Book Review: Devil in the Making (Devilish Vignettes #1) by Victoria Vane

Devil in the Making (Devilish Vignettes #1)
By Victoria Vane
Release Date: November 6th, 2012
Format: Ebook (ARC)
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:
Every devil has a beginning...
A rebellious young nobleman's prank with the king's lion goes comically awry, leading to a startling chain of events.

A riotous Georgian romp in the tradition of Fielding's Tom Jones and a prequel to the Devil DeVere series.

**This title is NOT a romance**

A Note from the Author:

When I first conceived A WILD NIGHT'S BRIDE, a Georgian set, Hangover-inspired romantic comedy, I had no idea that one devilish secondary character would spawn an entire series, but Ludovic, Viscount DeVere, proved to be a dream come true. This larger than life character has captured the hearts of so many fans who have begged for more DeVere.So without further ado…. Here is how it all began….

My Review:
A very big thank you to Victoria Vane for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. You know I love you lots ♡

This is a short story/novella reliving the younger days of DeVere, Ned and the introduction to Simon, our hero in the forthcoming Jewel of the East. I enjoyed getting to know Simon and his lewd poetry writing skills.

DeVere was insolent and as devilish as ever and we get a glimpse into how his father was like. Terrible. Worst than terrible and he deserved to go rot in the depths of hell. I mean, virgin cleansing to cure pox? What more with a mere child? Thank god DeVere was back in time to prevent this abomination.

I'm on the fence regarding his mother though. I don't approve of what she did, abandoning her children to seek her own happiness but can't really blame her as how she got married to DeVere's father was another horror all of its own.

The episode with the lion and Freddie were cute and funny, especially at the end. DeVere was sure daring, defying the king like that.

As always, it is a pleasure to read Ms. Vane's works and I'm seriously looking forward to Jewel of the East and The Trouble With Sin. Imagine the hallelujah feeling I had when I found out The Devil's Match was not the end of DeVere and Co.

I recommend reading the Devil DeVere series first before starting on this one as it'll guarantee to enhance the reading enjoyment.

Book Review: Kiss of Midnight (Midnight Breed #1) by Lara Adrian

Kiss of Midnight (Midnight Breed #1) 

By Lara Adrian

Release Date: May 1st, 2007

Format: Ebook

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:

He watches her from across the crowded dance club, a sensual black-haired stranger who stirs Gabrielle Maxwell’s deepest fantasies. But nothing about this night—or this man—is what it seems. For when Gabrielle witnesses a murder outside the club, reality shifts into something dark and deadly. In that shattering instant she is thrust into a realm she never knew existed—a realm where vampires stalk the shadows and a blood war is set to ignite.

Lucan Thorne despises the violence carried out by his lawless brethren. A vampire himself, Lucan is a Breed warrior, sworn to protect his kind—and the unwitting humans existing alongside them—from the mounting threat of the Rogues. Lucan cannot risk binding himself to a mortal woman, but when Gabrielle is targeted by his enemies, he has no choice but to bring her into the dark underworld he commands.

Here, in the arms of the Breed’s formidable leader, Gabrielle will confront an extraordinary destiny of danger, seduction, and the darkest pleasures of all. . . .

My Review:

The introduction/prologue was really good. It gave off a mysterious and creepy feeling. I had high hopes for it. Although Midnight Breed was duped to be similar as Ward's BDB series, it has its own mythology and unique world building.

Unfortunately, KoM lacked the oopmh and hilarity. I didn't like Gabrielle at all. She was the dullest and uninteresting heroine I've read to date. I couldn't see what Lucan saw in her. I know that he connected to her lonely and lost soul. Other than that, she did not shine out at all. She was so utterly boring and I just couldn't stand her. She had no character.

I didn't enjoy this as much as I wanted to. I didn't see as much interactions between the Breed warriors as I would have like. I couldn't see the closeness between them. There were hardly any LOL moments. Everything was grim.

I'm sad to say that I'm not really that eager to delve into the rest of the series.

