Wednesday 30 September 2015

NELSON ISLAND TRILOGY Blog Tour


The Books

Wanting Forever by Diana Gardin
Book 1 of the Nelson Island Trilogy
Genre: urban fantasy


About Wanting Forever:
A sexy novel of betrayal, desire and the price that one pays for decisions of the heart.

Sam Waters has always wanted something better than his life in lowly little Duck Creek. But how could he leave Ever, the girl he's protected from an abusive father since they were little? She needs him. Until one explosive night changes everything. And suddenly Sam is on the run, a wanted man.

He lands in Nelson Island, South Carolina--gorgeous, sunny and home of Aston Hopewell, heiress to her father's international conglomerate. Aston has never met anyone like the hot ranch hand. Sam is so driven, so intense. And he gets her like no one else ever has. But even he won't tell her everything. . .

Sam has sacrificed everything, and his only reward: betrayal from his brother and Ever back at home. Now he stands at a crossroads with one chance to get it right with the sexiest woman he's ever met...if it's not already too late.
Source: Info in the About Wanting Forever was from the press kit from the publicity team.

Buy Link(s):
iBook Buy

Ever Always by Diana Gardin
Book 2 of the Nelson Island Trilogy
Genre: urban fantasy


About Ever Always:
Hunter Waters has loved only one woman for his entire life.

Unfortunately she's his brother's girlfriend, Ever Allen. Hunter isn't the kind of guy to betray family, but when his brother Sam has to leave town and asks Hunter to look after her, the feelings he's fought for years can no longer be buried.

Ever can't think of a time when both Waters brothers hadn't been watching her back. Sam's boldness had charmed her, but now Hunter's quiet, steady strength makes her feel safe for the first time in her crazy, messed-up life. But how can she choose between the only two people in the world to have cared about her? How can she live with loving one brother if it means breaking the other's heart?
Source: Info in the About Ever Always was from the press kit from the publicity team.

Buy Link(s):
iBook Buy

Falling Deep by Diana Gardin
Book 3 of the Nelson Island Trilogy
Genre: urban fantasy


About Falling Deep:
Reed Hopewell is a lot of things to a lot of people . . .

To his parents, he's the son who needs to get serious. To his friends, he's the player they all want to be. And to his fans, he's the hottest rocker in Charleston. But never has Reed been anyone's hero-until the night he finds Hope.

Hope Dawson can count the number of men she trusts on one hand. Definitely not the guys she goes out with or the stepfather who treats her like property. She'd be out of his house tomorrow if not for the need to protect her little sister. But when things at home go from bad to worse, Hope has to act fast-and Reed is the only person she can turn to . . .
Source: Info in the About Falling Deep was from the press kit from the publicity team.

Buy Link(s):
iBook Buy

Meet The Author

About Diana Gardin:
Diana Gardin was born and raised combing the coasts of Southeastern Virginia. She is now a happy resident of South Carolina as she married into an enormous Carolina-rooted family. She loves the beach, and even more than that she loves to read while sitting on the beach.

While writing was always a passion of Diana’s, she enrolled in college to become an elementary-school teacher. After eight years of teaching in both Virginia and South Carolina, she decided to stay at home with her first child. This decision is what opened her eyes to the fact that she still very much loved to write, and her first novel was written.


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Tuesday 29 September 2015

Review: CATCHING FIRE

Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
Book 2 of the The Hunger Games series
Narrated by Carolyn McCormick
Genre: post-apocalyptic urban fantasy, YA
Format: paperback & (unabridged) audiobook

About Catching Fire:
Sparks are igniting, flames are spreading and the Capitol wants revenge.

Against all odds, Katniss has won the Hunger Games. She and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta Mellark are miraculously still alive. Katniss should be relieved, happy even. After all, she has returned to her family and longtime friend, Gale. Yet nothing is the way Katniss wishes it to be. Gale holds her at an icy distance. Peeta has turned his back on her completely. And there are whispers of a rebellion against the Capitol - a rebellion that Katniss and Peeta may have helped create.

