Review: Uncovered by Emily Snow

Uncovered by Emily Snow

Uncovered by Emily Snow
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: August 8th 2014
Purchase: Ebook

My name is Lizzie Connelly, and I have it all. The gorgeous apartment. The new job most women would rip out their own souls for—working for Margaret Emerson at Emerson & Taylor. I have one of those lives you’ve always dreamt about, the kind you only see on HBO. But, the thing is, that life is a lie. A façade.

It all started with one call. “Everything you know about your story—your father’s story—is a lie. It’s up to you to uncover everything.” One call, and I turned my world upside down to dig my way into Margaret’s life—the woman who I’d never laid eyes on until recently. My stepmother who took everything after my father died fourteen years ago.

The plan was simple—figure out what role she played in my father’s death and expose her to the world.

But here’s another thing: simplicity doesn’t exist, and my plans are flawed from the beginning because I never anticipated Oliver. Sexy, too smart for his own goddamn good, and infuriating, he’s the one person who could blow my plans to uncover Margaret. She’s his mother, and in another life, that would have made him my stepbrother.

I want to pretend that none of that matters, that I can simply finish what I came to do without sparing him a second glance and another thought.

Like I said, though, there’s no such thing as simplicity.

My real name is Gemma Emerson.

And this is my story.

I was in the perfect mood for Uncovered. I wanted a book I could get hooked onto that had some some hot tension and some excitement and thrills, and Emily Snow gave me all that and more! I was pleasantly surprised by Uncovered, actually. I was intrigued by the synopsis–it sounded sooo good, and I was crossing my fingers that the inside would be just as good. And it definitely was! I thoroughly enjoyed reading Uncovered–it was the perfect combination of sexy and suspenseful.

“Everything you’ve been told about your story, your father’s story, is a lie. It’s up to you to uncover the truth.”

Gemma Emerson receives a mysterious phone call one day that changes her life. She’s told that her father’s death years ago wasn’t as simple as a heart attack killing him. There was more involved in his death, and more to the fact that Gemma was left nothing in her father’s will. Gemma was left to struggle with money, especially after her mother died shortly after her father. She reached out to her stepmother, her father’s second wife, but was shot down, told that her father didn’t leave any money for her–and instead, all of her father’s possessions were instead handed over to Gemma’s stepmother. Even devastated by the loss of her parents, and by the hurt that she didn’t mean anything to her father, Gemma was able to move on and carve a life for herself. She wanted nothing to do with her stepmother ever again, but that one phone call collides her past and present.

Gemma becomes Lizzie Connelly, a fake identity she uses to uncover the truth surrounding her father’s death and will. Lizzie works at Emerson & Taylor for Margaret Emerson, the stepmother that Gemma’s father left everything to. Lizzie’s job is to infiltrate Margaret’s life and expose the truth, but Lizzie never factored in Oliver Manning, Margaret’s son–and Gemma’s stepbrother.

Oliver Manning is sex-on-a-stick. He’s charming, he oozes sexuality, and he very much wants Lizzie. He doesn’t recognize her as Gemma, to her relief, but Gemma’s attraction to him is something she loves and hates. He fires her up like no other, but their chemistry is never something she factored in on her plan to uncover the truth.

I totally adored Oliver. I didn’t LOVE him with all my heart, but he definitely made me swoon a couple times throughout the book. He and Gemma easily heat up the pages, and I loved the slightly taboo aspect of their relationship–of Gemma falling for her sexy stepbrother.

“I didn’t plan on bringing you up here. But when I saw you–” Pausing, he let out a laugh that was just a touch remorseful. “–nobody else in that room existed.”

Sexy and full of twists and turns, Uncovered had me hooked from start to finish. As I read, I couldn’t wait to see what would happen next–some things shocked me, some things were predictable, but overall, Emily Snow wrote an addicting story in Uncovered. 4 hearts!

4-hearts

lacey

Review: Rival by Penelope Douglas

Rival by Penelope Douglas

Rival by Penelope Douglas
Series: Fall Away #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 26th 2014
Links: EbookPaperback • Audible • Goodreads

Madoc and Fallon. Two estranged teenagers playing games that push the boundaries between love and war…

She’s back.

For the two years she’s been away at boarding school, there was no word from her. Back when we lived in the same house, she used to cut me down during the day and then leave her door open for me at night.

I was stupid then, but now I’m ready to beat her at her own game…

I’m back.

Two years and I can tell he still wants me, even if he acts like he’s better than me.

But I won’t be scared away. Or pushed down. I’ll call his bluff and fight back. That’s what he wants, right? As long as I keep my guard up, he’ll never know how much he affects me….

