The Girl With All The Gifts by M.R. Carey

Goodreads:

Melanie is a very special girl. Dr. Caldwell calls her "our little genius."

Every morning, Melanie waits in her cell to be collected for class. When they come for her, Sergeant Parks keeps his gun pointed at her while two of his people strap her into her wheelchair. She thinks they don't like her. She jokes that she won't bite, but they don't laugh. 

Melanie loves school. She loves learning about spelling and sums and the world outside of the classroom and the children's cells. She tells her favorite teacher all the things she'll do when she grows up. Melanie doesn't know why this makes Miss Justineau look sad. 

Review:

Melanie has the mind of a normal girl. She is inquisitive and smart. She enjoys being around other kids her age and she loves school. But Melanie is anything but normal, although she is not aware of it. 

Her life is very regimented, not by choice, but by design. This is how it has always been, so she doesn't know the difference. She knows what to expect on what days. She deals with discomfort and accepts the reality of what is. 

Like every child, she has plenty of questions about the way that things are, but she is mindful of what she says and to whom. Her favorite teacher, Miss Justineau, gives her a glimpse of the outside world, and Melanie cannot wait to experience it for herself. But for some reason, unbeknownst to Melanie, this saddens Miss Justineau. It won't be long before Melanie discovers why.

The Girl with All The Gifts is nothing short of phenomenal. I saw this book on the shelf at my local Target, but rather than buying it I did what I often do... I borrowed it from the library. 

I was not at all familiar with M.R. Carey before reading this book, but I do believe I found another favorite author! The story is constructed very well. It builds slowly, but interestingly. I liked Melanie immediately! I loved her mind, the way she moved through her world, and her level of awareness. 

This was one of those books that I simply could not put down, because I had to know what was going to happen. There are not very many characters in the book, but they are all layered and complex. Their personal histories inform their decisions and interactions, you either love them or not, but even more than that you understand them. 

This novel is thought provoking and superbly written. A definite MUST read. If you enjoy your dystopia with main course of human experience... put this book on your TBR pronto!

I give this book:

The film adaptation of this novel is currently in post-production. I have not yet decided how I feel about that... but I'm definitely curious. 

This is not a paid post. I borrowed this book from my local library for my reading pleasure. The views expressed are my honest opinions.

Hold Me Close by Megan Hart

Goodreads: 

"Effie and Heath are famous. Not for anything they did, but for what happened to them as teenagers. Abducted and abused by the same man, they turned to each other for comfort until they were finally able to make their escape.

Now adults, there relationship is fraught with guilt and despair. Whether fighting or making love, their passion is strong enough to destroy them both - and Effie's not about to let that happen. She knows it's time for her to have a 'normal' relationship, and Heath is nothing but a constant reminder of the dark past they share. Heath, on the other hand, knows Effie is the only woman he can ever love. She may want to forget what happened, but he's convinced that they must face their past together in order to move forward. So while Effie continues to bring new men into her life, Heath becomes obsessed with proving he's the one she needs.  

Then a new crisis arises and Effie begins to lose every scrap of self-control she ever had. As she struggles against her desire to return to the one man who understands here, she discovers that sometimes the only safety you find is with the person who is the most dangerous for you."

Review: 

Effie is messed up. She was held captive for years in the basement of a house, mere blocks from her childhood home. The only thing that kept her sane was her connection with Heath, a teen who was abducted before her. 

It's been years since they were rescued, but the scars from the experience are still visible and painful. Effie and Heath love one another, but their love is built on a shaky foundation of pain and suffering. They do not know now to be normal, with or without each other. But Effie is determined to obtain a level of normalcy, even if that means letting go of the only man who has ever truly loved her. 

As I have said in the past, I am a HUGE Megan Hart fan. I jump at the chance to read what she writes, because I love the way she strings sentences together, particularly sentences of the erotic variety. 

