Review: The Collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott

Title: The Collector
By: Victoria Scott
Series: Dante Walker #1
My Copy: Ebook from Author
Book Whisperer's Rating: 

He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

I have had The Collector on my TBR list for a very long time and I don’t know why it took me forever to start it but I should have started it sooner; because it is amazing! 

The Collector was a different kind of genre than what I have been reading lately and that played into why I liked it so much.  Lately, I have been in a kick of reading super-hot, alpha males protecting their women who are in danger and while The Collector has some of these traits, it does not mimic all of them.  For instance, Dante (who is super-hot and an alpha) is the one who pushes Charlie into danger. It is his job to collect Charlie’s pristine soul and take it to his underworld boss.  He has no attraction for her whatsoever and only focuses on corrupting her so that he can fill her soul with his seals.  But after hanging out with her and her friends and getting to know the good that they are and that they do, he starts to see the world differently and feels bad for putting Charlie in this spot.  Seeing that Charlie is not what he expected opens him to more feelings.

It was uniquely different because it was a well thought out view of how souls are collected.  It was interesting to see how Scott thought up this other world that “lives” in our world and flips on our soul switch to attach a seal to it so that in the end, these seals decide where our souls go.

I won’t go on more with the plot, however, I will say that it was wonderfully written.  I cared more about Charlie and what was going to happen to her than I have other characters.  I found myself getting really anxious about how this was all going to play out.  And the end….hello!  So wonderful yet heartbreaking. 

Jagged (Colorado Mountain #5) by Kristen Ashley

Title: Jagged
By: Kristen Ashley
Series: Colorado Mountain #5
My Copy: Ebook from Netgalley
Book Whisperer's Rating: 

An old flame rekindled . . .

Zara Cinders always knew Ham Reece was the one, but he wasn't interested in settling down. When she found someone who was, Ham walked out of her life. Three years later, Zara's lost her business, her marriage, and she's barely getting by in a tiny apartment on the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as Ham hears about Zara's plight, he's on her doorstep offering her a lifeline. Now, it will take every ounce of will power she possesses to resist all that he offers.

Ham was always a traveling man, never one to settle down in one town, with one woman, for more time than absolutely necessary. But Ham's faced his own demons, and he's learned a lot. About himself, and about the life he knows he's meant to live. So when he hears that Zara's having a rough time, he wants to be the one to help. In fact, he wants to do more than that for Zara. A lot more. But first, he must prove to Zara that he's a changed man.

I have said this a million times before and I will say it again, Kristen Ashley can do no wrong.  I am never disappointed in anything that I read of hers.  She writes the best alpha males and pairs them with the perfect women.  Every plot line is amazing because Kristen Ashley is amazing.  Jagged was no different.

I don’t want to give anything important away since it is month before the book is actually released, however I loved characters that KA wrote about and the obstacles that they fought to overcome.  From the first page, I could tell that Zara and Ham were it for each other; they had that kind of relationship that their puzzle pieces just fit together.  But choices were made early on and they drifted apart, breaking that easy connection that they developed.  However, they get a second chance and their past makes it a doozy to commit. 

Props to KA for bringing Reece’s character from The ‘Burg series (which I loved!)  It is great to be able to read his story and see his ending.

On a side note, I was really excited when I found out that Jagged was available on Netgalley but as soon as I tore through the book and finished the last page, I realized that I had nothing to look forward to.  KA’s next book isn’t going to be out until 2014 (I think.) How am I supposed to wait that long?

Review: Carter Reed by Tijan

 

Title: Carter Reed

By: Tijan

My Copy: Ebook for Review

Bookwhisperer Rating:

 

Emma decided to skip the gym and went home early. It was the last easy decision she made because she found her roommate being raped by the boyfriend. She had two choices. Call the cops and be killed by his family’s mafia connections or kill him first and hope to survive. There was no choice to her. She killed the bastard first and went to the one person who could protect her. Carter Reed. He’s a weapon for the rivaling mafia family, but he’s also Emma’s secret. Not only was he best friends with her brother, but she’s the reason he became that weapon in the first place.

CARTER REED!!! I have been chomping at the bit to get started on this book. I usually try to avoid reading reviews on most books that I am going to read, so that I don’t learn all the spoilers or misinterpretations, but this book I just couldn’t seem to stay away. Everyone was raving about this book, and I just had to read them. So, here is my interpretation! Can I have a Carter Reed, please!! This character was amazing. Perfectly dark and dangerous to peak interest, and wonderfully lovable and sexy to make every reader fall in love with him. The entire story surrounds the volatile nature of mob life. No peaches and sunshine here. Emma is the female lead, and I have to admit a certain distaste for her character. I hate to be the barer of bad news, but this is where I felt the reviews steer us wrong. I was quickly tiring of her fating and pity, and found her hard to relate. For someone that was so brave to immediately respond by killing a man I expected much more out of her when dropped into Carter’s world. I know that she eventually overcomes, but I have to say that I felt these traits lasted way to long for my liking. This story seemed very lengthy, and I felt for a moment about midway that we were wondering aimlessly without direction. This could be very much due to the pace transition. From page one this story is flying through the story, kicking butt and taking names, for lack of a better phrase. Then, all of a sudden it crawls through mid story. I think this leaves the impression of dragging through when in reality it is not all that long of a section. I do feel that this pulls away from the story a bit, because you are allowed time to get distracted and bored. All in all I have to say that this was a good; very intriguing and captivating, but some of that strength was lost with this small aspects of the story. I would be very interested in seeing other titles by this author before judging her style, but from what I see here I am eagerly anticipating some raw talent.

Review: Endless by Jessica Shirvington

Title: Endless

By: Jessica Shirvington

Series: Violet Eden Chapters Book 4

My Copy: Ebook for Review

BookWhisperer Rating:

Love will kill us all.
Angels are real. They aren't always kind. Violet Eden is certain of all this because she is Grigori - part angel, part human. She has felt the influence of both light and dark.
When Hell unleashes its worst, Violet must embrace every facet of her angel self to save the people she cares about and the world as she knows it. But death is not the worst thing that Violet will face. For her, the endless question 'Can love conquer all?' will finally be answered.

Violet’s trials continue in this fourth installment of the Violet Eden series. I have been a follower since book one. It has been quite a journey to follow this young girl through her gain knowledge of her heritage, to embracing it, to finally acceptance and the decisions that she must make as the danger grows nearer. This story would have to have been the best of them all. Finally seeing her embrace her abilities and progressing from the timid young girl she has been into a young woman that is ready to take on the world was exhilarating. Although, heart wrenching when she comes to decisions about protection for all those she loves. Endless took this story to a whole new level, and it is solely to prepare for what will be the last book of the series. Therefore, I am left with anticipation for what will be a lengthy wait for the finale. I look forward to seeing what will come in this series conclusion, and anticipate some intensity and vigor as she begins her solo mission, and hurdles obstacles of secluding herself from all those she loves.

Review: Silencing Joy by Amy Rachiele

Title: Silencing Joy

By: Amy Rachiele

My Copy: Ebook from Author

BookWhisperer Rating:

I scream. I couldn’t help it. I jump up and whack my head on the bottom of a bleacher. My hand flies immediately to the lump forming. I start running while bent in half. I try to get out.
I don’t.
Suddenly, my hair is yanked back. I shriek as my hands automatically go to the back of my head. My heart races in terror. I bend backwards from the yank and then fall to my knees.
~Joy, Silencing Joy
Joy is the type of person that goes about her business, stays out of people’s way, and keeps to herself. Everything changes one night at a football game.
Have you ever been in the wrong place at the wrong time?
Follow Joy as she discovers what wrong place and wrong time actually mean.
Kara shifted in her seat and her foot slipped. Something pulled on it.
A hand came around her mouth and she was falling. Kara found herself flat on the ground in the dirt and trash under the bleachers.
A cloth was slipped over her mouth and tied behind her head. Someone flipped her over like a hog, tying and dressing it for a roast over a spit. Kara’s hands were yanked and bound behind her back with thick rope.

First off, I must mention that this description above was what had me hooked. After the Mobster’s Girl series by Amy Rachiele I knew that I wanted to keep my eyes open for new titles, but when I read the description for Silencing Joy I was instantly enthralled. Like curiosity with the Cat, I just had to find out where this would go. I was not disappointed as this story unfolds into romantic thriller that had me hanging on to the last page. After the style in her past novels I am comfortable with Rachiele’s ability to run two romances at the same time, and was excited to see this same display of talent in this new storyline. Joy and Kara stories run simultaneously. Also similar resemblances were noticed with the action packed swift pace of this journey. Overall, this was another entertaining read that further enforces my love for this author talented style. I look for more of these great stories and characters.

Baby Series Lite Tour Blog

BABY SERIES LITE - BOOK 1-3.5

Baby Series Lite is the anniversary edition of last summer’s Baby Series. These Lite editions have been condensed from the originals to accommodate those readers who prefer a shorter read. Book 1-3: Trey and Tylar’s story When college student Tylar Preston goes to work for the wealthy Sinclair family the summer of her senior year, she quickly meets with unexpected events and the disturbing unraveling of her past. Trey Sinclair, an arrogant high-powered attorney makes it his mission to protect the innocent and unworldly young woman from the dreams that haunt her. As their relationship blossoms they'll discover there are those who want to destroy their relationship. Together their often bumpy journey weaves itself mysteriously, comically, passionately and erotically down a path that promises to engage and move the reader in this emotionally stirring story. Book 3.5: Tristan and Gina’s story This novella follows Trey’s brother Tristan and Ty’s best friend Gina.  It is written from Gina's point of view, providing insight into her past and secrets that she's shared with no one. The story overlaps with Book 2 and Book 3, mainly focusing on the events of Gina and Tristan, but manages to shed light and further clarify Trey and Ty’s story, wrapping up the series about the Sinclair’s. These books are intended for mature audiences.

Quote:

“He reached over, cupping my face in his hands and lowered his face to kiss me gently. I was so in need of my Trey fix; I felt at peace.”

Author Links:

http://www.facebook.com/AndreaSmithAuthor

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6869343.Andrea_Smith

http://www.amazon.com/Andrea-Smith/e/B00A1MLQGY

Baby Series Lite

By Andrea Smith

AUTHOR BIO

Andrea Smith

Andrea Smith is an Ohio native, currently residing in southern Ohio.  Ms. Smith is the mother of two grown sons; grandmother of four.  The 'Baby Series' trilogy is Ms. Smith's first self-published work.  Having previously been employed as an executive for a global corporation, Ms. Smith decided to leave the corporate world and pursue her life-long dream of writing fiction.

Favorite Quote:	"You'll have to forgive me for speaking my mind, but I happen to believe that's what it's for." ~Lauren Bacall
Favorite Author(s):	Harper Lee, Kathleen Woodiwiss, E.L. James, Daphne du Maurier, Emily Bronte, Betty Smith, William Inge
Favorite Classics:	To Kill a Mockingbird; A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; My Cousin Rachel; Wuthering Heights, Splendor in the Grass
Favorite Historical Romances:	The Flame and the Flower; The Wolf and the Dove; Shanna; Ashes in the Wind. [Woodiwiss]
Favorite Current Day Fiction:	The Twilight Series, Fifty Shades Trilogy, Wallbanger
All Time Favorite HR Hero:	Ruark Beauchamp in 'Shanna' (Kathleen Woodiwiss)
All Time Favorite Alpha Male:	Wulfgar of Normandy in 'The Wolf and the Dove' (Kathleen Woodiwiss)
Favorite Books without a 'HEA':	Gone with the Wind; The Way we Were; Splendor in the Grass

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