Review- Revenge by Lexi Blake

Summary-

Passion and danger collide in the latest contemporary romance featuring the Lawless siblings—from New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake.

When Drew Lawless discovers a fatal flaw in his plan to avenge his parents’ deaths, he turns to the one woman he'd promised he wouldn't touch. He offers her a deal, one that will bring her into his investigation, his life, and his bed. 

Investigative reporter Shelby Gates never dreamed how twisted the case would become—or how fascinated she would be with Drew. Every day they spend together binds them. And every night brings her closer to realizing he might be the man for her. 

As Drew's feelings for Shelby grow, so does the danger. From the streets of Dallas to Austin’s high-tech business world, Drew and Shelby play a game begun twenty years before—a game they will win, or die trying.

Release date: June 20th, 2017

Published by: Berkley

Page numbers: 352

Review-

Revenge is the third and final book in Lexi Blake's Lawless Brothers series. I have been following this series right from the beginning so I was eager to know how it would all play out for the Lawless siblings. I have to stress that Revenge cannot be read as a stand alone. The series has a continuous plot with each brother getting a story along the way. So you have to read the series in order to understand what's going on and the history each character has. I enjoyed Revenge. 

This is the story of the oldest Lawless sibling Andrew. As the title suggests after the murder of his father, Drew has been on a quest to find the truth. He'll do anything to get his revenge. He has waited long enough to get justice for his siblings. But for his plan to work he needs the help of an investigative reporter- Shelby. Now as for Drew, he was hell bent on revenge at first. Drew's personality is unlike any of his siblings. He is cold and practical at best. He doesn't deal with emotions and all his life he's been taking care of his family. Drew was the least selfish man I've met. He never once thought about himself and was always ready to sacrifice what was needed of him.

Then we have Shelby. Where Drew was cold Shelby was warm. Shelby's brother got murdered while investigating a case. Shelby hasn't been able to get over that or the case which surrounded his death. It just so happened that it involved the Lawless siblings. Now Shelby is involved but she can't seem to stop herself from getting close to Drew, from comforting him and from taking care of him. Shelby was an extremely like able heroine.

Drew and Shelby's relationship starts off as a contract which would help them both. But Drew being the practical guy that he is plans to protect his family first then deal with Shelby. But things change soon as expected. Shelby brings out the human side of Drew, makes him look at a situation from both sides. And all along Drew was there to protect Shelby. Lexi Blake knows how to write romance and steamy scenes and there are plenty of those in this book.

Along with the romance we also find out what really happened that night twenty years ago. Secrets are revealed and there are some really psychotic characters in this series. With some action there are twists and turns. I liked seeing all the Lawless siblings together one final time. There are some new additions but the bonds of friendship and family remain strong. Revenge was a nice conclusion to the series.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the author/publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Review- Becoming Rain by K.A.Tucker

Summary-

Luke Boone doesn't know exactly what his uncle Rust is involved in but he wants in on it-the cars, the money, the women. And it looks like he's finally getting his wish. When Rust hands him the managerial keys to the garage, they come with a second set—one that opens up the door to tons of cash and opportunity. Though it's not exactly legal, Luke's never been one to worry about that sort of thing. Especially when it puts him behind the wheel of a Porsche 911 and onto the radar of gorgeous socialite named Rain.

Clara Bertelli is at the top of her game—at only twenty-six years old, she's one of the most successful undercover officers in the Washington D.C. major crime unit, and she's just been handed a case that could catapult her career and expose one of the west coast's most notorious car theft rings. But, in order to do it, she'll need to go deep undercover as Rain Martines. Her target? The twenty-four-year old nephew of a key player who appears ready to follow in his uncle's footsteps.

As Clara drifts deeper into the luxurious lifestyle of Rain, and further into the arms of her very attractive and charming target, the lines between right and wrong start to blur, making her wonder if she'll be able to leave it all behind. Or if she'll even want to.

Release date: March 3rd, 2015

Published by: Atria Books

Page numbers: 370

Review-

Becoming Rain is the second book in K.A.Tucker's Burying Water series. I had really enjoyed Burying Water and that is reason I went to Becoming Rain right after. Becoming Rain is the story of Luke and Clara. We'd met Luke in the previous book itself and though he was not one of my favourite characters I was still curious to read his story. Plus I am not a big fan of skipping books in between series. I think Becoming Rain was an overall good read.

