Book Review: Waiting for the Beast (Lucifer's Clock Book 1) by T. Hayden

Title: Waiting for the Beast
Author: T. Hayden
Series: Lucifer's Clock #1
Published: February 14, 2017
Pages: 267
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

What if the Bible has it all wrong about the Anti-Christ?

What if this person is female and what if she actually has a choice?

Meet A.C. a.k.a Angelica Cunningham

Angelica is drop dead gorgeous, lives in a sprawling mansion with her two aunts, attends a prestigious private school, is an A student and excels at everything she does effortlessly. She has a great life.

That's until her 16th birthday and it all goes banana's. One of her aunt's fall mysteriously ill on the brink of death. Angelica is suddenly telepathic, has a heightened sense of smell and is seeing supernatural beings, that only exists in fairy tales.

Angelica's family is forced to tell her the truth. Her aunts are actually supernatural beings that have been charged with protecting Angelica from her father, Lucifer. He has put a bounty on Angelica's head and every creature from the Abyssal Realm a.k.a Hell is looking for her. In addition she has a hot guardian angel that has been assigned to her since birth that she can now see.

She is suddenly thrust into a dangerous, magical world. Between dealing with her new identity, a love triangle, hiding from her father, and just trying to be a teenager she has to make a decision to run, fight or wait for the darkness to consume her.

*I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review*

The way that Waiting for the Beast started was unlike any other book I had ever read. Instead of getting thrown into Angelica's story, I was slowly eased into it. Books don't typically do this. Instead of being left guessing, I was given the relevant information at the beginning. This allowed me to focus on where the book was going, and more importantly what was in store for Angelica's future. I wasn't constantly wondering what/who Angelica was, instead I already knew.

I did appreciate how I was eased into the story, but at the same time I found myself getting a little bored. I was ready to meet Angelica and get started on the action! Once the action did start, I found that I really enjoyed reading the book. The storyline and world that Hayden had weaved fascinated me!

I'm excited for the rest of the series, and am really hoping that the author takes some risks with Angelica's romantic affairs, just like she did with the concept of this book! I know Michael is the definition of perfect, but that has been done time and time again. I am much more intrigued by Roman. I have a feeling that there is much more to him than meets the eye. What can I say, I have a soft spot for the bad boys!

Book Review: Bloodrage (Blood Destiny Book 3) by Helen Harper

Title: Bloodrage
Author: Helen Harper
Series: Blood Destiny #3
Pages: 237
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Mack begins her training at the mages' academy in the hope that, by complying, the stasis spell will be lifted from her old friend, Mrs. Alcoon. However, once there, she finds herself surrounded by unfriendly adults and petulant teenagers, the majority of whom seem determined to see her fail.

Feeling attacked on all fronts, Mack finds it harder and harder to keep a rein on her temper. Forced to attend anger management classes and deal with the predatory attentions of Corrigan, the Lord Alpha of the shapeshifter world, her emotions start to unravel. But when she comes across a familiar text within the walls of the mages' library, which might just provide the clues she needs to unlock the secrets of her background and her dragon blood, she realises that her problems are only just beginning...

Mack seems to have an incredible talent of getting into trouble literally everywhere she goes. Bloodrage is definitely no different. Due to the events in both Bloodfire and Bloodmagic, Mack finds herself to be the newest initiate at the mages' prestigious academy, much to both the students and the teachers dismay.

She knows that if she doesn't succeed in passing all of her lessons at the academy, that poor Mrs. Alcoon will never be released from stasis. She also knows that to actually succeed, she will need to keep that little temper of hers in check, which is way easier said than done. Despite her predicament, Mack does try her hardest and even makes some actual friends!

Just as with the previous books, Bloodrage is full of action and there is a little bit of Corrigan thrown in there too (wink, wink). The suspense is killing me! We all know that Corrigan keeps popping up in Mack's life for a reason, but of course, Mack is emotional, temperamental, and stubborn. However, those same qualities, the temper, emotions, and stubbornness is also why we love her.

Sigh, we will just have to wait, because i am one hundred percent sure that Corrigan and Mack will happen. Hopefully, the next book in line, Blood Politics will not disappoint. I'm keeping my fingers crossed!

"His back was ramrod straight, exactly as if the metaphorical poker up his arse reached through his spine and into his skull. That probably accounted for the lack of brain cells, I figured sardonically."

"Wonders would never cease. It would appear that I may have made another, if perhaps rather taciturn, new friend."

"Good teachers don't seek to train their students to be as good as they are, they seek to make them better." 

Book Review: Off Limits (Men of Lake Tahoe Book 1) by Jules Barnard

Title: Off Limits
Author: Jules Barnard
Series: Men of Lake Tahoe #1
Pages: 320
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

When Cali Morgan kicks off her perfect post-college summer in Lake Tahoe, she has everything she ever wanted: acceptance into a top law program, a gorgeous boyfriend, and an incredible summer planned with her best friend.

Confident about her place in the world, Cali makes it her mission to be her friend’s wingwoman and help her meet guys. What Cali doesn’t count on is running into Jaeger Lang, one of her older brother’s high school friends, or the sparks that fly when she’s around him.

Jaeger has changed, and it’s not just the added height and muscle. There’s something about him that’s deep and a little scarred. In spite of the changes, Jaeger becomes a top pick for her friend—if Cali can keep her hands off him.

But when Cali’s boyfriend dumps her and her carefully laid plans begin to unravel, she finds herself questioning what it is she truly desires. In the midst of doubts about her future, one thing is very clear: she wants Jaeger for her own. The question is, has her friend already fallen for him? And will Jaeger’s past come back to haunt them both?

Cali thinks she has her entire future mapped out. She recently graduated college and has been accepted into a top law program. She believes everything is great, except her friend Gen. Gen has recently broken up with her boyfriend, so to help cheer her up, Cali gets them jobs at a casino in Lake Tahoe.

However, things do not go as planned, and Cali finds herself lost and totally confused. Everything she thought she wanted, may not be even remotely close to what she really needs. Luckily for her, she has some help along the way, including Gen, and Jaeger, who looks a lot different than he did in high school...

I absolutely loved Barnard's writing! She was able to weave a great story that included a shock or two (or three or four). And the scenery sounds AMAZING! Her descriptions make me want to grab my camera, head on over there, and just enjoy the view. Speaking of view, her descriptions weren't just about the scenery, quite a few adjectives were about a certain scarred someone with some pretty green eyes. Just Sayin'. Deep Blue is fun summer read that will definitely, without a doubt have you swooning. 

"If one wishes to elicit a reaction from the elusive species known as 'reservus quietgirlius,' one must poke."

"Mom discovered too late that sometimes a hardworking man is more successful than a brilliant one."

"You're not a loser. You're almost as smart as me, which makes you one of the smartest people on the planet."

"Is he crazy? No one has ever told me my doodles are good, not that I flash them around or anything. Gen likes them, but she also thinks vampire romances are literature and sings along to 'Islands in the Stream.' Her tastes are dubious. She's not a reliable source."

"What better time to try something new than when you have nothing to lose."

"...maybe that's art. Seeing beauty others miss and capturing it." 


****Off Limits was previously named Deep Blue, and looked a little something like this: ****

Book Review: Protect Me (Donovan Family Book 6) by Margaret Watson

Title: Protect Me
Author: Margaret Watson
Series: Donovan Family #6
Pages: 329
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤

Police officer Mia Donovan is studying for the detective's exam when her captain offers her an assignment – be Finn O'Rourke's personal bodyguard for the next three weeks. He's in town to film a movie, he has a stalker, and the threats are escalating.

Mia isn't interested – she's focused on the looming exam. But her captain convinces her that successfully protecting Finn will look very good on her record when promotion decisions are made. So, reluctantly, she takes the assignment.

Finn isn't the arrogant, egotistical actor Mia expected. There's more than meets the eye when it comes to the 'most hated man in America', Finn's nickname since he cheated on his girlfriend, a beloved pop star.

But his stalker is lurking and the threat is escalating. Although Mia's feelings for Finn are growing, her job is to protect Finn, not fall in love with him.

*I received a free copy of Protect Me in exchange for an honest review*

Besides reading, one of my favorite things to do is watch crime shows. From NCIS to Criminal Minds and everything in-between, I watch it all. So, when this books description offered romance and some cool crime action, I knew that I'd like it! 

I absolutely loved both Finn and Mia! They have this banter that is extremely entertaining. They actually remind me a lot of Castle and Beckett from one of my all time favorite shows, Castle. It's hard not to see the similarities. A witty woman with a badge pitted against a charming "ruggedly handsome" celebrity. You know that's the perfect recipe for something great!

Okay, so combine that idea with the fact that Mia is so close to her cop family, and you get a sort of cross between Castle and the tv show Blue Bloods. Mia's family even meets up at least once a month to eat dinner together. This was my first Donovan book, but from what I've seen, Mia's family is absolutely great! I couldn't imagine growing up with four older brothers! 

Overall, this was a good fun read! The dialogue between our two protagonists was great and truly entertaining. And the stalker plot line also helped keep things interesting. Also, I'm ready to try some of that Oscar's Mac-and-Cheese (trust me, you will too after you read this)!!

"She thinks you're stalking me."
"Why the hell would I do that? I see too much of your ugly mug as it is." 


 

Book Review: Paranormalcy (Paranormalcy Book 1) by Kiersten White

Title: Paranormalcy
Author: Kiersten White
Series: Paranormalcy #1
Pages: 335
My Rating: ❤❤❤❤❤

Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

So much for normal. 

I have wanted to read Paranormalcy for a while. The book first came out in 2010, and I think I've wanted to get my hands on it ever since. Well, I finally did!

White creates a pretty impressive underground world that involves trolls, faeries, werewolves, vampires, and so much more! It reminds me of the military that got involved in supernatural affairs on Buffy, except with less kevlar and more sass. I don't mean just a little sass either, but instead a whole lot of sass.

The main character, Evie, is a sixteen year old operative in a paranormal agency. With a little help from her pink sparkly tazer she is able to bag and tag all things supernatural. She is absolutely one of my favorite characters! She is full of curiosity, spunk, and of course sassiness. Oh, and she absolutely loves the color pink, so naturally she is pretty amazing!

In addition to the awesome character White created, I also love the world that she created. I loved the idea of a secret agency battling the things that go bump in the night! However, don't think that this book is all work and no play though, because there is some romance involved. The way it all unfolds is super sweet and the flirty dialogue is fantastic!

I am so glad that I finally picked up Paranormalcy, and I highly suggest it for people who love shows like Buffy or even Marvel: Agents of Shield and Men in Black. Seriously, it is that good!

"Tasers are a one-size-fits-all paranormal butt-kicking option. Mine's pink with rhinestones."