Review: Lick by Kylie Scott

Title: Lick
Author: Kylie Scott
Series: Stage Dive #1
Publication: October 11th 2013 by St. Martin's Griffin
Genre: New Adult ~ Contemporary
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository | Kobo
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 3/5

Waking up in Vegas was never meant to be like this.

Evelyn Thomas's plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man in her room, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is certain, being married to one of the hottest rock stars on the planet is sure to be a wild ride.

I love rockstar books. I haven't read many of these types of books, but the ones I have read were quick, entertaining and fun. Lick wasn't an exception. It wasn't the best book ever, but I liked it. It also made me laugh (out loud) many times, which is always a plus. I will definitely read the next books. 

Lick had a few flaws, which is why I couldn't give it more than 3 stars. 3.5 at the highest actually. I just had a few problems with the main character and plot. Evelyn (main character) didn't have any debt as far as I was concerned. She was nice enough, I guess, but I just couldn't connect with her. The plot was a bit obvious. I knew pretty early on where it was going to go. I've read it so many times before in other books. I had hoped it would go a little differently this time around. Also, I wanted to know all that had happened in Vegas. I was hoping for some flashbacks but we really didn't get anything like that, which was too bad.

But aside from all that, I liked the book. I liked David, although I think he needs to manage his anger and jealously more. But other than that, he was a pretty likable character. Not my favorite though. That was one of David's band members, the drummer (no surprise there), Mal. I loved him. He was hilarious and fun. Lucky for me the next book is about him, so I can't wait to read that!

The writing was pretty good too. It flowed quickly and was easy to read. Lick was one of those books that you don't mind picking up and keep reading because it was such an entertaining book. I'm looking forward to the next one! Go Stage Dive!

"I feel your manpain, bro. Really, I do. I mean, all you wanted was a girl that wouldn't kiss your ass for once and now you're pissed at her for the same damn reason. It's complicated, right?"

"Seriously, I fucking love your wife, man. She's awesome. Can I have her?"

"Love isn't always smooth or straightforward. It can be messy and painful, he said. "Doesn't mean it isn't still the most incredible thing that can ever happen to you. Doesn't mean I'm not crazy about you."

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Kylie is a long time fan of erotic love stories and B-grade horror films. She demands a happy ending and if blood and carnage occur along the way then all the better. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and one delightful husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet.

This review is also posted on Bookfever

Review: Mistress of the Wind by Michelle Diener

Title: Mistress of the Wind

Author: Michelle Diener

Format: Ebook

Published: Expected on December 23, 2013 by Season Publishing

Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, New Adult

Rating: 5 Stars

Read Count: 1

Book Feels GIF: 

Synopsis:

Bjorn needs to find a very special woman . . .

The fate of his people, and his own life, depends on it. But when he does find her, she is nothing like he imagined, and may just harbor more secrets than he does himself.

Astrid has never taken well to commands. No matter who issues them . . .

She's clashed her whole life with her father, and now her lover, the mysterious man who comes to her bedroom in darkness and disappears to guard his mountain by day as a bear, is finding it out the hard way. And when he's taken by his enemies, no one is prepared for Astrid's response.

It is never wise to anger the mistress of the wind . . .

A captivating and magical retelling of the fairy tale East of the Sun, West of the Moon. 

*I will post purchase links when available.*

 My Thoughts 

Mistress of the Wind is the second book I've read by Michelle Diener and it was another amazing read for me. Now, I haven't read the original tale so I have no idea how close the stories are but this is a beautiful book in its own right either way.
The book follows Bjorn, the demi-god son of a Vanir (a race of Norse gods) who has been transformed into a bear by his troll of a stepmother Norga, in a bargain they've struck. If he is unable to find the girl he met many years ago and wishes to have for his own, he will be forced to marry his stepmother's daughter. As the synopsis says though Bjorn gets more than expected when he finds his lady, Astrid.
As a big fan of mythology, Mistress of the Wind was new for me since I've never read any Norse mythology. The romance is sweet, the action kick-butt and the characters loveable, especially Bjorn's friend Jorgen. The story is fast-paced and never boring, the world a beauty and Michelle's writing so wonderfully detailed that I felt I was with Bjorn and Astrid on their journey.
So for the mythology, romance and fantasy fans Mistress of the Wind is the perfect read for you.

*Thanks so much to Michelle Diener and NetGalley for letting me review Mistress of the Wind!*

 About the Author 

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction and fantasy. Her Susanna Horenbout & John Parker series, set in the court of Henry VIII, includes In a Treacherous Court, Keeper of the King’s Secrets and In Defense of the Queen.

Michelle’s other historical novels include Daughter of the Sky, The Emperor’s Conspiracy and Banquet of Lies (loosely connected to The Emperor’s Conspiracy).

Michelle’s first fantasy novel, Mistress of the Wind, is set for a December 23, 2013, release.

Michelle was born in London, grew up in South Africa and currently lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

When she’s not writing, or driving her kids from activity to activity, you can find her blogging at Magical Musings, or online at Twitter and Facebook.

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Review: Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

Title: Tears of Tess
Author: Pepper Winters
Series: Tears of Tess #1
Publication:  August 28th 2013
Genre: New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance
Format: e-book
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

A New Adult Dark Contemporary Romance, not suitable for people sensitive to grief, slavery, and nonconsensual sex. A story about finding love in the strangest of places, a will of iron that grows from necessity, and forgiveness that may not be enough.

