Review- Thief by Tarryn Fisher

Summary-

Note to Self

Love is patient; love is kind.
Love doesn't boast or brag.
There's no arrogance in love;
it's never rude, crude, or indecent-it's not self absorbed.
Love isn't easily upset.
Love doesn't tally wrongs.
Love trusts, hopes, and endures no matter what.
Love will never become obsolete.
I'll fight for her.

Thief

Caleb Drake never got over his first love. Not when he got married. Not when she got married. When life suddenly comes full circle Caleb must decide how how far he is willing to go to get the aloof and alluring Olivia Kaspen back. But for every action in life there is a consequence, and soon Caleb finds out that sometimes love comes at an unbearably high price.

Review-

Thief is the very much anticipated conclusion to the Love me with Lies series. You can find Sarika's reviews of The Opportunist and Dirty Red. This is one of the most fucked up series I've read and I can't help but being fascinated by the characters and the emotions that these books bring out in me. Caleb and Olivia are willing to do anything, anything for their love.

Thief is completely told from Caleb's point of view and I was really excited to  get into his head. In the previous books Caleb comes off as the most decent person as compared to Olivia and Leah. But all of that changes when we come to know his real self in Thief. He is willing to cheat, lie, destroy, kill, sacrifice his integrity to get back Olivia. His obsession with her has no bounds, just as his love.

I actually liked Caleb. He had all the qualities I don't really like in a person but his love for Olivia remained constant throughout. There wasn't a single moment where he denied the feelings and all that just justified his behavior. I really liked Olivia in this one too. Time has matured both of them and it was obvious that they weren't ready for each other in the previous books.

There is no doubt left, that the chemistry between Caleb and Olivia is hot. There's a line in the book which says that, he is the fire and she put in the gasoline. That is SO true. They have a love which destroys them both. They are inexplicably entwined with each other and try as they may they can't break that bond. Tarryn Fisher makes us love these extremely flawed characters.

I think Thief brings everything to a full circle. Many incidents which were left open in the previous books get their clarifications. Despite the wrong things they do, you actually understand Leah, Caleb and Olivia so well that you think maybe a part of you is just like them. Thief was the perfect end to Olivia and Caleb's story after all they had gone through and after all the casualties they'd brought in their love. This was an amazing read.

Review- Mine To Crave by Cynthia Eden

Summary-

HE TAKES WHAT HE WANTS.

From the moment that billionaire casino owner Drake Archer sees Jasmine Bennett, he’s obsessed. Consumed by desire for the mysterious redhead, Drake will do anything necessary to claim her. Yet as desire rages between them, danger is stalking ever closer. Drake’s past isn’t dead, and the ex-Special Forces agent will soon have to face the ghosts he left behind. 

SHE’S HIDING SECRETS.

Jasmine isn’t who she pretends to be. She’s a woman on a mission—and she’s supposed to be stealing secrets from the mysterious Drake. Falling for him isn’t on her agenda, but when lust and love tangle together, all the rules get broken. 

AN ENEMY IS CLOSING IN…

When Drake learns of Jasmine’s betrayal…all hell breaks loose. He knows that he should turn his back on her, but it’s too late for him. He can’t let her go, but he can teach her a lesson. No one betrays him…not without paying a heavy price. Drake will destroy all of the enemies on his trail, he’ll bury his past, and he’ll teach Jasmine to want only him…just as much as he craves her.

Review-

I am a huge Cynthia Eden fan especially of her Mine series. So I was really excited to get started on the latest installment which is Mine to Crave. I had really liked Drake in the previous books so I was really looking forward to his story. While I enjoyed Mine to Crave, I can't say that it is my favorite out of the bunch.

Drake Archer is a billionaire casino owner. He is best friends with Trace Weston and Noah York who together formed a covert operations group. Drake was the most intriguing character to me because he always seemed to stand on the line between good and bad. He has been horribly betrayed before so now he doesn't take any chances. Overall I really liked Drake.

Our heroine is Jasmine. She isn't who she pretends to be and she has her own secrets. I wasn't a fan of Jasmine in the beginning because there were just too many unknowns where she was concerned. But as we got to know her I started liking her. The way she and Drake got together was a little unbelievable but I was okay with it.

I loved the romance in Mine to Crave. There is no doubt about the chemistry Drake and Jasmine share and they are really good together. I also liked that the suspense part in this book was much more complicated as compared to the previous ones. I liked how interconnected everything was.

We also get introduced to new characters which means there are going to be more books in the Mine series. I am really looking forward to Victor and Saxon's stories. This one was another great read by Cynthia Eden. If you're a romantic suspense fan you should definitely check the Mine series out.

