Autumn by Sierra Dean

This story was exceptionally short so my review won't be as long.
Cover:

Rating: 3stars

Plot:  The plot was fun and interesting. I found that it was a bit like Shiver but with coyotes, It still was good but lacked originality. I will pick up the second one because of the massive cliff hanger. Curiosity killed the cat, as they say. I felt it was very short and was glad I got an ARC because of how short it was would have been a waste of my money. Try combining them to make one big book? I don't know. All I do know is I would have been pissed to have bought it and it been that short.

Characters: They characters were good a bit boring and predictable but still good people. There was insta love but for a book that short it was necessary. I didn't get too emotionally involved with the charterers because we don't learn enough about them to feel anything deep. In the beginning I really didn't like Lou. She was summed up a list of the three worst things:

"If Eloise (Lou) Whittaker had to narrow down the worst things ever in her life to a list, the top three would go as follows:

3) Uncooked chicken. When it's all, like, pink in the middle? Gross.

2) Her father dying. Which was really tied for number one with . . . 

1) Moving because her dad died."

To me that seems shallow and I wasn't the only one who felt that way. I agree, though, that after the first chapter things got sooo much better. It still wont make my all time favorite reads shelf but it is still good enough to pick up the sequel.

Ending: The ending was a huge WTF moment. I felt like I was asleep and in the huh moment.

DID THAT REALLY JUST HAPPEN!?
Why yes, yes it did.
So yeah cliffhanger that was a bit hmm cliche but meh I can deal.

Good book, good writing, good enough to pick up the sequel.

Arc provided in exchange for an honest review.

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~Cat

Selling Scarlet by Ella James

Cover: 

The cover is beautiful and probably one of the reasons I requested an ARC.  I will have no gifs because I am completely serious in this review and feel as if the book wasn't good enough for my time.

Quotes:

“I'd gotten my first glimpse of Elizabeth DeVille. She'd had her hair in a pony-tail that stuck up off the side of her head, and she'd been wearing short red shorts and a light blue tank top with a whale on it. “You like whales?” I'd asked her when I finished with the car. Her face had gone all soft and pretty, making me feel more like one-hundred-and-three than the twenty-three I was, and she'd shrugged. “Yeah, but not a lot more than any other animal. I just like saving things.” 
― Ella James, Selling Scarlett

“I can see the exact moment he realizes what I've been doing. His torso stiffens as his hands, pressed against the mattress, curl into big fists. He makes a low, approving sound and speaks in a voice that sounds like molten lava. "That’s so sexy.” 
― Ella James, Selling Scarlett

Rating: 1 star

Plot: I really wanted to like this book and I really tried to but I couldn't. I'll put up the synopsis. 

Elizabeth DeVille doesn't belong at a party like this - one where the gowns cost more than her Camry and cigars run higher than her grad school utility bills. Dragged out of seclusion by her best friend Suri, Elizabeth is merely playing dress-up, rubbing elbows with a crowd that banished her troubled family years ago.

Hunter West is tired. Tired of parties, tired of pretending, and tired of trying to right a wrong that haunts him every day. Bourbon heir and professional poker player by day, by night Hunter is gambling with his life in a high-stakes game of crime and blackmail. 

When Elizabeth stumbles into Hunter's den of vices, she's a light in the darkness, a flame in the void. And, just like everything he touches, Hunter mars her in a record time. To rectify the damage done, Elizabeth needs money she doesn't have, and she's come up with a foolproof way to get it.

Follow Elizabeth - code-named Scarlett - to the lush Nevada brothel where she'll auction her virginity and risk the only thing that's not for sale: her heart. The highest bidder is a familiar face, with wicked hands and the devil's mouth. And a secret so dark that it could cost her life.

So completely disregard that because it isnt really what the book is about...well it is but it makes no sense, is disturbing, and is boring. The plotlines were confusing and some completely unnecessary. We meet random characters who never had anything to do with much and could've just been left out. The insta love was terrible and the love interest disturbing. He is scary and unbalanced and so is the MC. They have back stories we never learn about both have severe mommy issues which never get solved. The whole time I was reading I kept getting bored and paid more attention to finding spelling errors. We also NEVER see anything. Its sooo much telling and NO showing. This story had me severely disappointed because it could have been so good but the was it was executed and written flopped. The author brings up so many controversial issues and never goes anywhere with it. Uhhh, okay. Honestly I kinda skimmed most of the book as soon as I found out a college student decided the smartest thing to do to get money was to sell her virginity. Is that even legal? We are talking about the United States in Las Vegas. The have brothels, prostitution, and some other severely illegal things going on. And no cops are snooping around and even interview some of the prostitutes that live in a R rated playboy mansion. No one is suspicious? No goes hmm this seems wrong or off?? Completely  lacking realistic scenes. Terrible read and as mentioned before highly disturbing.

Characters: The MC "Libby" whose real name is Elizabeth is poor even though she has her own bottled water company? Uhhh to be heiress of bottled water in an adult book? Okay, I guess. So apparently she was fat and then lost weight? I'm not sure. Honestly I can't even tell you anything about her because we learn nothing about her except maybe she is a creepy stalker and has twisted logic. Her decisions are all over the place and so are her emotions. I can't understand why she wants Hunter because that guy is a sicko. Hunter is whipped in the book has random sex with people, and has mommy issues because that's apparently why he is having sex with this porn star. His logic seriously makes no sense.  

Someone on good reads put this up saying this is what she understood and honestly I have to agree.

1. Hunter got framed for something and was having nasty sex with the woman who framed him.
2. Elizabeth has a fight with her friend and he runs off and gets into an 'accident', but his parents don't want to pay for his care so she comes up with the idea of selling her v-card to pay for it.
3. While Elizabeth is 'training' at the brothel, Hunter continues to have the nasty sex with the woman while investigating what's going on.
4. Hunter buys Elizabeth's v-card for $10 million (*rolls eyes*), but doesn't cash it in right away (*facepalm*).
5. After he does cash it in Elizabeth is captured and held hostage.

And she is right. I had no clue whatsoever what was happening who was blackmailing who and why. It all was just a pile of unexplained crap. 

We meet her best friend Cross who I liked probably because he was in a coma the while book and didn't speak.  We also meet her other best friend Sari? Sara? something with an S who apparently has money but doesn't use it because Libby says she wants to sell her V-card. WTF. Who wants to do that. She says she is sick of being a virgin. But at the end of the book when she is taken hostage the one dude says how much she will sell for and is making it out to be a lot because she's hot. But at the beginning she says she is fat or was fat...Look, heavy curvy women are beautiful but if she is so sexy wouldn't she have men up her but left and right? No? I just don't get the authors logic. At all. 

I also wish i knew this was erotica because it was mentioned no where but even still it wasn't all to bad except for the nasty sex scenes. No way were they even hot. They actually turned my stomach and I skipped them when I saw that that's what we were on. 

Writing/Syntax: Terribly annoying, so many mistakes. Made no sense. There were whole paragraphs that I wondered why they were even in there because they had nothing to do with anything.

Romance: Sucked. I already explained it up top so I'm just going to go with, nauseating.

Ending: It was stupid and relieving because at least it ended. I hated this whole book and the best part was the acknowledgement page. 

If you still want to read this after this review then I strongly recommend it for  18+. But I wouldn't waste my time. 

Arc provided in exchange for an honest review.

Share and comment, subscribe...you know the drill.

~Cat

Wrecked by Priscilla West

Cover:

My reaction to the cover and hot guys:

Me when I see a hot guy. 

Anywayyy...

Quote: "There's no Rocky montage for overcoming obstacles in life.Not for me.  Or anyone else.  I've seen the best fall.I've seen my own dad lose after fighting so hard,struggling for so long.  Can't you see, Hunter?It's not that I don't want to get hurt.  It's that I can't.If I do, it's over.  It's all over for me."

-Lorrie

Rating: 4 stars

Plot: I not gonna summarize cuz I'm lazy. 

But here is my opinion. I loved it. It was sexy and interesting and truly heart stopping. My face the whole time reading was like...

It was like AHHHHHH! and then WTF!!! and Then AHHHHHH! And then ohhhh no she didn't.

But anywayyyy....again....

Characters: I will start with Hunter 'The Hammer' because yum.

Pretty damn close. So Hunter is that bad boy who sleeps around (apparently) and who is up front NO RELATIONSHIPS...until Lorrie. Lorrie is broken having a dark terrible past she doesn't want or need the drama a relationship brings. 

(I stole these character pictures from someone on goodreads because they nailed how i pictured them so Thanks!)

Lorrie gets to be a bit annoying but you can understand why and sympathize. She doesn't want to get hurt.

Writing/Syntax: The writing was great for an ARC and really there was like no spelling mistakes and some minor grammar ones. But all in all the story was well shaped and fast paced that flowed nicely.

Romance: HOT! Like steamy go get a cold shower hot. And did I enjoy reading those romance scenes because some were so sweet others were FIERCE! and hot and sexyamazingpantydroppinglygreat...you get the picture. Let's just say NO ONE under 17 should read this...ever. I don't even care if you are mature please dont corrupt your young innocent mind...but since I already did it was...mmmhmmm. 

Ending: CLIFF-FREAKING-HANGER!!!! I need the sequel like NOW!

Because Mrs. West how could you do that to me!!!!!

