My Favorite Mistake - By Chelsea M. Cameron *Review* #COYER

My Favorite Mistake Series - Book 1 | Add to Goodreads
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Two secrets. One bet. Who will break first?

Taylor Caldwell can't decide if she wants to kiss her new college roommate or punch him.

On the one hand, Hunter Zaccadelli is a handsome blue-eyed bundle of charm. On the other, he's a tattooed, guitar-playing bad boy. Maybe that's why Taylor's afraid of falling in love with him, or anyone else. She doesn't want to get burned, so she needs him gone before it's too late.

Hunter himself has been burned before, but Taylor's sexy laugh and refusal to let him get away with anything make her irresistible. Determined not to be kicked out of her life without a fight, Hunter proposes a bet: if she can convince him she either truly loves or hates him, he'll leave the apartment;and leave her alone.

But when the man behind Taylor's fear of giving up her heart resurfaces, she has to decide: trust Hunter with her greatest secret, or do everything in her power to win that bet and drive him away forever.

This cover is so misleading! When I see this cover I think adults, sexy time and maybe one night stand gone wrong? I do not think college students, virgin, charismatic goofball male and wooing. Now don't get me wrong this is a great cover it just doesn't suit the book and when I finished reading the book, the cover just seem wrong. My problem with this is "My Favorite Mistake" is actually a lot more light hearted than the cover suggests. I would go as far to say it is a Young Adult novel yet the cover screams adult sexy time book. So how on earth will this book reach an audience that will hugely appreciate it with a cover that confines it to the adult shelf? I don't know y'all....

Besides the cover drama this is lovely read. Hunter is a charismatic misbehavior which means he usually break rules or does things that irritate people but gets away with them because he's charming - sound familiar? We all know one. Taylor was amusing and Hunter sums her character up perfectly when he states he's never bored around her because she doesn't act the way he expects. Similarly I am fascinated by the equal parts terrified and fearless Taylor, who may or may not be more likely to punch a guy in the balls than smile. She is entertainment and a half.

Their relationship is a perfect example of how love and hate are two sides of the same coin. For half of the book Hunter is trying to get Taylor to like him and Taylor is trying to aggressively deny it by any means necessary - hence ball punching. Eventually they both admit to the attraction with Hunter turning into the cutest wooing romantic ever. *sigh*

Their hidden secrets were horrific events but the story focused more on the healing process of both characters rather than dwelling in a slightly dark depressive zone which I appreciated. I don't think Hunter and Taylor's relationship moved beyond the teenage love stage which was a little disappointing. It felt a lot like a coming of age relationship story rather than the emotional depth and development I've come to expect from New Adult. Still, I hugely enjoyed reading this book and definitely recommend it!

Fighting to Stay - By Kasey Millstead *Review* #COYER

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“Never stay, Lacey. Promise me. Promise right now, that whenever things go bad in life, you will run. Never, ever stay.”

Lacey Monroe was used to running. When things got bad, when things got dangerous, when there was a chance that she would get hurt – physically or emotionally – she did what her momma said. She ran. She kept running, until she landed in Salt Rock, Alabama. She meets Roam Cooper, the Vice President of the Mayhem Motorcycle Club and for the first time in her life, Lacey considers staying…and then, right before her eyes, her world falls apart. And she runs again.

 This is one of the sweeter biker romances. Lacey meets Roam through her best friend. It's lust at first sight - names not necessary. They stumble into a relationship or at least some semblance of a relationship before weird events targeted at Lacey throw them even closer together. Roam is a bad boy gentleman from the moment he meets Lacey - a weird mix of polite manners and wall banging sexy times.

Lacey's backstory is laid out at the start which gives us a better understanding of why she is the way she is. After the horrible trauma she's suffered at the hands of her parents it's no wonder when Lacey is faced with a difficult situation she over reacts. I wanted to bang my head in exasperation - why do so many female characters get written such ridiculous responses? - but with Lacey it makes sense that she runs because all she does is run. In fact I was waiting for the moment when she got too freaked out and ran, so it was slightly predictable.