*Note: A copy of this book was provided by the publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. We thank them.

Cover Reveal- Blood Rose by Margie Orford

Hello again, everyone! We have another cover reveal post for today, brought to you by Litearti Author Servies again. Oh, how I love helping revealing book covers! So let's get on to the post that's in store for you. 

Title: Blood Rose Author: Margie Orford Genre: Fiction/Mystery & Detective Publish Date: May 13, 2014 Publisher: WitnessImpulse an imprint of HarperCollins Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.  

~ Book Synopsis ~

“Margie Orford has nailed it...wonderfully crafted and fully engrossing.” - Michael Connelly Walvis Bay is a depressed and isolated port on the edge of the Namib Desert. Corrupt and claustrophobic, its shifting population is made of transients and vagabonds-people with no future and no past. When it seems a methodical serial killer may be working undetected in this pit of darkness and desperation, police profiler Dr. Clare Hart is brought in to investigate. With her personal life in shambles, Clare is initially happy for the distraction, until it becomes clear that her own life - and the lives of others - are at stake. This enthralling procedural is perfect for fans of Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs.  

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More about the book

The gruesome murder of a homeless teenage boy suggests a methodical serial killer is at work in Walvis Bay, a depressed port, isolated in the vast sweep of the Namib Desert. It is a corrupt, claustrophobic place with a shifting population of people who came here only because they had to. Sent to profile the possible killer is police profiler and investigative journalist Dr Clare Hart. Working with Tamar Damases, the woman who heads up the town's Murder Unit, Clare is glad for the distraction. Until a few days ago, her budding relationship with Captain Riedwaan Faizal seemed to be going very well indeed - but she knows she is not the only woman in his life - As the two women trace older crimes that may be related to the recent killings, they soon realise that nothing is as it seems. And as Riedwaan comes to join Clare, to help with the investigation and to try to salvage their relationship, it soon becomes clear that it is more than just their feelings that is in danger. In fact their lives - and the lives of others - are now at stake.

Purchase Links

HaperCollins | Amazon | Barnes and Noble

 

About the Author

MARGIE ORFORD is an award-winning journalist who has been dubbed the Queen of South African Crime Fiction. Her novels have been translated into nine languages. She was born in London and grew up in Namibia. A Fulbright Scholar, she was educated in South Africa and the United States. She is Executive Vice-President of South African PEN, the patron of Rape Crisis and of the children’s book charity, the Little Hands Trust. She lives in Cape Town. The entire Clare Hart series is forthcoming from Witness.

Connect with the author Twitter | Website | Goodreads

Giveaway

10 individual promo codes for a free download of the book for an entire tour. Winner must have access to Bluefire Reader and have an Adobe account to receive free download  
 

Entry-Form

Thank you for stopping by and happy reading! 

Cover Reveal- Summer Rain by Various Authors

Hi guys! Here's a really nice cover reveal post brought to you by Literati Author Servies, Inc. and we're glad to share it with you on our blog. 

Title

Summer Rain

Author

Ruthie Knox, Molly O’Keefe, Cecilia Tan, Charlotte Stein, Mary Ann Rivers, Amy Jo Cousins, Audra North, Shari Slade, Alexandra Haughton

Genre: Genre romance anthology

Publication Date: June 9, 2014

Cover Design: Book Beautiful

Event Organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

 

Synopsis

In this romance anthology, RITA-Award winning author Molly O’Keefe shows us the power of a city thunderstorm from the top of a skyscraper, while Amy Jo Cousins soaks us in a rain in Spain. New York Times bestselling author Ruthie Knox’s heroine is devastated by a winter storm, while a summer thunderstorm grants Alexandra Haughton’s hero and heroine a second chance at love. Rain sparks self-awareness in the robot in Charlotte Stein’s story and allows Mary Ann Rivers’s heroine to fall in love with her hero and her own art. Rain causes romance between the college students in Audra North’s and Shari Slade’s stories, while romance causes rain in Cecilia Tan’s myth-inspired tale of a sacrifice to a demi-god. Nine romance novelettes, edited by Sarah Frantz.   All proceeds from the volume will be donated to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States.

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About the Author

In this romance anthology, RITA-Award winning authors come together to tell the tales of the power of love, second chances, and self-sacrifice. Weathering the storm and romance has beautifully come together in nine novelettes. Each story unique, told through the voices of many talented authors.   All proceeds from the volume will be donated to the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (www.rainn.org), the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the United States.

Thank you for stopping by and happy reading! 

