Book Review: Something About You by Julie James

Something About You by Julie James

Published by:  Berkley Publishing Group

Publication date:  March, 2010

Source:  Gifted

Of all the hotel rooms rented by all the adulterous politicians in Chicago, female Assistant U.S. Attorney Cameron Lynde had to choose the one next to 1308, where some hot-and-heavy lovemaking ends with a death. And of all the FBI agents in Illinois, it had to be Special Agent Jack Pallas who gets assigned to this high-profile homicide. The same Jack Pallas who still blames Cameron for a botched crackdown three years ago- and for nearly ruining his career.

Work with Cameron Lynde? Are they kidding? Maybe, Jack thinks, this is some kind of welcome-back prank after his stint away from Chicago. But it's no joke; the pair is going to have to put their rocky past behind them and focus on the case at hand. That is, if they can cut back on the razor-sharp jibes- and smother the flame of their sizzling-hot sexual tension

My review:

Favourite Quote:  "Where is Wilkins, anyway?" Cameron asked. 

"In the living room, being accosted by eighteen women who think he's a stripper. I thought it was best to duck in here."

"So much for never leaving a man behind." 
"If he starts screaming, I'll lay down a cover fire and go pull him out."

The first word that comes to mind after reading Something About You is DELICIOUS!

I haven't read a good old romantic suspense in a long time but found myself craving some especially with a little steam!  And Something About You delivered it perfectly with just the right blend of mystery, humor and smexy times.

The highlight for me of this tale is the characters.  They are witty and have some spark about them.  Cameron is an enjoyable female protagonist.  She is confidence and yet at the same time a little vulnerable when it comes to her heart.   Then we have Jack Pallas described as "tall, dark and scowling".  Talk about making me melt.  It really should say though tall, dark, HOT and scowling.  I loved his protective nature.  He wasn't that controlling-protective but rather that strong-sexy-protective. (I already have my book boyfriend post planned out for him. LOL!)

And when you add these two together you get some off the charts sizzling chemistry!  All that tension lead to some unbelievably hot steamy scenes.

But I really liked that it wasn't all about their romance.  Something About You still has a good plot as well that keeps you interested.

Overall, Something About You was a fantastic read.  I definitely recommend this if you are in the mood for a good contemporary adult romance.  This is one of the best I have read!

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Romance: 5/5
Cover: 4/5

For more info:  Visit Julie James' website


For more reviews: Chachic's Book Nook

*** Thanks to Nomes at Inkcrush for the rec!

Book Review: Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson

Ultraviolet by R.J. Anderson
Published by: Orchard Books
Publication date: June, 2011
Source:  Thanks to Hachette Australia


Once upon a time there was a girl who was special.
This is not her story.
Unless you count the part where I killed her.

Sixteen-year-old Alison has been sectioned in a mental institute for teens, having murdered the most perfect and popular girl at school. But the case is a mystery: no body has been found, and Alison's condition is proving difficult to diagnose. Alison herself can't explain what happened: one minute she was fighting with Tori -- the next she disintegrated. Into nothing. But that's impossible. Right?

My Review:

Favourite Quote:  "I might not be ready to pour out my feelings to the world, but I’d had enough of trying to ignore them."

Wow! Ultraviolet is an incredibly original and hypnotic read.  I just loved how refreshingly different it was from the plot to the characters to even the style of writing.  Everything was unique and it that made for such a standout read.

Ultraviolet is the story of Alison who is placed in a psychiatric unit after complete breakdown.  She is also the main suspect in the murder case of  the most popular girl at school Tori.  But nobody knows what happened including Alison as there is no body.  All Alison can remember is one moment she was arguing with Tori then next thing she had disintegrated into thin air.   Is Alison going crazy? Or there an extraordinary answer for it all?

The plot pulls you in from the first page and you are completely hooked until the end.  It is filled with some very delicious unexpected twists.  I really thought I knew what was going on but I had no idea.  I love that Ultraviolet was not what I expected because it ended up being so much more.

R.J. Anderson writing is alluring and vividly descriptive especially when it came to describing Alison condition of synesthesia - tasting words, how each letter has a personality and a colour and in general just seeing so much more than the rest of us.  It was definitely interesting element to the story and made Alison an extraordinary character.

"Seconds shaded into minutes, and the butterflies in my stomach had turned into biting horseflies, when a candy-pink squeal of delight rippled down the corridor towards me."

Alison had an utterly convincing voice.  She had to deal with some hard situations - locked in a mental facility, possibly killing someone, thinking she might be going crazy but her reactions were always believable.     Now Faraday in a unforgettable character.  Smart, kind and surprising.  I only wish we had gotten more of him because I really enjoyed his presence in the story.

