Review: In Bed with a Highlander by Maya Banks

 

Published Date: August 30th, 2011
Finished Date: September 3rd, 2011
Publishers: Ballantine Books
Format: Paperback
Pages: 352
Series: Highlander Book 1

Blurb from Goodreads: Bestselling author Maya Banks’s beguiling new trilogy features three unforgettable brothers risking everything to save their clan and their legacy—and to surrender their hearts to love.

Ewan McCabe, the eldest, is a warrior determined to vanquish his enemy. Now, with the time ripe for battle, his men are ready and Ewan is poised to take back what is his—until a blue-eyed, raven-haired temptress is thrust upon him. Mairin may be the salvation of Ewan’s clan, but for a man who dreams only of revenge, matters of the heart are strange territory to conquer.

The illegitimate daughter of the king, Mairin possesses prized property that has made her a pawn—and wary of love. Her worst fears are realized when she is rescued from peril only to be forced into marriage by her charismatic and commanding savior, Ewan McCabe. But her attraction to her ruggedly powerful new husband makes her crave his surprisingly tender touch; her body comes alive under his sensual mastery. And as war draws near, Mairin’s strength, spirit, and passion challenge Ewan to conquer his demons—and embrace a love that means more than revenge and land.

My Review

Can I just say that the cover is smoking! By gods, just look at it! Smoking, I tell 'ya. What's more, it has a story to match it. And even more, it has an entire to-die-for cast. Hey, what more can a girl ask for?

Well, let's see. Mairin Stuart is the bastard child of the previous King of Scotland's, and to prevent his child from being looked upon as an outcast and to secure her future, he bequeathed her a dowry that would make any man pee in his pants - Neamh Álainn. Lol, it'll probably make no sense to you, but it is land and supplies, times as many zeroes as you can ever imagine. At least that was what I gathered.. Anyway.

Because of this, Mairin is wary of any suitors and has been in hiding at this abbey in the lowlands since (if my memory doesn't fail me) the age of eleven. Everyday she prays that the infamously bloodthirsty and scheming Laird Duncan Cameron do not find her, and that she would one day meet a man that would love and cherish her, her and not the dowry that was her birthright. That man has to be strong and capable to protect her and their children from any who has set their sights on Neamh Álainn.

So, that's where our dear male protagonist comes into the story. Ewan McCabe, Laird of the McCabe clan in the highlands. After much adversities, Mairin somehow came under the care and protection of Ewan. But all is not well in the McCabe clan, and after Ewan hears of her true identity, he sets forth to wed her.

However, there's more to this novel than fancy romances and sexy highlanders (and boy, are they a sight to behold), much deception and betrayals come into play. For one, war is nigh with Cameron, and the McCabe clan still has much to do to restore and repair from the attack they suffered from Cameron eight years ago where their numbers and home were nearly entirely decimated. For two, Cameron is hell bent on taking Neamh Álainn as his own, and to do that is to consummate a marriage with and impregnate Mairin. And the acting King of Scotland is not on the McCabe's side..

Ms Banks, I'm sorry that my summary does not do your book any justice, but at least I'd tried!

But man, this book is good!

Mairin is a headstrong and independent woman, confident, disobedient (you should see how Ewan reacts whenever she disobeys his direct command. Hee-larious), compassionate, loyal, innocent, sweet, yeah and whatever. When she became mistress of the McCabe clan, she wanted to fulfil her duties as mistress, but she causes chaos wherever she goes! And it was real amusing how Ewan "bellows" (Mairin complains that Ewan likes to bellow overly much. LOL, in his face no less!) at her and has to do some damage control. But it isn't her fault, she's lived in an abbey for the most part of her childhood! But sometimes, her obstinacy and over-confidence sometimes irks me. But other than that, she's absolutely adorable and a perfect heroine.

Ewan. HAH, Ewan Ewan Ewan. You are a darling! He was such a hulking and terrifying man that Mairin kept backing up when they first met. He fights like a freaking warrior god, looks like a freaking underwear model with a photoshop-ed body, and has a freaking alpha possessive attitude when it comes to Mairin that I swear to whoever's listening, is worth a whole swoon-tastic day! Oh man, I want it to forever stay in his and Mairin's POV. They are just too sweet together. (You should see their coition scenes. Wow.)