Much to her shock, Katniss has fueled an unrest she's afraid she cannot stop. And what scares her even more is that she's not entirely convinced she should try. As time draws near for Katniss and Peeta to visit the districts on the Capitol's cruel Victory Tour, the stakes are higher than ever. If they can't prove, without a shadow of a doubt, that they are lost in their love for each other, the consequences will be horrifying.

In Catching Fire, the second novel of the Hunger Games trilogy, Suzanne Collins continues the story of Katniss Everdeen, testing her more than ever before...and surprising readers at every turn.
Source: Info in the About Catching Fire was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6148028-catching-fire on 29/03/2013.

Review:
With Book 1: The Hunger Games, I watched the movie before reading the book. I decided that this time around I would try reading the book first and then watch the movie and see which way I like better. Turns out, it's better to watch the movie first, then I don't sit thru the movie playing critique. Now I know better. What remains to be seen is if I would remember that lesson when the next book-to-movie gig comes around...

I wasn't really looking forward to reading this book because I've read a few not so sparklingly bright reviews about this book and Mockingjay that I actually stopped reading this series after Book 1: The Hunger Games. I liked Book 1: The Hunger Games and wanted that "like" feeling to last a bit longer by putting off reading the disappointment of the next books as long as possible. I shouldn't have done that because this book was not a disappointment. Sure there were a few nitcpicking points I would have liked to have been not there but I could easily forgive those for the marvellous reading pleasure that this book brought me!

Carolyn McCormick mimicked Effie Trinket in the movie so closely that it made me smile! That is how good the narration is. Or maybe I am just used to McCormick's voice by now seeing this is the second book already by her. Either way I rate her narration a 5.

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 4.5
Character development = 4
Story itself = 4.5
Ending = 4
World building = 5
Cover art = 4
Pace = N/A (11 hrs and 14 mins audiobook)
Plot = 3.5
Narrator = 5

Overall Rating: 4.5 out of 5 cherries

Sunday 27 September 2015

Review: MAGIC SHIFTS


Magic Shifts by Ilona Andrews
Narrated by Renee Raudman
Book 8 of the Kate Daniels series
Genre: urban fantasy


About Magic Shifts:
In the latest Kate Daniels novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews, magic is coming and going in waves in post-Shift Atlanta—and each crest leaves danger in its wake…

After breaking from life with the Pack, mercenary Kate Daniels and her mate—former Beast Lord Curran Lennart—are adjusting to a very different pace. While they’re thrilled to escape all the infighting, Curran misses the constant challenges of leading the shapeshifters.

So when the Pack offers him its stake in the Mercenary Guild, Curran seizes the opportunity—too bad the Guild wants nothing to do with him and Kate. Luckily, as a veteran merc, Kate can take over any of the Guild’s unfinished jobs in order to bring in money and build their reputation. But what Kate and Curran don’t realize is that the odd jobs they’ve been working are all connected.

An ancient enemy has arisen, and Kate and Curran are the only ones who can stop it—before it takes their city apart piece by piece…
Source: Info in the About Magic Shifts was taken from GoodReads at http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/12119529-untitled on 31/10/2013.

My Thoughts:
Admittedly I am an old die-hard fan of Ilona Andrews, so please forgive my fan-girling here. Because there simply is nothing I could see that is negative about this book! Compelling story telling quality, substantial plot build-up, masterful character development and wonderful world building... What else can I say? ...Having said that I wish that, Renee Raudman's voice is as pleasing to the ears as Therese Plummer's, but that is all forgivable given the goodness of this book! Couldn't wait to get my hands on the next book!

Empirical Evaluation:
Story telling quality = 5
Character development = 5
Story itself = 5
Ending = 5
World building = 5
Cover art = 5
Pace = 5
Plot = 5
Narration = 4.5

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 cherries


Books In The Kate Daniels Series: