Saturday, August 2, 2014

Quick Thought Reviews

Sometimes I read a book where I just don't have a lot to say about it. Hence the name quick thought reviews. These will be short and sweet.
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Perfected
Release Date: July 1, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Teen
ISBN:  1622662687
ISBN13: 9781622662685
Genre: YA Dystopian
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
Perfection comes at a price.

As soon as the government passed legislation allowing humans to be genetically engineered and sold as pets, the rich and powerful rushed to own beautiful girls like Ella. Trained from birth to be graceful, demure, and above all, perfect, these “family companions” enter their masters’ homes prepared to live a life of idle luxury.

Ella is happy with her new role as playmate for a congressman’s bubbly young daughter, but she doesn’t expect Penn, the congressman’s handsome and rebellious son. He’s the only person who sees beyond the perfect exterior to the girl within. Falling for him goes against every rule she knows…and the freedom she finds with him is intoxicating.

But when Ella is kidnapped and thrust into the dark underworld lurking beneath her pampered life, she’s faced with an unthinkable choice. Because the only thing more dangerous than staying with Penn’s family is leaving…and if she’s unsuccessful, she’ll face a fate far worse than death.

For fans of Kiera Cass’ Selection series and Lauren DeStefano’s Chemical Garden series, Perfected is a chilling look at what it means to be human, and a stunning celebration of the power of love to set us free, wrapped in a glamorous—and dangerous—bow.

The idea that PERFECTED is written on is SUPER creepy, but written so well. I was thoroughly immersed in the book by the second chapter and as the story went on I stayed interested. My only issue with the book is how Ella didn't seem to catch on to the game. Sure she grew up sheltered and she finally wanted to escape but there were so many things that should have sent up that flag before it did and I hate having to yell at a character as much as I wanted to yell at Ella.

If this isn't part of a new series I would be very disappointed. There are way too many things still left open by the end. I would read a book 2.

I gave it 3.5/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
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So I Married a Werewolf
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Covet
ISBN:  1633750469
ISBN13: 9781633750463
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source: NetGalley
Carter Griffin, enforcing officer for the Seattle Wolf Pack, has a problem. He's been offered the promotion of his dreams…if he can find a wife to prove he's over his playboy ways. But Carter's already walked the matrimonial road and bought the stinkin' T-shirt. Besides, a werewolf only gets one fated mate. Been there, done that.
All werewolf dog trainer Faith Hamilton wants to do is earn enough green stuff to put her younger brother through college. Okay, okay, so she also totally wants Carter, her sexy next-door neighbor, to look at her as more than a friend. It's too bad size 12 and plain isn't his type. At all.
The two friends strike a deal to help one another out. They must face a variety of challenges from a psycho ex-girlfriend to a Yorkie with a shoe fetish...and that pesky problem of only having one-fated mate in a lifetime. Will a relationship ruin their friendship…or spark a love neither anticipated?

Like the other books in the Seattle Wolf Pack series there is plenty of romance and angst involved in SO I MARRIED A WEREWOLF. I liked both characters, I liked the storyline and I enjoyed watching the two fall in love. 

I really, really, really want to see more of the other characters from the earlier books in this series. Drake and Emelia from GONE WITH THE WOLF make a teeny tiny cameo but it just wasn't enough. Give me more updates!

I gave it 4/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
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Forbidden Kiss
Release Date: July 28, 2014
Publisher: Entangled Covet
ISBN:  1622665929
ISBN13: 9781622665921
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Review Copy Source:NetGalley
Jule Casale is the perfect daughter. Obedient. Trustworthy. Loyal.  With her high profile Italian family, her public image must be impeccable. And now to gain the respect and position she's desired in the academic world, she hopes to discover the unknown artist behind a masterpiece of Renaissance art.

Rom Montgomery seeks the unobtainable: forgiveness. Those who could grant him relief are dead. Instead, he wanders across continents and through time searching for salvation and the means to right an ancient wrong. But when Jule comes knocking on his door, it's the closest he's ever come to finally finding redemption. The closer Rom draws to correcting his past mistakes, the more his secrets threaten to destroy the woman who might hold the key to his future.

If you haven't already figured it out from the blurb FORBIDDEN KISS is a spin on Romeo and Juliet. Great characters, interesting spin on a classic tale, but I wasn't always into the story. Things were a bit slow at times, Some things were a little too predictable at times, and the end wasn't as shockingly good as I wanted it to be.

I still enjoyed FORBIDDEN KISS and if you enjoy when old tales are resurrected I say give it a try.

I gave it 3/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
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Poison Promise

Release Date: July 22, 2014
Publisher: Pocket Books
ISBN:  1476771502
ISBN13: 9781476771502
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: NetGalley


Gin Blanco is hard-nosed, sexy, and lethal. Nicknamed “The Spider,” she’s a stone elemental assassin who brings her unique mix of magic and tact to every assignment, no matter the target.

There’s a new drug on the streets of Ashland, and its name “Burn” sums up the potent effect it has on its users. When one of her restaurant employees is threatened by dealers of the drug, Gin steps in to set things straight...


We're 11 books into the Elemental Assassin series so I just don't have much more to add to my thoughts on the series as a whole which makes it perfect for a Quick Thought Review. 

Is there action? Of course, it wouldn't be an Elemental Assassin book without it.
Is there a little bit of romance? YAY yes. 
Are there plenty of surprises? Yup but I won't tell you about them. 
Am I a bit sad that Mab Monroe is still gracing the pages? I am, but we all saw this storyline coming and I'm really hoping it doesn't last long.
Did I love it? Without a doubt
Will I continue to read the series? Heck Yes. Its a keeper

I gave it 4/5 stars 


* This book was provided free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. 
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 Free Agent
Author: J.C. Nelson
Release Date: July 29, 2014
Publisher: Ace
Grimm Agency Book #1
ISBN:  0425272672
ISBN13: 9780425272671
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Review Copy Source: Publisher
 

When it comes to crafting happily-ever-afters, the Agency is the best in the land of Kingdom. The Fairy Godfather Grimm can solve any problem—from eliminating imps to finding prince charming—as long as you can pay the price…

Working for Grimm isn’t Marissa Locks’s dream job. But when your parents trade you to a Fairy Godfather for a miracle, you don’t have many career options. To pay off her parents’ debt and earn her freedom, Marissa must do whatever Grimm asks, no matter what fairy-tale fiasco she’s called on to deal with.

Setting up a second-rate princess with a first-class prince is just another day at the office. But when the matchmaking goes wrong, Marissa and Grimm find themselves in a bigger magical muddle than ever before. Not only has the prince gone missing, but the Fae are gearing up to attack Kingdom, and a new Fairy Godmother is sniffing around Grimm’s turf, threatening Marissa with the one thing she can’t resist: her heart’s wishes.

Now Marissa will have to take on Fairies, Fae, dragons, and princesses to save the realm—or give up any hope of ever getting her happy ending…

Did I love FREE AGENT? No. Did I enjoy it? Yes. SUPER interesting concept. I don't think I had a good idea of what this book was about before I went into it, but reading over the blurb again I'm not sure how that happened. There were many parts that made absolutely no sense to me (like the opening scene) and then there were other parts that I thoroughly enjoyed. I felt the story really lacked the world building the reader needs to understand what the world is about.

I still have a TON of questions. After the story was finished I felt like we didn't get enough answers on Marissa's family and her past. It hinted that she was adopted? Or was she the result of an affair, or previous relationship on her Dads part???? You really don't get the answer, you are just left feeling like her Dad wanted her and her Mom was glad to be rid of her. Is that super important to the book as a whole? Yeah I think it kinda is. The series has GREAT potential to be super fun and I will keep an eye out for the next book.

I gave it 3/5 stars

* This book was provided free of charge from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. 
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