Roam is such a Prince Charming. Prince Charming was a biker and had a pierced, ahem - well, let's just say Cinderella probably wouldn't have left at midnight. Overall, "Fighting to Stay" could have used a bit more development, I felt like the story went much too quickly and it was the bare minimum information. There could be so much more between the start and finish which could have bumped it from short, light and fluffy to wicked fabulous. Regardless, this is a wonderful story and Roam sounds like one gorgeous man - sparkling blue eyes, dimples and built - be still my heart. Grab a copy and give Roam a ride yourself, it's sexy time well worth a read.

Kasey Millstead is Mum to four children and lives in NSW, Australia. She is the #1 Bestselling author of the Down Under Cowboy Series.Fighting to Stay, Steele Investigations series and the soon to be released Illicit Desire. She likes reading and writing (obviously), drinking with my girls, baking, scrapbooking and dancing (again with her girls). 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKaseyMillstead

Twitter: https://twitter.com/kaseymillstead

Goodreads: 

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7011930.Kasey_Millstead

The Destiny of Violet and Luke - By Jessica Sorensen *Review* #COYER

The Coincidence Series - Book 3 | Add to Goodreads
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Luke Price's life has always been about order, control, and acting tough on the outside. For Luke, meaningless relationships are a distraction-a way to tune out the twisted memories of his childhood. He desperately wishes he could forget his past, but it haunts him no matter what he does.

Violet Hayes has had a rough life. When she was young, she was left with no family and the memory of her parents' unsolved murders. She grew up in foster homes, living with irresponsible parents, drugs, and neglect, and trying to fight the painful memories of the night her parents were taken from her. But it's hard to forget when she never got closure-and she can't stop dreaming about what happened that tragic night. To make it through life, she keeps her distance from everyone and never allows herself to feel anything.

Then Violet meets Luke. The two clash instantly, yet they can't seem to stay away from each other. Although they fight it, they both start to open up and feel things they've never felt before. They discover just how similar they are. But they also discover something else: The past always catches up with you . . .

The son of a heroin addict and the daughter of murdered parents. Sweet jesus, why do these characters have to have such horrible pasts?! Then upon meeting one another they come to lead lives heavily dependent on the other. It's unhealthy! Violet pushes every boundary and lives off adrenaline rushes which normally consists of risking her life. Luke is an alcoholic diabetic, nuff said. Both of them get into situations that could have resulted in their death but don't care - ah, kindred souls. Yes, I am employing a bit of sarcasm here because it is a horrible trait to have in common! Luke and Violet bond over their understanding denial, recognizing a person with secrets to hide in the other. I found this book generally uncomfortable. I disliked the relationship that was created on the "birds of a feather" and all that. I was constantly cringing at the graphic situations the characters had been forced to suffer. While I admire the writing of Sorenson as she developed the book beautifully I dislike books that rely heavily on disturbing graphic and tragic drama in order to build emotion. It makes books feel like a soap opera filled with over dramatic shocking events that create the interesting storylines but in the end are SO dramatic they come off as unbelieveable. I'm not saying an alcoholic son of a heroin addict and a murdered parents orphan adrenaline junkie with a death wish can't meet and have a perfectly believable love story I just find ALL of the problems overkill. The book has a cliffhanger ending but it appears to be typical for Sorenson to write novels as a two part series. Sorenson is a solid writer but I don't think I can handle much more of this kind of novel. I might pick up book two just to see how Sorenson rounds out her characters.

Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

This Man - By Jodi Ellen Malpas *Review* #COYER

This Man Series - Book 1 | Add to Goodreads
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Young interior designer Ava O’Shea has an appointment for a first consultation at The Manor with the owner, Mr Jesse Ward. She is expecting nothing more than an overweight, cravat wearing, well-to-do countryman, and on arrival, nothing would suggest otherwise. How wrong could she be? This Man is devastatingly handsome, charming and confident. He is also a conceited, hedonistic playboy, who knows no boundaries. Ava desperately does not want to be attracted to him, but she can’t control the overwhelming affect he has on her. Every instinct is telling her to run, so she does, but Jesse Ward is not so willing to let her go. He wants her and is determined to have her. She knows she is heading for heartbreak, but how can she run when he won’t let her?

I wanted to like this. The amount of hype around this series made me think I would like this. But I hated it! Am I going crazy here or is everyone else reading a different book?

First Jesse Ward is a despicable male character. There is a difference between a dominating man and a man who is pushy, demanding, rude, aggressive, condescending and controlling. Jesse Ward is the latter. I hated that he called her "Lady," it wasn't endearing or sweet, it made me think of when I am telling my friends off and say "woman, you listen to me."

Not to mention the fact it was a constant reminder of Jesse Ward's weird belief in how a woman should act - newsflash sucker, ladylike etiquette went out with arranged marriages, finishing school and, oh yes, female subservience! His counting is overkill and downright ridiculous. If I ever met a man who COUNTED DOWN to condition my behaviour I would have him hogtied, locked in a box and mailed to Timbuktu faster than you can say "make me."

Besides these faults Jesse Ward harrasses Ava despite her blatant refusal of his advances due to her JOB! Going as far to orchestrate a highly unprofessional situation. Maybe everyone else finds his aggressive pursuit sweet and romantic but I simply see it as a disregard for a woman's right to refuse a man. There is no romance in stalking.

Now Ava. My god woman grow a backbone. 

Ava is flaky, immature, indecisive and constantly confused about EVERYTHING. She irritated me from the moment she met Jesse Ward. Such a cringe worthy encounter had me practically hiding my face in shame for the inability of a woman to control her vagina. It wasn't sexy or hot to hear how awkward she was due to, here's the kicker, the physical appearance of a man. 

Yup. 

Ava, a professional and successful interior designer turns into a stumbling fool in front of a good looking man. Heaven save me from la-la heads such as Ava. Besides that she is constantly changing her mind, second guessing herself, making rash decisions and packing tantrums like a two year old. By the end of the book I was happy they were together because these two ninny's could never find a more perfect partner. GOOD RIDDANCE.

I only read this book so I could review number three in the series so stick around if you want to know how it ended up. (Note: I skipped book two because I couldn't handle three full books about them. Sorry.)

COYER Note: This book was bought on sale for less than $5.

Mad Love - By Colet Abedi *Review* #COYER

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23-year-old aspiring artist Sophie Walker can think of no better place than the exotic paradise of the Maldives to escape the wrath of her controlling parents, the monotony of her boring legal work and her passionless boyfriend. With her two best friends along for the ride and to help her find herself again, Sophie is not prepared for the enigmatic Clayton Sinclair. Clayton comes from another world of privilege that seems like a fantasy to Sophie. Can this man introduce her to the passion & seduction she never realized she was desperately searching for? Sophie quickly becomes ensnared in Clayton's seductive web until a shocking treachery makes her question her judgment and actions...

I have an issue with what I call the "virgin burden." The idea that being a virgin past your teens is unacceptable and a burden which must be dealt with by the first attractive male to give a woman attention lest she miss her opportunity. "Mad Love" is an example of the virgin burden because poor Sophie is a 23 year old virgin - *Gasps of terror* - but frankly it isn't that big a deal. Unfortunately it is also teamed with a possessive male who is practically drooling at being the one and only male whose blessed penis has touched her vagina... *smacks head* I just hate this combination because a) being a virgin past your teens doesn't make you a prude b) virgin doesn't mean pure, innocent and naive c) cavemen are extinct stop with the he-man routine. Aside from this and the ridiculous notion that a handsome billionaire becomes enamoured with a young girl he just met (curse 50 Shades of Grey for starting this trend) Abedi writes a lovely romance novel.

It's a typical fluffy read and is perfect romance fodder - being set in the Maldives was a nice change. The story is well written and the characters developed if not likeable. Sophie was a little too flaky and insecure allowing Clayton to push her around. She isn't what I prefer in my leading ladies but it's a satisfying read with a cliffhanger ending. If you like reading billionaire romances containing full functional and not traumatized at some point in their life alpha males then this is perfect for your next to read. The gay friends while slightly over the top were welcome comedic relief.

Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Blades of the Old Empire - By Anna Kashina *Review* #COYER

Majat Code Series - Book 1 | Add to Goodreads
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Kara is a mercenary – a Diamond warrior, the best of the best, and a member of the notorious Majat Guild. When her tenure as protector to Prince Kythar comes to an end, custom dictates he accompany her back to her Guild to negotiate her continued protection.
But when they arrive they discover that the Prince’s sworn enemy, the Kaddim, have already paid the Guild to engage her services – to capture and hand over Kythar, himself.
A warrior brought up to respect both duty and honour, what happens when her sworn duty proves dishonourable?

For a book that advertises itself on the kick ass female Kara it was surprising to find the book revolve around the power and struggles of men. While the struggle of Kara is prominent we don't really get into her head, ever. All we know about Kara is that she is the object of Prince whatever his name and she is one of the highest ranking warriors in her faction. I wanted to wave my "I love this character" banner but I couldn't because the entire focus on Kara revolved around Prince whingey bags. She is SUCH a promising and complicated character and yet she is confined to LOVE INTEREST. WHY!? I understand the importance of the love story but it could have been part of a larger dynamic of Kara breaking through her emotional conditioning and beginning the journey to self discovery but no. I was so annoyed by this because I picked the book because of Kara and the possibility of her fricken' awesome character only to be disappointed with the lack of development.

There are a few female characters in a heavily male cast and the only other important female aside from Kara is Ellah. Ellah began as an annoying side character who just happened to be along for the trip but slowly developed into someone worth reading about. I became invested in her narrative arc which wasn't the easiest journey considering she is only a commoner and probably wasn't the best person to take on a quest. Despite this Ellah has an intense sense of loyalty, justice and perseverance. She never lets her inexperience be the reason others fail and continues to surprise those around her with brave actions. I absolutely adored Ellah by the end and was FURIOUS when she had to choose between love and her magic career. 

***SPOILER RANT***

Ellah was so earnest and courageous but completely shy when it came to love. She loved that idiot Diamond so much and continued to see the good in him - followed him EVERYWHERE - despite him obviously just playing with her. I hated him for that because why would you string along a young girl with no experience for YOUR OWN AMUSEMENT!? Asshole. She was nothing but kind and defended him to others but he was being a douchebag jerk. Ellah deserved a strong, powerful and amazing man to think she was everything he wanted in a woman but instead she gets a manipulative jerk who makes her feel unworthy of such love. How dare he?! AND! How dare that woman tell Ellah that she is not deserving of a man like that NUMBSKULL! I hated that not only was Ellah rejected in a moment of huge courageousness but she gets beaten down by other characters saying why would Ellah entertain such a romance, can't she see he's better than her? No ELLAH is better than HIM. End of story. She gave her everything in this story to end up with the shitty happy ever after. No thank you.

Side note - I thought it was ridiculous that douchebag diamond is in love with someone else. Worst twist ever!

***SPOILER RANT END***

Overall, it wasn't a bad fantasy novel but it's not a kick ass female fantasy. The storyline was interesting and despite disliking almost all of the males for getting more page time than the ladies I liked it. The bad guys were more irritating than ominous which made for a strange good vs. evil dynamic. The romance is drawn out and not well developed beyond puppy love so if you were wanting intricate romance it's not here. In saying that it is strong on the fantasy plot so might be good for Young Adult Fiction. 

Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Sugar and Salt - By Pavarti K. Tyler *Review* #COYER

Sugar House Novella Series - Book 1 | Add to Goodreads
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After over a decade working in the sex industry, Janice Cane retains no illusions about the nature of relationships. Everyone lies and everyone wants something. Still, a part of her longs for a connection.

Speed-dating becomes her addiction, a place to find a man for the night when she needs a quick fix, and her last hope that true love may still be waiting around the next corner. When a mysterious man entices both her intellect and her lust, she becomes entangled in an affair more complicated than she'd expected.

Enter the world of The Sugar House. Here you'll meet the illustrious Madam Janice Cane and her brood of men and women who will fulfill your every fantasy. But can they find a way to fulfill their own?

 

I didn't mind this book. The plot was predictable but it was interesting enough to read through to the end. I had a few issues with the characters and their actions - personal problems I know. I didn't like Salt, he came off as judgemental and unnecessarily mean toward Janice in a moment where he needed to find his compassion bone. Janice for all that she began as a woman who didn't give a damn about society forgives Salt a little too quickly in my opinion. The ending was rushed and could have used more details than essentially "they all lived happily ever after." There were some pretty choice insults thrown and a bit more space to air the tension would make the happy ever after more believeable and conclusive. A solid erotic romance novella, Tyler seems to me as an author to keep an eye on.

Copy received from NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

Final #COYER post

The Clean Out Your E-Reader (COYER) challenge is officially over! :( Here is my final reading round up. I still have some outstanding reviews but I manage to read to my goal!!! YAY! I had so much fun doing this challenge and was lucky enough to win the final giveaway. Keep an eye out for this challenge again in 2013! I'm signing up and would love to see you there too!!!

Fantasy is more fun and Because Reading is better than real life hosted this challenge so check out their awesome blogs!!!

Read: 26/50 = 52% [GOAL ACHIEVED]
Reviewed:  21/50 = 42%

Beautiful Surrender - By Priscilla West (#COYER)

Book 3 - Surrender Series

"What gives you a thrill Kristen?

No one is who they seem to be. I let Vincent into my heart because he seemed so different from everyone in my conservative world of wealth management. I thought we shared something special, but Vincent has been playing me this entire time. As our relationship reaches a crisis point, a man from my past returns looking for a second chance. Is my ex really looking for redemption or is his goal something more sinister? I try my best to hold it all together, until I discover a revelation that will change everything.

The blurb to this book is largely misleading. Krsiten flipped out over a text message and Vincent did not betray her. As I said in my last review she jumped far too quickly to horrible conclusions but whatever, it's her life she's ruining. By the end of this book I truly did not know why I read them all, I should have stopped after the first book. Despite the chaotic eventful ending I still found Vincent and Kristen's relationship unrealistic and lacking in substance. The insight into Marty and Kristen's relationship was nice and gave good background on what had happened but I didn't give a flying fuck about Marty and Kristen. I wanted that lovely development to be Vincent and Kristen. The Giselle flashback with Vincent came across as unnecessary because we already had a information about what happened and the flashback didn't provide anything new.

***Spoilers***

Becoming Alpha - By Aileen Erin (#COYER)

Tessa McCaide has a unique talent for getting into trouble. Then again, it isn’t easy for a girl with visions to ignore what she sees. Luckily Tessa and her family are leaving California and moving halfway across the country, giving her the perfect opportunity to leave her reputation as “Freaky Tessa” behind.

But Tessa doesn’t realize that kissing the wrong guy in her new Texas town could land her in far more trouble than she ever imagined. Like being forced to attend St. Ailbe’s Academy, a secret boarding school for werewolves.

Even if the wrong guy did accidentally turn her into one of “them” and doom her to attending the weirdest high school ever, Tessa can’t help her growing attraction to the mysterious Dastien Laurent.

When vampires attack St. Alibe’s and her visions pinpoint an enemy in their midst, Tessa realizes that boy drama and her new found canine tendencies might just be the least of her problems.

I have discovered very recently the genre labelled "New Adult" which had me stumped since I started blogging this year. I was totally confused thinking is this some kind of weird adult genre or is it another form of young adult, tween fiction? I had no fucking clue. Thanks to Wikipedia I have been enlightened  - New Adult is a genre aimed specifically at 18-25 year olds. Which explains why I have suddenly found myself loving novels more mature than young adult, not as stuffy as adult novels and being unable to categorize them as either - BEHOLD THE NEW ADULT NOVEL! So why am I banging on about this right now? Because my dear readers, "Becoming Alpha" is a New Adult novel and I feel super fancy for being able to label it so! But enough of my la-dee-da nonsense - to the Bat-mobile! I mean review...