Books Read-2012 – Page 3 – Cindy's Love Of Books

(Review) A SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing

Posted on March 19, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: A SEAL in Wolf’s Clothing (Book 9 in the Wolf Series)
Author: Terry Spear
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 352
Pub Date: March 2012

Source: I received an ARC copy of this book for review.

About the book:
Her instincts tell her he’s dangerous…
While her overprotective brother’s away, Meara Greymere’s planning to play—and it wouldn’t hurt to find herself a mate in the process. The last thing she needs is one of his SEAL buddies spoiling her fun, even if the guy is the hottest one she’s ever seen…

His powers of persuasion are impossible to resist…
Finn Emerson is a battle-hardened Navy SEAL and alpha wolf. He’s a little overqualified for baby-sitting, but feisty Meara is attracting trouble like a magnet…

As the only responsible alpha male in the vicinity, Finn is going to have to protect this intriguing woman from a horde of questionable men, and definitely from himself…

All I can say about this book is “OMG”. Wow I loved, loved loved this book.

I am not sure if its just me or not but I always worry when I read a series that the next book won’t be as good as the previous one and that I won’t love the books anymore but one thing I have discovered since reading Terry Spear’s Wolf Series is that I don’t have to worry about that because Terry some how manages to out do the previous book and just when I think I love the previous books I end up reading a new one and loving it more.

Out of the whole wolf series I have to say that I love them all. She has great characters and great chemistry in them all. I have to say even though its not possible to shape shift her books all make it seem possible and believable.

I can hands down spend a day reading Terry’s books. I have a hard time putting them down and I just need to read what happens. This book was no exception. I started it early in the morning and read it all day. Trying to read slowly so that I can savour the book because the next one in the series (book 10), A Howl for the Highlander, A Highland Wolf Wedding (book 11) and Silence of the Wolf (book 12) aren’t coming out until 2013.

Thankfully though, Terry has a new series coming out called the Jaguar Series and the first book, Savage Hunger will be coming out in October 2012. I can’t wait to read that new series.

Okay enough ramblings on to my review.

As I said previously I loved this book and I loved the cover.

Even though this is the ninth book in the Wolf Series you really don’t need to read the previous books in the series to follow the story line. I know when I first started to read Terry’s books I was perfectly fine and never felt like I was missing something in the story lines.

This time Terry has brought back some characters (Tessa, although she is only mentioned in the book and her mate Hunter, who makes an appearance because of his sister) from her third book To Tempt A Wolf.

So a little back ground story on Hunter. He is the alpha male of the pack and they have relocated to Oregon (because they lost everything in California from a fire). He has mated with Tessa and they have left for their honeymoon leaving his sister Meara at home to take of things along with his pack. Although little does he know that things are about to change.

Now you know the old saying when the cats away the mice will play, and that is exactly what Meara is hoping for because her over protective brother is finally leaving her alone and she is on the hunt for a new mate and figures now is the best time to look while he is away. She thinks if she mates before he returns, he won’t be able to protect her. Little does Meara know but her life is about to change.

Finn, who happens to be a SEAL buddy of Hunter’s has come to warn her that her life is in danger and that an assassin is on the hunt for her. All he really seems to know is that she some how saved the team from a mission and someone wasn’t happy and is determined to get revenge. Finn has taken it upon himself to protect her and Meara isn’t happy about this because he is interfering in her hunt for a mate. Its only after a body appears that Meara realizes how much danger she is in but yet she still wants to be around to uncover the person behind it and to find her mate.

At first Finn clearly makes up his mind that nothing will happen between the two of them because he knows Hunter will not be happy and that he is doing this to protect her even though you know he secretly likes her and Meara has said she wants nothing to do with him because of who and what he is but you can clearly see that she too wants him.

As their relationship grows I fell in love with Finn. He came out and said he wasn’t a romantic guy but he was wrong because he was. It was the little things he did for Meara that I loved and he didn’t have to go and do grand gestures to prove it. Plus he came off as a real guy when he got jealous and over protective of her. Plus him being in the service might have helped. Although I have to say I am a Marine Corp kind of girl.

I was curious to see who was seeking revenge of Meara and why and a few times I thought I had it figured out only to be proven wrong in the end and was totally shocked at who it was and why. Although Rourke who was a newly turned wolf figured it out before Finn and his team did and he came to save the day in the end.

I loved this book and I highly recommend it if you love paranormal romance. You won’t be disappointed I’m sure.

Thanks to Danielle at Sourcebooks for sending me this book to read and review. Please note that I will be having a Q&A with Terry tomorrow on my blog.

