Ally Condie – Matched (4/5)

Series: Matched Trilogy #1

Cover:

Genre: Post apocalyptic romance

This is the book for you if you like:

- Really well-written love triangles

- Post apocalyptic with subtle world-building

Summary: (from author’s website)

In the Society, Officials decide. Who you love. Where you work. When you die. Cassia has always trusted their choices, but she begins to question just how perfect her world really is when she notices things are not what they seem. As Cassia begins to doubt the Society’s infallibility, she is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she’s known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

Thoughts on covers:

Almost all the covers I could find where exactly this one, or a variation on it. And who can blame them? To be honest, the cover was why I started reading this book. I’m absolutely, totally in love with it.

Title:

The title is a good fit for the book. I like one-word titles and I think this one is different enough to grab your attention.

Characters:

Matched is written from the perspective of Cassia, so her character is the one we learn about the most. She’s a strong character and I think one who goes through quite a lot of development in this book. At the start, she’s perfectly happy where she is, content in the life the society has written for her, but, following her emotions, she starts to question the world around her. I like that she’s not exactly naïve or rebellious; she’s somehow a mix of both.

The second most important characters are Ky and Xander; we learn more about Ky, because Cassia still has got to know him, so we learn about him, while Xander is already a known boy to Cassia. I liked Ky, he’s a really strong guy, someone who knows who he is, knows what he wants, even if his ideas and feelings go against the Society. Xander is a bit more of an enigma for me, but I really love his loyalty.

Setting:

Matched is set in a future where the Society takes care of everything. The Society assigns your work positions, what you can do with your free time, where you live, what you eat and, on your seventeenth birthday, assigns you your Match. I love how this book starts with giving us the idea that the Society might not even be all that bad (for example, I really liked the idea of people being able to chose to stay Single – while they’re not allowed to have children, they are allowed to date). As the book goes on, however, you realize that aside from that, the Society also regulates everything you think and create: all the creative input is very, very limited and they oversee everything, from your conversations to your dreams.

General story:

The story follows Cassia, from the moment she is Matched with her best friend Xander. Due to circumstances, though, she starts getting interested in Ky and after a while, falls in love with him. While using a love triangle might just be the oldest trick in this book, Matched does this beautifully; there is no moment at all in which I thought their love story was contrived or forced. I can also see why these two people are both a good fit for Cassia, which made the choices she had to made painful to read.

While the world-building is very subtle, especially at the beginning, once you have finished the book you feel just as Cassia does: shocked by what the Society entails and even a bit disappointed that it’s not all as beautiful as it was made out to be. The situation with Ky, together with Cassia’s grandfather, forces Cassia to see the world in a different light. There are some really heart-breaking moments in which Cassia sees her world falling apart in little ways.

I hesitated for the longest time between 3 and 4 stars; I’d like to give out 3.5 stars. I struggled a bit with the beginning of the book, wondering why everyone was so blown away by it, but the more I read, the more I started to understand it.

Will I read the other instalments in this series?

I’ve already started on reading Crossed, because I really want to know more about this world and how it will all come together.

Overall rating: 4/5

REVIEW: Neil Gaiman – Stardust (3/5)

Couple of covers:

 

Genre: Fantasy

How did I get it: I borrowed it from a friend

This is the book for you if you like:

- Original fantasy stories
- Love stories without an emphasis on the romance

Summary: In the tranquil fields and meadows of long-ago England, there is a small hamlet that has stood on a jut of granite for 600 years. Just to the east stands a high stone wall, for which the village is named. Here, in the hamlet of Wall, young Tristran Thorn has lost his heart to the hauntingly beautiful Victoria Forester. And here, one crisp October eve, Tristran makes his love a promise -- an impetuous vow that will send him through the only breach in the wall, across the pasture... and into the most exhilarating adventure of his life.

(from Neil Gaiman’s website)

Thoughts on covers: The covers are, in order, for the following editions: paperback 2009, paperback 2001, kindle. While I really love the colours of the 2009 cover, it doesn’t seem to really give you a feel of the book. I really adore the 2001 cover; I think it captures the atmosphere of the book perfectly.

Title: Seeing as the star is the centre of this book, I think the title fits perfectly. More than that, I think it’s a title that easily grabs your attention and that is easily remembered.

Characters: I had trouble connecting to Tristran, the main character of the book. This made especially the start of the book pretty tiresome for me. I did, however, really, really like Yvaine and she was the sole reason why I finished the book.

Setting: The book is set in Fairy, a land right next to the world we know, but where everything is different. There is magic all around and nothing is anything like what we know. I loved discovering Fairy throughout the book.

General story: I had a particularly tough time getting through this book, though I can't really pinpoint why. I had tried to read it once before and back then, I put it away when Tristran had just entered Fairy. I think my inability to connect to the boy was one of the reasons, as was the fact that I couldn’t stand Victoria from the moment she was introduced and it was hard for me to invest in a quest that was all for her benefit. Also, some parts of the book (especially the parts about the Lords of Stormhold, which seem to be entirely unrelated to the rest of the book until you’ve finished reading the entire story) just bored me.
But this time around, I did finish it. I especially liked the idea of the star being a person and I wanted to know everything there was to know about her. My favourite part of the book might just have been the part where Yvaine and Tristran are on a ship above the clouds, harvesting lightning. It had such a tranquil and lovely feel to it. I also really liked the epilogue.
This is actually one of those books that I would like to see in movie format; maybe it'd be one of those occasions where I prefer the movie to the book.

Will I read other books from this author? I might.

Overall rating: 3 stars

REVIEW: Carrie Vaughn – Kitty and the midnight hour (5/5)

Series: Kitty Norville #1

Couple of Covers:

Genre: Urban Fantasy

This is the book for you if you like:

- Kickass heroines
- Werewolves
- Kim Harrison’s The Hollows series.

How did I get it: I got it via Bookmooch

Summary: Kitty Norville is a midnight-shift DJ for a Denver radio station - and a werewolf in the closet. Her new late-night advice show for the supernaturally disadvantaged is a raging success, but it's Kitty who can use some help. With one sexy werewolf-hunter and a few homicidal undead on her tail, Kitty may have bitten off more than she can chew?

(from Goodreads)

Favourite cover: The covers are, in order: Paperback cover, German cover and Kindle cover. I really dislike the Kindle cover (even if I do like that font), though that’s probably at least partly due to the fact that I don’t really like to see faces on my covers – I feel like it forces some kind of imagination upon me. I don’t seem to have that same trouble with backs, however, as covers like the paperback cover, which show a girl from behind, really do grab my attention. I also really love the details in the paperback cover, like the small patch of red in the ribbon in her hair. But I think I like the German cover best; it breathes such a mysterious atmosphere.

Title: For some reason, titles that have this template, of [Name] and [Actual Title] sound a bit like child’s books for me. But apart from that, The Midnight Hour seems to fit both because Kitty’s show has that name and because it sounds fantasy-heavy to my ears.

Characters: I love Kitty. She’s exactly the type of spunky heroine that I like; she was thrown into this life, but she has decided to make the best of it. I love how she has the guts to go on with her late night talkshow, even if the entire paranormal society is against it. She fights for the ability to have her life as she wants it and I like that in my heroines.

Cormac is such a delightful mix of badassness and a well-hidden heart. I really look forward to exploring him and his relationship with Kitty more.

There were quite a few minor characters in this book, but I felt like I got to know them all, at least a little bit. I really love Matt, her assistant at her DJ job. I also have a soft spot for TJ.

Setting: The story is set in Denver, a city with a pretty big supernatural population; both werewolves and vampires roam the town.

The integral part of the setting was the radio station where Kitty hosts her late night show. I really love the fact that it’s based on this show and that we get to see a lot of it. Too often a book starts with such a great premise and then lets it go in favour of all the excitement or romance, but this book really went back to that radio station.

General story: I loved this book. I devoured it.

I have to admit, I’m usually more of a vampire kinda girl. Werewolves have never really been able to interest me and more often than not, when I read a book about werewolves, I walk away with a feeling that it reaffirmed my preference for vampires. Kitty, however, is a book about werewolves that grabbed my attention and didn’t let it go again. The werewolf hierarchy is a big part of the book, but in a way that had me emotionally invested. I really liked the way the scenes in which Kitty was a wolf were described: not only were they in italics, they also were from a third-person point of view, while the rest of the book was in the first-person point of view.

At no point in this book was I bored or thinking that it should have been written differently. I liked the mystery in finding out who the rogue was, I loved the scenes in the studio, I liked the cult-like story of Elijah Smith, I loved how high the excitement was in the final part of the book.

Will I read other books from this author? Yes.

Will I read the next instalment in this series? Definitely.

Overall rating: 5 stars

REVIEW: Martin C. Sharlow – Storytellers (3/5)

Series: Storytellers Saga #1

Couple of Covers:

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

This is the book for you if you like:

- Books about books
- Friendship stories

How did I get it: Free via Smashwords

Summary: Thousands of years ago, the great Sage Montok Waynew signed the Book Accords, in which it was declared that all books must edify and instruct for the good of all mankind. Created in the hope to end the tyranny that had come into existence in their time, it was widely received and ratified by all living Sages as a good thing in the wake of the last great Story wars. So it went, that those books that were not found desirable were burned or destroyed, to protect all future generations.
Gailen, Alena and Targ find this peace is about to end. In a world where Sages can summon stories to life to do their bidding, these three apprentices must find where they belong, when the laws of the past seem to no longer exist.

(from Goodreads)

Favourite cover: The covers are, in order: Kindle cover, paperback cover, which apparently had a different title and another cover (I always use goodreads for these covers, and I can’t find the edition that used this cover).

I really loathe the Kindle cover; I don’t get why it was necessary to put an almost naked woman on the cover of this book. It has no connection to the story at all. The paperback cover is really sinister, which fits a bit more, because parts of the book were pretty creepy. I, however, much prefer the unknown edition cover, because I think it uses the most important part of the book: how stories can come out of their books.

Title: Storytellers fits the book perfectly, especially because it is the name of their specific talent/ability. I don’t get why the paperback version used Storyweavers, because that’s just at odds with the story itself.

Characters: I love Targ. He finds himself in a world where he doesn’t understand anything and he’s so desperate to find his way and to find out who he is. It’s easy to get into his mindset, because as a reader you don’t know anything about the world either. Alena was at times annoying, and at times I really liked her. Gailen got really annoying towards the end of the book, but I believe that was kind of the point.

Maybe Darrius is the most intriguing character of all. One of the last sages left, he has to try and do what he can to save what can be saved of the Storytellers Council. He is really young and has always been a bit controversial in his ideas how stories should be used; now he doesn’t have any elders left to turn to. I especially want to know how his story progresses in the next part of the series.

Setting: The world this story is set in, doesn’t have a name, but we get to see quite a lot of it. It’s a huge world, with lots of rough nature. All the villages in this world have their own Storyteller, who makes sure the village is defended and that the villagers have enough food. They do this by bringing stories they know to life.

General story: I really like the world-building; I love the idea of people who are able to bring stories to life and my favourite parts of the book were the parts where it was described how the Storytellers thought of the right story to use and how to use it. I also really like the idea that people were so scared of how sad stories with violence could affect their world, that all non-happy books were banned and outlawed; this went so far, that Gailen and Elena don’t believe Targ when he talks about a book that doesn’t end well.

Because the book alternates between the story of Targ, Gailen and Elena and Darrius’ story, at times I found it a bit hard to follow. Especially in the beginning of the book, when there is no sense of connection at all between the stories, it was hard to be equally invested in each of them. This, however, got a lot better towards the end of the book.

Will I read other books from this author? Yes.

Will I read the next instalment in this series? I might.

Overall rating: 3 stars

REVIEW: Z – The gossip ghouls: Zombies and Lipstick (3/5)

Series: Gossip Ghouls #1

Cover:

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

How did I get it: Free via Smashwords

This is the book for you if you like:

- High school stories
- Cecily Von Ziegesar’s Gossip Girl series

Summary: Zombie punk Z wakes up in her designer coffin to learn that Vampie, the undead Paris Hilton wannabe, killed her. At first, Z believes this attack stems from Vampie’s jealousy over Z’s boyfriend. Soon, Z learns Vampie's master plan: stealing Z's boyfriend while eliminating werewolves and zombies altogether. Z decides to pose as Gossip Ghoul to get revenge on the billionaire vampress. Impersonating Vampie’s party girl cousin, Z enters the world of the super wealthy, of birka bags and designer fangs, of Parisian shopping sprees and lavish parties. Will Z be exposed before she texts Vampie's scandalous secrets to the undead world? Or will Z vanquish Vampie to once again make the high school of the living and the undead a safe and fashionable place for all?

(from Goodreads)

Thoughts on cover: The cover is mostly focused on the gossip aspect, which was part of the book, but I wouldn’t say it was the important part. And even after reading the book the two lighted girls seem like random people instead of characters out of the book. So I’m not really liking the cover.

Title: I like the title. I think “Gossip Ghouls” is a pretty obvious reference to “Gossip Girls”, which the book does deserve. The updates on the Gossip Ghoul blog are really similar to Gossip Girl’s blog, style-wise, which I was pretty impressed with. “Zombies & Lipstick” is a title that, because of its wackiness, works really good in drawing attention to the book.

Characters: Even though there are more characters in this book than just Z, I thought she was the only one we really got to know. Sure, there is Vampie, the villain, and Brent, the love interest, but both of them seem really one-dimensional characters. Z, on the other hand, is a girl who was not asking to be drawn into this world of zombies, vampires and werewolves, but is willing to rise up to the challenge and get back at them all in their own way. I really liked that about her.

Setting: The book is set in Auburn Heights, a small city in Michigan, USA and in a couple of other places around the world. Auburn Heights is a convergence point for all kinds of supernatural creatures: werewolves, zombies, and vampires, who are the main rulers of the Auburn Heights High and of the entire town.

General story: I loved the first couple of pages. I really, really loved them. I laughed out loud and couldn’t help but keep reading sentences aloud to my girlfriend. That style seemed to be gone after a few pages, though, and while I liked the story, I was sad that feeling didn’t come back.

I have to be honest, I still have trouble seeing how a zombie could ever be anything but gross or scary. So it was hard to accurately picture Z, but I really liked the mythology in this book; zombies aren’t flesh-eating mindless corpses at all, just a different kind of supernatural creatures with their own abilities (like shape shifting or teleporting).

Will I read other books from this author? Yes.

Will I read the next instalment in this series? Probably.

Overall rating: 3 stars

REVIEW: Rick Riordan – The lightning thief (4/5)

Series: Percy Jackson and the Olympians #1

Couple of covers:

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

How did I get it: I borrowed it from a friend

Summary: After getting expelled from yet another school for yet another clash with mythological monsters only he can see, twelve-year-old Percy Jackson is taken to Camp Half-Blood, where he finally learns the truth about his unique abilities: He is a demigod, half human, half immortal. Even more stunning: His father is the Greek god Poseidon, ruler of the sea, making Percy one of the most powerful demigods alive. There's little time to process this news. All too soon, a cryptic prophecy from the Oracle sends Percy on his first quest, a mission to the Underworld to prevent a war among the gods of Olympus.

This first instalment of Rick Riordan's best-selling series is a non-stop thrill-ride and a classic of mythic proportions.

(from Goodreads)

Favourite cover: The covers are, in order: American cover, British cover, Dutch cover and first UK cover. I actively dislike the British cover, it’s too ghoulish, too dark. I like the dramatic atmosphere of the Dutch cover, which I think does that drama a little bit better than the American cover. But I definitely prefer the first UK cover. Firstly, because I usually prefer to have no actual people on my covers – it makes it easier to form my own image in my head. Secondly, I like the text. Thirdly, I think it’s a cover that really piques your curiosity and grabs your attention.

Title: The title is a good summary of what the book is about and an attention grabber. I think it’s perfect.

Characters: I liked Percy, his bravery and his willingness to fight made him really awesome. Especially after the scene with his mother in Hades there is no way I could not like him for who he is and what he stands for. I had to warm up a bit to Annabeth, but Percy did too, so that’s okay. I actually did like her in the end.

But my favourite character has to be Grover! I love him, I love how he’s always trying to help, I love his determination to find Pan, I love how he never leaves Percy’s side if he can help it. Besides, he’s a satyr! How can I not love that?

Setting: It’s set in the USA, but the most important part of the setting is that it takes Greek mythology and brings it back to life. I love Greek mythology, I devoured their myths and legends when I was kid, so it’s just perfect for me. I like how the Gods are just as faulty as they were in the myths and how they feel so real, so tangible, in the book.

General story: I had a hard time getting into the story. I’m not sure what brought that on, but for the first quarter or so I had to fight my way through it. After that, it really got a lot better and when I got to the end, I couldn’t put the book down! It was really fast-paced towards the end, with some twists I hadn’t seen coming (and some I had).

I’d really recommend this to anyone who has some interest in Greek mythology or wants to read a book about the virtues of friendship, family and heroism.

Will I read other books from this author? Yes.

Will I read the next instalment in this series? Definitely.

Overall rating: 4 stars

REVIEW: Lacey Alexander – French Quarter (1/5) [18+]

Series: Hot in the City, #1

Couple of covers:

Genre: Erotic romance

How did I get it: I got it free for the Kindle

Summary: When prim, proper Liz Marsh suspects her fiancé is cheating on her, she’s almost too embarrassed to hire a P.I. to prove it. And when she gathers her courage and walks into Jack Wade’s office, she has no idea he’ll be the sexiest man she’s ever encountered, nor that his light Cajun accent will make her tingle in all the wrong—or is that right?—places.

After Jack brings her questionable yet undeniably arousing evidence, the only solution is for Liz to get a closer look with her own eyes. And Jack is more than happy to show her everything she’s been missing. One night in the French Quarter’s entrancing red light district, and Liz finds herself caught up in the sensual allure of an erotic new atmosphere and the sudden, urgent need to experience it for herself—with Jack.

Jack’s normally a keep-it-casual guy, but as nights with Liz get hotter, so do Jack’s feelings for the sensual woman in his arms. Bourbon Street decadence beckons and Liz embarks on a sizzling journey of sexual awakening that has her more willing to shed her inhibitions minute by carnal minute. But someone else has noticed her insatiable appetite for sensual adventure, someone who’s just beginning to realize what he’s lost—and who’s determined to tear Jack and Liz apart…

(from Goodreads)

Favourite cover: I think the right cover is too crowded; it gives me a chaotic feeling. The left, dark one is really sensual and thus definitely the better one. I believe it fits the story.

Title: See setting.

Characters: Liz is breaking free of her restraints and finding her sexuality; I liked that she wasn’t afraid to follow her urges, to do what she felt was right. She really lets go of her strict upbringing and that was a joy to read.

We don’t really get to see much of Jack, aside form his sexuality, so it was kind of hard to get a connection to him. His ridiculous French interjections really annoyed me. Some of them didn’t make any sense at all; they seriously weren’t French, they were just French words mixed into the story to… make Jack look more exotic, or something?

Todd’s decline from loving-but-boring-fiancé to threatening-ex-lover seemed a bit… forced. Maybe it was necessary for the story to make him into a villain, but it didn’t seem logical that he would go that far.

Setting: It’s set in the French Quarter of New Orleans, which is where (apparently) all the decadence of the world comes together. It’s the place where Liz learns to let go of her inhibitions and thus very important to the story; I do believe it’s the perfect title for this book.

General story: The plot in this one is really flimsy and mostly just a way to get from one hot scene to the other. Which would be okay (because the sex scenes are good), if it wasn’t flimsy in a bad way. One of the things that really angered me, was that this book uses the almost rape of Liz by her ex-fiancée Todd to have Jack jump in as the protector. This casual way of using rape is worsened by the fact that Liz doesn’t seem to be fazed by it in the slightest and has sex with Jack the next day.

There was one aspect of the relationship between Jack and Liz that really bugged me: they don’t communicate. It entirely exists of two things: Jack desperate to protect Liz and Liz and Jack having sex. All kinds of sex – without talking about what they want or any kinds of boundaries. Even in an erotic romance the relationship should seem real; even if they both want what they’re doing, they should be talking about it. I can’t see them having any relationship outside of their sexual experiences, but that is where the story is going.

Will I read other books from this author? Probably not.

Will I read the next instalment in this series? No.

