Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) Katie McGarry

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail. And who knows where they'd send seventeen-year-old Beth. So she protects her mum at all costs — until the day her uncle swoops in, and Beth finds herself starting over at a school where no one understands her. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her...but does.
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular jock with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him! But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction.
Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image is risking everything for the girl he loves. And the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all… 




McGarry has again set the bar high in the second installment in this sensation series and takes the reader through a barrage of emotions that will leave you utterly hooked and counting the days till number 3 hits the shelves.

For those of you who have also read "Pushing the Limits", you may find yourself approaching Beth's story with the same level of apprehension I did. Although I loved the cast as a whole, I did find myself almost verging on the edge of really disliking Beth- almost to the point of wanting to slap her-hard.  Dare You To brings us the real Beth and I very quickly found myself doing an abrupt about turn. McGarry has again absolutely blown me away. I sat utterly transfixed throughout and my only gripe is that publishers really need to invent water proof paper-fast.

The leads are both amazingly strong and complex and I really enjoy the changing of view points chapter to chapter and the deeper look into both of their heads. The overall theme is the same- two young lovers from opposite sides of the tracks with more in common than appearances let you believe, but Beth's story is a little darker and disturbing.

I do encourage you to read Pushing the Limits first if you haven't done so. Even though both work brilliantly as a stand alone, the deeper understanding of the characters and situations will help and they are simply both so fantastic they deserve reading over and over.

Definitely one to add to your June release must have list now.
Five fantastic stars out of five.

Dare to You
Katie McGarry
HarlequinTeen Australia
June 2013

The Eternity Cure(Blood of Eden #2) Julie Kagawa

Allison Sekemoto has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from a psychotic vampire. But there's a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago — and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike.
Allison thought that immortality was forever. But with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further as Allie faces another choice she could never have imagined having to make...

 The Eternity Cure was without a doubt one of my most anticipated releases for 2013 and it has far exceeded all expectations.  Kagawa never fails to almost put me in a trance. Every time I embark on a journey into one of her world's- whether for the first time or the numerous re-reads I adore, I literally forget everything else. In fact I'm surprised I remember to breathe! Kagawa has perfectly  blended dystopian and supernatural and created a world and cast of characters to enthrall,scare the pants off the reader and above all keep you coming back again and again.

 Allie is an absolutely delightful accidental heroine. Her struggle to maintain some sense of humanity and embrace her monstrous side strikes the  perfect balance between emotional turmoil,humour and kick butt-ness that will have you wishing you possessed just a tiny bit of her spunk.

I am not game enough to give you a run down on favorite scenes etc because I know there are a lot of fellow Kagawa addicts eagerly awaiting May 1st who would gladly hit me over the head if I let any spoilers slip. The one thing I will say is that if you only read one dystopian or vampire related YA novel this year (or decade or even century) make it this one. And if you haven't as yet PLEASE read the first installment "The Immortal Rules" first, the back story is needed to set you on your feet.

In the meantime to help get through the long days until it hits the shelves, make sure you visit the fantastic Blood of Eden Website to help you through.

The Eternity Cure
Julie Kagawa
428 Pages

The Eternity Cure is published by Harlequin Teen and will be on sale in Australia from 1 May, 2013 at www.harlequinbooks.com.au and in good book stores nationally for RRP AU$16.99/NZ$17.99

*Thanks to the publisher for my review copy*

The Rules of Conception- Angela Lawrence

Rachel Richards is ready to be a mother.
She's got a great job, a good income, a beautiful inner-city apartment, and a great group of supportive friends. All she needs is a father to have the child with...
But go-getter Rachel won't let a little thing like that get in the way of her dreams. After researching different options to become pregnant, from co-parenting, adoption and anonymous sperm donors, Rachel finally settles on a method of conception — using a known donor. Making the decision to choose the biological father for her child, Rachel picks Digby. The single, softly-spoken Canadian — with a complicated family background — who wants to have children but not have a child.
As Rachel tries to fall pregnant, the well-established foundation for her dream begins to develop cracks. Lyndall, her nightmare boss, is becoming even more obsessed with ruining Rachel's career, a desirable — but undeniably married — colleague is beginning to show inappropriate interest and the stress of her impending new life is starting to take its toll on her health. Now Rachel is beginning to question if she should have followed the rules of conception after all… 


Brilliant,poignant and certainly a novel of modern society; The Rules of Conception tackles one of the most confronting questions to face women and takes a new approach to shutting up that internal tick-tocking once and for all.

Whether you agree with the path Rachel chooses or not, you will find yourself on the edge of your seat right from the get go and Rachel is such an adorable and engaging character either way you'll find yourself willing to fight  in her corner.