The pace was fast, and towards the end, it was supersonic! It was so eventful, so amazingly filled with plot twists and turns, I could hardly stop to (I would say take a breath, but since I'm reading) rest my eyes! Every page was much more intriguing and suspenseful than the last, and when it started building up to the climax, my palms literally had cold sweat forming. Seriously engrossing and captivating.

This is my very first Maya Banks and highlander novel, and I'm sad to see how very much I was missing out on. I would definitely try out more of this genre, but I have to say that I am still a YA devotee.:D (But the book is seriously good, seriously. You have GOT to try it.)

When I first saw the excerpt of In Bed with a Highlander on Nalini Singh's blog, I was immediately enraptured and enthralled. And now, I think it is safe to say that Banks surely is one of those talented writers that can ensnare you with her writing. Two thumbs up!

My Rating

Review: Black Night by Christina Henry

Published Date: July 26th, 2011
Finished Date: September 1st, 2011
Publishers: Ace
Format: Paperback
Pages: 277
Series: Madeline Black Book 2

Blurb from Goodreads: Madeline Black is an Agent of death, meaning she escorts the souls of people who have died to the afterlife. Of course, not everyone is happy to see her...


If obstinate dead people were all that Maddy had to worry about, life would be much easier. But the best-laid plans of Agents and fallen angels often go awry. Deaths are occurring contrary to the natural order, Maddy's being stalked by foes inside and outside of her family, and her two loves-her bodyguard, Gabriel, and her doughnut-loving gargoyle, Beezle-have disappeared. But because Maddy is Lucifer's granddaughter, things are expected of her, things like delicate diplomatic missions to other realms.

My Review:

My sentiments about this book is pretty much the same as its prequel, so this review would be short. Relatively.

So. Maddie was out flying and doing what Agents did with Gabriel faithdully at her side one day when all of a sudden, a shockwave pulsed thru the city. Maddie's wings disappeared and her magic winked out at this, and she started descending to ground level zero. Fortunately, J.B. was in the area and was already flying in their direction when this happened, and so was able to intercept.

Case 1: That shockwave felt terribly like the feeling Ramuell gave whenever he was near Maddie. She's sure that she disintegrated him..Isn't she? And why does her wings and magic keep winking out whenever it appears? That would make her vulnerable . Which is bad news. Very bad news.

Case 2: At the alley where she, Gabriel and J.B. landed was a werewolf who was brutally savaged - complete with his entrails and body parts littering the area like so much garbage. After this incident, many more of such fatalities from the wolves were discovered. Question is, who is the new wolf-hater?

Case 3: Also at the alley where they landed was Baraquiel, Lucifer's messenger. Apparently, the Morningstar himself has quite a special and delicate mission for his recently found daughter - a diplomatic visit to the court of the crafty Faery queen (who so happened to be J.B.'s mom! Not spoiler cause this isn't a very important information. And it was revealed quite at the start of the book, so I'm clear of any charges).

Case 4: Gabriel and Beezle goes missing! Maddie is all alone and left quite ruthlessly pummelled by Samiel, Ariell and Ramuel's kid, who were both killed by Maddie. How the hell is she supposed to find them? Big world and being quite vulnerable now and all? What with her being beaten into a pulp, with no Gabriel there to heal her, that Gabriel and Beezle could be ANYWHERE in this infinitely ginormous world, and with no tracking skills whatsoever of her own?

List continues, but these are the major problems that she had to face. Any more would be a dead giveaway of the ending.

Can I just say that Henry has managed to amaze me? Again?? I was taken in by BLACK WINGS, but I fell in love with Black Night. The plot, the characters, the excitement and suspense drew me whole-soul-edly (y'know, wholeheartedly?) into its pages and just blew me away when all was over and done. And let me repeat what I've said for BLACK NIGHT because I totally think it true for this one too - this novel, is a refreshing take on the whole urban-fantasy-angelic-paranormal-with-a-sprinkle-of-romance genre, and THIS, is how you write an urban-fantasy-angelic-paranormal-with-a-sprinkle-of-romance novel.

