Sylvia Day Bared to You

I preface this post by saying how much I resisted reading this book. Everywhere it was being compared to a book I thought was ridiculous and horribly written. Because of that, I didn't touch this book for MONTHS. Then it was spring break and I decided what the heck, let's see how this goes and I curled up on my couch where I flew through not only Bared to You, but Reflected in You, in two days.

The moral of this review is: Don't judge a book by the books it's compared to because often people are talking about apples and oranges. Make your own decision.

It's not a perfect book. I will say that right up front. I think at times, neither character is very likable. Is the plot completely realistic and super structured, no- but then again, I don't read books for realistic plots either. It's an escape, a fantasy. Gideon Cross is rich, hot, perfect, controlling, damaged, and possessive. Eva is feisty, needy, emotional, damaged, distrusting and possessive. Together they are wild, argumentative, confusing, and unhealthily attached to one another. And they have sex more than any couple I've ever read about. I don't know how they could walk, let alone function every day at work frankly, but it's not reality, so who cares?

Sexual abuse and recovery from it is a recurring theme in these books which could be upsetting to some readers so please keep that in mind.

Go into this book with the right frame of mind and I think you'll enjoy it. It definitely isn't boring!

Here's my review of:

Bared to You

Bared to You by Sylvia Day
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I debated reading this book for a looong time. I had it on my TBR list but the fact that I saw it constantly compared to a book I absolutely loathed... I resisted. This week, I finally broke down and read it and was pleasantly surprised.

Eva is a woman who has come to New York looking for a new start and getting away from some things in her past. Gideon is an uber rich, sexy, mogul who Eva crosses paths with while working in the same office building, one he happens to own and work in as well. Immediately sparks fly between them and their relationship blooms fast and furious.

Both Eva and Gideon are damaged, horribly so, and because of that they aren't very 'good' at relationships. They hurt each other constantly and have tremendous amounts of make-up sex but in the end they don't give up on one another and see their relationship through all the ups and down, and there are a lot of them!

I have to say, I went into this book, knowing what to expect. I've seen some reviews talking about it being a book with a lot of sex and little plot... and the plot was not that complicated, but I wasn't expecting a book that was going to become a piece of epic literature. I expected a hot read that would allow me to escape cleaning my house for a while with sexy characters that I'd remember. And one written by someone who could formulate a well structured sentence without making me roll my eyes.(cough50cough) If you go into it with that frame of mind, I think you'll enjoy the book.

What I didn't like:
Did this whirlwind relationship have them practically living together in the matter of a day or two- yes. Did I want to slap Eva a few times, absolutely. Was Gideon Cross an overbearing, controlling jerk, yep. Were there some things in the plot that I kinda went huh? as I read them, definitely.

BUT is my house still a wreck because I read both this and Reflected in You back to back.... you betcha!

If you're looking for a hot, summer read by the pool, consider checking this book out.

Thanks for Reading my Mind.

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Books into Movies

I was organizing the shelves on my Nook the other day (I'm very OCD about my books) and kept smiling, remembering the different series and the amazing characters the authors created. There are so many great stories, some that have been made into movies and some that have not. 

My personal rule- if I've read the book first, I set my expectations low for the movie because it cannot ever live up to the vision in my mind. The way the characters look, act and speak are all in my head and to see different people, with costumes and editing that differ from that, it takes something away from me enjoying the film. As long as I go into a movie thinking "it won't be as good as the book' I'm typically not disappointed. If I get excited about the movie and dare to re-read the book before I see the movie, then I typically don't enjoy the film because I notice all the differences and changes they've made and it drives me crazy.

Are there books I'd love to see as movies? Definitely. Are there books that should NOT be made into movies? Absolutely. Are there movies I love that are also books? Yep. But I won't read the book after I see the movie because I won't 'see it' through my eyes, I'll simply see the actors in my head so what's the point?

Harry Potter was a great adaptation of the book, but as the series went on it had it's holes. Twilight was hands down the worst movie adaptation of a book which is a shame with the popularity it had. Hunger Games remains to be seen, there's so much more to come, it's too early to say. Divergent has promise- but I'll be holding my breath and crossing my fingers that they don't ruin Four for me :)

 

For now, I'll simply watch all my favorite books in the movie in my mind.

What do you think? What are some great books made into successful movies that live up to the book? What would you LOVE to see made into a movie?

Thanks for Reading My Mind.

~ Lexi

Rogue Rider

Larissa Ione writes amazing books with steamy males and fiery females who match them every step of the way and in her latest book, it's no different. This latest book in the Lords of Deliverance series is the one I've been waiting for.

Reseph.

He is one of the four horsemen of the apocalypse and the series starts with his seal being broken. He changes from the charismatic man into an evil creature known as Pestilence who loves destruction, blood and death. His savage nature has been something his siblings have been struggling with as they try to keep their own seals from breaking.


Here's my review of

Rogue Rider

Rogue Rider by Larissa Ione
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Larissa Ione has created a stunning world of the four Horsemen of the apocalypse. In this latest installment, Reseph- formerly Pestilence- is found naked, freezing in the snow after being freed from Sheoul by Reaver. He has no memory of his prior life and Reaver sent him into the wilderness with the hope that his mind has time to heal so he can gain his strength and fight off Pestilence’s influence with is still inside him.

His weak and near frozen body is found by Jillain, a woman with her own past which includes a savage demon attack a year ago that has left her a shell of the woman she used to be. Terrified of the demons that ravaged her body and still haunt her nightmares, Jillian drags the naked man into her house against her better judgment and cares for him until he awakens. When the disoriented Reseph regains consciousness, he remembers his name, but little else. He senses danger nearby but doesn’t understand why. Two of Jillian’s neighbors are savagely murdered and law enforcement becomes suspicious that they might have been killed by a demon even though demons had all but disappeared (after Pestilence’s ‘death’) in the human world. When demons attack Jillian’s animals, she knows that demons are still out there and waiting for her. Her terror is amplified when she and Reseph learn the truth about who he is and the horrors Pestilence has wreaked on the Earth.

Can Jillian keep separate the man she knows and loves as Reseph from the vile being known as Pestilence and find happiness? Can Reseph continue to wage war against Pestilence and keep him from hurting anyone again? What will the other horsemen say when they realize their brother/Pestilence is not dead like they thought but off in the human realm, living with a woman?

Rogue Rider is a great story of the power of love. I think one of the things I liked most after seeing the evil side of Pestilence was to get a glimpse of who Reseph was and understand why his siblings loved him so and struggled with the thought of killing him (as Pestilence) to save the world. I think in this we see the charisma Reseph possesses and understand their feelings more. Also, the dynamic between the siblings as they try to find a way to let go of their hatred for Pestilence and come to terms him being Reseph again is so… human. And touching.

Larissa Ione created a fascinating world for these amazing characters she has created. Even the characters you hate, you want more of. Harvester, who had me gritting my teeth in prior books, I wanted to know what happened to her. From the angels who are some of the biggest jerks in existence to the horsemen and their mates to the humans who fight beside them, you’re left wanting more.

An excellent series that I cannot recommend highly enough!

Thanks for Reading my Mind
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Alice in Zombieland

I know, I'm on a Zombie kick, right? I guess I am. I go my whole life never reading a single Zombie book and then back to back Zombies. Must be all the Walking Dead I'm watching...

I can't believe this is the first Gena Showalter book I'm reviewing on the blog. I need to get on the ball because her books are great. Fun, witty with the right hint of snark/sarcasm. I highly recommend them because I've read them all. She writes steamy romance and intriguing YA that will keep you turning those pages.

Her books are on my "Books I'd read any day of the week" list and if you haven't read her yet, what are you waiting for?

Here's my review of

Alice in Zombieland

Alice in Zombieland by Gena Showalter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I preface this review with I love Gena Showalter and I'm not afraid to admit it! I think she is funny, smart and writes one hell of a great story. I've read her other YA books and I think she's outdone herself with this one!

From the cover to the title, you are drawn into this world that you are expecting to be unique and dark and Gena turns that all on it's ear by having Alice be your typical girl who, yes, she has a bizarre family situation (to put it mildly) but for all intents and purposes she's you or me, just trying to get through the day. She tries to deal with her father and all his rules and still be 'normal' even though it's impossible. She she has a sister she adores and she does what she can to make everything seem alright for her.

Then one night, everything changes and Alice realizes that the world isn't at all as harmless she thought. It's turned upside-down and in the tiniest of moments, her eyes are opened to what is truly around her and it's as terrifying as her father said it was.

Once again, Gena Showalter pulls me in, drags me down into her world, and leaves me breathless. The characters and the relationships, especially those with Alice's family- you feel them. The pain, the guilt and all she does to protect the people she loves. Even the ones she can't.

Great book, wild ride and another home run for Gena Showalter. Check out not only Alice in Zombieland, but all her books!

Thanks for Reading my Mind
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The Infects

I love it when a book surprises me, and this one did! Truth be told, I thought the plot sounded interesting and my husband has this thing for zombies so I gave it a try. In the first few pages, I loved Nick. I wanted to hang out with him, I wanted to play video games with him, I wanted to fight zombies and kick ass with him. The way Sean Beaudoin writes his characters is with humor, sarcasm and heart. Sounds like an odd combination, I know, but it works!

The books had so much to like about it that I even found myself enjoying the unique formatting things he did inside the book with adding menus, notes, and police reports and the 'drops' at the beginning of each chapter. Unique and interesting. I'm a fan!

Please, put this book on your to be read list. Pick it up when it comes out. You won't be sorry- unless a zombie gets you then you're kinda screwed...

Here's my review of

The Infects

The Infects by Sean Beaudoin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this book from NetGalley.

Nick is your typical teenage boy. His parents are divorced, his dad has gone off the deep end so Nick helps take care of his sister Amanda who has Aspbergers, when he’s not in high school or working at Rebozzo Aviraculture. (aka a chicken factory) Things in his life are moving along: There’s a girl he wants to ask out, he gets a promotion at work, slices open his hand, gets fired- then arrested and sent to a camp for troubled youth where he is given the handle Nero. And if that’s not enough, the camp's attacked by zombies. Nothing too strange, right?

The Infects is an unusually awesome book that is funny, irreverent, campy and clever. And I love clever. The story is told in a great, masculine, voice that is very authentic. You want to hear more from Nick/Nero and get his take on things. Where many teen/YA books are geared toward girls and romance, this story will grab both male and female readers a like. Girls will most definitely want to date Nick, and guys will want to follow him into the book and take on some zombies.

If you want to go on a wild ride through a zombie filled camp for troubled youth, this is your book.
If you want to read a book that looks at the messed up world world from the view of a teenage guy, this is your book.
If you love chicken, laughter, adventure, gore, girls and zombies, don’t walk, RUN out and get this book. But keep one eye open for zombies when you do…

Thanks for Reading my Mind!

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Close Enough to Touch

Victoria Dahl is an author I've wanted to read for a while now, but other things have seems to have kept getting in my way. Then one of her books popped up at NetGalley and I was lucky enough to give it a read. I have to say, I'll definitely be reading more of her books. Close Enough to Touch had great characters, an interesting town full of personalities that made you smile and a couple that couldn't have been more different. but somehow she weaved everything together into a believable attraction and rocky relationship.