"Dark chocolate, poured over velvet: that was how his voice tasted. I wanted him to follow me around and narrate the rest of my life." 

As for the romance it definitely didn't feel like the typical young adult romantic situation.  It was that something special and yet it didn't take the focus away from the amazing plot.

Overall, Ultraviolet is a stunning out of the ordinary read.  I definitely recommend it to people looking for something different but yet still an exceptional story.  Now I just need to get my hands on more of R.J. Anderson's books.

Overall rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 4/5

For more info:  Visit R.J. Anderson's website or Date a Book.

For more reviews: Midnight Garden and Chachic's Book Nook.

R.J. Anderson is going to write another book in this world.  It is called QUICKSILVER and will be released in 2013.  So far away but I am sure it will be worth the wait!

Book Review: Uncommon Criminals by Ally Carter

Heist Societ by Ally Carter
Publication Date: 1st July, 2011
Published by: Hachette Australia
Source: Thanks to Hachette Australia


Katarina Bishop has worn a lot of labels in her short life: Friend. Niece. Daughter. Thief. But for the last two months she’s simply been known as the girl who ran the crew that robbed the greatest museum in the world. That’s why Kat isn’t surprised when she’s asked to steal the infamous Cleopatra Emerald so it can be returned to its rightful owners.

There are only three problems. First, the gem hasn’t been seen in public in thirty years. Second, since the fall of the Egyptian empire and the suicide of Cleopatra, no one who holds the emerald keeps it for long — and in Kat’s world, history almost always repeats itself. But it’s the third problem that makes Kat’s crew the most nervous, and that is . . . the emerald is cursed.

Kat might be in way over her head, but she’s not going down without a fight. After all, she has her best friend — the gorgeous Hale — and the rest of her crew with her as they chase the Cleopatra around the globe, dodging curses and realizing that the same tricks and cons her family has used for centuries are useless this time.

Which means, this time, Katarina Bishop is making up her own rules.

My Review:

Favourite Quote:  Luck is a strange thing in the life of any thief and halfway decent con man.  What is it that keeps the mark from counting the till or the guards from looking up at precisely the wrong moment?  Kat had learned at a very young age that luck is for the amateur, the lazy---those who are unprepared and unskilled.  And yet she also knew that luck, like most things, cannot be truly missed until it is also truly gone.

When it comes to sequels they can be a scary thing especially when you love the first book.  But Uncommon Criminals is just as good as Heist Society.  Once again Ally Carter offers all the right elements for another fun read - clever writing, a quick and suspenseful plot and entertaining characters.

Again there were plenty of twists in this cleverly constructed plot making it impossible to put Uncommon Criminals down.  And when I did I was thinking about all the ways Kat could possibly get herself out of trouble this time.   I also love how Carter brilliantly describes the settings.   She really knows how to capture the beautiful places like Monte Carlo the crew visits and you can picture everything perfectly thanks to Carter's wonderful writing.    

Kat is a genuine and likeable character.  She is independent, smart and stubborn.  In this instalment Kat has to learn to that she doesn't have to do everything on her own even if she doesn't need help.  That it is okay to want help from her crew.  Kat showed a lot growth.  I also love the distinctive bunch of secondary characters.  As soon as I started the book I was eagerly awaiting when Hale, Gabrielle, Simon or the Bagshaw brothers would pop up in the story and when they did they didn't disappoint.

I know fans of the first book will be wondering about the romance.   Does anything happen with Hale? Well all I can say is the spark is still there and you will have to read the book (I recommend immediately).

Overall, this is one addictive series that I highly recommend. I really hope Carter writes a Heist Society #3.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Plot: 5/5
Character: 4.5/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 4.5/5 - I love how the covers match perfectly.

For more info:  Visit Ally Carter's website or Date a Book.

For more reviews: I Swim For Oceans and holes In My Brain

STAY TUNED THIS WEEK FOR A GIVEAWAY FOR THIS SERIES!!!

Book Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

Heist Society by Ally Carter
Publication date: February, 2010
Published by: Hachette Australia
Source: Thanks to Hachette Australia

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own—scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster's art collection has been stolen, and he wants it returned. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat’s father isn’t just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat’s dad needs her help.

For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it’s a spectacularly impossible job? She’s got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in her family’s (very crooked) history—and, with any luck, steal her life back along the way.

My Review:

Favourite Quote:  "It is an occupational hazard that anyone who has spent her life learning how to lie eventually becomes bad at telling the truth."

