Tuesday, September 30, 2014

Book Review: Deconstructing Lila by Shannon Leigh

Title: Deconstructing Lila (Elementals, #1)
Author: Shannon Leigh
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Length: 350 pages
Release Date: September 2014
Print ISBN: 978-1-62266-389-7
Ebook ISBN: 978-1-62266-390-3
Imprint: Select Contemporary
Amazon / Amazon CA / Amazon Uk / BAM / Barnes & Noble / iTunes
Preservationist Lila Gentry returns to her small Texas hometown to restore the famous Chisholm Trial whorehouse where her great-great grandmother was a madam in the 1880s. On her agenda is winning back Jake, the one that got away. But how do you rope a man who doesn’t want to be wrangled?
Jake lives by one creed: Keep it simple. His ex showing up in town, and rehashing old feelings complicates his life and makes him think about things he’D rather forget.
When Lila’s restoration project is threatened before it even begins, she turns to Jake for help. Working together stirs up old feelings but while Lila and Jake always sizzle between the sheets – or wherever the moment takes them – it will involve some sweet-talking and finesse to bring these two together.
MY REVIEW: Years after she left home to start over, Lila heads back to her hometown to win back the only man she's ever loved: her Highschool sweetheart and husband. With a mystery to solve and a man to win, Lila embarks on her two biggest projects ever: renovate her great-grandmother's former whorehouse, restoring her family's legacy and get her husband to fall back in love with her. 
Jake was doing just fine without Lila in his life... Or so he thought up until the minute she waltzed back into his life looking better than ever. He pushed her away to give her a better life and continued going through the motions of his own without ever living. Now he's been giving a second chance and he'd be a fool to waste it.
Deconstructing Lila is well-written, audience capturing, and amazing. I loved the fact that this book was not just about winning over a man. Sure, there was a lot of that, but I also loved the mystery and the family history of Lila and the infamous whorehouse once ran by a great grandparent of hers.
The relationship between the characters reminded me a lot of Sweet Home Alabama, one of my favorite movies, so I was caught up in their separation and her coming home to fight for him, hoping that things would work out. Both characters are very likable although sometimes I really did want to smack some sense into Jake. Lila is successful, beautiful and talented. She's also brave, witty, and determined. I really admired her strength and her bravery to go back home and fix the past. As for Jake I admired his fight and his strength. I could understand why he pushed Lila away beforehand but I felt sorry for him that he never allowed himself to fully live and appreciate life in all their years apart. Together I thought they balanced each other and made a perfect couple. 
Shannon Leigh spins a tale of courage and bravery, love, second chances and new beginnings. Deconstructing Lila is one book you do not want to miss out on! 
4.5 STARS!


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Monday, September 29, 2014

Blog Tour: My Most Precious One

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Synopsis
Alexia, Lexi to all her friends, lived her life her way. Even if it meant putting aside her dreams and dealing with her overbearing mother. She loved the world she had created for herself as a waitress in a chic Montréal bistro. Until one day a businessman comes into the bistro and challenges the life she’s come to love.

She’s caught between her desire for him and the desire to protect what she herself has created. He is domineering and strong with all his wealth and power, as he unapologetically pursues her.
Should she give in? Should she set aside who she is and be with him in his world?

Lukas Blakk is exactly what Lexi has always wanted but the man has a past that Lexi might not be ready for.
MY REVIEW:

It all started in a bistro...

Alexia Samos, a waitress and student, is attracted to one of her customer's, Lukas' and finds herself drawn to him. Lukas', a mix of Christian Grey and Gideon Cross, finds himself attracted to Alexia in return and the chemistry between the two sizzles across the pages. 

With Alexia's mother, an overbearing Greek woman, and Luka's personal assistant with jealousy issues and a ghost from Luka's past coming back into his life, will Alexia and Luka's relationship withstand all the tests thrown at it or will it break apart and leave Alexia to pick up the pieces of her heart? 

Beautifully written, My Most Precious One captures a reader's attention and holds it. Full of heartache, angst, jealousy My Most Precious One isn't your typical love story. With lessons in trust and forgiveness though, Alexia and Lukas' steal a reader's heart.

My Most Precious One is intense and passionate with a lead male that rival's Christian Grey for the most screwed up male award, but Lukas' possessiveness and jealousy comes across as hot for the most part. In real life probably not, but hey, that's what books are for. Everything readers loved about the elusive Christian Grey, they will enjoy in Lukas. 

As far as characters go, I did like Lukas and Alexia both, but at times Alexia was a bit too stubborn and down on herself for my liking. I did love the fact that Alexia was strong, intelligent, and determined though so it kind of balanced itself out. 

My Most Precious One is a book that is hard to put down once you start reading. Within a few chapters you are immersed in Lukas' and Alexia's world and it's hard to put this book down without wanting to know what happens next. 
My Most Precious One gets 4 1/2 stars from Bottles & Books Reviews.