Maddie was the same ass-kicking, headstrong, determined young woman with a will stronger than an ox. It literally saved her in the end, her will. She expects so much of herself, and so little of others, but she did fail once in a while, which made her more human and realistic. She breaks down much more this time, but it wasn't so that there would be a mushy making out scene with the male protagonists. Contrary, she was alone everytime she cried (or for the times that I can remember), but she picks herself back up with a stronger will. She's just awesome.

Gabriel was weak in this one. Not that anyone could've done anything more were they in his predicament. But it didn't do much for my image on him. He still cared much for Maddie, but he waited for Maddie to save him everytime he got into a some pile of shit, and that doesn't endear me to him.

J.B.'s transformation was ASTOUNDING. He literally morphed into some hot dude with a protectiveness for Maddie. And with a whole new rank in the supernatural social hierachy that I didn't even know was actually thinkable for J.B. Much less possible. It's still very weird for me to think that he is still in Maddie's age group and a handsome man to boot after his seriously anal behavior in BLACK WINGS. Seems more like some crazy old geezer with a seriously senile and pain-in-the-ass attitude problem.

Anyway, book was good. More than good, it is utterly mindblowing. Read it.

Random Musing (which would contain spoilers):

Y'know, in the Maze, when "Nathaniel" raped Maddie? I thought that the way Henry described that scene, or rather the way that she did not describe the whole scene, was rather brusque. I don't know, curt? It was like the editor thought it was too explicit and flippantly omitted it. Well, it may be a little rated and sadistic, but I thought that it wasn't a good idea to cut it out entirely.

My Rating:

Review: Altered Destiny by Shawna Thomas

Published Date: September 19th, 2011
Finished Date: August 24th, 2011
Publishers: Carina Press
Format: eARC from Netgalley

Blurb from Goodreads: Selia has run her family's tavern since she was fifteen and can hunt and fight the equal of any man. When she rescues a badly wounded man and nurses him back to health, she has no idea she's about to change not only her life, but also the destinies of two peoples…
The battered warrior is Svistra—a race of bloodthirsty savages determined to destroy her homeland. Or so the stories claim. Jaden reveals a different truth: how his ancestors were driven into the barren northern mountains. Now they are strong and war parties are pushing south wanting their land back.

The son of a Svistra Commander, Jaden is looking for a way to bring peace to both humans and Svistrans. He tries to ignore his growing passion for Selia, but when she is captured he has to decide what he would be willing to sacrifice to save the woman he loves…

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My Review: This is a 'wow' of a book. This novel contains everything that you could ever want: Suspense, action(definitely lots of action), romance, betrayal, deception, friendship. Really just a fantasticle novel that i would never get bored of no matter how many times i'm going to reread it (and i do plan to reread it.Oh yes i do).

Selia and Oren are barkeeps at a tavern situated near to the Svistra border to the North in Newhaven. Svistra are bloodthirsty creatures(literally. They need blood to survive. But not like vamps. No god-like speed and all)who excel in the art of combat. However, all is not well in Newhave - The Svistra are now rallying up to take back what has been stolen from them time and time again: the land that they called home. Which is in Newhaven.

Selia was hunting for game one day when she came across three thugs bashing up someone else, who she found out was a Svistra named Jaden. At first she was afraid that saving Jaden was a fool's course of action, but as Oren, her and Jaden spend time together, they started forming bonds of friendship.

Oren is a kindred spirit who won't ever harm a fly, so when he and all the men in their little run-down village were taken to be soldiers in the coming war against the Svistra, Selia and Jaden set off to save him. And along the way, not only cupid paid them a visit, Jaden's brethren are out for his blood too...

That's not the whole story, it is much, MUCH longer than that. Testimony of how eventful this book is. Trust me, this book will not disappoint you.

Selia is a kickass heroine who tops my all-time-favourite-characters list. Although the environment that she lived in leaves much to be desired(her mom being a whore and everything), she still grew up to be a loyal, mature, compassionate person. Even when she found out that it was a Svistra she was saving, she still cared for him and gave him a place to stay(even tho it's in the barn, it's still a place to stay). I adore her.

Jaden. Jaden Jaden Jaden. He is one sexy man. Or Svistra in this case. Wow. Hot-ness! Lol. This man really knows how to fight, and how to love. He was so super sweet to Selia, and a damn good friend to Oren. Add to that, he is a natural-born leader. How much more perfect can a guy get?

