Everdark (Dark Ink Chronicles #2)

Everdark

Dark Ink Chronicles #2

Elle Jasper

Release Date:

June 7, 2011

Publisher:

Signet Eclipse

Pages:

336

Source:

Borrowed 

Reading Level:

Adult

Description:

When Savannah tattoo artists Riley Poe is ambushed by an undead enemy, she inherits some of the traits of her attackers-and a telepathic link with a rampaging vampire. Now, she's experiencing murder after murder through the victims' eyes. And her new powers will not be enough to stop the horror-or the unending slaughter. . .

Teaser Sentence(s):

Sitting around a roaring campfire on a Georgia barrier island at night with a handful of centuries-old vampires, Gullah conjurers, and adolescent boys with vampiric tendencies made for a way more interesting crowd than any other I'd ever hung with in my wild teenage years, or in my adult years, truth be known. No lie- it was surreal. Bizarre. Oh, and Zetty-can't forget the big Tibetan.

My Thoughts:

Now, bad-ass Riley Poe has vampiric tendencies and is, somehow, even more bad-ass.

Riley is one of my favorite main characters. She is very independent, and doesn't need a man to protect her, even before she had 2 ancient vampires out to get her blood. Eli is a bit too overprotective of her in my opinion. I often find myself wishing he would back off some. 

After everything that happened in book 1, Afterlight, I was thrilled to get to know Seth a little better. Seth also now has vampiric tendencies, and is just as bad-ass as his sister, Riley, when it comes to fighting rouge vampires and newlings. 

I still really liked all of Eli's vampire family, especially his siblings, Phin, Luc and Josie. Luc has a great attitude. He knows Riley can take care of herself, and tries to get Eli to realize that too. Victorian is also a main part of this story. He was made to not seem like such a bad guy in Everdark. I am very curious to see how his story is played out.

Some readers may not enjoy the Gullah accents some of the characters speak with. I am from the South, so reading this comes naturally for me.  I have read a couple reviews where the reader complained of this, so be warned.

I personally enjoy this series. I know vampire stories are everywhere these days, but if you like a good smutty read with not-so-average vampires then you should check this series out. 

In the Band

Description: When family problems push Riley Middleton into giving up a percussion scholarship in another state and attending college from home, her friends push her to try out for a local rock band. Of course, Riley makes the band. She rules at the drums. Riley soon finds out rock bands have a different dynamic than marching bands, especially when each of her male band mates has a major ego and is a major player. Two of them relentlessly flirt with her. The other-a dark, sexy rock god she can't help being attracted to- is a total jerk and pushes her to quit. She becomes determined to ignore his rudeness and his hotness. Even if she was interested in jerks, a hook up would probably get her booted out of the ego-ridden band, and playing keeps her sane. Behind the drums, the world and her family's troubles evaporate. If she wants to stay in the band, Riley just has to ignore the growing sparks between her and her band enemy. But as she gets to know the man behind the stage persona, ignoring him proves to be more difficult than flowing through a time shift. -Amazon

Author: Jean Haus

Release date: October 18, 2012

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Pages: 306

Source: My personal copy

Reading level: New Adult

Teaser Sentence: 'He places a hand on the side of the van next to my head and leans near my ear. "I'll play the fiddle for you."'

My thoughts: This book was really good. I love that Riley is a kick-ass chick drummer. She could be whinny and a push over at times, but she could also be strong and determined. Some of both those personality traits made her a pretty good protagonist. She loves her family, and works hard to get done what needs to be done. Romeo is absolutely my new book boyfriend of the moment. Hot, smart, and plays a lot of different instruments, I was hooked even when he was being a jerk. The only thing that really bothered me was the ending. The story was good. The romance was good. The characters were good. The ending was wrapped up in very few pages. I didn't feel like I got the closure I needed. Maybe I just wanted more Romeo. I really could not put this book down, so I am going to say it wasn't a bad ending after all. I just wasn't ready for it to be over. Definitely read this one if you if you find a copy of it!

Rating:

Falling Stars

Description: 'A falling, or shooting, star, is the common name for the visible path of a meteoroid if it survives impact with the earth's surface.' 

