REVIEW: Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare

Series: The Infernal Devices, #3

Publication Date: March 19th 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

Hardcover, Collector's First Edition, 568 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Danger and betrayal, secrets and enchantment in the breathtaking conclusion to the Infernal Devices trilogy.

Tessa Gray should be happy - aren't all brides happy?
Yet as she prepares for her wedding, a net of shadows begins to tighten around the Shadowhunters of the London Institute.
A new demon appears, one linked by blood and secrecy to Mortmain, the man who plans to use his army of pitiless automatons, the Infernal Devices, to destroy the Shadowhunters. Mortmain needs only one last item to complete his plan. He needs Tessa. And Jem and Will, the boys who lay equal claim to Tessa's heart, will do anything to save her.

Clockwork Princess was one of my most anticipated releases of 2013 and not just for one reason... The previous book in the Infernal Devices series, Clockwork Prince, absolutely left me speechless, so naturally I couldn't wait to read how the story would finally wrap up. And what an ending did Clockwork Princess provide!

But let's take things from the beginning. To every reader that has read even a single book by Cassandra Clare, it's no news that this author knows how to grasp your attention and make you travel in fantastic worlds. And here, after having read and the final book in this prequel to the Mortal Instruments series, I just have to say that Infernal Devices is so much better than the MI and so much more mature. At least it felt that way and in any case I found myself enjoying Infernal Devices much more. And the thing I have enjoyed the most is the way the love triangle was written. Shocking, I know! I usually absolutely hate love triangles. But in Infernal Devices it was one of the best triangles I have ever read in a long time, maybe ever. In this story the triangle was there, centre to everything that happened throughout the whole story but at the same time it wasn't the sole focus of the story. It felt just natural, something that was absolutely essential for the narration and not just a trend.
And now that things have finally ended and I got my answer with whom Tessa finally ended up with and especially after that epilogue I can only say one thing: every reader will feel satisfied with how things wrapped up, at least in the romantic department. But I, felt that it was just too good to be true. That last 15 pages or so were so fitting to the story but they made me feel that I was reading a fairy tale with an ending that was too good for everyone. Yeah, one could say that I'm a bit torn towards that ending....

You see on a deeper level, I wanted for Clare to end her story the way she did. It was the best way for such a triangle to be solved. But still, no matter how fitting, no matter how I wanted it to end that way, I still felt that it was a bit unrealistic. As unrealistic after a moment felt for me the reactions of Tessa, Will and Jem. Who on earth is so civilised when such truths emerge? But that's a matter of preference. Because whether I liked the ending or not, it was written in such a way that I couldn't possibly not love it.

As far as the story is concerned, Clockwork Princess is the most action packed of all three novels in this series and that was to be expected. I loved every twist and turn of the plot and I literally devoured this book in a matter of hours. The best part for me? The genealogical tree at the end of the book. Silly I know to love such a detail from a great book but I can't help myself!I love those kind of details and I only wished that there were more characters' lineage there :)

All in all, Clockwork Princess was one of the best books I read by Cassandra Clare and even if I didn't agree 100% with the ending, I couldn't see how things could end otherwise. Any other ending would be a compromise to an outstanding series. All I can say now is that I can't wait for the new series Clare has in store and takes place after the MI.Something tells me that that series will be the best one yet!

REVIEW: How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

Series: Tales of the Underlight, #3

Publication Date: May 13th 2013

Publisher: Carina Press

ebook, 292 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

It's all been leading to this .

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke's diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It's been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…

How Beauty Loved the Beast is the much awaited conclusion to the very successful sci-fi series, Tales of The Underlight written by Jax Garren and let me tell you fans of the series won't be disappointed in the least. I know I wasn't! And how could I ever be when Garren's writing style and the way she portrays her heroes and their emotions is simply irresistible!

If you read my reviews of the previous two books in the series then you know how much I loved everything about Jax Garren's writing style and her story. So, there's no need for me to repeat myself by saying what an amazing author she is once more or how much I loved her main and secondary heroes of this story. Even if all the books in the series are rather short, Jax Garren's stories are character driven. Her main focus is her characters and their emotions and that is why I probably love so much this series. Jolie is so much more than a pretty dancer and Hauk is so much more than scars and muscles.

The final book in the series, wraps up the whole plot but here I have to note that there are more things to be said. Maybe most of the basic things were covered but I'm left feeling that there's just more to everything. I don't know if the author did that on purpose and she will return on the same universe with another set of characters later or things couldn't possibly wrap up better, but I sure hope that it was intentional. In my mind there are two characters who would make a perfect couple for a future story but that remains to be seen. After all, The Order of Ananke is far from defeated...

But while I really liked pretty much everything about How Beauty Loved the Beast, somehow, I was left unsatisfied too. Maybe part of that is because of the ending of the story and how I felt that there were more things to be said. Maybe it's because the whole thing wrapped up pretty quickly. And maybe it is because this final instalment in the series was more focused on Jolie's and Hauk's relationship rather than what happened with Underlight and the Order and their final battle. But probably, it's because of all the reasons mentioned above. Don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed reading about Jolie and Hauk, they are one of my favorite fictional couples but when so many other crucial things kept happening or were on the verge of happening, I just felt that it was wrong for the sole focus of the story to be their relationship. Maybe I'm wrong here, but that's what I was expecting from this final book. And while I did get a closure I still don't know how I feel about that. And the ending.... Well, after reading the author's note at the end I couldn't help but agreeing with her choice of ending but still, I found myself wanting the alternative... But, despite that, the whole ending is a matter of preference. Either one of them would fit the story, so that wasn't any real problem. Any problems I had were purely with the way things wrapped up with the Order rather than anything else.

All in all, How Beauty Loved the Beast is just as amazing as the rest books in this series even if I had some minor troubles with it. Despite what I said I really enjoyed reading it and I just can't wait to read anything else Jax Garren will write in the future. And even if I truly hope that she will return on the same universe again I really want to read something completely different and new too. Whatever the case, there's no way I'm gonna miss Garren's next story!

* Review first published at Book Lovers Inc
* ARC provided via NetGalley for review purposes

REVIEW: Defying the Odds by Kele Moon

Defying the Odds by Kele Moon

Series:Battered Hearts, #1

Publication Date: December 20th 2011

Publisher:Loose Id LLC

ebook, 165 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

When struggling waitress Melody Dylan gives a handsome, lonely stranger a simple gift she has no clue her life is about to take a drastic turn.

The stranger ends up being Clay Powers, a famous UFC heavyweight fighter. Clay’s large build and dangerous fists have always intimidated. People in his hometown keep their distance and Clay is fine with that. Everything changes when a new waitress at the local diner buys him a piece of pie on thanksgiving. Touched by the gesture when it’s obvious she can barely afford to survive, her warm smile and lush body churn up powerful feelings that leave Clay wanting more from her than pie.

Melody is running from her past and the small, country town of Garnet is the perfect hiding place. With an ex-husband after her and scars from her abusive marriage etched deep, the last thing she expects is to fall for a man who makes a living with his fists, but she can’t resist Clay or the tender connection they share.

Finding love in the most unlikely of places, the passion is undeniable, but Clay and Melody know their haunted pasts and unpredictable futures leave the odds stacked against them.

Publisher's Note: This book contains explicit sexual situations, graphic language, and material that some readers may find objectionable: violence.

Defying the Odds was a very pleasant surprise for me! Surely, I have read all the raving reviews about this book but with my luck lately, that doesn't mean that I would actually enjoy a book others have loved... But I'm glad to say, that Defying the Odds lives up to its expectations and it was a book I really enjoyed reading!

It's no big secret that I love my contemporary romances sweet yet at the same time sexy. It's a common combination in stories out there, but it's not that successful always as one might think. In some cases the sexiness overshadows everything else, while some other times a story can be really sweet, but with little to no sex in it, something that I have no problem with, but let's face it, I tend to feel unsatisfied afterwards, searching for a little spiciness in all that sweetness. Who says I'm hard to satisfy?

Defying the Odds though has the perfect balance between sexy and sweet. Between cute and lust. It's just written in a way that will satisfy any reader's appetite and mood. And that is the best thing about this story for me. That is what I loved the most and why I couldn't wait to pick book two as soon as I finished reading this one. Kele Moon, has found in this novel the perfect balance between everything thus making her story irresistible!

As far as the plot is concerned, you will not find any big surprises here. Defying the Odds follows most of the cliches of the romantic genre but fear not, it manages to stand out. Not only because of that balance I talked about before, but because of its characters as well, both main and secondary. And that is the second thing I really loved about this story: the way the characters were written and their development. Kele Moon really focuses on her characters, since most of the secondary characters in this one will either be the main ones in future novels or will appear again. So she tries her best to introduce everyone to us and make us want to know more about them, making it hard for the reader to not anxiously await for future novels in this series. At least I know I can hardly resist them when they get published! I want to read each and everyone's story!

This one though, is the story of Clay, a UFC fighter and Melody, a waitress who runs for her past and falls right into the hands of one unmistakably sexy and gorgeous man who will change her life forever! Clay is super delicious while Melody is as naive as one could get but somehow her naivete instead of irritating me made me adore her. Their chemistry is off the charts and the romance between them has the exact pace I love in a story. No insta love or lust. Surely they like each other and are attracted to each other but not in the way I'm tired of reading lately with clenching wombs and wetness between the heroine's legs every single time she lays her eyes on the hero.

All in all, Defying the Odds was a most pleasant surprise of a book for me! I loved pretty much everything about it and as soon as I finished reading it, I just immediately grabbed the next one. And so far, it's just as good, so something tells me that this series, will be my next obsession for some time :)

*This title was provided for review via NetGalley

REVIEW: To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn

To Catch an Heiress by Julia Quinn

Series: Agents of the Crown, #1

Publication Date:September 4th 2008 (first published July 1st 1998)

Publisher:Piatkus

Paperback, 384 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

When Caroline Trent is kidnapped by Blake Ravenscroft, she doesn't even try to elude this dangerously handsome agent of the crown. After all, she's been running from unwanted marriage proposals. Yes, Blake believes she's a notorious spy named Carlotta De Leon, but for six weeks until her twenty-first birthday, when she'll gain control of her fortune, hiding out in the titillating company of a mysterious captor is awfully convenient - and maybe just a little romantic, too.

Blake Ravenscroft's mission is to bring 'Carlotta' to justice, not to fall in love. His heart has been hardened by years of intrigue, but this little temptress proves oddly disarming and thoroughly kissable. And suddenly the unthinkable becomes possible - and this mismatched couple might be destined for love.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

I hadn't realised how much I had missed Julia Quinn's writing style until I picked up one of her novels! I mean she's among those authors that just can't fail me with their work and her stories are always a delight to read. So, it isn't really a big surprise that I absolutely loved To Catch an Heiress!

Most good authors have a distinctive quality, that certain something in their "voice" that makes the reader tell apart their writing style from that of any other. And in Julia Quinn's case, that certain quality is her humor. I mean her stories are so lighthearted and funny that are a pure delight to read! Her stories are not overly sensual, there's definitely some sex there, but it's not the main focus of the story. Her writing style is more playful and the romance is focused more on the constant bickering between the couple rather than their scorching hot encounters. And I had so missed that!

To Catch an Heiress is as good as one might expect from Quinn and then some! I loved Caroline and Blake's story, I loved their constant fights, Caroline's carefree personality and her ability to see good in every bad thing that happened to her in her life and Blake's wounded heart. To put it simply, I just loved everything about this book!

I really can't say anything about the character development or the quality of the writing style. They are impeccable, as one might expect from an author like Julia Quinn. She has a way around words and add to that her incredible humorous tone and you've got in your hands one hell of a story!

Honestly, I can't make that review long, even if I wanted. All I have to say about To Catch an Heiress is that every lover of Historical Romance should definitely give this title a chance. It's so fast-paced and funny and sweet that you won't even realise when you'll reach the final page!

REVIEW: What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries

What the Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries

Series: The Duke's Men, #1

Publication Date: June 18th 2013

Publisher: Pocket Books

Mass Market Paperback, 416 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, long ago buried his grief for his missing elder brother, Peter, who was presumed dead after being kidnapped. When a mysterious note arrives from Tristan Bonnaud asserting that the Duke's brother is alive, it leads Max straight to the winsome Lisette Bonnaud, illegitimate daughter of a viscount and Tristan's sister. Soon he and Lisette are traveling to Paris posing as husband and wife, in search of Tristan, who has disappeared. And the longer he spends with Lisette, the easier it is for Max to see that the line between dukedom and desire is easier to cross than heimagined . . .

The premise of What the Duke Desires sounds more than intriguing and upon reading it I kind of believed that this book was right up my alley. Add to that the fact that I've heard nothing but praise about Sabrina Jeffries's work and I was more than excited about reading. Now that I finally read it, although I did enjoy this book in overall, I can't say that I was very impressed with it either. There were some parts in this book that really worked for me and some others that just fell flat I'm afraid...

Let's start with the good things about What the Duke Desires. And one among them is Sabrina Jeffries's writing style. Having finally read one of her books I totally understand why people praise her work. The pace of the story was great, I literally devoured it and finished it in no time, while her descriptions of Lisette's and Max's travels were beyond fascinating and probably my favorite part of the book.

But, even with the decent writing style and the vivid descriptions, What the Duke Desires was just an ok read. And that happened mainly for two reasons. The first one was the fact that the romance between the leading couple felt completely flat for me. There was no connection between them, no chemistry, no spark. I read about their feelings, I wanted them to get their HEA but I wasn't dying to see them reaching it. Even if the characters were well presented and had a background (I've noticed that underdeveloped characters usually make me not care about what happens to them) still, I couldn't feel their emotions. There were moments I felt that those two were together only because the author wanted them to.

The other reason I didn't enjoy What the Duke Desires as much as I expected was the fact that the mystery part of the story was not that mysterious after all.... I mean the reason Lisette and Max started this incredible journey was to get some answers and to solve a mystery but the real focus of this story was how their romance would evolve and not how they would solve the mystery at hand. And maybe that was the author's intention all along but I found myself wanting something more in that department, especially if you think how the romantic part didn't really convince me as well...

Other than that, there were some very interesting secondary characters introduced and even if they were completely underdeveloped I still want to learn more about them and that's a good thing because What the Duke Desires is the first book in a new HR series and all those interesting secondary characters will soon get their chance to tell us their story!

All in all What the Duke Desires was not exactly what I expected it to be but it was still a fun read and Sabrina Jeffries is definitely an author whose work I want to read again. I just hope that the romance in any future books in this series will be better presented or closer to what I usually enjoy.

* Review first published at Book Lovers Inc
*ARC copy provided via Edelweiss for review purposes

REVIEW: PODs by Michelle K. Pickett

PODs by Michelle K. Pickett

Series: Pods, #1

Publication Date: June 4th 2013

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Paperback, 312 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Seventeen-year-old Eva is a chosen one. Chosen to live, while others meet a swift and painful death from an incurable virus so lethal, a person is dead within days of symptoms emerging. In the POD system, a series of underground habitats built by the government, she waits with the other chosen for the deadly virus to claim those above. Separated from family and friends, it's in the PODs she meets David. And while true love might not conquer all, it's a balm for the broken soul.

After a year, scientists believe the population has died, and without living hosts, so has the virus. That's the theory, anyway. But when the PODs are opened, survivors find the surface holds a vicious secret. The virus mutated, infecting those left top-side and creating... monsters.

Eva and David hide from the infected in the abandoned PODs. Together they try to build a life--a new beginning. But the infected follow and are relentless in their attacks. Leaving Eva and David to fight for survival, and pray for a cure.

PODs by Michelle Pickett is a rather difficult book for me to review and rate I'm afraid. And it's difficult because even though I enjoyed reading it and I finished it in no time it could easily have been so much better. The potential of a great story was all there. And even though I can't deny that PODs had a very interesting story the execution just complicated things a bit.

First of all, let me just say that I found the idea of PODs extremely fascinating. I kind of love dystopian novels and lately I seem to pick one great dystopian novel after the other, so the idea of a deadly virus that wipes out almost the entire human population and leaves only small groups of people to pick up the pieces just made me love PODs before I even picked the book up!
Maybe the idea behind PODs isn't all that original. But I couldn't care less. After all I haven't read anything similar, even though there are similar books out there, and the certain Walking Dead vibe I was getting made me appreciate Michelle Pickett's effort all the more.
And here I have to take some time and note that even though the idea of a deadly virus wiping out almost the entire human population isn't something new, the way Pickett planned the PODs and how the government planned to contain the virus was simply amazing and well thought. It wasn't just something done in haste. Pickett had an entire plan in her head and managed to communicate it to her readers but unfortunately the fact that PODs was actually at least two books squeezed in one didn't leave much room for all that brilliance to shine. Because my main problem with PODs was it's pace and how many information was squeezed in one book.

Throughout this story, there were large amounts of time that just passed in a blink of an eye. Literally. 15 months of seclusion in the PODs were squeezed in a matter of 100 pages, probably less. And that was such a shame. Because that way we couldn't really see how 10 strangers could live underground with nothing really special to do. We couldn't really see how that seclusion affected them nor what exactly was the dynamic of the relationship between all those strangers. We were just informed that any relationship progressed rather than witness it. It was just stated that they were affected by everything that was happening rather than see how each character developed through all the dramatic things that kept happening. We were being told that they were afraid but we couldn't sense their fear. Because usually in a chapter of 5 pages there was covered a span of two months. So it's only natural that things would go on the fast forward. Only that fact kind of ruined the potential of this story I'm afraid.

The same thing unfortunately applies to the romance of this story too. There was real chemistry between Eva and David, there was a spark between them but it couldn't possibly be fully explored and felt while months were passing by in a blink of an eye. With the chemistry between them imagine how great a story could PODs be if we could actually read how their relationship developed. But no, Eva and David went from friends to undying love in a blink of an eye. And it saddens me to say something negative about the romantic part of this book because their chemistry was great and better than other books out there that try really hard to show the reader how perfect is the hero for the heroine.

Anyway, PODs is one of those books I really enjoyed reading but I had more than a few problems with it, despite how much I enjoyed it. Michelle Pickett has a strong voice and I dare hope that we should expect great things from her. It's not that PODs is a bad book, far from it. It's just that it could have been so much better. after all ,the potential is all right there, in front of the reader's eyes.

* Review first published at Book Lovers Inc
* ARC copy provided from publisher for review purposes

REVIEW: Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley

Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley

Publication Date:October 15th 2012

Publisher:Destiny Romance

ebook
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Passionate and headstrong, Alecia is no ordinary princess. Angered by the cold-blooded murder of her first love, she sets out to avenge his death.

Army Captain Vard Anton, the epitome of masculine strength and grace, is dealing with some dark secrets of his own. When he is appointed Alecia's body-guard, both find it hard to ignore the chemistry between them.

With assassination attempts and the threat of an arranged marriage looming over her, Alecia realises her time is running out. But Alecia's biggest battle is the one within as she tries to suppress the raging desire she feels for the powerfully attractive Vard. Can Alecia resist Vard while trying to exact revenge and avoiding the lecherous attentions of her husband-to-be? Will the power of love and desire be enough to unite Alecia and Vard forever?

Though separated by class and palace intrigues, Alecia and Vard are entwined by desire in this wonderful fantasy romance.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

I had really high hopes for Princess Avenger by Bernadette Rowley. I may haven't read any reviews about this book prior to me picking it up but still, from the premise I was certain that I had an amazing story in my hands. And although in some departments, Princess Avenger delivered what the premise promised, in others, it didn't fair so well I'm afraid.

For the first 1/3 of the story, Princess Avenger was everything I was expecting it to be. There was an intricate world building, a strong and independent heroine and a very mysterious and sexy hero. I mean, everything at the beginning was indicating a fresh and unique story, having all those elements I'm searching for. But before I even reached the middle of the story, my initial thoughts about Princess Avenger started to change rapidly. I found myself tired and a little bit bored, so I had to put it down, read another book and then continue with it. I don't usually do this. When I start a book I either put it aside or finish it. I rarely pick up again a book that I stopped reading. But I had to give it another try because like I said, at the beginning I really liked it. And my three star rating reflects mostly that part and the fact that even if I couldn't connect with the story, Bernadette Rowley's writing style is pretty good.

My main problem with the book was with the world building. It was rather ambitious, but Princess Avenger never delivered in that area. It's mostly a fantasy novel with a focus on romance and let's face it, the beginning and end of a fantasy novel is the world building. At least for me. But unfortunately in this story the world building is loose and vague. Details are never given about how exactly the world ticks or what is going on. The whole plot is based on the fact that the reader takes everything described as given and never asks any why's or how's. And that is a major failure for me. Maybe the fact that Princess Avenger wasn't really that long a book, explains why the world building was a little bit vague. But still, I just can't take everything for granted.


The other problem is that Princess Avenger is primarily a romance and then a fantasy novel. And I have nothing against that, if and only if, the romantic plot isn't explored against the basic plot of the whole story. And sadly, that was the case with Princess Avenger. After a point, everything was focused on the romance between Alecia and Vard and everything other was lost. Never explored. The whole book was about them and all the other interesting things happening at the same time where just completely brushed off. There wasn't a balance. And still, if the romance was good, I may still not be having that many problems, but their romance was also sort of lukewarm. Maybe because both Alecia and Vard (especially Vard) felt so distant. As for the rest of the characters, they might as well haven't been there. There was no character development or there was, but a minimum one.

All in all, Princess Avenger was a rather ambitious attempt that I'm pretty certain that it could have been so much better. There was potential in there. But unfortunately, it failed to impress me and catch my interest.

* This title was provided for a review through NetGalley

REVIEW: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Series:Bloodlines, #3

Publication Date:February 12th 2013

Publisher:Razorbill

Hardcover, 401 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.


Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

It's no big secret that I absolutely love Richelle Mead and her writing style. I mean she has written some of my favorite books, both adult and YA. So, it's only natural that I couldn't possibly wait to get my hands on Indigo Spell, the third book in her spin off series. Because you see, even if Bloodlines, isn't yet half as good as Vampire Academy is, I still love both Mead's writing style and the world she created. And after feeling a little bit disappointed with the previous two books in this series, I think that finally, things are starting to slowly get better.

Indigo Spell, was great! Simple as that. Not perfect or mind blowing, but great nevertheless and definitely way better than the previous two books. At least I saw it that way.

Sydney is finally starting to resemble a human being with emotions and flaws, well, she's not flawed, she's still the most perfect heroine ever, but in Indigo Spell she starts showing signs of emotional capability. And I really liked that about Sydney. I may not hated her before, but she definitely was a character I just didn't care about. I didn't hate her, but I wasn't her biggest fan either. And for a number of reasons that I have stated before, so no need to repeat myself. But in Indigo Spell there are signs of improvement in her character. She stops moaning the whole time and judge everyone, including herself. She feels more relaxed, she starts questioning things and act a little bit like the super smart person she's supposed to be. She embraces her magic and most importantly, the fact that she actually feels something for Adrian.

And that is the second part of this book that I really loved. Sydney and Adrian finally, and after that ending in the second book, are slowly starting to roll!There are cute scenes between them, romantic ones as well as funny. Well, it's a Richelle Mead book, of course there would be some funny scenes. But even though Adrian and Sydney's romance is finally moving forward, the story in Indigo Spell isn't just focused there. There's also some action, not an explosive one like in VA, but there's definitely action, and even though this third book in the series is a "bridge" between what happened and what is about to come (and I usually hate bridges, they bore me out of my mind), it is fast paced and a story hard to put down. Well, you guessed right, I devoured it in one sitting. I couldn't help it!

Adrian, well, like I said, he's Adrian. He can't disappoint his fans and he has a way to make you love him even if you don't want to. He managed to change Sydney's opinion, who am I to resist? The rest of the team isn't really making that great an appearance in this book though. Jill and Eddy only appear in a few scenes, while Rose, Lisa or Dimitri just have a line or two in the whole book. Can't complain that I missed them though. I had a lot of things to focus apart from them like the elusive Marcus Finch. I had a hard time deciding whether I liked him as a character or I couldn't care about him. I still haven't decided. He definitely had his moments, but I wasn't convinced. I'll have to wait to make up my mind about him on the future books.

All in all, Indigo Spell is my favorite book in the Bloodlines series so far. There were moments that I actually remembered how it feels to read a book written by Richelle Mead, something that sadly wasn't the case with the other two books. Let's hope that we have even better things to hope for with the future books!

REVIEW: Immortal Trust by Claire Ashgrove

Immortal Trust by Claire Ashgrove

Series:The Curse of the Templars, #3

Publication Date:March 26th 2013

Publisher:Tor Books

Mass Market Paperback, 464 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

When archaeoloist Chloe Broussard acccepts the contract to lead a dig in Ornes, France, she has no idea she will uncover the Veil of Veronica. When she does, she discovers a danger far greater than the demons she's confronted since childhood. Azazel wants her, as well as the Veronica, and his chosen minion is her brother. Her hope lies with immortal Templar Knight Lucan. Her life depends on oaths she knows nothing about.

For countless centuries, Lucan of Seacourt has lived with the knowledge that his brother killed their family. Now, as Azazel's darkness eats away at his soul, old betrayal stirs suspicion. He trusts no one. Not even the seraph who can heal his dying spirit.

With the fate of the Almighty hanging in the balance, Lucan must find faith in something more terrifying than the dark lord's creations. He must learn to believe his heart.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

It's no secret that Claire Ashgrove's Curse of the Templars is among my favorite paranormal romance series currently. From the first book, Immortal Hope, I was fortunate enough to review until now, this series is just getting better book by book as well as more addictive :) Maybe because those books are about Templar Knights, whose myth I find very hard to resist, maybe because the writing style is simply amazing, but the bottom line is, that Claire Ashgrove has created a world that I just love to read about. Simple as that.

I mean, I really liked the first book. The second one was just as great but Immortal Trust was so good that I devoured it. And not only that but I didn't want it to end. I loved so much Chloe and Lucan's story that I didn't want for this book to reach its last page. Because who knows when the next book will be published? And Azazel is gaining more power book by book and I really need to see some of my favorite Knights find their Seraph and their salvation. See? Waiting for the next book to get published is plain torture!

Immortal Trust follows more or less the exact same pattern as the previous two books in the series but in this one I really loved both Chloe and Lucan as characters, more than I did the previous two couples. I really enjoyed how their romance developed and how believable Chloe was as a heroine, a quality that I found lacking a little bit both in Anne and definitely in Noelle. Chloe was as sceptical as any sane person would be when presented with the unbelievable without Noelle's stubbornness that made everything so difficult in the previous book. The only stubborn character in this book was Lucan, but still he was adorable.

One other reason I enjoyed so much Immortal Trust is Ashgrove's ability to describe beautiful places and artifacts in detail but in a way that she isn't tiring the reader. I had some problems with a few books recently, that delved into so much detail spoiling the whole narration. But Ashgrove's writing style is perfectly balanced, giving the reader the amount of detail and descriptions that are needed to imagine things and not lose your interest. And that is a balance not all authors can achieve so I really appreciate it when I find it.

All in all, The Curse of the Templars is among my favorite series at the moment and for a very good reason. The writing style is amazing, the world building unique and fresh and each story in this universe is just better than the previous was. And that says much when you're talking for a very good series of books to begin with. I just really hope that Immortal Trust won't be the last book published in this universe. There are so many things still left to be said!

* This title was provided for review from the author

REVIEW: Dare you To by Katie McGarry

Dare you To by Katie McGarry

Series: Pushing the Limits, #2

Publication Date: May 28th 2013

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Hardcover, 462 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...

What can I possibly say about Dare you To that could do this book justice? I mean honestly, once more, Katie McGarry delivers a heart wrenching story, a story so full of meaning and deep, that words can't possibly describe it. You just have to read this book to fully understand what I'm saying.

Dare you To is one of those books that will just stay with you long after you've finished reading it. Much like with Pushing the Limits, the first book in this series, the second story is not just a romantic YA story between two deeply troubled teens. Oh no, it's so much more... One might think that with how popular the New Adult genre has become lately and how most of the books in that genre feature a deeply troubled hero and/or heroine, that Dare you To would almost feel like a repetition. One couldn't be more wrong about it. On the contrary, Dare you To, is a shining example of how one should write about troubled and emotionally scarred characters without becoming repetitive and shallow while handling such delicate issues. Katie McGarry is just the kind of author one should study in order to understand how to talk about difficult things not simply because that is the trend but because they actually have something important to say with their story. She's the author whose stories reminded me why I like so much to read about far from perfect heroes. I have to admit that lately, because more and more stories feature heroes with a troubled background but too shallowly portrayed, I had forgotten why I did. I'm glad that there are still authors out there that can remind me of how much can a complex character add to a story. A complex character that has a background that is.

Anyway, I don't know what more can I say to describe what a brilliant author Katie McGarry is. You simply have to read her books and you'll understand what I mean. I won't even say anything about the plot. I think it's better for Ryan and Beth to tell you their story for themselves. I will only say that Dare you To is a great story, an incredibly well written one, with characters that are flawed but real, like every real person is. Both main and secondary characters have a voice of their own and a place in the story. All characters have a great and solid background. In the end of day, Dare you To is just the kind of story that will speak directly to your heart. I almost cried for Beth, I cried at how she had to change herself in order to survive and how in the end all that she actually needed was for someone to care about her.

All in all, Dare you To is a story that no one should miss the opportunity reading. It's the best YA book that I read in quite sometime. Surely I loved other books too, but Katie McGarry managed once more with her story to remind me what it feels to read something that goes way further than just enjoying myself with a book. Dare you To is the kind of book that will make you cry, think and love. One of the best books of 2013!

* ARC copy provided via NetGalley for review purposes

REVIEW: Bare it All by Lori Foster

Bare it All by Lori Foster

Series:Love Undercover, #2

Publication Date:April 30th 2013

Publisher:HQN

Paperback, 480 pages

Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

"A cop's craving to know more about the woman next door could prove fatal in the steamy new novel from New York Times bestselling author Lori Foster"

As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

Lori Foster is a huge name in the romantic suspense genre, and after reading a couple of books of hers I can definitely understand why! This author knows how to write great romance and even greater characters! Bare it All is her newest book and the second in her Love Undercover series and follows the story of Reese and Alice who had also made an appearance in the author's Men who Walk the Edge of Honor series.

One thing that I really like in Lori Foster's stories is the way she builds her characters and how they feel real and solid. I remember while reading A Perfect Storm, how much I liked Arizona's character and how deeply I cared for her. Much like then, Alice just stole my heart in this story. She's one of those characters who are really beautiful, not only on the outside but on the inside too. She's one of those characters who's deeply wounded but still finds a joy in life and is strong and generous. All in all, she's a character I can't help but care for. And I honestly believe that the best thing in Bare it All is Alice. She's the reason I enjoyed a story I found not so memorable otherwise.

Bare it All has a really slow beginning. I mean really slow. Nothing crucial happens for the best part of the book and when things finally pick up they are wrapped up quite easily and quickly. So as far as the suspense or action department goes, Bare it All, wasn't something special. Now let's talk about the romantic department which also wasn't something really special I'm afraid. I mean I loved Alice, the main heroine, and thought that Reese was an interesting character too but the romance between them fell just flat for me. There were no sparks. Maybe because one of the things I really enjoy in a romantic story is the building of a relationship, to read about the way the main couple becomes something more than friends or strangers, to witness their growing attraction but in Bare it All, all I got was a couple who was already halfway in becoming something more. Now here, I have to add that both Reese and Alice made an appearance in the previous novel of the series, so that is maybe the reason why things were a bit progressed between them, but even though I read the first book in the series, I remember little of it I'm afraid and even less about a secondary romance in it... But since those books are meant to be read as stand alones too, I think that things should progress on a slower pace nevertheless.

Anyway, despite Bare it All being a rather typical romantic suspense book, I still managed to enjoy myself while reading it and that is mostly because of Lori Foster's writing style. I mean this author is simply amazing, so it's not a wonder how every single one of her stories is a success! The way she builds her characters, main ones and secondary alike, is simply incredible. She has the ability to make her readers care for all her characters and feel their emotions or understand their action and their motives.

All in all, Bare it All, isn't the best book I have read by the author, but it is still a good read and it is definitely better than the first one in the series. Maybe I feel that way because of Alice, I don't know, all I know is that I enjoyed reading it a lot more than I did the first book of the series!

*This title was provided for review from MediaMuscle

REVIEW: Blood Shadows by Lindsay J. Pryor

Blood Shadows by Lindsay J. Pryor

Series:Blackthorn, #1

Publication Date:November 27th 2012

Publisher:Bookouture

Paperback, 380 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

For vengeance - would you trust a vampire?

For justice - could you betray your family?

For love - are you ready to question everything you believe in?

Gifted with the ability to read the shadows of 'third species' beings, Caitlin Parish is the Vampire Control Unit's most powerful agent. Despite that, her mission to hunt down Kane Malloy - a master vampire - comes with a death wish. Many have tried, but few have survived.

For Caitlin, tracking Kane is about more than just professional reputation. With her parents both mysteriously killed 7 years apart to the day, Caitlin knows that without Kane's help she is next.

She has four days to make a deal with the wicked, the irresistible, the treacherous Kane Malloy. The vampire who despises everything she stands for. Or die.

Blood Shadows is book one in the Blackthorn series, brought to you by Lindsay J. Pryor - a British Paranormal Romance author who writes dark, intense and passionate stories.

Lindsay's trademark powerful vampire heroes and utterly combustible sensual romances have earned Lindsay comparisons with both J.R Ward and Sherrilyn Kenyon.

Review first published at Book Lovers Inc

I just have to admit that the main reason I accepted Blood Shadows for review was the fact that I somewhere saw mentioned that the main hero, Kane, is the new Bones... Yeah I know, I shouldn't be that superficial in my pickings, but wherever I see Bones' name I'm sold. Well, I also read the premise and it was something that I could easily enjoy, so I didn't even think twice before picking Blood Shadows. I was rather excited to read it to be honest.

Now that I read it, not that I had a bad time while reading it or I didn't enjoy it, but the level of excitement for that title has seriously decreased. My primary thought about Blood Shadows is tiresome. I felt tired while reading this book, like it wouldn't end, ever!And although for some books that is a good thing, like I don't want it to end, that wasn't the case with Blood Shadows I'm afraid.

But let's take things from the beginning. And I will start with the good things about this book. Because undeniably, Blood Shadows is a very well written story. Lindsay J. Pryor has done an exceptional job with the way she wrote her story, so good a job, that I even skipped the various editing mistakes. Because in the copy I received there were a few. There were repetitions of words and some grammar mistakes. But still, even if usually those typos annoy me and ruin my concentration on a book, in Blood Shadows, I managed to completely brush them off. Pryor has a way with words and knows exactly what to say and how to say it. I don't think that I have said that before in any of my reviews, but this author's vocabulary is exceptional!

The world building in Blood Shadows, is another thing I really liked in this book. Let's face it, vampires are an overused concept in both UF and PNR, but Pryor's world has something fresh and new. The world she envisioned is intricate and unique but even if I did enjoy that aspect of this story, still, by the end I was left unsatisfied about the way exactly the world worked. For a book that delved too much into various details, I sure expected more about what made this world tick. Not that the reader hasn't enough to understand things, but when I read pages of details about things of no real value then I get to be a bit demanding and need something more about what really matters in a story.

The other thing about Blood Shadows I liked, well, to no one's surprise that is Kane. Be warned, he has nothing to do with Bones, and I can't really understand where the comparison even came from, but still, he's a great character. Even if he was too manipulative for his own good, I still liked him. And in general, the character development in Blood Shadows was pretty good. Not perfect. But good enough.

And now let's start about the things I had a few problems with. First thing, is the author's obsession with details and the very descriptive narration. I have nothing whatsoever against details and I even like some detailed descriptions on occasion, but the excessively detailed narration in most cases tires me. And the thing that made me like this book less than I probably would have otherwise, is exactly that. No matter how good a story is or how much I enjoy it in overall, when I'm feeling tired while reading it is bound to lower my overall appreciation of it.

Especially the part where Caitlin is locked with Kane in his house made me think more than once to put this book aside. All those details and nothing really happening. One of the reasons I really like PNR and UF is how fast the story goes and the action packed scenes. Well, in Blood Shadows, the story couldn't progress any slower and the action scenes were less in comparison and too short. Well, the action is almost non existent, even in the final scene, everything just clicked way too easily ruining the whole climax of the book.

The character development was pretty good like I said, but I have some complaints here as well. Let's face it, Blood Shadows isn't exactly a small or short story, in fact it's the opposite and if you consider how detailed it is and how intricate the world building is, then I kind of expected that we would get to know more about the secondary characters and not just the main ones. And even though the secondary characters are somewhat explored, still Pryor focuses way too much her story on the main couple and their emotions, something that reflects on the time and "room" she gives to the other characters of this story to develop. To put it simply, we get to know many unnecessary things about both Kane and Caitlin when all that space could have been used for another character.

Anyway, Blood Shadows isn't a bad book, not by a long shot. Lindsay Pryor proved with her debut novel that she can write and really good at that. All my problems with this book, could have easily been fixed through a good editing process in my opinion. If Blood Shadows was a few chapters shorter, minus all those details, it could easily have been much better. As it is, it's an interesting story, written really well, that still tired me a lot while reading it.

* This title was provided for review from the publisher

REVIEW: Seducing the Secret Heiress by Jennifer St. George

Seducing the Secret Heiress by Jennifer St. George

Publication Date:January 10th 2013

Publisher:Destiny Romance

Paperback, 188 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

Diamond heiress, Charlotte Wentworth, is passionate about two things - cooking and her billionaire fiancée, Paul. That is, until she finds Paul has been unfaithful. Shocked, she flees to Europe where she is determined to build a life of her own without her family's name, fortune or connections. When she meets gorgeous Englishman, Gabe Grenville, a famous reality TV producer, sparks fly. Charlotte passes herself off as a lowly catering assistant but soon finds herself a star on his TV cooking show. But how will he react when he discovers Charlotte's true identity? And Paul has not given up – he has his own agenda for forcing Charlotte to return to Australia and marry him.

Will their love turn into a recipe for disaster? Or will it turn out to be a perfect concoction?

Seducing the Secret Heiress is the second book by Jennifer St. George, the first one being The Convenient Bride, which I absolutely loved, so, I started this second book of hers having somewhat high expectations to be honest. And I'm so glad to say that St. George has lived up to them! Her books are incredibly cute and sweet and romantic, with enough dose of sexiness in there to keep you turning the pages.

The story of Seducing the Secret Heiress follows more or less all the cliches of romantic stories but still, Jennifer St. George's writing style and her descriptions and settings are some of the things that make her stories stand out among the rest.

This story follows Charlotte Wentworth, a diamond heiress from Australia who ventures to Europe in escape of her family and cheating fiance and somewhere in Italy she meets Gabe, a reality producer who has trust issues of himself. The plot here doesn't have any surprises. Couple meets, falls in love, resists their feelings for various reasons, misunderstandings happen and all that leads us to the end. But the fact that the plot isn't hiding any surprises doesn't make this story any less pleasant or cute.

I absolutely loved both Charlotte and Gabe and thought their characters were well developed for a rather short story. I found a little hard to believe the way both Charlotte chose to stay in the same house with a complete stranger as well as the easy way with which Gabe trusted Charlotte, especially since he faced some trust issues, but still, Jennifer St. George's writing style managed to take me away and travel me once more! Her descriptions of places and cities are plainly powerful and as a writer she has the ability to make her readers travel. With both her stories, you don't just read to meet a new couple but a few places along the way.

On the other hand, what made Seducing the Secret Heiress so interesting to me was the fact that it was focused on a cooking reality and it was topped with a couple of amazing recipes. Well, not the actual recipes, but lately I find myself enjoying romances that evolve around food. And no, I'm not on a diet (yet)!

All in all, Jennifer St. George delivers yet another enjoyable story and she is slowly becoming one of my favorite authors for many reasons. I'm just eager to see what she has in store for later!

*This title was provided for review via NetGalley

EARLY REVIEW: Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Midnight Secrets by Ella Grace

Series:Wildefire, #1

Publication Date:April 30th 2013

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Mass Market Paperback, 400 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website, Book Depository

For fans of Maya Banks, Allison Brennan, and Lori Foster, a thrilling new romantic suspense novel from Ella Grace

AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT, THE HEAT BEGINS

On a hot southern night, with a storm on the horizon, a family is shattered. Three beautiful daughters—Savannah, Samantha, and Sabrina Wilde—go on with their lives, each significantly changed, as they bear the memory of the murder-suicide that killed their parents. For years, they have stayed away from Midnight, Alabama. Until Midnight calls them home.

Savannah is the first one back, when a grueling case in Nashville leads the young prosecutor to seek shelter in the quiet of the once grand Wilde mansion. But when she finds letters casting doubt on her family’s dark, shameful past, she realizes that peace in Midnight is a shallow façade and sinister secrets lurk beneath the surface. Zach Tanner, once the town’s bad boy, is now the new police chief and still has a wild hold over her. Zach can feel it, too, but he hurt Savannah once. As teenagers, they broke every rule together. Now it’s his job to keep her safe, even though he isn’t sure who her enemies are—or which ones might be his own.

What a pleasant surprise Midnight Secrets was for me! I mean all I seem to pick lately in the romantic suspense genre are mediocre to bad books but Midnight Secrets is the kind of book that finally reminded me why I like this genre so much! Ella Grace is on my radar from now on!

I loved pretty much everything about this book! From the small town setting and the great characters to the deadly secrets that were well hidden up to the end, Midnight Secrets is a book I found very hard to put down. Even if the start was very slow, with the first 3 or 4 chapters taking place 18 and 10 years ago, I found myself drinking in every small detail. Even if the beginning was slower than what I usually prefer, I think that it was essential for the building of the story and to understand the characters better. Getting to know more about an 18 year old Savannah and a 20 y.o. Zack not only added to the whole story but helped me understand them better and added to them a more than solid past.

The writing style is simply exquisite! The pace of the story is even, with not a single moment where I felt bored or tired even when nothing happened. Because granted, the whole uncovering the past mission started quite late in the story but still, I was more than occupied wondering what happened between Savvy and Zach and drove them apart and then all I wanted was to see them back together as soon as possible. The sexual tension between them was delicious and the sparks were all over the place. And that is partially because of those few flashback first chapters.

There wasn't much action in Midnight Secrets I'm afraid, but the mystery was well written and uncovered in an even pace, with small clues given every other chapter making me wondering for quite some time. Yeah I found the villain soon enough but I wasn't 100% certain of the identity until the ending. Maybe it wasn't that difficult to put everything together but at least there was some well delivered mystery to the whole story plus the motive was also not easy to figure out.

The character development is also great and both main and secondary characters are well explored and have a voice of their own. Maybe because most of those characters will re-appear in the next books but still, Ella Grace did a splendid job with all of them. I could watch how both Savvy and Zack matured through all the difficult things they had to survive, how all of those things affected them and shaped them as adults. And that is my favorite part of the story I think.

All in all, Midnight Secrets was a very pleasant surprise for me and I just can't wait for the next book in the series to be published! Ella Grace (a.k.a. Christy Reece) is an author to watch out for!

*This title was provided for review via Edelweiss

REVIEW: A Lesson in Chemistry with Inspector Bruce by Jillian Stone

A Lesson in Chemistry with Inspector Bruce by Jillian Stone

Series:The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard, #2.5

Publication Date:November 6th 2012

Publisher:Pocket Star

ebook, 100 pages
Useful Info: Goodreads, Author's Website

A force of attraction...too tempting to resist.

As readers of The Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series already know, Archibald “Archie” Bruce heads up the crime laboratory for Special Branch. Undervalued and overworked, the brilliant young man has no time for a social life—that is, until the heroine's father, a noted chemist in his own right, offers Archie a deal. He will modify a secret latex compound that will transfer fingerprints from the crime scene to the lab. In exchange, Archie must agree to tutor his charming but exasperating daughter, Miss Fiona A. Rose, for the major pharmacy exam.

But as Archie and Fiona attempt to study for the major, they can't help but get involved in a bit of sleuthing. Was the fire in the opium den accidental or deliberately set? Who was behind the lab explosion? Not to mention the strange and haunting memory of a masquerade ball and a very seductive kiss...

Amidst the pop quizzes and danger, Fiona and Archie ultimately find the force of attraction too tempting to resist.

A Lesson in Chemistry with Inspector Bruce is part of the very successful Gentlemen of Scotland Yard series, written by Jillian Stone. And if you read my reviews of the previous two books in this series, then you know that I'm in love with both Jillian Stone's writing style and her stories. So, it comes as no big surprise, that A Lesson in Chemistry with Inspector Bruce, didn't fail to impress me!

I'm usually not a big fan of novellas, because in most cases, the story and the plot are pretty basic, and the character development is non existent. Not that I haven't been impressed or really liked novellas, but in most cases, they fail me. So, I'm more than happy to admit that even with a novella, Jillian Stone manages to retain the same quality in her writing, that makes her stories truly stand out!

A Lesson in Chemistry with Inspector Bruce may be smaller than her full novels, but it's just as good as the previous two books in the series!

This story is about Inspector Bruce and Fiona, who fall in love during some seriously hot chemistry lessons and amidst a very dangerous setting! What's there not to love!

Inspector Bruce is as hot and smart and courageous as the rest of the Scotland Yard gentlemen, while Fiona is as independent as the previous two ladies we got to know in the previous books. One might believe that meeting characters that share the same qualities in each book in this series might be a little bit boring, but let me warn you here, that even though all the characters share some qualities, they are not alike, not by a long shot. You have enough reason to remember each and everyone of them for very different reasons :)

The story is again action packed, even if the resolution comes quicker due to the length of the story and probably for that very same reason, it was way to easy for me to guess the traitor. But even so, A Lesson in Chemistry with Inspector Bruce was a highly enjoyable read!

All in all, Jillian Stone manages to make me love her work more book by book! And with all those tempting glances at Agent Gunn, I just can't wait to read his story!

*This ARC was provided for a review from Edelweiss