Let's start with Luke. Luke wants to get ahead in life like any other person. He wants to earn money and hopefully the way to that is by managing his uncle's garage. But his Uncle Rust is involved in many shady things which Luke unwittingly becomes a part of. I liked Luke but I didn't think he was anything special. His character wasn't as gripping as say Jesse's. I found it a little hard to believe that Luke though his Uncle and he could get away with the things they were doing without hurting anyone.

Then we have our heroine, Clara. Clara is an undercover officer and a good one at that. She has worked hard for her career and this one assignment will take her career to the next level. So Clara goes undercover as Rain in an attempt to uncover what's going on with Rust and his nephew, Luke. I liked Rain she was a smart heroine but she was not as good of a cop as they claimed her to be. Not my favourite heroine ever but an okay one.

The chemistry between Luke and Rain was easy to see. They are attracted to each other but they are both hiding a lot. Each has his or her own issues to deal with but somehow in the midst of everything they still feel that they only understand each other. I liked the pace at which the romance played out between Luke and Rain.

Again, we get both Luke and Rain's point of view in Becoming Rain and I really enjoy dual povs so that was a plus. One thing about K.A.Tucker's writing is that we get a fully fleshed out cast of characters and everyone has a role to play. With just the right amount of fiction to make it believable Becoming Rain was a good addition to the Burying Water series.

Buy the book: Amazon.in

Review- Burying Water by K.A.Tucker

Summary-

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbour, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognises him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.

Release date: October 7th, 2014

Published by: Atria

Page numbers: 354

Review-

I have read and loved K.A.Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths before. I did read the remaining books in the Ten Tiny Breaths series as well but I did not like some of them and was more than disappointed that I didn't. That was the reason I was so hesitant to pick up anything else by her. I didn't get my hopes too up before I picked up Burying Water and I think that is why it surprised me so much. But in a pleasant way of course. 

Our heroine is a Jane Doe. After a horrific incident, she survives but she has lost all memory of herself. Because of a kind doctor she moves to the small town of Sisters, Oregon where she can start a new life for herself. She then starts calling herself Water. I loved Water. This girl had been through so much. Some decisions she had made in the past cost her so much in the present but I loved being inside her head and trying to figure things out.

Our guy is Jesse. I am SO glad that we got Jesse's point of view as well. because it was highly important to the story. Jesse is kind of like an anti hero. He's not a good guy and never claims to be. He's made mistakes in the past, gotten himself tangled up in the wrong stuff with the wrong people. But the only person he truly cares about is the girl Water was and is. I found Jesse to be a complex yet intriguing character.

The book goes from Jesse and Water's point of view. Where Water tells us what's happening in the present Jesse tells us what happened in the past. Of how he and the girl Water was met and what led them to the present. I loved the chemistry Jesse and Water shared. Things were extremely difficult and complicated for them but they still tried to be there for each other. Their story was definitely not an easy one.

If you're looking for an all out mushy romance, Burying Water is not the book for you. With multiple characters with shades of grey and a complex plot Burying Water is a mix of new adult romance and suspense. One that I highly enjoyed and would recommend to everyone looking for a change in pace in genres. I am really glad that the remainder of the series is out because I'm ready to devour all the books. Burying Water was a great read.

Buy the book: Amazon.in

Review- The Devil You Know by Trish Doller

Goodreads Summary:

Eighteen-year-old Arcadia wants adventure. Living in a tiny Florida town with her dad and four-year-old brother, Cadie spends most of her time working, going to school, and taking care of her family. So when she meets two handsome cousins at a campfire party, she finally has a chance for fun. They invite her and friend to join them on a road trip, and it's just the risk she's been craving-the opportunity to escape. But what starts out as a fun, sexy journey quickly becomes dangerous when she discovers that one of them is not at all who he claims to be. One of them has deadly intentions.

A road trip fling turns terrifying in this contemporary story that will keep readers on the edge of their seats. 

REVIEW:

The realisation that I have come to after reading The Devil You Know is that I miss the Trish Doller who wrote that insightful and simply dazzling book, Something Like Normal. The author wrote two books after that (one of which was Where the Stars Still Shine); both of which ended up being disappointing, for me at least. Having said that, I didn't hate the author's third novel, The Devil You Know, but I didn't appreciate it immensely either. While the beginning and the ending were both really nice, the rest of the story was just predictable and dull. 

After losing her mother to cancer, Arcadia becomes mother to her little brother while her father still mopes over the loss of his wife. Thoroughly done with being the responsible person in the house, on one of her day off, Arcadia decides to just let it all go, leave it all behind and take a break by going to a party happening somewhere nearby. That's where she meets two cousin brothers who are out on a road trip. She is attracted to them both, but thankfully, she prefers one over the other. Arcadia, whether in rage, rebellion or sheer dumbness (I can't point out which) decides to accompany these guys up to a certain extent because that's her only ticket to escape and finally live the adventures she has only dreamt of until now. She has no idea what adventure really awaits her. 

While the need to turn dreams into reality, being attracted to someone truly hot and nice, taking the risk to do something, whatever that may be, is understandable, there were so many aspects that had me questioning the whole point of the book. When Arcadia was so concerned about her family, I didn't see why she had to take off with someone she barely knew. While she seemed really caring at first, she just turned out to be dumb later. Although I have to give her credit for the act she pulled out at the end of the book. I couldn't stand her most of the time, but she didn't piss me off to no end either. She was just about bearable and her love and respect for her mom was nice to see. Of the two brothers, I really liked Noah. He was genuinely nice and his dog Molly was the centre of attention and highlight of the book for me. 

What was really nice about The Devil You Know was the mystery surrounding the story from the very beginning. It was easy to figure out there was something really freaky going on, and even easier to find out who the culprit was. It was really the dullest point ever. At one point, the story turned very alarming and spine-chilling which was really a work of marvel by Trish Doller. And as mentioned before, the very intriguing beginning and the gutsy and nice ending were a relief. It's just that everything that happened in between was very average and honestly, sometimes even unnecessary. All in all, this was just an okay read that thankfully was quick as well. 

RATING:

Review- Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

Goodreads Summary:

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat... and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.

REVIEW:

I was completely blown away by Tarryn Fisher's Love Me with Lies series. While I didn't love it as much as everyone else did, I still liked it enough for it to be on my mind for a long time after I finished reading it. I was quite excited about Mud Vein as the both the cover and the summary intrigued me at first glance. Unfortunately- and I say unfortunately because I don't particularly like this feeling- I have mixed feelings about the book. If this were a book I had to study, I would have opted for a detailed character analysis, but because it isn't, I'll just try to sum up my thoughts on the plot, the psychology, the characters and the writing. And as usual, I will leave it up to readers to know the story. That's not my part to tell, but the reader's to figure out.

The plot: This was one interesting and engaging plot. The book started out very slow and I have no idea what made me continue with it. I was just about to give up when something really astounding came up and I knew I had to know what would come next. The approach was something new and great but the way in which it was executed was not all that fancy. The book is basically divided into three parts, each named as per the stages of grief and that was something truly kick-ass to do. The second part was really well put down. It just flowed and it was the only part where I felt connected to the story. Other than that, I found the plot to be less engaging. I felt like I was waiting for something that never happened. I especially did not like the conclusion of the whole issue that was going on. It was too average for my liking. Although what I did love was the end. For a change, I found a kind of ending that I like to read about and that's real. 

The psychology: Like with her Love Me with Lies series, Tarryn Fisher takes up basic human psychology in Mud Vein as well, and that is such a feat. The author puts down human emotions and human nature in their natural, raw and true form. It's messed up but then it gets too messed up. Inertly, we are all very similar but we aren't very open about how we really feel. But the main character in this book is exactly the way she is, inside and out. It's all a game in this novel. Life is a game and everyone plays hard. The psychological aspect was pretty apt and strong. At the same time, it was too heavy and suicidal.   

The characters: The main female character is Senna. The main male character is Isaac. Then we have Senna's love, her shrink and her parents. What I didn't get about Senna is that she calls what her shrink says "existential crap", she hurts herself, she likes pain, she loves death, she is isolated, she doesn't take well to conventions and society and yet, she exists. Some might say she is strong to survive, while others might say she's just too weak to give up. She doesn't accept love, she doesn't express herself, she lives alone, and she walks out of conversations midway. She has an entire room painted white. I get it. I understand her. Even I can be as dangerous as her sometimes. But my point is, why inflict so much torture upon yourself? No matter what she does, she suffers anyway. Isaac and her shrink try hard to get her on track but she won't listen to anyone. Why? Because she's just like that. With Senna, it's either love or hate. There's no in-between. She is a modern, independent, strong yet confused woman whom I didn't really understand and I'm not even trying.

The writing: Wow. Tarryn Fisher's writing is so cool. I absolutely love it. If there's anything I absolutely love about this book, it's the writing. It's so pure and full of passion. I could actually make out how much the author loves writing and how passionate she is about her words. Her words have so much depth to them, it's hard to not praise it and fall in love with it. Even simple stuff was put down so meticulously and some of the lines were just too magical and so real. I loved loved loved the writing.

Mud Vein was a dark, deep, dirty, disgusting and dangerous read that I both liked and disliked. I loved certain significations in it and I loved the whole concept behind the title. It was something very different and that, for me, was refreshing, but at the same time, if I am to read only one book for the rest of my life, this wouldn't be the book I'd pick. Tarryn Fisher has some absolutely smashing ideas and she is a superb writer. She shows human nature in its true and unfiltered form and I love that about her. While Mud Vein had some great stuff in it, I wanted more. It didn't blow me away and I really wish it had. Save aside an incident or two, I didn't feel anything throughout the course of the story and I feel nothing after having finished it. Maybe that's the point of it or maybe it isn't. 

RATING:

Review- We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Goodreads Summary:

A beautiful and distinguished family.
A private island.
A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.
A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.
A revolution. An accident. A secret.
Lies upon lies.
True love.
The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it.
And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

REVIEW:

When your favourite bloggers read and appreciate a book, you have to read it, no matter what. We Were Liars has already gone down in history as the fastest and most sincere recommendation I've taken from my buddy Tanja. I had been seeing the book around a lot and when I read Tanja's absolutely beautiful review for it, I began reading the book within an hour of reading her review, so you can imagine the impact her review had on me. Our buddy Glass read and loved the book as well so that was definitely a plus. I wasn't expecting much (as I've learned not to do) from the book, but it seemed like it would be a very good story. Unfortunately, my feelings are mixed and even more unfortunate is the fact that I do not like mixed feelings.

Let me start with the positives. This was the first E. Lockhart book that I read and the writing was amazing. It had such a pretty flow to it and it could be read as poetry. It's not always easy to read books written this way and I am well aware that most people do not prefer to read in this manner, but I get hooked on to it from page one. The writing was the second reason why I went fast with the book than my normal reading speed. The first reason, you ask? The mystery. The intrigue. The curiosity. Just like the writing, I was into the plot from the beginning. I was dying to know exactly what would come my way and my curiosity was piqued to the point that I wasn't even making up my own imaginary scenes as I just wanted to know, know and know more.

That brings me to the plot itself. While the story was quite strong and highly interesting, I didn't quite like the way in which it was executed. I loved the ending because I love these kind of endings, but somewhere, I felt that something was missing and that is purely my fault since I kept asking and waiting for something more. There were quite a few issues that were going on on the island on which this story takes place among the family there and they were really good and well developed, but issues like this are much more fascinating when there's more depth to them. I felt that they became very petty at some point. Also, the ending didn't have an impact on me. If anything, I was only trying to search for something that wasn't there. The characters were fascinating, I would say, with each person having flaws, making them more real, but I didn't connect to them save for a few truly exceptional times.

I really wish I had liked We Were Liars more like everyone seems to have, but then again, I am someone who goes left when everyone goes right. Anyway, I am so glad I gave the book a try since it is beautiful in its own way and the whole reading process was one amazingly cool experience keeping me at the edge of my seat throughout and when a book does that,  it is a good book. The few aspects that I didn't quite enjoy or "get" end up being the main parts unluckily, but that aside, this was a good book.

RATING:

Review- Mine To Keep by Cynthia Eden

Summary-

Love is the most dangerous obsession…

Skye Sullivan is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. She survived a brutal stalker and escaped his abduction, and now she is looking to the future—a future that includes Skye’s lover, billionaire Trace Weston. Skye thinks the danger is finally over for her.

She’s dead wrong.

When Trace’s past comes back to haunt him, Skye discovers that the man she loves isn’t quite who he seems to be. Trace has been leading a double-life. An ex-special forces agent, his military training turned him into the perfect killing machine. He made more than his share of enemies during his time in the military—and as he built his security empire—and one of those enemies is striking back.

He won’t lose her.

Skye is the one weapon that can be used against Trace—his only vulnerability. But he won’t let her go—he can’t. Trace will do anything necessary to protect Skye. Anything. Yet when she discovers the secrets that he’s tried to keep hidden, Skye’s pain and rage may send her running directly into the cross-hairs of a killer…

Review-                                                                                                                                               

After reading Mine To Take by Cynthia Eden I didn't think I could enjoy Mine To Keep more. But I so did. It was great to see Skye and Trace again. They make an amazing couple. But it was not only that. There are so many things we didn't know about Trace's past. Many things get uncovered.

Skye is still trying to recover from the events which took place at the end of the first book, Mine To Take. She still gets nightmares of her brutal abduction and it is difficult. But now all she wants to do is   happily live with Trace. But she's dead wrong when Trace's past comes back to haunt him. So many secrets are uncovered and their relationship is tested.

Trace has been through a hell lot when he was away from Skye in the past years. He has no intention of ever telling Skye that he's the perfect killing machine. Skye is his one weakness, his only vulnerability. He will do anything to protect her. I loved Trace. He pushed all the limits to protect Skye. He only wants what's best for her and is willing to do anything for Skye.

We get to see a lot of things which we had missed in the previous book. At the end of Mine to Keep there is no doubt left that Skye and Trace are perfect for each other. There's lust, there's obsession, there's love, there's betrayal. So many elements in the book but they tie up together perfectly.

New characters are seamlessly added into the story. The flow and pace of the book is smooth. I can't wait to know more about what happens with each one of them. Cynthia Eden skillfully writes the suspense intertwining romance. There is enough intrigue to keep you occupied and relationships are explored alongside. I loved Mine to Keep.

Review- Mine To Take by Cynthia Eden

Summary-

Sometimes you want someone so much…
Sometimes you need someone so much…
Lust can become love.
And love can turn into a deadly obsession.

***

Skye Sullivan knows that someone is watching her. Not just watching—stalking her. Months ago, Skye was involved in a dangerous car accident. The accident ended her dancing career and sent her fleeing back to Chicago. Skye is convinced that her stalker caused the crash, and she fears that he won’t stop pursuing her, not until she’s dead.

When someone breaks into her apartment in Chicago, Skye turns to the one man she believes can protect her—Trace Weston. Once, Trace was her lover. Two lost souls, they’d come together in a firestorm of need and desire. But then Trace had pushed her away. He’d joined the military, vanishing from her life. She’d put all of her emotion into dancing, and she’d tried to forget him.

Now Trace is one of the most successful men in the United States. Rich, driven, and carrying dark secrets, he agrees to help Skye. He’ll protect her from the danger that lurks in the darkness, but Trace wants more than to just be a guard for Skye.

He wants her. And he’ll take her. The years have changed him, hardened him. He’s not just a poor kid from the streets any longer. Now, he can have anything—or anyone—that he wants. And the one woman he has always wanted has just come back into his life. He won’t let her go again.

But with the threats mounting against Skye, she suspects that her stalker may be intimately close. He’s a man who knows her too well. As his attacks grow ever more dangerous, she realizes that if she trusts the wrong man, she could be making a fatal mistake.

Lust. Love. Obsession.

Just how far would you go in order to possess the one person you want the most?

Review-

Mine To Take is the first book in Cynthia Eden's Mine series. This one is actually a novella which starts off the series and the second book is a full fledged novel which has the same couple Skye and Trace in it. I haven't read many romantic suspense books yet, but I really liked Mine To Take. I'll have to dig in more into this genre.

Skye knows someone is watching her. She can feel being stalked but no one is ready to believe her. After all her options are exhausted she finally decides to ask help from the one person she didn't think she'd ever see again. Trace. I really liked Skye. She was a girl with her head on her shoulders. After her accident, she's worked hard to get where she is. But someone is trying to sabotage her plans.

Trace wants Skye. He's always wanted her and she's the only reason he's survived all these years. Skye just doesn't know it. But now she's back and asking for his help. Trace never intends to let her go again. I loved Trace. He was almost obsessive in his love for Skye. You can see how protective and possessive he is.

I loved the tension between Skye and Trace. They have incredible chemistry. Skye may deny her feelings for Trace at first, but when they come together they were combustible. I loved the suspense in the plot. Cynthia Eden balances the romantic elements amazing well with the suspense. Keeps you guessing who the stalker is. I loved Mine To Take and I'm looking forward to the next one.