Mark My Words-Reviews – Cindy's Love Of Books

Review/ I Know Lucy

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Cindy

by Melissa Pearl

Title: I Know Lucy
Series: The Fugitive Series Book 1
Author: Melissa Pearl
Pub Date: April 2014
Publisher: Evatopia Press
Pages: 272

Source: I received an ebook from Mark My Words Book Publicity.

About the book:

Lucy Tate is on the run. After witnessing the brutal murder of her parents, she’s spent five years in hiding — taking on different personas and faking her way through life. The authorities can’t be trusted, so she remains in the shadows, always one beat ahead of the man who is forever hunting her. That is, until she meets Zach Schultz, a senior at Monte Vista High and the one guy she can’t bear to leave. Suddenly her natural instincts to lie, cheat, and run are overshadowed by something else…the desire to stay and perhaps, love. It’s her one shot at a normal life.

Curious by nature, Zach is immediately drawn to the new girl at school. How can a person look both confident and vulnerable all in the same moment? Determined to figure Lucy out, he sets out to unravel the mystery that is her and soon finds himself caught up in a cat and mouse game. For the first time in his life he is faced with the reality that the truth can no longer set him free…if anything, it’s going to get him killed.

I knew right away after reading the synopsis of this book that I wanted to read it. I am going to say that this is probably one of my favorite reads of 2014 to date. Yes its that good. If I used a rating system I would have to say its 10+. I love the storyline, I loved the characters and I loved the authors writing.

I Know Lucy is told in the point of view of Zach who does the story telling in present day and Lucy who does the story from the time of the murder . Each chapter indicates who is telling the story which makes it so much easier from the get go. I didn’t think I would like the back and forth of the book but I have to say that it added to the book because like Zach we were wanting to find out more about Lucy.

I read I Know Lucy in two nights and probably if I had allowed myself I would have read it in one sitting. Right from the first page its non stop action and page turning. Which I love in books.

I Know Lucy opens up with Lucy being a happy go lucky thirteen year old girl. She lives in a nice house and has two loving parents and Lucy’s life couldn’t get any better until one night when there is a knock on the door and her mother goes to answer it. Her father knows that this isn’t good and tells Lucy to go and hide. Before Lucy knows it her life is going to change drastically. Both of her parents are brutally murdered and she knows that if she doesn’t leave then and there she is next.

With no where to run to because she knows the killer knows all about her and her family and she doesn’t want to risk the ones she loves, Lucy runs and doesn’t stop. Along the way she steals what she can to survive.

Over the years Lucy has developed many different looks and identities to protect herself and to stay under the radar because she never knows when it will be over. She has learned from the beginning that you can’t trust anyone and no one will have your back but you. All that is about to change when she meets Zach.

I have to say that I love Zach. For some reason you think he is this dorky kind of guy who is everyone’s friend and we are probably right but I have to say that this is the kind of guy I love…I am sure if I went to school with him I would totally be crushing on him.

Zach is curious about Lucy and he knows there is more to her then meets the eye. Will he be able to get Lucy to trust someone again or will she completely push him away and run?

If your looking for a really good suspense book that will keep you on the edge of your seat and make you want to turn pages and not sleep then I highly suggest this.

I can’t wait to see what is next in this series.

Review/Stained

Posted on April 2, 2014April 21, 2014 by Cindy

Stained Series: Stained Series #1

by Ella James
Format: eBook
on 2012-08-16
Pages: 244
Goodreads

BOOK ONE IN THE BESTSELLING STAINED SERIES:

Seventeen-year-old Julia is finally living the good life. She's traded a hard cot in a Memphis orphanage for her very own room in a perfect little house, on a perfect little street, with a perfect set of parents who picked her to be their daughter.

But Julia is hiding a secret - and one fall night, she returns home from a friend's house to find that her secret has found her. Her 'forever home' is ashes. Her parents are dead. And, in the sky above the flames, a winged creature hunts her.

The Nephilim King, Samyaza, has taken everything from Cayne. After struggling in the darkness for years to piece together his shattered life, Cayne is finally ready to confront his past and avenge the loss of everything he loved. He tracks Samyaza to a Memphis warehouse, where he winds up flat on his back, in the healing hands of a beautiful, dark-haired girl he doesn't need to know.