Anyway, this book was a complex one to write. Not that i would know, but the way Thomas switched POVs all the time and still making it come across clearly, and to actually encompass such a complicated and wholesome plot..That's some real talent here. Really, it alternated between Keldar(commander of the Svistra army - antagonist), Nathan(commander of the Newhaven human army), Jaden(male protagonist!!!), and Selia(female protagonist), but never, not once did i get confused. The entirety of it was well thought out and so very detailed, I applaud the skill Thomas has exhibited.

This novel started off at a not-so-fast pace, but it slowly opens up to the world that the characters lived in, and each of the characters' past. And not long after, it picks up its pace and i find that i couldnt put the book down anymore. I literally clutched my iPad and glued my eyes to the screen. Lol, gruesome visual description. But yeah, it was filled with suspense and jam-packed with non-stop action.

One teeeeensy weensy flaw tho - the initial attraction between our 2 protagonists was a little quick to me. I mean, only after the first few times they talked and already they feel a pull. But it isn't insta-love, that i can assure you. And other than this rather negligible detail, the romance part was slow and sweet, never too rushed. All in all, it was so perfecty romantic that i found myself craving for more scenes with these two in it. I swear, their just so perfect together.

All in all, let me repeat myself, this novel has everything you could ever want and leaves you thirsting for more. A definite 5 stars.

Random musing (which may contain spoilers):

There is a kind of love triangle thing going on this book. Not that the female protagonist was torn between two men, more of the other guy is a third-wheeler. It was kind of amusing when i found out he liked her(not gonna say who and who. Even i'm not that spoiler-y). It was an unrequited love, and sort of uncalled for. Still, it was fun and...amusing, really. Lol.

My Rating:

Review: Betrayed by Ednah Walters

Published Date: August 1st, 2011

Finished Date: August 18st, 2011

Publishers: Firetrail Publishing

Source: eBook from Author

Format: eBook

Series: The Guardian Legacy book 2

Blurb from Goodreads: Lil has come to terms with her life as a Guardian/demon hunter and the wielder of the Nephilim most powerful weapon. But trouble looms in the Guardian enclave. Bran is pulling away from her and her best human friend is in trouble, and it's all Lil's fault.

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My Review: 2 words, baby: Utter brilliance.

This book takes all angelic novels a whole league up, and it was more than i expected after reading AWAKENED and more. Seriously people, you have got to read this or you're really missing out on life.

Anyway, this book follows our beautiful, smart, witty, powerful - in short, real perfect - protagonist, Lil as she starts getting used to her life as a Guardian(half-angels). Previously, she hated the idea of not being fully-human, to have such crazy powers was a waking nightmare to her, but now, she doesnt mind it; In fact, she pretty much love hunting now. Which is totally awesome since it means that there was much more action in this book.

However as the book moves along, Bran(her beau) receives an assignment from the Cardinals, and to him, this was THE chance to finally prove his worth to them. He starts to get obsessed with it, and started to keep secrets, to the extent of pushing Lil away, even ignore her at some points and those parts, i tell you, were painful. Not only to Lil, but i felt the pain too:(. lol. But yeah, that's how good Walters's writing is.

Lil was devasted(no surprise there. I mean, who wouldnt be right? If you werent, then i have to hand it to your cold stone of a heart, you heartless ba*****. woops, vulgar much.) Aaaanyway, even with her broken heart and finding out who it was that betrayed her (actually, who it were is more accurate), she sucked it all up and dealt with it like a real warrior. Oh oh, the betrayal part was a real kick in the head. It was sooo unexpected!! Don't try to guess it as you read..I tried and failed terribly. I started doubting everyone but oh well..Let's just say i cant be a detective in the future.

I loved Lil (not in the lesbian sense, God no. Not that i am against it or anything). I loved her kick-ass attitude, her stubborn will and determination, her wit, her powers, her steely guts, her unwavering loyalty, her everything! Oh and last but not least, her boyfriend;). Yes, he is swoon-worthy, but fret not, we will get to that. Lil is everything a she-warrior is supposed to be, but without a hint of manliness. Add to that, she deals with all the shit life throws at her with a level-head. She does cry at times when things get too hard, but hey, a girl needs to indulge once in a while, ay?