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed. I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

~My Thoughts:

I haven't started to write this review three days after I finished the book. And everyday I didn't write it, it seemed harder and harder for me to start but how can I begin to describe my emotions for this complex, dark but totally compelling book?
I kind of knew I was going to love this book right from the moment I heard about it. The description alone had me hooked already and after seeing a few really possitive reviews of it, I bought it. And, oh my god, I loved it so much!

When she's on a vacation in Mexico together with Brax, her boyfriend of two years, Tess Snow gets kidnapped to be sold as a slave. She fights the human traffickers for all she's worth but things just gets worse and worse until eventuelly she's sold to Q Mercer... 

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed. I was sold.”

How can I express my feelings my feelings for Tears of Tess? It was dark, it was delicious. I was enarmored, I was absorbed. 
I ended up reading it in only two days because right from the moment Tess gets taken, I wasn't able to pull away from my Kindle. I just had to know what was going to happen to her. I loved how she fought the human traffickers and at least made a stand instead of just giving up. And then she arrives in France in the possession of Q. 
Tess was a great character to read about. Stubborn, strong, trying to never let anything break her no matter what happened to her and trust me, a lot of awful, disturbing things do happen to her. I loved how in the end she knew exactly what she wanted and who she wanted to be, compared to how her own issues and sexuality frightened her in the beginning.
And then we have Q...
Right from the start it's obvious Q has a lot of issues and dark cravings. But, damn it, I was so intrigued by him. I mean, he was almost everything you expect someone to be who buys or accepts slaves as bribes. Dark, twisted, struggling with demons of his own. And he was all that + downright hot!
I love the take their relationship took. I loved how Tess tried to fight him in every turn and how it disturbed yet  arroused Q terribly.

I wanted a new label. One that said: girlfriend who will do anything to be tied, spanked, and fucked all over rather than adored.

This book wasn't perfect, not at all, but even so I can't give it any less than five stars or should I say five sparrows? Birds have great meaning in Tears of Tess. First of all, all the chapter titles were types of birds. That was just pure brilliance on Pepper Winters part in my opinion. Second, Q has a thing with sparrows that Tess really wanted to find out about (and she did). The symbolism for it, the metaphor, god... it was beautiful. It really was. 
At times I was a little bit annoyed with Tess when one moment she'd feel a lot for Q (in a possitive way) when in the other moment went back to hating him. Drove me a little nuts but I suppose with a man as Q it's no wonder she felt that way. Also some of her actions were a little questionable which led to terrible things for her. But it's just something minor compared to the the whole amazingess of the book.
I must say though that I wouldn't count this book as a normal new adult. It isn't. This book is so taboo, dark and twisted, erotic and I couldn't get enough of it!

Q was deeper than I gave him credit for. Something lurked, dark and vile, but there was a human, as well as a monster, inside.

The writing in this book was just so enthralling, fascinating and simply addicting. I loved the way Pepper Winters formed sentences and wrote the story. Definitely one of the best written new adult books I have read. Genres like this either grip me or not and this gripped me so freaking much I'm sure I scared my friend with freaking out about it so badly while I was reading it. All I can say is, watch out for Pepper Winters. I absolutely see great books happening in her future and I can't wait to read them!

Two things I wanted most in the world: for Q to die a miserable death, and for him to fuck me.

The prologue was in Q's point of view and it was amazing. He told us about what happened to him to make him be who and what he is and I felt like it was a perfect ending to such an amazing book. 
Also I have to say this. I had a little reading fuck where I didn't read for over two weeks and Tears of Tess really pulled me out of it. That's why I read. For books like this that capture and grip my heart and never let me go.

"You may not be mine, but I'm fast becoming yours."

All in all, Tears of Tess was a exquisite, totally different from other books, incredibly stunning read! This debute by Pepper Winters had a huge impac on me. The characters were all interesting and captivating to read about as was the story and the glorious writing just made me keep reading on and on. I can't wait for the sequel, Quintessentially Q, to read more about both Tess and Q! I have definitely found a new favorite series and author. Bravo, Ms. Winters, bravo! 

I put away my fear of being reprimanded, and embraced ferocity. I conjured anger like magic, nursing it deep within, building on it like an impenetrable cape.

The truth hurts less than fibs and fakers.

"I'm offering you my pain. My blood. My pleasure. I'm offering you the right to whip and fuck. To debase and harm. I'm offering to fight your needs with my own. I'm willing to join you in the darkness and find pleasure in excruciating pain. I'm willing to be your monster, Q."

"I promise to protect you, ravage you, hunt those who hurt you, and give you the life you deserve. My fortune is yours. My secrets are yours. And I will give you the corpses of the men who hurt you."

Pepper Winters wears many roles. Some of them include writer, reader, sometimes wife. She loves dark, taboo stories that twist with your head. The more tortured the hero, the better, and she constantly thinks up ways to break and fix her characters. Oh, and sex… her books have sex.
She loves to travel and has an amazing, fabulous hubby who puts up with her love affair with her book boyfriends. Her debut book Tears of Tess will be followed with Quintessentially Q. You didn’t think Q could stop so soon, did you? Her other two titles, Last Shadow and Broken Chance will be coming soon.

Find Pepper also on:

Facebook | Goodreads | Pinterest | Twitter | Website

Purchase Tears of Tess on:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

This review has also been posted on Bookfever.