Jk. Kinda....

But anyway I may have gone a bit gif crazy...just a little...okay more than a little...okay alot gif crazy but they all rock right? 

Arc provided in exchange for an honest review.

Share and comment, subscribe...you know the drill.

~Cat

Endless by Amanda Gray

Cover:

Quote: “I know." He leaned back, looking into her eyes. "But I'm not going anywhere, Jenny. I'll fight to stay with you.” 

― Amanda Gray, Endless

Rating: 3 stars

Plot: Jenny Kramer knows she isn't normal. After all, not everybody can see the past lives of people around them.

When she befriends Ben Daulton, resident new boy, the pair stumble on an old music box with instructions for “mesmerization” and discover they may have more in common than they thought. Like a past life.

Using the instructions in the music box, Ben and Jenny share a dream that transports them to Romanov Russia and leads them to believe they have been there together before. But they weren't alone. Nikolai, the mysterious young man Jenny has been seeing in her own dreams was there, too. When Nikolai appears next door, Jenny is forced to acknowledge that he has travelled through time and space to find her. Doing so means he has defied the laws of time, and the Order, an ominous organization tasked with keeping people in the correct time, is determined to send him back. 

While Ben, Jenny and Nikolai race against the clock - and the Order - Jenny and Nikolai discover a link that joins them in life - and beyond death.

The plot was interesting and unique. I can say that there was a small plot hole but other than that it was great. The plot doesn't drag and it leaves you guessing until the very end. I am hoping there will be a sequel because there were several loose ends left to fend for themselves.

Characters: The characters were good and grew nicely. Jenny is a fun character that all girls can relate to. She's quick and intelligent. Its so refreshing not to have some idiot being like, "What? Where? Who me?" Which gets like super annoying and luckily she's not like that. Ben was a good character I'm so happy there wasn't a love triangle. He is like her bestie even though his tendencies to douchery. Nikolai is interesting and hot. He is mysterious. The only thing I can't stand is insta-love...which happens here with Nikolai.

Writing/Syntax: It didn't have many if at all spelling errors. It also flowed well and was easy to understand. 

Romance: One word: insta-love. As i already said it had it. It was still a good book but just a but less believable. The romance is cute and sexy.

Ending: The ending was open leaving me to believe a sequel is in the works. I definitely recommend this for 14+ due to some cursing and some steamy but not naked scenes.

Arc provided  in exchange for an honest review.

Please share and comment. 

~Cat

Defy by Sara B. Larson

Cover: 

Quote: “I couldn't breathe. I wanted him to keep touching me; I wanted to feel his whole body against mine again. But Rylan was here. Rylan was listening. Rylan, who had cared for me all along.

"Thank you," I said, my voice unsteady, and somehow I made myself move and turn away from his touch to stare at the tent again, my heart hammering. Rylan's back was still turned to me, but I could see how stiff he was, as if every muscle in his body was clenched.
"I hope you are able to rest well Alex," Damien said.
"You too," I said, making myself close my eyes, to pretend I was going to sleep. But inside, I thought, Rest well? Is he serious?
It was going to be a long night.” 
― Sara B. Larson, Defy

“You're perfect," He said roughly, cutting off my protest. "And if I had to do it over again, I would save you every time." His mouth closed over mine and there was no more thought. No more worry. No more pain or loss or fear. There was only Damian. His arm tightened around me, crushing me to him. I clung to him as his lips moved on mine with a need and hunger that nearly overwhelmed me.” 
― Sara B. Larson, Defy

Rating: 4.5 stars

Plot: A lush and gorgeously written debut, packed with action, intrigue, and a thrilling love triangle.

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect?

The plot was exciting and fast paced. We were always guessing who can be trusted? Why are these strange things happening? Who really is the prince? And who will Alexa end up with? The ending pissed me off but in a totally good way if you get me. The story flowed easily, I didn't get bored and it's a unique story.  Plot was great.

Characters: Alexa is a strong, believable lead. She is honest and very teenager like. Her outside is nothing like her inside. She has to wear a mask and pretend to be a boy but when she lets herself lift the mask we see a beautiful young girl who grows up magically (not literally). Here ending was beautiful and fitting. I loved her character. Rylan is one guy of the love triangle (its not a traditional love triangle there is a clear owner of Alexa's heart) who is strong and Alexa's shoulder to lean on...kinda. He kinda becomes a douche for a bit. He isn't the one I wanted her to end up with. I am Team Damian. And speaking of Damian is a strong love interest and he is very mysterious and secretive. He doesn't tell Alexa certain things which strains their relationship. And it's all very believable and well written.