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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(Review & Tour) Losing Clementine

Posted on March 18, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Today I am honored to be a part of the blog tour for Losing Clementine by Ashley Ream. Thanks to William Morrow for contacting me and allowing me to be a part of the tour.

Title: Losing Clementine
Author: Ashley Ream
Pub Date: March 2012
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Pages: 320

Source: I received a finish copy of the book for my participation in the book tour. This is an honest and sincere review.

About The Book:
In thirty days Clementine Pritchard will be finished with her last painting and her life.

World-renowned artist and sharp-tongued wit Clementine Pritchard has decided that she’s done. After flushing away a medicine cabinet full of prescriptions, she gives herself thirty days to tie up loose ends—finish one last painting, make nice with her ex-husband, and find a home for her cat. Clementine plans to spend the month she has left in a swirl of art-world parties, manic work sessions, and outrageous acts—but what she doesn’t expect is to uncover secrets surrounding the tragedy that befell her mother and sister. In an ending no one sees coming, will we lose Clementine or will we find her?

A bold debut from an exciting new voice, Losing Clementine is a wonderfully entertaining and poignant novel about unanticipated self-discovery that features one of the most irresistible, if deeply flawed, characters to grace contemporary fiction in years.

This is Ashley Ream’s debut novel and wow I really enjoyed it. It was actually nice to step away from young adult books for this one. When I got contacted about the book I knew I wanted to read it because it sounded so good.

Clementine Pritchard, is an artist who is extremely depressed and has decided that she is fed up with living her life always on all kinds of medications and has decided that in 30 days she will kill herself. She starts by dumping all her medications down the toilet, firing her assistant (who is basically there to babysit her) and slowly getting rid of her worthily possessions.

Clementine has no idea how she is going to do it yet but has given herself 30 days to figure this out. Although one thing is clear in her mind she is going to do it in a nice clean easy way unlike that of her mother and sister.

The book is told in a day to day format. You can see in each day that she is trying to tie up any loose ends because she wants it to be her way and not have anyone worry about arranging it all. She knows what she is doing each and every step from buying a plot, to the casket, making sure her beloved cat Chuckles is cared for in a loving home to even tracking down her long lost father who abandoned the family when she was a young girl.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I was reading the book but I have to say I was surprised. I would laugh, cry and feel for Clementine. I am sure its a day to day struggle with depression and any mental illness and I am sure there is a point when you feel enough is enough and this is exactly how Clementine felt so you couldn’t help but feel for here.

As you read the book you are constantly wondering if she will do it or will something or someone stop her?

I was really impressed with the book and I am looking forward to other books by Ashley.

Thanks William Morrow for the book and allowing me to be on the tour.

Ashley Ream got her first job at a newspaper when she was 16. After working in newsrooms across Missouri, Florida and Texas, she gave up the deadlines to pursue fiction. She lives in Los Angeles where she works at a nonprofit and is finishing her next novel.

To find out more about Ashley Ream visit her by clicking on this.

(Review) dancergirl

Posted on March 1, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: Dancergirl
Author: Carol M. Tanzman
Pub Date: December 2011
Publisher: Harleguin Teen
Pages: 248

Source: I purchased this copy.

About the book:
Ever feel like someone’s watching you? Me, too. But lately it’s been happening in my room. When I’m alone.
A friend posted a video of me dancing online, and now I’m no longer Alicia Ruffino. I’m dancergirl. And suddenly it’s like me against the world—everyone’s got opinions.

My admirers want more, the haters hate, my best friend Jacy—even he’s acting weird. And some stalker isn’t content to just watch anymore.

Ali. Dancergirl. Whatever you know me as, however you’ve seen me online, I’ve trained my whole life to be the best dancer I can be. But if someone watching has their way, I could lose way more than just my love of dancing. I could lose my life.

When I first heard about this book I knew I wanted to read it. Plus it takes part in New York City whats not to love about that?

I ended up reading this in one sitting because it was that good and I just couldn’t put the book down.

Ali, the main character is just your typical high school student who loves dancing and anything to do with dancing. When her friend, Charlie posts a video of her online she is okay with it because she doesn’t think anything will become of it. Little does she realize that the world she knows is about to come crumbling down around her. She soon finds out another unauthorized video of her goes up online but what is scary is that its footage from her bedroom. Thinking that its Charlie who did this she freaks because now she is being stalked.