Christopher Mason, the in famous lead singer of The Forgotten, has a reputation for being 'difficult'. Harboring dark memories and the burden of a painful secret, he struggles with a past he desperately want to destroy. Amidst this star's battle with the pull of his demons, he risks losing everything he's built as a musician. Enter Mia Ryder, the head strong yet laid back, lead singer of Hushed Mentality. As the opening act for The Forgotten, Mia and her all girl rock band are sure to gain the publicity needed to sky rocket to the next level in their dream career. Mia's laid back personality is challenged by Chris's plotting for their demise and removal of the 'girlie band' from 'his' tour. But even Chris's best laid plans aren't prepared for Mia. As the demons pull this shining star down, is the one person he wants to eliminate the only person who can save him from the collision course he is on. -Amazon.

Author: Sadie Grubor

Release date: October 20, 2012

Publisher: Createspace Independent Publishing Platform

Pages: 412

Source: Library copy

Reading level: Adult -deals with lots of adult issues

Teaser Sentence: 'The wretched sob that ripped through my chest halted everyone in that hallway. I collapsed with one last sob.'

My thoughts: I really loved this book! It turned out not being anything like I expected. I think I have mentioned before that I was a former rock star wife. My husband has been in a metal band and rock bands, so I have a decent idea of the lifestyle that is lead by touring bands. With my person knowledge of recording studios, travel, managers, etc. I felt I could understand and relate to the characters Sadie Grubor introduced.

 I found it awesome that the characters have normal names. Not that I have anything against authors who like to use unique or rare names, but it made them seem more real and relatable to have the lead singer called, simply, Chris. I love tattooed, pierced bad guys. (*sigh* it's my weakness) Every time Chris's lip piercings were mentioned I thought 'yummy'. I was drawn into Mia and Chris's relationship, because it didn't follow what I normally read in romances. They didn't meet, fight, then fall hopelessly in love and live happily ever after. There were some real life adult issues they had to face, before even getting close. There were moments when I loved Chris and Mia, and then there were the moments when I silently called Mia a bitch and hated Chris. Also, this book is written in Chris's point-of-view and Mia's point-of-view. (Have I mentioned how much I adore double POVs?) You get to see the story from both the characters points of view. Most scenes are written to include both Mia's and Chris's view so you never miss what one of them is thinking, I loved that!

 So why did I only give this book 4 stars if I loved it? Here's why: Each band in this book, The Forgotten and Hushed Mentality, each have 4 members. I just have a hard time believing 6 out of 8 people fell in love. Yes, that's all but one boy and one girl that didn't hook up. I would have felt better if there were a couple of the other band members who didn't get along or hated each other. But other than that, I really enjoyed this read!

Rating:

Beautiful Disaster

Description: The new Abby Abernathy is a good girl. She doesn't drink or swear, and she has the appropriate number of cardigans in her wardrobe. Abby believes she has enough distance from the darkness of her past, but when she arrives at college with her best friend, her path to a new beginning is quickly challenged by Eastern University's Walking One-Night Stand. Travis Maddox, lean, cut and covered in tattoos, is exactly what Abby wants-and needs-to avoid. He spends his nights winning money in a floating fight ring, and his days as the ultimate college campus charmer. Intrigued by Abby's resistance to his appeal, Travis tricks her into his daily life with a simple bet. If he loses, he must remain abstinent for a month. If Abby loses, she must live in Travis's apartment for the same amount of time. Either way, Travis has no idea that he has met his match. ~Amazon

Author: Jamie McGuire

Release date: May 26, 2012

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 432

Source: Borrowed from a friend

Reading level: I keep seeing this book listed as Young Adult, so I am just going to say it contains a lot of illegal gambling and fighting, sex, bad language, underage drinking, and lots of violence. 

Teaser Sentence: '"You should know by now that it takes patience and a forgiving attitude to be friends with Travis. He's his own universe."'

My thoughts: This book is not going to be for everyone. Travis, the hunky, tattooed guy of this story, is quite possessive and violent. Not to mention, some what of a man-slut. He does have some scenes where you wonder what the hell Abby is thinking when she forgives him. I read up on some other reviewers perspective of this and what I haven't seen mentioned anywhere is that Abby is not the innocent, sweet, blinded by love protagonist like in most young romance novels. She has a dark past, even though she is trying to escape it, that involves everything from illegal gambling to knowing members of the mob. They both have bad flaws that they are trying to overcome. Neither one of them is really good for each other and that is why their friendship starts out as such a disaster. 

 I personally enjoyed this book. Yes, it has some questionable scenes, but then there are chapters like the one that take place on Thanksgiving. I have to give kudos to Jamie McQuire, because those chapters, to me, where heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time. I love books that make me feel strong emotions, that's why we read books right? And this book was not stingy with the emotions. There was everything from love, to being down right pissed off, to laughing. I wouldn't recommend this book to everyone, but I personally really liked it. 

Rating:

All Over You / Devoured

Description: Before Sienne was devoured, before Lucas was consumed, they were all over each other... Lucas Wolfe is used to getting what he wants-from everyone but one person, that is-so when he meets the wardrobe assistant hired to work his band's newest video, he's got to have her. From the moment Sienne first obediently whispers "Yes, Mr. Wolfe", he knows she's perfect for him. Three Days. And he'll have her stripped down and bound to his bed.

Set two years before the events of 'Devoured', All Over You is a 17,000 word novella which tells the story of Sienna and Lucas's first encounter. -Amazon

Author: Emily Snow
Release date: Decemeber 31, 2012
Publisher: Emily Snow Books
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Pages: 54
Source: my Kindle copy
Reading level: Adult -sex and language

Teaser Sentence: 'And that's the precise moment when she's no longer the wardrobe girl with the tight body who won't be anything to me but a brief encounter within a few minutes.'

Description: Sienna Jensen had no plans to return home when she graduated college last spring-after all, her dreams lie in California. But when she discovers her grandmother's Nashville home has been foreclosed, and the new owner has started the eviction process, Sienna has no other choice but go back to Music City. And she comes face to face with the flawed, gorgeous man she never thought she's see again. The man who now holds the deed to her grandma's estate. When millionaire rock star Lucas Wolfe finds the outspoken redhead glaring at him from across a courtroom, he's both infuriated and intrigued. He still can't get the night Sienna almost spent with him out of his mind, and the chemistry between them is as undeniable as it was two years ago. He craves Sienna more then ever. And just like everything Lucas hungers for, he's determined to have her.  Now, Lucas will do whatever it takes to lure Sienna into his bed, even if that means making a deal with her: ten days with him, playing by his rules, and he'll hand over the deed to her grandmother's home. Though she agrees to the arrangement, Sienna is conflicted, because of her duty to her family. Because of promises she's made to herself and a past that still haunts her. And as Lucas's game of seduction continues, and Sienna is introduced to his dark, erotic world and even darker background, she realizes that at any moment, she could be devoured. -Amazon

Author: Emily Snow

Release date: October 8, 2012 

Publisher: Emily Snow Books

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Pages: 223

Source: my Kindle copy

Reading level: Adult -sex and language

Teaser Sentence: 'Lucas Wolfe is all muscles and tattoos and sexiness, but it's his music that as a way of getting to me.'

My thoughts: First off, if you try to read Devoured without reading All Over You first, you are going to be confused about what happened in their past. Devoured does not give you enough information alone. I love a hot, tattooed guy in a rock band. I just can't help it, I am married to one. The cover model of these books is what sucked me in. I was a little disappointed in these books. They were not nearly dirty enough. Yes there was some hot scenes, but most of the book is just Lucas chasing after Sienna. I won't give away the ending, but being the rock-star wife I am, I was jealous at the sweet act he came up with to try and get her back. All Over You is written from both Sienna and Lucas's point of view. I really liked getting to see some of what Lucas's was thinking. I was a little upset that Devoured was all from Sienna's view point. I was really hoping for more of an idea about how Lucas thinks and why he is the way he is. There is another book yet to come out in this series. Hopefully, it will be steamier and tell us more about Lucas's past with his ex-wife. There were lots of unanswered questions when I reached the end of this book.

Rating:

Afterlight

Description: Savannah's most unconventional tattoo artist, Riley Poe, loves on the edge. Now she's put over the edge when her younger brother is taken by a sinister cult led by vampires. Her only ally is the hot-tempered vampute Eli Dupre, attracted to Riley's beauty and rare blood type. To save her brother from certain un-death, Riley faces dangers she's never dreamed of, ruthless bloodthirsty enemies, and an evil of endless hunger that wants to devour it all... -Amazon

Author: Elle Jasper

Release date: November 2, 2010

Publisher: Signet

Pages: 336

Source: My personal copy

Reading level: Adult - contains violence, bad language, and sex

Teaser Sentence: 'A melee broke out at the fire; as the group of partiers tried to flee, newlings leapt and chased, and behind them the Dupres closed in.'

My thoughts: I really enjoyed reading this book. There was something about it that made me feel that it wasn't like every other vampire book I have read. Although, I have not been able to pinpoint exactly why it made me feel that way. I really like Eli, and his brothers and sister. And to me, Riley was a tattooed bad-ass that I really could see as one of my friends in real life. I do plan to continue to read this series. I can't wait to see if Riley and Eli's relationship gets steamier. 

Rating: