ARC Review: In Total Surrender by Anne Mallory

Oh how I loved this book! It took me a little while to get into the groove of it, but once I did I was hooked. I just couldn't put the book down. In the beginning I felt a bit overwhelmed and I had a little trouble following along. I felt a little lost. I'm not sure if it's because I hadn't read the book previous to this one, or if it's just how it was meant to be. But once I got into the swing of things and got into Andreas Merrick's way of thinking everything just clicked and I fell completely in love with the story and the hero.

I am absolutely head over heels in love with Andreas Merrick. After reading this story, he is definitely going down as one of my most favorite heroes. He was just everything that I love about a hero. He is a solitary man who shies away from contact and connections with others. He's fearsome and knows how to defends himself and the few others that he does let get close. It was so refreshing to see that most of the story takes place in his point of view. We are able to get a real sense of who he is and what he wants. It was absolutely hilarious watching him interacting with Phoebe, the heroine. He claims he wants nothing to do with her and is constantly trying to thwart her plans and push her away, even though deep inside there is something about her that just calls to him. When she smiles it lights him up inside and when she touches him it's as if he's been felled by a blow. Seriously how can you not fall in love with him?

As for Pheobe, I LOVED her and thought her the perfect match for the uber serious Andreas. She's able to make him feel compassion and she brings out Andreas' sense of humor. Phoebe is so unlike most woman of the ton. She is smart and business savvy and she bakes. She has been taking care of her family ever since her brother disappeared and her father became ill. She will stop at nothing to get her fathers company and his reputation back in order and to do so she needs Andreas' help. She also is very attracted to Andreas and is doing everything in her powers to get under his skin and getting to know him. She feels an instant attraction to him like she's never felt for anyone before and it was quite refreshing to see her as the pursuer in the relationship. She won't let Andreas bad attitude get to her. She is not afraid of him and she won't back down. She sees Andreas as the protector that he is, not the spawn of Satan everyone proclaims him to be.

Andreas and Pheobe were such great characters to read about and I truly loved their story. They both had such great chemistry together and I loved how Pheobe was able to break down Andreas' walls. Both Phoebe and Andreas are so stubborn and I loved watching to see what was going to happen between them. I found myself laughing out loud more than once, especially when Andreas is first encountering Phoebe's attempts at breaking down his walls. After reading In Total Surrender, I definitely can't wait to read Anne Mallory's next book.

**ARC copy provided by Netgalley**

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Follow Friday #11

Feature and Follow Friday is a blog hop put together by two hosts:  Parajunkee and Alison Can Read as a way to help bloggers become aware of other blogs and bloggers. It's a great way to make new blogger friends.

Q. Do you have a favorite series that you read over and over again? Tell us a bit about it and why you keep on revisiting it?

That is an easy answer-The Black Dagger Brotherhood by JR Ward. I swear, I just can't get tired of reading this series. Ever since I first picked up the first book Dark Lover, I've been hooked. I just love the world  that JR Ward has created. From her from her fiercely sexy warriors to even the Lessers that they fight. I just LOVE these books. Just hearing others talk about these books and I feel the need to pick them up and start them all over again. I honestly don't know why they resonate with me so much but I just can't get enough of them. I pretty much devour everything I can on the books and the sexy warriors that are within. They are like crhack and I need my fix. 

Just follow these simple rules to join in on the fun:

1. (Required) Follow the Follow My Book Blog Friday Host {Parajunkee & Alison Can Read} and any one else you want to follow on the list.
2. (Required) Follow our Featured Bloggers- Obsession With Books & The World of the Spork Master
3. Put your Blog name & URL in the Linky thing on Parajunkee's blog.
4. Grab the button up there and place it in a post, this post is for people to find a place to say hi in your comments
5. Follow Follow Follow as many as you can, as many as you want, or just follow a few. The whole point is to make new friends and find new blogs. Also, don't just follow, comment and say hi. Another blogger might not know you are a new follower if you don't say "HI"
6. If someone comments and says they are following you, be a dear and follow back. Spread the Love...and the followers.

Thanks for stopping by. =)

Review: Snowbound by Larissa Ione

I just finished Snowbound and I have to say that I really enjoyed it. I'm normally not the biggest fan of contemporary stories, but this one was done really well. I honestly couldn't put this book down.

I loved the character of Sean. He was real and honest. I like that he wasn't afraid to let his feelings be known. He was definitely a charmer and I loved getting to know him.

As for Robyn, she may seem strong and dependent to others, but with her we see someone who is battling with self-confidence issues that stem from her teens. She just wants to be accepted by others and I love how Sean helps her realize that she is a truly beautiful inside and out.

I really enjoyed these two together. The sparks between them were evident from the beginning and when they finally came together it was electric. I definitely enjoyed seeing these two get their HEA.

Rating:

Jennifer Estep Giveaway Winners

Congratulations to:

Sara Rodesch

Spider's Revenge ARC

Kara

Touch of Frost

Both winners have been contacted via email. Thank you everyone for entering and keep a lookout for lots of upcoming giveaways coming to the blog. =)

ARC Review: Lord of Rage by Jill Monroe

I'm not totally sure of how I feel about Lord of Rage. I liked it, but at the same time I'm left with a felling of blah. I was just hoping for so much more that I got. This book started off so good for me, and then it just kind of fizzled out. It seemed that once we got to the middle of the book, it just seemed to go on forever with really nothing happening. It was just a little slow for my tastes.

This book continues with the series theme of the retelling of fairy tales. The theme of this one was Goldilocks and the Three Bears. I just loved the spin of the bears being beserkers. I haven't come across many stories that feature beserkers, and it's a refreshing change of pace to see a different types of paranormal beings featured as the hero. I really enjoyed learning about the myths and culture customs surrounding the beserkers. And as for Osborn, I liked his character a lot. He's upfront and not afraid to tell it like it is. And I love that he is aware of his attraction to Breena. It was actually quite refreshing to watch both Breena and Osborn interacting with each other. They are both so explosive together and I loved watching them clash. My only issue is how long it took them to come together. It just seemed to drag on forever.

 So far I am loving the fairy tale spins each author is using in their book and I can't wait to see how Lord of the Wolfyn turns out.

**ARC copy provided by NetGalley**

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