Unbeknownst to either of them, they are already bound. Cayne's past holds the answers to Julia's future. But what will pose the greatest threat to her? The bounty placed on her head by the leaders of two Celestial realms, or giving her heart to a man who is bound, by birth, to break it?

- STAINED BOOKS TWO AND THREE LISTED IN AMAZON'S TOP 100 YA EBOOKS OF 2012.

-NOMINATED BEST DEBUT NOVEL AT UTOPYA CONVENTION 2012.

-NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 10 YA ROMANCE BOOKS OF 2011.

-WINNER OF THE FLAMINGNET TOP CHOICE AWARD.

-CAYNE NAMED ONE OF THE TOP 10 BEST BOOK BOYFRIENDS OF 2011.

-FEATURED ON NUMEROUS AMAZON BESTSELLER LISTS.

-FIRST IN A COMPLETED SERIES OF FOUR (INCLUDING STOLEN, CHOSEN, AND EXALTED).

I received this book for free from publisher/pr firm in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

I was recently introduced to Ella James and her books. So when I was asked if I wanted to review this one I quickly jumped at the chance to do it because the book sounded really good and it was something different from what I have read in the past.

I had no idea what to expect when I started this book and didn’t realize that it would be a book that I would literally have to fight with to put down. This book was none stop action from the get go. So if these kinds of books appeal to you then you have to pick this up to read.

Stained in a young adult paranormal book.

Stained opens up with Julia discovering that her foster parents house is on fire. She quickly leaves the scene. She had snuck out to be with a friend. Before leaving Julia realizes that no one will be getting out alive. To her shock and confussion Julia sees a demon (Angel of Death) above the house.

Julia has no idea what is going on. Who is this demon? Was she suppose to be in the house at the time of the fire?

During this time I have to say I was a little confused because nothing was really talked about in regards to Julia and her living with this family or even how long she was living there. Slowly we discover more about Julia.

The reason why Julia has run from the house is because she doesn’t want to return to foster care so I think she was in the system for quite awhile.

After her running she spends the night in an abandoned warehouse. Thinking that she will be safe there until she is awaken by a crashing sound and a very cute guy (Cayne) is fighting the demon from the night before. At this point I was curious to who these guys were and how Julia would play into the situation.

The demon is out to hurt this guy and he leaves him almost at death’s door. Enter Julia who tries to save this guy and this is where the book gets interesting. Can she save this mysterious guy? Who is this demon and what does he want with Julia?

We don’t really get the answers in the first book so hopefully in Stolen we will find out.

I loved Julia and Cayne and can’t wait to see this storyline develop and to find out why the Angel of Death wants her dead.

The other books in the series are:

Book 2 Stolen
Book 3 Chosen
Book 4 Exalted

The above books are already available to buy in the Kindle store

Review / The Kelley Diaries

Posted on March 28, 2014April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: The Kelley Diaries Book 1: Lawson
Author: Morgan Black
Publisher: Metamorphosis Books
Pub Date: February 2014
Pages: 30

Source:
I was given an ebook for my review.

About The Book:

Kelley Carson is successful, beautiful, and celibate. But that last part certainly isn’t by choice. Seems every time Kelley meets someone who might be able to help her scratch her physical itch something always goes terribly wrong.

Then she meets Lawson; a hot real estate attorney, who by the looks of him doesn’t have a problem getting ladies into bed, and she desperately wants him to take her home.

Will she make it through one date without totally screwing it up? Or will she go home alone again?
This is Kelley’s first entry in her diary of her dating mishaps. Look for part two in April 2014.

*This is a short erotic romance, not suitable for readers under the age of 18*

This is the first in what I think will be a series of ebooks. The next book is coming out next month and I can’t wait to read it.

The Kelley Diaries are told in a diary format which is always fun. This was a fun quick read which I have been enjoying alot lately because with a busy hockey season I feel as though I haven’t read alot of books and reading some novella’s makes me feel like I am still doing alot of reading.

Morgan has several books under her name such as The Fireside Series (Ablaze & Flames), and Afternoon Delights. She also writes under the name M. Black. This is the first time I have heard of the author but I think I would be interested in checking out her other books eventually but I do know I want to read book 2 in this series.

Since its a quick and fast read I really won’t go into a full review because I will give the book away but if your looking for a funny read I have to suggest this. It was no stop all the way through and it wasn’t that over the top with a far fetched story line.

This is more of a book for 18+. I couldn’t help but hope that Kelley would make it through her date without screwing it but you know how all first dates go. I liked Lawson but he is definitely not a one lady guy and comes off knowing he is hot and could have any one he wanted. Will Kelley be the next one?

copyright 2010, Cindy (Cindy’s Love Of Books)
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Review/ Reveal

Posted on March 26, 2014April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: Reveal (Cryptid Tales #1)

Author: Brina Courtney

Pages: 218

Pub Date: First released November 2013

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

You think seeing ghosts is weird? Tell me something I don’t know.

Shay Tafford’s childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the
dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That’s why it’s been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he’s been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she’s had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too, she’s just starting to find a normalcy in her life.

But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?

This is a debut novel by Brina Courtney and I want to quickly thank Mark My Words for allowing me to be a part of the book tour from Reveal and today I am sharing my review with you.

Shay who is the main character of the book is a high school student has lived through her fair share of life events. A young person should never have to live through that much in such a short time. When Shay was a young girl her father went missing without a trace and to this day it still affects Shay. She was very close to her father.

Since that day Shay has been able to communicate with ghosts. One particular ghost is a young boy names Jeremy. He was an orphan and living was living in an orphanage when it was burned down mysteriously. Sadly in that fire 35 other boys and girls died. There ghosts are lingering around and they all have specific tasks to do.

Growing up Jeremy has always been Shay’s best friend and when they have a fight she banishes him and he is never seen again. This has left a hole in Shay’s life and this forces her to find a human friend named Olivia. They spend all their time together and do all kinds of typical teen stuff.

On a recent trip to a coffee house they met Hugh and Shay discovers he is just like her. Through talking to Hugh she discovers that he actually knows so much more then Shay and he tells her that there are others just like them called Cryptids. Shay begins to hang out more with Hugh and his parents are beginning to think that Shay and Hugh could possible be the prophecy couple they heard about. Could they be the answer that is needed?

I loved the cover for the book. I really enjoyed the story. It was nice to read something a little different from what I normally read. Its nice to branch out and discover a new author.

Review/ Jellybean Kisses

Posted on March 23, 2014April 14, 2014 by Cindy

Title: Jellybean Kisses Book 1
Author: Amy Evans
Pages: 42
Pub Date: February 2014

Source: Mark My Words sent me an ecopy of the book to read and review.

About the book:
First love is the sweetest….

Jax and Jacey are everyone’s favorite couple, even though they’ve barely ever kissed.

In kindergarten, Jax pulled out a chair for Jacey and swept the play dough off so that she would sit down next to him and he’s been carving out ways for them to stick together ever since. Though everyone in their conservative, small beach town sees them as a couple, they’re not, exactly. Because while they both want more, they’ve agreed to wait.

Jacey works hard, respects her elders and follows every spoken and silent rule about fitting in and doing the ‘right’ thing. She doesn’t dare give the gossips more fodder from her family, so she’s kept Jax firmly in the friendzone. It takes a hurricane for her to realize timing is everything, but months later she’s still too afraid to put her heart on the line and tell him how she feels. Then plans change – hers for summer and his for college, and Jacey needs to make the most of the time she and Jax have left, or stay stuck in the land of missed beginnings forever.

This is the first book in what I believe to be a novelle series. This was a fast read and I have to say it left me wanting to read more and I can’t wait to read more when they come out.

This is such a sweet book about first loves. We all remember our first loves, I know I sure do, do you?

This was such a sweet book that made you think back to being in love the first time. The sweet and innocence of it.

I don’t want to say to much because its a really short book and I know I could probably tell you the entire story in this post so all I am going to say is if you are looking for a sweet book to read then I highly recommend this.

I loved the chapter titles as they were all colors in reference to jelly beans.