"Crave" by Teresa Mummert

I was super excited when I heard that Teresa Mummert would be writing a Vampire novel; I love her writing and her male characters are usually to die for - while this is the case with Crave's male protagonist, Elijah, as well - and in this case quite literally, the novel itself unfortunately didn't quite manage to suck me in (no punk intended, I think ;-)).

I loved the general ideas of - and in - the story, and that the author took the chance to dive into a different genre than she did for the other books I had previously read by her. And I really enjoyed the love story developing throughout the novel, with all its ups and downs, because let's face it - love isn't always a walk in the park, and sometimes tragedy and danger lurk around the corner, waiting to beat you down. However, the story couldn't really... convince me. I can't say what it was, but something felt off - there were several times when I felt like I had missed out on something, despite not having skipped any chapters, or even pages or paragraphs, which is why I can only give this book a 3.5; can't wait for my next Mummert read though!

All I craved was one night to forget about the tragic murder of my brother Marcus. Elijah Malakai seemed like the perfect person to take my mind off everything my family had endured. He was a hunter and for the first time in years, I felt safe. 

But Elijah had his own tragic past. As his secrets unraveled, my world was thrown into turmoil once more. 

I had to decide whether or not Elijah was worth the pain his past would bring and if I was strong enough to stand by his side and fight.

Teresa Mummert grew up in a small town in Pennsylvania where she began dating her husband when they were only sixteen years old. They married at eighteen and soon moved to Louisiana as her husband began his military career. They are the proud parents of four children that they are raising in Georgia. 

Teresa began writing when her husband deployed to Afghanistan as a way to cope with him being away at war. She soon became a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author. Her work includes the word of mouth bestselling White Trash Trilogy which landed her a three book publishing deal with Simon & Schuster. She has also written the New York Times and USA Today bestselling novel The Note and the USA Today bestselling novel Safe Word. Other novels include Perfect Lie, Pretty Little Things, the Honor series, Rellik, The Good Girls, Something Wicked, Crave, The Death of Lila Jane, Hollow (Hollow Point #1), and the USA Today bestselling novel Sweet Nothing co-written with Jamie McGuire.
Future releases include Hellion (Hollow Point #2), Shameless, Defending Her Honor (Honor Series), Cruel, Depravity, When the Memories Fade, Weeping Willow, Paper Doll, The Deep, Before the Devil Knows You're Dead, Rocked, Before I Wake, Fall to Pieces, Ash & Dust, and Victim. She also has a Middle-Grade children's novel coming out soon titled The Seeker under the pseudonym T.S. Mummert. 

Visit Teresa Mummert on her website || goodreads || facebook || twitter || instagram

Find Crave on goodreads || amazon US || amazon UK || amazon DE

Read my reviews of other novels by Teresa Mummert: The Death of Lila Jane || The Good Girls || Rellik || Sweet Nothing

*** I received an ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review! ***

"Luckiest Girl Alive" by Jessica Knoll

Luckiest Girl Alive is Jessica Knoll's début novel, which was released on May 12th, and Lionsgate has already secured the rights for a movie-adaption. While I am sure that the story will make a great movie, the book itself and I have had sort of a love-hate-relationship...

The main character, TifAni, was one of the least likable characters I have ever encountered.
In the beginning, it was really hard for me to get into the story, and even later on I didn't fully understand (Tif)Ani and her actions, which made it hard for me to connect to her and the story on an emotional basis. You could say that she is someone who always tries just a little (or even a lottle) bit too much, which makes her rather antipathetic - and a bit annoying - to me. At the same time, it however has to be pointed out that she is very troubled and has had a hard, traumatizing time growing up, which may or may not be at fault of who she is... I wish we would have gotten to see her actually resolving any of her 'problems', for a lack of better words.
[For the sake of no-spoilers, I won't pinpoint what happens to her throughout the story, but please be aware that this book's blurb should, in my opinion, include trigger warnings - bullying, rape and murder are no strangers to the story, and some of it comes in ways that could be disturbing and 'too much' to some readers.]

What I really liked was the plot behind Luckiest Girl Alive, but my lack of sympathy for the protagonist made it hard to enjoy the storyline to the full. I loved Knoll's style of writing, and the alternating narratives, varying between past (early teenage years) and present (adult) (Tif)Ani, were a refreshing addition to the story itself - as were the mind-blowing plot-twists, which made up for the somewhat slow beginnings.

I liked and disliked the book to almost the same extents, which made for a bumpy, yet interesting reading experience. Due to the great writing, the likes did end up outweighing the dislikes, but this book is not for everyone - I'd be carefully selecting the people I'm recommending it to.

3.5 / 5! 

HER PERFECT LIFE
IS A PERFECT LIE.

As a teenager at the prestigious Bradley School, Ani FaNelli endured a shocking, public humiliation that left her desperate to reinvent herself. Now, with a glamorous job, expensive wardrobe, and handsome blue blood fiancé, she’s this close to living the perfect life she’s worked so hard to achieve.

But Ani has a secret.

There’s something else buried in her past that still haunts her, something private and painful that threatens to bubble to the surface and destroy everything.

With a singular voice and twists you won’t see coming, Luckiest Girl Aliveexplores the unbearable pressure that so many women feel to “have it all” and introduces a heroine whose sharp edges and cutthroat ambition have been protecting a scandalous truth, and a heart that's bigger than it first appears. 

The question remains: will breaking her silence destroy all that she has worked for—or, will it at long last, set Ani free?

Jessica Knoll has been a senior editor at Cosmopolitan, where her byline appeared more than two hundred times in five years. Now the articles editor at Self, her writing and editing covers relationships, sex, and psychological well-being. Jessica grew up in the suburbs of Philadelphia and graduated from The Shipley School in Bryn Mawr, PA, and from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, New York. She lives in New York City with her husband and her imaginary bulldog puppy, Bernard. 

Luckiest Girl Alive on goodreads || amazon || itunes || googleplay || B&N || indiebound || audiobook 

Jessica Knoll's website || goodreads 

Jessica Knoll on her novel Luckiest Girl Alive (youtube)

*** I was generously provided with an ARC through NetGalley ***

"Undertow" by Michael Buckley

Wow! I really hope there'll be a sequel, or at least a novella telling a future tale (more about which one I'd like that to be later)! 

Undertow by Michael Buckley was so much better than I had expected! 
Having read the blurb I started reading the book with mixed feelings, not sure if I was going to like it or not - but I was soon shown that giving everything a chance is really worth it, because I instantly fell in love with the characters and the story. 

In the beginning, Undertow reminded me a lottle (little/lot) of the tv-show Star-Crossed, which is "About an epic romance between a human girl and an alien boy when he and others of his kind are integrated into a suburban high school 10 years after they landed on Earth and were consigned to an internment camp" (imdb.com). Undertow does have some romance between a human girl and an Alpha, "a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors". It does have a camp on the shore, in which the Alpha are forced to stay. And there is a group of adolescent Alpha that are supposed to be integrated in the local high school, with a group of red-shirts violently trying to keep that from happening. But that's where the similarities end - and saying it's the same would be like arguing that after having read Romeo and Juliet, you can never read another lovestory, because each and every one of them is a rip-off - which is, quite obviously, far from the truth. But if you were to ask me whom (aka fans of what) I'd recommend the book to, I'd be confident to say that it could be described as a Star-Crossed meets Avatar meets Romeo and Juliet and Warm Bodies, meets Animal Farm, The Outsiders and Freedom Writers kind of story. It has a little bit of all of them, yet is a completely different, unique story. 

A different and unique story, that is very interesting and never gets boring - Undertow was, despite being far from my "usual", an absolute page-turner, and I already feel like giving it a re-read. Its characters are very well developed, have their ups and downs and aren't faultless, which makes them very real - even those, that are creatures made up by Buckley's imagination. And OMA (Oh My Alpha!), Fathom - BIG SIGH! While I'd love to meet all the Alpha, because each one of the characters introduced in this novel is so unique, I'd say "nevermind meeting them" if I could only meet Fathom. He is such an interesting characters, who goes through so much character development, yet stays true to himself and never loses his ways, he'd be a must-meet if only he was real. 

This YA novel is as cute as it gets, with just enough drama, tragedy and battle to not make it sappy - and still interesting to boys and girls alike. A love-triangle is no stranger to this story, but the one portrayed in Undertow is an unresolved one to the very end. While this is somewhat refreshing, it was also a little frustrating and disappointing, as I was - of course - shipping a certain pairing throughout the book... and that's where my wish for a sequel, or at least a novella, comes in. I would absolutely love to see what happens to Lyric Walker and her family after the end of the book, and, even more so, if Fathom and Lyric, and Arcade, will ever meet again - I would love to see which pairing would be endgame (pssssht, it'd totally be Fathom and Lyric if I had it my way!). 

Undertow is a beautiful tale illustrating the importance of respect, acceptance and tolerance, and that we shouldn't fear the unknown. It emphasizes that your voice matters, no matter how small or unimportant you might feel - each and every one of us can make a difference, as long as we dare to stick up for what we believe is right. 

I feel like men - male authors - are extremely underestimated when it comes to YA novels. I mean, yes, they are out there, but their books rarely create as much of a hype as a female author's; maybe it's just me, but they don't create much buzz and seemingly draw in less readers. Which is an absolute shame! This book, for one, was amazing, and in my opinion enjoyable for both male and female readers alike. I really loved Undertow and will definitely be purchasing a physical copy for myself, as well as some as gifts in the future. 

5/5!

First, we feared them. Then we fought them. Now they might be our only hope.

Sixteen-year-old Lyric Walker’s life is forever changed when she witnesses the arrival of 30,000 Alpha, a five-nation race of ocean-dwelling warriors, on her beach in Coney Island. The world’s initial wonder and awe over the Alpha quickly turns ugly and paranoid and violent, and Lyric’s small town transforms into a military zone with humans on one side and Alpha on the other. When Lyric is recruited to help the crown prince, a boy named Fathom, assimilate, she begins to fall for him. But their love is a dangerous one, and there are forces on both sides working to keep them apart. Only, what if the Alpha are not actually the enemy? What if they are in fact humanity’s best chance for survival? Because the real enemy is coming. And it’s more terrifying than anything the world has ever seen.

Action, suspense, and romance whirlpool dangerously in this cinematic saga!

New York Times bestselling author Michael Buckley was born in Akron, Ohio. He tried his hand as a stand-up comic and lead singer for a punk rock back before attending Ohio University. After graduating with honors he moved to New York City to be an intern on the Late Show with David Letterman which led to stints developing programming for Discovery Networks, MTV, MTV Animation and Klasky Csupo (producers of Nickelodeon’s Rugrats). Today he lives in Brooklyn, New York with his wife, Alison, and their son Finn.

Undertow on amazon hardcover || ebook || goodreads

Michael Buckley on goodreads || twitter || instagram

*** I was generously provided with an ARC through NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review ***

"Retribution" by Mandy Lou Dowson

Retribution by Mandy Lou Dowson, which released today, is a very well written and thoroughly thought-through, masterminded story... but for my taste, it is almost TOO thought through. It held no surprises or plot twists before I was about 96%, according to kindle-status, in – and then it was only a short-lived surprise, as the book ended on a cliffhanger. I do understand the purpose of one – drawing the reader in for the next installment – but I honestly am not sure if I will be able to give the story another chance. I did like the end, but that unfortunately didn't make up for the disappointment I had felt towards the rest of the book. It's lack of surprising elements just made it a mostly boring read to me, and there was more than one occasion on which I debated giving up on reading the whole book, the only thing that kept me going being the great writing and hope for some twists and turns that would catch my interest - because the story itself could be interesting, it just, to me, didn't sell. Part of that was due to, unfortunately, not being able to connect with the characters, no matter how hard I tried. Braxton Alexander is hot, dark, dangerous and has an interesting back-story – consequently, he should absolutely be my kinda book-man, but even he was lacking something to keep me interested. I did, however, like the various points of views the reader gets to have a look at the story from, but I do believe a first-person narrative would have made it easier to connect with the characters emotionally, and thus with their stories. 

That being said, I do think the book was really well written, and I do believe it's based on a really interesting idea that could make for a great story - I just wasn't convinced of the book as a whole. To me, it was lacking something crucial (twists, turns, surprises - something that wasn't given away too soon and couldn't be foreshadowed from the beginning) - but I am rather confident that the next book will be a better package, as the cliffhanger of Retribution holds the promise of a bumpy ride.

3.5/5

Title: Retribution

Author: Mandy Lou Dowson

Genre: Dark Romance

 Release Date: May 4, 2015

Synopsis

Three people irrevocably linked. 

A remorseless killer. 

A shady businessman. 

A woman caught in the cross-fire.

Braxton Alexander is a beast without remorse; a vessel filled with hate. Imprisoned for the murder of the one girl who loved him, now he is free, and hell bent on taking all of his pent up rage out on one person in particular.

Brycen Cole knows he must stop Braxton from taking everything he has and turning it to ash.

Gemma Woods has loved Brycen for years, but ever so slowly the happiness she once felt in the arms of her lover has turned to fear and resentment.

Braxton has one goal, one thought, and one mission – destroy Brycen Cole, by any means necessary. 

He will not stop. 

He will not fail. 

Like a juggernaut, he will keep coming, destroying everything in his wake.

Brycen runs a successful corporation and provides a lot of pay-checks; he also has a shady past and a dark talent for hiding things.

Gemma spots the wolf in sheep’s clothing but cannot stop gravitating towards him again and again.

What happens when the lines between good and evil become blurred? 

What happens when the one you love is the one you should fear?

What happens when the one you fear becomes the only one you can trust?

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AMAZON US / UK / CA / AU

Author Bio

Mandy Lou Dowson was born and raised in a small town in Ireland, in 1983, and at this stage in life, she's pretty sure the town won't let her leave. Family is a huge deal to Mandy. She has three wonderful children (most of the time), and two Siberian Huskies who are each as naughty as the other – in fact, she's sure they egg each other on in silly cartoon voices when nobody is looking.

~

“Climb out the window and get covered in mud.”

“No, I did it last time. You do it!”

“R'uh, r'oh, here SHE is. Shhh.”

~

When she's not writing, reading, or plotting her next book -- or, you know, world domination – , she likes to relax with a few glasses of wine and some karaoke. You can usually find her procrastinating on social media of some sort, chatting to fans and talking nonsense.
 

Mandy started reading at quite a young age and her appetite for the written word has only increased with time. It would not be at all surprising to find her reading anything and everything from shampoo bottles to Edgar Allan Poe.
 

She is the author of three different genres of romance books. The Moon Bound series, which is in the Paranormal Romance genre, and is gathering rave reviews, and the Taboo series, which is Contemporary with a hint of the forbidden, the first of which has gathered very mixed reviews across the board, from one extreme to the other.

She has also made a foray into Dark Romance recently, with her first title in the genre, Retribution, releasing in Summer 2015.

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*** I received an ARC through Give Me Books in exchange for an honest review. ***

"Love the Way You Lie" by Skye Warren

Having started the series with its prequel, Tough Love (Stripped 0.5), I kind of knew what to expect - or so I thought, because I ended up getting something much different than I had anticipated.
Not at all bad different, just... different.




When I started reading Love The Way You Lie, I hoped for a lot of Clara, and a lot of Giovanni.
Tough Love (you can find my review here) was written from Clara's point of view, and focused, amongst other things, on her feelings for Giovanni. Clara however only has small cameos throughout Love The Way You Lie, and her past love-interest barely gets a mention at all. After having read Tough Love, I honestly thought the blurb of Love the Way You Lie indicated that it, too, would – despite the physical differences sported by the covermodels – be from Clara's point of view...

…instead, book one in the Stripped series is written from Honor's point of view, and follows her journey of protecting herself and Clara, her little sister, from their past – including Honor's (ex-)fiancé, Byron, a corrupt cop gone mafioso, and their father, who used to be king of the mob and was planning to marry her off in order to secure his status and lifestyle.

Violence and life in their golden cage are just two of the things they mean to leave behind, but does the outside world really promise a better life?

Their deceased mother's tracks take them to the town of Tanglewood, where Clara is forced to hide out in a shabby motel room, while Honor gets herself a job as a stripper, working the pole and pleasing customers, hoping to be able to maintain a low profile while trying to make ends meet. In addition to money and a certain amount of protection, her boss promises to do some research about their mother – whose supposed cause of death Honor has long stopped to believe.

While neither of them is too fond of their new lifestyle, they seem to accept it despite all the sacrifices it forces them – and especially Honor – to make. She does her job, survival and protecting Clara the only things that matter – that is, until one dark, mysterious and very hot customer throws her off guard. Kip is interested in more than just a lapdance or a good time in one of the VIP rooms, and it doesn't take long before she finds herself drawn to him, too. Neither one of them can deny their attraction to one another, and soon enough, lust seems to no longer be the only feeling they spark in each other.

Yet, Honor can't shake the feeling that Kip is dangerous.
And Kip... Kip even tells her that if she was smart, she'd stay away from him.

Neither one of them listens to their own - or the other's - advise though, and before they know it, their past catches up with them, uncovering lies and bearing more danger and violence than either one of them had seen coming.

Was it wrong of Honor to trust Kip? Should she have listened to her intuition, and stayed away from the danger Kip was radiating? The danger, that was drawing her in? Or will Kip protect her when she needs him most? And what is Kip's connection to Byron? - Those questions will definitely get answered in Love the Way You Lie, a dark and yet cute lovestory that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page, containing both surprising elements as well as steamy scenes.

I did at times – but really only at times – have trouble with the character of Honor, because she started coming across as too naïve and young, as too much like her younger sister as she was portrayed in Tough Love. Kip on the other hand I couldn't get enough of!

I am a little disappointed that the novel didn't, at all, give away what happened to Giovanni – I really hope that he made it out alive, and that there'll be a story to tell about Clara and him – I'd really be looking forward to reading more about them! (;

I'll be patient for now though, as I am also looking forward to the release of the next installment in the series, Better When It Hurts, which is set for release on June 4th.

4/5!

A dark romance about the lies that lead us down… 

I’ll do anything to get safe, even if that means working at the scariest club in town.

I’ll do anything to stay hidden, even if it means taking off my clothes for strangers.

I’ll do anything to be free. Except give him up. When he looks at me, I forget why I can’t have him. He’s beautiful and scarred. His body fits mine, filling the places where I’m hollow, rough where I am soft.

He’s the one man who wants to help me, but he has his own agenda. He has questions I can’t answer. What are you afraid of?

You.

Skye Warren is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of dark romance.
Her books are raw, sexual and perversely romantic.

Skye Warren's website || facebook || twitter
Love The Way You Lie (Stripped #1) on goodreads || amazon
Tough Love (Stripped #0.5) on goodreads || amazon || my review
Better When It Hurts (Stripped #2) on goodreads || amazon

*** I was generously provided with a review copy by the author ***

"Stepbrother Master" by Ava JacksonBlog Tour

Oh my... get those fans spinning, ladies (and gentlemen), because it's about to get hot in here!

Recent Stanford-graduate Emma is about to travel to Montana for her mother's fourth wedding - and to spend the last summer before her first real job on her new stepfather's ranch. Little does she know that she is not only about to meet her mother's soon-to-be, hopefully-forever, husband and a housekeeper with claws, but also her sizzling hot future stepbrother... whose roped up fun in the tack room she just happens to walk in on. While initially appalled by the scene unfolding between her stepbrother and his pet, it also makes her curious and... aroused.

Despite their instant attraction to one another, her and Ford attempt to - to a greater or lesser extent - stick to the boundaries set by being stepbrother and stepsister...

...but once their parents embark on their honeymoon, lines start to blur and panties get dropped. During their parents' time away, however, Ford learns to be interested in more than just her "peachy ass", and Emma gets to know more than just his seemingly cold façade; suddenly, it's not just about physical attraction and exploring each other's limits anymore.

It's about each other. Them. As one.

Would a relationship between stepbrother and stepsister be doomed from the start?
Or is there actual hope for them to work out, despite their parents' recent marriage? And how will they react?

With Stepbrother Master, Ava Jackson mastered (pun intended!) to write a gripping début novel, which is sure to raise the temperature in the room. While bearing elements of a dom-sub-relationship that might, at the first glance, remind you of 50 Shades of Grey, Stepbrother Master is a lot more playful and lighthearted - yet has enough tension and conflict to keep you interested in more than just its steaming moments and passionate encounters.

I hope you're ready to meet Ford Bennett - I sure wouldn't mind him taking the reins! (;

4/5

Three months.

Three months trapped on a ranch in remote Montana with my mom’s latest husband … and his dark, brooding son.

I shouldn’t care that my new stepbrother’s talent with ropes goes beyond lassoing stray cattle.

I shouldn’t care that his every look says he wants me … but he’s going to fight it to the bitter end.

I shouldn’t care that as the summer rolls on, my fascination overwhelms my better judgment and now I’m dying to call my stepbrother … Master.

I couldn't believe it. I was pinned to a hot tub wall, coming apart at the seams. My stepbrother's erection pressed against the cleft of my ass and his lips murmured sweet, filthy nothings into my ear. Who the hell was this woman I'd turned into? She lived for the pleasure humming along her nerves, sensual and completely shameless, her every move charged with eroticism. It was her who twisted in Ford's arms to unlace his swim trunks and shove her hand inside. It was her who stroked that huge, hard cock just to feel it throb in her grasp, imagining it somewhere else.

And I realized … I loved this. I felt lewd and greedy and more alive than ever before. My muscles still trembled with the aftershocks of my orgasm, but it had only whetted my appetite. I couldn't care less that Ford was my stepbrother anymore. All that mattered was the new Emma he'd brought out of me—and his willingness to satisfy her.

“More already?” he purred. “You must be pretty pent up.”

Damn right I am. I've been dying to get my hands on this massive thing since day one. The pleased, possessive note in his voice made me shudder. If it meant him talking to me like that, I wanted to let Ford master me. I wanted him to wear me out like the plaything I was.

Ava enjoys naughty things. She’s drawn to the forbidden and taboo, and writes kink that makes you think. Raised in Idaho, Ava now lives on the East Coast with her husband, and two dogs. 

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A big thank you to Flirty Subs PR for providing all the information! *** I received an ARC through Flirty Subs PR in exchange for an honest review! ***

"Stepbrother Master" by Ava Jackson Release Day Blitz

Happy Release Day, Ava Jackson!
I can't wait to share my review of Stepbrother Master with everyone - .{ ink.eaters }. will be part of the blog-tour-stop on March 30th - so check back then for another excerpt, as well as the review! (:

amazon US || amazon UK || amazon DE

Three months.

Three months trapped on a ranch in remote Montana with my mom’s latest husband … and his dark, brooding son.

I shouldn’t care that my new stepbrother’s talent with ropes goes beyond lassoing stray cattle.

I shouldn’t care that his every look says he wants me … but he’s going to fight it to the bitter end.

I shouldn’t care that as the summer rolls on, my fascination overwhelms my better judgment and now I’m dying to call my stepbrother … Master.

“Don’t make me gag you, Emma. Because I will,” I warned. I lowered my mouth to her ear and spoke directly into it. “Unless you’re hoping to attract an audience.”

She didn’t respond.

Hell, I wasn’t even sure if she breathed.

I opened my mouth, about to ask if she was with me, but she replied, “Okay.”

Her lips skimmed my jaw as she said the word. I don’t know if the contact was intentional, but fuck. If my cock wasn’t already rock hard, that would’ve done it. What was it about this woman that took so little to set me off?

Needing to assert control over the situation, I released her nipples and skimmed my palms along her chest, up her neck, and buried my fingers in her hair. Tugging backward, I bent and crushed my mouth to hers again. The taste of champagne and Emma sharpened my hunger to an almost primal ache.

Her hands, even bound, ran up and down my chest, as though she were desperate for contact. They fumbled with the button of my dress pants and tugged at my zipper. I should’ve stopped her, but I wanted her hands on me, and her eagerness made this crazy stunt seem like the best idea I’d ever had.

I lifted my lips away from hers to urge her on. “That’s it, pet. Get my cock out. I want to feel your hands wrapped around me.”

Ava enjoys naughty things. She’s drawn to the forbidden and taboo, and writes kink that makes you think. Raised in Idaho, Ava now lives on the East Coast with her husband, and two dogs.

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Big "Thank You!" to Flirty Subs PR Services for providing all the information!