Tour Review: Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton

Rusty Nailed by Alice Clayton
Release Date: June 24, 2014
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pages: 320
Series: Cocktail #2
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

In this sequel to Wallbanger, the second book in the Cocktail series, fan favorites Caroline and Simon negotiate the rollercoaster of their new relationship while house-sitting in San Francisco.

Playing house was never so much fun—or so confusing. With her boss on her honeymoon, Caroline’s working crazy long hours to keep the interior design company running—especially since she’s also the lead designer for the renovation of a gorgeous old hotel on Sausalito. So with her hotshot photographer boyfriend gallivanting all over the world for his job, she and Simon are heavy-duty into “absence makes the heart grow fonder” mode. Neither has any complaints about the great reunion sex, though! Then Simon decides he’s tired of so much travelling, and he’s suddenly home more. A lot more. And wanting Caroline home more, too. Though their friends’ romantic lives provide plenty of welcome distraction, eventually Caroline and Simon have to sort their relationship out. Neither wants “out of sight, out of mind,” but can they create their own happy mid-ground cliché?

USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton delivers another delicious, frothy cocktail of a book, shaking up her characters, stirring in laugh-out-loud humor, and serving sizzling romance straight up!

My Thoughts:
First of all I must say that I love how this book is a continuation of Caroline and Simon’s story from Wallbanger. Alice Clayton has done that before in a romance series (the Redhead books), but most authors don't. Rusty Nailed is exactly what you would expect from a sequel to Wallbanger: charming, swoony, and, of course, hilarious.

A great thing about this book is that it’s very much about the romance and about Caroline and Simon growing and changing as a couple, but it’s also about their personal journeys. It’s about Simon facing his past, and about Caroline working towards her future with her job. On the romance side of things, I enjoyed so much that it’s a book about the “next stage” of a romance. In most romances we don’t get to see a committed (and very much in love) couple, so it was really awesome to see these characters trying to figure out what life together means: to see them figure out who they are as an “us”.

I also appreciated how Alice Clayton managed to write a couple going through things without completely tearing them apart or bringing cheating into the mix (at least in the case of the main couple). It would have been so easy to create unnecessary drama and tear Caroline and Simon apart, but that's not what happened here at all. Of course there are issues and some drama, because it wouldn’t be interesting without it, but I thought the book was a fair representation of both a couple's growing pains and their successes.

Overall, this was an amazing second chapter in Simon and Caroline’s story. I highly recommend this book to fans of Wallbanger, and I recommend both titles to adult romance fans who appreciate character depth and wit in their sexy books. I would also be remiss not to mention Clive, who is an absolutely amazing cat character. Seriously, this cat is epic, and his interactions with his humans? Priceless.

The Cover:
Not sure about the pastel, but overall it's okay.

Rating:
[4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally

Racing Savannah by Miranda Kenneally
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire
Pages: 304
Series: Hundred Oaks #4 (Companion books)
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)

They’re from two different worlds.

He lives in the estate house, and she spends most of her time in the stables helping her father train horses. In fact, Savannah has always been much more comfortable around horses than boys. Especially boys like Jack Goodwin—cocky, popular and completely out of her league. She knows the rules: no mixing between the staff and the Goodwin family. But Jack has no such boundaries.

With her dream of becoming a horse jockey, Savannah isn’t exactly one to follow the rules either. She’s not going to let someone tell her a girl isn’t tough enough to race. Sure, it’s dangerous. Then again, so is dating Jack…

My Thoughts:
Miranda Kenneally’s books have a style to them, a particular quality that make them so inherently readable. I love her conversational style of writing -- it makes her books so easy to delve into, and so enjoyable to read. This, her fourth book, focuses on the world of horse racing, something I know absolutely nothing about. I was happy to find myself interested in the subject (you almost can’t help it, it being something Savannah is so passionate about), but not overwhelmed by details or facts.

Our main pair for this book is Savannah and Jack, who are involved in a bit of a forbidden romance, since Savannah is part of the staff at Jack’s family’s farm. There’s a huge class difference between them, and a question of appropriateness since their parents do not approve. That undercurrent about class/money was definitely well written. It showed how having money doesn't mean you have class, but that it also doesn't indicate that you're a snob or a jerk. There was the same message about having less money: that just because that’s the case, it doesn’t mean you’re worth any less. The relationship in Racing Savannah was less swoony (for me) than in past books, but I still really liked these two together. It took some definite growth on both Savannah and Jack’s parts, but I feel like they ended up in a good place.

I really love how Miranda Kenneally brings back characters from past books for more than just two second cameos. There are major characters in this book that are siblings of past main characters, and without getting too spoilery, we get a wedding (!) for a past couple and an engagement for another. I can always picture the couples together in the future, finding weddings and engagements plausible, because the characters (including the ones from this book) are always such great friends. There’s so much more to their relationships than sexual chemistry.

In that regard, I think that Miranda Kenneally’s books are always very honest about sex and the emotions involved in it. They’re realistic about sexual activity, but it’s not presented in a tawdry or cheap way. It talks about how things can be good, but that you can also feel regret if things happen without a commitment. The book basically tells the characters (and the reader by default) that they are worthy, and that they deserve whatever it is they want from a relationship.

I’m a huge fan of Miranda Kenneally’s books: she is an auto-buy author for me. I definitely recommend Racing Savannah to fans of YA contemporary romance, but also for fans of sports books, or fans of just about any type of book that features strong relationships and a good message, without it being preachy in any way.

The Cover:
I'm not that keen on the yellow, but I still really like it.

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Purchase Links:
Kobo | Amazon.ca | Amazon.com | Chapters-Indigo | Barnes & Noble | Book Depository

Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund

Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund
Release Date: October 15, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Pages: 464
Series: For Darkness Shows the Stars #2 (companion book)
Review Source: ARC from HarperCollins Canada

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.

My Thoughts:
To start off, can we talk about how much I love the main character, Persis? Because she is basically The. Best. If you need a reason to read this book (and there are many reasons why you should), Persis is a great one. She is such an amazing main character. I love that she has the fun, "fashionista" qualities that she shows to the world, but that she's also an incredibly intelligent person with a keen sense of justice. Persis is an active character: she sees something wrong, a terrible injustice, and she does something about it, even at great personal risk. I also loved the statement made by the author, of how easy it was for Persis to fool everyone into thinking she was stupid, because she’s pretty, rich, upper class, and - most of all - a female.

I give Diana Peterfreund major props for the subject matter of this book, because it’s incredibly complex. Even though Diana has done a great job at making things fairly basic and accessible, it’s still a story based on genetics and a complex history of persecution. At first it was a bit difficult to keep things straight, particularly because of the different names used, but it was also incredibly fascinating. And science isn't the only subject matter of the book: there’s adventure with the Wild Poppy rescuing people, and there’s the relationship between Persis and Justen. I really like how this story is one with intricate details you need to pay attention to, while at the same time offering humour and swoony moments.

While I enjoyed For Darkness Shows the Stars, especially the unique ideas of the story, I never fell for it in the same way many others did. I was excited when the characters in this book captured my attention so much more. There’s just something about the characters here and the Scarlet Pimpernel inspired plot that I loved.

[Also, a note, because many people seem to be confused about this: Across a Star-Swept Sea takes place in the same universe as For Darkness Shows the Stars, but it is very much a standalone novel. There is a bit of a crossover (which I won’t spoil!), but you don’t need to read the other book to understand or appreciate this one.]

The Cover:
Like!

Rating:
[Strong 4/5]

Find Across a Star-Swept Sea by Diana Peterfreund on HarperCollins Canada. Purchase through Book Depository, Chapters Indigo, Amazon.ca, & Amazon.com.

Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert

Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert
Release Date: August 14, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Pages: 400
Series: n/a
Review Source: eARC through Xpresso Book Tours

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Horses, mansions, tea parties, and lies are twenty-year-old Hannah Taylor’s life. To others, her family and her relationship with Eric is perfect. But she knows the truth. She lives it.

After a fire takes her grandma’s life and kills her horse, Hannah’s immaculate life spirals out of control. Her father disapproves of her decision to run her grandma’s ranch instead of focusing solely on learning the family business; Animal Control brings her Argus, a mistreated horse that she can’t turn away even though she’s not ready for another horse; and her boyfriend, Eric Bennett, a world famous polo player, becomes possessive and authoritarian. Despite her best efforts to disguise it, Hannah grows wary of him.

Then, Leonardo Fernandes struts onto the polo scene. A cocky rookie with a messy life of his own, he’s drawn to Hannah and isn’t afraid of showing it, even when Eric makes it clear she is his and he’ll do whatever it takes to keep it that way. Hannah suffers for Eric’s jealousy. The abuse only gets worse when Leo steals the title of best polo player in the world from Eric.