Oh my gosh, OH MY GOSH! Rival was utter perfection! I laughed, I swooned, I gasped, and I fell deeply and madly in love with this book. Rival is a stunning, beautiful, heart-wrenching book that will make fans of Penelope Douglas fall in love all over again with this series after reading it.

Rival was definitely one of my TOP anticipated reads of the year, and it didn’t disappoint. It totally met every one of my high expectations and then some. So for those of you who, like me, fell in love with Jared and Tate’s story and were wondering if Rival will be just as good? I’m here to tell you that it abso-freaking-lutely is. It’s been a while since a book has had me so consumed in its story, but once I started Rival, I literally could not stop reading. I was utterly addicted to each and every page.

There were people I liked and people I didn’t like. People I loved and people I hated.
But there was only one person I loved to hate.

Madoc and Fallon: step-siblings–who hate each other. Basically, the perfect ingredients for one hell of a book.

Two years ago, Fallon was sent away to boarding school. Madoc was left behind, and during those two years, hatred festered over misunderstandings and hurt. But the Madoc we know now? He’s not exactly an angry boy. He’s obnoxious, rude, funny as hell, but not very emotional. But now that Fallon is back, all these emotions are rising up in him–his lust and hate for her–and the chemistry between them is passionate and can’t be denied.

That beautiful girl that hated me, and I hated her, but–goddamn it–I loved how we hated, because it was raw and real. It didn’t make any sense, but yeah–it was real.

I absolutely loved how Penelope Douglas portrayed Madoc and Fallon’s attraction. No matter how much they hate each other, that attraction is always there, and it’s hard and fast and felt very, very real. I could feel the tension between them, how on edge the two of them were. I felt like I was on the edge of my seat, with my heart pounding, just waiting for the tension to explode between them. And besides, love and hate? There’s a very thin line between the two, and Madoc and Fallon cross that line again and again.

Fallon is one hell of a chick. I loved her, admired her, felt for her, hurt for her. She goes through such emotional turmoil from past and present hurts, all the while never giving up that badass persona. She’s tough through and through, but the one person who can get through those walls, the one person who sees her for her, is Madoc. Madoc, the first boy she’s ever been with, the boy who broke her heart, and now the man who fires her up like no other.

“You act like you have no heart, like you just swallow your conscience with all of the pain you cause. But I see through it, Fallon. The truth is, you want me like nobody’s business.” She closed her mouth and swallowed. “You’ve always wanted me. You know why? Because I don’t try to kill your demons. I run with them.”

Madoc and Fallon definitely don’t have an easy path ahead of them. They have so much history that we piece together as it’s slowly revealed throughout the book. Rival almost felt suspenseful, in the way that it was so thrilling and intense to read. There is just so much for Fallon and Madoc to overcome, but there is no doubt that these two can do anything together.

Rival is told in both Madoc and Fallon’s POVs, so we come to understand how both of them feel. We understand where their anger comes from, how their anger is justified. I never even wanted to smack either of them, that’s how much I came to love and understand them. This couple has one of the most gripping and addicting stories, and I applaud Penelope Douglas for creating them, for creating characters that I’ll never forget.

And Jared and Tate fans, don’t despair! These two play a heavy part in Rival, which totally me happy. And holy crapola, JAX! We get to see a little more of Jax, Jared’s brother, and I have to say, I have a feeling I’m going to love Jax even more than Jared or Madoc, which is saying something because I love Jared and Madoc to infinity and beyond. I grew a little obsessed with Jax while reading Rival–I swear, Falling Away cannot get here fast enough!

So, Rival? It’s one of the best books I’ve read all year. I loved every single thing about it. I was up until three in the morning finishing this darn book, but it was so worth it. I. LOVED. THIS. BOOK!

5 hearts
lacey


Reading Order: Fall Away series

Bully by Penelope Douglas Until You by Penelope Douglas
Rival by Penelope Douglas Falling Away by Penelope Douglas Aflame by Penelope Douglas

#1 ~ Bully: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#1.5 ~ Until You: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Rival: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Falling Away: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Aflame: My Review • Ebook • Audible • Goodreads


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Early Review: The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost
Series: Broken Destiny #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: August 26th 2014
Purchase: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin) in exchange for an honest review

In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

I’m a HUGE fan of Jeaniene Frost–she does paranormal like no other. And when I found out she was writing a new paranormal series that was also NEW ADULT? I totally jumped for joy! I loved her Night Huntress series, so of course I had to read this new series. Plus, there aren’t that many new adult books that dab in the paranormal genre, but what better way to be introduced to this genre than with Jeaniene Frost?