Hotness: 5/5

Overall rating: 1 stars

REVIEW: Janice Thompson – Fools rush in (4/5)

Series: Weddings by Bella, #1

Couple of covers:

Genre: Christian romance, western romance

How did I get it: I got it free for the Kindle

Summary: Bella Rossi may be nearing thirty, but her life is just starting to get interesting. When her Italian-turned-Texan parents hand over the family wedding planning business, Bella is determined not to let them down. She quickly books a "Boot Scoot'n" wedding that would make any Texan proud. There's only one catch--she's a country music numbskull because her family only listens to Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. Where will she find a DJ on such short notice who knows his Alan Jackson from his Keith Urban? When a misunderstanding leads her to the DJ (and man) of her dreams, things start falling into place. But with a family like hers, nothing is guaranteed. Can the perfect Texan wedding survive a pizza-making uncle with mob ties, an aunt who is a lawsuit waiting to happen, and a massive delivery of 80 cowboy boots? And will Bella ever get to plan her own wedding? Book one in the Weddings by Bella series, Fools Rush In is fun, fresh, and full of surprises. Readers will love the flavorful combination of Italian and Tex-Mex, and the hilarity that ensues when cultures clash. (from Goodreads)

Favourite cover: I’m sad I could only find a really small one of the hardcover book cover, which is the one with the cowboy boots on it, because I definitely prefer that one. I love how the quirkiness fits the atmosphere of the book.

Title: I’m conflicted about the title; on the one hand, it’s fitting that this book would chose the title of a Frank Sinatra song, seeing as his and Dean Martin’s music play quite a part in it. On the other hand, it doesn’t really fit the country theme of the book and I wouldn’t say Bella and DJ are rushing into anything at all.

Characters: Most of the time I loved Bella, though her insecurity and fear of her family messing up her relationship kinda bugged me. If she loved them all so much, wouldn’t she put more importance on DJ loving her because of her family, instead of despite them? DJ, on the other hand, is a real sweetheart and I can totally see why Bella lost her heart to him.

But the characters I really loved in this story were all the supporting characters: all of Bella’s family, Jenna, her best friend and all of DJ’s family were such fun people that I loved reading about them.

Setting: It’s set on Galveston Island, around Bella’s home, her wedding facility and her uncle’s pizza place. Parts of it are set at DJ’s family’s house, in Splendora, Texas.

I love the idea of setting a romance story in a wedding facility. It’s just such a perfect fit that it makes for great stories. I also love how the western setting plays such a big part in this story; it is, in fact, one of the main storylines because while Bella lives in Texas, she’s from an Italian family and has never embraced the whole country lifestyle, while DJ is a cowboy through and through.

General story: This story is a Christian romance, there is no getting around that; a quick search within my ebook reveals 63 mentions of ‘God’ and 67 mentions of ‘Lord’. If you’re an atheist or offended by the idea of a God watching over you and giving you opportunities, this is not the book for you. I personally didn’t mind it at all.

Fools rush in is a saccharine story with a happy ending for everyone; all quirky comedy and filled with love (both family love and romantic love). It really is the kind of story you want to crawl up in bed with after a hard, cold day with a cup of hot chocolate in your hand.

Will I read other books from this author? I probably will.

Will I read the next instalment in this series? I might.

Hotness: A sex-free zone

Overall rating: 4 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Donna Alward – Sold to the highest bidder

Summary: For Ella, marrying Devin had seemed like a good idea at the time. Friends since childhood and in love with him for as long as she could remember, marriage had been the next logical step. Then the real world called, and Ella’s feet had itched to get out of Backwards Gulch, Colorado.   Now, with a new opportunity on the East Coast beckoning, it’s time to put her past behind her once and for all. When she sees Devin standing on a charity auction block, she decides it’s the perfect opportunity to finally get his signature on the divorce papers he never signed.   Devin’s certain about one thing when he sees Ella for the first time in twelve years—she’s not the girl he married. The way she left him still stings, and if she wants him to sign on the dotted line he’s going to make her work for it…for the full forty-eight hours she paid for.   When the old attraction flares between them, the years apart disappear and resolve melts faster than high-country snow in summer. But when Ella awakens with the same determination to get back to Denver, divorce papers in hand, she has a problem...   Devin still hasn’t signed them. (from Goodreads)

Cover:

Genre: Contemporary romance, masquerading as western romance

How did I get it: I got it free for the Kindle

My thoughts on the cover: See setting.

