The Vampire Stalker by Allison van Diepen‏

Description:

What if the characters in a vampire novel left their world--and came into yours?
Amy is in love with someone who doesn't exist: Alexander Banks, the dashing hero in a popular series of vampire novels. Then one night, Amy meets a boy who bears an eerie resemblance to Alexander. In fact, he IS Alexander, who has escaped from the pages of the book and is in hot pursuit of a wicked vampire named Vigo. Together, Amy and Alexander set out to track Vigo and learn how and why Alexander crossed over. But when she and Alexander begin to fall for each other, Amy wonders if she even wants him to ever return to the realm of fiction.

My Thoughts:

When I first saw description of this book on Goodreads, I was intrigued by the plot idea. I immediately marked it to-read and patiently waited for the book release. I bought the book as soon as I came back from my European vacation and started to read it. One quarter through the book my excitement about the book started to vain. It was all I expected it to be, but it was not (I hope you know what I mean). As much I as I loved the idea of this book I was somewhat disappointed with execution of it. Don’t get me wrong book was alright, but just that alright; there was no big wow factor or being disappointed that you finished reading the book way to fast.

As already mentioned above, I was really excited about plot line of this book. The idea that your favourite character, from your favourite book comes into your world. Now how awesome is that, woot.  Characters were flat and lacked chemistry; I was disappointed because I did not feel any connection between Amy and Alexander. Their relationship felt more forced than anything else; Alexander’s character was not what I expected him to be. But on the second thought readers do not get to know Alexander very much, all author tells us about him is that he is a character from a book who somehow crossed into Amy’s dimension and that he is vampire hunter. Actually on the third thought, we really do not get to know Amy well either. But that is not surprising since the book is around 260 pages long. Dialog between characters was not very realistic and it was awkward. One example on not very realistic, Amy’s mother asks something along the lines How do you know that vampires are real? Amy’s response, that all right mom, I read a lot about vampires and that is how I know that they are real. When I read this part of the conversation between the mother and daughter I had to laugh at the poor explanation. Mind you this conversation took place before the people believed that vampires exist.

Overall, this was an alright book, there were number of positive sides to the story. I think that the plot idea of your favourite character coming alive would be probably every book lovers dream, I know it would be mine. The only problem I would have is choosing my very favourite character.  Another thing that I really liked about this book, is Mrs. P explanation of how Alexander was able to cross into Amy’s dimension, I like the idea of literary physics . Book cover was another thing that I really liked, it accurately represented the story. I think that my problem with this book was that I went into it with too high of the expectation. I give this book 2/5 STARS.

Passion (Fallen #3) by Lauren Kate

Description:

"Every single lifetime, I'll choose you. Just as you have chosen me. Forever."

Luce would die for Daniel. And she has. Over and over again. Throughout time, Luce and Daniel have found each other, only to be painfully torn apart: Luce dead, Daniel left broken and alone. But perhaps it doesn’t need to be that way. . . .

Luce is certain that something—or someone—in a past life can help her in her present one. So she begins the most important journey of this lifetime . . . going back eternities to witness firsthand her romances with Daniel . . . and finally unlock the key to making their love last.

Cam and the legions of angels and Outcasts are desperate to catch Luce, but none are as frantic as Daniel. He chases Luce through their shared pasts, terrified of what might happen if she rewrites history.

Because their romance for the ages could go up in flames . . . forever (from Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:

Just finished book 3 in Fallen series; I have to say this was a good and entertaining read. I do have to say that I really did not like the cover for this page, comparing to the other two books cover page for book three was not as good. I do not know what it is, I just did not enjoy it as much as I have other covers for this series.

This book I have to say is by far the most entertaining, in this book we get to follow Luce as she skips through different times in past where she is trying to figure out the curse. We get to meet other Luce’s from past, as a reader you get to see how each of past Luce’s differ and compare to the current time Luce. The only shortcoming that I had with skipping through the time is that we do not get to know other Luce’s to understand what they were really like. But I guess that would be to much of material for one book. We also get to see a little of Daniel through the eyes of all different Luce’s from past.

However, I do have to say that Luce has not changed at all, she is still the same. Making the same mistakes, being to trusting and not really thinking about the situation she in because she is too focused on her love for Daniel. It was little too much for my taste, I mean as soon as she hears his name she is blindly drawn into his direction. Book was well written, nothing to go OMG about, it was decent. Character development was not as good thought, I feel like Luce and Daniel are still stuck in one place, no growth.

