Carole Reviews: The War Nurse - RV Doon

Author: R.V Doon
Title: The War Nurse

Genre: Historical Fiction, Adventure, Drama and Romance

Pages: 349

First Published: Janurary 2014 

Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me for an honest and unbiased opinion by the publisher/author)

"This historical thriller begins on the eve of WWII in the Philippines. Katarina Stahl an American Red Cross nurse, is the happiest she’s ever been in her life. She’s making love and playing music with Jack Gallagher in an idyllic paradise. Their medical mission is over, the boat tickets to home are purchased, and all that remains is to fly a sick child to the hospital at Clark Air Field. 

She never expected to witness bombs falling out of planes. In those terrifying first minutes, she frees a German doctor accused of spying and saves his life. She turns to nursing the injured, unaware she’s unleashed an obsession more dangerous to her and those she loves, than the war she’s trapped in. 

Doctor von Wettin, the man she freed, finds Katarina pregnant and starving in a POW camp after the surrender. He begs her to nurse his bed-ridden wife. She knows other Americans will despise her, but wants her baby to live after surviving Bataan. Their uneasy alliance is destroyed when she discovers he exploited Red Cross diplomatic channels and contacts at the German embassy to wire money to her parents. His benevolent mask slips when he informs her that her brothers and parents are interned on Ellis Island. 

When the Stahl family is swept up in the FBI’s dragnet, Josep Stahl believes it’s all a misunderstanding. He’s interrogated like a criminal at the city jail, a military camp, Ellis Island, and then the civilian internment camps in Texas. His anger and pride blind him. One by one in this painful family drama, his wife and sons join him behind barbed wire in. There they face ostracism, segregation, and, most frightening, repatriation. 

Katarina begins an even more terrifying journey into depraved darkness as Manila descends into occupation and chaos. The doctor threatens everyone she loves: infant son, POW husband, and Filipino friends. She’ll do anything to protect them; she lies, steals, and smuggles. As the war turns against the Japanese, they withhold the doctor’s wife’s life-saving medications until he finds a hidden radio inside the civilian internment camp. If Katarina refuses to help him, her son pays the price. 

Survival has corrupted Katarina; but she’s not about to become his camp rat. After years of hell, she’s earned her nickname, war nurse. Doctor von Wettin is about to find out what that means."

This took me a while to finish, because it was dark. Very, very dark. Yes, there is romance between Katarina and Jack, but that is a small light in the mist of darkness surrounding not only her but her family back in the US. While she is being a nurse on the front lines against the Japanese, her family is dealing with the government thinking they are German spies and arresting them thanks to one letter from good ol' Doctor von Wettin and because Josep and his wife never became citizens.

Poor Katarina...poor Josep and the rest of the Stahl clan. The book truly shows that each side of the war had "evil" sides. War is bloody, nasty, and people suffer. The Japanese were cruel to their POWs and America were cruel to the people who just so happened was of Japanese or German descent. No side of the war had clean hands throughout World War II.

Right from the beginning drama was underway; there was not a boring/slow part. The book kept you on your toes. However, there was a lot of characters and it was hard sometimes to keep track on who was who. Also, the ending wasn't very satisfying. There were a few loose ends and it was a little cliff-hanger-ish. Is there going to be a second book? Or maybe a short story? I hope so, because I would love to see Katarina reunited with her family who was sent back to Germany. 

Overall, this was pretty good. A lot going on with a lot of characters running about. This book shows the true horrors that some people had to face during WWII and the book shows the truth that each side of the war had their hands bloodied with some sort of cruelty. It annoys me how everyone thinks just the Japanese and Germans where "evil" or did "evil things", so did the US and England and France. War is a horrible thing and makes people do terrible things. There was a light, though, that made me hopeful - the love between Jack and Katarina. The ending left me with some questions and I wanted more. Maybe there will be another book? I'm not sure. I recommend this to those that like historical fiction set during WWII. It is a little dark, but it was good. Out of five stars, I stamp this with 3 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Katarina, Josep, and Jack

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Von Wettin

Book Blog Walkers: Weekly Check-in Nov 28 2014 and Fantasyland reviewsx2

This challenge is organized by Felicia over at the Geeky Blogger's Book Blog

Saturday 10 km bike
Sunday 7 km bike, 30 min walk
Monday 10 km bike and 45 min zumba toning
Tuesday 5 km bike, 1 hour yoga, 55 min walk
Wednesday 5 km bike and 15 min walk
Thursday 10 km bike and 1 hour zumba
Friday 10 km bike

Saturday's bikeride...and then the snow was gone again

-------------------------------------

Cora Goode has woken up in a fairytale world where she can understand what birds are saying to her, men ride horses and have fluffy feathers in their hats and furniture zigs, zags and whirls in miracles of construction. 

The problem is, she thinks she’s in a dream but she’s actually taken the place of the parallel universe Cora and without realizing it, our Cora does something that starts a centuries old curse that will sweep the land if she gets captured by the evil Minerva. 

At this point, her dream world becomes a nightmare. 

Luckily, hot guy, fantasyland Noctorno is there to save her from the clutches of the grotesque vickrants sent by Minerva to capture her. Unfortunately, hot guy, fantasyland Noctorno doesn’t like the Cora of his world all that much (to say the least) and he thinks our Cora is her. And no matter what our Cora says or does to try to convince him, he won’t be convinced. 

But Cora needs Tor to keep her safe and guide her through this fantastical world as she hopes one day to wake up in her not-so-great apartment in her not-so-great life in her world. The problem is, the more time she spends with the gorgeous warrior Tor, the faster she falls in love with him. 

My thoughts:

I might even have liked this one more than book 1 :) (and do not talk about book 2, that atrocity shall not be named.)

Ok so the hero is a total ass, BUT, he has a right to be. He is married to a total BITCH who made his life and everyone else miserable. Then suddenly his wife starts behaving in another way and he thinks she is playing her, cos she is a bitch.

Cora is from Seattle and one morning she wakes up in a fantasy land. Where she is married and her husband thinks she is a lazy spoiled bitch. She tries her best to explain but why would he believe her when she is..yes a bitch.

It was fun to read. She trying her best. Him being an ass. But he slowly finds her amusing cos she is nice, kind, different.

A fun ride :D The only part that was not as fun was when it took place in our world, booo our world. Boring at once then.

And now I look forward to book 4. 

Kindle Edition, 338 pages
Published November 1st 2011
Fantasyland #3
Fantasy romance

Far too young, Apollo Ulfr lost Ilsa, his wife, the love of his life and the mother of his two children. The grief of her loss does not settle in his soul, it solders to it. But when he discovers there is a parallel universe where his wife may have a twin, he feels there's hope and sets about bringing her to his world so he can have her back.

But Ilsa Ulfr of our world is married to the parallel universe's twin, Pol, who is not a good man. Not in any way. She's on the run from him and the last thing she wants is to be transported to a fantastical world and be forced to take his side as his wife, even if he is not Pol. And Apollo finds the broken, bitter Ilsa nothing like his beloved and he further wants nothing to do with her.

But darkness is looming and evil is amassing. Apollo must protect his land and keep his family safe, including the new Ilsa. 

My thoughts:

Thoughts while reading:

Honestly this book is just about smexing and them arguing. Or the author telling us what everyone is wearing. All the time!!

And Apollo is such an alpha a-hole. Honestly they argue, and the women tell HER to forgive and talk to him. He is an asshole, she should give him the finger and walk away. He should come begging on his knees.

And we are meant to believe this is an awesome society where whores are awesome and celebrated. And people start experimenting with sex young and can sleep around as much as they want cos that is the way....

yeah sorry I DO NOT believe it when every man is beyond alpha a-hole and to women seem to be chattel. 

Grow up the both of you.

And for Loki's sake, please stop telling me how HOT everyone is. I get it, men in that world are hot, whatever.

Actual review.

I have said it all...

Sure I enjoyed the book at times, but trust me, nothing happened, arguing, sex, talking *eye roll* It feels like the author lost some steam when writing this one.

Oh and I totally forgot about the stupid thing that in this world and our world we speak English, French (and surely other ones too). What, so two worlds evolved and spoke the same languages, but still not the words, oh whatever. And parallell twins have the same name...whatever , whatever.

ebook, 396 pages
Published December 27th 2013 by Smashwords
Fantasyland #4
Fantasy romance
Own

Mitosis - Brandon Sanderson

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Words of Radiance, co-author of Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series and creator of the internationally bestselling Mistborn Trilogy, Brandon Sanderson, comes Mitosis, a short story set in the action-packed world of Steelheart: the Reckoners series, exclusively available in a HB collector's edition. Epics still plague Newcago, but David and the Reckoners have vowed to fight back. Catch all the action before Firefight, the exciting sequel to Steelheart, hits the shelves. 

My thoughts:

A short story that takes place after book 1. Newcago is trying to get back to normal. Our hero is enjoying a hot dog and normality. But alas, like life could be normal in this post-apocalypic dystopic world.

There is a new baddie to take down and that is what the story is about. An Epic fight to be had.

Short, nice, I do understand the epics now. The power that makes them insane. What good is superhero powers if it makes you into a sociopath? 

I am looking forward to book 2 where the fight to rid the world of Epics will continue. 

Hardcover, Gollancz Hardback Collector's Edition, 35 pages
Published October 23rd 2014 by Gollancz (first published January 1st 2013)
Reckoners #1.5
Dystopia / YA / sci.fi / apocalyptic
For review

Author Interview and giveaway: Paige Tyler

Today I interview Paige Tyler about her new book. There is also a giveaway :)

Welcome!

1. Tell me about yourself?

I was born and raised in New Jersey, then moved all over after marrying my hubby (South Korea, Louisiana, Atlanta, Washington State), and currently call the beautiful Florida coast home. I’m a USA Today Bestselling Author of sexy, romantic fiction and I’ve written over fifty books in practically every genre of romance, although I have to admit that my favorite genre is definitely the paranormal/romantic-suspense combo. Hubby, my very own military hero, and I live with our adorable fur baby (also known as our dog) and spend a good portion of our time writing. While I graduated with a degree in education and was well on my way to being an elementary school teacher, I decided to pursue passion of writing instead. These days I’m fully committed to writing books about hunky alpha males and the kickbutt heroines who fall in love with them.

2. What is your new book, Her Lone Wolf about?

HER LONE WOLF is the second book in the X-OPS Series. For those who aren’t familiar with the series, it revolves around the Department of Covert Operations, a top secret organization that’s buried deep within the Department of Homeland Security. The DCO pairs the very best soldiers, law enforcement people, and spies together with shifters—humans that have special animal attributes in their DNA. They take on impossible missions that few people in the world will ever know about.

In Book One, HER PERFECT MATE, the reader gets a taste of how these DCO teams operate, especially how my particular kind of shifter works. These shifters have naturally occurring animal DNA that has blended with their human DNA to allow them to possess certain animal-like capabilities, such as speed, strength, aggression, and keen senses. While these abilities make them the perfect asset for the DCO, they’re also labeled by some as “freaks” and “monsters.” In HER PERFECT MATE readers get to see how much the shifters distrust the very people they work for. In HER LONE WOLF, the distrust continues to grow until the shifters—and the people who love them—aren’t sure whom they can trust.