Bran was...sigh. Can you picture a girl with glazed eyes, mouth a little askew with drool hanging on her chin? Yeah, that's me now. Ok maybe not the drool part, but you get what i mean. He was so fiercely protective of her, even when he was pulling away! Did that make sense? But he was! How does Walters do that? She is one hell of a writer..a force unto herself! Lol, melodrama-sm doesnt become me.

One thing that bugged me tho, was that Lil suddenly LOVED hunting. Y'know how she was really repelled even at the thought of it in the previous book? But at the start of book 2 she just.. loved it. It was like from, "ew no i dont want to hunt" to "hunting is in my blood and i miss it" kind of thing. But it was no big deal. I dont think i could've remembered this if i didnt note stuff down as i read along.

I loved her relationship with her grampa in this book. There were the quarrels and all, but they are really sweet together. I can really feel the bond between them as they exchanged their witty banters, or when they asked how was the other after a brawl. And even when they're yelling at each other. It wasnt a major part of the book, but it told much about the bonds in a family, and i really liked that. (And i think it's really cool that both granddaughter and grampa are in this hunting thing. Seems kinda like the family line of business. Wicked!)

Y'know how some YA heroines meet with a crossroad in life and have choices to choose from? One choice is obviously dangerous and wrong and the other is the glaringly right one but they choose the wrong one instead so that there was a story to write? This one wasnt like that, not at all. Lil did have many choices at many points in time, but she always chose the choices that i would've chosen too but trouble somehow always manages to find her in the end. It made the story a whole lot more exciting and engrossing.

It was very saddening when i flipped the page and the epilogue's staring at my face. And when the The End came out, i wanted to tear that little square part away. Sigh. It was a damn well-written ending too. Tied up all the loose endings and finished with Lil in Bran's arms.
(This is the last six lines of the novel. Totally sweet, totally freaking romantic. Please do not read it if you do not like spoilers!)
"What took you so long? I asked.
I wanted you to finish with your guests first. Now, you’re all mine.
I giggled. Silly guy. It didn’t matter where I was and what I did, I’d always be his."

Overall, the pace was fast(and furious. Hmm..furously fast?haha sounds weird), the plot was absolutely jam-packed with unexpected twists and turns, action, and such lovable characters, i dont see how anyone can not like this book! This book just brought this series to a whole new level and i am eagerly waiting for its sequel, HUNTED.

.:A must-read for anyone who calls themself a reader:.

 

My Rating:

 

Review: Daimon by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Published Date: May 10th, 2011
Finished Date: June 4th, 2011
Publishers: Spencer Hill Press
Format: eBook
Series: Covenant book 0.5

Blurb from Goodreads: Love in my world usually ended up with someone hearing “I smite thee!” as she was cursed to be some lame flower for the rest of her life.

For three years, Alexandria has lived among mortals—pretending to be like them and trying to forget the duty she'd been trained to fulfill as a child of a mortal and a demigod. At seventeen, she's pretty much accepted that she's a freak by mortal standards... and that she'll never be prepared for that duty.

According to her mother, that’s a good thing.

But as every descendant of the gods knows, Fate has a way of rearing her ugly head. A horrifying attack forces Alex to flee Miami and try to find her way back to the very place her mother had warned her she should never return—the Covenant. Every step that brings her closer to safety is one more step toward death… because she's being hunted by the very creatures she'd once trained to kill.

The daimons have found her.
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My Review: 17 year old Alex has been hiding and running away from the Covenant for three years now, and she doesn't know why. But after an attack by some Daimons, she has to fend for herself now. She is scared and alone, but she is determined to live through it all.

*Ok spoiler alert*
This book has some serious fighting mojo going on- and i must say,i really like it. The first fight scene, the one at the beach where she face planted 2 boys, was illustrated vividly with wicked moves from Alex.

But apart from the fighting and action, the part where her mom died really plunged me into a state of despair along with Alex even tho her mom only had the spotlight for one scene. I mean, i could really feel her state of loss and her desire to just give up and shrivel up on that motel bed after a week of running away with little supplies.