Title: The title does a great job of setting the scene; after all, it’s the bachelor auction that sets the entire story in motion.

Characters: I cannot STAND Ella. She seriously annoys the hell out of me; I can’t believe she run away from Devin because he wasn’t willing to change for her, while she sure as hell wasn’t willing to take any step into his direction either. How can someone who is so unwilling to change anything about her be so determined to change everyone else? This really ruined the book for me, because I did like Devin and I thought he deserved so much better. Devin seems to be a good guy, a great guy, actually. He’s a giving, caring person.

Setting: It’s set in and around Durango, Colorado. This tidbit of information is seriously the only western thing about the story; I can’t figure out how this could call itself a western romance, let alone why they would’ve picked this over for the story.

General story: It annoyed the hell out of me that Ella’s pregnancy suddenly changed everything. Suddenly she was willing to give up her job, suddenly he was willing to compromise, suddenly they decided to try that marriage thing again. And all the while Ella keeps stating that she can’t put the success or failure of their marriage on the shoulders of their little baby. It just didn’t make any sense.

What also bugged me, is that we don’t get to see why they would be so perfect for each other. The entire book is devoted to showing us how they argue when they’re together, except when they’re having sex. At one point Devin literally says: “I can’t seem to stay away from you, Ell. I’m with you and I want to touch you. I’d rather argue with you than not talk at all. And I’d rather make love than argue.” And the story just doesn’t seem to stray from this astute summary of their relationship. It doesn’t seem to make any sense for these two to be together.

Will I read other books from this author? Probably not.

Hotness: 3/5

Overall rating: 2 stars

BOOK REVIEW: Jill Myles - Wicked games

Summary: Abby Lewis never pictured herself on the survival game show, Endurance Island. She’s just not the ‘survival’ type. But when her boss offers her a spot on the show and the opportunity of a lifetime, she packs her bags and heads to the tropics to be a contestant.

Once in the game, it’s clear that Abby’s in over her head. The game itself is full of competitive, aggressive people, and no one’s more aggressive than sexy, delicious – and arrogant – Dean Woodall. Sure he’s clever, strong, good at challenges, and has a body that makes her mouth water. He also hates Abby just as much as she hates him. That’s fine with Abby; she’ll just ignore the jerk.

But the rules of Endurance Island are working against them. Abby and Dean are teamed up – alone – on the beach. It’s either work together, or go home. Stuck with no one else’s company but their own, they learn they do make a good team after all.
And that with just a little bit of kindling, the flames of hate can quickly turn to flames of passion… (from Goodreads)
 
Couple of covers:

 
Genre: Contemporary romance
 
How did I get it: I got it free for the Kindle
 
Favourite cover: The third one, definitely, though I couldn’t quite figure out where this cover was used. Myles shows it on her webpage. The first two covers are really generic; much too generic for my taste. The third one really does something with the story, it shows the survival theme and it seems a bit more playful.
 
Title: The title, however, does a pretty good job of summarizing the story. It doesn’t only hold the game aspect of the reality show, but also how tough the games that people play with each other can be.
 
Characters: I liked Abby as the not-exactly-athletic outsider on the islands. She’s not afraid to be who she is and she’s quite feisty. Dean, the athletic, arrogant guy, got a great deal more of soul because each chapter begins with quoting something he said in the ‘confessions’ of the game show. I liked these flashes of him; it made him more real and the story more entertaining.
 
Setting: The strange thing is, I hate reality shows, but I love it when books are based on the premise of someone entering one of those shows. I really liked it; it was easy to picture the island because of the way Myles described everything.
 
General story: The story was good, if a tad predictable. I actually couldn't stop reading the last couple of chapters, because I was curious to see how Myles would solve the problems she had thrown up around Abby and Dean. I would have liked a more elaborate ending, though; it was a bit rushed.
 
Will I read other books from this author? Yes.
 
Hotness: 4/5
 
Overall rating: 4 stars