All Out of Love

All Out of Love by Lori Wilde

Publisher: Avon

July 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-221896-4

Pages: 347

Contemporary, Cupid, Texas

Pierce Hollister is a football star that has fame and fortune and beautiful women that are willing to do anything for him whether he asks them to or not.  Then it all comes crashing down and Pierce goes home to Cupid, Texas and running the family ranch while he tries to figure out just where everything went wrong.  There is one thing that is very right though and that is Lace Bettingfield.  She is a former plain-Jane that is now a complete knockout.  Now if she would just give him a chance.

Lace Bettingfield has been in love with her brother’s best friend since high school, Pierce Hollister.  As if that isn’t awkward enough Pierce was also the cause of her most humiliating moment when her secret letter declaring her love to him was printed on the front page of the school newspaper for everyone to see.  Pierce is still just as sexy and arrogant but sometimes things are never what they seem and Lace is about to find that out especially when it comes to love.

This is a very sweet romance that shows what life in a small town can be like, both good and bad.  This story is part of a series that makes it fun to visit and revisit Cupid, Texas.  The characters will have the story coming to life for readers and will have them enjoying their visits to Cupid with each book that they read.  This one also shows how important family and friends are and how when you need them the most they are there for you.   This is one story that is a feel good book and will have readers eagerly awaiting the next story in the series.

I give this one 5 red roses

Torment

Torment by Lauren Kate

Publisher: Delacorte Press

June 2011

ISBN: 978-0-385-73915-3

Pages: 452

Contemporary, Paranormal, California

Luce feels like she is living in hell on earth since she has to be apart from her fallen angel boyfriend, Daniel.  Daniel decides to hide Luce at Shoreline, a school in California that is for unusually gifted students: Nephilim, the offspring of fallen angels and humans.

Daniel is determined to protect Luce but to do that he must hide her from the Outcasts that are hunting her and intent on killing her. Daniel wants Luce hidden just long enough so that he can hunt the Outcasts that are after her. 

While at Shoreline Luce learns more about the shadows she has seen her whole life and how to use them as windows into her previous lives.  As Luce learns more and more she starts getting the feeling that Daniel hasn’t told her everything that has happened in the past.  He is hiding something, something that could be very dangerous. 

This is the second book in this series and it picks up shortly after the first left off.  The story is wonderfully written and readers will be looking at fallen angels in a completely different light than they have in the past.  The twist and turns that are in this series are sure to have readers wanting to read all the books just to see what ultimately happens to Luce and Daniel and  how this life will end for them.  It will also have readers thinking about the possibility of previous lives and what ifs.  This is one that readers won’t want to miss.

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

One True Love

One True Love A Cupid, Texas novella by Lori Wilde

Publisher: Avon

June 2013

ISBN: 978-0-06-221932-9

Pages: 105

1924 Cupid, Texas

Millie Greenwood is a young housemaid that lives in an era when housemaids and the wealthy really don’t mix or at least they are not supposed to mix.  What Millie doesn’t expect and has no idea how to deal with is finding her one true love in John Fant, the handsomest and wealthiest man in their town. 

John Fant is about to become betrothed to another.  So as far as Millie can see everything is completely hopeless.  Until she writes a desperate letter to Cupid and sets in motion events that makes for the most romantic legend of all time.

This is a short novella that gives readers a preview to a new series by this author.  A series that is sure to please readers and have them wanting to read more about the town of Cupid, Texas.  The characters are interesting and make readers want to visit and revisit the town of Cupid.  This is a great story that shows how the legend of Cupid got started and is sure to whet the appetite of readers and have them wanting to read more about this wonderful little town. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Invincible

Invincible: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

March 2012

ISBN: 978-0-312-60327-4

Pages: 420

YA, Contemporary, Paranormal, New Orleans, Louisiana

Nick Gautier managed to survive zombie attacks but by doing that he now finds himself in a world of shapeshifters and demons.  Demons that out to claim his soul. 

His coach is trying to recruit him for things he can’t talk about and his newest principal is convinced Nick is even more of a trouble maker than his last principal thought he was.  The girl he is kind of seeing has secrets that she is hiding and that terrifies him. 

He also needs to learn how to raise the dead before the end of the week so that he doesn’t end up joining them.  And the darkest of powers is trying to groom him for themselves.  Just when he thought things were going to get better.

This second book in this series that picks up right after the first one left off and keeps the story moving at a fast pace.  This also keeps the sarcasm and quips that the first book had which makes this a very fun book to read.  The story line is interesting and different but with these characters readers are sure to wish they could meet them in real life.  The world in this book is such that when readers have to put it down they will be disappointed to find themselves back in the real world.  This is a book that once it is started it is very hard to put down.  It will also have readers eagerly reaching for the next one in this series just to see what will happen to Nick next and how he will manage to get out his latest bout of trouble.  This series makes for a wonderful escape from the real world and will have imaginations taking flight.   

I give this one 5 red roses 

The Folly at Falconbridge Hall

The Folly at Falconbridge Hall by Maggi Andersen

Publisher: Knox Robinson Publishing

May 2013

ISBN: 1908483369

Pages: 238

1894 Clapham, England & Peru

Vanessa Ashley feels she is qualified to be a governess until she gets the position at Falconbridge Hall.  Finding herself penniless after the deaths of her artist father and suffragette mother, Vanessa does what she can to earn a living.  Vanessa uses her knowledge of politics, history and art to get the position of governess.  Hired as a governess for ten-year-old Blythe, Vanessa hopes she can now have a stable life even if it isn’t quite the life she had planned on.

Julian, Lord Falconbridge is a scientist that is about to go on an extended expedition to the Amazon.  Julian takes an interest in his daughter’s education and is determined to make sure she has what she needs while he is away.

Vanessa soon finds things are not quite what they seem as the last governess left suddenly without notice.  Not to mention that Blythe’s mother death is never mentioned.  Blythe also doesn’t seem to feel safe in her own home.  It seems that there are secrets and Vanessa is determined to find out what is going on so that Blythe can be the happy little girl Vanessa knows she can be.

This is a very well written story that has a wonderful mystery in it that is sure to have readers guessing just what is going on.  With all the secrets that are in this one it is interesting to see them unfold and find out just what is going on.  This has several twists and turns that keep the story intriguing and helps the storyline move along well.  While this would have been an even better story had it been a little longer with more intrigue in it this is still a very good romance with the mystery threaded through it.  This is one that will be enjoyed by readers that like some mystery with their romance. 

I give this one 4 red roses  

Clockwork Angel

Clockwork Angel: The Infernal Devices by Cassandra Clare

Publisher: McElderry Books

August 2010

ISBN: 978-1-4169-7586-1

Pages: 476

YA,Steampunk, 1878, London

Tessa Gray is sixteen-years-old and on her way to England to find her missing brother.  What she doesn’t expect is to be suddenly thrust into a world known to some as the Downworld where vampires, warlocks and other supernaturals exist in more than just stories.  A world where Shadowhunters are dedicated to ridding the world of demons and to bring order to the chaos. When Tessa is kidnapped by the Dark Sisters Tessa finds out that she herself is a Downworlder with an extremely rare ability, that of being able to transform herself into another person.  The Dark Sisters are part of a secret organization called the Pandemonium Club that is run but a mysterious man known only as the Magister.  The Magister wants Tessa’s power for himself and will stop at nothing to get what he wants. 

With no where else to go Tessa takes refuge with the Shadowhunters who swear to help her find her brother but only if she will help them in return.  Tessa finds herself both fascinated and torn between two boys that are best friends, Will and Jem. Tessa also discovers that she might just have to make a choice between saving her beloved brother and helping her new friends save the world.

This is one story that takes the reader back to a London that they will not really recognize but are sure to enjoy.  It is a world that has a lot of fun and interesting devices that make for a much broader world that the reader will enjoy getting lost in.  The story comes to life for the reader as they get more and more into the story.  With all the different devices in this one it is sure to have the reader wishing they had lived in this particular world.  This is the beginning of a trilogy that leads into the author’s other series and gives a wonderful back story to the other series but that can also be read all on it own. 

I give this one 4-1/2 red roses 

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick

Infinity: Chronicles of Nick by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

March 2011

ISBN: 978-0-312-60304-5

Pages: 464

YA, Contemporary, Paranormal New Orleans, Louisiana

Nick Gautier is a streetwise, tough and sarcastic fourteen-year-old.  Nick thinks he knows everything until the night his best friends try to kill him.  Suddenly Nick is saved by a man that seems to have more fighting skills than Chuck Norris.  Now Nick is suddenly sucked into the world of the Dark-Hunters that are immortal vampire slayers that risk everything to save humanity.

Nick learns very quickly that the world he thought he knew veils a world that is much larger and a lot more dangerous than he ever imagined.  A world that includes werewolves and girls that goes out at night to stake the undead.

Suddenly his fellow students are flesh-eating zombies that are now after him.

As if trying to deal with high school and girls wasn’t hard enough he now has to keep his new friends away from his mom so that she doesn’t discover this new world that also include a demon named Simi.  Now if he can just managed to make it through this without getting grounded or suspended from school he just might have a chance to survive to live another day.

For readers that love Sherrilyn’s Dark-Hunter and Were-Hunter they are sure to love this series from her.  The story starting off this series makes it a fun and entertaining way to see Nick grow up and to also get a glimpse on how he became what he is now.  This is one series that will have readers of all ages eagerly reading though just to see what Nick gets up to next.  With all the favorite characters from the Dark-Hunter and Were-Hunter series making appearances it makes for a very entertaining read.  This is series that shouldn’t be missed and is sure to have readers laughing at all the antics Nick gets up to. 

I give this one 5 red roses 

Angel Burn

Angel Burn by L.A. Weatherly

Publisher: Candlewick Press

December 2011

ISBN: 978-0-7636-5846-5

Pages: 449

Contemporary Paranormal

Willow has a unique gift that allows her to see the hopes and dreams of others.  This has managed to set her apart from other girls and she has no idea why she has this gift just that she has it. 

Alex is an assassin that knows where Willow’s abilities come from. He knows that Willow’s abilities link her to forces that are both dark and dangerous.  He is also one of the few humans around that have the ability and knowledge on how to fight those same forces.  Then Alex does something he never saw coming and that was falling in love with his sworn enemy.  Now nothing is as it seems and what he thought was good and evil isn’t what it seems either.

This is a wonderful story that gives a spin on angels that the reader will never see coming.  The story is engaging and gives the characters back stories in a way that makes the story even more interesting and manages to do it in a way that doesn't bog the story down in too many details.  The characters are very well written.  Though the story does start out a little slow once it picks up the pace it never stops until the very last page.  This book starts the trilogy out with a great deal of action and has enough twists and turns in it that readers will hate to put to down and will be eagerly looking for the rest of the books in the trilogy.  If the other two books are anything like the first one this is one series that is sure to not disappoint readers.

I give this one 4 red roses