Review: Aidan (The Awakening #1) by Abby Niles

Is the gift of eternal love a blessing or a curse?

After years of counseling grieving shifters, psychiatrist and half-shifter, Dr. Jaylin Avgar has become jaded on shifter mating. She wants to marry a human and forget about the love for eternity crap. Then she meets Aidan O’Connell, an infuriatingly laid back shifter who represents everything she doesn’t want. Yet, the more he pursues her, the more she craves a future with him. Only one thing stands in her way: death. Can she overcome her fear of losing Aidan to the one guarantee in life?

Millionaire consultant, Aidan O’Connell knows he’ll one day meet a woman who’ll awaken an unrelenting mating instinct. Unfortunately, that woman is Jaylin, who has no qualms about telling him that he and his so-called eternity can shove it. When she pushes him away, he takes a drastic step so she can no longer escape. The close proximity throws the instinct into overdrive. Can he control the need engrained in him until he’s certain she will reciprocate the bond, or will a moment of weakness doom him to hell on earth?

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

It all starts when Aiden's friend, Liam, is going through some grief about being rejected by his mate. This leaves him in a state of paralysis, which he can die of. Wanting to save his friend, he calls upon the help of specialist Dr. Jaylin Avgar. After a lot of convincing she agrees to help Liam.

Jaylin is a specialist when it comes to broken bonds between mates. But after years of seeing the extreme pain they go through, she has decided she doesn't want that. She wants a nice human man to marry and not have the fear of getting ending up in the same state as her patients.

Which would be okay, if Aiden wasn't her mate. After one kiss the mating ritual starts and while he tries to hold himself back before overwhelming Jaylin, she just refuses to even consider mating with him.

I really liked Aiden. He's smart, gorgeous, loyal and strong, without being too alpha about it. He tries to please his mate, but that can be difficult if he starts feeling like he might go down the same path Liam when Jailyn keeps refusing him.

It really is up to Jailyn to decide to give in to Aiden or not. Which by the end of the book got really tiring. Her constantly denying him, because she's too afraid when she clearly knows what the consequences will be for them, I did not understand. I wanted to knock some sense in that woman.

Overall the story was well written, the characters were well developed and the world building was interesting and very extensive. Aiden is a nice romance about shifters with plenty of steamy scenes to keep you happy.

The Awakening - Reading order and purchase links

    

The Author

Ever since Abby Niles picked up her first Sweet Valley High book in sixth grade and fell in love with Elizabeth and Todd, she’s been hooked on romance. By the time she reached high school, she was devouring meatier romances with pirates, cowboys and knights. She never imagined that those years of reading would one day lead to her becoming a published author.

In her late twenties, after having twins and becoming a stay-at-home mom, she started doodling stories to keep her sanity. Next thing she knew, she was actually submitting to publishing houses. And was immediately rejected. That didn’t stop her though. She found some kickass critique partners, honed her craft, and continued submitting.

And eventually sold.

Today, she juggles work, being a single mom, and writing. It’s not always easy, but hey, who said life was easy?

Abby is the author of the contemporary MMA romance, Extreme Love, the first book in her Love to the Extreme series. Fighting Love is scheduled to release in December of 2013 and Winning Love is scheduled for 2014. She is also the author of the dark paranormal romance series The Awakening: Aidan and the The Awakening: Liam and The Awakening: Britton. Both series are with Entangled Publishing. She also has a geeky romantic comedy, Defying Convention, with Carina Press.

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Review: Eyes Ever to the Sky (The Sky Trilogy #1) by Katie French

When Hugh wakes up in a smoldering crater—no memory, no clothes—a single thought echoes in his head…trust no one. Frightened and alone, with no memory of who he is, he stumbles upon a grisly murder scene and is fatally shot. He wakes, only to find he can heal himself. He has superpowers, and he’s going to need them.

Desperate and bleeding, Hugh stumbles upon fifteen-year-old Cece, who’s got enough troubles of her own. Between caring for her bipolar mother and trying not to get evicted from her run-down trailer, Cece may be the only person struggling as much as Hugh. Drawn to Hugh, Cece finds a love she’s never known. But when the real killer—a man-hunting beast—chooses another victim, Hugh and Cece realize they must unlock the clues to their past if they have any chance at a future.

REVIEW

*I received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Hot naked guy with no memory, murder scenes and a sweet teenage girl, it doesn't get much more intriguing than that I believe. After finishing Eyes Everr To The Sky I can say it was an enjoyable read, though it won't knock your socks off.

Katie French has created a very detailed story, with an emphasis on the dark and gritty. We have a young man with superpowers, who has no idea who he is or where he came from and a young female trying to survive life with a mother who is bi-polar. Which is very well written. Cece's mother has a disease and the way the author approaches the issue is very authentic. It really showed all the difficulties Cece has to keeping their lives on track.

Now what didn't work so well for me was the instant love between Hugh and Cece. The first time they met he is wearing woman's clothing and is covered in blood. Still she immediately trusted him and even brought him home with her. Being in that small trailer, somehow they decide they are not just attracted to each other, but also have feelings for each other. I did not buy it. Seriously multiple murders have happened, Hugh is covered in blood, one plus one equals two you know. The fact that there is never a thought he might be involved proves to me that Cece isn't the smartest fifteen-year-old.

Sometimes the story felt very fast paced. I did like the switching in POV, certainly the one's from the victims. There was a lot of detail, but not enough build up. The whole part that could have made it more interesting, aliens, was only approached briefly and lacking depth.

Like I said it was an enjoyable read and if you like paranormal romance, involving aliens and lots of blood, this can definitely be a book for you.

Eyes Ever To The Sky: Amazon - Kindle

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Review: Forgotten Sins (Sin Brothers #1) by Rebecca Zanetti

*I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

His Secrets Can Destroy Her

From the moment Josie laid eyes on sexy, mysterious Shane Dean, she was in love. Their desire ignited a passionate affair, and within weeks, Shane had slipped a ring on her finger. It seemed her every fantasy was coming true . . . until her new husband disappeared without a trace. Now, two years and one broken heart later, Josie is shocked by the hospital calls: Shane has been found . . . at a crime scene with no memory of how he got there.

Her Love Can Save Him

Shane can't remember the blue-eyed angel at his bedside—or who he even is—but he knows something isn't right. His hearing is razor sharp, his physical strength incredible, and the urge to protect Josie overwhelming. For powerful enemies are hunting him, and Josie is the key to discovering why. As Shane struggles to unravel his past, dangerous new truths come to light. Can he protect the only woman he's ever loved? And can Josie trust a man she thought she knew—one who carries such a deadly secret?

Review:
Somehow I totally missed the fact that there was going to be a science fictional element in this book, so that kind of took me by surprise. It did give for an interesting angle, though because the element in this novel is so borderline realistic I had a hard time accepting it, making me wonder if it was really necessary.

Now I loved the whole reunited lovers thing they had going on. A whirlwind romance, two month marriage and then a husband who disappears for two years, call me intrigued. Of course I wanted to know why Shane disappeared, what has happened to him and if he and Josie might be able to work it out. Though they were plenty of times during the story which made me doubt that last one.

Josie has always been pragmatic and very reasonable, the one time she did something spontaneous she ended up with a broken heart. Now with Shane back she doesn't know what to expect, but she knows she doesn't want him back. Fool her once, shame on you, fool her twice, not going to happen. Except Shane isn't going to give up on her, even though Josie fights him all the way. She wants to show him she is not some weak and vulnerable woman who needs saving.

I could totally understand her mistrust of Shane. They got married quickly and it didn't last long, so she doesn't really know him that well and the things she is figuring out now aren't that reassuring. What was driving me crazy was the constant switching between not trusting him and lusting after Shane. Her idea of him could switch within a halve page.

Shane is very much an alpha male even going one step further as the usual guys, because this one will kill for his love. I liked how he wouldn't give up on Josie and wanted to be the best man possible for her. Then when it comes to his history and past actions, those kind of get blown over and I could have used more details around that or at least made them more significant.

Besides the love story, there is of course the suspense and mystery. Shane and his brothers are some sort of super soldiers, who have escaped their evil commander and who is now after them. Considering the fact that to be able to make super soldiers, you need to be super smart, the villains were kind of dumb and cliché. Some parts in this were very predictable.

I liked the action throughout the story, even with Josie getting kidnapped like five times or so (really?!). Though it often was overshadowed a bit with the romance. To me the action and mystery deserved more attention and detail.

Overall the writing was good and the other brothers definitely captured my attention. I will be reading their stories as well and see if they can beat their enemies.

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Review: Extreme Love by Abby Niles

Extrem Love is coming out next week (April 30) and I was lucky enough (thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing) to receive an early copy in exchange for an honest review.

New body. New clothes. New men.

Used to the average Joe, Caitlyn Moore is overwhelmed when the supremely masculine Dante Jones walks into her life and expresses an interest in her. At first she pushes him away, refusing to encourage the attention of a cage fighter. Then she learns Dante has a love ‘em and leave ‘em reputation. What better way to fine-tune her non-existent flirting skills than with a male who won’t stick around? But Dante has no intention of being a practice dummy; he’s out for all or nothing. Now Caitlyn must accept Dante—violent career and all—or let him go.

Dante “Inferno” Jones has one goal: win the Welterweight Championship. At a time when focus is crucial, the last thing he needs is a distraction. Yet Caitlyn Moore becomes a challenge he can’t resist. When the light-hearted pursuit shifts to a battle to win her heart, his focus is shot. Faced with losing the biggest match of his career, Dante must decide if his extreme life also has room for Extreme Love.

Pre-order at Amazon

Review:
Now personally I think MMA is super hot, Cait doesn't. When her roommate drags her to a fight, Cait is horrified. All that violence and blood makes her sick. She absolutely doesn't understand why in the world anyone would participate in getting beaten the crap out of them.

"This is Dante 'Inferno' Jones."
"Fitting, since I feel like I've entered the seventh layer of Hell."

Afterwards they go to an MMA after party thing and that's where Cait meets Dante. Saying she's intimidated by this fine piece of man is an understanding. So she does the only thing she knows how to and turns him down. Now Dante is used at girls throwing themselves at him, so Cait becomes a nice little challenge to him.

"She still saw the heavy woman she had always been, but deep down she knew the size twenty-two woman no longer existed."

I absolutely adore the two main characters. Cait has (had) weight issues and this reflects on certain areas in her life, mostly when it comes to men. It is also a very big part of her life as she has been bullied and today there are still people who try to undermine her confidence and everything she has accomplished.

For me it is very easy to relate to Cait, having been through similar situations. So I very well understand how she keeps fighting Dante, no matter how hard he tries. She keeps thinking girls like her don't belong to guys like him. For Dante of course none of that matters, he wants her just the way she is. During all this some readers might find it a bit tedious and maybe even want to smack Cait to make her come to her senses, but I had no problem with that. I like Cait and I admire what she's doing right now, with helping other people.

"From day one, he's know she was special. Time had only proven what his gut had known."

There's not much I can say about Dante, except the guy needs to think before he speaks if he doesn't want to get in trouble with Cait. I also love that he keeps pushing her. He's simple a sexy and adorable package all rolled in to one.

One thing that had me bugging though and that was Sentori. he's Dante's opponent in the Welterweight Championship. Besides the fact that the guy is a complete a-hole, he's almost caricatural. He's sinister, mean and he has these devious plans that are almost not real. This all makes it very hard to take him seriously and he does not have me convinced.

"Damn girl, I feel like I've been kissed breathless. Was that as hot as it looked?"

There is one more character I have to mention; Paul! He's Cait's best gay friend and even though it's all very stereotypical that guy is awesome. Paul has these amazing one liners and sarcastic moments that will literally make you LOL.

And now you can start reading Extreme Love :)

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