Top Ten Tuesday #27

Top Ten Tuesday is a bookish meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

Today's topic is: 

ten books we almost put down but didn't

Here's my list: 

Oh, this is an interesting topic that can be interpreted in many ways. I dunno which is the right one so mine's a general list.  

1) I had been wanting to read any of Rushdie's works since a long time and Midnight's Children had been sitting on my shelf since forever. It took me nearly three months to read this one, but I did it and I'm proud of myself. 

2) Again, I was desperate to read Khuswant Singh and it was so hard to get into Train to Pakistan, but the determined soul that I can be, I did it. 

3) My sincere apologies to Obsidian fans, but Onyx was way too cliché for me to continue with the series. I somehow finished it off, and from then on, it's just thanks, but no, thanks.

4) Rapture was boring as hell but it marked the end of the series, so I sat through it and made an achievement. I didn't get the point of this series but I finished it nonetheless and that is a feat. 

5) The Host came out around the time when I would have read practically anything Meyer wrote and I didn't want to but I did anyway. I am glad I read it since it was perhaps that first Sci-Fi book I read and the experience was quite fine. 

6) I knew Hunting Lila wouldn't be my kind of book but when your best friend wants to buddy read, you buddy read. When I read the book, I liked it. But if anyone would ask me to read it now... Thanks but no, thanks. 

7) The Darkest Lie is a book I only read for reading it. I don't even remember what happened in it. I could've skipped it but I didn't because the plot has something or the other to do with the next book in the series. 

8) What was I thinking? When Janhvi told me about this book, I thought it wouldn't make a big difference if I skipped it. Well, I was wrong. For Darkness Shows the Stars was one shiny and bright book. 

9) This series is way too sweet and that's one of the reasons why I wasn't much into it. I could've given up on it, but like I did for the choices above, I didn't. Rainshadow Road was- no surprises there- a supremely sweet read. 

10) Ah, my dear friend Abbi Glines. Hmmm. I loved the first three books in this series and I had almost had too much of it when Just For Now came out. I can't say I'm as big a fan of the series now as I was before, but this really could have been one of the New Adult series that I could have truly loved. 

What books made it to your list? Link me up to your posts in the comments and I'll make sure to stop by it. 

Review- Dirty Red by Tarryn Fisher

Goodreads Summary:

Dear Opportunist,

You thought you could take him from me, but you lost. Now, that he's mine I'll do anything to keep him. Do you doubt me? I have everything that was supposed to be yours. In case you were wondering; he doesn't ever think about you anymore. I won't let him go....ever.

Dirty Red

Leah Smith finally has everything she has ever wanted. Except she doesn't. Her marriage feels more like a loan than a lifelong commitment, and the image she has worked so hard to build is fraying before her eyes. With a new role and a past full of secrets, Leah must decide how far she is willing to go to keep what she has stolen.

Love Me With Lies series:

Sarika's review of The Opportunist (Love Me With Lies #1)

REVIEW:

Dirty Red is the second book in Tarryn Fisher's Love Me With Lies series. You can find my review of the first book, The Opportunist, here. While I had mixed feelings about the first book, I loved the whole experience of reading it which is a plus. Dirty Red, however, was, as the title aptly suggests, a dirty read that I did not like as much as book #1. 

I tend to see good in all people, in spite of how they actually are. Janhvi is an intelligent girl who does her research well before diving into a book. She knew that the MC in this book is a crap head and so she asked me to review the book, thinking that I would see the good in her. 

Well, surprise! I did not like the main character at all. She only ever had one intention- to get her man and keep him. Her family situation, no matter how bad it was- and I can be a sympathetic person- did not make me feel anything for her. All I wanted was to slap her and kick her out. She was the epitome of qualities I absolutely detest- artificiality, bitchiness, egocentricity and manipulation. Ugh. 

I am not even going to bother saying anything about the story. It's one of those things that you have to find out for yourself. What I can say is what I didn't say in my review of the first book. I was so engrossed in decoding the characters that I forgot about the author. Tarryn Fisher's writing is absolutely beaut. Her stories might be mind fucking but her writing is enough to make you love her books. Her writing is accuracy, exactness, precision and this might shock you, but even the truth, all put in one. It's a psychological mess, all of this. 

So all in all, Dirty Red gave us something different and similar at the same time. We only heard from a different person's perspective. Other than that, I didn't find anything quite amusing or extraordinary about it. I didn't exactly devour the book, but I more like sat through it. It was a well written and mind blasting book but not my favourite for sure. I don't know why but I don't really like what everyone else loves and maybe that's why I'm finding it hard to love this series. 

RATING:

Guest Post + Giveaway (IN Only)- Business Doctors by Sameer Kamat

Hi guys! I have a very fresh and exciting post for you today. We are featuring the super sweet author Sameer Kamat, who has not just written an interesting guest post for us, but he has, very generously sent me the entire post! So without wasting any time, let's get on to what Sameer has in store for you! 

Giveaway - Business Doctors: Management Consulting Gone Wild by Sameer Kamat

This guest post is written by Sameer Kamat, author of Business Doctors -Management Consulting Gone Wild, a story based on the bizarre concept of management consultants trying to turn around an underworld organisation. On the day it got listed on Amazon India, it broke into the Top 25 in Indian Writing. A few days later, the Ebook cracked into the Amazon Top 25 in Action and Adventure.

Sameer is the founder of MBA Crystal Ball and Booksoarus. His first book, Beyond The MBA Hype published by HarperCollins, is currently in the third reprint. Sameer is the founder of MBA Crystal Ball, Booksoarus and Careerizma. He's also the creator of a Free Online Mini MBA that hopes to compete with the best mini MBA online programs in the world.

'Careerizma'  / 'Free Online Mini MBA'  / 'best mini MBA online programs'

Is reading novels a waste of time?

Thank you Sarika and Janhvi for the opportunity to reach out to your readers. I assume most of them love fiction. However, there are a few who appear a little unsure of where their love for novels might be taking them. So, let me focus on a question that might pop up once in a while in the minds of many fiction fans.

I am active on several forums where I interact with readers, students and professionals. On one such forum, I saw the following query:

I find it more enjoyable to read novels over self-help books, but I still want to get knowledge from those books. Is it a waste of time by just reading what I like?

The response might sound a little ironic coming from an author. If you are in a similar boat, the perspectives that I share below might be helpful.

Given the context that you want more than just entertainment from the books you read, you will be wasting time if you read too much of anything that doesn't help your primary objective (of getting some new knowledge with every book you read).

That brings up another related question: 

Is fiction purely for entertainment? Is there no knowledge in it at all?

In the publishing world, fact doesn't need to sound like fiction, but fiction to a large extent needs to sound like fact. 

For this reason, some authors go to great lengths to research specific topics, people, emotions, illnesses, industries, phenomena and weave them into the stories to make them believable.

I can speak from personal experience. I've written 2 books (non-fiction and fiction). My first book, Beyond The MBA Hype fell in the non-fiction genre. Business Doctors is a regular novel with a twisted idea that hopefully will never see the light of day in the real world.

For both, I had to do a lot of research, but the quantum and range of what I did for fiction exceeded my non-fiction research. 

For the novel, I had to research industries like gambling, drugs and porn that I was never exposed to as a professional consultant and would probably never want to be associated with in real life either. 

But it was enlightening to link back the insights to the much of the wisdom and theory I had seen in academic books.

For my first (non-fiction) book, my goal was to educate more than entertain.
For Business Doctors, it’s the other way around. It’s written primarily to entertain, but I hope the reader gets to learn something new as well in a fun manner.

If you choose the right books (even in the fiction domain), you might gain more knowledge and in a shorter span of time, compared to reading boring, non-fiction books.

The operative word there is 'right books'. Choose the right genre. Instead of starting off on a clean slate, ask for recommendations (on forums such as Goodreads or voracious readers like Janhvi & Sarika).

You'll discover many gems that never got commercial success, but the wisdom in them makes it worth the effort spent discovering them. 

Switch genres once in a while. If you’ve only read Romance, Young Adult and Fantasy, try Thrillers, Mystery, Action & Adventure.

Your brain is powerful enough to connect the dots across disparate topics and give you a steady dose of mini-eureka moments.

Happy reading!

- - -

Links:

Buy the Book: Flipkart | Amazon | Infibeam | Ebook

Business Doctors & Author Links: Facebook | Goodreads | Twitter 

- - -

GIVEAWAY:

Sameer has generously offered to give away TWO copies of

 Business Doctors: Management Consulting Gone Wild

to two lucky Indian readers.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May the odds be ever in your favor! :)

Add on- Giveaway rules are simple:

*The giveaway is open to residents of India only. 

*Enter by filling out the Rafflecopter form. 

*Once winners are picked and emailed, they will have 48 hours to respond or else we'll be compelled to pick other winners.

*The book will be ordered/ shipped by the author. 

I'd like to thank Sameer for stopping by our blog today and making this super cool post for us. I'd also like to wish him lots of happiness and success in life. 

Thank you, readers, for stopping by!