Writing/Syntax: This is why the book doesn't get a 5 stars. The writing was great and minor spelling and grammar errors but there was a tiny problem that needs pointing out. I will say this now I hate historical romances. The talking annoys me and it just is hard to follow sometimes. So with saying this 'error' I have to say I liked this in the story but other readers didn't and it is a major plot fail. The time seems to be set in times where there is not lights because they mention candles and they have to walk to different countries and such so you would think they would speak in post modern tones right? Wrong. They speak like I do now. I saw maybe one or two attempts to have the right speaking habits. So that was a bit annoying to other readers. I was happy because of that error but as a reviewer I have to point it out.

Romance:  The romance was good. It was natural and felt like it was written well. I recommend this for 13+ but there really isn't anything I felt was inappropriate. The ending will make you mad though. FYI.

Ending:  There were no lose ends and it ended on a believable, happy note. I loved this story. I think it was amazing and was something different. And everyone knows I like different. I can say it did remind me of Mulan and I love Mulan so I may be biased. Lol.

So i just wanted to say at the end that I am going to start to do meme's and and giveaways.  I'm so excited to expand and get more notice.

Arc provided by Scholastic Press thru NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

It comes out January 14th, 2014.

Thanks y'all,
Cat

The Secret Life of Amy Benson by Lisa Renee Jones

I'm not gonna go through all my usual things because I really am behind on blogging and this book wasn't that good. For people who liked 50 Shades of Grey you might like this. Me, not so much. I loved 50 Shades of Grey and this seems to be a sad attempt to usurp it. It had lots of sex, no real plot and has an annoying as hell MC. For those who liked this book, that's great but I found I was sorely disappointed. Though before people start saying the second one was better, it wasn't. Because I bought that one and was like sooo we learn nothing else about Amy or her family or her life or Liam or well anything remotely having to do with the plot or characters. No one develops and Amy is a sad example of a strong independent woman saying how she needs Liam. Look, I get you life sucked but suck it up, seriously. The whole wishy washy I cant make up my mind was annoying and boring. I give this 0 stars because yeah it was just that bad, but hey, on the bright side if you like porn and people tying people up and kidnapping them and abusing them then go get this book.
I was given and ARC for an honest opinion. I was in no way bribed (obviously) or forced to give my opinion in any way.

Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Cover:

The cover is beautiful. Naturally. I have been more impressed but I still think the cover is beautiful. There is no significance of the cover that connects to the book.

Quote: "I had loved him since the moment he’d taken the pudding from me. When my father had announced on Dez’s eighteenth birthday that he supported a match between us, I’d never been happier than I was in that moment. I was young. And stupid. When Dez had disappeared the very next day, I experienced a heartache that I thought would swallow me whole and never spit me out. He’d been more than a crush. He had been my best friend, my confidant and my world.” 

― Jennifer L. Armentrout, Bitter Sweet Love

Rating: 4 stars

My Thoughts

Plot: The story was an opening to The Dark Elements Series which sets up the world for the main books and characters. It was about 100 pages and left me begging for more. A lot more. We follow and beautiful Jas through this novella and she is captivating. She is like many other of Jennifer's characters in her series. They are all strong, determined, and handed a bad hand of cards. They all somehow have impossibly bad luck which is good for readers but bad for the characters. The only thing I was upset with was that Jas seemed like a watered down version of Alex. Not that that's really a bad thing just a bit like fitting into the mold if you catch my drift.

Characters: Jas was likable and relate-able. She was a bit of a rebel but knew when to stand down and let things she couldn't handle be...well, handled. If that makes sense. Dez was hot but since this was a novella I can never get all too attached to the characters because I feel as if we don't learn enough about them to really connect. Did I like them? Yes. Were they well written? Sure. Did I love them? Sadly, no. My favorite character has to be Herbert. I hope we see him again because I fell instantly in love with the demon. He kind of reminds be of the demon from The Demon Trapper's Daughter series that Riley keeps around. Loved it.

Writing/Syntax: The writing was good a few spelling errors and a few words stringed together in one big large word. Someone did point out to me and I now take this into consideration when reviewing that when going from print to digital there are bound to be mistakes that the computer makes or misunderstands. So that is my only true critique.

Romance: The romance was good and engaging. It got hot but not too steamy which I hope changes throughout the rest of the series which will focus on Layla who we met in the book briefly. 

Ending: I hate to say this but the end disappoints which i knew it must to kick off the start of an amazing new series because we don't find anything out really we just get the world setup. It's an interesting and creative world which sounds fascinating and awesome. White Hot Kiss will kick ass which all Jennifer's books do. Truly excited to hop on to another roller coaster ride series. 

Recommend this for 14 + due to some sexual situations but has NO SEX. Refers to it though, young readers be advised.

Comment and pass along. Thanks readers,

~Cat