes that are extraordinarily relevant to modern women, this enthralling erotic novel by T. C. Anthony is a must-read for women of all backgrounds

My Star Rating; 4.5*s out of 5

Goodreads Average Rating; 3.56

Would I read anything else by this author? I would like to read the next books in the series, so yes.

Would I recommend this book? Yes.

Who would I recommend it to? Fans of Adult Romances and Erotica books.

Review; I quite liked the characters in this book...they were realistic compared to some books. They had flaws! Some of those flaws were slightly annoying, but understandable. But the fact that they weren't perfect, that they seemed like real people, just made me like the characters more.
Even if Eva is slightly annoying on occasion.
The sex scenes were also realistic, especially when compared to some erotica books.
Alexander is my favourite characters in this book, and I'm sure he could become one of my favourite male characters for many reasons. He was realistic, like a lot of other things and people in this book. He was a sex god without being ALL alpha male. Which I find totally awesome, I mean, don't get me wrong, I like alpha male characters, but sometimes they're too alpha. Alexander wasn't perfect, but he was a great character, he had balance. He wasn't just one thing.

This book had me laughing, it had me crying, and it sometimes made me want to scream in frustration.

Personally I felt that some of the exclamation marks could have been cut out, and I found it odd that how much Alexander "giggled" but none the less, I enjoyed this book and would recommend it.

To sum it up; This book is realistic, frustrating, funny in parts, and I quite enjoyed reading it.

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About The Giveaway;

This giveaway is for two e-book copies of T. C. Anthony's Three Stages of Love: Lust. If you win you will be emailed by Sarah Miniaci from Smith Publicity. She will email you a copy of the e-book if you win!
The winners will be chosen randomly!
To enter simply use the RaffleCopter below!



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Whispers In The Dark by Claire Gamblin

This is not a review!

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/271888

This book is written by me. I just thought that I'd advertise it with you guys. It is currently $0.99 which is roughly 62p in Britain.
That is the cheapest the Smashwords will allow me to put it at.

I hope you decide to check it out. :)

Sorry

Hey guys,
It's been over a month since I have posted or written a review. So, I'd like to say sorry for that, and explain that I didn't have time because I was taking part in NaNoWriMo, I promise to try and get some more reviews up now. Even if they're just for Wattpad books, because I've been reading a lot of those lately!
I'll get around to reviewing something soon, and I'll try to start posting more again, but this Christmastime is hectic for me, so I might not get around to anything until the new year! Just a warning!
Thanks,
Claire! :)

Pushing The Limits by Katie McGarry

Title; Pushing The Limits

Author; Katie McGarry

Publisher; Mira Ink

Publication Date; August 3rd 2012

Series; Pushing The Limits Book One (This book does conclude, the next story is for a different character in the series!)

Description; "I won't tell anyone, Echo. I promise." Noah tucked a curl behind my ear. It had been so long since someone touched me like he did. Why did it have to be Noah Hutchins? His dark brown eyes shifted to my covered arms. "You didn't do that-did you? It was done to you?" No one ever asked that question. They stared. They whispered. They laughed. But they never asked.

So wrong for each other...and yet so right.

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with "freaky" scars on her arms. Even Echo can't remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal. But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo's world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she'll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

Do I recommend it? Yes

Who would I recommend it to? All of you, it's a book worth reading

Goodreads Average Rating; 4.25/5

My Rating; 4.5/5

Review; I'm going to give this book 4.5*s. I did enjoy, quite a lot actually, and usually I would give a book like this, that I stayed up to read and did not put down a full 5 stars, but I did have a few problems with this book.
Now, the book wasn't preachy. Not at all. But as an agnostic person I felt that God was mentioned to much for a book that involved no religion. It's like it was just thrown in sometimes. Just for the sake of it. There was one time when one of the characters asked another if they believed in God. That's a normal question, sure. But it felt like a thrown in question, because I don't feel it amounted or related to anything in that particular part of the book. Now, don't get me wrong. It wasn't preachy, and there was some points when the characters mentioned how they felt that God had given up on them. That was fine. That was relevant. I felt like sometimes God being mentioned wasn't relevant to the story.
Now don't go on to me about how people can express their religion and all that. I understand that, I am fine with people expressing their religion, either in person, or writing. That doesn't bother me. But it feels thrown in my face when it's not necessary.
Another problem for me was that we knew the problems were there, and we went into these problems slightly, but maybe not enough. You never really knew entirely what the characters were feeling. You had to guess things sometimes. I feel there could have been more to the world of the story, and more to the feelings and description of those feeling maybe. Because of this the problems seemed so over dramatic.

Now. What did I like about this book so much that despite my problems with it I still gave it a solid 4.5*s?

Well. There's also a lot to like about this book. The fact that the problems were based on something real. I think all of us would be damaged in some way if we went through what either of them went through, especially what Echo went through. It wasn't "my boyfriend broke up with me, I'm sad so I have to see a therapist," like it can be sometimes with books and authors who don't do research. No, this book was about damaged people who actually problems to be damaged about!
Most of the characters. Of course there is the exception of characters you're not supposed to like. I think Mrs Collins was my favourite character. She just seemed like the kind of person I'd like. Fast paced and an organised mess.
Echo was over dramatic with some things and a lot of the story seemed to revolve around her, but still I could help but like, and feel for her character.
Noah, he was so selfless! For his brothers, for Echo. And yet he could be slightly selfish at times. And sometimes like he just wanted to hold onto a childhood that was no longer there for him. My heard really went out to him.
Echo and Noah's relationship seem real. They had problems, things they had to work for. And things they had to work through. And I felt they were perfect for each other because it seemed like they needed each other.

Overall I felt that this book was worth the read. It is a book I could reread. And I would recommend it, but I'm warning you there are some things that might annoy you. But you never know, maybe I'm just being picky!

Wellesley Wives by Suzy Duffy Blog Tour! Review and Giveaway!

The Giveaway is at the bottom of the page!
Title; Wellesley Wives

Author; Suzy Duffy

Publisher; The Writer's Coffee Shop

Publication Date; September 27th 2012

Series; The New England Trilogy Book One

Description; Popsy Power - a Boston society-wife and her best friend, Sandra seem to have it all with billionaire husbands and beautiful daughters. But things change.

From Bollinger to basic-wage, it's a roller coaster for the ladies who lunch. When the daughters land in a heap of trouble too, it's hardly surprising that their mother should worry about the next generation of Wellesley Wives.

Life can't always be fun in the sun, but that's why there's fur!
Sit back, relax and enjoy the wonderful world of the Wellesley Wives.

Star Rating; 5 Stars

Would I read anything else by this author? Yes

Would I recommend this book? Yes

Who would I recommend it to? Those who like Chick-lit and some humour with that chick-lit

Review; Sometimes the stories in woman's fiction and books that are classed as chick-lit are rushed. This was not the case with Wellesley Wives! The stories and lives of the characters were slowly introduced!
This is the kind of book you can get emotionally attached to. You laugh with the characters. You cry with the characters. You root for certain characters. You just can't help but be pulled into their lives. Even though this book alternates POVs, you can still easily get attached to the characters. Which can be hard with alternating POVs occasionally.
What I loved is that even though the characters live the rich lifestyle, they were still human. They had flaws, they had problems! When do you ever get a book set in the rich world with real characters? Now, finally!
As each individual woman goes through their hardships you can't help but feel for them! And root for them! You just hope they'll pull through. But most of the time we are all stronger than we first think.
This book was written just right! It really shows you that you should always persevere when life take a bad turn, and it also shows us that money isn't everything. What's most important are the people that are there.
I can't wait to see what Suzy gives us next!
This is definitely a book I would recommend, I hope you pick up your copy soon!

About The Author; Suzy Duffy is an international and #1 best-selling author. A former national radio DJ and TV presenter in her native Ireland, she moved to Boston with her husband, five children and one dog in 2009 in light of Europe’s economic downturn. Duffy’s colourful background has taken her from working in the United Nations’ Geneva headquarters to being a water-ski instructor in Greece to labouring as a corn cutter in the south of France.
Wellesley Wives, Duffy’s début U.S. book release, is the first in a New England based trilogy of novels. She is currently working on the second instalment, Newton Neighbours.
Wellesley Wives is currently available for pre-order via The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House, and will be available via all major online retailers as of September 27, 2012.
Find Suzy Duffy on Twitter, Facebook, Goodreads, Pinterest, her website and on The Writer’s Coffee Shop Publishing House site.

About The Giveaway;

This giveaway is for two e-book copies of Suzy Duffy's Wellesley Wives. If you win you will be emailed by Sarah Miniaci from The Writer's Coffee Shop. She will email you a copy of the e-book if you win!
The winners will be chosen randomly!
To enter simply use the RaffleCopter below!


a Rafflecopter giveaway