The thing with Charlie is that Ali has agreed to let him record her dancing and the whole set up is made to come off like Ali has no idea she’s being recorded. That she has a secret admirer so this why she freaks out when she sees the video of her in her bedroom because she thinks that Charlie will stop at nothing to get what he wants.

As the story progress the only friend of her who knows what is going on is Jacy and he agrees to help her out because she doesn’t want her mother to find out which for me says if you are hiding something then its not good. They go to a retired cop in the area who is neighborhood watch with the problem and wondering what they should do. He seems quick to point the finger at Charlie and then on Jacy.

Which I have to say I honestly thought that it was Charlie just because it looks that way but as the story progresses you realize its not him. I was shocked to find out who was behind the stalking and you will to.

I think Ali is freaked out but its when it hits closer to home that freaks her out even more. Its as though the stalker has over stepped the boundaries and this is where her other two best friends find out and try to help her out and solve the mystery of who is behind the stalking.

I think this is a great book for a teen to read because they are so quick to post everything and anything online without even thinking about it and what could happen.

There is an second book in the WiHi series called Circle of Silence and it will be coming out late in the summer. The series will all be stand alones so you don’t have to read them in order. They will all take place at the same high school and previous characters will be in the book.

(Review) I’ve Got Your Number

Posted on February 14, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: I’ve Got Your Number
Author: Sophie Kinsella
Publisher: Random House
Pages: 448
Pub Date: February 2012

Source: I requested an eGalley of this book.

About the book:
I’ve lost it. 🙁 The only thing in the world I wasn’t supposed to lose. My engagement ring. It’s been in Magnus’s family for three generations. And now the very same day his parents are coming, I’ve lost it. The very same day! Do not hyperventilate, Poppy. Stay positive 🙂 !!

Poppy Wyatt has never felt luckier. She is about to marry her ideal man, Magnus Tavish, but in one afternoon her “happily ever after” begins to fall apart. Not only has she lost her engagement ring in a hotel fire drill but in the panic that follows, her phone is stolen. As she paces shakily around the lobby, she spots an abandoned phone in a trash can. Finders keepers! Now she can leave a number for the hotel to contact her when they find her ring. Perfect!

Well, perfect except that the phone’s owner, businessman Sam Roxton, doesn’t agree. He wants his phone back and doesn’t appreciate Poppy reading his messages and wading into his personal life.

What ensues is a hilarious and unpredictable turn of events as Poppy and Sam increasingly upend each other’s lives through emails and text messages. As Poppy juggles wedding preparations, mysterious phone calls, and hiding her left hand from Magnus and his parents . . . she soon realizes that she is in for the biggest surprise of her life.

I was super excited when I found out that Sophie Kinsella had another book coming out. I am a huge fan of hers and read all her books that she has written under Sophie Kinsella because they are a light and fun read. Did you know that she writes under the name of Madeleine Wickham as well?

I should start of by saying that this book is a stand alone and is no way associated with any of her other books.

I am known to pretty much devour Sophie’s books in almost one sitting. This was no exception. I started it fairly early in the morning and by mid afternoon I was finished it. I really enjoyed the story. The only thing that bothered me a little was the footnotes and I think had I read the actual book and not an egalley on my kobo it might have been fine. I have heard a few bloggers commenting on that same issue. So I was happy to find out that it wasn’t just on the egalleys.

The main character in I’ve Got Your Number is Poppy Wyatt. She is just like the girl next door someone you probably could be friends with. Things are going good for her until a fire alarm goes off and she looses her engagement ring. She is in a sheer panic because its a family heirloom. She has basically driven the staff at the hotel mad in her search for this ring that appears to be gone.

When she goes outside to take a call, her phone is snatch and Poppy is in a pure panic. Her life is in her phone. How many of us can say the same thing? Walking back into the hotel she spots a perfectly good phone in the trash can and its basically finders keepers. Its in the garbage so it must be fair game right?

Poppy is a girl with a mission and that is to get her ring back without her fiancee, Magnus or his family from finding out and she will do almost anything to make sure that happens even if it means claiming this phone as her own. She knows she can explain the new phone and new number and not the lost ring.

So thinking she is in the clear she realizes this phone belongs to not just anyone but a consulting firm. The phone actually belongs to a PA (personal assistant) Violet that works with Sam (the boss) and she has upped and quit. Hmm I wonder why?

Before long Poppy and Sam are thrust together and against his better judgement he allows Poppy to use the phone until she gets her ring back. What happens next is a funny adventure that can only happen in a book and I loved it.

I loved reading the interactions between Poppy and Sam and you could see that perhaps a little love interest was developing. Will it develop?

If you are looking for a light fun read then I have to suggest this one to you.

(Review) Diary of a Mad Fat Girl

Posted on February 7, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: Diary of a Mad Fat Girl
Author: Stephanie McAfee
Pub Date: February 2012
Publisher: Penguin
Pages:356

Source:
I received a finished copy of the book from Penguin USA for an honest review.

About The Book:

Graciela “Ace” Jones is mad-mad at her best friend Lilly who cancels their annual trip to Panama City for mysterious reasons; at her boss Catherine for “riding her ass like a fat lady on a Rascal scooter;” at her friend Chloe’s abusive husband; and especially at Mason McKenzie, the love of her life, who has shown up with a marriage proposal three years too late. Ace is never mad, though, at her near-constant companion, an adorable chiweenie dog named Buster Loo.

Ace’s anger begins to dissipate as she takes matters into her own hands to take down Chloe’s philandering husband-and to get to the bottom of a multitude of other scandals plaguing Bugtussle, Mississippi. Then, she starts to realize that maybe Mason deserves a second chance after all.

With a sharp and distinctive voice, Stephanie McAfee delivers a hilarious and fast-paced tale about Ace Jones and her two best friends-thick as thieves and tough as nails-navigating Southern small-town politics and prejudices, finding love, and standing up for each other all the way.

I was recently offered this book from Penguin USA and it sounded like it was going to be a fun read so I decided to accept the offer to review it and I have to say that I am happy that I did because I thought this was a fun read. I managed to read it over a two day span. Thankfully most of the time I read it I was home alone because I was giggling alot and the times I was reading it when people were around I was getting asked “What’s so funny?”

This is Stephanie’s debut novel and when I was looking up info I discovered that Stephanie has signed a three book deal with the publisher so I will be curious to see what comes out next.

Just a heads up to my readers who might be offended by offensive language that this might not be the book for you. Personally for me if its not over the top I don’t mind it because for me its just a book and not real life.

I have to say that I really liked Ace (Graciela, her real name) because she was who she was and didn’t care what others thought of her. She is very brass and what you see is what you get. She hasn’t had the ideal life. Her parents died in a car accident at and early age and from there she went to live with her grandmother. Then when she is older her grandmother dies leaving Ace her house and land which just happens to boast a beautiful garden that Ace has maintained.

Ace is living in Bugtassle with her dog. Her best friends (Chloe and Lilly) live in the same city as her and no boyfriend or husband insight and that is because we slowly find out that Ace pushing them away. She is afraid to get hurt. She sabotages the relationships with jealousy and insecurities.

Now Ace and her best friend Lilly are teachers at the school and as the book is beginning Ace is excited for spring break because she is desperate for a vacation with her bestie but with a few hours to spare Lilly calls to tell Ace she can’t go. Instead of going on her own Ace decides to wellow in her own self pity and stays home mad at her best friend for cancelling at the last minute thinking that she is jetting off some where fabulous with a mysterious man.

Before long Lilly gets fired from the school because apparently she is linked to a student (hmm could this be true and that is why she is so mysterious?) and of course it looks like that from the outside and it makes sense with all the secrets. But is it true?

Ace’s other bestie is Chloe. When Ace finds out that Chloe has been admitted to the hospital because she was beaten up (although its been reported that she fell down some stairs) she is hell bent on getting her away from her abusive husband. Which of course lands her in to some trouble and arrested and of course the principle from hell fires her too.

Thankfully Mason, Ace’s long time ex boyfriend who happens to be a lawyer shows up on her doorstep trying to help her out of this situation she is in and hoping that perhaps this time she will wake up and see that he isn’t such a bad guy and that he can be trusted. He is honestly her true love and he is there to tell her. But will her insecurities cause her to doubt him?

I loved how much friendships meant to Ace and that she would do anything for her friends no matter what it costs her.

I really enjoyed reading this book and wished I had a friend like Ace.

Thanks again Penguin USA for sending me this book to review.

(Review) Shatter Me

Posted on January 11, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: Shatter Me
Author: Tahereh Mafi
Publisher: Harper Collins
Pages: 338
Pub Date: November 2011

Source: I received a finished copy from the publisher for my honest review.

About the book:
Juliette hasn’t touched anyone in exactly 264 days.

The last time she did, it was an accident, but The Reestablishment locked her up for murder. No one knows why Juliette’s touch is fatal. As long as she doesn’t hurt anyone else, no one really cares. The world is too busy crumbling to pieces to pay attention to a 17-year-old girl. Diseases are destroying the population, food is hard to find, birds don’t fly anymore, and the clouds are the wrong color.

The Reestablishment said their way was the only way to fix things, so they threw Juliette in a cell. Now so many people are dead that the survivors are whispering war– and The Reestablishment has changed its mind. Maybe Juliette is more than a tortured soul stuffed into a poisonous body. Maybe she’s exactly what they need right now.

Juliette has to make a choice: Be a weapon. Or be a warrior.

In this electrifying debut, Tahereh Mafi presents a world as riveting as The Hunger Games and a superhero story as thrilling as The X-Men. Full of pulse-pounding romance, intoxicating villainy, and high-stakes choices, Shatter Me is a fresh and original dystopian novel—with a paranormal twist—that will leave readers anxiously awaiting its sequel.
-from Goodreads

Shatter Me was one of the most anticipated books on 2011 and it actually peaked my interest so much so that I was anxiously waiting for it to come out. So I was pretty excited when it showed up for review but yet a little apprehensive because so much hype was on this book. What would I think of this book?

I believe Shatter Me is going to be part of a trilogy.

I have to say that I don’t read alot of dystopian books and that is my choice. The book has to be something that interests me and this one did. This wasn’t a fast read for me.

I know so many people dislike the cover because they feel as though it doesn’t go with the book and yes that is true but I have to admit that I really love the cover.

As for the book itself I have read both negative reviews and positive reviews so I was excited to read the book to find out what I would think of it. I am usually one of those who reads a book and feel as though I am a fish swimming up river wondering why they loved it and when I didn’t or why didn’t they love it when I did. As for me I am on the fence with this I didn’t love it or hate it.

I enjoyed that the book wasn’t just a romance book or just an action packed book and that it actually left me wanting to find out what would happen next. I didn’t find it to be predictable at all and it played out very good. I enjoyed the writing and the only thing I had to get use to was when the author ~~would write and scratch things through~~ and then say it again but once I understood the purpose it all made sense.

Juliette is a young girl who was taken away because of something that happened that freaked people out and she is basically locked up in a cell for 264 without seeing a single person. She hasn’t seen or touched anyone. Not much is revealed in the first part of the book that would indicate why she was taken away without a fight and locked up. You actually think that she might be crazy because to make it through her time being locked up she counts things. Its only about half way through when you get to see the reasons why and can’t help but feel sorry for Juliette.

As for Adam, I was a little unsure of him at first but grew to love him because no matter what Juliette was or had done he was making it a mission to protect her no matter what. That is one of my all time favorite qualities in a guy one who can love a person for who they are and not what they are or did.

Would I read the next book? Of course I would because I am curious to see where this could go.

(Review) Never Eighteen

Posted on January 5, 2012April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: Never Eighteen

Author: Megan Bostic
Paperback (Trade paperback):204 pages
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt/Thomas Allen & Son Ltd
Pub Date: January 4th, 2012

Source: I received an Advance Readers Copy of this book from the publisher for my honest review.

Description of the book:

Austin Parker is never going to see his eighteenth birthday. At the rate he’s going, he probably won’t even see the end of the year. The doctors say his chances of surviving are slim to none even with treatment, so he’s decided it’s time to let go.

But before he goes, Austin wants to mend the broken fences in his life. So with the help of his best friend, Kaylee, Austin visits every person in his life who touched him in a special way. He journeys to places he’s loved and those he’s never seen. And what starts as a way to say goodbye turns into a personal journey that brings love, acceptance, and meaning to Austin’s life.

This is a debut novel for 2012 and I am super excited that I am being the new year with a review from a brand new author and I am excited to read her upcoming books. I thought Megan did a fantastic job with this one.

I knew going into this book that it wouldn’t be a light or fun read. I admit that I even cried at the end. This is a fantastic book about friendship (Austin & Kaylee), love (Austin’s really cares about Kaylee) and loss. (Austin is dying from his leukemia)

I loved Austin from the beginning and as I read the story I knew it wouldn’t end good. Austin has discovered that his leukemia is progressing and he has been told that he doesn’t have that much longer to live even with treatment. So he takes it upon himself to make sort of an amends over the course of a weekend. He wants to know that he did all the he could before dying.

He recruites his friend, Kaylee (and his one true love) to help me out even if it means just driving him to places. He is enjoying the time they are spending together. I loved Kaylee as well. I thought she was the perfect person for Austin. As you read you can’t help but feel something for these two and that hopefully they will be able to share their true feelings with each other before its too late.

Will Austin reveal his true feelings before its too late?

Thank you Thomas Allen & son for sending me this book to review.