I really, really liked The Beautiful Ashes. It wasn’t perfect, but I enjoyed myself the whole time reading this. We have our heroine, Ivy, who sees visions of different realms. She doesn’t know if what she sees is real, or why she sees them, or even how, but she mainly ignores it to keep her insanity intact. But when her sister gets kidnapped, her whole world is turned upside down, because those visions? They’re real.

“Well, Ivy. I’ve got good news and bad news. The good news is, you’re not crazy. The bad news is, everything you’ve seen is real, and now, it’ll be coming for you.”

In the midst of finding out about all this craziness–demons, angels, and parallel realms are totally real and they totally exist–the one thing Ivy can focus on is saving her sister. And the one person who can help Ivy is Adrian, a man that sparks something in her she’s never felt before, a man who is destined to become her enemy.

I have to say, even though I didn’t fall for Adrian as much as I wanted to, I can see myself wholeheartedly loving him in the upcoming books in the series. I’m not even sure why I didn’t LOVE Adrian from the start–he’s a total badass, he’s mysterious, he protects Ivy with everything he’s got, and there’s a delicious tension between him and Ivy I lapped up. Adrian and Ivy are destined to be enemies, which makes their attraction to each other all the better.

“You’re the light I can never have… and I’m the darkness you’ll never succumb to.”

Ivy herself is a good heroine–I could connect with her, but up to a point. Still, I liked her well enough, but Ivy and Adrian together is what made the story for me. As Ivy and Adrian search for a relic to save her sister, they grow closer together. I really enjoyed watching their relationship slowly develop–the scenes I loved reading were always the ones with the two of them together.

There’s excitement, action, and intrigue, as well as a little humor here and there that is typical from Jeaniene Frost. The Beautiful Ashes met my expectations, but… it didn’t surpass it. I wanted to love it, but my only problem was that the world building fell a bit flat for me. It felt like I, along with Ivy, was thrust into this world too quickly without knowing anything. It gave me a ton of information without letting me have the time to process it. I like being given bits and pieces of a world so I can map it out myself, but it was difficult to do with this book.

The main thing about The Beautiful Ashes is that it holds potential. I honestly can’t wait to see what Jeaniene Frost has in store for us with the rest of the series. Now that we’ve got the world-building over and done with, I’m so excited to see this potential grow into so much more.

4 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: Broken Destiny series

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost The Sweetest Burn by Jeaniene Frost

#1 ~ The Beautiful Ashes: EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Sweetest Burn: EbookAudible • Goodreads

Blog Tour + ARC Review: Hard Knox by Nicole Williams

Welcome to today’s stop on the Hard Knox blog tour!
You can follow the tour here.

HARD KNOX
A New Series by NYT Bestselling Author Nicole Williams

Hard Knox by Nicole Williams

The Outsider Chronicles #1 (full reading order below)
New Adult/Adult Contemporary
Released August 12, 2014
Add to Goodreads

Knox Jagger. The name inspires resent in every male at Sinclair University, want in every female, and contempt in Charlie Chase.

Charlie can be summed up in three words: independent, independent, and independent. To Charlie, Knox epitomizes everything that’s wrong with college males: prolific one-night stands, drunken senseless fights, and a body that hints at prioritizing gym time over study time.

As an up-and-coming writer for Sinclair University’s newspaper, Charlie’s tasked with getting to the bottom of who’s been dropping little white pills into girls’ drinks at parties. In an ocean of All-American boys sporting polo shirts and innocent smiles, Knox is the obvious suspect. As evidence piles up against the bad boy of Sinclair, Charlie becomes more and more certain it isn’t Knox. But when her drink is dosed at a party and she wakes up on Knox’s couch the next morning, Charlie’s left with more questions than answers when it comes to Knox Jagger.

How can Charlie ever hope to uncover the truth behind a guy so closed off he’s become . . .

Hard Knox.

Buy Links:
Amazon • Barnes and Noble

review

I’m a huuuge Nicole Williams fan. I totally fell in love with her Crash series, and then her Lost and Found series. So when I found out she had a new book releasing? I pounced on it. Nicole Williams is definitely one of my go-to authors because I know I’ll no doubt enjoy her books. And while I didn’t LOVE Hard Knox, it was a quick, fun read, and fans of Nicole shouldn’t miss it.