Book Review: Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1) by Maya Banks

Never Seduce a Scot (The Montgomerys and Armstrongs #1) 

By Maya Banks

Release Date: September 25th, 2012
Format: Ebook (ARC)
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Blurb from Goodreads:
This sinfully sweet new romance from Maya Banks features a remarkable woman whose rare gift teaches a gruff Scottish warrior how to listen with his heart.

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but considered "touched" to outsiders. Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn't speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Eveline taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft, content to stay with her family. But when an arranged marriage with a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, she accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful she can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled he awakens her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by his new bride, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation, whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

My Review:
A very big thank you to Netgalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for providing me with an ARC of this book.

My very first read from Maya Banks was her wonderful McCabe Trilogy and fell instantly in love with the series. When I was hounding Maya Bank's website and Goodread's author page, I saw her new Scottish romance series. I was instantly sold, what more when I saw the tender scene of the cover and the irresistible blurb.

Never Seduce a Scot was a sweet, sexy and emotional read. It was really good and I could hardly put my e-reader down. I actually slept at 3.40am. It was that good and engrossing.

I adore Eveline. I have a penchant for deaf heroines who are considered "daft" and "touched" just because they are different. Eveline had a delicate and fragile appearance, like a porcelain doll, but boy, she was persistent, determined, optimistic and most of all, she had a big heart and generous spirit. I totally enjoyed reading about her. She was like a breath of fresh air. My favourite scene was of her trying to drag her chests and satchels to Graeme's chamber.

Graeme was an interesting and great hero. I respected how he was fair and just in treating Eveline. Even though it was a forced marriage, he did not let out his anger or revenge upon innocent Eveline. I really like how he was a different romance hero than most as he was mostly celibate and did not simply sleep around with every women just because he can. It was really refreshing to read that he considered the least attractive among the brothers and I just love him more because of these. He just had a very huge and strong presence.

I thought the pace of the story was perfect. While there are others who commented that nothing basically happened until a 3/4 of the story, I beg to differ. It was so romantic and amusing to read about Graeme and Eveline's interactions and how they fall in love. Graeme was such a tender and understanding husband and lover. Their love scene was so sweet. I just can't help sighing dreamily while reading it.

Did I mention that I adore Rorie? I love her relationship with Eveline and her mischief. One of their most amusing scene was how she ended up dozing off when she was supposed to stand guard while Eveline took a bath in the river.

Another refreshing aspect was how Eveline was so loved and protected by her parents and brothers. It was so sweet, really. Other than that, I'm really looking forward to reading about Eveline's and Graeme's brothers.

I only regret having finishing it in just a day. Now is the agonizing wait for the sequel, Highlander Most Wanted.

Never Seduce a Scot was a great start to a new series and highly recommended.

Book Review: The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) by Julie Kagawa

The Lost Prince (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten, #1) 
By Julie Kagawa
Release Date: October 23rd, 2012
Format: Ebook (ARC)
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ 1/2

Blurb from Goodreads:

Don't look at Them. Never let Them know you can see Them.

That is Ethan Chase's unbreakable rule. Until the fey he avoids at all costs—including his reputation—begin to disappear, and Ethan is attacked. Now he must change the rules to protect his family. To save a girl he never thought he's dare to fall for.

Ethan thought he had protected himself from his older sister's world—the land of Faery. His previous time in the Iron Realm left him with nothing but fear and disgust for the world Meghan Chase has made her home, a land of myths and talking cats, of magic and seductive enemies. But when destiny comes for Ethan, there is no escape from a danger long, long forgotten.

My name is Ethan Chase. And I may not live to see my eighteenth birthday.

My Review:
A very big thank you to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for providing me with an ARC of this book.

I was really excited when Julie tweeted that The Lost Prince is available on Netgally. I was really ecstatic when my request was immediately auto approved. I read it that very night and finished in the early morning. Yeah, I couldn't sleep because I wanted to keep reading it.

I could see some similarities in style to The Iron King in the sense that Julie's first book in a series always seemed to start slow. In The Lost Prince, we get to see inside Ethan's head - it's in his POV after all which is really cool frustrating. The pace of the story flowed from day to day, we get to know more about Ethan and actually see what happened to the cute 4 years old I fell in love with in The Iron King. At 17, Ethan is no more the happy and bubbly kid we knew. He has grown hostile, lonely, bitter and totally messed up. Ethan kept everyone, including his parents, at arm's length; afraid that anyone associated with him will be used and get hurt by Them to get to him.  His attempts to push people away with his deliberate hurtful and thoughtless remarks made me want to wring his neck. It was frustrating. Ethan has also grown bitter and very angry because he still felt that his sister, Meghan, chose Them over her own family. Poor Ethan. He really missed Meghan, his older sister.

Kenzie. It actually took time for me to like her. In the beginning, I found her okay when she boldly approached Ethan for the first time. After that, I grew annoyed with her relentless questioning, stubbornness, determination and persistence in "chasing" after Ethan for an interview. Maybe I was affected by Ethan's emotions regarding Kenzie. He was irritated and at the same time attracted to Kenzie. But anyhow, I grew to like her as the story progressed. She was really brave, intelligent and funny. She changed Ethan in lots of ways as the story went along as Ethan began to understand why Meghan did what she did. She kept on pushing Ethan and dragging him out of his protective shell. She understood Ethan and accepted all the weirdness with a level head. But, I could already guess her secret early on in the story. I wonder how Julie will go about it. Hmmmmmm.......

Todd, the half-breed was awesome. I loved him the moment he was introduced. It was so refreshing to have a character who was cheeky and hilarious. I was really sad to see him out of action throughout Ethan and Kenzie's journey in the Nevernever. I really hope he will remain as one of the main characters throughout this series. It was devastating to see what happened to him in the end.

There was also Kierran and Annwyl. I won't tell you who Kierran is because it'll be no fun if I spoil the surprise. I will just say that Annwyl is an exiled Summer faery who was taken in by Leanansidhe, the Exile Queen. They were an interesting pair and their romance was bittersweet. You'll know why when you're reading it.

Other than that, the former characters from The Iron Fey reappeared. We get to meet Grimalkin, Glitch, Ash (YAY!!!), Meghan, Leanansidhe, Puck (Woo-hoo!!) and the beloved gremlin , Razor.

The Lost Prince was a good read in a way. The actions only come later in the book but there is just something magical about Julie's writing that keeps you engrossed. At the end of the story, you'll realized that it is just the beginning of a big battle soon to come and I'm pretty sure it is just not the end of those glamour-eaters.

Book Review: The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Richelle Mead

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) 
By Richelle Mead
Release Date: June 12th, 2012
Format: Hardcover
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


Blurb from Goodreads:

The second thrilling installment in Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy spinoff series

Tough, brainy alchemist Sydney Sage and doe-eyed Moroi princess Jill Dragomir are in hiding at a human boarding school in the sunny, glamorous world of Palm Springs, California. The students--children of the wealthy and powerful--carry on with their lives in blissful ignorance, while Sydney, Jill, Eddie, and Adrian must do everything in their power to keep their secret safe. But with forbidden romances, unexpected spirit bonds, and the threat of Strigoi moving ever closer, hiding the truth is harder than anyone thought.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, Richelle Mead's breathtaking Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive. In this second book, the drama is hotter, the romances are steamier, and the stakes are even higher.

My Review:

Book Review: The Devil's Match (The Devil DeVere #4) by Victoria Vane

The Devil's Match (The Devil DeVere #4) 

By Victoria Vane

Release Date: August 24th, 2012

Format: Ebook (ARC)

Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Once burned twice shy… but when old flames come together…passion reignites...

When burned once… 

Arriving in London as her goddaughter's chaperone, Baroness Diana Palmerston-Wriothesley wants to avoid her erstwhile lover at all costs. Once nearly consumed by passion, four years has reduced the former inferno to bitterness and ashes.

By an old flame... 

A world-weary master of seduction, Ludovic "The Devil" DeVere is bored with his chosen life of debauchery. When Diana's charge disappears, she is forced to seek help from the devil's lair, and their mutual desire reignites with undeniable ferocity.

Fire is best fought with fire… 

While DeVere is hell-bent to have her back for keeps, Diana is equally determined to bring him to his knees…by acquiring some sensual secrets of her own.

