REVIEW | Shelly LAURENSTON: The Unleashing (Call of Craws #1)

The Unleashing (Call of Crows #1) by Shelly Laurenston
Rating: ★★★★½
Editore Kensington
ISBN 9781617735059
Prezzo $ 15.00 paperback
$ 9.99 ebook
Pagine 373
Uscita 31 march 2015
Acquista LaFeltrinelli.it | Amazon |
MondadoriStore | IBS.it
Barnes&Noble
Recensioni Anobii | Goodreads

WINGING IT

fast-review-upKera Watson never expected to face death behind a Los Angeles coffee shop. Not after surviving two tours lugging an M16 around the Middle East. If it wasn’t for her hot Viking customer showing up too late to help, nobody would even see her die.

In uncountable years of service to the Allfather Odin, Ludvig “Vig” Rundstrom has never seen anyone kick ass with quite as much style as Kera. He knows one way to save her life—but she might not like it. Signing up with the Crows will get Kera a new set of battle buddies: cackling, gossiping, squabbling, party-hearty women. With wings. So not the Marines.

But Vig can’t give up on someone as special as Kera. With a storm of oh-crap magic speeding straight for L.A., survival will depend on combining their strengths: Kera’s discipline, Vig’s loyalty… and the Crows’ sheer love of battle. Boy, are they in trouble.

review
The best book I’ve read since this year started. Period.
This book was exactly what I needed to read. Not some cheesy romance but something paranormally funny and refreshing. Yeah, ok…if truth has to be told, there is a bit of cheesy romance here too but there are also big, bad Vikings so things are balanced for me. XD

As usual the book is not at all perfect. It’s always a matter of moment/needs/likings that flash green or red lights in my reader mind. Even if the good part of the story starts only near the middle of the book, when the real action begins and the basic knowledge required to understand things is settled for all the parties involved (means both the reader and Kera), the overall feeling was definitely a BIG green. In the first part, there was a bit of confusion and sometimes I felt irritated with Kera and the other Crows, this group of powerful women who are the harbingers of death. Given a second chance in life by the Goddess Skuld (for whom they work) they are, after entering the Crows Clan, part of the Norse pantheon of Clans in wait of Ragnarok, the great and final battle. However they are also noisy, blood thirsty, cat-fight-loving, rowdy women and Kera, has an ex Marine with OC syndrome and the “new girl” in the Clans, finds herself in the middle of a major complicated mess.

Anyway, I liked very much the way the author used the Norse mythology for her story, even if I was often picturing in my head the “Marvel movies” Thor every time I was reading about the Raven Clan (you’ll undersand when you’ll read this). Finally, I absolutely loved Vig, the big bear of a Vinking that helps Kera in her new life, and Brodie, the cutest pitt-bull ever in the history of books… but I hope Kera will grow and settle in her Crow new status because she really needs it.

A couple of my favourite quotes from the book:

Vig walked back to his truck. That’s when Stieg drily asked, “Do you need another minute to blush coquettishly and dream about your perfect white wedding?” As Vig walked around the front of his vehicle, he grabbed Stieg by the hair and slammed him face-first into the hood.

“Okay then.” She nodded. “Then let’s do this.”
“Now before we start, there is one thing you always need to keep in mind during this process.”
“What?”
“That everyone, at some point in their life, wants to fly. And soon you’ll actually be doing it.”
“Which means . . . what? Exactly.”
“That you’re better than everyone else.”

REVIEW | Nalini Singh: Rock Hard – Rock Kiss series #2

 Rock Hard (Rock Kiss #2) by Nalini Singh
READ AN EXERPT
on the author website
Rating: ★★★★½
Editore TKA Distribution
ISBN 9781942356059
Prezzo $ 4.99 ebook
$ 13.60 paperback
Pagine 351
Uscita 10 march 2015
Acquista LaFeltrinelli.it | Amazon.it |
MondadoriStore | Barnes&Noble
Recensioni Anobii | Goodreads

Rock Hard
Nalini Singh

Rock Kiss #2

Wealthy businessman Gabriel Bishop rules the boardroom with the same determination and fast-review-upruthlessness that made him a rock star on the rugby field. He knows what he wants, and he’ll go after it no-holds-barred.

And what he wants is Charlotte Baird.

Charlotte knows she’s a mouse. Emotionally scarred and painfully shy, she just wants to do her job and remain as invisible as possible. But the new CEO—a brilliant, broad-shouldered T-Rex of a man who growls and storms through the office, leaving carnage in his wake—clearly has other plans. Plans that may be equal parts business and bedroom.