All of this shadowy intrigue takes place against the backdrop of the DCO sending the hero Clayne Buchanan, the wolf shifter with the “bad attitude” readers met in Book One, out to California to deal with a possible rogue shifter that just might have turned into a serial killer. Clayne prefers to work alone, only this time it’s not going to happen that way. To get the job done, he’ll be forced to work with the one person on the planet he’d rather claw his own eyes out than see again. Here’s a quick blurb for HER LONE WOLF for you: 

Leaving him was Impossible...

It took everything she had for FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett to walk away from the man she loved. But if she wants to save his life, she has to keep her distance. Now, with a killer on the loose and the stakes higher than ever before, the Department of Covert Ops is forcing these former lovers into an uneasy alliance...whether they like it or not.

Seeing her again is even worse…

The last thing Clayne Buchanan wants is to be shackled to the woman who broke his heart. She gets under his skin in a way no one ever has and makes him want things he has no right to anymore. All he has to do is suffer through this case and he can be free of her for good. But when Clayne finds out why Danica left in the first place, everything he's tried to bury comes roaring back-and there's no way this wolf shifter is going to let her get away this time.

3. For those who missed book 1, does this one work as a standalone?

As you can see above, there are a lot of arching plotlines from HER PERFECT MATE that carry over into HER LONE WOLF, but I went out of my way to give the a new reader to the series enough background material that you’ll know what’s going on. So from that point of view, yes you can read this book as a standalone. But of course, the moment you do, you’ll be running out the door to get Book One! 

4. What was your inspiration behind this series?

I love to tell this story. Hubby and I were at the Lori Foster Get Together in 2011 and were having dinner at PF Chang’s with our friend Monette Michaels and her friend Linnea Sinclair. We were talking about writing, especially about jumping from e-books to New York. I doubt Linnea even remembers me, but she said some really insightful things about finding a niche and a voice that is undeniably mine, then she pointed at hubby and suggested that I should be using his military experiences to lend an edge to my books that other writers might not have.

That suggestion led to the X-OPS series. Since the very building block of the series is these human-shifter teams, I spent a lot of time developing them. After I developed the Special Forces hero (Landon) and feline shifter heroine (Ivy) in HER PERFECT MATE, the very first secondary character I created was the wolf shifter Clayne Buchanan, who was specifically written to be the complete opposite of the Landon. Those two butt heads constantly in book one, but by the end of the book, the reader starts to see that there might be something more to Clayne than he appears. Fans were screaming for his story the moment they finished book one! 

5. And last what are you working on right now?

Beyond all the promo I’m doing for HER LONE WOLF, I’m also getting ready to do the promo for a special FREE X-OPS novella from Sourcebooks called HER SECRET AGENT. It gives the readers a peak behind the scenes of the very beginnings of the DCO. You get to see a younger John Loughlin, the Director of the DCO, getting to know a certain foxy shifter extremely well. It will be available on the 2nd of December from Sourcebooks (digital format only).

I’m also putting the finishing touches on Book Two of my Special Wolf Alpha Team Series (SWAT…as in a pack of werewolves working on the Dallas SWAT team. Cool, right?). At the same time, I’m working the first draft for Book Three in that series so I can send it to my editor in January. Plus, I’m starting to rough in the details on Book Four of X-OPS. It’s freaky jumping back and forth between the two series, but it keeps me on my toes!

Oh yeah, BTW, I’m also putting out a military ménage boxed set for Veteran’s Day, with a tribute to each of the uniformed services. It’s your basic, old-fashioned girl meets two guys, and decides that anything two people can do, three can do better! 

Thanks!

Thank you for having me here. If you get a chance, stop by and check out my website and social media pages at the links below and see if anything grabs your attention. If you read any of my stuff, drop me an e-mail—I’d love to hear from you. Hope you’ll check out my X-OPS Series!

*hugs*

Paige 

a Rafflecopter giveaway


Social media links:

Website: http://paigetylertheauthor.com/

Blog: http://paigetylertheauthor.blogspot.com/

Facebook Profile Page: http://www.facebook.com/paige.tyler.9

Facebook Author Page: http://www.facebook.com/PaigeTylerAuthor

Twitter: http://twitter.com/PaigeTyler

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Email: paigetyler@paigetylertheauthor.com

Her Lone Wolf

Series: X-Ops Book 2

Author: Paige Tyler

Pubdate: November 4^th, 2014

ISBN: 9781402292125

Leaving him was Impossible…

It took everything she had for FBI Special Agent Danica Beckett to walk away from the man she loved. But if she wants to save his life, she has to keep her distance. Now, with a killer on the loose and the stakes higher than ever before, the Department of Covert Ops is forcing these former lovers into an uneasy alliance…whether they like it or not.

Seeing her again is even worse

The last thing Clayne Buchanan wants is to be shackled to the woman who broke his heart. She gets under his skin in a way no one ever has and makes him want things he has no right to anymore. All he has to do is suffer through this case and he can be free of her for good. But when Clayne finds out why Danica left in the first place, everything he’s tried to bury comes roaring back—and there’s no way this wolf shifter is going to let her get away this time.

Paige Tyler is the USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. She and her very own military hero (also known as her husband) live on the beautiful Florida coast with their adorable fur baby (also known as their dog). Paige graduated with a degree in education, but decided to pursue her passion and write books about hunky alpha males and the kickbutt heroines who fall in love with them. Visit www.paigetylertheauthor.com.

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1yrfkcH

Apple: http://bit.ly/1sqM3MF

BAM: http://bit.ly/1tZFgIl

B&N: http://bit.ly/1mt7rxS

Chapters: http://bit.ly/1CiPNRB

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1oi6CDQ

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pdr2xU

The Slow Regard of Silent Things - Patrick Rothfuss

The Slow Regard of Silent Things is set at The University, where the brightest minds work to unravel the mysteries of enlightened sciences, such as artificing and alchemy. Auri, a former student (and a secondary but influential character from Rothfuss’s earlier novels) now lives alone beneath the sprawling campus in a maze of ancient and abandoned passageways. There in The Underthing, she feels her powers and learns to see the truths that science—and her former classmates—have overlooked 

My thoughts:

Well, I have never read a foreword where the author tells me not to read this book....