Charlie Chase is a writer for her university’s newspaper, and she’s, well, the glass-half-empty kind of girl. She wasn’t the most likable heroine for me, even with her quirky, deadpan sense of humor. I didn’t connect with her much–she’s a bit pretentious, buuut it worked for the story. She’s the type of person who has preconceived notions of people without getting to know them, and the second she meets Knox Jagger, he blasts all those preconceived notions away.

Knox Jagger is the ultimate bad boy at Sinclair University. He’s who every guy wants to be, and every girl wants to have. Except Charlie, of course. When Knox goes to parties, and endless stream of girls put their panties with their numbers on them, and apparently he calls every one of them.

Other than knowing he was a junior, probably majoring in Single-Handed Bra Removal, the notes scribbled onto just about every woman’s bathroom stall on campus told the rest of the story. Gems like For a good time, call Knox, 1-800-BIG-DICK or Add to Bucket List: Get Fucked by Knox Jagger.

Based on all that, Charlie doesn’t have the best opinion of Knox. Charlie wouldn’t want to get near Knox if it weren’t for the paper she needs to write. Her job is to find out who at the university has been dropping date-rape pills into drinks at parties. And Knox would be the number one suspect, if it weren’t for the fact that he saved her after she herself got drugged.

Charlie and Knox work together to get to the bottom of this, much to Charlie’s chagrin. The best part about the book was Charlie and Knox’s banter. The two of them are hilarious together–Charlie is full of wit and sarcasm, which would usually just shoot a guy down, but Knox definitely shows her up and offers his own quips. There’s also an undeniable tension between them that the two of them try so hard to ignore, but can’t.

“What’s changed is that I care about you.”

I loved that the two of them gradually moved from friendship to something more. The way they fell for each other was realistic and once they fell, they fell so hard. Their relationship blossomed into something so wonderful (and hot) once the tension exploded between them

“What I feel for you scares me, Knox. It terrifies me.”
“Why?” … “What terrifies you?”
“That the person I thought I’d have to search the world and a lifetime for might be standing in front of me right now.”

Knox and Charlie are so adorable together. I was definitely glad when the two of them got together! They open up more to each other, even though Knox does keep things hidden. But I loved that as Charlie learns slowly more about Knox, she also learns more about herself. She’s not quick to judge anymore–she’s not the same girl as she was from the beginning of the book.

Overall, I liked Hard Knox, but I just didn’t love it. It was missing that spark that usually makes me love a Nicole Williams book. Still, I enjoyed it–it has Nicole’s great writing, a couple with hot chemistry, and some witty banter that’s sure to make you smile.

3 hearts
lacey

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

Reading Order: The Outsider Chronicles

Hard Knox by Nicole Williams Damaged Goods by Nicole Williams

#1 ~ Hard Knox: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Damaged Goods: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads

about the author

I’m the New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author of the CRASH series (HarperTeen, S&S UK), LOST & FOUND series, UP IN FLAMES (S&S UK), The EDEN TRILOGY, and a handful of others. I write stories about everyday kinds of people who find themselves in extraordinary kinds of situations. I tell love stories with happy endings because I believe in making the world a better place, and that’s one tiny way I can make it so. I’m one of those people who still believe in true love and soul mates, and would rather keep my head in the clouds any day over having my feet firmly on the ground.

Blog • Twitter • Facebook

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Blog Tour + ARC Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway

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Welcome to today’s stop on the SIX OF HEARTS tour!! SIX OF HEARTS is definitely a book you don’t want to miss.

Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway

Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway
Series: Hearts #1 (full reading order below)
Release Date: July 28th 2014
Add to Goodreads

Step right up and meet Jay Fields: Illusionist. Mentalist. Trickster.

I think in triangles. You think in straight lines.

I show you a table and make you believe it’s a chair.

Smoke and mirrors, sleight of hand, misdirection. I trick and deceive.

But most of all, I put on a good show.

The world thinks I killed a man, but I didn’t. Bear with me. It’s all a part of the plan.

Revenge is what I want. I want it for me and I want it for her.
I want it for all six of us.

She doesn’t remember me, but she’s the reason for everything. She’ll be my prize at the end of all this – if I can hold onto my willpower, that is. Maybe I’ll slip up a little, have a taste, just a small one.

So go ahead and pick a card. Come inside and see the show. Look at my hands, look so closely that you can’t see what’s happening while you’re so focused on looking. I’ll be destroying your world from right here in the spotlight.

You’ll never see me coming until it’s too late.

I’ve only got one heart, and after I’ve pulled off my grand deception I’ll hand it right to her.

So, sit back, relax, and let my girl tell you our story. You’re in for one hell of a ride.

