25. Walk in the park by Jill mansell

It’s been a while, but Lara Carson’s back in Bath and lives are set to change as a result. Because Lara left her family and boyfriend Flynn eighteen years ago without a word to anyone,. Why has no one heard from her since?

Her childhood best friend Evie is thrilled Lara’s back and able to share her happiness. Evie’s about to walk down the aisle with her dream man, Joel. Or so she thinks...

Then there’s Flynn Erskine, even more attractive now and stunned to see Lara again. The spark between them is as strong as ever, but how’s Flynn going to react when he discovers the secret she’s been keeping from him?

Oh yes, there’s a lot of catching up to be done...

Now anybody who regularly visits Novelicious knows that I am a massive fan of Jill Mansell. Her books never fail to cheer me up or keep me hooked right up until the very last full stop. I have to say that this one was no exception.

This story centres on Lara, who after fleeing her home in Bath and running away to live in the Lakes with her aunt, has returned to attend her father’s funeral. She’s not upset by his death as he made her life hell after her mother died, yet she is shocked when the house he lives in is left to Lara in his will. From then on Lara’s life is far from boring as she meets up with her oldest friend Evie, comes face to face with her ex boyfriend and love of her life and moves in to her father’s old house.


The fast pace of the book keeps the reader continually guessing what might come next as each character goes through some life changing experiences, as well as finding love in the oddest circumstances ( the plot involving Lara’s friend Harry is odd but touching and sweet!).
The whole situation with Lara and Flynn is the book's primary plot, and quite rightly as you wonder how these two will react towards one another after eighteen years apart. As well as their growing attraction to each other, there are much bigger things this couple has to worry about...

When reading a book it obviously helps to like the main character, and if you don’t it’s a sure fire way to put a dampener on reading the rest of the book. I liked Lara, she was feisty and funny, yet her friend Evie was the one I was drawn to. She goes through a bit of a tough time at the beginning , and yet she comes out of it fighting and a much stronger person.

24. Black dawn by Rachel Caine

If anyone knows me they will know how much I am about to talk about this book! I mean AHHHHHHHHH! Holy crapola amazing! Riveting and never-ending explosions of plot that keep me at the edge of my seat. (And seriously, if you have not read this series, what are you waiting for GO!!!)

Every time I open a book from Morganville, I fall right back into the city. I see the coffee shop, the university as well as the Glass house. What I loved about this book is that the author, Ms. Caine presents the reader with some amazing point of views. Most of the time, we are given the point of view from Claire. Not that I don't like her, she is my home-girl, but it is very interesting to see and feel what the other characters are thinking.

First off Eve. WOW! To be in here shoes was like stepping on a never-ending roller coaster ride and never ever wanting to get off. I loved hearing her thoughts, feelings her emotions of the trials that her and Michael are going through. I especially loved feeling the power she has in herself. The moment when she step up to Michael and told him.....ooooh boy! I was like,"You go Girl!"

Next Shane. Another one of my favorite characters who's attitude never ceases to make me snort. I loved being in his mind and seeing his thought and feelings for Claire. let me tell you ladies that his love for Claire is so pure and sweet, it makes you heart beat faster. They he saw them together in their future, in a future that is just hope made me want to cry. I admired that he saw something beautiful despite all the crap and wars going on in Morganville.

Next, deaths. Yes there are some and no I won't say who. But I will say that I am sad to see this character go. The character is a minor one, but one that still made a big impact on the the glass gang.

My final verdict, MIND BLOWN! Black Dawn features everything you want a a book. Growth in the characters, love when you least expect it and death hanging at every corner. Black Dawn surpasses the other books and sets the sights for an amazing change that is yet to happen. Never predictable and always enjoyable, Black Dawn sweeps the reader away!

22. Last breath by rachel Caine

Things never get a chance to calm down in Morganville as it seems like one crisis after another arises. The last few installments have proved that. However, now vampires are going missing, and it doesn't seem like the "rebels" are to blame this time. His very being permeates evil and he's been the last one seem with some of the missing. Yet it seems as if Claire is the only one who can see him. With the town's vampires acting quite strange, she may be the their only hope, but at what cost?

There was a slight change in the way this book was narrated from previous installments. In Bite Club there were times when we would get a direct view into Shane's head and that really helped the reader get a better idea of the whole picture. In Last Breath, Rachel Caine took that idea one step further and added in a few chapters with perspectives other than Claires. Amelie, Shane, Michael and Eve all get a little time showing their side of things. I particularly liked getting into Amelie's head as it shows a lot of her inner struggle. She's always going to do what she thinks is best for her people, no matter the cost. However, that look into her head showed how much of a struggle it was for her to make those sacrifices and hard choices. She really isn't quite the cold creature she seems to be.

After the slight let down of the last installment, I had high hopes for redemption in Last Breath. I got what I asked for and then some as Last Breath completely blew my socks off. Things started off somewhat sedately, and built so steadily until the pressure almost snuck up on me as it boiled over. It is a wonder that I have any fingernails left after that nail biting read that kept me on the edge of my seat. You would think after reading the past ten installments, there wouldn't be much room for surprise, but Last Breath was one big shocker after another. One of the biggest being the answer to a long standing question: Why would vampires build their town in the middle of a desert when the sun is so deadly to them? This complex addition to the world building was pulled off brilliantly, adding a horrific twist to things that I never could have seen coming.

While the nonstop action was heart pounding, the utter depth of raw emotion was what really cemented this as the very best of the series. The highs are so high that you feel like you are soaring right along with the characters. As for the lows, well lets just say devastation has never been more aptly portrayed. Anger, fear, loss, betrayal, jealousy, love, and desperation, all play huge roles in Last Breath. But the one emotion that stands above it all is hope, and nothing is stronger than that. To be able to feel such hope after everything that happens in this book is nothing short of amazing, and it made Last Breath a truly phenomenal read. I highly recommend setting aside a solid block of time to read this book, as once started, it will be impossible to set down. You won't want to miss this utterly captivating book that will leave you breathless in the end. Bravo!

Book challenge

For my challenge this year I was meant to read 200 books but it's may now and I've not got that far I'm only on book 22 :( but I'm going to try my best

Beneath a rising moon by keri Arthur

"I really enjoyed this book and read it cover to cover in a few hours because it made me totally lose track of time and before i knew it, i'd finished it and was looking for the next one.
I found the characters engaging and interesting. They were significantly different from the characters in Keri Arthur's other work to pique my interest further, as was the set up of the reservations etc.
Thoroughly enjoyed its twists and turns and the info alluding to things that i hope will be in the second book.
And while it is true that Arthur's werewolves are highly sexed.
All in all, a good romp that has lingered in my mind and made me wish I could book a cabin in Ripple Creak for the winter."

2) would be witch

<a Tammy's Locket is stolen containing the family ghost, she has a time limit in which to retrieve her ancestor. After a few mishaps of dysfunctional magic she turns to powerful wizard Bryn, even if he is on the family list to avoid at all costs, but with the rest of her family gone to who knows where, she has no choice.
<br/>Her Texas ex-husband whose the towns sherriff does not seem to get that they are divorced & saves her bacon more than once.
<br/>There's court cases, wizards, werewolfs, crossdressing vampires, deceit, a cat sidekick & magical mishaps galore. Written in a typical Texan laid back style, with humour & laughter, she goes from one disastor to another. All is not as it seems & the Dark Brynn is definately not a gentleman.
<br/>The characters are the strength of this book, it's funny & lightheated, no doom & gloom, but imaginative & great fun to read.
<br/>Enjoyed it just for what it is. It states on the back cover it's a paranormal romance, I don't agree, there's romantic elements but it's the actual story & fun that jumps off the pages that made me enjoy this book.
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1. Full moon rising by keri arthur

i really enjoyed Keri Arthur's series of books with Riley Jensen as the reluctant Vampire/Warewolf Hybrid who finds herself in a whole heap of trouble when her twin brother goes missing (he's a Guardian and works for an organisation that helps keep the peace between humans and other world creatures) and bodies start piling up, an amnesiac hunky Vampire appears at her apartment, and she is reluctantly dragged into the murky world of the Guardians in order to find her brother and work out why someone is trying to kill her new Vampire friend.

Riley is a likable protagonist with surprising human failings (despite being a non-human) such as compassion and kindness, hence the reason she refuses to become a Guardian and would rather work for them as an Administrator but her boss Jack knows she is perfectly capable of being as ruthless as her brother, something she has been avoiding since coming to the big city to live.

All in all a good fun and easy read which I can highly recommend
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