Tales From My Hard Drive - Megan Karasch

Posted by Ananda at 1:40 PM Wednesday, November 30, 2011
 Title - Tales From My Hard Drive
Author - Megan Karasch
Genre - Chick lit
Date published -  December 18th 2010
Publisher - Createspace
Format - Paperback
Pages - 170
Rating - 5 out of 5

Melissa is a 40 and something year old and just caught her husband cheating on her. The man whom she was married to for more than a decade and whom she thought was the love of her life. Angry, hurt, disappointed, she decides she needs a new life far from LA and Brett-the son-of-a-bitch who broke her heart. So bye bye LA - hello New York!!!
She moves in with her friend and finds a job at trendsetter. com as a journalist. It's not a job she is crazy about, but she needs every buck to get on her feet.
But when you least expect it, chances appear. Only this time, the stake is high. Being single at 40, even in NY, is not easy. So she decides to try online dating..and that's when the craziness starts. Dating all kinds of people, mostly weirdos, she starts writing down her "dating adventures" (more like her dating catastrophes) and publishing them in the New York Beacon. Each time hoping she would find Mr Right for her, could it be that Mr Right was already in her life? Torn between her hard drive and the real life, Melissa is going to tell you a story you will never forget.

Ok, this looks like me while reading the book

lol Pictures, Images and Photos

I can't remember laughing so much while reading a book! Melissa's adventures are surely something I will never forget. She is funny, young spirited, totally lovable character. And of course... the romance! I try not to say much, because I really don't want to spoil it for you, but I will only say YOU HAVE TO READ THIS BOOK!
'Tales From My Hard Drive' is surely the funniest, wittiest romance story I have read in my life! Don't believe me? Well see it for yourself, but let me warn you,don't read it at night...you will laugh so hard you will wake up the whole neighborhood!
I would like to thank the author for sending me a copy of this LOVELY book. She is amazingly talented and the humor is so fresh. I really love her writing style and yes...can't praise the book enough!
So what are you waiting for? Get your copy of this fab book now!

My rating
 

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The Christmas Phoenix - Patricia Kiyono

Posted by Ananda at 5:23 PM Tuesday, November 29, 2011
Title - The Christmas Phoenix
Author - Patricia Kiyono
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Date published - November 24th 2011
Publisher - Astraea Press
Format - Kinde Edition
Pages - 
Author's website - http://www.patriciakiyono.com/
Rating - 3 out of 5
Christmas is all about giving, about family and spending quality time together..and about new beginnings.

Jess' life is not easy. Being a single parent to her 14 year old son,after losing her husband means she is in charge about everything. This means working a lot just to put some food on the table. No wonder she feels exhausted, having two jobs, a teenage son and no partner to help her out.
Jake Thompson has just moved into the neighborhood, coming to this town so he would "heal" his wounds and recover from a disastrous relationship.
One can say, both Jess and Jake have been hurt enough in life. But Christmas is a time for miracles to happen. They both have been mourning and suffering for far too long.
Will they rise from ashes just like a phoenix?

This short and sweet story is not only about love, but about family as well. I really felt sorry for Jess and everything she's been through. She is a lovely mother, warm and caring. My heart was really breaking when I was reading certain parts of the book.
My only complaint would be that the story was too slow paced for my taste in the beginning. However, I enjoyed it! It really made me think of life, priorities, second chances, forgetting and forgiving.
Definitely would love to read more by Mrs Kiyono. 

My rating


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The Key - Felicia Rogers

Posted by Ananda at 10:32 PM Sunday, November 27, 2011
Title - The Key
Author - Felicia Rogers
Genre - Paranormal, Young Adult
Date published  -    December 16th 2010
Publisher -  Solstice Publishing
Format - Kinde edition
Pages - 
Rating - 3 out of 5

I want to thank the author and the R2R program for giving me a copy of this book.

Reviewing this book is really going to be hard for me. WHY?
If you check this book on Goodreads you will see it as part of a List BOOKS THAT GET YOU HOOKED. Well, I agree, this book got me hooked from the very first page, though I am not really sure why. Now don't go judging me, but I personally don't think the story is original, it did remind me a lot of TWILIGHT, and I did have some issues that bothered me a lot. But before explaining the WHY's for not thoroughly enjoying this book, let me say few words regarding the plot.

Maddie just moved to a new town to live with her grand-mother. She is a senior attending the local High School, and of course, she feels like an outcast. Everyone out there seems to belong to a group, or already has a lot of friends. Two months after her arrival, Chase Donovan, also a senior starts attending the same school. He seems to like her from the very first day, though he is not quite sure why. Dougal Lachlan is the weirdo, the creep that is constantly stalking Maddie, staring at her for hours and making her feel very uncomfortable. From the very first day he arrives at the school, Chase becomes Maddie's protector, getting even into a fight with the weird Dougal guy.
Why does he feel so over protective over a girl he'd just met?
Well sure, it could be love..but it could also be the fact that Maddie is THE KEY.
Gryphons, mythological creatures, nightmares, shifters and of course, romance..this book has it all.

And now I come to the part "why I rated this book 3/5?"
First thing that bothered me was the plot resemblance with some other paranormal books. I don't know, it just didn't feel the story was original (though there were Gryphons involved).
But what bothered me the most were the dialogues between Chase and Maddie, and some of the other reviewers seem to "see" this as a problem as well. Well, Chase and Maddie are supposed to be 18, but somehow I felt them as they were grown ups. What I love the most in YA books is the teenage spirit, behavior, problems, way they act when in love..well, in this book it seems like the characters were not developed in the right direction. They surely don't seem like teenagers to me (or am I just old fashioned? Hmmm) .
Despite the flows I think the book has, I did enjoy it, especially the first half of the book. The second part I found a bit slow paced.
So, do I recommend this book? Well...YES.
Would I read the sequel 'Mara's Secret'? Oh absolutely! 

My rating

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A Cornish Christmas - Nell Dixon

Posted by Ananda at 3:55 PM Friday, November 25, 2011
 Title - A Cornish Christmas
Author - Nell Dixon
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Date published  -   November 25th 2011
Publisher -  Astraea Press
Format - Kinde edition
Pages - 
Rating - 3 out of 5

This is a short, yet sweet romance story about Meg and Adam. Meg is managing a clothingstore, while Adam is a part of a lifeboat crew and specializing to become a doctor. There are sparkles between them, yet Meg just doesn't allow Adam too near. Her father, a fisherman, drowned when she was a teenager, and she would really be crushed if she sees another man close to her heart lose the battle with the waves.
But Adam doesn't give up. His affection is just too pure and sincere to back up. Will he manage to win Meg's heart?
This is indeed a sweet Christmas story. I've been wanting to read something from Nell Dixon for quite some time now, and I am really grateful to the author for sending me a review copy of this sweet read. 
I could understand Meg and her fear to get into a relationship with Adam. And Adam..Oh he is really adorable, protective and warm person.
I really enjoyed this book. I am a big sucker for romance stories, especially Christmassy reads. Oh well, I am already feeling the Christmas Fever:)
It is a short and enjoyable read, the only problem I had with it was at times it appeared slow paced. However, I am really looking forward to reading another book from Nell, especially Renovation, Renovation, Renovation. Heard great comments about it.
So, my dear blog readers, if you are looking for a short yet sweet romance story, check it out. Get all cozy in your chair (or wherever it is you prefer to read), grab a blanket and a cup of hot choc and enjoy the Christmas magic.
Oh, and since today is the official release day, Congrats Nell! For all you romance lovers, grab your copy HERE
My rating

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Watch Over Me - Daniela Sacerdoti

Posted by Ananda at 9:19 PM Thursday, November 24, 2011
Title -Watch Over Me
Author - Daniela Sacerdoti
Genre - Paranormal, Romance
Date published  -   November 15th 2011
Publisher -  Black & White Publishing
Format -Paperback
Pages - 256
Rating - 5 out of 5

"If you have something precious and fragile and you keep it locked away like a little plant trying to grow into the darkness, well, it'll die and your secret will turn into regret. Love needs to be in the light of day. A secret love will eat itself and die, or eat your heart and kill you."

This is a story of a 35 year old woman, Eilidh, who's life is torn to pieces. After many attempts to have a baby, she and her husband Tom finally succeeded. She waited for so long to feel that joy, to feel those little kicks of the new life that is growing inside of her. Yet, she was not destined to have that baby. Shortly after the miscarriage, she finds out that her husband Tom is cheating on her, and that's when she decides..she needs a new life! A new life away of the painful memories, away from the failures.
She is off to Glen Avich, this little place in Scotland she used to live when her mom and dad had marriage problems. There, she is reconnected with Jamie, once a friend..but could it be she is starting to grow feelings for him?
Both Jamie and Eilidh have been very unfortunate in their love life, and they have both lost faith in love. But Destiny has plans for them, plans they are both not even aware of.
Even when it seems everything is lost, help can come from the most extraordinary places!

Oh, I don't think I will ever be able to express with words how much I enjoyed this book! Maybe if you were able to see the river of tears I cried while reading it, you could understand me. Eilidh is such a loveable character, so unfortunate, yet so strong.
I could be Eilidh..
Every woman could be Eilidh!
It was really easy to relate to her, and to feel the pain she is going through. But oh no..you won't be sorry for her, you will admire her! She is a fighter, someone you would love to be your best friend or a relative. I look up to her, for her strength to pick up the pieces of her broken heart and head towards a new life.
For even when the womb is empty and the heart is broken, hope is the last to leave. Make sure you never let it go, because When you let go off hope, you have nothing!

"Watch over me" is a debut novel by fantastic Daniela Sacerdoti. Funny, but while reading it, I didn't have the impression this is the FIRST book Daniela has written. I absolutely enjoyed every single page of it! By all means Daniela is a talented storyteller and someone that will surely conquer your hearts!
Finally I would like to thank Daniela and her publisher for sending me a copy of this book. It surely is a diamond I am going to keep forever!

 My rating



Watch the trailer of this AMAZING book. I love it!



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Visions - Anna James

Posted by Ananda at 12:04 PM Monday, November 21, 2011
Title - Visions
Author - Anna James
Genre - Paranormal
Date published  -  June 11th 2011
Publisher -  Sugar and Spice Press
Format - e-book
Pages - 57
Rating - 3 out of 5

Pru Bailey has just found out that Laura Bailey isn't her birth mother, but her mother's relative that adopted her when she was 5 years old. She inherits a house by her real parents and is on her way from California to New England to see the house. But the house is haunted by the ghost of Jane Adams, her birth mother that was stabbed to death by her father. At least, that's what the rumors say and the police who didn't really have much evidence, except the fact that Mr Adams committed a suicide after. The logical explanation was that it was a crime of passion and the reason for it were their marriage problems.

However, Pru is suddenly having visions that will revel the mystery of her parents death.

I did enjoy this read, though it's a novella, and I rarely read novella's because I know I will have some issues mostly because they are too short and the author doesn't have the "space" to express him/herself. Yes, I had the same feeling with this novella too. It felt like the story would have been more interesting if there were more pages to it.
What bothered me the most is the romance element in this book. It just felt like it was added during editing..Let me explain, I didn't mind the romance scenes and I am not saying they are not well written, but somehow felt they were introduced too early. What I loved was the mystery and action element in the story, that's what made this novella interesting to me. It felt like watching and episode from "Ghost whisperer" and I love that series.
It is an easy and enjoyable read, and I would like to thank the author and the R2R program for giving me a copy.

My rating
 

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In My Mailbox (#1)

Posted by Ananda at 3:40 PM Sunday, November 20, 2011
In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted by Kristi at The Story Siren

This is my first IMM post and I am so excited! Yay! I've been blogging for a month now, but I have already started getting my first books from authors and publishers. Thank you all for your support, my blog readers, twitter buddies, and of course fabulous authors for your interest in my reviews.  So here is what I got in my mailbox in the past two weeks:) All books I got are from the authors/publishers, so BIG THANK YOU to all of you for being so kind and sending me these "diamonds".



Those are all paperbacks, but I got some great e-books as well:)
Follow the links to read the synopsis from Goodreads. As you can see, I got some really great books. What about you? What did you get in your mailbox this week?

Happy reading!




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