Buy Links:
Amazon US • Amazon UK • B&N • Kobo • iTunes

review button

First off, that blurb right there. It sucked me in and had me dying to have my hands on this book. I’d never read anything by L.H. Cosway before, but that blurb had me hook, line and sinker. And the second I got a copy of Six of Hearts, I devoured it! It was like nothing I’ve ever read before, and I’m so glad I read it. Six of Hearts was intriguing, unique, and so much fun to read. It’s about a man’s quest for revenge–and how he falls in love along the way.

Jay is an illusionist, and after being slandered by the media, he wants to take legal action. This is where the heroine Matilda comes in–her father is a lawyer, and she works in his office. I won’t go into anything more specific, because it’s best to experience this book not knowing much (besides the blurb). This book had plenty of twists and turns, and L.H. Cosway does an excellent job of creating suspense that had me on the edge of my seat.

The heroine, Matilda, is the kind of girl who’s relatable and likable. She has a subtle kind of humor I liked, and she’s very sassy towards Jay. She’s sweet and innocent, whereas Jay is charming and charismatic. I loved that Matilda and Jay form a friendship first–especially because the chemistry between them causes so much tension. Their forming friendship was so much fun to read–Jay and Matilda have so much great banter, and Jay becomes very protective of Matilda.

Matilda has a hard time resisting Jay–he’s the kind of guy you can’t help falling for. He’s sexy and charming, and definitely cocky at times. He had me grinning so much at times, but what I loved most was how he’s so incredibly sweet to Matilda.

“You’re the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. This is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever felt.”

It actually took me a while to warm up to Jay, but he was just too intriguing not to want to know more about. He’s very secretive, but throughout the story, you can see how his quest for revenge unravels. All the while, his and Matilda’s heartfelt romance blooms.

I was sucked in to Jay and Matilda’s story from start to finish. They have a romance that unfolds at the perfect pace–it’s got the perfect amount of sweet and sexy. Jay’s quest had me intrigued, but the only–main–downside to the book was the predictability. I wanted something more mysterious, but from the get-go, we know the basics. Still, I’d highly recommend giving Six of Hearts a try. It’s definitely a book that you won’t forget anytime soon. 4 hearts!

My favorite quote:

“The maybes could go on forever, Watson, but we both know that mystery is better than the truth. So why not live with the magic? Be a kid again and believe in the fantastical. Life is more fun with a little smoke and mirrors.”

4 hearts
lacey

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

Now here’s an excerpt from Six of Hearts! ❤

excerpt button

Jay tugs on my hand and leads me out to the back garden, where the sun is shining down warmly. “I created a magic trick just for you. I think I have it perfected.”

“For me? Seriously?” I ask in delight. He hands me what looks like a small beige chicken’s egg, placing it in my upturned palm.

“It’s an egg,” I say, stating the obvious.

Jay nods. “Just keep watching.” He passes his hand over it once, and it starts to crack, like maybe there’s a tiny chick inside. Then he passes his hand over the top of it again, and it cracks completely open. I gasp with surprise as five gorgeous red and black butterflies with white spots practically explode from the shell, their wings flapping through the air. They flutter all around me, and my heart lifts when one of them comes to sit on my shoulder.

“Oh, wow,” I whisper, smiling like crazy and trying my hardest not to move. Another comes and sits on my hand, tickling me and making me giggle.

When I look at Jay, his eyes are shining bright under the sun as he soaks up my reaction, his mouth curving ever so slightly at the edges. I’m not even going to ask him how he did it. I’m locked in his spell, and I don’t want to break it.

“That was amazing,” I say to him when the butterflies have all finally flown away.

Stepping closer, he takes my chin between his thumb and forefinger. “Look at those eyes, so full of wonder. I love your reactions. They make me feel like I can reclaim the childhood I never had.”

His heartfelt words make my throat tighten with empathy. I feel like hugging him, but I can’t. It would be…too much

Reading Order: Hearts series

Six of Hearts by L.H. Cosway Hearts of Fire by L.H. Cosway King of Hearts by L.H. Cosway Hearts of Blue by L.H. Cosway

#1 ~ Six of Hearts: EbookPaperback • AudibleGoodreads
#2 ~ Hearts of Fire: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ King of Hearts: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#4 ~ Hearts of Blue: My Review • EbookPaperback • Goodreads
#5 ~ Thief of Hearts: Goodreads (2016)
#6 ~ Hearts on Air: Goodreads (2016)

about the author button

L.H. CoswayL.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.

Website • Twitter • Facebook • Goodreads • Amazon Page

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Signed copies of all four L.H. Cosway contemporary romances

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