REVIEW: Femme Fatale by Cindy Dees

Femme Fatale by Cindy Dees
 (Hard Bodies #1)
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Publication Date: April 22, 2013
Source: Netgalley eARC* 257 pages
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Former teen star Olivia Harper has a problem. If she can’t shake her girl-next-door image and become the femme fatale her latest role requires, her career will flop. But with her squeaky-clean image, Liv’s hardly been kissed, let alone had her world rocked between the sheets. There’s no way she’ll ask her playboy co-star for pointers, so she turns to the sexy new military consultant for some discreet…guidance.

Major Blake Ramsey is stuck hiding out babysitting actors who can’t even lace their combat boots, until his boss can deal with the fallout from his last mission. When Liv propositions him, he can’t decide whether she’s the naïve girl she claims to be or a bombshell looking for another conquest.

But as the lessons heat up, Blake and Olivia catch the eye of the papparazzi and jeopardize both their lives.

My Review

Femme Fatale was such a delight to read because it was both really sexy and totally fun. Whatever Cindy Dees is doing, she’s doing it right because I am so hooked!

It’s not everyday you get to read a book where it centers around a rising movie star and a Marine brought together on set under certain circumstances. In Femme Fatale, Dees really brings out the best of these characters and completely dives into the everyday workings of a movie set, the issues of being a Marine, and the choice between career or love. 

Olivia was funny, fierce and so ready to be the next Hollywood badass chick. I really liked her because she was bold, but sweet and just a genuinely kind and thoughtful character. She got alone great with nearly everyone in the book, she was driven in her career, and although she sometimes didn’t have 100% confidence, it didn’t show. She went after what she thought she wanted with few hesitations and she didn’t think twice to help out or sacrifice her image when someone needed her help. 

Can we not even get started on Major Blake?! At times tough and oh so serious, I cannot deny that Blake was majorly sexy. Previously burned, betrayed and let down by a beautiful woman, Blake is very wary and cautious when it comes to putting his heart on the line, but even he couldn’t resist Olivia’s charm! I loved Blake because he was a freaking sweetheart! He was a gentleman with a protective nature he couldn’t shake. Most of all, he was a man who was looking for more in a relationship and who can actually keep it his goddamn pants! Sure, Blake was honorable and noble as they come, but daaaaamn was he a freak in the sheets! 

Hello instant chemistry and attraction! Olivia and Blake were freaking burning up, burning up for me, baby. Both flirt back and forth with some sexual jokes and innuendos and then when they are together, someone has to ask “did it get hot in here?” Because you can bet it sure does! 

Cindy Dees did a wonderful job with this book. It definitely stands out among the Brazen books because of the idea and the characters. Her writing catches fire and it flows very nicely until the end. If she had a great time writing it, I had an amazing time reading it.

*Thanks to Entangled for providing a copy for review

REVIEW: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa (Blood of Eden #2)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 30, 2013
Source: Netgalley eARC* 446 pages
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N | Book Depository

Allison Sekemoto has vowed to rescue her creator, Kanin, who is being held hostage and tortured by the psychotic vampire Sarren. The call of blood leads her back to the beginning—New Covington and the Fringe, and a vampire prince who wants her dead yet may become her wary ally.

Even as Allie faces shocking revelations and heartbreak like she’s never known, a new strain of the Red Lung virus that decimated humanity is rising to threaten human and vampire alike.

My Review

Of course, Julie Kagawa never fails to disappoint. Did I even doubt for a second?! No freaking way. The Eternity Cure was darker, creepier, and more devastating that I could have ever imagined thus far. 

Oh, how I’ve have missed Allie! I thought she was even more tough and badass as ever than she was in The Immortal Rules. She was so ready to rescue and fight for Kanin, I couldn’t help but cheer her on. This time around she had much more control over herself, learning her lessons from before. Even though she has more handle over herself, Allie still struggles with her humanity, always one foot on wanting to preserve it and the other foot on giving in to her vampire instincts. What I’ve always liked about Allie is that she’s somehow found a balance even in the struggle. She doesn’t kill just to kill and like Kanin said, she had chosen what kind of monster she wanted to be. I really loved Allie so much more in this book because her determination and devotion to Kanin and Zeke were always present and always the driving force to her fighting will. I just love the strength Allie has built and the compassion she still has for just about everyone. 

I have to admit that I loved Jackal so much! Having him more prominent in this second book made the dark and ominous parts of this book amusing and entertaining. Jackal was just so witty and sarcastic, I couldn’t get enough of him. Evil has he may seem, I think Jackal had some redeeming qualities in him (microscopic as they might be) and his dark humor was just the perfect touch to really soften my heart toward him. 

The romance didn’t take off until I got deeper in the book, but it was just lovely. Having Allie and Zeke back together, fighting along side one another was amazing. I loved these two together, because they just click. I loved their connection then and I love it even more now.

I’m glad that I got more insight on many aspects of this world I wanted more of in first book. In The Eternity Cure, Allie journeys through more underground tunnels, abandoned labs, and even into the Inner City of her old home in New Covington. I especially loved re-meeting some old characters, previously mentioned in the first book. I have to say that this book was slower in pace, but had more depth plot and character wise. I felt more rooted into the story and more connected with the characters, even the bad ones. Kagawa is nothing short of brilliance, nonetheless.

