Review: Hot Rock by Annie Seaton @annieseaton26

 

Hot Rock by Annie Seaton

Series: Love Across Time #1

Publication date: February 24th, 2014

Pages: 200

Synopsis:

Megan Miller is on a dream trip to research her doctoral thesis at a rock festival in England. When she arrives in town she's stubbed that her temporary neighbor is the spitting image of her 70's rock idol, too bad he's also a world-class jerk. So why can't she stop thinking about him?

Seventies rock star Davy Morgan is a man with a secret: rockin' in one time and living in another. He holds his privacy close to his heart, so when a beautiful girl who not only loves but truly understands his music moves in next door, he works overtime to keep her at a distance. Easier said than done.

Megan follows Davy to the rock festival, but it's not what or when it seems. The lure of the music draws them closer, but can their newfound love span across the decades, or will it get lost in time?

Available at:

Review:

I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers on NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

I have been in a reading rut the last few months and wasn't sure I was ever going to find my way out of it. I felt like I read the same thing over and over again just from different authors with different character names. It seemed all the physical books I had accumulated all ran together so in an attempt to break my exceedingly tedious span of "same old, same old" I turned to the vast amount of e-books I had gathered in my kindle cloud. This little gem was among them and it was purely through random selection that I decided to give it a gander. I am grateful that I did as my rut finally came to an end. 

Megan has longed to visit the site of a music festival that has been going on since the early 70's. As a doctorate student focused on the cultural and societal differences of music festivals through the ages, it was fated that Megan finally get a chance to visit one of the most famous ones to date. However, issues at home start to plague Megan and cause her to question whether she should remain in England and live her dream or venture home and try to save her comfortable future. In the process of deciding she meets her gorgeous neighbor that seems to bear an unusual resemblance to one of her favorite 70s musicians. 

David reveled in his solitude. The last thing he needed was an attractive woman coming around and threatening that. He needed to keep the vixen at arms length and if that meant acting the part of the stereotypical big-headed musician, he could do that. Well... he hoped he could do that. It seemed Megan was bound and determined to get under his skin and become a woman the likes of which he had never before met in either time he frequented. What future could the two have with David spending half his time in 2014 and the other half of his time rocking the stage in the 1970s? 

Finally, a book that got me out of my rut. I have to admit, I didn't really have high hopes for the book. I had not read any books by Annie Seaton and was worried it'd be a bit to "indie-fied" for my liking. I was certainly wrong. The chemistry between David and Megan was palpable. Where the time travel angle could have caused confusion and disharmony within the storyline, it seemed to flow rather easily, a feat not easily achieved even by extremely skilled authors. 

Although I did have one issue with the book. A relatively small one, but one none-the-less. There were some issues that the female protagonist experienced with the time traveling that I would have liked an explanation to. There was no real reasoning behind the physical symptoms she endured and I started to wonder why it was even included in the first place. But, that did not effect the overall appeal of the book so I can live without the whys of it. 

This book is Diana Gabaldon meets rocker fiction. It's a fun mix that would appeal to those who like sexy rocker men who can also time travel. Groupies and time travel capabilities, talk about a man who has it all.

Review: The Wanderer's Children by L.G. O'Connor

The Wanderer's Children by L.G. O'Connor

Series: The Angelorum Twelve Chronicles #2

Publication date: December 16th, 2014

Pages: 410

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

The Wanderer's mission three decades ago: secretly sire children to hide his bloodline, and protect them until their destinies can unite in the final battle between good and evil. That time has come...

Cara Collins, the First of the Holy Twelve, longs for one last peaceful weekend with her bridesmaids as she plans her wedding to Simon Young, her former Trinity Guardian, before duty calls with the Angelorum to gather the Twelve and prepare them for battle. Life, as she knew it, has changed; weird is Cara's new normal. Her newly acquired Nephilim DNA is wreaking havoc on her and those closest to her as her body transforms into Amazonian proportions and an overabundance of pheromones threatens to land her in hot water with Simon--not to mention a sudden suspicious outbreak of "insta-love" among her friends.

Michael Swift, Cara's Trinity Messenger, has spent months running from his attraction to Cara's brazen best friend Sienna, the only woman who has ever skirted his considerable defenses. But if he wants a future with her, he must confront his tormented past head on, or risk losing her and destroying the future of the Angelorum.

As Lucifer's fallen angels known as the "Dark Ones" and outside threats gather, Cara has more to worry about than fitting into her wedding dress and playing Cupid to her friends. A second encounter with rock star Brett King shows Cara once again that there are no coincidences. One of the Wanderer's children, Brett and his secret siblings are the key to gathering the rest of the Twelve.

When the newly forming team finally comes together, an unexpected revelation shakes them to their core. They must all look deeper into their souls as new secrets come to light to discover what's really at stake in the final battle between good and evil... if betrayal and Lucifer don't rip them apart first.

Second book in a four-part [urban fantasy (40%) / sci-fi (20%) / paranormal angel romance (40%)] for adults (18+) with crossover to new adult. 

****Can be read as a stand alone****

Available at:

Review:

I received a physical copy from the tour host in exchange for participation in the blog tour and an honest review.

I read and reviewed the first book in the series and was pleasantly surprised by how spectacular a read it turned out to be. The mesh of fantasy coupled with a dash of interesting angelic history was a great pairing for the fictitious world O'Connor created. When told that the second book was becoming available for review on a tour, I had to act quickly. I had to know what happened to Cara and her motley crew of angels and humans bent on stopping the forces of evil and fulfilling their destinies.

Cara knew that things were changing in her world, but the extent to which that was happening surprised her. She knew after being given Nephilim DNA that she would be changing physically and even in the depths of her powers. What she didn't know was that her friends would also be slowly changing and shifting around her as well as they find their places in this new world of hers. Cara thought she was in for a little fun with her friends before she committed her life to Simon Young forever. A few growing pains and hormone spikes wouldn't stop her from doing so. But the forces of evil don't much care whether Cara wants a bit of freedom to enjoy a normal life and a normal wedding, they want what they want and the will do anything to get it... even attack the people she loves the most.

Michael shared a kiss with Sienna. Just a kiss. So why couldn't he stop thinking of her? Why was he desperate to talk to her and be with her but at the same time absolutely terrified to do so? Michael has a dark past that he never lets anyone know about. He knows he will not be able to hide anything from Sienna if he actually gave into his attraction to her and pursued a future with her. However, for whatever reason Michael can't stop himself where Sienna is concerned. If he is to be with her, he has to figure out how to tame his demons and none of his martial arts training will be of much help in that task.

I absolutely loved that this next chapter in Cara Collins's world was more centered around love and romance. While the first book was good, even though it was more about setting the stage and relaying the plot, I liked that this one allowed me to get to know each of the previous book's characters (and even some new ones). I got to know more about Michael especially and he had been one of the characters that intrigued me the most in the first book. He was so mysterious that I knew he had to have a past that was more than a little troublesome. The angelic history was still there, the interesting battle between good and evil was still apparent, but the introduction of new characters and the budding romances that could be showcased in the next books, make me hungry for more. I want need to know what happens next! L.G. please don't make me beg!

If you are interested in a book that has a lot of hot romance, a new and intriguing plot line, and a cast of characters you will fall in love with, this is the book for you.

Review: Elect by Rachel Van Dyken

Elect by Rachel Van Dyken

Series: Eagle Elite #2

Publication date: December 2nd, 2014

Pages: 267

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

Nixon Abandonato made his choice. And now he has to pay the price. Tracey is the love of his life, but being with him has made her a target of his family's enemies. The only way to keep Trace alive is convince the world she leans nothing to him.

Trace Rooks has fallen irrevocably in love with the son of her family's sworn rival, and she knows in her bones nothing can tear them apart. Until Nix suddenly pushes her away and into the arms of his best friend... But Trace isn't ready to give up on a future with Nix--and if he won't fight for them, she will.

In the end, a sacrifice must be made. A life for a life. For what better way to cover a multitude of sins than with the blood of a sinner...

Available at:

Review:

I received an e-cop of this book from the publishers at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first book in this series, Elite, finished on a moderate cliffhanger. By moderate cliffhanger I mean that I was anxious to see what happened next but I didn't feel I would die if I didn't find out as soon as humanly possible. I wanted to see what happened with Nixon and Tracey after all they had done in hopes of being together. I was worried that there was going to be something else that came along and ruined things for them and after reading the synopsis... my fears were realized. Still, I needed to know why on Earth Nixon would push Trace into his best friend, Chase's, arms. So began my excursion into the Eagle Elite world once more.

Nixon was happy with Trace. He still worried that their relationship would raise questions and peak the interests of the enemies he still had. He was afraid that he was going to lose her all over again but this time more permanently. He felt he had to do what was for the best and that was to pretend that Trace and him were not together. Instead, he wanted the world to think that Trace was actually with his best friend, and right hand, Chase. It was not long before Nixon realized this may be a huge mistake. Chase had feelings for Trace and while Nixon wanted to believe that his best friend would never betray him, he knew of Trace's allure. Despite wanting to rip his best friend's head off for laying hands and lips upon his property, Nixon watched with his heart breaking every moment they were together.