Hold Me Close was unlike anything I have ever read by Megan. It was darker, much darker. The characters were complex... to put it bluntly they were fucked up. Of course they had endured a tragic ordeal, so they had to be. Their connection was hot as lava, but it was tangled and borderline unhealthy, but their love was real and their feelings for one another were palpable. 

Whenever you go through something it changes you on a cellular level, and the more painful it is, the harder it is to recover. Effie and Heath may never recover to the point of normal, and there are only two people who truly get it - each other. 

At the start, I did not enjoy this book as much as I have enjoyed other books by Megan Hart, simply because I had preconceived notions about how and what she should be writing about. But once I let go of my expectations, I really enjoyed it. There is definitely something to be said about adaptability, which is in essence what this book is really about. The resilience of the human spirit, the different colors of love, and how experience shapes and informs our entire lives. 

If you are interested in reading an erotic novel with a heaping helping of substance, this this book is for you.

I give this book:

This is not a paid post. I received a free eBook copy of this book from NetGalley which helped to facilitate this review. However, all views expressed are my honest opinion. 

Blamed by Edie Harris

This is not a paid post. I received a free copy of this eBook to facilitate this review.
All views expressed are my honest opinion. 

Goodreads: Born into a long line of spies, sanctioned killers and covert weapons developers, Beth

Faraday carried out her first hit-for-hire when she was still a teenager. 

That part of her life - the American spy royalty part - ended one year ago, with a job gone wrong in Afghanistan. The collateral damage she caused with a single shot was unfathomable and, for Beth, unforgivable. She's worked hard to build a new life for herself, far away from the family business. 

But someone, somewhere, hasn't forgotten what Beth did in Kabul. And they want revenge.

As the Faraday clan bands together to defend Beth and protect their legacy, Beth is forced to flee her new home with the unlikeliest of allies - M16 agent Raleigh Vick, the only man she's ever loved. And the one she thought she killed in the desert.

Review: Beth Faraday is so much more than she seems. While she spends her days working in an art gallery, her life is not that simple, although she would like it to be. Not long ago she spent her days hiding in the shadows, waiting for a clear shot. Beth was a trained killer.

Beth didn't choose her life, she was born into it. And when an op went terribly wrong, she could not bear the weight of the guilt, so she walked away. She walked away from her family, from her life, and started anew... or so she thought. When the past catches up to her, the best and the worst things she's ever known comes to call... and nothing will ever be the same. 

Blamed is a fiery read. I mean there is just enough romance (the palpable tension kind) and just enough action (the edge-of-your-seat-what's-gonna-happen-next kind). You can't stop reading from the very first page. I mean this book begins with tension and keeps a steady feed throughout. Edie Harris knowns how to write!

I loved that the action was described with enough detail for me to vividly imagine what was happening, in fact I found my heart racing several times! And the connection between Beth and Vick is incredible. I love when I can feel how attracted the characters are. When you know there is nothing but space and opportunity separating them from tearing their clothes off and taking care of one another... even when their lives are in danger! 

If you're looking for a page-turning dangerous, romantic adventure... Blamed is it!

I give this book:

Blamed is the first book in The Blood Money series, and is available in eBook format. Download your copy today on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iTunes, or Carina Press.

Be sure to check out Edie's website. You can also follow her on Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The Girl He Knows by Kristi Rose

The Girl He Knows by Kristi Rose

Goodreads:

Waking up naked next to a good looking man is not a bad way to start the day. Especially since Paisley missed all those opportunities in college, when she was busy supporting her no good thankfully now, ex-husband. The problem? This hottie is Hang, her best friend's older brother, a guy she's known her entire life.

Stopping after one night is the right thing to do. Being with him clearly breaks the best friend code, and from his career as a Naval officer to his Boy Scout reputation, everything about him screams monogamy and commitment. Two things Paisley has had enough of.

When Hank presents a "no strings attached" offer, it's too good to be true. She can enjoy him while embracing being single. But, poor choices force her to confront old fears of love and loss, and Paisley has to decide if Hank is worth the risk. The alternative is never experiencing the real deal. Or far worse, settling for less.