But the title isn’t enough for Leo. He wants Hannah too, and she can’t deny her attraction to him either. Somehow, she must find a way to break free from abusive Eric before he breaks every bone in her body.

My Thoughts:
As soon as I read this synopsis I knew it would be a book I just had to read. I love the TV show 'Heartland', where the main character lives on a ranch with her family and works with injured horses. I've been saying for years that I wanted to read Heartland in book format (yes, I know the show is based on the books ;)), and with 'Breaking the Reins' I finally found that.

The concept of the book was great by itself, but thankfully the execution was fabulous as well. I adored reading about the ranch, horse rehab, and Hannah bonding with Argus, an injured horse. Despite my love of New Adult books, one of my complaints about the category is that so often the romance is the only focus of the book. Despite books taking place during college there's no class-time or assignments or any aspect of a life outside of connecting the hero and heroine. So I absolutely loved it here where there were main focuses outside of the romance. The polo club had a great importance, and all the work with Argus was a main part of the plot.

I enjoyed Hannah as a character, even though I couldn't always understand her logic. Leo was a really great character: a truly nice guy, despite what he thinks. I liked how there was a real and growing connection between him and Hannah, and it really showed how much he cared about Argus when he worked with him. Eric was a real piece of work. He was so horrible, someone who you know is bad, but who shows his true colours more and more as the book goes on.

My one complaint about 'Breaking the Reins' is that it got a bit melodramatic toward the end. It seemed like it wasn't enough for the character to be run of the mill bad, he had to be crazy bad. What saved it for me is that technically everything that happened was plausible, it just seemed a bit over the top. Nevertheless this is a very entertaining and largely well written novel, and I definitely recommend it to New Adult fans or to those wanting to check out the category.

The Cover:
Like!

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Add Breaking the Reins by Juliana Haygert on Goodreads

Purchase Breaking the Reins:
Amazon US / Amazon UK / B&N / Kobo / Apple

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Poison by Bridget Zinn

Release Date: March 12, 2013
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Pages: 288
Series: n/a
Review Source: Netgalley

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

My Thoughts:
You wouldn’t think a book about a girl being wanted for attempting to murder her best friend, the princess, would be such a fun, whimsical book, but it completely was! The tone was generally light and airy, and the book is a real romp as Kyra goes on a journey to find the princess and finish what she started. Like I said, not a light subject matter, and yet once you find out the background of the story and get into the book it becomes quite a fun read. I also loved how it could almost equally be considered a tween book and for upper YAs. It has that adventure quality of a middle grade book, but the characters are older and the plot is detailed enough to keep the attention of older teens and adults.

I feel like there’s not much to say except that I just generally enjoyed this one. Kyra was adorable (though she probably wouldn’t enjoy being called that) and determined, and the mysterious Fred was all kinds of adorable himself. The banter-filled relationship that these two had really made the book for me. I would also be remiss not to mention the little pig, Rosie, because I especially enjoyed her. I absolutely adore books that feature an animal with a large personality, and that was definitely the case here.

If you’re looking for a lighter fantasy filled with crazy antics, potions, and other types of magic then look no further. ‘Poison’ is a fun read with twists and turns, and definitely a great pick-me-up read.

(As a side note, I found out via a review on Goodreads and through Bridget’s site that the author passed away from cancer in 2011. I obviously didn’t know the author, even from her online presence, but I am so bummed out that someone who must have had such a fun and joyous spirit was taken from her family and this world. I’m thankful that I was able to experience a little bit of her through this enjoyable read.)

The Cover:
It's a little middle grade-ish for my liking, but it's still cute. I love that ROSIE THE PIG is on it!

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find Poison by Bridget Zinn on Goodreads, Book Depository, & Amazon.

ETA: You can check out this site to see how you can help spread the word about Poison.

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Release Date: October 18, 2011
Publisher: Scholastic
Pages: 409
Series: n/a
Review Source: ARC received at Ontario Blog Squad Meet-Up 2011

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
It happens at the start of every November: the Scorpio Races. Riders attempt to keep hold of their water horses long enough to make it to the finish line. Some riders live. Others die.

At age nineteen, Sean Kendrick is the returning champion. He is a young man of few words, and if he has any fears, he keeps them buried deep, where no one else can see them.

Puck Connolly is different. She never meant to ride in the Scorpio Races. But fate hasn’t given her much of a chance. So she enters the competition — the first girl ever to do so. She is in no way prepared for what is going to happen.

My Thoughts:
(First a note: I wrote this review after I read the book about a year ago, but I somehow never got around to posting it. In the meantime, I've read and loved The Raven Boys, but I decided to keep my review as it was written last year.)

I was a bit hesitant going into 'The Scorpio Races' because I’m one of the only people on earth who didn’t enjoy 'Shiver'. I’m also not a big fan of horses, so that’s sort of two strikes against this book. Thankfully I was intrigued from the moment I started reading it. I had a bit of a hard time because of the slower pace, but I was still interested, and it made me persevere. I’m glad I did, because in the end I was totally impressed. I adore the world that Maggie Stiefvater created for this book. It’s absolutely magical, and I can’t stop thinking about it.

The best thing about this book, though? The characters, absolutely. Kate “Puck” Connelly is just so endearing. She’s tough as nails and there’s nothing she loves more than her brothers and the island of Thisby, except perhaps her horse, Dove. And then there’s the strong, silent Sean Kendrick. He works magic with horses, and has a connection with Corr, one of the fierce capaill uisce (water horses). These two! I don’t even know. I loved reading from both their perspectives, and I fell in love with both of them. I love them separately, I loved their interactions together, and I adored how much they loved their horses. Remember how I said I wasn’t a horse person? Well, I’m not, but I am a big animal lover in general. There’s no denying the love these two characters felt for their horses, and it was beautiful to read about.

As mentioned, the pace of the book is slower in most parts. The actual Scorpio Races don’t take place until the end of the book, and while there are definite moments of excitement throughout the book, it also has a quieter feel to it. Maggie’s writing is so atmospheric that you experience every bit of the setting alongside the main characters. And what a setting it is. Thisby is this mysterious island where man eating capaill uisce wash ashore, and where each November men vie to be race champion on these creatures.

It’s not too often a book can make me tear up, but this one definitely did. I felt such a strong emotional tie with the characters that I was sad to see the book end, though I thought the ending was absolutely perfect. This is a book you really sink into and become part of, which is a wonderful experience. I’m so glad that I read 'The Scorpio Races', and I’ll definitely give Maggie Stiefvater’s future books a chance now that I’ve enjoyed this one so much.

The Cover:
Really like it.

Rating:
[5/5]

Find The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater on Goodreads, Book Depository, Amazon.

Doggirl by Robin Brande

Release Date: May 2, 2011
Publisher: Ryer Publishing
Pages: 269
Review Source: eBook from author

Synopsis: (from Goodreads)
Riley Case has always been an expert with dogs--it's people she doesn't understand. But when the chance comes to use her talents as a dog trainer to help her high school drama department compete in a national contest, Riley has to set aside her shyness and fears, and finally let the world see what she can do. It's THE DOG WHISPERER meets GLEE as Riley and her dogs help put on a show no one will forget.

My Thoughts:
If you like dogs at all (even a tiny bit) stop what you're doing and buy this eBook. Seriously, if you have a soft spot for animals you are going to want to read this book. Robin Brande has written a story that will pull on your heartstrings. This is a sweet story about a girl named Riley who slowly overcomes her social anxieties, letting go of past hurts as she learns to fit in and trust people, instead of just relying on her dogs.

Riley's understanding of, and love for, her dogs is really special. If you believe in human-animal connections you will love reading about how much Riley cares for her animals and how well she knows them. The animal training aspect of the book is amazing. It is so cool what animals can do when they work with a trainer, and all the tricks described in the book sound amazing. It made me wish I could see the play performed in real life.

This is a great book for younger YAs because Riley is a younger teenage character, and the message her story presents is a great one. I think we can all relate to feeling like we don't fit in at one point or another, and Robin Brande addresses that issue in this book. Riley learns to accept herself and trust other people, and it is really lovely seeing such a sweet girl get her chance to shine. With Robin Brande's awesome conversational writing style I really felt like Riley was talking to me and telling me her story. This is just a really great heartwarming story, and it's definitely one to pick up if you're looking for something which addresses more serious issues like bullying and social anxiety while still remaining sweet and light.

Rating:
[3.5/5]

Find Doggirl by Robin Brande on Goodreads & buy a copy through Smashwords, Kindle, or Nook. A print edition will be available in late May.