Reading on the Rocks: June 2013

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The Blood Code by Misty Evans Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway

Title: The Blood Code (A Super Agent Novel)
Author: Misty Evans
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Edge, June 17, 2013
Format/Source: e-arc, Publisher
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes& Noble/Kobo/iBooks

Synopsis

Fifteen years ago, Anya Radzoya fled Russia with her grandmother after the suspicious deaths of her parents, but she can’t escape the royal genes that make her one of Russia’s last living princesses. When President Ivanov blackmails her into returning to Moscow to be his future wife in exchange for her grandmother’s life, Anya discovers he’s planning to unleash a nuclear war. With no one else to turn to, she join forces with CIA operative Ryan Smith.

Undercover at the nuclear summit, Ryan is happy to recruit Anya to find proof Ivanov is resurrecting the Cold War, but he suspects his new asset is a double agent. Anya is determined to rescue her grandmother with or without his help, however, and Ryan finds himself falling for the beautiful princess before he even trusts her. He refuses to let her go it alone, even if it means risking his own critical mission.

Trapped inside the Kremlin with a cunning and ruthless opponent, the two must risk their lives and their hearts to save Anya’s grandmother, as well as millions of innocent people.

My Thoughts

The Blood Code by Misty Evans can best be described as a nail-biting, spine-tingling, edge of your seat thriller. The book is just chilling. I just couldn’t fathom how Ivanov would be stopped or how Anya would get out of the dreadful situation of being held captive before it was too late. Anya is so feisty and at times it puts her in further danger. Oh and President Ivanov is so creepy, I just cringe when I think about his character. He is so unstable that I couldn’t predict what he would do next.

I liked Anya’s strong will. She added excitement to the story. She was a relentless character that wouldn’t let anything stop her and had no mercy on her enemies.

What the characters were feeling at any moment was clearly depicted. I could only imagine the chills flowing throw Anya’s body while she was alone with Ivanov as I read the following quote: “The heat from the fire might as well have been the north wind blowing outside” (80). At other times I could absolutely understand Anya’s feelings of fear, uncertainty, and hopelessness.

Overall, I appreciated the pacing of The Blood Code. At times the pacing was slow and at other times there was a heightened intensity. In the beginning a mysterious woman Anya shows up at the outpost of the special ops team which piqued my interest. Then there is a period of time in which background information is revealed and Anya and Ryan contemplate their next move. There were shocking developments along the way. And finally, the fast paced action is put into motion when Ryan and Anya constantly take dangerous leaps of faith in an attempt to stop Ivanov from wreaking havoc. I really couldn’t fathom how this would end well, and Evans kept me in suspense until the very end.

The Blood Code was well-written and just had one of the most nerve-wracking endings. If you love suspense novels with a strong heroine, I would definitely recommend this novel.

Rating- 4.5/5 

I received an e-arc of The Blood Code by Misty Evans for an unbiased review. Thank you.

About Misty:

Misty Evans is the author of the award-winning Super Agent romantic suspense series. Books in the series have won a CataNetwork Reviewers’ Choice Award, CAPA nominations, the New England Reader’s Choice Bean Pot Award for Best Romantic Suspense and the ACRA Heart of Excellence Reader’s Choice Award for Best Romantic Suspense.

Misty likes her coffee black, her conspiracy stories juicy, and her wicked characters dressed in couture. When not reading or writing, she enjoys hanging out with her husband and their
twin sons. Learn more and sign up for her newsletter at www.readmistyevans.com.

Website/Twitter/Facebook/ Goodreads

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Blog Tour

Official Tour Stops

6/17/2013 So Many Reads

6/18/2013 Notes From A Romantic's Heart

6/19/2013 Reading Between the Wines

6/20/2013 Going in Circles

6/21/2013 Storey Book Reviews

6/24/2013 In My Humble Opinion

6/25/2013 The Flirty Reader

6/26/2013 Meredith's Musings

6/26/2013 Paranormal Book Club

6/28/2013 Reading on the Rocks

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

Review: Deja Voodoo by Elle James

Title: Deja Voodoo (A Cajun Magic Novel; Click on the Link for Synopsis)

Author: Elle James

Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Suspense, June 24, 2013

Format/Source: e-galley, Publisher

Genre: Romantic Suspense

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My Thoughts

I have mixed feelings about Deja Voodoo by Elle James. There were some aspects of the story that I liked and others that I could have done without. It begins as another fun and enjoyable read. Since the end of Voodoo for Two a lot has happened. Lucie is now living in Baton Rouge and she has started her life with Ben. She is back to her old antics of creating spells. Lucie sends Alex a Voodoo charm just as another undercover agent assigned to a case arrives in Bayou Miste. So if you’re a fan of Voodoo for Two, you know where this story is headed.

There were moments of intense high flying action on the bayou that had me on the edge of my seat. Yet, there were action scenes involving criminals with fast-moving cars that were too similar to those found in Voodoo for Two. It was just the same actions with different people in a slightly different place at a different time.

And once again we follow another Louisiana State Police, Ed, as he is undercover and pursues a love interest, Alex. Alex and Ed have an instant physical attraction, and I did enjoy their story. Alex struggles with her quest to remain independent and is rather fickle. One moment she is oh so totally falling for Ed and the next she is pulling away.

The problem that I had with this book was the voodoo spell that went awry and brought a new man, Sport, into Calliope’s life. I really disliked the setting and circumstances surrounding Sport’s transformation. Calliope’s interest in Sport is overplayed. She just appears to be desperate and sells herself short. I just couldn’t connect with the whole relationship between the two of them or Calliope’s desperation to have a man. There were funny aspects of Alex’s interactions with Sport; however, the story surrounding Calliope and Sport had a profound effect on my opinion of Deja Voodoo.

Rating 2.5/5-The book was okay

I received a copy of Deja Voodoo from the publisher for an unbiased review. Thank You.

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Review: For Love or Money by Cathy Perkins

Title: For Love or Money
Author: Cathy Perkins
Publisher/Publication Date:
Entangled Suspense, May 27, 2013
Format/Source: e-book, won
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My Thoughts

I love suspense novels that have you looking for clues in all the wrong places. Cathy Perkins does a good job of building up the suspense by providing just enough information to make multiple people look guilty. For Love or Money was filled with corruption and characters who were so temperamental that it was difficult to discern who could be trusted. There were several people in Holly’s life from love interests to her clients that either had a shady past, made questionable statements, or acted bizarre.
Then there was Holly’s mom who occasionally made an appearance. She was so undependable, and I began to think that she was hiding something.

And Holly, Holly, Holly. All I can do is shake my head and say her name. This is another case of a strong-willed heroine who thinks that she can take care of herself. She got herself in so deep with the murder investigation, because she couldn’t stop snooping. Yeah, her character was believable enough; because she’s similar to the people out there that just don’t know when to stop asking questions. I guess being in a series of dangerous situations wasn’t satisfying enough—she needed answers. Her actions just led to alarming outcomes that kept me turning the pages in search of answers.

I loved how JC dealt with the unresolved issues between him and Holly. There was just so much tension between them. And at times I found it amusing when JC’s interrogation of Holly went astray as he was gathering her personal information.

There were several occasions that I was left shocked by the events that unfolded and could only hope to find answers as I continued on my journey reading this book. Then finally the ending arrived, and it just left me saying—“What?! I should have known, but I didn’t see that coming.”

For Love or Money was a quick enjoyable read, and I would recommend it to fans of romantic suspense novels. Rating 4/5

I received a copy of For Love or Money from the publisher for an unbiased review. Thank you.

Tuesday, June 18, 2013

It's Release Day for Rapture's Edge by J. T. Geissinger

Title: Edge of Oblivion
Author: J. T. Geissinger
Publisher/Publication Date:
Montlake Romance,
October 2, 2012
Genre Paranormal Romance
Format/Source:
Paperback, Won
Amazon Barnes &Noble
Goodreads

Title: Shadow's Edge
Author: J. T. Geissinger
Publisher/Publication Date:
Montlake Romance
June 12, 2012
Genre: Paranormal
Romance
Format/Source:
E-Book, Purchased
Amazon Barnes & Noble
Goodreads

Title: Rapture's Edge
Author: J. T. Geissinger
Publisher/Publication Date: Montlake Romance, June 18, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Amazon Barnes & Noble Goodreads

My Thoughts

It's Release Day for Rapture's Edge (A Night Prowler Novel) by J. T. Geissinger, the third book in her edgy paranormal romance series.