And the bomb that Kagawa set off in this book wasn’t just explosive or dangerous, it was freaking painful as hell. I was shocked and pissed and hurt and basically feeling every emotion that came close to going crazy. She sure didn’t hold back and I’m not sure whether I hate or love her for it!

Overall, Kagawa has me itching for the next book! I need to find out what happened next as soon as possible!

*Thanks to Harlequin Teen for sending a copy for review 

Waiting on Wednesday #43

|WaitingonWednesday|

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Jill @ Breaking the Spine where you share an upcoming release that you're anticipating on reading.

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Wethering the Storm by Samantha Towle (The Storm #2)

Publication Date: August 20, 2013

Music journalist Tru Bennett has done the impossible: capture the heart of rock-star bad boy Jake Wethers. Now they’re busy planning a wedding and navigating their new life together in the US. Of course Tru misses London and her best friend, Simone, but living happily ever after with Jake in LA is going to be great…right?

Wrong. Even the bright California sun can’t whitewash the dark side of celebrity coupledom. Greedy music execs, merciless paparazzi, and Jake’s wild past are lurking around every corner. Making matters worse, Jake announces he doesn’t want kids, which just may be a deal breaker. 

Tru loves Jake more than anything. But when a devastating crisis threatens to destroy everything they’ve fought for, the couple must face the hard truth: What if, this time, love is not enough?

Why am I waiting?

One person and that's JakefuckableWethers! I fell head over heels in love with him in The Mighty Storm and I could not get enough of him! I loved him and his romance with Tru so freaking much, I put off finishing the first book for as long as I could before caving. And the steamy scenes in the first book have me itching and hoping for more in the second book! I just need this book oh so badly. *grabby hands*

More Jake like this pleeeeeease.

“You ask what I want from you?” His eyes move to my lips, then my eyes. “I want you, Tru. I just want you. All day, every day.”

Book Blitz: Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely + Giveaway

Trophy Husband by Lauren Blakely
Publication date: May 21, 2013
Genre: Adult Contemporary Romance

Sometimes you can't help falling in love, even when you try to do the opposite...Successful fashion blogger McKenna Bell has spent far too long protecting herself after the way her ex-fiancé left her at the altar for a college chick he met the night of his bachelor party. Loving again, trusting again, well, that's just not in the cards. Especially now that her ex is back in town with his new woman, demanding custody of McKenna's favorite creature in the whole world--her dog. No effing way. McKenna's had enough of him, and she decides to even the score by finding her own hot young thing -- a Trophy Husband. Sure, she's only twenty-seven, but doesn't that make it even more fun -- and infuriating to her ex -- to pursue a younger man? When she declares her intentions on her daily blog, her quest quickly skyrockets in popularity, and that's when Chris enters the picture, and he’s got all the assets. He's handsome, successful, and turns her inside out with a kiss to end all kisses, the kind that makes you feel like a shooting star. But loving again could mean losing again, and it's so much easier to focus on getting even, isn't it? Unless, you just can't help falling in love. Which means McKenna will have to come face to face with what she really wants in life -- protecting her heart from hurt, or letting go of her fears of a new beginning.

Buy Trophy Husband

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Excerpt

I could so fall in love with him. I could fall in love with him in a heartbeat. He brings his other hand to my waist, and pulls me in close. He’s seated on the bar stool, and I’m standing as I slide into the V between his legs, his firm thighs now on either side of me. The distance between us narrows, and the temperature rises. Like this, with him so close, I can tell how much he wants me. As much as I want him. I am turned on beyond belief, my skin is so hot, and my body is aching all over with the need to be touched, and he knows it. And just like that, the mood between us here at Circa Rose shifts. It’s no longer flirty, or chatty, or get to know you. We’re no longer a guy and girl confessing to crushes and likes. As he plays with the waistband of my skirt, his hand dipping inside, stroking the bare skin of my hips just above my panties, we are a man and a woman who want to get the hell out of here. The air between us electric, like the moments before a summer storm.

“We don’t need to shoot that promo anymore, do we?” he asks, and his voice is different now too. It’s smoky and low, and as he brings me in closer, I can tell he’s gone to the same place I’ve gone to. Desire. And then the hope that we can take this contact to another level.

“I was really hoping to see your fancy studio though,” I tease.

“It has a nice couch.”

“We could do a lot on a couch.”

“It’s ten blocks away.”

“That’s far,” I say, and I’m keenly aware of how my voice has become a ragged whisper. He has to know what I want right now. Him. His green eyes are dark, shadowed with lust and staring intensely into mine. He’s waiting for me to say more. “But I think I really want to see that couch.”

“Good, because I would really fucking love to make out with you properly right now.”

About the Author
Lauren Blakely is an unabashed fan of clever jokes, toast, and good guys in novels. Like the heroine in CAUGHT UP IN US, she thinks life should be filled with movie kisses and coffee drinks. Lauren lives in California with her husband and children, and spends her days writing both true stories and make-believe ones.

Website / Blog / Twitter / Facebook /Goodreads

Giveaway
Prize: One Charm Bracelet + a signed copy (US/Can)

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