Book Review: Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Genre: New Adult Romance
Publisher:  Atria Books

Publication Date: August 14, 2012
Star Rating:  5/5
Links: Goodreads Amazon

 

 Synopsis 

INTENSE. DANGEROUS. ADDICTIVE.

Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn’t drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University’s Walking One-Night Stand.

Travis Maddox, lean, cut, and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants—and needs—to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby’s resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis’s apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match.

My Overall Impression of the Book:

I love this book so much!!  This book was INTENSE DANGEROUS AND VERY ADDICTIVE.  I thought I was in love with Christian Grey until I met Travis Maddox.  This is not a typical love story.  Travis had some serious anger issues and Abbey did have a past.  Abbey was an okay heroine.  I also loved the supporting characters; which is not always the case. I actually hope the author will make more stories about the supporting characters.  This book was different and was an emotional roller-coaster.  I laugh, cried, yelled, and smiled throughout the book. 

The Bad – There were some misplaced story-lines in this book that I did not care for.  For example there was a short scene in Vegas with her father that I thought was pointless.  The author should have explored that storyline or left it out completely.  This book is easily one of my favorites.

**This book is not for everyone. There is violence and emotional instability, but to me that is real life**

The author has a second book called Walking Disaster.  It’s the same story told from Travis’ POV.  I would have preferred a sequel, but if you are interested in being in Travis’ head...have at it.

Characters 

Travis Maddox - I loved Travis, although he has some serious anger problems.  He fought hard but loved harder.  He went to great lengths to win Abbey over once he realized he had real feelings for her.  ALPHA ALPHA ALPHA was Mr. Maddox.  He did what he wanted to do, when he wanted to do it…and nobody dared get in his way.  Loved it!!

Abbey Abernathy - She was an okay heroine.  She did irritate me at times, and her “sordid” past was not that bad to me.  Actually it was kind of a letdown from all the build-up.  I have read books with worse heroines so Abbey…I could take.  

Plot and Writing:

The writing was okay.  There were some grammatical errors but it was an easy read and the errors did not throw the story off…not for me anyway.  The plot was great.  Travis made a bet with Abbey…if she lost she had to stay with him for month.  What a difference a month makes.  Living within someone 24/7 changes your perception of that person.  There is no hiding when you are around someone all the time.  They really got to see one another…on the inside.  Their love was wild, passionate, and fire.

Recommended Read!!

A Hunger Like No Other (Immortals After Dark #2) by Kresely Cole

Genre: Adult Paranormal Romance Series
Publisher:  Pocket Star

Publication Date: April 1, 2006
Star Rating:  5/5
Links:  Goodread  Amazon

Synopsis 

A mythic warrior who'll stop at nothing to possess her...

After enduring years of torture from the vampire horde, Lachlain MacRieve, leader of the Lykae Clan, is enraged to find the predestined mate he's waited millennia for is a vampire. Or partly one. This Emmaline is a small, ethereal half Valkyrie/half vampire, who somehow begins to soothe the fury burning within him.

A vampire captured by her wildest fantasy...

Sheltered Emmaline Troy finally sets out to uncover the truth about her deceased parents—until a powerful Lykae claims her as his mate and forces her back to his ancestral Scottish castle. There, her fear of the Lykae—and their notorious dark desires—ebbs as he begins a slow, wicked seduction to sate her own dark cravings.

An all-consuming desire...

Yet when an ancient evil from her past resurfaces, will their desire deepen into a love that can bring a proud warrior to his knees and turn a gentle beauty into the fighter she was born to be?

My Overall Impression of the Book:

Wow Wow Wow.  This book was amazing.  The Immortals After Dark (IAD) series has 13 books for far and I must say that this is my favorite.  Lachlain is a very powerful Lykae King that is dealing with the torture he faced by the hands of the vampire horde.  The Lykae is one of the most feared factions in the Lore, so when sweet, innocent, and fearful Emmaline meets Lachlain for the first time…it was not a happy moment.  People will either love this book or absolutely hate it.  I must also point out that Kresley is very gifted in created love scenes.  You will need a cold shower after this read…seriously…lol.

Characters

Lachlain MacReive – Love him!!  I am serious, that dang werewolf does things to me…whooo (fanning myself).  Talk about an ALPHA…and in this instance he is a werewolf so he is literally an ALPHA, and it shows.  Lachlain is the first Lykae introduced in the IAD series but will not be the last.  If you love a werewolves as much as I do, you will look forward to future stories were the Lykae are the heroes.  Lachlain was horrible at first.  It was very hard for him to admit that Emma was his mate because she is half vampire.  He was torture by vampires…the sworn enemy of the Lykae so how can she belong to him?  Emma slowly breaks down his wall of anger, hate, and self-loathing, but it is not easy. 