Overall this was a good, entertaining and fast read. If you have read first two books in the series and are not sure about reading this one I would recommended that you do not put too high of expectations for book three. If you have too high of expectations from this book than you will be disappointed because there was no great improvement (writing, plot and character speaking). But if you are expecting something along the lines of the first two book than book three will be a good read. I give this book 3/5 STARS.

What I Did For a Duke (Pennyroyal Green #5) by Julie Anne Long

Description:

For years, he's been an object of fear, fascination . . . and fantasy. But of all the wicked rumors that shadow the formidable Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, the ton knows one thing for certain: only fools dare cross him. And when Ian Eversea does just that, Moncrieffe knows the perfect revenge: he'll seduce Ian's innocent sister, Genevieve—the only Eversea as yet untouched by scandal. First he'll capture her heart . . . and then he'll break it.

But everything about Genevieve is unexpected: the passion simmering beneath her cool control, the sharp wit tempered by gentleness . . . And though Genevieve has heard the whispers about the duke's dark past, and knows she trifles with him at her peril, one incendiary kiss tempts her deeper into a world of extraordinary sensuality. Until Genevieve is faced with a fateful choice . . . is there anything she won't do for a duke?

My Thoughts:

I started reading this book over a month ago, but I went on vacation to Europe and I forgot to pack this book with me. I was upset about that because I was planning to finish reading while on vacation. Now that I am back from my trip I had a chance to finish my book and I have to say I enjoyed it very much.

Genevieve is the female protagonist in this historical romance, she is very likeable character and enjoyed reading about her very much. What liked most about her is that she is not your typical historical romance female character. She was not whiny or week, but rather she was very strong, intelligent, funny and caring. I do have to say she was little bit indecisive as to what or I should say whom she wanted. But other than that she was well developed character. Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, was very interesting character. Author portrays him in a typical historical romance hero roll. He is neither overly good nor bad, but in the between and that is what makes him so appealing to the readers. I also enjoyed reading about Genevieve’s family, especially her brothers and their adventures.

Book was well written, plot and characters were well thought out and developed. Even thought this book is set in Victorian England believe, the author does not spend a lot of time describing the scenery or the customs of the time period. Which I found to be alright, it did not take away from the story.

Overall this was a very entertaining read; this was my first book by this author and I’ll probably go out and check her other books. I would recommend this book to all lovers of historical romances, it is an easy read. I give this book 4/5 STARS.

Memorie of You by Bobbie Cole‏

Description:

Cold case detective Charlie Vargas is searching for a killer—but what she really needs to know is what happened to her lover, who vanished several months ago. When the phone rings and she hears Seth's voice, she's skeptical. He tells her his name is Mason Alridge, and the only thing he remembers after his accident is the number he called...hers.

Mason looks nothing like her former lover, but there's something about his mannerisms, if not his face, that draws Charlie in. As they begin to piece together what few clues and skimpy details they have, Charlie and the man she believes is Seth slowly discover a mutual passion. With the Feds following at a distance and someone trying to kill them, will they live long enough to find out his true identity?

My Thoughts:

When I first read the description of this book on NetGalley it sounded good and something that I would enjoy reading. However I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy reading this book at all. I liked the plot idea, but it was not executed very well. it was lacking in everything. Writing was very monotonous, there was no change in tone of voice at all. It did not matter what was happening it was same monotonous voice. This ruined the story, because when I read I like to feel different emotion but with this story there was nothing. All I experienced was boredom and thinking is it over yet. However I did read the whole book, even though there were times when I thought I would not finish it.

Characters were also flat and not well developed; I found them boring and lifeless. Also past and current relationship between Seth and Charlie was dry and emotionless. There was no chemistry between the two, no tension. There was not enough details as to the past relationship between Charlie and Seth, the whole story actually feels rushed. At first I thought that I would like Seth, but I was displeased by his reaction to his situation. I mean here you are, with no memory of your life and you feel nothing. There are no emotions being expressed or anger, if this was me I would be raging with all kinds of different emotions. As for Charlie, she was alright, I expected her reaction to Seth’s sudden appearance to be different.

Overall, I did not enjoy reading this book very much. It pains me very much to give a negative a review for a book. Author did have some good ideas but they needed to be more developed. I give this book 1/5 STARS.