It was a short, but captivating story of a courageous(and funny:)) girl just starting out her journey alone to find the place where she belonged and where she could feel safe again. The emotional journey(mainly the sad part where her mom died)was pretty intense too. A great start to a series and i would definitely recommend it to my friends.

My Rating:

Review: Eona by Alison Goodman

Published Date: April 19th, 2011
Finished Date: May 16th, 2011
Publishers: Penguin Group(USA)Incorporated
Format: Hardback
Pages: 637
Series: Sequel to Eon

Blurb from Goodreads: Eon has been revealed as Eona, the first female Dragoneye in hundreds of years. Along with fellow rebels Ryko and Lady Dela, she is on the run from High Lord Sethon's army. The renegades are on a quest for the black folio, stolen by the drug-riddled Dillon; they must also find Kygo, the young Pearl Emperor, who needs Eona's power and the black folio if he is to wrest back his throne from the selfstyled "Emperor" Sethon. Through it all, Eona must come to terms with her new Dragoneye identity and power-and learn to bear the anguish of the ten dragons whose Dragoneyes were murdered. As they focus their power through her, she becomes a dangerous conduit for their plans. . . .

Eona, with its pulse-pounding drama and romance, its unforgettable fight scenes, and its surprises, is the conclusion to an epic only Alison Goodman could create. ----------------------------------------------------------------

My Review: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOW. Cover is awesome, story is awesome, EVERYTHING about it is plain awesomeness. Seriously there's no words to describe it. When i saw the book cover when it was released, i seriously stoned for a full 5 min staring at it. It's PERFECT. haha how is that even possible?

"This mesmerizing story begins where most novels end: in a tension-filled climatic event, in which the fate of the protagonist and a nation hang in the balance. Goodman catapults the reader headfirst into a pivotal moment in the Empire of the Celestial Dragons, a world so richly imagined that it feels real." --Booklist, starred review.

I totally agree. Omg i really don't know where to begin my review..it's so...wow that i really think no words in the english language would do it justice.

ok..firstly, the plot is REALLY complex, it's so amazing how Alison can keep everything coherent and running smoothly. At first where everything was a huge mess and tangle, in the end it was like everything really started clicking into place automatically even tho i was wondering how she was gonna tie all those knots up initially. It was complicated, but not in a bad way. It was because of it that it felt very real, and very intrigueing. All that court politics was like China's 三国演义, where there was the war between the Three Kingdoms and the main players Cao Cao, Zhu Ge Liang and Liu Bei. All this are the true history of China, and Goodman's Empire of the Celestial Dragons felt like that. Real. And totally imagineable.

It wasn't like the first book at all. The first book had to get all the descriptions out of the way because her world was really different from ours, and now with everything basic established, she could really get all the fun stuff going. Some examples would be the romance part and the court politics.

I enjoyed the romance part a lot..tho i felt there could've been more at the end. Not that i'm complaining about the end. Don't get me wrong the ending was phenomenal, albeit a little abrupt, but still awesome all the same. Just that there could've been more.

I really enjoyed the parts where Kygo and her were together..It was sweet and frustratin all the same.. But i really was annoyed when Eona kept lying to Kygo, even tho i thought i would do the same had i been her..Such mixed feelings thru'out the book! I felt like i really aged alot after i finished the book...whoo!

One thing i thought was..um not very well-planned was the fact that Goodman seemed to have conveniently made Ido change his personality in the end to enable Kygo and Eona to be together. I don't know..I mean Ido wouldn't have done what he did in the end if he really cared about Eona, and he already proved that in the beginning of the book, and no one would've done what he did if they weren't in love in truth.

Sigh..I'm hungry and i didn't plan this review so it must seem very disorganized and whatever, but yeah..that's all i can remember about the book..Time to eat~

Anyway, this book just hit my top charts with the Iron Fey series by Julie Kagawa, the Seven Kingdoms Trilogy by Kristin Cashore and 夜凝夕 by 飞烟. I really really love it a lot, and i am thinking of suggesting to Alison to write a short e-novella or something about Eona and Kygo after this book, where they are restoring the kingdom and hopefully a little insight on their budding relationshp:D BACK ME UP PEOPLE!

My Rating: