Seduced By A Book: January 2015

Monday, January 26, 2015

Early Review of If the Viscount Falls (The Duke's Men, #4) by Sabrina Jeffries

Title: If the Viscount Falls
Classification: Adult Fiction
Genre: Historical Romance
Series: The Duke's Men (Book 4)
Format: Paperback; 400 pages
Publisher: Pocket Books (January 27, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1476786046
ISBN-13: 978-1476786049

Author's Website: http://www.sabrinajeffries.com/
Notes: I received an eARC loan from the publisher. I am part of Sabrina Jeffries Street Team which means I love her books enough to volunteer to help get the word out about upcoming releases.

Once upon a time Dominick 'Dom' Manton had the world by the tail. He was on the fast track to becoming a barrister and had a fiance he loved and adored. Then his vindictive brother, George, made him choose between the life he was meant to lead and the half brother he loved. George decreed that if Dom didn't help him find the whereabouts of Tristan, their illegitimate half-brother, he wouldn't support him. Dom refused and that effectively ended his endeavors to become a barrister. Tristan had stolen a horse bequeathed to him in their father's codicil which George burned so he wouldn't have to honor it. The punishment for horse thievery is death and if Tristan had been found he'd have been sentenced to the hangman's noose. Along with Tristan's inheritance, Dom's own and that of their illegitimate sister also went up in smoke when the codicil was burned. So by not aiding George, Dom's path was irrevocably changed until now.

With George's recent demise, Dominick is set to step into the roll of Viscount which will allow him the opportunity to get some of what he lost back. Will that include the fiance he had to let go when his path in life took a drastic curve? As the two pair up to find out what happened to Nancy, Jane's cousin and George's widow, they'll get the opportunity to become reacquainted. Will Jane and Dom finally have a shot at the happy ever after that never was?

This is sadly the last book in The Duke's Men series, but Ms. Jeffries saved the best for last. For years we've known the sacrifice Dom made for his family, but we never knew the full extent until now. Ms. Jeffries does an excellent job of capturing the emotions that would accompany a broken courtship that neither party truly wanted. The heartache, the questions, the feelings of betrayal and regret are all beautifully portrayed within the pages as the tale unfolds.

Dom is the exact opposite of his late brother George. He's loyal, caring, noble and the type of man who when he falls, he falls hard. He's never gotten over Jane, but never did anything to renew their courtship even after he made a name for himself as the successful owner of Manton Investigations. He honestly felt she would be better off without him. The problem was he never really gave Jane a chance to decide what she wanted for herself. He made that decision for her.

Jane knew some of what happened all those years ago, but never the full extent. She'd figured out what Dom had done to end their engagement and waited patiently for him to come to his senses. Yet in all those years he never had. Finally believing he hadn't felt the same way as she, she agreed to marry another man. When she and Dom start working together to find Nancy, however, it becomes clear that old feelings run deep.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. I loved seeing these two work through all the feelings they had and sort through everything that did and did not happen between them. The chemistry between this pair was combustible and I loved the merry dance these two did before all was said and done. If you're worried about disliking this one because one of the pair is engaged to another, don't. That was more of a platonic relationship built out of mutual respect for one another than love and there were no hard feelings so it didn't distract from the romance. In addition to the romance, I loved the mystery of what happened to Nancy. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Order of the series:

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Early Review of The Mime Order (The Bone Season, #2) by Samantha Shannon

Title: The Mime Order (The Bone Season)

Classification: Adult Fiction

Genre: Fantasy
Series: The Bone Season (Book 2)
Format: Hardcover; 528 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA (January 27, 2015)
ISBN-10: 1620408937
ISBN-13: 978-1620408933
Author's Website: http://samantha-shannon.blogspot.com/
Notes: I got an advanced eARC from the publisher. Thank you.

"Almost two centuries had passed since Scion arrived. It was established in response to a perceived threat to the empire. The epidemic, they called it—an epidemic of clairvoyance. The official date was 1901, when they pinned five terrible murders on Edward VII. They claimed the Bloody King had opened a door that could never be shut, that he’d brought the plague of clairvoyance upon the world, and that his followers were everywhere, breeding and killing, drawing their power from a source of great evil.

What followed was Scion, a republic built to destroy the sickness. Over the next fifty years it had become a voyant-hunting machine, with every major policy based around unnaturals. Murders were always committed by unnaturals. Random violence, theft, rape, arson—they all happened because of unnaturals. Over the years, the voyant syndicate had developed in the citadel, formed an organized underworld, and offered a haven for clairvoyants. Since then Scion had worked even harder to root us out." (from 'The Bone Season')

Scion, however, was a lie. It was a puppet government set up to hide what was really happening. The government sold Clairvoyants out in an effort to save the rest of the population. What truly happened all those years ago was that the Rephaim began to populate the world after the etherial threshold between our world and theirs broke. This exposed Earth to a dimension called the Netherworld where the Rephaim resided. Now they are slowly taking over out world one country at a time with the goal of total control. Clairvoyants play a role in all of this because the Rephaim can feed off their auras, but no one is truly safe from the Rephaim.

After six months spent in captivity, Paige Mahoney has finally escaped Sheol I, the Rephaim stronghold. She, the seven seals, and those who escaped with them during the night of the bicentennial celebration may be out immediate danger, but they're not safe yet. Paige and her fellow escapees are Scion's most wanted fugitives and the predictions made by the clairvoyants and psychics in the Rephaim employ are getting closer to figuring out she and the seals reside within the I-4 district of London. While she may wish to escape from being under Jaxon's power, she'll need his protection now more than ever. For the Rephaim will do whatever it takes to keep their presence a secret.

Can such a powerful foe be defeated? Paige believes if the syndicate can be united against them, the human race may just stand a chance.

One of the things I love about this series is the incredible world building. I know some are a tad bit overwhelmed by the complexity of it, but I enjoy that feeling of stepping into a familiar yet very different version of our world. Plus, it's that very complexity that makes this series so great. Set in an alternate universe primarily around London and the surrounding areas, this series blends the familiar with the unfamiliar in an eloquent way that brings the story to life and makes it easy for the reader to picture and relate to. Additionally, I adore how Ms. Shannon has created her own supernatural beings, the Rephaim, that are a combination otherworldly beauty, intelligence, power, strength, and cruelty.

In this installment, we learn more about the workings of the syndicate and of the I-4 Mime lord, Jaxon Hall. The syndicate lives in a constant power struggle. The head of the organization always needing to watch his or her back, The Syndicate is only as powerful as the person who heads it. They can strengthen or weaken it depending on how they rule. The current Underlord/leader, Haymarket Hector, does not always do what is in the best interest of the majority, and while Paige wants to address the Unnatural Assembly, which consists of the thirty-six mime-lords and mime-queens of the citadel who oversee the London syndicate, and inform them of the existence of the Rephaim, Jaxon believes to do so would be unwise. This causes additional friction between the two.

Jaxon is a complicated individual that I loved learning more about. He's a hard man to get a fix on because he hides himself within his role of mime-lord. He truly seems to care for those who work under him and is much more lenient than others who rule in the underworld. The conflict between him and Paige seems to profoundly affect him, and I wasn't sure what to make of him until the very end. I think there will be even more surprises regarding Jaxon in the future, and I look forward to reading about them. Could he be one of the survivors of the failed uprising against the Rephaim that happened twenty years ago? I kind of hope so.

I couldn't help but give this one 5 out of 5 roses. It was one of the best sequels I've read and couldn't put it down once I started reading. So be warned that you need to give yourself plenty of time to read this one. One of the best parts of the book was seeing Paige start to come into her own and grow as an individual. I can't wait to see what she'll do in future. The ending had a great twist that left me grinning and wanting the next book immediately. I only had two minor complaints about the book. The first is that we didn't get to see a lot of Warden ( although having Jaxon's story made that forgivable). The second is that I wish the glossary was located in the front for eBook readers instead of the back. It'd make it easier to maneuvering between what I'm reading and what terms I need to look up. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one earned a Blush rating--at the beginning stages of romance where something is just starting to be stirred. I look forward to seeing the relationship grow between Paige and Warden grow. Is it doomed to end tragically like Romeo and Juliet or will Ms. Shannon allow for a happy ending? I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

Order of the series:

Monday, January 12, 2015

Make it Last Blog Tour and Giveaway

About the book:

Click Here to check out my 4 rose review

Make it Last is the third book in Megan Erickson's New Adult, Contemporary Romance series entitled Bowler University and it's about to heat things up...

After graduating from Bowler University, the last place Cam Ruiz ever expected to find himself is his hometown. A bad job as a bouncer and worry over his mom’s health make living in Paradise anything but. There’s only one thing that can make his return any harder—running into the only girl he’s ever loved.

Tate Ellison made a mistake when she was eighteen, one that cost her the best thing she’s ever had. She’s always hoped the regret of losing Cam would fade over time. Too bad it’s only grown. She took comfort in the fact she’d never have to face him again, so his presence in Paradise throws her for a loop.

The pull between them is instant and when the truth of what happened years ago tumbles out, they share a mind-blowing kiss...which leads to more. But the past has a way of repeating itself. When all the cards are on the table, Cam and Tate must decide what they are willing to do to make it last.

About Megan Erickson

Check out her Website: http://meganerickson.org/

Follow her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MeganErickson_

'Like' her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authormeganerickson

Megan Erickson grew up in a family that averages 5’5” on a good day and started writing to create characters who could reach the top kitchen shelf.

She’s got a couple of tattoos, has a thing for gladiators and has been called a crazy cat lady. After working as a journalist for years, she decided she liked creating her own endings better and switched back to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. And no, she still can’t reach the stupid top shelf.

~ Giveaway ~

a Rafflecopter giveaway >

Make it Last (Bowler University #3) by Megan Erickson

Title: Make It Last
Classification: New Adult Fiction
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Bowler University (Book 3)
Format: Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: William Morrow Impulse (February 17, 2015)
ISBN-10: 0062353543
ISBN-13: 978-0062353542
Author's Website: http://meganerickson.org/
Notes: I received and eARC loan from the publisher. BEWARE of falling f-bombs.

Tate Ellison and Cam Ruiz were once everything to one other. They started out as friends at a young age and then graduated to high school sweethearts. It appeared they were destined to stay together forever, but Tate did the unforgivable while Cam was away at basic training for the Air National Guard. When he heard what she'd done, he packed up and left with a broken heart never to return...until now.

If the truth can set you free, can a second chance be just what they need to make it last?

This was third book of a fun series entitled Bowler University and it's set in a small town. If you jump into this one, you won't feel lost. What you should know is that this is Cam's book, and there are a lot of fun things happening in it. For instance, the suspended game called Utope represents a happier period in time for Cam and Tate. In a way, both Cam and Tate are still stuck in the past like their virtual selves. They are unable to move forward romantically from that point in their lives. The mystery of why Tate did what she did kept me wondering why she would do it, and I had the hardest time liking her until we heard the whole story.

There was an abundance of quirky and sexy scenes that made one's heart melt. The chemistry and attraction between these two is hot, steamy, and utterly tangible. I loved how despite all that happened between them, Cam wished to help Tate when he discovered her father was ill. Likewise, his coming home to help his mother cope with her illness is sure to boost him high on the charts of book boyfriends.

Overall, I gave this one 4 out 5 roses. The ending out shined the beginning with cute and memorable scenes. Cam and Tate trying to deny their attraction for one another and their attempts to out do one another in the jealousy department was a delight to watch. I especially enjoyed the Utope scenes which were touching, sweet, silly, and fun. On the Lisarenee Romance Rating Scale, this one scores a STEAM rating--too hot for a fan, but you still have a handle on things. You should use extreme caution when reading a book with this rating in public. People may inquire as to why you looked flustered and flushed.

Friday, January 2, 2015

Most Anticipated New Releases for January 2015

The following list is comprised of books, short stories, and novellas my friends, family, and I are most looking forward to reading in January. It also consists of books by popular authors and other authors or books I've heard a lot of hype about. I am not flawless in my endeavors and sometimes I'll accidentally leave one or more books off the list that I shouldn't. Let me know if one of your favorites is missing. Sometimes my search techniques just don't work as well as I wish they did.

The list is divided into weekly releases. If you'd like to read a book's description, just click on the cover photo and you'll be magically transferred to Goodreads. If you'd like to purchase the book, then click on the title and you'll be automatically transferred to AMAZON. Remember, a book a day keeps the boredom at bay! Happy reading.

January 1, 2015 - Marked (Servants of Fate #1) by Sarah Fine
January 6, 2015 - All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
January 6, 2015 - All the President's Menus (A White House Chef Mystery) by Julie Hyzy
January 6, 2015 - As Chimney Sweepers Come to Dust: A Flavia de Luce Novel by Alan Bradley
January 6, 2015 - Dead of Winter (The Arcana Chronicles #3) by Kresley Cole
January 6, 2015 - Descent: A Novel by Tim Johnston
January 6, 2015 - Diners, Drive-Ins, and Death: A Comfort Food Mystery by Christine Wenger
January 6, 2015 - Dreamer's Daughter (A Novel of the Nine Kingdoms)

by Lynn Kurland
January 6, 2015 - The Earl I Adore: A Prelude to a Kiss Novel by Erin Knightley
January 6, 2015 - The Empty Throne (Saxon Tales #8) by Bernard Cornwell
January 6, 2015 - Ensnared (Splintered #3) by A. G. Howard
January 6, 2015 - Falling Away (Fall Away, #3) by Penelope Douglas
January 6, 2015 - Falling Under (Falling Into You #3) by Jasinda Wilder
January 6, 2015 - First and Last Sorcerer: A Novel of the Noble Dead by Barb Hendee and J.C. Hendee
January 6, 2015 - For Whom the Bluebell Tolls (A Bridal Bouquet Shop Mystery) by Beverly Allen
January 6, 2015 - Foxglove Summer: A Rivers of London Novel (PC Peter Grant #5) by Ben Aaronovitch
January 6, 2015 - Fragmented: A Section 8 Novel (Section 8 #3) by Stephanie Tyler
January 6, 2015 - Frostfire (The Kanin Chronicles #1) by Amanda Hocking
January 6, 2015 - Ghost in the Guacamole (Ghost of Granny Apples # 5) by Sue Ann Jaffarian
January 6, 2015 - Her: A Novel by Harriet Lane
January 6, 2015 - How to Plan a Wedding for a Royal Spy (Renegade Royal #3) by Vanessa Kelly
January 6, 2015 - House Broken by Sonja Yoerg
January 6, 2015 - In Hot Water (A Sweet Pepper Fire Brigade #3) by J. J. Cook
January 6, 2015 - Insatiable Appetites (Stone Barrington #32) by Stuart Woods
January 6, 2015 - Agenda 21: Into the Shadows (Agenda 21 Series) by Glenn Beck
January 6, 2015 - The Importance of Being Alice: A Matchmaker in Wonderland Romance by Katie MacAlister
January 6, 2015 - Last Call (The Cocktail Series) by Alice Clayton
January 6, 2015 - Lie of the Needle (A Deadly Notions Mystery) by Cate Price
January 6, 2015 - Mr. Monk and the New Lieutenant by Hy Conrad
January 6, 2015 - No Ghouls Allowed: A Ghost Hunter Mystery by Victoria Laurie
January 6, 2015 - Private Affair (Rockfort Security) by Rebecca York
January 6, 2015 - Quarry's Choice by Max Allan Collins
January 6, 2015 - Reborn (Altered) by Jennifer Rush
January 6, 2015 - Retribution (McGarvey) by David Hagberg
January 6, 2015 - Rogue Wave (Waterfire Saga #2) by Jennifer Donnelly and Sue Fliess
January 6, 2015 - Secret of the Templars (John "Doc" Holliday) by Paul Christopher
January 6, 2015 - The Secret Wisdom of the Earth by Christopher Scotton
January 6, 2015 - Silver Thaw: A Mystic Creek Novel by Catherine Anderson
January 6, 2015 - A Single Kiss (Sweetest Kisses) by Grace Burrowes
January 6, 2015 - Snoop to Nuts (Nut House Mystery Series) by Elizabeth Lee
January 6, 2015 - Snow Way Out (A Snow Globe Shop Mystery) by Christine Husom
January 6, 2015 - A Seamless Murder: A Magical Dressmaking Mystery by Melissa Bourbon
January 6, 2015 - Tales from the Nightside (A Nightside Book) by Simon R. Green
January 6, 2015 - The Third Target by Joel C. Rosenberg
January 6, 2015 - The Trouble with Texas Cowboys (Burnt Boot, Texas Book 2) by Carolyn Brown
January 6, 2015 - Trust No One by Jayne Ann Krentz
January 6, 2015 - Twisted Threads (A Mainely Needlepoint Mystery) by Wait Lea
January 6, 2015 - Unbound (Magic Ex Libris #3) by Jim C. Hines
January 6, 2015 - The Witches of Echo Park by Amber Benson
January 8, 2015 - Firefight (Reckoners #2)

by Brandon Sanderson
January 8, 2015 - Golden Son (Red Rising Trilogy #2) by Pierce Brown

January 11, 2015 - Never Never by Colleen Hoover*
January 13, 2015 - Cold Cold Heart by Tami Hoag
January 13, 2015 - The Darkest Part of the Forest by Holly Black
January 13, 2015 - The Deep by Nick Cutter
January 13, 2015 - Dirty Rush by Taylor Bell
January 13, 2015 - Fatal Scandal: # 8 by Marie Force
January 13, 2015 - The Ice Queen: A Novel by Nele Neuhaus
January 13, 2015 - The Magician's Lie: A Novel by Greer Macallister
January 13, 2015 - West of Sunset by Stewart O'Nan
January 15, 2015 - The Girl on the Train: A Novel by Paula Hawkins
January 15, 2015 - Murder in Piccadilly (British Library Crime Classics) by Charles Kingston
January 15, 2015 - The Providence of Fire (Chronicle of the Unhewn Throne #2) by Brian Staveley
January 15, 2015 - Saint Odd: An Odd Thomas Novel by Dean Koontz

*Pre-orders were cancelled, but Colleen says on her website the book will be published on the 11th. Unfortunately, that means there is no link to buying this one on Amazon.