My Review:

A very big thank you to Victoria Vane for providing me with an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. You know I love you lots ♡ 

After those fateful moments, four years later, Diana has grown angry and bitter. Expecting too see her attraction to Ludovic wane and diminish after all these years, she was dismayed that it has grown stronger and fiercer than before but she was very adamant in avoiding and denying it.

On the other hand, Ludovic has traveled abroad during those missing years and engaged in every manner of debauchery to purge himself of his feeling of something for Diana. Alas, it failed as when he meets her again, he becomes restless and bored of his usual activities. They became meaningless. All he could think of was wanting Diana.

It was awesome to see the fiery interactions between our beloved hero and heroine. I was also glad to see that our main characters from the first two books were regulars in this book. I had only two issues for this book. Salime played a pretty distinct role somewhere towards the middle but she quickly disappeared from her role after that as I was pretty much looking forward to Diana dancing. Another is the transition to the "fourteen months later". I didn't mind the time transition. I just thought that the flow towards it was rather abrupt. But these are just very, very minor issues because I A.D.O.R.E.D the epilogue. It was really sweet and utterly complete.

The Devil's Match has been a delightful, exciting and naughty read. I can definitely say that it is the hottest and sexiest book among the rest in the series. I am really sad to this amazing series finally come to an end. I hope Victoria Vane will continue to deliver many more tantalizing treats of the same kind in the near future.

Book Review: How to Romance a Rake (Ugly Ducklings #2) by Manda Collins

How to Romance a Rake (Ugly Ducklings #2)  
By Manda Collins
Release Date: July 31st, 2012
Format: Ebook
Rating: ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


Blurb from Goodreads:

You can lead a wallflower to the ball, but you can’t make her bloom—unless one daring young bachelor turns up the heat…

DANCING WITH DANGER

What’s a nice girl like Miss Juliet Shelby doing at a place like Lord Deveril’s ballroom? With her shy demeanor, she’s a total stranger to the dance floor and a source of mockery for the ton. So imagine her surprise when Deveril gallantly comes to her defense—and offers to teach her to dance! Juliet can hardly believe the most handsome bachelor in London would notice her, until he takes her in his arms and sets her heart ablaze…


PLAYING WITH FIRE

Lord Alec Deveril has never felt such a spark of attraction for an unmarried lady before. Unlike the “fashionable” ladies he’s accustomed to, Juliet possesses a generous spirit, a fiery intelligence—and an explosive secret. Deep in the London underworld, a dear friend has vanished, and Juliet fears the worst. Deveril insists on helping, escorting her through the darkest alleys in town. But he too is hiding a shocking secret—and the only way he can defeat the devil in his past is to seduce the angel in his arms…

My Review:

It is just soooooo good and I'm so sad to have finished it in one seating. I was really impatient for the release of How to Romance a Rake and pre-ordered it in Amazon Kindle. Doesn't matter that it's priced the same as a paperback because by the time the paperback arrives, I think I've already wilted from the waiting.

How to Romance a Rake was a really sweet, cute and romantic read. I always have a penchant bluestocking heroines and Juliet was one along with her other two cousins. What more that she was crippled in one leg - which is a huge defect in the eyes of the ton - and made her more appealing in my eyes. Juliet was a wonderful heroine who was known to be the most animate among her three cousins before the fateful accident.

Alec was in no way rakish at all. He just gave off that illusion to people. He was a real gentleman, sweet, kind and thoughtful. I enjoyed Alec's and Juliet's scenes together. The romance between Alec and Juliet was so sweet and romantic. *Sighs dreamily* The mysteries were really good, the missing women, Lady Shelby's push to get Juliet married to Lord Turlington and the secret of Juliet's Vienna accident. They kept me guessing and I had several theories all at once.

I enjoyed How to Romance a Rake immensely and as usual, the secondary characters were wonderfully fleshed out. It was so cute to see her cousins playing matchmaker to Juliet and Alec.

Thank you Manda for this amazing story and series. I think I may love you. *grins impishly* I really look forward to How to Entice an Earl.