Lawrence has handled such a delicate topic with  skill, wit and genuine emotion and her obvious research into the topic shines throughout.Whether or not you are a parent yourself, there is something in Rachel's story for everyone. As life gets more and more complicated, more and more women are finding themselves in similar situations and it is refreshing to see an author take the bull by the horns and put the issue out there with such a strong voice.The Rules of Conception has all the makings to take the world by storm Sex in the City style.


Rachel certainly gets under your skin and her story is one to give women everywhere a little dose of some good old fashioned girl power.

Solid, thought provoking and just a little provocative, The Rules of Conception deserves adding to  your TBR asap. 5/5 Stars.


The Rules of Conception
Angela Lawrence
May 2013
Harlequin Mira
313 Pages
ISBN:9781743560365

*Thanks to the publisher for my ARC to review*

Saving Grace- Fiona McCallum

 

 When Emily Oliphant married John Stratten, she thought it was the beginning of an exciting new adventure, imagining herself standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the most eligible farmer in the district, mucking in to build a thriving agricultural business. Three years later, however, Emily sees her marriage for what it is — a loveless tie to a callous man, her advice heeded only when it pertains to her husband’s dinner.

The last straw comes when John threatens to harm her new puppy, and Emily is forced to brave her husband’s wrath, and her mother’s glaring disapproval, and move out. With the encouragement of her new friend Barbara, Emily moves into an abandoned property, taking on the mammoth task of making the unloved house into a home. As she begins to work on the property, she discovers a new side of her father, meets some new friends and finds an inner strength she never knew she had.

Emily’s fragile confidence is soon tested, though, when the owners of the property make her a tempting offer. Will she risk everything and invest in the ramshackle house that has finally given her a sense of purpose? Or will Emily listen to the views of the community, and the voice of her mother, and go back to her sensible, but meaningless, life with John?

Saving Grace is a beautifully written and highly emotional tale and the latest release by one of Australia's leading names in rural romance. 

This is a romance with a difference. The main love "interest" is in fact our protagonist herself and the self-love and self worth she needs to develop to break free and see her dreams take flight. The strength and force of will Emily exhibits will not fail to inspire and perhaps see the reader polishing off a few long held dreams of their own.

My only gripe with this overall fantastic novel, was that at times I found the pace dropping right off and as a result my mind started to wander. I have experienced this before with McCallum's work and I think it may just be a simple case of the authors writing style not always meshing with my reading style and I know of many other readers who would like to wallop me for such sacrilege. The solid characterisation,vivid setting and the strong plot line all more than make up for this one tiny niggle though.

Saving Grace certainly deserves a pride of place on any readers shelves and may be the perfect gateway for readers new to the rural sub genre. Certainly one to get those girl powers feelings on high.

Solid 3.5-4 Stars.

Saving Grace
Fiona McCallum
Harlequin Mira
ISBN:9781743560273
*Thanks to the publisher for my review copy*

Ripples On A Pond-Joy Dettman

Woody Creek is gearing up for its centenary celebrations – but for many of its townspeople, it's just another reminder of the old days, when life was more simple, before so-called progress, technology and a growing population roared through the town, altering everything in its wake.

Not for Georgie though. Long encumbered by responsibility for her half-sister Margot, she's looking towards the future and more changes. Not having managed to move on from running Charlie's grocery store yet, as the clock ticks over to 1970, she's determined that the time has come.

She's not the only one of Jenny's children who's grown up and is moving on. As a six year old, little Jimmy Morrison was stolen from Woody Creek by his grandfather, and is now further away than ever from his estranged birth mother and sisters. Having inherited an estate in the United Kingdom, he's determined to make a new life for himself. If only he could shake off his one terrible attachment to Australia...

For Cara, Woody Creek has been the source of the most devastating news of her life, and a terrible mistake that cannot be undone. She's vowed never to step foot into the place again. But the old timber town has a way of getting under people's skins. And as it draws the much loved cast of Woody Creek characters back into its grip, confessions, discoveries and truths seem set to explode in the most dramatic of showdowns..

Ripples On A Pond is the fifth thrilling installment in the Woody Creek saga and certainly lives up to its predecessors.  Dettman has managed to perfectly balance the new players with the old,past hurts and events with new and kept the flow between each installment without missing a beat- or failing to have the reader gasping for more.

Jenny's offspring, particularly Cara take center stage this time around and for those on tenterhooks since the shocking cliffhanger that ended "Wind in the Wires" certainly won't be disappointed by the drama that enfolds. For those that have never believed that decisions and actions by previous generations in a family can have lasting shockwaves will soon be converted as Jenny's "mistakes" continue there flow on right into the third generation. You will cry,laugh and want to hide right along Cara as her life goes from one twist and turn to the next and every trial,tribulation and triumph will feel like your own.

This series keeps on getting gritter,more compelling and definitely more addictive with each new development. Each step into the world of Woody Creek and its inhabitants-no matter how far removed is high on emotion, turmoil and the highs certainly match lows. Dettman is a true storyteller and her gift for characterisation  certainly sets her apart from the crowd. If you haven't as yet read this series, please start at the beginning or unfortunately much of that special Dettman magic will be lost.

I'm desperately holding out hope that many more installments will follow, more questions will be answered and that there's many more adventures in this amazing family yet. Addictive reading at its finest- definitive 5/5 stars.

*Thanks to the publisher for my review copy*

Ripples on a Pond-Joy Dettman
Pan Macmillan
March 2013
503 Pages
ISBN:978-1-7426-1211-9

The Best Man-Kristan Higgins

                                   "Sometimes the best man is who you least expect"
Faith Holland left her hometown after being jilted at the altar. Now a little older and wiser, she's ready to return to her family's vineyard — the Blue Heron Winery — to confront the ghosts of her past, and maybe enjoy a glass of red. After all, there's some great scenery there. Like Levi Cooper, the local police chief — and best friend of her former fiancé.
There's a lot about Levi that Faith never noticed, and it's not just those deep green eyes. The only catch is she's having a hard time forgetting that he helped ruin her wedding all those years ago. If Faith can find a minute amidst all her family drama to stop and smell the rosé, she just might find a reason to stay at Blue Heron...and finish that walk down the aisle. 

 *Disclaimer much new fan-girlie rambling to follow :)*

The Best Man is a delightfully humorous and touching romance that will have you laughing at loud, wiping away tears and experiencing plenty of "aawwww" moments. This is the first time I have read any of Higgins' novels but if the rest are anything like this, well sign me up for the fan club!

Higgins' certainly has a gift for creating believable,quirky and addictive characters and placing them in off the wall situations. Even though the reader is more or less assured of an epic happy ending for our two soul mates, the journey is full of mishaps,misunderstandings and plenty of mexican standoffs to make that epic warm and fuzzy all that more special.

The happy ever after is only part of the story though. Both our mains Faith and Levi and our astounding cast of supporting characters all have issues from the past to lay to rest- in their own unique style.

If you've never discovered the amazing world of a Higgins novel or if you are a long standing fan, either way this is a must! A perfect way to wile away a weekend and get your overdue dose of a little bit of mushy.
Solid 5/5.

The Best Man-Kristan Higgins
Harlequin Mira
409 Pages
March 2013
ISBN:9781743561010

*Thanks to the publisher for my review copy*

Three Sisters-Susan Mallery

After Andi Gordon is jilted at the altar, she makes the most impetuous decision of her life – buying one of the famed Three Sisters Queen Anne houses on Blackberry Island. Now the proud-ish owner of the ugly duckling of the trio, she plans to open her own pediatric office on the first floor, just as soon as her hunky contractor completes the work. Andi's new future may be coming together, but the truth is she's just as badly in need of a major renovation as her house.

When Deanna Phillips confronts her husband about a suspected affair, she opens up a Pandora's Box of unhappiness. And he claims that she is the problem. The terrible thing is, he's right. In her quest to be the perfect woman, she's lost herself, and she's in danger of losing her entire family if things don't change.

Next door, artist Boston King thought she and her college sweetheart would be married forever. Their passion for one other has always seemed indestructible. But after tragedy tears them apart, she's not so sure. Now it's time for them to move forward, with or without one another.

Thrown together by fate and geography, and bound by the strongest of friendships, these three women will discover what they're really made of: laughter, tears, love and all


Spend some time in idyllic Blackberry Island and join the journey of self discovery,love,redemption and friendship.

Three Sisters is the second book in the series, but if like myself you haven't visited before it does work perfectly as a stand alone. The characters are engaging and fresh and their back-stories woven throughout without deflecting from the current topic. The setting is woven with such a vividness you will find yourself felling as though you have trod the very same streets and stood before the awe inspiring view of the Three Sisters. Mallery has given readers a captivating tale of romance with her own unique twist that will have you hooked to the very last page.

I adored the fact that the POV switched between the main characters and gave you a deeper insight into what they were thinking,feeling and struggling with. Yes this has been done many times before, but this was the first instance that it has felt as smooth or effortless and kept the timing so perfectly on my part as a reader.

Three Sisters is certainly one for adult women of all ages to discover. Guaranteed laughs,tears and triumphs-What more could a reader want????

Solid 5/5 stars.

Three Sisters-Susan Mallery
March 2013
307 Pages
ISBN:9781743560235
Harlequin Mira

*Thanks to the publisher for my review copy*