Emmaline Troy – I actually loved Emma.  I dislike a whinny weak heroine but you really see her evolve and grow in this book.  She is sheltered because her Valkyrie aunts always protected her….she never had to fight her own battles.  Well she learns quickly when a overgrown Lykae is trying to kidnap and mate you…you better buck up…lol.  She had to learn be strong or she would have been destroyed emotionally by Lachlain.  She fought for herself and in the end she fought for him also.  Who knew a powerful Lykae needed someone to fight for him…let alone a vampire.  

Others – You get a good look at the side characters in this story.  Bowen MacReive…Lachlain’s cousin was an instant hit with me…and Bowen’s book is amazing.  Nix - The Ever knowing soothsayer….enough said..lol.  She is important in every IAD book so far.   Regin the Radiant is a force to be reckoned with…get to know her…lol.  

Plot and Writing:

The writing is fantastic.  This is a well written novel and the plot of the Lore and the factions within it is always great.  This story, like the rest of the novels in this series surrounds the upcoming Accession.  The Accession is a battle that happens about every 500 years.  There is no real reason for the war…more like nature’s way of dwindling down the immortal population.  The alliances and enemies made in these love stories are going to be essential during the Accession.  

Recommended Read!!

Onyx (Lux #2) by Jennifer Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Publisher:  Entangled Teen
Publication Date: August 14, 2012
Star Rating:  5/5
Links:  Goodreads  Amazon

Synopsis

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection.  So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days.  But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner.  So is he.  And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own.  He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive.  And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth.  What happened to his brother?  Who betrayed him?  And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

My Overall Impression of the Book:

 

So I thought I loved Obsidian, and then I read Onyx. This book had it all. Daemon’s arrogant attitude, Katy given it back to him ten-fold, romance, action, mystery.  I could not put the book down.  This is one of my favorite books and I cannot wait until Opal comes out in Dec (2012).  I actually started the series with Obsidian so I have to go back and read Shadows to find out about Bethany and Dawson.  Dawson is Daemon’s twin brother.  I loved the characters and I was actually really emotional about some of the things that happened in the book.  Some of the events that took place in this book were heartbreaking.  Lastly, I cannot get enough of Daemon’s awesomeness!!

 

Characters: 

Daemon – We get to see another side of Daemon in this book.  He was a complete jerk in Obsidian but in this book the chemistry between he and Katy really starts to sizzle.  He is truly awesome and wants to protect Katy at all cost.

Katy – She really ticked me off in this book.  She has been infected with Daemon’s “alien mojo” and she is starting to change and develop her own abilities.  She made a lot of selfish decisions in this book that caused a lot of pain and heartache.  Relationships will not be the same when this books ends and you cannot tell who the good and bad guys really are.

Plot and Writing:  Again the writing is good, and the plot is fantastic.  The book keeps you guessing and the flow was great, no dead spaces.  The situation with the DoD is starting to heat up so the Luxen have more than the Arum to worry about at this point.  Excellent Read!!

The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty (Sleeping Beauty #1)

Genre: Adult Romance, Steamy Romance
Publisher:  Plume
Publication Date: May 1, 1999
Star Rating:  2/5
Links:  Amazon Goodreads

Synopsis

 

From bestselling author Anne Rice, writing as A.N. Roquleaure. In the traditional folktale of 'Sleeping Beauty,' the spell cast upon the lovely young princess and everyone in her castle can only be broken by the kiss of a Prince. It is an ancient story, one that originally emerged from and still deeply disturbs the mind's unconscious. Now Anne Rice's retelling of the Beauty story probes the unspoken implications of this lush, suggestive tale by exploring its undeniable connection to sexual desire. Here the Prince reawakens Beauty, not with a kiss, but with sexual initiation. His reward for ending the hundred years of enchantment is Beauty's complete and total enslavement to him as Anne Rice explores the world of erotic yearning and fantasy in a classic that becomes, with her skillful pen, a compelling experience.

My Overall Impression of the Book

All I can say is WTH!!  Are you freaking kidding me...This book is not for everyone at all.  I was so disappointed and disgusted with this book. I am all about pleasure and pain and good erotica.  I am in no way a prude, but this book is almost sickening.  I do not mean to be offensive to those that liked the book, but this book is not about passion...it is about cruelty. It was sadistic and I cannot believe I actually read it all the way through. I love a good trilogy, but cannot fathom reading the next two books. 

 

I should have known better when the Prince awakened Beauty by raping her, which is really what he did. I don't care what spin you put on it.  She was a sex slave and there was nothing sensual about it. And how many spankings can be in one book. It was just waaaayyyy to much!!  I can’t get any more detailed in this review.  Read this book at your own risk….

Book Review: Obsidian (Lux #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Genre: Young Adult (Paranormal Romance)
Publisher:  Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Star Rating:  5/5 

Synopsis

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.  And then he opened his mouth. 

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me. You heard me.  Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip.  The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.  If I don't kill him first, that is.

Overall Impression of the Book:

All I can say is WOW!! I enjoyed this book. I had no idea I even liked paranormal romance until now. Daemon was a jerk. I mean I disliked him but he was so witty and charming that I found myself smiling at him. I like Kathy and I loved Dee. This book is a must read. I bought Onyx the next day and read that book too. Yes it was that serious. After I realized why Daemon was such a jerk I really started to like him. I am in Graduate school with a ton of homework and I could not tear myself away from this book. Thank goodness Opal is not out until December or I might fail a course at school behind this series.

* This was a previous review posting from Goodreads

Characters:

Daemon – Is the hero in this story and who knew that aliens could be such jerks…and a sexy jerk at that :-).  He was a hero I loved to hate, but there is a method to his rudeness and horrible behavior that makes his character redeemable later in the story…and let’s not forget he is a hot powerful alien.  What’s not the love!!

Kathy – I really loved her character, and I loved how she stood up for herself.  She is also an avid reader and blogger so I love her even more...lol.  How she was thrown into the alien world was well done.  I cared about both the main and side characters in this book.  I love Dee to pieces...

Plot and Writing:  I loved the plot!!  The Luxen vs. the Arum; I mean who doesn’t love an alien war.  I was invested in this story and I desperately cared about the outcome.  Well done Jennifer!!  This book was an easy read like a YA Book should be.  The grammar in the book was fine and the book flowed very well.  There were no dead spaces and the paced moved well throughout the story.

Gabriel’s Inferno (Gabriel’s Inferno #1) by Sylvain Reynard

Genre: Adult Romance, Steamy Romance
Publisher:  Berkley Trade
Publication Date: September 4, 2012
Star Rating:  3/5
Links: Goodreads  Amazon

Synopsis

Enigmatic and sexy, Professor Gabriel Emerson is a well respected Dante specialist by day, but by night he devotes himself to an uninhibited life of pleasure. He uses his notorious good looks and sophisticated charm to gratify his every whim, but is secretly tortured by his dark past and consumed by the profound belief that he is beyond all hope of redemption. 

When the sweet and innocent Julia Mitchell enrolls as his graduate student, his attraction and mysterious connection to her not only jeopardizes his career, but sends him on a journey in which his past and his present collide. 

An intriguing and sinful exploration of seduction, forbidden love and redemption, "Gabriel's Inferno" is a captivating and wildly passionate tale of one man's escape from his own personal hell as he tries to earn the impossible...forgiveness and love.   

My Overall Impression of the Book

Okay.  This is a book that I hate to give a low review to, but I must. This book was so highly recommended.  I am surprised the book has received such good reviews. The book is about Gabriel, a sexy and mysterious professor and his student Julia. The book puts you in the mind of FSOG but has its own original story.  The book started really strong and I loved the beginning.

About halfway through the book the story fell flat. Gabriel character made a complete 180 and it got really sappy.  I wanted to throw my kindle against the wall at least six times...really…I counted!!

If you are looking for hot sexy scenes in this book…you will be disappointed because it is not happening here.  Furthermore, Julia …the heroine in this story, was so weak it was sickening.  How many times can you look pale and ill about what someone says to you...I mean seriously!!   The writing was good so I will not take that away from the author.

Characters:

Gabriel - In the beginning Gabriel was a complete jerk, but he was at least interesting. When they changed his personality I was disappointed. I expected him to change some, but not as much as he did.

Julia – So weak and pathetic that I cannot reference her again in this review.

Plot and Writing:  I think the book had potential to be such a great story but it really fell flat to me.  I am a sucker for trilogies but I cannot see myself reading the second book unless I am extremely bored.  I almost did not make it through this book.  If you are a fan of FSOG or Beautiful Disaster don't even waste your time with this book.  The writing in this book was exceptional.  If you are a fan of Dante’s Inferno books/culture you may appreciate this book more than I did.