Here is my review of

Close Enough to Touch

Close Enough to Touch by Victoria Dahl
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

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Grace Barrett leaves LA in a whirlwind of trouble. An ex she owes money, a job she was fired from, and no family to speak of- except a great-aunt in Jackson, Wyoming. Out of options, she packs her all her worldly possessions into a duffle bag and catches the first bus out of LA, never looking back. Guilt and shame follow her to the small town as she realizes she has no idea where she’s going or how to contact her aunt. The locals help her find her way, get her on the bus and send her to her great-aunt’s place, cheekily known as the “stud Farm’ because the aging woman only rents the apartments in her building to young men who are easy on the eyes. With great apprehension, Grace decides to stay, but only for a month as a stop-over on her way to Toronto where she feels she will be able to find work in the film business like she had been working as a makeup artist in LA before her rapid departure. Wanting nothing more than a roof over her head and a place to try and earn a little money over the next few weeks, Grace’s plans are complicated by the sexy cowboy in the apartment across the hall.

Cole Rawlins’ life wasn’t all rodeos and cowgirls. Recovering from a very serious accident he was still on restrictions because of his recovering leg and pelvis fractures. Physical therapy hadn’t cured him yet and most days it felt like things might never go back to how they were, before that horse had trampled on his leg, ruining his plans. Cole had worked at Easy Creek for years and had plans to buy the place once Mr. Easy retired, which was going to be any day now. He had worked his way through the ranks of the ranch until his injury sidelined him from everything he loved. Not one to sit still, he pushed himself physically to recover, but deep down he was terrified he might never be the same. When a purple-haired woman blows into town and catches his eye, she becomes a nice distraction as he awaits word from the doctor about if he will ever be able to ride again.

Secrets from both their pasts cannot be avoided and trouble has a way of following Grace and Cole. Running away from things hasn’t worked for either one of them in the past and when a movie production team comes to town scouting locations to shoot a few scenes from a movie, things come to a head. Ex’s cause trouble and fears keep Grace from being able to commit. Together they struggle to keep their feet beneath them in this fragile relationship as the urge to run grown in Grace rather than fight for what she wants.

Thanks for Reading My Mind!


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I love Lori Foster Day!

So here's my day:
Wake up early
Work all day
Pick up kids from everywhere
Sit down for the first time since 5:30am and turn on the computer
See an email
Click on Goodreads
I DIE

I recently posted my review of Run the Risk by Lori Foster her newest book that comes out next month and who liked my review on Goodreads? None other than Lori Foster herself!! Now at this point in my day you must insert my huge grin, wild flapping of hands and the odd look on my husband's face as I try to explain why I'm acting like a lunatic.

So in honor of Lori making my day I feel the need to say that she is hands down one of my favorite romance writers. Her books are the ones I have on my Nook and my Nook app and in paperback- just to cover all bases. Hers are the ones I've read 5-6 times each and love them more each time.

 I even remember my first Lori Foster book - Back in Black which is the 5th book the her SBC fighters series.

I admit the cover is what made me pick up the book ;) but her characters made me fall in love. I went back and got the first in the series and read them straight through.

My next series of hers was the Buckhorn Brothers and it did not disappoint. She write such rich characters that you can't help but feel like you know them after a few pages. I wanted to go to the town where they lived and explore the world she created.

I've read all her single titles and anthologies. I loved her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor Series, the Winston Brothers and Visitation series.

She also is very good about wrapping a series up, not making it linger too long which we all know is my pet peeve. She doesn't fall into the 10-15 book series trap. She gets in there, writes a solid series and ends it before it gets stale or repetitive. Just one of the many reasons I adore her writing.

The men in her books make you swoon, they get your heart racing and make you sigh. She can fit the most unlikely of pairs together and somehow make them fit in the most wonderful of ways.

Yes, this entry has been full on gushing about Lori, I realize that. But come on..... it's LORI FOSTER!

I hope the next time you're out shopping and you see one of her books, you'll remember this insane blog entry and pick it up. You won't be disappointed.

Thank you Lori Foster for 'liking' my review- you made my day!

Thanks for Reading My Mind!