{eARC Minute Review} The Sight (Devil's Isle #2) by Chloe Neill

The Sight (Devil's Isle #2) by Chloe Neill

The paranormal war that engulfed New Orleans seven years ago is over. But the battle for the city is just beginning . . .

Claire Connolly is a Sensitive, infected with magic when the Veil that divides humanity from the world beyond fell. Magic can easily consume and destroy a Sensitive, and if Claire’s secret is discovered she’ll be locked into the walled district of Devil’s Isle along with every other Paranormal left in the city.

Bounty hunter Liam Quinn discovered Claire’s secret, but refused to turn her in. Together they saved New Orleans from the resurgence of magic that nearly destroyed it. But now a dangerous cult is on the rise, and it will take both Claire and Liam—and magical allies within Devil’s Isle’s towering walls—to defeat the occult threat before magic corrupts them both... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} 330 pages. Published August 16th 2016 by NAL Trade. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 3/5 - I liked it!

{Review} 

After reading and enjoying The Veil, book one in the Devil's Isle series, I was eager to dig into book two. True to Chloe Neill's style The Sight features fabulous world building, well developed characters, and an interesting storyline. There is further development in the Claire/Liam relationship (both good and bad), twists and turns and an ending that had me thinking OMG and wondering what would happen next. If you haven't checked out the Devil's Isle series I recommend you give it a try.

Waiting on Wednesday (204) The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

The Loneliest Girl in the Universe by Lauren James

A surprising and gripping sci-fi thriller with a killer twist

The daughter of two astronauts, Romy Silvers is no stranger to life in space. But she never knew how isolating the universe could be until her parents' tragic deaths left her alone on the Infinity, a spaceship speeding away from Earth.

Romy tries to make the best of her lonely situation, but with only brief messages from her therapist on Earth to keep her company, she can't help but feel like something is missing. It seems like a dream come true when NASA alerts her that another ship, the Eternity, will be joining the Infinity.

Romy begins exchanging messages with J, the captain of the Eternity, and their friendship breathes new life into her world. But as the Eternity gets closer, Romy learns there's more to J's mission than she could have imagined. And suddenly, there are worse things than being alone.... (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: July 3, 2018

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (186) Blaze by Suzanne Wright

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“You’re still not fearing my mighty wrath.”
“I’m trying.”
“One day I will unleash it and you will flee in terror. Why are you laughing? It’s only the truth. A sphinx in full-on berserker-mode can wreak major destruction and instill fear into the hearts of all who… stop laughing!”

Blaze by Suzanne Wright

Waiting on Wednesday (203) Game of Secrets by Kim Foster

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Game of Secrets by Kim Foster

Felicity Cole sells flowers in the streets of Victorian London to feed herself and her young brother. But she has a close-guarded secret--her brother is a Tainted, born with special abilities that society fears and a shadowy organization called the Hunstsman scours the country to eliminate. When Felicity becomes the target of one of these individuals, she discovers something horrible: she's Tainted, too.

Rescued by a mysterious gentleman on the eve of execution, she's whisked away to a school funded by Queen Victoria, established to train selected Tainted into assassins in service of the crown.

Struggling to harness her incredible strength, speed, and agility, and despised by her classmates, all she wants is to use her new position to find a cure so she can be normal and reunited with her brother.

But with the Golden Jubilee fast approaching and the discovery that there's a traitor in their midst, she has no choice but to embrace the one thing she's been fighting all along. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: May 15, 2018

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (185) The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“Sad was such a simple, damaging word. It meant so much more than its elaborate cousins.”

The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean

{eARC Minute Review} The List (The List #1) by Tawna Fenske

The List (The List #1) by Tawna Fenske 

It all starts with a list.

A sex list.

Cassie Michaels comes up with a list of naughty experiences to impress her sisters and finally convince them—and herself—she's not just a boring soil scientist. Unfortunately, it also makes Cassie a liar if she doesn't tick off at least some of the kinky exploits before her sister's bachelorette party. Luckily, she's found just the man to help her, starting with number four—sex with an anonymous stranger.

As the owner of a chain of computer shops, Simon Traxel doesn't deal with mundane repairs, but when a brunette with killer green eyes and a list of sexploits frozen across her computer screen shows up at one of his shops, he's ready to get a little hands on.

Simon's more than willing to have some fun helping Cassie turn her made-up adventures into reality. Between steamy public romps that go hilariously awry, and sexy antics with kitchen utensils, getting through a to-do list has never been this much fun. But nearing the last few items means nearing the end of their time together, and Simon isn't ready to let her go... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} ebook, 178 pages. Published January 30th 2017 by Entangled Publishing LLC. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 4/5 - I really liked it!

{Review}

This book was tons of fun! It was a funny, sexy, quick read. Cassie and Simon were great leads and I adored them. I liked that Cassie and Simon were both serious, smart, conscientious people who could also have fun. Beyond all the sexy times were sweet and serious moments, family drama, and self-discovery. This book had everything I look for in a romance novel (especially the laugh out loud bits) and I enjoyed The List from the first page to the very last. I look forward to reading more books in The List series.

{eARC Minute Review} The Veil (Devil's Isle #1) by Chloe Neill

The Veil (Devil's Isle #1) by Chloe Neill

Seven years ago, the Veil that separates humanity from what lies beyond was torn apart, and New Orleans was engulfed in a supernatural war. Now, those with paranormal powers have been confined in a walled community that humans call the District. Those who live there call it Devil's Isle.

Claire Connolly is a good girl with a dangerous secret: she’s a Sensitive, a human endowed with magic that seeped through the Veil. Claire knows that revealing her skills would mean being confined to Devil’s Isle. Unfortunately, hiding her power has left her untrained and unfocused.

Liam Quinn knows from experience that magic makes monsters of the weak, and he has no time for a Sensitive with no control of her own strength. But when he sees Claire using her powers to save a human under attack—in full view of the French Quarter—Liam decides to bring her to Devil’s Isle and the teacher she needs, even though getting her out of his way isn’t the same as keeping her out of his head.

But when the Veil threatens to shatter completely, Claire and Liam must work together to stop it, or else New Orleans will burn… (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} 336 pages. Published August 4th 2015 by NAL Trade. eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 3/5 - I liked it!

{Review}

I love Chloe Neill's Chicagoland vampire series and while reading The Veil I kept comparing Claire to Merit. I enjoyed The Veil, it kept my attention and had me guessing about what would happen next, but I think if I had read this book before the Chicagoland series I would have enjoyed it even more.

Chloe Neill is a fabulous writer. She does a fabulous job with world building, at creating unique storylines and well rounded, multi faceted characters, even the supporting characters. I liked Claire's strength, her will to survive and carry on when she could have chosen an easier route in life. I also liked Liam, the bits and pieces he allows us to see of him, but I wasn't a big fan of his hot and cold feelings towards Claire. I understood his reluctance, given what Claire is, but there was too much waffling for me to really respect him.

I enjoyed the story and look forward to see what happens next in the world of Devil's Isle.

{eARC Review} Power Game (GhostWalkers #13) by Christine Feehan

Power Game (GhostWalkers #13) by Christine Feehan

#1 New York Times bestselling author Christine Feehan is “one of the best storytellers around” (RT Book Reviews). Find out why as two lovers surrounded by greed and corruption discover there’s no telling whom you can trust—or who will come out on top...

When members of a United Nations joint security force are taken hostage by radical terrorists in Indonesia, Captain Ezekiel Fortunes is called to lead the rescue team. Part of a classified government experiment, Zeke is a supersoldier with enhanced abilities. He can see better and run faster than the enemy, disappear when necessary and hunt along any terrain. There are those in the world willing to do anything for power like that...

A formidable spy genetically engineered to hide in plain sight, Bellisia rarely meets a man who doesn’t want to control her or kill her. But Zeke is different. His gaze, his touch—they awaken feelings inside her that she never thought possible. He’s the kind of man she could settle down with—if she can keep him alive... (Blurb via Goodreads)

{Details} eARC, Kindle Edition, 1st edition, 464 pages. Published January 24th 2017 by Berkley. Source: eARC provided via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review

{Rating} 5/5 - I loved it!

{Review}

I have to make a confession: I'm reading the GhostWalkers out of order. I do not read books out of order but I saw a sample at the end of Shadow Reaper (her Shadow series - go read it too) and was completely sucked into the story and couldn't help but skip ahead to Power Game.

The book puts us right into the action with Bellisia. She's on a job and with that we see the type of person she is, her skills, the life she's trying to escape and what she'll do to accomplish that.

As I had skipped a few books there was a bit of a learning curve, getting to know Zeke's team, but things made sense even without that background. Zeke is the typical Feehan alpha male, a little over the top but everything he does is to protect those he cares about. Bellisia is one of Feehan's stronger female leads and one of my favorites. She's been trained and used as an asset, and she's good at her job, we see that right off the bat. She's strong, courageous and more than once she saves the day.

I like how the story moved forward, Violet pops up in this one, but the Ghostwalker's eternal foe is still out there, leaving me, as always, anxious for the next installment.

Waiting on Wednesday (202) Tiger's Dream (The Tiger Saga #5) by Colleen Houck

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Tiger's Dream (The Tiger Saga #5) by Colleen Houck

A tiger left behind.

A goddess in need of an ally.

Stranded in a time and place he never wished for, Kishan Rajaram must carry out his destiny of assisting the beautiful yet extremely irritable goddess Durga. This daunting task is not made easy by the fact that he must also face the truth about the girl he loves and the brother who stole her away.

When the wily shaman Phet appears and tells Kishan that Kelsey needs him, he jumps at the chance to see her again. In his efforts to save her, Kishan discovers that the curse he thought was over is just beginning. As time unravels around him, Kishan realizes that the fates of all those he holds dear lie in hands.

The goddess’s power hangs in the balance. Kishan has no choice but to sacrifice the unthinkable to fight the dark forces swirling around the woman he’s charged to protect. As he does, he discovers that love and loyalty create their own magic and accepts that he must decide his destiny once and for all.

Tiger’s Dream is the conclusion to the epic Tiger’s Curse fantasy romance series that left you breathless. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: March 2018

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (184) Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“Cariad, nothing about this is casual to me. But if you want a long, sensitive discussion about my feelings, I can’t help you. I’m from North Wales, where we express ourselves by throwing rocks at trees. I’ve had more feelings in the past half-hour than I have in my entire life, and I’m at my limit.”
“That still doesn’t—”
“I love whatever it is you’re made of. All of it.”

Marrying Winterborne by Lisa Kleypas

Waiting on Wednesday (201) Sanctuary by Caryn Lix

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, created by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on:

Sanctuary by Caryn Lix

Alien meets Alexandra Bracken’s The Darkest Minds in this thrilling debut novel about prison-guard-in-training, Kenzie, who is taken hostage by the superpowered criminal teens of the Sanctuary space station—only to have to band together with them when the station is attacked by mysterious creatures.

Kenzie holds one truth above all: the company is everything.

As a citizen of Omnistellar Concepts, the most powerful corporation in the solar system, Kenzie has trained her entire life for one goal: to become an elite guard on Sanctuary, Omnistellar’s space prison for superpowered teens too dangerous for Earth. As a junior guard, she’s excited to prove herself to her company—and that means sacrificing anything that won’t propel her forward.

But then a routine drill goes sideways and Kenzie is taken hostage by rioting prisoners.

At first, she’s confident her commanding officer—who also happens to be her mother—will stop at nothing to secure her freedom. Yet it soon becomes clear that her mother is more concerned with sticking to Omnistellar protocol than she is with getting Kenzie out safely.

As Kenzie forms her own plan to escape, she doesn’t realize there’s a more sinister threat looming, something ancient and evil that has clawed its way into Sanctuary from the vacuum of space. And Kenzie might have to team up with her captors to survive—all while beginning to suspect there’s a darker side to the Omnistellar she knows. (Blurb via Goodreads)

Expected publication: July 24 2018

What are you waiting on?

Teaser Tuesday (183) Blade of Darkness by Dianne Duvall

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:
• Grab your current read(s)
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) -- or less or more -- “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) 

“You think I’m a geek now, don’t you?” he jested.
She relaxed a little more. “No.”
“First I say fanny. Now this.”
She smiled. “Actually, I thought your fanny was cute.” Her eyes widened. “The fanny,” she corrected hastily. “I thought the fanny was cute. Your saying it, I mean.”
He winked. “I prefer the first one.”
She laughed. “I bet you do.”

Blade of Darkness by Dianne Duvall