Meet the Author

Evangelene was born and raised in Montreal Canada. She currently lives with her husband who at times drives her nuts. She has been studying Classical Civilization and Linguistics at Concordia University for over ten years. The pull of the ancient world was too great for her to let go, so she continues her education to feel closer to the world she identifies with. She reads nonstop, devouring books like its food, loving the feeling of being lost in a world that another author has created. Evangelene started writing her stories ten years ago to express and bring to life all the wonderful characters that inhabit her imagination. She writes for herself and invites readers to join her journey. 
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Friday, September 26, 2014

Blog Tour: Raven by Stacey Rourke


Raven by Stacey Rourke
The Legends Saga #2
Purchase It Here: 
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/RavenBN
Smashwords: http://bit.ly/RavenSW
Amazon: http://bit.ly/RavenAm

An infamous love, destined nevermore,
For death could not claim, the enchanting Lenore.
Cursed by the malevolent spirit of the Headless Horseman, Ireland Crane ventures to Manhattan in search of a way to break her soul crushing bond. Instead, she discovers the lines between fact and fiction are blurring once more. Croaking ravens. Telltale hearts. Could the works of Poe be coming to pass with handsome Wall Street Midas Ridley Peolte as their unwilling target?
She walks the Earth, a plague on mankind,

searching for he, her rotted heart doth pine.

Together, the two unknowingly release a dark force death itself could not tame. Surrounded by the unrelenting violence and mayhem they’ve unleashed, Ireland feels her control over the Horseman slipping. Before the beast within consumes her, she and her crew must follow the clues of the dead to right a centuries’ old wrong. Will it be enough to sate the Horseman’s appetite?
Hell hath no fury like a ghoul scorned.


My Review: Raven is the second book of the The Legends Saga and starts almost immediately where book one, Crane, ends. Ireland Crane is joined by Rip Van Winkle and her boyfriend Noah Van Tassel on her journey to search for the person behind the tattooed talisman on her arm. 

While searching for the one behind the tattoo, mysterious happenings are afoot and Ireland, Noah, and Rip get brought into Edgar Allen Poe's world with the help of Ridley Peolte who is cursed with Edgar Allen's 'ailment'. 

To figure out how to save Ireland before the inhuman beast that lies within her, consumes her entirely, Ireland along with Rip, Noah, and Ridley must right a wrong that was done over a century ago.

First off, I loved Raven. The characters, the setting, and the plot all blend to make an entirely wonderful book. A continuation from where Crane left off (another marvelous work by Stacey Rourke), Raven introduces new characters, a new mystery, and one of the most famous literary geniuses of his time, Edgar Allen Poe. 

As a girl who loves the works of Poe and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving, when I first read the descriptions of both Crane and Raven, I knew this series was right up my alley and that it was. I am amazed by how Rourke brought the characters of Ichabod Crane, Rip Van Winkle, Washington Irving, and Edgar Allen Poe to life. The descriptions of each character and setting make the reader feel as if they are a part of that time period and the book itself. You feel as if you know each character - whether from this era or another. 

 Ireland Crane, the main character from the present era, is intelligent, humorous, and likable. She's also dangerous, carrying the Horseman inside of her. With weapons and a stallion at her call, Ireland is pretty bad ass. Noah, her boyfriend, is a sweet guy who supports Ireland, even in all her Horseman glory.

 Rip Van Winkle, a face from both eras, is pretty much remains the same as he was in the past, but also picks up on the new culture surrounding him which is pretty humorous especially when it comes to Breaking Bad and his new favorite word.

 Each character blends well with the rest of the cast and play off one another complimentary way. The settings are of course Sleepy Hollow and New York, where Poe resided for a time, and are described perfectly.

 The plot is the perfect blend of mystery, "history", and suspense. Stacey Rourke has created a masterpiece with Raven (and also Crane) and I look forward to reading more of her work. Until then I give Raven the perfect 5 stars!

Check out the First Book in the Series, Crane, on Goodreads: http://bit.ly/CraneGR
The Horseman is unending,
his presence shan’t lessen.
If you break the curse,
you become the legend.

Washington Irving and Rip Van Winkle had no choice but to cover up the deadly truth behind Ichabod Crane’s disappearance. Centuries later, a Crane returns to Sleepy Hollow awakening macabre secrets once believed to be buried deep.

What if the monster that spawned the legend lived within you?

Now, Ireland Crane, reeling from a break-up and seeking a fresh start, must rely on the newly awakened Rip Van Winkle to discover the key to channeling the darkness swirling within her. Bodies are piling high and Ireland is the only one that can save Sleepy Hollow by embracing her own damning curse.

But is anyone truly safe when the Horseman rides?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
 There is nothing worse than being put on the spot and asked to talk about yourself. For me it brings back that inevitable moment in a new school when the teacher would ask me to stand up, introduce myself and tell the class something about myself. I was always worried I would blurt out something stupid that I would get teased for. Something like, “My name’s Stacey and I like pickles!” Then for the rest of the school year I’d be known as the Pickle Girl and let’s be honest, no one wants that. So to avoid such a faux pas I will simply say that I love to write. It allows me to get my crazy out just enough that I can function as a normal member of society.

Find Stacey Here:



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