Review:

Paisley has been hurt - bad. She's already gone through a horrific divorce and she's just not ready to be attached right now. When she wakes up next to Hank, her best friend's brother, she's mortified. She knows that she enjoyed sleeping with him, but she doesn't want to fall back into the same pattern. For the first time ever, Paisley is ready to sow her oats, and hooking up with Hank could ruin that. But when Hank proposes an FWB situation, Paisley feels like she can have the best of both worlds - great sex with a guy she can trust and the freedom to let her hair down.

The Girl He Knows is sweet, endearing and totally relatable. Paisley is a very likable character who lands in a precarious position. We've all been hurt before and when it's all over the first thing you want to do is protect your heart. But it's kinda hard to feel nothing when you're just not wired that way. Hank is a genuinely nice guy, coupled with the fact that they've known each other forever, that makes the situation murky from the start. Can you truly have a friends with benefits situation with someone who knows almost as well as you know yourself?

While I really enjoyed this book; however, I thought it was pretty predictable. So I give it:

This is not a paid post. I received a free eBook copy of this book through NetGalley. All views expressed are my honest opinion.

The Wolf by Lorenzo Carcaterrra

The Wolf by Lorenzo Carcaterra

Goodreads:

My name is Vincent Marelli, though most people call me The Wolf. You've never met me, and if you're lucky you never will. But in more ways than you could think of, I own you.

I run the biggest criminal operation in the world. We're invisible but we're everywhere. Wherever you go, whatever you do, however it is you spend your money, a piece of it lands in our pockets.

You would think that with that kind of power I would be invincible. You would be wrong. I made a mistake, one that a guy like me can never afford to make. I let my guard down. And because I did, my wife and daughters are gone. Murdered by terrorists with a lethal ax to grind.

That was my mistake.

But it was also theirs.

I wasn't looking for a war with them. No one in my group was. But they've left me with nothing but a desire for revenge - so a war is what they'll get. The full strength of international organized crime against every known terrorist group working today. Crime versus chaos.

We will protect our interests, and I will protect my son. We won't get them all, but I will get my revenge, or I will die trying. 

They will know my name.

They will fear The Wolf.

Review:

Vincent Marelli (a.k.a. The Wolf) is a crime boss, he's got connections all over the world. He runs his life and his business dealings with precision. He makes sure that everything is covered all the time. He never relaxes and he trusts no one. His guard is always up... until it wasn't. The one time he let his guard down, against his better judgement, the unthinkable happened - his wife and daughters were killed by terrorists.

Vincent "The Wolf" Marelli will not stop until he gets revenge. The loss of his wife and daughters was devastating, not just for him, but for his son also. Now he is hell bent on finding who did it and keeping his son safe.

The Wolf is a PAGE TURNER! I read until my eyes needed toothpicks to stay open and then I got up the next morning to finish. The writing is excellent, so detailed that the images are embossed in my brain. Would make an incredible movie, if it's done right, of course.

The characters are layered and flawed. So realistic. Granted, I don't know any mob guys personally, but these characters could scare the bejeezus out of someone. In order to be a mob boss (or in the mob period), you have to have a strong presence... and the author was able to capture that essence perfectly!

If you enjoy thrillers and want to read something that will keep your attention from cover to cover... this book is for you!

I give this book:

This is not a paid post. I received a free ARC through NetGalley in exchanged for my honest review. The views expressed are my own.

No Regrets by Claire Kent

No Regrets by Claire Kent

Goodreads:
On my last birthday, I made one vow for the year. Live with no regrets. Eleven months have passed, though, and nothing has changed. I still sleep alone, spend my life working, and never move out of my comfort zone.

Then the loss of my dog throws my whole life out of orbit, and I end up in bed with a very hot and slightly-too-young veterinarian, who has recently made a vow of his own. Life with no strings. Josh is more than happy to help me with the things I've been afraid to try. Semi-public sex. Spanking. Anal Sex. He's a willing partner for everything I've wondered about, as long as I don't demand more.