Chase struggled between being Nixon's best friend and wanting to be the man that Trace loved wholeheartedly. He didn't want to betray his childhood friend but Trace seemed to be the air he breathed and he didn't want to let her go. Chase fully embraced the mission to pretend to be Trace's boyfriend and hoped that over the course of time that Trace would choose him over Nixon in the end.

This book read a lot like Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. With the best friend hungry for more drooling over the naive heroine and the hero letting his woman go in hopes of saving her from certain doom. Really, it almost felt exactly like Meyer's book. As a person who is not really a fan of Twilight this book was lackluster for me. I found myself rolling my eyes at the whole "leaving her for her own good" and "choose me even though you kinda only love me as a friend" situations. I was kind of disappointed with this sequel.

Also, I really didn't like the changing narrators. I had to constantly flip back to the beginning of the chapters to see who was talking each time. I liked the first book because it stayed as Trace being the narrator. It didn't change every five seconds. Changing narrators seems to be a lot of work for readers, in my opinion. Instead of getting lost in the world we are having to make sure we focus on who's point of view we are witnessing things through. I am all for getting the male perspective in books, but I would have liked to see what Trace was thinking periodically.

I think that Elect has fallen into the tumultuous group of being a disappoint sequel. It happens a lot in series. If the first book didn't end in a cliffhanger, I would advise skipping this book. However, if you are into the whole love triangle that is really reminiscent of Twilight then have at Elect.

Review: Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Elite by Rachel Van Dyken

Series: Eagle Elite #1

Publication date: October 14th, 2014

Pages: 277

Synopsis (according to Goodreads):

For Tracey Rooks, life with her grandparents on a Wyoming farm has always been simple. But after her grandmother's death, Tracey is all her grandfather has. So when Eagle Elite University announces its annual scholarship lottery, Tracey jumps at the opportunity to secure their future and enters. She isn't expecting much--but then she wins. And life as she knows it will never be same...

The students at Eagle Elite are unlike any she's ever met... and they refuse to make things easy for her. There's Nixon, gorgeous, irresistible, and leader of a group that everyone fears: The Elect. Their rules are simple. 1. Do not touch The Elect. 2. Do not look at The Elect. 3. Do not speak to The Elect. No matter how hard she tries to stay away, The Elect are always around her and it isn't long until she finds out the reason why they keep their friends close and their enemies even closer. She just didn't realize she was the enemy--until it was too late.

Available at:

Review:

I received an e-copy of this book from the publishers at NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

As I have said in some reviews, I work at a bookstore. It's actually the best way to learn about new authors outside of being a blogger. I had seen a few Rachel Van Dyken books come through the way and was intrigued. When I realized that I actually had a few of her books for review I was even more determined to give this new author (new to me at least) a gander and see if I liked what I read. This series, The Eagle Elite, was not one I had heard about from her. After reading the synopsis my immediate impression was, 'Ooo, secret society?' I wanted to see if my assumption was correct.

Tracey didn't know what to expect when she started school at Eagle Elite University. She knew she would be surrounded by distinguished, upper-class students and wasn't sure how a farm girl from Wyoming would fit in. Her determination to do right for her grandfather after her grandmother's death was the driving force behind her remaining at the school. The students made her life hell. Especially the students in an elite group called The Elect. Nixon, their leader, seemed to have a personal vendetta against her. She sustained tarnished remarks to her reputation, physical and emotional abuse, and all sorts of torment from her classmates. Nixon, while maintaining a superior air, started making it known that she was protected by him. It was then that Tracey started forming a love-hate relationship with the Student Body President.

Eventually Tracey found out that there was more than meets the eye with the handsome Nixon and his posse. What she finds out makes her question who she is, where she comes from, and why she feels so connected and familiar with Nixon.

I genuinely liked this story. I got a little misty when I saw all the torment that Tracey went through. I was even more teary eyed when I started to see just how much Nixon truly cares about her. Everything he does has a reason behind it and most often it's his misguided way of protecting her. I liked the connection between Nixon and Tracey and found them to be an amazing pair of protagonists. I like the whole secret society situation that appears to be going on and then eventually finding out it's totally different. I had a hard time truly finding much to dislike about this book, which is amazing for me. I normally find at least something I don't like.

I think Elite and the Eagle Elite series would be perfect for someone who likes to be surprised at every turn or someone who likes to watch a couple who don't immediately fall in love at first sight. Tracey and Nixon work at their relationship. It's not handed to them. It makes the story believable and real. We all need a little reality in our fiction or the thrill of getting lost in the author's world not as satisfying.