4 stars review: The Shadow Reader

The Shadow Reader (Shadow Reader #1)

by Sandy Williams

Synopsis:

There can only be one allegiance.
It’s her time to choose.

Some humans can see the fae. McKenzie Lewis can track them, reading the shadows they leave behind. But some shadows lead to danger. Others lead to lies.

A Houston college student trying to finish her degree, McKenzie has been working for the fae king for years, tracking vicious rebels who would claim the Realm. Her job isn’t her only secret. For just as long, she’s been in love with Kyol, the king’s sword-master—and relationships between humans and fae are forbidden.

But any hope for a normal life is shattered when she’s captured by Aren, the fierce and uncompromising rebel leader. He teaches her the forbidden fae language and tells her dark truths about the Court, all to persuade her to turn against the king. Time is running out, and as the fight starts to claim human lives, McKenzie has no choice but to decide once and for all whom to trust and where she ultimately stands in the face of a cataclysmic civil war. 

My Thoughts:

4 stars.

There are books in which you have to work your way through and others that you get caught from page one. This is one of the latter.

What do we find in 'The Shadow Reader'?

• Tons of action --->Checked
• Heart melting love story ---> Checked
• Awesome heroine ---> Checked

The action starts in the first chapter and it's non stop. That being said, I read this in one sitting.

The characters are lovable. McKenzie is funny, witty and extremely resourceful. Also I like the way she faces and fights her feelings. She is brave but real. She gets tired, hurt and jealous. I totally like her. What she lacks in ability she compensates with perseverance and courage.

On the other hand, Aren is amazing, funny and intriguing... sexy is another word I would choose... although he is a permanent contradiction, I love his personality and the feelings he triggers in me but at the same I want to slap him. 

One thing I must admit is that at the scene at the wedding ... dancing... 

OH MY! My heart melted.

Kelia and Naito are cool supporting characters as well. Their story was super cute.

Plot and writing:

• The plot is interesting and the pace is fast. Such a great combo.
• I enjoyed the writing very much
• It's amazing how the author makes us feel what McKenzie is feeling, for example, the scene in Lyechaban. I could totally feel her fear. 

Yes!!! I am definitely reading the second installment!

Review: Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater

Shiver ( The Wolves of Mercy Falls #1)

by Maggie Stiefvater

Genre: YA paranormal romance

SYNOPSIS:

For years, Grace has watched the wolves in the woods behind her house. One yellow-eyed wolf—her wolf—is a chilling presence she can't seem to live without.

Meanwhile, Sam has lived two lives: In winter, the frozen woods, the protection of the pack, and the silent company of a fearless girl. In summer, a few precious months of being human… until the cold makes him shift back again.

Now, Grace meets a yellow-eyed boy whose familiarity takes her breath away. It's her wolf. It has to be. But as winter nears, Sam must fight to stay human—or risk losing himself, and Grace, forever. 

 

  My review:

3.5 stars

What a good book! 

I decided to read it because almost everyone in my GR friend's list has read it and loved it. So I said: 'Why not?' I wanted to know if it was thaaaaaat good...

The story line is compelling, simple but captivating. The writing is awesome and smooth. 

Typically, when everything is so simple it puts me off, but not here. Yes. I admit the beginning was slow and it took me longer than usual to get through it but at some point, I don't know exactly how or when, I was sucked in the story. The whole book is good but the second half is outstanding.

The characters are lovable and well developed. I felt this all the time and not only because the story is told from different perspectives. No. You can feel the connection between Grace and Sam. Even when Sam is a wolf.

Honestly that may sound weird and it's a bit creepy if you think about it rationally but it works, and you do perceive what's growing inside them. And the truth is, that it is a beautiful and innocent feeling.  

Another thing I really liked is that the author achieved depth in every character and not only in the main ones: Grace, Sam, Olivia, Beck, Jack, Shelby and my personal favorite, Isabel.

Also, a positive thing to highlight is that the plot is somehow different, the take on werewolves is unique. Who doesn't like a bit of originality?

I know this is one of my first werewolves books (I mean purely about werewolves) but I have to say that it changed my mind about them.

It is by no means perfect but it is a very good book that made me want to continue the series. 

About the author:

And for those who love to know a bit about their favorite authors, here you can watch a hilarious interview that Maggie did for Goodreads.

She is super funny and now that I think of it... chuckle is an awful word indeed! Lol. I'm with you in that one Maggie!

Full contact: Excerpt and giveaway

Full Contact by Sarah Castille 

(Redemption #3) 

Published by: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication date: April 7th 2015

Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance

Synopsis:

When you can’t resist the one person who could destroy you…

Sia O’Donnell can’t help but push the limits. She secretly attends every underground MMA fight featuring The Predator, the undisputed champion. When he stalks his prey in the ring, Sia is mesmerized. He is dominant and dangerous and every instinct tells her to run.

Every beautiful thing Ray “The Predator” touches he knows he’ll eventually destroy. Soft, sweet and innocent, Sia is the light to Ray’s darkness-and completely irresistible. From the moment he lays eyes on her, he knows he’s going to have to put his dark past behind him to win her body and soul.

Goodreads

Amazon

B&N

Excerpt:

“I’m going to undress you. Don’t think about me. Don’t think about what scares you. Think about that canvas and what you’re going to paint. Think about the brush in your hand. The colors on your palate. Think about what inspires you. Think of something you can’t do in ink. Then do it for me.”

As he talks, his hands glide over my rib cage, his calluses sending sensual shivers across my skin. He presses his thumbs along either side of my spine, rubbing deep concentric circles, easing my tension as his fingers stroke the sides of my breasts. Such a feeling of warmth and contentment suffuses me that I lean back against him, only to have him growl a warning in my ear.

“Paint.”
“Bossy.”
“I haven’t even started.”
My body tingles. “Is that a promise?”
“You play nice, it could be a reward.” His subtle assurance warms me to my toes. He may be a predator, but he has soft fur.


With slow, gentle movements, he unzips my skirt and eases it down over my hips. Cool air brushes over my heated skin, like the wind on my face when I’m on his motorcycle. But even with that happy image in my head, a familiar tension rolls through my body. My breaths come out in pants, and I tremble.


“Use it,” Ray whispers. “Let it out. I’ve got you.”


Heart pounding, muscles coiled tight, I grab my brush, dip into the oil, and streak black across the middle of the canvas. The first stroke is always almost orgasmic, the realization of a vision, desire exposed. But this time it is my fear splashed across the canvas, a black streak marring the pristine white surface, the memory of a night I have wished a thousand times had never been. A sob rips from my throat and I drop my brush.

“Shhhh.” With a low growl, Ray runs his hands along my curves, and my breathing hitches.

Damn Luke. Damn that night. I’m going to turn my fear into some- thing beautiful. Gritting my teeth, I lift my brush and the black streak becomes a wheel, two, and then I join them with a band of red.

“Fuck.” Ray pinches my nipples between his thumbs and forefingers, his chest warm, hard against my back, his belt buckle a deliciously pleasant pain on my skin.

 “Watching you paint is fucking hot.”

 

PTSD crisis averted, I manage a smile. “Might be your hands on my breasts is what’s making you hot.”

He grinds his hips into my ass, his erection stiff between us. “Touching you makes me hard. Watching you makes me hot.”

Gray for the chrome, more red for the fairing, abstract strokes but my brain can’t fill in the detail with Ray’s fingers grazing the bare skin of my abdomen.

“I can’t paint anymore.”

“You can.” He cups my sex from behind, spreading his fingers, easing my legs apart. “You will.”

AUTHOR BIO:

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author, Sarah Castille, writes contemporary erotic romance and romantic suspense featuring blazingly hot alpha heroes and the women who tame them. A recovering lawyer and caffeine addict, she worked and traveled abroad before trading her briefcase and stilettos for a handful of magic beans and a home near the Canadian Rockies.

Author links:
http://sarahcastille.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6920675.Sarah_Castille

https://www.facebook.com/sarahcastilleauthor

https://twitter.com/sarah_castille

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