Release Day Review: The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard
Series: The Florentine #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel trilogy comes the hotly anticipated follow-up to The Raven, a sensual novel set in Florence featuring the dangerously intoxicating coupling of Raven and William…

Raven Wood’s vampyre prince has returned, pledging his love and promising justice for every wrong done to her. In the wake of their reunion, Raven is faced with a terrible decision—allow the Prince to wreak vengeance against the demons of her past, or persuade him to stay his hand. But there is far more at stake than Raven’s heart…

A shadow has fallen over the city of Florence. Ispettor Batelli will not rest until he uncovers Raven’s connection to the theft of the priceless art from the Uffizi Gallery. And while the Prince hunts a traitor who sabotages him at every turn, he finds himself the target of the vampyres’ mortal enemy.

As he wages a war on two fronts, he will need to keep his love for Raven secret, or risk exposing his greatest weakness…

I highly enjoyed the first book in The Florentine series, so I couldn’t wait to jump into my early copy of the sequel. The Shadow picks up right where The Raven left off, continuing with Raven and William’s passionate love story and the dark underworld they live in. Sylvain Reynard’s writing is as lyrical and lush as ever, and though I didn’t love this book as much as I loved The Raven, it’s still a great installment to the series.

“You’re a dream.” She sighed. “A dream of love I never thought I’d have.”

William has now accepted that his heart belongs to Raven, and he’ll do anything and everything to protect her. There are dark forces that threaten his reign over Florence, and the best way to hurt him is to hurt Raven. The Shadow focuses a lot more on William and Raven’s beautiful romance, which is certainly the highlight of the book. We also get to know William so much better and he’s no longer such a mystery. Their relationship has now developed into something deeper, more intense and passionate. The depth of love these two have for one another is above and beyond, and I really loved seeing how they interact together.

He touched her cheek. “You are the light that shines in my darkness.”

I really liked this book. That being said, the first half of the book felt too slow and there wasn’t much going on besides Raven and William reaffirming their love. However, once the plot involving the underworld developed more, the suspense and action went up a notch. This is when I became fully immersed in the story and couldn’t stop flipping the pages. The action and intensity near the end of the book reminded me of why I fell so in love with the paranormal romance genre years ago, and continue to love it to this day.

The Shadow is a must-read for fans of the series. The romance is captivating and sexy, the writing is detailed and sensual – everything about this book is so very SR, even though it’s PNR and not contemporary. I’m already eager to get my hands on the next book in the series – I can’t wait to see what SR has in store for William and Raven, because I really need them to get their HEA!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Florentine series

#0.5 ~ The Prince: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ The Raven: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Shadow: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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1Feb2016

Early Review: Remembrance by Meg Cabot

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Remembrance by Meg Cabot
Series: The Mediator #7 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze’s wedded bliss before it begins.

You can take the boy out of the darkness.

But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).

But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.

Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?

If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

I honestly want to cry right now!!! I was up until 3 AM finishing this… I can’t believe it’s over! Reading Remembrance was literally a dream come true for middle-school me – Suze and Jesse as adults, about to get married, was absolute perfection. It was amazing catching up with them and the rest of the gang (yes, even Paul). Meg Cabot is that one author who got me into reading, and I will be forever grateful to her for it. I remember reading the Mediator series as a young teen, so getting to experience this new chapter in the lives some of my favorite beloved characters was beyond anything I could’ve imagined. To say I had high expectations for Remembrance is an understatement, but Meg Cabot has blown me away. I couldn’t imagine a better and more perfect ending for the series!

So what has the Mediator gang been up to? Well, it’s been six years since Suze has graduated high school, but the only job she’s been able to find is one that doesn’t pay… and is a position at that same high school. Jesse is a doctor now, doing his residency. Oh, and the two of them are engaged – YAY!! Paul is, surprisingly, a successful businessman, but still as manipulative as ever. Suze’s stepbrothers lives have also changed considerably – Jake sells medical marijuana, Brad is a father, and David is in Harvard. Everything is so DIFFERENT and yet exactly the same. When I picked up Remembrance, it felt as if I never left this world, it was so easy to jump back into.

Suze is, of course, always involved in some ghost case or another, and this time is no different. There’s a ghost following around one of the students at her school, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. Suze is seriously one of my favorite heroines of all time – she’s so funny, sarcastic, stubborn, resilient… she’s just a fantastic character to read about. And her narrative had me in stitches, I was laughing so hard. And, of course, Jesse is as wonderful as ever. Ever patient with Suze and her antics, and always there for her, Jesse is the perfect fiancé and soon-to-be husband. Except for the fact that he’s ingrained in his Catholic ways and wants to wait until marriage for sex. Suze gets frustrated, but then again, how can she complain when she’s about to marry the love of her life?

“I believe in facts. And the fact is, I want to be with Jesse because he makes me feel like a better person than I suspect I actually am.”

Paul gets a lot of screen time in Remembrance. I hate Paul as much as I love him. I don’t know… he’s just a GREAT character. He’s always stirring up drama that Suze falls for, and this time, Paul is threatening her with the one thing she cares for most: Jesse. There is a ton of suspense and action in this book that totally had me on the edge of my seat. I seriously couldn’t put Remembrance down, it was so good.

I loved this book so hard. There’s never a dull moment for Suze, from ghosts, to Paul, to keeping Jesse safe. Remembrance might be my new favorite of the series, that’s how much I loved this book. There really isn’t anything I can complain about in this book – so if you’re a fan of the series, you absolutely don’t want to miss this brilliant new installment!

“Susannah, Susannah, Susannah,” he whispered after a little while. “Te amo.”
“Me, too,” I whispered back, slipping my arms around his neck. … “Back at you.”

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Mediator series

#1 ~ Shadowland: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Ninth Key: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Reunion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Darkest Hour: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Haunted: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Twilight: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6.5 ~ Proposal: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Remembrance: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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1Feb2016

Review: Proposal by Meg Cabot

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Proposal by Meg Cabot
Series: The Mediator #6.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 19th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

The last place Suze Simon expects to find herself during Valentine’s Day is a cemetery. But that’s what happens when you’re a mediator – cursed with the “gift” of communicating with the dead.

That’s how Suze has ended up at the graves of a pair of NCDPs – Non-Compliant Deceased Persons – whose drama didn’t end with death. It’s Suze’s job to make sure they move on–for good.

But the NCDPs aren’t the only ones with problems. The reason Suze is spending her Valentine’s Day with the undead instead of her boyfriend, Jesse, is because he’s having so much trouble adjusting to life after death . . . not surprising, considering the fact that he used to be an NCDP himself, and now his girlfriend busts his former kind for a living, while he tries to cure his kind of what used to ail him.

Can Suze use her mediating skills to propose a mutual resolution, and bring all these young lovers together – including Jesse and herself – especially on the night Saint Valentine declared sacred to romance?

Or will she end up alone–and possibly undead–herself?

“I’m Suze Simon,” I said. “And you thought being dead was bad? Buddy, your eternal nightmare’s only just begun.”

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Remembrance, but had been saving to read it at the right time – and when better to read it than right after reading Proposal? Proposal is a novella that bridges the original Mediator books to the upcoming adult installment, and if you’re a fan of the series, then you need to get your hands on Proposal before starting Remembrance. Suze and Jesse are back and better than ever – it was absolutely wonderful to be back in the Mediator world!

They think Jesse is what Father Dominic told them he is: a “young Jesuit student who transferred to the Carmel Mission from Mexico, then lost his yearning to go into the priesthood” after meeting me.
That one slays me every time.

The Mediator series is one of my all-time favorites from my childhood – Meg Cabot got me into reading in elementary school with this series, so Suze and Jesse will always have a piece of my heart. Reading Proposal pretty much felt like a throwback – it seemed like no time had passed since the last time I read Twilight, the sixth Mediator book. Suze is now in college but still ‘mediating’ ghosts and kicking ass (or getting her ass kicked). Jesse is away at med school, but since it’s Valentine’s Day, they’re together for a rare moment… but of course another ghost case pops up, so their romantic holiday will have to wait just a little longer.

I loved seeing Suze and Jesse older and physically TOGETHER now that Jesse has regained his body. And obviously from the title, you know what’s going to happen in this novella. But the lead up to the climax was honestly pure fun to read. The ghost case had me hooked onto the pages. Suze is her usual sassy, stubborn, hilarious self, and Jesse is as sexy and patient as ever. I loved the sexual tension between them, how Suze wants everything with Jesse, but Jesse (and his conservative ways) wants to wait for marriage. Overall, it was just a blast to be back with these two – they’re different now, yet totally the same lovable characters I knew from my childhood.

P.S. I’ve already read Remembrance, and I have to say, it just might be my new favorite of the series!

Reading Order: The Mediator series

#1 ~ Shadowland: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Ninth Key: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Reunion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Darkest Hour: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Haunted: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Twilight: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6.5 ~ Proposal: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Remembrance: My Review • Hardcover • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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29Jan2016

Early Review: I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne

Posted in 3.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

I Wish You Were Mine by Lauren Layne
Series: Oxford #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Links: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Perfect for fans of Alice Clayton and Emma Chase, Lauren Layne’s Oxford series heats up in this story of forbidden desire as a brooding jock hoping for a comeback falls for a woman who’s strictly off-limits.

A year ago, Jackson Burke was married to the love of his life and playing quarterback for the Texas Redhawks. Now he’s retired, courtesy of the car accident that ruined his career—and single, after a nasty scandal torpedoed his marriage. Just as he’s starting to get used to his new life as a health and fitness columnist for Oxford magazine, his unpredictable ex shows up on his doorstep in Manhattan. Jackson should be thrilled. But he can’t stop thinking about the one person who’s always been there for him, the one girl he could never have: her younger sister.

Mollie Carrington can’t say no to Madison. After all, her older sister practically raised her. So when Madison begs for help in winning her ex-husband back, Mollie’s just glad she got over her own crush on Jackson ages ago—or so she thought. Because as Mollie reconnects with Jackson, she quickly forgets all her reasons to stay loyal to her sister. Tempted by Jackson’s mellow drawl and cowboy good looks, Mollie is sick and tired of coming in second place. But she can’t win if she doesn’t play the game.

I’m a huge Lauren Layne fan – she is definitely a go-to author for feel-good, funny, entertaining contemporary romances. I’d been looking forward to reading I Wish You Were Mine ever since reading Irresistibly Yours, even though the blurb had me feeling a bit nervous. But I never should’ve doubted Lauren – while this book isn’t my favorite of hers, it’s still a sweet, heart-warming story. If you have worries about Jackson’s ex-wife, you absolutely shouldn’t – her character didn’t impede on Jackson and Mollie’s romance like I thought she would!

After an accident that causes him to lose his ability to play football, Jackson has a job he hates and an ex-wife who left him for another man. He has nothing going for him anymore… except Mollie, his ex-wife’s little sister. The one who has always been his friend, who has always been there for him when he was going through the rough times in his marriage, the one who he’s always been able to lean on. But seeing her now, all grown up as a beautiful, successful woman, Jackson wonders if he married the wrong Carrington sister after all.

But somewhere along the line, Mollie Carrington had ceased to be that awkward kid who talked about bugs at inopportune times. Somewhere along the line, she’d become his rock. The one person in the world, save for perhaps his parents, who always knew the exact right thing to say to make him feel like a human whenever he’d started to feel like a caricature of himself.

Mollie has been in love with Jackson since forever, but since he was always classified as her sister’s man, he was off-limits. But now that he’s single, and has offered her to room with him in his apartment, all the feelings she once felt come rushing back, as if they never left. Still, she worries about betraying her sister, who raised her when their parents died. Can Mollie find it in herself to pursue the one man she’s always wanted, or will her loyalty to her sister hold her back from having the love of her life?

I adored Jackson and Mollie together. I love friends-to-lovers romances, so of course I enjoyed this book. I loved the history these two characters had between them, how the chemistry simmered until they finally couldn’t help but fall in bed with each other (and they are HOT together!). They are so sweet and wonderful, definitely meant to be, but they have to first get over obstacles that prevent them from together.

“You are your own woman, and you are a woman, Mollie. You’re not a kid. You’re not a girl. And if I’ve been a complete asshole lately, it’s because I’m having a hell of a time coming to grips with the fact that I want you. And fuck, Mollie, I want you. I want you so bad, I’m dying.”

I don’t really like reading romances that involve hero’s exes, because sometimes I get worried about the hero’s loyalty to the heroine. But I absolutely shouldn’t have worried at all about Jackson and his ex-wife. Madison is a total bitch, and Jackson knowns that the woman he thought he loved never really existed. He is 100% done with his ex-wife, which I definitely appreciated.

The main reason why I didn’t fully LOVE this book was because I do wish there had been more romance. We get plenty of Jackson and Mollie as friends and as something more than friends, but we never really see them TOGETHER. As in, in a relationship. If that had been expanded upon more rather than in just the epilogue, I’m sure I wouldn’t hesitate to love the book. I also hated Madison whenever she popped up in the book, but I was expecting that, so it wasn’t too bad.

I may not have loved I Wish You Were Mine, but it was still a thoroughly enjoyable read. The humor, the writing, Mollie and Jackson’s characters, I loved them all. It’s not as light-hearted as the previous Lauren Layne books I’ve read are, as there is some angst and tension, but if you’re a fan of the author, you won’t want to miss this book! You get to see a lot of the Oxford/Stiletto gang as well – right now I’m dying to read Lincoln’s story!

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: Oxford series

#1 ~ Irresistibly Yours: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ I Wish You Were Mine: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Someone Like You: Ebook • Goodreads (Dec. 13, 2016)

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27Jan2016

ARC Review: The Art of Taming a Rake by Nicole Jordan

Posted in 3 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Art of Taming a Rake by Nicole Jordan
Series: Legendary Lovers #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 26th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Sparks abound in this sizzling new Legendary Lovers tale from New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan, in which a seductive rakehell must woo his spirited but love-shy bride while unmasking a mysterious assailant.

Despite his notorious reputation, Quinn Wilde, Earl of Traherne, has mostly honorable intentions. So when beautiful Venetia Stratham boldly enters a gentlemen’s club, demanding that Quinn stop courting her sister, he does what any bachelor would do: He kisses her. With her sharp wit, intoxicating passion, and surprising vulnerability, Venetia is irresistible—except for all this nonsense about threatening to shoot Quinn. But when clandestine enemies make an actual attempt on the earl’s life, Venetia is implicated. To save her good name, Quinn does what any true gentleman must do: He proposes.

Thus Venetia finds herself wed to arrogant, wickedly sensual Quinn, whose devilish ways are as legendary as his rumored skills as a lover. Yet vexingly, her body rebels against her vow to remain immune to his many charms. If only she could reform the infuriating nobleman—without diminishing his undeniable allure. As Venetia discovers that a true rake is hard to tame, Quinn faces an even greater challenge: winning his wife’s fragile trust . . . while defending both their lives.

I love a good historical romance every once in a while, so I read The Art of Taming a Rake, even though I hadn’t read the previous books in the series. Luckily, it can be read completely as a standalone. I enjoyed the book, though I can’t say I loved it. It was a little too clichéd and nothing I hadn’t read before, but it’s still entertaining. It’s a sexy read between a rakish hero with a reputation and a virgin heroine, but thankfully they have a lot more depth than that.

Venetia Stratham has returned to London after running away to France when she ruined her reputation by calling off her own wedding to a man with status. She’s back now because she’s heard that her sister is being courted by the Earl of Traherne, one of her cheating fiancé’s friends who also has a scandalous reputation. She’s not going to let her sister go through the same scandal and hurt she did, so she sets off to a gentleman’s club the earl attends – but the last thing she expects him to do when she confronts him is kiss her.

Quinn Wilde, Earl of Traherne, has always found himself captivated by Venetia ever since he first met her all those years ago. So when his life becomes in danger and Venetia is in danger by association, he saves her life and reputation by offering marriage. There’s a great chemistry between Quinn and Venetia, but soon enough, Quinn falls for his wife – he just needs to win her trust and heart in order to gain her love.

I liked The Art of Taming a Rake – it wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing either. The characters had depth, but I never really connected with them. It’s overall a good book with witty banter and hot chemistry. If you’re a fan of the ‘marriage of convenience’ trope, you should check it out.

Reading Order: Legendary Lovers series

#1 ~ Princess Charming: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Lover Be Mine: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Secrets of Seduction: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ The Art of Taming a Rake: Ebook • Paperback• Goodreads

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