But he is right, the novella was strange. It's 150 pages without dialogue. It's a story about a weird girl looking at things, findings things and just being weird. 8 pages about her making soap. A strange broken OCD girl, and  she would have more diagnoses. 

But in all its strangeness it was good. A tale of a broken girl and objects she finds and names. I liked Auri, and her world.

So with all the author's warnings, what can I say. Either you will enjoy it, or maybe not. I honestly can't tell you. If you like Rothfuss then yes def give it a go. If you like stories just for the writing then yes. Because he sure has a way of words.

Cover snark
Nice

Hardcover, 150 pages
Published October 28th 2014 by Gollancz
Tales from Temerant, The Kingkiller Chronicle #2.5
Fantasy
For review

The look of love - Sarah Jio

Born during a Christmas blizzard, Jane Williams receives a rare gift: the ability to see true love. Jane has emerged from an ailing childhood a lonely, hopeless romantic when, on her twenty-ninth birthday, a mysterious greeting card arrives, specifying that Jane must identify the six types of love before the full moon following her thirtieth birthday, or face grave consequences. When Jane falls for a science writer who doesn’t believe in love, she fears that her fate is sealed. Inspired by the classic song, The Look of Love is utterly enchanting. 

My thoughts:

The magical realism books I have read are so magical, so in that way I do not want to call this that. Even though it is.

Jane is a normal woman, she loves her flowershop, she has good friends, and life is good. Just, she has never been in love. And then she is told she has a year to find 6 different kinds of love, or else she will never find love for herself.

Jane can see love, she has always been able, she has just not known it. And here the magical thing comes in. Her vision gets blurry when she sees love. But doctors says she has a tumor and that it might kill her. So, can she actually she love, or is her brain slowly dying?

The book was good, easy, fun, a bit tragic and just good. The pages flew by. I liked Jane, I hoped the best for her. And I liked her friends that all had their stories in there too, all while she searched for the truth.

It also made me want to read more books by this author, and luckily she has a few out already ;) Win win for me.

Conclusion:

Recommended. 

Cover

eh

Paperback, 320 pages
Published November 25th 2014 by Plume
Fiction
For review

Red Blooded - Amanda Carlson

Jessica is going to Hell.

After settling a fragile truce between the vampires, werewolves and witches, the last thing Jessica wants to do is face the demons head on. But when the Prince of Hell kidnapped her brother, he set into motion a chain of events that even Jessica doesn't have the power to stop.

Now, Jessica must go into battle again. But Hell is a whole new beast—new rules, more dangerous demons, and an entirely foreign realm. And when Jessica is dropped into the Underworld too soon, without protection or the help of her friends, she must figure out just how powerful she can be... or she will never make it out alive. 

My thoughts:

I would say this book was about her running...running...seeing icky stuff...running...running. Ha, you get the picture. If you are in Hell then you do NOT want to stop and take the sights for long.

So book takes place in Hell, where she meets monsters, demons, friends and foes. But mostly she is running and hiding. And trying to find her brother before he is killed. You have to call her brave, cos to venture to Hell..hell no! Especially not after the Prince of Hell wants to put you on trial. But then Jessica is not the kind of supe to back down.

Though one thing was foolhardy...a scene in a bathroom. I mean hello, you are supposed to be running! Run you fools!

The action is non-stop. There is always someone behind the corner. And the end, well more non-stop action is promised for sure. Poor Jessica, I am sure she would like to put her feet up and just chill with her cutie for once.

Though, again, maybe a bit too much happened. Let her breath for once too.

I liked the end, cos something was messed up...and it's promising. More crazy stuff to follow, I am sure.

Conclusion:

Non-stop action.

Cover

cool

ebook, 320 pages
Published September 9th 2014 by Orbit
Jessica McClain #4
Urban fantasy
NG

I stand Corrected - Patricia Asedegbega

Author: Patricia Asedegbega

Title: I Stand Corrected (Rosario & Balou)

Genre: Contemporary, Drama, and fiction

Pages: ebook

First Published: August 2014

Where I Got It: My shelf (given to me for an honest and unbiased opinion by the publisher/author)

"Balou is taken away from his mother at a very tender age and sold to a pet shop where he waits impatiently for someone to pay for his freedom and take him home, just when he is about to give up all hope of it ever happening, he meets young and troubled Rosario who is really not looking for a pet. A strange and endearing alliance is forged between them but he soon discovers that something is horribly wrong in her household. Will he be able to save her?"

There is so much more to the story then the summary gives credit for. There is some funny bits, but the story centers around abuse. However, the story is told in two different POVs: Balou the cat and Rosario the rich heiress. I am honestly glad that they made the main character a rich heiress, because it shows that abuse happens to not only the poor, but the rich as well. Yes, the rich have more options getting out, but it still is hard.

I will admit...I did grew frustrated with Rosario, because she would not leave him, even when the secret of the abuse was out and the whole staff found out. I wanted to shake her and then save her from Javier. Goodness, I loathed him. >_____> I wish that Balou did more damage then he did. No...I will not say more. That scene was an amazing scene. Yes, it was bad and a tough scene, but Balou is amazing and I want a cat like him.

Honestly, I loved the fact that Balou got to have his say and his opinions/views were expressed through his side of the story. When I told a friend about this book and how the cat gets his own POV, she laughed and thought it was silly. No. It really worked and I liked it; it added a new view on situations like these. 

There were a couple spots where it was hard to get through, because it is a tough issue, but it is worth the read. The ending is totally worth it! It was a long road, but I finally got what I wanted to happen to happen. I shall say no more...

My only other complaint is that is was a wee bit choppy in some spots. I hated the random time jumps between paragraphs; there was a lack of transitions mainly in Rosario's POV. Other then that, I did like this book a lot. There characters were great, the two POVs were great, and even though the issue the story revolves around is tough, it was a different and good way to talk about the issue. I recommend this to those that need a change up in their readings and/or who want a serious book with a little comic relief (aka the cat who is adorable). I shall stamp this with 4 stars; more like 3.5, but I don't give decimals. 

Favorite Character(s): Balou, Rosario (even though she frustrated me a few times), the staff, and Javier (I hated him, but he was a good baddie).

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Javier (he deserved to be pushed off the cliff) and Javier's mother (that lady....grrrr)

PS - Random last thought that I had as I returned to this review later - I don't quite understand the title. Does it have to do with Rosario's final thoughts at the end? IDK. Any ideas, thoughts? 

Book Blog Walkers: Weekly Check-in Nov 21 2014 and Pride and Prejudice re-tellings x3

This challenge is organized by Felicia over at the Geeky Blogger's Book Blog

Saturday 1 hour walk

Sunday 1.15 hour walk

Monday 10 km bike and 45 min zumba toning

Tuesday 5 km bike

Wednesday 5 km bike and 1 hour zumba

Thursday 10 km bike and 1 hour zumba

Friday 5 km bike 

Good week, even though I took a free day on Tuesday cos I had the flu, and on Friday no time for anything cos of xmas party :)

Sunday

--------------------------------------

A lady's reputation is a fragile thing. If anyone ever discovered that Miss Elizabeth Bennet had received a letter from a single gentleman, she could be ruined... or forced to marry a man she detests. In this Pride & Prejudice variation, Elizabeth takes the safer course and refuses to read Mr. Darcy's letter of explanation. Returning home unaware of Wickham's true nature, Elizabeth confesses everything to him, putting both Mr. Darcy and herself in grave danger from Wickham's schemes. 

My thoughts:

You all know I love these. They are my weakness, I can't get enough and if they are done right then yay. This one begins from the LETTER. She does not read it and does not realize that Darcy is good and Wickham is bad.

But Darcy loves her and longs for her. Some things are the same and some not. I can not go into detail but I really liked one thing that changed. It was hopeful. Another thing I did not like. Lizzy would not behave a certain way, not after the incident. She is no fool. But hey I can live with it.

I have read most of Reynold's variations and they are all fun. I really should read them all. 

Kindle Edition, 264 pages
Published November 28th 2011 by Intertidal Press
Pride and prejudice variation
Own

Spring 1944 - Britain is now in its fourth year of war. In order to defeat Adolph Hitler and his Nazis, everyone in the country must do his or her bit. While a young Elizabeth Bennet makes her contribution by driving a lorry, Fitzwilliam Darcy flies Lancaster bombers over Germany. Because of the war, both are wary of falling in love, but when the two meet near an airbase in Hertfordshire, all bets are off. 

Set against the background of World War II, in Darcy Goes to War, Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy battle something more than class differences. The greatest evil of the 20th Century is trying to bring Britain to its knees. In order to be together, they must survive the war. 

My thoughts:

There was not a lot left of the original story. 5 sisters, two fall in love, 1 make a bad decision. That's it. Darcy and Lizzy meet, they fall for each other. No drama, no heartache. Except the heartache that a war is going on and he might be dead the next day.

I like what happened to Lydia, and her sisters. Jane got her HEA as always too.

I actually think I would have preferred this one to not be a re-telling. Instead it would have showed the work women did for their country, and what men did. And how fast people can fall in love (with that I mean all the girls in the village who was preggers by soldiers).

Interesting story. 

Kindle Edition, 260 pages
Published September 4th 2012 by Quail Creek Publishing LLC
Pride and prejudice re-telling
Own

Did you know that Mr. Darcy had an American cousin?!

My thoughts:

The title says it all...Mr Darcy has an American cousin! He is hot too and has money.

Do I like Caroline? Not so much. Did I like her in the end? Not so much, BUT she had improved greatly and we could have been friends. If I only did not hold a grudge ;) I mean come on, she is a hard woman to like in PP. Here she does learn to be kinder, and people even comment upon it. Because she was a bitch ;)

Anyway, enough with my grudge. Caroline and Mr Darcy meets and do not particularity like each other. But they keep ending up together, and in the same room. Damn that fate! Time moves along, and they become somewhat friendly.

The drama around them is Lizzy being ill :/ A houseparty with new friends. Lydia showing up (sigh Lydia). Mrs Bennet trying to marry her 2 daughters off and Caroline being nice!

Fun, even if I still do not like Caroline, ha.

ebook, 368 pages
Published October 1st 2009 by Sourcebooks Landmark
Pride and Prejudice sequel
Own

Romance Friday: Fantasyland 1 and 2 - Kristen Ashley

Seoafin “Finnie” Wilde was taught by her parents that every breath was a treasure and to seek every adventure she could find. And she learns this lesson the hard way when they perish in a plane crash. But she never forgets and when she discovers there is a parallel universe where every person has a twin, she finds a witch who can send her there so she can have the adventure of a lifetime. 

But upon arrival in the Winter Wonderland of Lunwyn, she realizes she’s been played by her twin and finds herself walking down the aisle to be wed to The Drakkar. 

Thrown into inauspicious circumstances, with years of practice, Finnie bests the challenges and digs into her adventure. But as Frey Drakkar discovers the woman who is his new wife is not Princess Sjofn, a woman he dislikes but instead, his Finnie, a free-spirit with a thirst for venture just like him, without her knowledge he orders his new bride bound to his frozen world, everlasting. 

But at the same time Frey plunges Finnie into a web of political intrigue that includes assassination plots, poison, magic, mystery and… dragons. 

Kindle Edition, 536 pages
Published August 15th 2011
Fantasyland #1
Fantasy romance
Own

My thoughts:

Finnie wants an adventure and goes to a parallel world and pretends to be her parallel twin while her lesbian parallel twins goes to our world to have some fun. It seems to be a good idea...not.

It was crazy. Dumped in a strange winter world, made to marry within minutes. Left alone after the wedding to survive on her own. Omg, epic stuff there. She was all f!? And then she just went on with life and had her adventure. She was so cool, and weird.

When the romance finally start. Well, ok so yes Frey is an asshole, but hey in a good way. Of course he does not want a woman who does not want him. But she is all hey there, and he is all is this my wife? Hell yeah. They were amusing to read about, and she is just So Earth modern woman. While he is a barbarian.

Yes he did make some foolish choices. MEN! But I could forgive them, cos shit got real and then you can't worry about stuff like that when true love is around.

Conclusion:

A fun fantasy romance that was just...cheesy! In the best possible way. 

Cover

Boring

Circe Quinn goes to sleep at home and wakes up in a corral filled with women wearing sacrificial virgin attire - and she is one of them. She soon finds out that she’s not having a wild dream, she’s living a frightening nightmare where she’s been transported to a barren land populated by a primitive people and in short order, she’s installed very unwillingly on her white throne of horns as their Queen.

Dax Lahn is the king of Suh Tunak, The Horde of the nation of Korwahk and with one look at Circe, he knows she will be his bride and together they will start The Golden Dynasty of legend.

Circe and Lahn are separated by language, culture and the small fact she’s from a parallel universe and has no idea how she got there or how to get home. But facing challenge after challenge, Circe finds her footing as Queen of the brutal Korwahk Horde and wife to its King, then she makes friends then she finds herself falling in love with this primitive land, its people and especially their savage leader. 

My thoughts:

I would not call it spoiler when it happens int the first pages. See it as a warning.

No, wtf, NO! RAPE IS NEVER RIGHT. I do not give a fuck if it's their society. He brutally attacks and rapes her. And what I am supposed to read on and they will fall in love and she will change their society. Well do that, he still raped you.

How the fuck is this romance?

I wish there was a worse rating than 1. NO!

Also why is everyone comparing it to GoT. A scene which I also hated. No, nothing romantic with a raped 13 year old falling for her rapist. I HATE THIS FUCKING TROPE.

Kindle Edition, 485 pages
Published August 22nd 2011
Fantasyland #2
Fantasy romance
Own

Half a king - Joe Abercrombie

Prince Yarvi has vowed to regain a throne he never wanted. But first he must survive cruelty, chains and the bitter waters of the Shattered Sea itself. And he must do it all with only one good hand.

Born a weakling in the eyes of his father, Yarvi is alone in a world where a strong arm and a cold heart rule. He cannot grip a shield or swing an axe, so he must sharpen his mind to a deadly edge.

Gathering a strange fellowship of the outcast and the lost, he finds they can do more to help him become the man he needs to be than any court of nobles could.

But even with loyal friends at his side, Yarvi’s path may end as it began – in twists, and traps and tragedy...

My thoughts:

Wow, this did NOT take long to read. I am always such a cliche! But yes the pages flew by, sheesh, do you not get tired of me saying that? But it's true! I sat down, starting reading, took a break to watch a tv show, and then finished the book. All in one evening, cos it was light, easy and just...flew by.

It's the story of Yarvi, a prince with a crippled hand. So they send him to the church, but shit, his dad and brother are killed, better make him king then. He is not ready, people do not think him ready and then he swears an oath to kill those who killed his family.

And that is when the adventure starts. I will not say anything but he has an adventure. He learns to be a man and stand on his own. He meets some new friends and he gets his revenge.

The book seems to be a part of a series, I see that now. But it's also a stand alone. Yarvi has his adventure, gets his revenge and the end. I liked that. You can just read it like that and be happy for once that there is an ending to something.

As this was his YA book, I do think I should read his adult series, as I have book 1. I can only imagine how bloody that one will be. Abercrombie is not a nice author, he kills characters and is not afraid to be cruel, even in YA. Hey that's life. I like it.

Conclusion:

I'd read more.

cover

ok

Hardcover, First Edition, 373 pages
Published July 3rd 2014 by Harper Voyager
Shattered Sea #1
Fantasy / YA
Library

NOS 4R2 - Joe Hill

Victoria McQueen has a secret gift for finding things: a misplaced bracelet, a missing photograph, answers to unanswerable questions. On her Raleigh Tuff Burner bike, she makes her way to a rickety covered bridge that, within moments, takes her wherever she needs to go, whether it’s across Massachusetts or across the country.

Charles Talent Manx has a way with children. He likes to take them for rides in his 1938 Rolls-Royce Wraith with the NOS4A2 vanity plate. With his old car, he can slip right out of the everyday world, and onto the hidden roads that transport them to an astonishing – and terrifying – playground of amusements he calls “Christmasland.”

Then, one day, Vic goes looking for trouble—and finds Manx. That was a lifetime ago. Now Vic, the only kid to ever escape Manx’s unmitigated evil, is all grown up and desperate to forget. But Charlie Manx never stopped thinking about Victoria McQueen. He’s on the road again and he’s picked up a new passenger: Vic’s own son. 

My thoughts:

Ok so I know I usually do not read and review books like this, but I since I read almost every other genre I decided to spread my wings a bit, and good thing I did.

For 700 pages it sure went by fast. But then it did have me at the edge of my seat wondering what would happen. What was it called now again, Horror Thriller Suspense? Well you get the idea. It will keep you interested.

The plot then. Vic can with her bike travel across a bridge and end up wherever she wants to. A bit how she does this is explained later, some have this power to do things. Some use it for good, some use it for bad. Vic grows up and falls in with the wrong crowd. Sex, drugs, life is shit. And then she meets Manx and is more messed up for life. Years later, he wants her son...

Oh yes, through out the book we meet Manx. A creepy guy who travels in a car and steals children to Christmasland where they get creepier than him. The mothers are killed too by his psychotic side-kick. Manx is silently creepy, like if you just looked at him you'd freak out and run. Seriously, ugh. While like I said his side-kick is a psycho and shows it.

Poor Vic, she really thinks she is crazy, and who could blame her. Who would be able to bike across a bridge and end up miles away? But she has some strength left and I liked to see her fight for her revenge.

Conclusion:

I liked the book. Enough creepy people (you do NOT want to go to Xmas land). Characters to root for (even when they f up their lives.) If you like suspense read it, horror read it, thriller read it. Or if you are like me and wants to try something new, give it a chance :) And get a bit freaked out. 

Cover

eh

Paperback: 704 pages
Publisher: Gollancz (6 Nov 2014)
Thriller /Suspense /Horror
For review

A Cursed Bloodline - Cecy Robson

Just when Celia thinks the supernatural world can’t turn deadlier, a new rival emerges, proving just how dangerous a power-hungry were can be.

Since being cursed with unique abilities, Celia Wird and her three sisters have fought the most bloodthirsty preternaturals in the Lake Tahoe region. But Celia’s greatest threat is someone she would have never suspected: Anara, a werewolf Elder who has allowed his hatred for Celia to spiral out of control. In a play for dominance, Anara tortures Celia and gives her an ultimatum: sever her mate bond with pureblood were Aric — or Anara will kill everyone she loves.

From the instant they met, Celia and Aric have shared an attraction that cannot be tamed. So keeping Aric away is impossible, and Aric would sooner die than allow anyone to hurt the woman he loves. Misha, master vampire and Celia’s sworn protector, also finds his way into the chaos, seeking blood from those who have harmed her.

Now Celia and her sisters are caught in the middle of a war driven by lust, fueled by hatred, and destined to end in tragedy. For Anara is a force to be reckoned with, and he will not succumb without robbing Celia of those who hold her heart. 

My thoughts:

This book was pretty brutal. For a pregnant woman she sure gets kicked around a LOT in this book. It got to that point where I was all, please! Please, do not have people beat her up anymore!

Right, so the book is violent. I guess you already guessed that. Someone is hurting her and it's not pretty. Then there is the whole I am preggers and no one knows angle. And of course the I must stay away from Aric and it breaks me angle. It does not make for a happy book. Everyone is miserable. Everyone!

But Celia is trying to get out of the corner she has been backed into. I have forgiven Aric and I just want them together. I still love Misha, poor Misha :/ He needs a woman. Anyway, the way out of that corner is filled with fights, blood and heartache.

One thing, a lot happened, not always in a good way. There was just a lot going on, they just jumped from one thing to another. But oh well, at least I was never bored then. Non stop action.

And then that thing at the end, omg, evil. I just want everyone to be happy. Please make everyone happy.

Conclusion:

Looking forward to more.

Cover
 previous covers were UF kick-ass, this is just pnr boring

ebook, 370 pages
Published November 18th 2014 by Loveswept
Weird Girls #4
Urban fantasy romance
NG

Author post and Giveaway: Gini Koch

Today I have Gini Koch over! Give her a warm welcome *applauds* Her new book is out in December (my review will be posted a bit closer to the date ;) 

And not to forget, there is a giveaway too where you can win one of the first 9 books, your choice.

Now to her guest post, I wanted to see who would play the Martini...cos I looove him.

Gini Koch’s Top 10 Hotties to Play Martini

In reality, half of the actors in this list are already too old to play Martini. But all of them could do it, and that’s what counts, right? Oh, and they’re all hotties, and that counts, too. List subject to change based on a new hottie appearing on the scene.

By the way, Chris Evans, Ryan Reynolds, and David Boreanaz are not on this list – not because I don’t think they’re hotties (I do, trust me, Evans in particular), but because I already see them as other leading characters in other series I have out there and I just can’t bring myself to cross-pollinate. (For who I see them, and others, as, check out my See the Characters board on Pinterest -- http://www.pinterest.com/ginikoch/).

But now, on with this list!

10. Patrick Dempsey (FAR too old, but he HAS Martini’s hair.) (And Martini wants his hair back. Heh.)

9. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson (Also too old, sadly, but he has Martini’s body build and smile.)

8. Hugh Jackman (Wolverine would be perfect with Kitty “Wolverine with Boobs” wouldn’t he? Sadly again, also too old.)

7. Ben Affleck (Probably the most likely suspect, since he has the hair, the build, the looks, and the ability to do pathos and humor. However, just a tiny bit too old. But I could ignore it for Ben!)

6. Karl Urban (I’d cast Karl Urban as every single male character if I was allowed to. In every single thing, not just mine. But, sadly, I do not have this power.)

5. Theo James (Probably a better choice for Christopher, but still, he’s worthy. And I was running low on younger guy options.)

4. Channing Tatum (He’s hot AND he can do humor…potentially a great choice.)

3. Josh Duhamel (What I said for CT, only I think he’s hotter than CT, so he rates higher.)

2. Henry Cavill (I think he’d be far better as Martini than as Superman, but I could be biased.)

1. Chris Hemsworth (Right now, the best choice, as long as they died his hair brown and gave him brown contact lenses. It’s Hollywood, they can do anything.)

Thank you! :)

Giveaway: 

Gini is offering one winner the choice of one of any of the first 9 books in the Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt Series (Touched by an Alien, Alien Tango, Alien in the Family, Alien Proliferation, Alien Diplomacy, Alien vs. Alien, Alien in the House, Alien Research, or Alien Collective), signed and personalized. 

1. Open internationally.

2. Ends Nov 30th

3. Check your profiles so I can find you if you win. Seriously, check, some profiles lead to nothing...

Good luck!

Blurb:

Being the wife of the Vice President isn’t easy. Especially when your talents lie in kicking butt and rocking out…

Jeff and Kitty Katt-Martini find out just how easy it is for the wife of the Vice President of the United States to unintentionally insult an ally. Now they have to smooth things over with the Australian Prime Minister, pronto, or risk creating an international incident the worldwide anti-alien coalitions will be able to use to force Jeff to resign and the A-Cs to leave the planet.

But before Kitty can make things worse, a cosmic congruence and a little help from some powerful beings shoves her into another world -- one where she’s been married to Charles Reynolds for years and aliens don’t exist. She’s also landed in the middle of a huge conspiracy and is marked for death…but at least that’s business as usual.

Kitty’s not the only one confused, because the Kitty from that world has taken her place in this one. Now Alpha Team and the Diplomatic Corps have to make sure that no one spots that there’s been a switch, while keeping World War III from happening. And they have to do so while keeping this new Kitty in line, because she has views about what to do and how to it, and time is running out.

Can both Kittys save their respective days before it’s too late to go home to the universes they belong to? Or will one Kitty decide to keep the other’s life…forever? 

Author Bio: 

Gini Koch writes the fast, fresh and funny Alien/Katherine “Kitty” Katt series for DAW Books, the Necropolis Enforcement Files series, and the Martian Alliance Chronicles series. Alien in the House, Book 7 in her long-running Alien series, won the RT Book Reviews Reviewer’s Choice Award as the Best Futuristic Romance of 2013. As G.J. Koch she writes the Alexander Outland series and she’s made the most of multiple personality disorder by writing under a variety of other pen names as well, including Anita Ensal, Jemma Chase, A.E. Stanton, and J.C. Koch. Currently, Gini has stories featured in the Unidentified Funny Objects 3, Clockwork Universe: Steampunk vs. Aliens, and Two Hundred and Twenty-One Baker Streets anthologies, and, writing as J.C. Koch, in Kaiju Rising: Age of Monsters, The Madness of Cthulhu, Vol. 1, and A Darke Phantastique anthologies. She will also have a story in the first book in an X-Files anthology series coming out in 2015. Gini can be reached via her website: www.ginikoch.com 

Carole Reviews: Whatever happened to Mourning Free - Yael Politis

Author: Yael Politis

Title: Whatever Happened to Mourning Free (Olivia #3)

Genre: Historical Fiction

Pages: ebook

First Published: September 2014

Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest opinion)

"It's 1967 and Charlene Connor has just graduated from the University of Michigan, without her "Mrs." Her mother recently passed away and soon afterwards her father fled the silence to a new job on the other side of the state. So Charlene is going "home" to what is now an empty house. 

Two things make this long, hot summer bearable: Reeves Valenti – the high school sweetheart she left behind – and the lawyer who unexpectedly knocks on her door, bringing information about the woman she idolizes - her great-great-great Aunt Olivia Killion. Charlene can't wait to get Olivia's journals from him and finally learn what happened to Olivia and her friend and partner Mourning Free; she doesn't know that the answer to that question will deepen the connection she feels to Olivia and bring a new person -- and a fundamental change -- into her life. "

This is the third and final book of the Olivia series. However, this is told through the POV of Charlene who is the great-great-great niece of our heroine Olivia in the first two books. This was an interesting take on giving a "what happened" to not only our heroine Olivia, but to the elusive Mourning. What DID happen with Mourning? This has been a burning question for me. I pretty much guessed what DID happen, but it was a little different then what I "hoped" for. 

I will spoil it, because it is no surprise. This is not an HEA. Olivia and Mourning do not really ever get to be together because of the simple fact that he is a black man and she is a white woman. So sad that we allowed this hatred to happen. :/ Who are we to say who can love each other?

Anyways...

Poor Charlene. She has had a hell of a time. She broke up with Reeves a little while ago for a stupid and selfish reason, her mom died, her dad moved away, her sister is far away, and she is left alone with taking care of getting the house ready to sell. Granted...her dad did hire someone to help her: Reeves. Sighs. I would be so upset, but alas, she still loves him and he loves her so its okay I guess. However, it is the fact the dad went behind her back and didn't care it would be awkward as Hell. >___> Some people. 

Also, poor Charlie. :/

I am glad this wasn't solely set in Charlene's POV, you do get a glimpse of Olivia through some of her diary entries about what happened to her and to Mourning. It was nice, but the beginning was rather slow, because I was having issues adjusting to her POV. I honestly wish that it was completely in Olivia's POV, but I am biased, because I do like Olivia a lot more then I liked Charlene. She was okay...just...well...she is very naive and selfish. Granted. She is a young adult trying to figure her life out through a crazy time in history. Oh yes, the late 1960s. A time of chaos and change. I am certainly glad I did not grow up in that time period. 

In the end, this was okay. It was different and showed a different side of the author's writing style. I am biased, because I adored Olivia a lot more then Charlene, so it was hard to pretty much get a second-hand account of her story through Charlene and diary entries. I really wish this was a Historical Romance, because Olivia, Mourning, and Little Boy would have lived HEA, but alas...she stays true with the times. It was impossible for that to happen. It was a fun ride and it was an interesting way to end the series. I am looking forward to Yael's other books! She is fantastic. I recommend this to those that like Historical Fiction. Out of five stars, I shall stamp this 3 stars. 

Favorite Character(s): Charlie, Charlene (I had a love-hate thing with her), and Olivia

Not-so Favorite Character(s): Reeves (he bugged me)