Edge of Oblivion was the first book I won from a blog contest and A Night Prowler series was my first adventure into the adult edgy paranormal romance genre. While I waited for Edge of Oblivion to arrive, I purchased & read Shadow's Edge. I just loved the story of Jenna as she learned about her background and the Ikati Tribe. The ending of book one left me looking forward to reading more.

At the completion of Shadows Edge, it was suggested that a war would ensue. Edge of Oblivion picked up where Shadow’s Edge left off and centered on Morgan’s mission and Xander, the assassin.

The characters were well developed as J. T. Geissinger provided the reader with further insight regarding the background of Morgan and Xander. Their histories were touching and it made me think that who these characters were wasn’t as black and white as I first thought. There were other characters that were just unlikable, but were essential to the developing conflict. One example, was Dominus the king of the Expurgari who was ruthless and added dark elements to the plot.

Overall, I really enjoyed Edge of Oblivion. Although, I missed Leander and Jenna’s presence as the story progressed, I am definitely looking forward to reading Rapture’s Edge, because I was left wandering what the future holds for Jenna, the Ikati Tribe, and Eliana, the daughter of the king of the Expurgari.

Happy Book Birthday J. T. Geissinger

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Review: The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin

Title: The Sword Dancer (Tang Dynasty #4)

Publisher/Publication Date: Harlequin Historical, May 21, 2013

Format/Source: Paperback, Author

Genre: Historical Romance
Barnes & Noble Amazon Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads

The Thief Who Stole His Heart

Sword dancer Li Feng is used to living life on the edge of the law—a woman alone in the dangerous world of the Tang Dynasty has only her whirlwind reflexes to trust. She will discover the truth about her past, even if that means outwitting the most feared thief-catcher of them all...

Relentless, handsome and determined, Han sees life—and love—as black and white. Until he finally captures the spirited, courageous Li Feng, who makes him question everything he thought he knew about right and wrong. Soon he's faced with an impossible choice: betray the elusive sword dancer he is learning to love, or trust his long-disregarded heart and follow her to dangerous, tempting rebellion...

Review

I loved the world building in The Sword Dancer by Jeannie Lin as it whisked me away to another place and another time. I was captivated as I witnessed the amazing romantic tale of Li Feng, the sword dancer aka a thief, and Han, a thief catcher, unfold. It was set in the Tang Dynasty AD 848. The descriptions were so well-written that I could conceive a clear picture of the setting, people, laws, and values of the time period. From the hierarchical justice system to the customs and beliefs, Lin skillfully weaves bits of history throughout this fantastic tale.

The strong female heroine was intriguing, and I just loved how Han chased after Li Feng as she kept slipping out of his reach. I liked the fact that Li Feng was so strong that it compelled her to stand firm by her beliefs and fight for what she believed in.

As for the plot it took a slightly different turn than what I’d foreseen. And I was shocked by some of the twists along the way as Li Feng searched for answers regarding what happened to her family.

I am definitely looking forward to reading books 1-3 of the Tang Dynasty series and future work by Jeannie Lin. If you’re looking for an exciting historical romance novel, The Sword Dancer is a must Read.

Rating-5/5

I received a copy of the Sword Dancer from the author, Jeannie Lin, for an unbiased review. Thank You.

ARC Review: Act like You Love Me by Cindi Madsen

Title: Act like You Love Me
Author: Cindi Madsen
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Bliss, June 10, 2013
Format/Source: E-Galley, Publisher
Genre: Contemporary Romance

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ACT LIKE YOU LOVE ME SUMMARY

What would you do for a second chance with your first crush?

Brynn McAdams isn’t the awkward drama geek she was in high school—she’s grown up and confident, or at least she likes to think so. But when her old crush, the impossibly handsome and impossibly unattainable Sawyer Raines, comes back to town to direct her community play, Brynn finds herself determined to be someone other than the girl he doesn’t even recognize. Good thing she’s an excellent actress.

After his bad breakup in NYC, the last thing Sawyer wants is to get involved with another actress. But the glamorous and beautiful Brynn draws him in, even though as her director, he knows she’s off-limits. There’s just something about the woman that feels…familiar. Like home.

As Brynn’s lies start to snowball, she struggles to stop acting and come clean. But what if Sawyer is already falling for the fake Brynn, not the Brynn she truly is?

REVIEW

I was first introduced to Madsen’s work with her young adult novel All the Broken Pieces. I absolutely loved it, so of course I was eager to read Act like You Love Me. There is something about her writing style that just reels me in, and I instantly become immersed in the story.

Wow, Act like You Love Me is such a sweet romance novel that it’s sure to leave you smiling. It’s kind of unique, because it strays from the usual ex-high school sweetheart’s story where the hero and heroine are taking a second chance at love. In Act like You Love Me, the hero was a jock in high school and the heroine was a nerd. And yeah Sawyer was not so nice to Brynn in high school. The current story takes place years later, but he doesn’t remember her. There is this tension between them and Sawyer doesn’t realize why Brynn is on this emotional rollercoaster. Some of the story pulled at my heartstrings because just when I felt that things were going to work out, it seemed that what I was rooting for was not going to happen so easy. Madsen’s descriptions of Brynn’s clumsiness and interests perfectly portrayed her awkwardness. And I absolutely love the fact that Sawyer was attracted to her uniqueness; although, he had a different viewpoint of her when he was young and in high school. It really causes you to think about how the importance of things changes with life experiences and as you age.

Madsen develops the best characters and effectively uses stream of consciousness. In this case the technique worked because it allowed me to understand the characters inner conflicts. It also provided insight regarding the personal growth of Sawyer and Brynn over time. It’s clear that Sawyer likes Brynn, but he doesn’t have a clue when it comes to verbal communication. He just spews out the wrong stuff—a bunch of blunders--and is dumbfounded by the reaction he gets. He often engages in deep thought while trying to convince himself that he is better off alone. As for Brynn, she’s a hopeless romantic who finds herself in a web of lies that led to questions about their relationship. She often has an inner debate regarding being herself or portraying herself as someone she’s not. At times their internal monologue was a bit melodramatic and it added a nice touch of humor.

Overall, Act like You Love Me is a heartwarming story of two people who are opposites, but they love each other just the same. There were so many aspects of this story that I just loved, and I recommend this book to those who enjoy fun contemporary romance novels.

Rating 5/5

I received an e-galley of Act like You Love Me from the publisher for an unbiased review. Thank You.

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Review: Playing the Part by Robin Covington

Title: Playing the Part
Author: Robin Covington
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Brazen, June 10, 2013
Format/Source: e-book, Publisher

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Goodreads Summary

After publicly self-destructing over a heartbreak a year ago, bestselling romance writer Piper James is now making nice with her publisher by agreeing to teach Hollywood's favorite action star how to act like he's in love. Only playboy Mick Blackwell has no clue what love looks like. When a seductive heat ignites between Piper and Mick, she jumps at the chance for a bit of... Read More

My Thoughts

If you like a romance novel with a lot of heat and a compelling storyline, Playing the Part by Robin Covington is the book for you. Playing the Part tells the story of Piper an author who is tasked with helping Mick, one of the actors who stars in the movie adaptation of her book, understand Chance, the character that he is playing. Piper and Mick are instantly attracted to one another and the story quickly goes from warm to smoking hot.

Covington did a great job of portraying Mick’s and Piper’s past experiences, which hindered the development of their relationship. I really enjoyed how the tables were turned on Mick, the player who was used to getting what he wanted, as Piper played a little hard to get. Yet, I began to understand his problems with commitment as I learned a little about his family matters. As for Piper, at times I felt that she was unreasonable, because she was so hesitant to commit to Mick. However, after her ex-boyfriend Antonio was on the scene, I could fully understand her hesitation and how her past was affecting her current relationship. I absolutely loved how Mick dealt with Antonio. And can only describe Antonio’s character as an obnoxious jerk. Mick’s response to Antonio provided proof that he cared for piper. However, they both continued to struggle with whether they would have no-strings-attached, be friends-with-benefits, or fully commit to one another.

Some of the plot points really pointed out the darker side to fame and how all the media attention can affect a relationship. I loved how things weren’t perfect from the start and although the cards were stacked against them, Mick was intent on proving his love to Piper and making things right.

I have to admit that Playing the Part is a little off the charts on the heat meter, but I really enjoyed this story about two people who started falling in love when they were only looking for a good time.

Rating 4/5

I received a copy of Playing the Part from the publisher for an unbiased review. Thank you.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

The Waiting Game by Eve Devon Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway

Title: The Waiting Game
Author: Eve Devon
Publisher/Publication Date: Entangled Suspense, May 27, 2013
Format/Source: E-Book, Publisher
Genre: Romantic Suspense

Buy The Waiting Game by Eve Devon

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Synopsis

Five years ago a madman stalked her. Kidnapped her. Tattooed her.

When security expert Cameron Dexter—the man Brooke Bennett once loved—appears unexpectedly at her door with terrifying news, the former musician discovers she can no longer hide from her past. After five years, her vicious kidnapper is out of prison and on the hunt—for Brooke.

Now he’s returned to complete his art.

Cam failed to protect Brooke once before. Now he’d rather die than let her be captured. With her life at stake, Cam vows to keep her hidden and safe. Brooke, however, is done with running. Unlike Cam, she wants to stand and fight. Emotions both old and new roil between them, but addressing their heated past must wait. Together they set a trap in London to catch a killer. But they soon discover the enemy wears many faces...

And waiting is no longer an option.

Review

The Waiting Game by Eve Devon is a spine-tingling romantic suspense novel. Brooke, a former member of the musical group Nocturne, discovers that Spinks, the one that attacked/tortured her is being released from prison. Spinks has taken so much from her, including her vitality, and instead of hiding in fear she plans to meet him head on.

Devon skillfully developed a hero filled with guilt and a heroine as a victim filled with angst. Cameron is intent on protecting her, but he is also dealing with guilt issues. He constantly struggles to suppress his feelings for Brooke as a result of his commitment to protect her. A bird's-eye-view of Brooke’s struggle for normalcy is provided with the initial description of her apartment and her behavior. The consistency between Brooke’s actions and her surroundings really captured the nature of what she was going through. The descriptive text captured every ounce of Brooke’s fear. And I simply remained on the edge of my seat as I waited to discover the outcome of The Waiting Game.

Devon did a great job of adding depth to the supporting characters by providing essential background information. As the antagonist, Spinks is just a sick man who adds a touch of eeriness to the plot. He has a troubled past and his thought processes are simply and utterly skewed. The history of the events that caused his obsession with Brooke just left me with an uncanny feeling. Stephen, Brooke’s manager, just wanted her back to work and I frequently questioned his motive.

One of the common themes found in The Waiting Game was the bodyguard and heroine who fall for one another. You know the bodyguard who needs to focus on his job, but feels conflicted because he has feelings for the heroine. Yet, I liked how Cameron tries to maintain self-control and focus on the job at hand.

Throughout The Waiting Game, I had the feeling that things weren’t as black and white as they seemed. And then my suspicions were confirmed with an unpredictable and jaw dropping twist towards the end that left me in awe of the events that unfolded.

Overall, The Waiting Game is an exceptional romantic suspense novel. It has a romantic element that is sweet and sensual, but it was the elements of suspense that had me hooked from page one. Rating 5/5

I received a copy of The Waiting Game by Eve Devon for an unbiased review. Thank You.

About Eve Devon

Eve Devon writes sexy heroes, sassy heroines & happy ever afters...

Growing up in locations like Botswana and Venezuela gave Eve Devon a taste for adventure; her love for romances began when her mother shoved one into her hands in a desperate attempt to keep her quiet during TV coverage of the Wimbledon tennis finals!

When Eve wasn't consuming books by the bucketload, she could be found pretending to be a damsel in distress or running around solving mysteries and writing down her adventures. As a teenager, Eve wrote countless episodes of TV detective dramas so the hero and heroine would end up together every week. As an adult, still hooked on romance and mysteries, she worked in a library to conveniently continue consuming books by the bucketload, until realizing she was destined to write contemporary romance and romantic suspense herself.

Visit Eve at her website: www.EveDevon.com

Find Eve Devon

Website: http://www.EveDevon.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/EveDevon

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EveDevonAuthor

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