If Charlotte intends to survive this battle of wits and hearts, the mouse will have to learn to wrangle the T-Rex. Game on.

review

As you can see, Rock Hard was a great read for me. I waited, excited and impatient, for it to be in my hand and when I started reading it I was in the perfect state of mind to appreciate it wholly. I’m not saying it is perfect because it has its low moments. I’m just saying it was right for me in that moment and then Nalini’s magic did the rest. Therefore for me it’s a full five star book.

The first time I was drawn to Charlie and Gabriel was when I first read Rock Addiction, the first book of this new series. Even then, these two characters where perfectly defined and were showing us that something that speak about great things to come in a romance book. Something that can maybe be classic, speaking of the story, because here we don’t have rock stars at all instead Charlie is an employee and Gabriel is the new CEO of the company where Charlie has worked in the last years. Nonetheless, Rock Hard will leave you with an heart filled to burst and with an eager sigh on your lips.

Gabriel is an ex rugby pro player. He is a strong character that will reminds you of the Alpha males we are used to in the Psy/Changeling series. He is very protective and, if you don’t behave, he can growl at you as a SnowDancer wolf. 😉 Charlie, on the other hand, is a character that develops during the book. Starting as a little mouse afraid of her shadow, with Grabriel’s help (and their banter) she slowly blossoms. I liked her very much. Her strength and courage that, during the book, will allow her to regain a freedom long lost.
Gabriel as well has his dark moments linked to a difficult childhood, but Charlie’s love will help him deal.

In conclusion, a must read for Nalini’s fan and for those who are in search of a classic romance story that will have the effect of making your heartbeat increase and ruin you to all the real boyfriends out there.

“Charlotte arrived at work at seven thirty the next morning to find Gabriel Bishop’s office door open, but no carnivorous predator inside.”

Gabriel’s growling so… be careful of what you are going to say.

Il romanzi della serie:
Rock Addiction Rock Courtship Rock Redemption by Nalini Singh Review

JULIET MARILLIER: Wildwood Dancing – Wildwood #1

Una delle mie ultime, e davvero interessanti, letture è questo romanzo della favolosa Juliet Marillier. Il fatto che sia una bellissima storia, a metà fast-review-uptra favola e leggenda, non arriva per nulla a sorpresa. Juliet per me è sempre una conferma, fin da quando lessi il suo La Figlia della Foresta, pubblicato in Italia da Amenia, e i successivi Il Figlio delle Ombre e Il Figlio della Profezia. Sfortunatamente la serie (Wildwood) che al momento conta due romanzi, legati fra loro per via delle protagoniste sorelle, non è ancora stata tradotta in Italia.

Wildwood Dancing Juliet Marillier
Rating: ★★★★½
Editore MacMillan, RandomHouse
ISBN 9780375849442
Prezzo $ 7.00 ebook
$ 9.99 paperback
Pagine 407
Uscita 2007
Acquista LaFeltrinelli.it | Amazon.it |
MondadoriStore | IBS.it
Barnes&Noble
Recensioni Anobii | Goodreads

Wildwood Dancing
Juliet Marillier

Wildwood #1

High in the Transylvanian woods, at the castle Piscul Draculi, live five daughters and their doting father. It’s an idyllic life for Jena, the second eldest, who spends her time exploring the mysterious forest with her constant companion, a most unusual frog. But best by far is the castle’s hidden portal, known only to the sisters. Every Full Moon, they alone can pass through it into the enchanted world of the Other Kingdom. There they dance through the night with the fey creatures of this magical realm.
But their peace is shattered when Father falls ill and must go to the southern parts to recover, for that is when cousin Cezar arrives. Though he’s there to help the girls survive the brutal winter, Jena suspects he has darker motives in store. Meanwhile, Jena’s sister has fallen in love with a dangerous creature of the Other Kingdom–an impossible union it’s up to Jena to stop.
When Cezar’s grip of power begins to tighten, at stake is everything Jena loves: her home, her family, and the Other Kingdom she has come to cherish. To save her world, Jena will be tested in ways she can’t imagine–tests of trust, strength, and true love.

A beautiful legend that only Juliet Marillier could have weaved so magically. An incredible fable, full of adventure, love and that bit of darkness perfect for grown ups.

Some quotes from the book:

“I suppose the secret was not completely ours; Gogu knew. But even if frogs could talk, Gogu would never have told. Ever since I’d found him long ago, crouched all by himself in the forest, dazed and hurt, I had known I could trust him more than anyone else in the world.”

“It looked as if it had grown up out of the forest, with an assortment of bits and pieces sprouting from every corner: tiny turrets, long covered walkways, squat round towers, arches, and flagpoles.”

“At Full Moon, everything was different, everything was upside down and back to front. Doors opened that were closed on other days, and those whom the human world feared became friends. The Bright Between was a gateway: not a threat, but a promise.”

“Our cousin was not alone among the folk of the valley in his attitudes. There were those who believed the Other Kingdom to be a devilish place, full of presences out to destroy humankind. The margin of the wildwood was hedged about with crucifixes; the trees on its rim were thick with protective amulets.”

“That’s not really all you’re asking, Jena.” Tati turned her big eyes on me; their expression was cool now. “Anyway, you aren’t asking, are you? You’re telling. I can’t go through the portal if you won’t help open it. What you really want is that I never see Sorrow again. You think the moment I get up and dance with some fellow Aunt Bogdana’s dredged up for me, I’ll forget all about him. Well, I won’t. And I won’t go to your stupid party. You don’t understand.”

“The sun set beyond the colored windows four more times, and inside our chamber the stories went on. Not all were joyful tales; we needed to acknowledge that love was not just kisses, smiles, and fulfillment, but also sacrifice, compromise, and hard work.”

REVIEW | D.R. Graham: One Percenter – Noir et Bleu MC club #1

 One Percenter by D.R. Graham - Noir et Bleu MC Club 1
FREE EXCERPT HERE
Rating: ★★★½☆
Editore Entangled, Embrace
ISBN 9781622663002
Prezzo € 0.99 ebook
Pagine 300
Uscita 23 february 2015
Acquista LaFeltrinelli.it | Amazon.it |
MondadoriStore | Barns&Noble
Recensioni Anobii | Goodreads

One Percenter
D.R. Graham

Noir et Bleu MC club #1

99% of bikers obey the law. The other 1% make their own…

Eighteen-year-old Tienne Desrochers grew up in the rough world of the Noir et Bleu Motorcycle Club. Bikers. Family. Outlaws. But after her dad’s murder, she decides she’s had enough. Refusing to end up like her drug-addicted mom, Tienne grabs her younger brother and leaves it all behind…including her boyfriend, Aiden Gyllenhall.

More comfortable in the middle of a bar fight than at a country club, living with her wealthy aunt and uncle is an adjustment, to say the least. No swearing. Designer shoes that pinch. And fast-review-upcharming, corporate types like Leland Crofton instead of super-sexy, tattooed Aiden. But even the upper class can’t escape the toxic touch of underworld violence. And this time, Tienne won’t just learn who she really is—she’ll learn who has her back.

review
If you’re the daughter of an MC member and engaged to another one…how can you leave that violent life behind? Fortunately for Tienne and her brother, it seems that life is starting to change in better. After her dad is killed her aunt and uncle have taken her and her brother to live with them. In that glamorous part of the city the most frightening thing that can happen to you is to wear the wrong dress to the country club. Been beaten or murdered along the road, to assist to the lenght your mother would go to have a dose… she can now leave all that in the past. Her brother can be what he is, without fear of reprisals, and she can follow her dream of becoming an actress.

“I know.” I give him one of my pillows and lay facing him. “You don’t have to take care of her, you know. She never took care of us.” “I want to.” I smile and brush his bangs away from his eyes. “Have you got your outfit picked out for your first day at a fancy private school?” “Flat front trousers and an argyle sweater. How about you? What are you wearing to your first day at a corporate job?” “Frumpy skirt and grandma blouse.” “Sexy.” I laugh. “Night, Lucky Boy.” “Night, T Bear.”

There is only one shadow that hovers over her. It’s the think of leaving Aiden, her best friend since childhood…her boyfriend now. The love of her life. However, she must leave him. He is a member of the MC club and she doesn’t want anything to do with that life anymore.

“What’s wrong, sweetheart?” Everything. I can’t imagine my life without Aiden, but I can imagine it with him, and it’s not good. “Will you pick me up in front of my old house, please?” “Of course. Are you all right?” “No.” “What happened?” I exhale and glance down the street I grew up on. All the shitty old houses with the chewed-up lawns and beat-up cars out front. “I don’t want my mom and dad’s life. I want a fresh start.” “I’ll be right there.”

And then… then there is Leland. So… so obvious in his pursuit, but oh so charming…and better yet, so right in this new life of her. The easier thing to do is to be with him.
To be normal. To fit in.
Even if this is wounding both her heart and Aiden’s.

One Percenter is not really an MC story. The story follows Tienne and is focused on her growth. On her struggle to find her way, to be better and not make the same mistakes of her parents. The path she has chosen, however, is not the easiest and dangers can be found in every place, not only in the most obvious one.
To find her happiness she will have to fight…and fight hard.