Heist Society is a brilliant read! It was fun and fast paced and I loved every minute of it.

Kat is a 15 year old retired thief or was until she was forced to get back in the family business in order to save her Dad.  Her father has been set up, accused of stealing paintings from a mobster type of guy that lead to some very dangerous consequences.  With help from her crew including the yummy Hale she is going to steal the painting back and clear her father's name. But this is the biggest and most dangerous heist of Kat's life.

Carter has written a well thought out plot. They were surprises around every corner and it certainly kept me on the edge of my seat.  I loved that I could never predict what was going to happen next.  It was exciting and completely addictive.

And the characters what a funny, warm and brave bunch!  I would love to hang out with Kat and the crew.  Kat is strong, determined and instantly likeable.  And I loved the dynamics between Kat and her friends.  There is plenty of witty dialogue that ensured I was grinning the whole way through.

There is a tiny bit of romance.  You can see there are some feelings between Kat and a certain thief.  Carter is taking the slow and natural progression which I love.  Although further down the series I am sure I am going to begging for Carter to make something happen.  But for now I am enjoying the playful and some time sweet banter.

"Dancing. Come on. You can do it. It's a lot like navigating through a laser grid. It requires rhythm.' He moved her hips to the beat of the distant music. 'And patience.' He spun her around slowly and back toward him. 'And it's only fun if you trust your partner.' The dip was so slow, so smooth that Kat didn't know it was happening until the world was already turned upside down and Hale's face was inches from her own. 

Count me in, Kat.' He squeezed her tighter. 'You should always count me in."

After finishing this I am left thinking to myself why didn't I read this earlier and of course had to start book #2 Uncommon Criminals immediately.  I definitely recommend this if you are looking for a fun novel with entertaining characters and a fantastic premise.  Don't miss out on this awesome series.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 4/5
Plot: 5/5
Characters: 4.5/5
Romance 4/5
Cover: 4.5/5

For more info:  Visit Ally Carter's website or Date A Book.

For more reviews:  The Unread Reader

Note:  Stay tuned this week for a GIVEAWAY for this book!

Book Review: But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

But I Love Him by Amanda Grace

Publication Date: 8th May, 2011

Publisher:  Flux

Source: Bought

Tonight was so much worse than anything before it. Tonight he didn't stop after the first slap.

At the beginning of senior year, Ann was a smiling, straight-A student and track star with friends and a future. Then she met a haunted young man named Connor. Only she can heal his emotional scars; only he could make her feel so loved — and needed. Ann can't recall the pivotal moment it all changed, when she surrendered everything to be with him, but by graduation, her life has become a dangerous high wire act. Just one mistake could trigger Connor's rage, a senseless storm of cruel words and violence damaging everything — and everyone — in its path.

This evocative slide show of flashbacks reveals a heartbreaking story of love gone terribly wrong.

My Review:

Favourite Quote: It's nearly dark.  How long have I been lying here? The blackness reaches the corners of the room and fills everything.  Once that darkness was cocoon, enveloping us and protecting us from everything outside the door.  Together, we hid in the dark, hoping the world would leave well enough alone and we could find peace.
  But nothing can protect me now, least of all the darkness.

But I Love Him is a completely absorbing tale.  When I picked it up I only intended to have a quick look and then put it down and go back to my review books.  But the story drew me in immediately and I had to just keep reading until I finished it in one sitting.


Grace deals with some compelling issues - physical and emotional abuse, family issues, friendships falling apart and losing the sense of who you are. The writing is powerful and thought provoking yet at the same time simple and honest.  I marked quote after quote as it is the kind of writing I fall in love with.  This tale is completely heartbreaking no matter how you tell it but I also love the way Grace wrote it in reserve.  It felt like such a fresh, different and completely insightful take on a relationship gone wrong.


Ann and Connor are such well fleshed out characters.  Ann story haunted me and just completely got under my skin.  Her voice was utterly convincing.  I felt like she was sitting across from me telling her story.  You really get to know her and understand why she loved Connor so much.

What do you do when the one person you want comfort from the most is the one who caused your pain? How can I want so desperately for him to wrap me up in his arms but also want so much for him to leave me alone? 

Connor is someone who is ruled by his past.  This is the first time while reading about a physically abusive relationship that I have felt something for the abuser.  I wouldn't say it was like because what he did was inexcusable but rather I understood him a little and was kind of wishing that maybe he would get help.  He is a well crafted character that I would have like to have his own own story told as I think it could have been just as strong.

"Sometimes I think I spent forever waiting for you," he says.  "My whole life, I've never had someone like you.  Someone who doesn't have to be there, but is anyway.  Someone who wants to just .... be with me because they want me.  For me.  Not because I'm your brother or your kid or anything, but because you choose me."

To me But I Love Him feels like Stolen and Forbidden, both books that I love, in the sense it shows that everything isn't as simple as black and white but there are plenty of shades of grey in between.


Overall, this is a standout read.  I highly recommend this is you are looking for a story that is intense and realistic yet beautifully told.


Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4.5/5
Characters:5/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 4/5 - Simple, gorgeous and matches in well with the story.


For more info:  Visit Mandy Hubbard's website.  Note: Amanda Grace is a pen name for Mandy Hubbard.

Book Review: Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton

Sixteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
Publication Date: 3rd May, 2011
Source: S&S Galley Grab

Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.
But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking….

My Review:


Wow! What an awesome debut.  This book if full of things I love - ice cream, sweet yet delicious kisses, hot summer days, ice cream, the beach and did I mention ice cream!

Sixteenth Summer is a feel good read from start to finish.  The kind of book you devour in a couple of hours and grin the whole way through.  The writing is a style that makes for an effortless read.  Dalton also had great eye for detail when it came to describing the beautiful beach side setting and obviously the delicious ice cream since I keep mentioning it.  Seriously there is a lot of ice cream in this book!  It also has great characterization.   Anna is the type of character who reminds you how wonderful it was to be sixteen.  And Will he is just gorgeous and so sweet.

The romance is how you imagine the perfect summer love.  Seriously I don't think first love gets any sweeter than this book.  It is the kind of love most girls dream of.   It might be a little unrealistic but it didn't stop me from going awwwwww the whole way through.

Overall, Sixteenth Summer is the perfect summer read.  So for those of you in the northern hemisphere this is a must have for your beach bag this summer.  And for us over here in the southern hemisphere this is a must have to make you feel all warm and fuzzy this winter.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 4/5
Romance: 5/5
Cover: 5/5

For more info:  Visit Simon & Schuster

Clarity by Kim Harrington

Clarity by Kim Harrington
Publication date: 1st March, 2011
Source: Bought


When you can see things others can't, where do you look for the truth?
This paranormal murder mystery will have teens reading on the edge of their seats.
Clarity "Clare" Fern sees things. Things no one else can see. Things like stolen kisses and long-buried secrets. All she has to do is touch a certain object, and the visions come to her. It's a gift.
And a curse.
When a teenage girl is found murdered, Clare's ex-boyfriend wants her to help solve the case--but Clare is still furious at the cheating jerk. Then Clare's brother--who has supernatural gifts of his own--becomes the prime suspect, and Clare can no longer look away. Teaming up with Gabriel, the smoldering son of the new detective, Clare must venture into the depths of fear, revenge, and lust in order to track the killer. But will her sight fail her just when she needs it most?

My Review:

Favourite Quote: "Listen, I gather you have a problem working with a psychic. Believe me, I don't like working with a jackass any better."

Loved it! Clarity is an awesome debut.   It is a hypnotic and intriguing read that I could not get enough of. 

Harrington's effortless style makes for entertaining and absorbing escape.  I love the premise of Clarity.  Clare's gift is retcocognitive psychometry - picking up imprints from objects.  She uses her gift to help solve the murder of a teenage girl working alongside her ex-boyfriend and the new sheriff's son (aka new hottie in town).   It's pages are full of mystery and suspense and I was unable to guess who the killer was.  I thought it was going to be predictable but there was a twist or two that I didn't expect.

Clare is awesome. Feisty, determined and instantly likeable.  I love a character that sticks up for herself.   She might be bullied but she doesn't take their crap laying down.  Clare doesn't mind saying what is on her mind or giving the occasionally elbow to the stomach.

There is a love triangle and it actually worked.  Probably because I couldn't pick between the two guys either, Justin and Gabriel, and also because Clare handled it the right way.   Plus I like the fact that it isn't typical bad boy vs good boy.  Both are just normal guys who make mistakes but have good hearts (and gorgeous as well which never hurts).

My only tiny little complaint with this book is the thriller part could have been a little scarier.  I was surprised but it didn't get my pulse pounding. 

Overall, Clarity had everything I was looking for in a fun reading escape - great characters, fantastic premises and left me with a craving for more.

Overall Rating: 4.5/5
Writing: 4.5/5
Plot: 4/5
Characters: 5/5
Romance: 4/5
Cover: 5/5

For More Info: Visit Kim Harrington's website.

For More Reviews:  Eating YA Books and  Dreaming of Books