Mariana by Susanna Kearsley‏

Description:

Julia Beckett believes in destiny. When she moves into Greywethers, a beautiful sixteenth-century farmhouse, she suspects that more than coincidence has brought her there. The locals are warm and welcoming, especially the eligible squire of Crofton Hall, yet beneath the ordinariness, Julia senses a haunting sadness about her new home. Then she learns of Mariana, a beautiful young woman who lived there three hundred years ago. It seems history has been waiting for Julia.(

My Thoughts:

This a second book that I have read by this author and I love her style of writing. Her writing is very easy and flowy; I call It lazy writing. But when I say “lazy” I mean it in a good way. It is very laid back, relaxing, poetic way of writing. I am in love with her writing and her plot lines that I will have to look for other books that she wrote.

Julie Becket moves to Greywethers she learns about Mariana, a woman who used to live in the house almost three or four centauries prior. From here begins a story of Julia and Mariana because they are very closely intertwined. I liked Julia, she was smart, funny, curious, and intriguing. As I was reading the book I constantly wanted to learn more about her and Mariana. Also wanted really badly to know what happened to Mariana and what will happen to Julia. Julia’s time travel was very realistic; each time Julia would experience Mariana’s life it felt realistic. There were no awkward moment like I have encountered in the other book that deal with some sort of time travel or shift (whatever you want to call it).

This book pretty much has everything, mystery, romance, friendship, family and more. As I have already mentioned it was very well written and plot was well thought out. Plot was not too complex but rather straight forward and simple. Each time Julia would time travel it was very straight forward and there was no confusion as to trying to figure out what is going on. I was really surprised about the romance between Julia and Geoffrey de Mornay and how it ended. It was very surprising for me because I did not see it coming. I do have to say that as I was reading the book I thought that the chemistry between the two was somewhat off and it did not work for me. I can not say more because I do not want to ruin the book for anyone.

Overall this was a very good read and I am looking forward to reading more books by this author. I liked everything about this book, style of writing, plot line, characters and everything else that it had to offer. I give this book 5/5 STARS. Happy reading.

False Mermaid (Nora Gavin #3) by Erin Hart

Desription:

American pathologist Nora Gavin fled to Ireland three years ago, hoping that distance from home would bring her peace. Though she threw herself into the study of bog bodies and the mysteries of their circumstances, she was ultimately led back to the one mystery she was unable to solve: the murder of her sister, Tríona. Nora can’t move forward until she goes back—back to her home, to the scene of the crime, to the source of her nightmares and her deepest regrets.

Determined to put her sister’s case to rest and anxious about her eleven-year-old niece, Elizabeth, Nora returns to Saint Paul, Minnesota, to find that her brother-in-law, Peter Hallett, is about to remarry and has plans to leave the country with his new bride. Nora has long suspected Hallett in Tríona’s murder, though there has never been any proof of his involvement, and now she believes that his new wife and Elizabeth may both be in danger. Time is short, and as Nora begins reinvestigating her sister’s death, missed clues and ever-more disturbing details come to light. What is the significance of the "false mermaid" seeds found on Tríona’s body?
Why was her behavior so erratic in the days before her murder?

Is there a link between Tríona’s death and that of another young woman?

Nora’s search for answers takes her from the banks of the Mississippi to the cliffs of Ireland, where the eerie story of a fisherman’s wife who vanished more than a century ago offers up uncanny parallels. As painful secrets come to light, Nora is drawn deeper into a past that still threatens to engulf her and must determine how much she is prepared to sacrifice to put one tragedy to rest . . . and to make sure that history doesn’t repeat itself.

My Thoughts:

I picked up this book at Halifax International Airport on the day I was flying to Europe. I picked it up because it sounded like a really good and interesting book. Only to find out after I finish reading that this is book three in Nora Gavin series. I hope that reading order of this series does not matter that much, because I really enjoyed this book and I would like to read the first two books in the series.

Nora was an interesting character, at first I did not know what to think of her, do I like her or not. But as I kept reading the book, I came to like Nora very much and I felt very bad for her. Even though it has been five years since her sister has been murdered she still has not come to terms with it. Big part was that the main suspect was her sisters husband in the murder investigation, but police could never prove it. Readers - I am not giving away anything here all this can be found on the back of the book.

This mystery novel is very engaging and interesting read. Even though we know who the murderer is there is still some element of surprise. But even with the knowledge of who the murdered is author managed to keep me in suspense and interested in the story. However I was somewhat disappointed with the ending, because it did not end the way I thought it would. I guess I was looking for a more satisfying ending, but this ending will have to do.

Overall this was a very interesting, mystery filled read. Characters were well developed and entertaining. I wanted to know what happens to the in the end. I really likes Nora and Cormac and Elizabeth, I would have liked to have seen more of them. Maybe there will be more books in this series which will give us a chance to get to know these characters better. I give this book 4/5 STARS.