Review: Searching for Tomorrow (Tomorrows #1) by Kathryn McNeill Crane

2 stars for Searching for Tomorrow (Tomorrows book 1) by Kathryn McNeill Crane.

The story is smooth flowing and starts out great. However, after the first few chapters, it takes way too long to get to its point leading to drastic waning of my interest to continue with each turning page.

At 25% into the book, my patience reaches its limit and I find myself skimming through and skipping chunks in search of something interesting and exciting to captivate me. Sadly, nothing grabs my attention and at 60%, I give up even on fast forwarding and jump right to the epilogue. I am glad to have done that because the ending is just so and I have been spared the torture of struggling with reading for the sake of making to the end.

For a debut novel, this is actually not too bad. Unfortunately, it really is not my type.

Publisher: Indie Express LLC; 2 edition
Publication date: 21 Oct 2013

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Some people are blessed to find that one certain person who completes them.

Wrynn’s yesterdays were what others only dream of having. She and Tripp were the best of friends before they even thought about love. They had the fairy tale life where ‘like’ turns into ‘love’, and ‘love’ becomes ‘happily ever after’.

What happens when life conspires against you, and snatches your soul mate from your arms?

…only her forever love ended much too soon.

Broken beyond her own ability to repair, Wrynn boxes up her grief and attempts to raise her three girls the best she can on her own. As time slowly passes, Wrynn relives her life with Tripp while struggling most days to get out of bed. She is reminded of him at every turn.

How do you set your grief and anguish aside? How do you pick up the shattered pieces, put those pieces back together again, and try to move on?

Wrynn tries to find the joy in life every single day through her daughters, family, and friends. Her twin brother Liam has dedicated himself to helping Wrynn put her life back together after losing his own love. On the other hand, her mother-in-law lives to torment her at every turn. Wrynn can't even find a chance to breathe, much less a desire to somehow search for her tomorrow.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle

3 stars for Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy book 3) by Karina Halle.

So goes the last book in The Artists Trilogy.

"On one side of me was Camden McQueen, on the other was Javier Bernal.  

One more light than dark, one more dark than light." 

I am still very much in love with book 1 as this last one is no where near that level and as engaging. In fact, it is a struggle to continue reading at some point in time as the main characters are trapped running around in circles with no new story development.

Not that I did not like the ending, but it leaves me dissatisfied, especially what with the way Javier treats Ellie nearing the end. The consolation is, Dirty Angels will be out in mid June 2014, meaning in 18 days' time, I will be seeing Javier all over again. Hopefully it will be a good meeting.

Publisher: Forever
Publication date: 16 Dec 2014

*** Favourite quote ***

On one side of me was Camden McQueen, on the other was Javier Bernal. One more light than dark, one more dark than light.

~ Bold Tricks
Karina Halle

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With more lives at stake and games in motion, Ellie, Camden and Javier form an uneasy alliance that will take them from the treacherous streets of inner-city Mexico to the wilds of the Honduran jungles in order to find their freedom. But with liberty just on the horizon, the cost might come at their own redemption.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2) by Karina Halle

4 stars for Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy book 2) by Karina Halle.

Karina Halle does it again by spinning a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of love, revenge, pain and loss as narrated from main characters, Ellie and Camden's point of view. Unfortunately, Javier, the one bad bad boy who is my favorite character never gets a chance to tell his side of story and reveal his innermost thoughts.

Publisher: Forever
Publication date: 20 Aug 2013

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Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden's safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier's plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden's new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he's hunting.

*Blurb from FantasticFiction*

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Review: On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy #1.5) by Karina Halle

5 stars for On Every Street (The Artists Trilogy book 1.5) by Karina Halle.

On Every Street provides an in-depth insight to the how-why-where history between Ellie and Javier. The story is plain awesome and I totally enjoy reading it; every page, every word, every single moment.

Publisher: Forever Yours
Publication date: 4 Jun 2013

*** Favorite quote ***

If you were to ever leave me, I'd come looking for you, on every street.

~ On Every Street
Karina Halle

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When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

This 50K word (100+ pages) novella takes place six years before Sins & Needles (book #1 of The Artists Trilogy) and tells the story of Ellie and Javier's passionate yet torrid affair. It can be read before or after Sins & Needles.
You do not need to have read Sins & Needles to enjoy this book and can be read as a standalone.

*Blurb from FantasticFiction*

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Review: Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy #1) by Karina Halle

5 stars for Sins & Needles (The Artists Trilogy book 1) by Karina Halle.

Dark and captivating, this book has it all, from mystic romance to thrilling adventures to action packed vengeance.

The story is sad but not hopeless, sweet loving sexy but not too steamy. Main characters are well developed with snippets of their past dating back to high school thrown in seamlessly between chapters.

Publisher: Forever
Publication date: 4 Jun 2013

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Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she's much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for - Camden McQueen.

Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie's counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she's not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie's plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn't dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it's one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

*Blurb from FantasticFiction*

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Review: Perfectly Damaged by E L Montes

5 stars for Perfectly Damaged by E. L. Montes.

A perfectly heartwarming yet heartbreaking story about learning to love yourself and accepting love from others just the way you are. That no matter who you are and what you are going through in life, there are people out there who will love you with no judgment or reservations.

Mental illness is not a topic that can be easily weaved into a beautifully written yet realistically absorbing story setting. Yet E.L. Montes does it skillfully and presents a perfectly emotionally charging piece of work on Schizoaffective disorder: a mental illness in which a person experiences a combination of mood disorder and schizophrenia symptoms.

Publisher: E.L. Montes
Publication date: 8 May 2014

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Schizoaffective disorder: a mental illness in which a person experiences a combination of mood disorder and schizophrenia symptoms.
I know about this illness—very well—because I suffer from it. It’s been four years since my diagnosis, and ever since, I’ve been living in a dark hole. Voices constantly invading my thoughts. Hallucinations. All of which force me to question if what I’m experiencing is even reality.

But here I am, still hanging on, still breathing and living through it.

That is, until he stumbled into my life. Logan Reed. I don’t want any part of him. I’ve pushed him away, but he isn’t easily deterred. I’ve told him I’m different, but he doesn’t care. He’s trying to slowly break me down. I’m trying just as hard not to let him. He doesn’t know how truly damaged I am; what will happen when he does?

I know the truth—he’ll never be able to look at me the same way again. Just like everybody else.

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle

4.5 stars for Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle.

Gripping, terrifying and downright spooky, this horror story is a page turner. I am addicted to the mysterious plot and characters from chapter 1 right up to the epilogue. It has been a long time since I have got such a good scare out of reading.

Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Publication date: 22 Feb 2014

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The year is 1851 and pioneers in search of California gold are still afraid to travel on the same route as the tragic Donner party did years before. When the last wagon train to go into the Sierra Nevada mountains fails to arrive at their destination, Eve Smith, an 18-year old half-native girl with immense tracking skills is brought along with the search party, headed by an enigmatic former Texas Ranger, Jake McGraw.

What they find deep in the dangerous snow-covered terrain is a terrifying consequence of cannibalism, giving new meaning to the term "monster".

*Blurb from FantasticFiction*

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Review: Fixed on You (Fixed Trilogy #1) by Laurelin Paige

Did Not Finish Fixed on You (Fixed Trilogy book 1) by Laurelin Paige.

Why I choose to read Fixed on You is because the Fixed Trilogy by Laurelin Paige has generated more than 1,600 5-stars review and minimal 3-stars at last check. I tell myself that this trilogy must surely be awesome to give rise to such high review rating. But apparently, I fall under the outlier as I not only do not enjoy the story, I give up reading at less than half the book at 40%.

One, I dislike reading cliche plots as they are overused and over-exaggerated to the point of being stale or annoying. Two, I find it hard to abide by stories with main characters that jump each other within 24 hours of meeting. And Fixed on You is exactly that.

On a fair note, this romance story is smooth flowing and relatively well written. It just happens not to be my cup of tea. I would give it 2 stars for my 40% worth of time.

Publisher: Laurelin Paige
Publication date: 24 Jun 2013

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Stalking and restraining orders are a thing of Alayna Wither’s past. With her MBA newly in hand, she has her future figured out—move up at the nightclub she works at and stay away from any guy who might trigger her obsessive love disorder. A perfect plan.

But what Alayna didn’t figure on is Hudson Pierce, the new owner of the nightclub. He’s smart, rich, and gorgeous—the kind of guy Alayna knows to stay away from if she wants to keep her past tendencies in check. Except, Hudson’s fixed his sights on her. He wants her in his bed and makes no secret of it. Avoiding him isn’t an option after he offers a business proposition she can’t turn down and she’s drawn further into his universe, unable to resist his gravitational pull.

When she learns Hudson has a dark history of his own, she realizes too late that she’s fallen for the worst man she could possibly get involved with. Or maybe their less than ideal pasts give them an opportunity to heal each other and finally find the love their lives have been missing.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

5 stars for The Fault in Our Stars by John Green.

My usual preference is to finish reading the book before watching the motion picture in theatre. But after reading this one, I am not so sure about catching the movie because I know I will definitely cry my heart out.

Publisher: Speak; 1st edition
Publication date: 10 Jan 2012

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Despite the tumor-shrinking medical miracle that has bought her a few years, Hazel has never been anything but terminal, her final chapter inscribed upon diagnosis. But when a gorgeous plot twist named Augustus Waters suddenly appears at Cancer Kid Support Group, Hazel’s story is about to be completely rewritten.

*Blurb from author's website*

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Review: Education of Sebastian (Education of... series #1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick

1 star for The Education of Sebastian (Education of... series book 1) by Jane Harvey-Berrick.

The Education of Sebastian starts out really good but turns downhill fast too. After the initial 10% of the book, the story shows signs of stagnation with the plot centering on pornographic sex. I struggled to the 30% mark before deciding to glimpse through the pages and read the ending. I have not decided whether to continue with book 2 The Education of Caroline.

Publisher: Harvey Berrick Publishing
Publication date: 26 Apr 2014

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The Education of Sebastian

Trapped in a loveless marriage, thirty year old Caroline Wilson moves to San Diego after her military husband earns a promotion. Feeling lost and alone Caroline strikes up a friendship with young local surfer Sebastian Hunter.

Sebastian has more than friendship on his mind when he runs into Caroline on the beach. But when sparks fly friendship turns into an illicit love that threatens them both.

The Education of Caroline

Now a successful journalist, Caroline heads out to report from the front lines of the war in Afghanistan. Love is the last thing on her mind when she crosses paths with Chief Sebastian Hunter.

Will this chance encounter reignite the erotic passion of their past?

*Blurb from Goodreads*

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Review: To Catch A Spinster (Reluctant Bride Collection #1) by Megan Bryce

4 stars for To Catch A Spinster (Reluctant Bride Collection Book 1) by Megan Bryce.

A delightful read filled with snippets of quick witted and humorous banter.

Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
Publication date: 2 Mar 2013

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Olivia Blakesley, self-proclaimed spinster extraordinaire, is quite happy with her life. She has her studies and her duties, what need does she have of a husband? With five sisters married she knows the reality does not live up to the promise, and does not need to personally experiment with the state to know she would be ill-suited to it. However, she finds herself envious of at least one aspect of marriage. But to experience the physical side of marriage, one doesn’t need a husband, all one needs is the right man. . .

Nathaniel Jenkins knows his duty. Marry a young girl from a respectable family and father an heir, no matter how cold the endless parade of suitable girls leaves him. But a shocking proposal from a scholarly spinster leaves him wondering if unsuitable is just what he’s looking for. Can he convince his spinster that marriage is the greatest experiment of all?

*Blurb from author's website*

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