He's serious about his no-strings philosophy. As serious as I am about living with no regrets. I can't help but fall for him, even though I know better. So my biggest regret might be a broken heart.

Review:

Leslie arrives at the veterinary office with her beloved dog, knowing that she was in bad shape. When the new vet, Dr. Josh Bennett, comes to her aid, she's too distraught to notice how hot he is.  When the two inadvertently bump into one another later, the chemistry is obvious and it's not long before the sparks fly and they create a little friction together.

Leslie decided that she would live with no regrets on her last birthday, with that in mind she doesn't want to miss out on a chance to experience pleasure with someone as attractive and charming as Josh. She didn't count on falling for him, in fact she tried her very best not to. Josh made it clear from the very beginning that he was only looking to be FWB. For Leslie, that's easier said than done.

No Regrets was a short + sweet read. Although it was pretty predictable from the start (the-girl-falls-for-the-unavailable guy is a pretty easy to spot formula), I was completely enthralled throughout the entire book. Both characters are extremely likable, which I didn't expect. So often guys who are only looking to hook up are painted as jerks, which is certainly not always true, so I was relieved that I actually liked Josh as a person. Leslie was sweet and slightly innocent, which is typical, but not at all annoying.

I really enjoyed this book... read it in a single night! I give it:

No Regrets had a scheduled release date for late July... but I'm not sure if that still stands. When or if it becomes available I'll try to post the link info.

For more information about Claire Kent, visit her website at www.clairekent.com 

This is not a paid post. A free eBook copy of the book was received through NetGalley. All views expressed are the honest opinion of the Reviewer/Blogger. 

Flying by Megan Hart

From Barnes & Noble:

Ever hear of wanderlust?

Every other weekend, Stella buys a ticket on the next flight out of town and leaves her life behind. Home is a place with too many memories, and departure is the sweetest possible distraction.

As soon as she arrives at her destination, Stella visits the airport bar. She orders a drink and waits for the right guy to come along. A bored businessman, a backpacker, a baggage handler just off shift. If he's into a hot, no-strings hookup, he's perfect. Each time is a thrilling escape from reality that gives the term layover a whole new meaning.

When Stella meets the enigmatic Matthew in Chicago one weekend, she hits some serious turbulence. Something about him tells her she's not the only one running from the past. The connection between them is explosive, and for the first time, one taste is not enough for Stella. But returning to find a gorgeous man waiting for her is the easy part—facing the reason she's there is a whole other matter….

Review:

Stella is a flyer. She travels to cities around the country every other weekend. There is no set destination, she goes wherever her standby status will take her. She only goes for one thing, to be someone else. She travels to escape the past and the present. She allows the excursion to lead her to the airport bar, where she always encounters Mr. Right-now. Sex with no emotion, no attachment, simply carnal pleasure... that's how she likes it.

Stella meets her match in Chicago, where she happens upon Matthew. He's handsome and hot as fire. He's different than the others, she knows it. Suddenly Stella is doing something she's never done before, going back for seconds.

Although there is plenty of sex (not too much), Flying is not just an erotic novel. It's really the story of how the scars of heartbreak can mar us for life and the pain of what once was can keep us stuck. 

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. I'm a big Megan Hart fan anyway, but I think she dug a little bit deeper with Flying. The story is very carefully weaved. You're pretty far in before getting the slightest clue about what's underneath Stella's behavior. This is an erotic novel with some depth... Megan dug deep! And I mean that in a good way. 

I really love erotic fiction, but I am not interested in reading a book riddled with sex and a corny storyline. Dare I say that I like to read erotic fiction with substance and a side of well written sex? LOL Flying is like that :-)

I give this book:

Flying is available in paperback (where sold) + eBook on Amazon, B&N, iBooks, and other fine retailers.

This is not a paid post. I received a free eBook copy of this book from NetGalley which helped to facilitate this review. However, all views expressed are my honest opinion.