Unearthly by Cynthia Hand

While I do admit that the character development and the potential of the story that Cynthia Hand had woven in Unearthly was top-notch, the ending left me feeling reluctant, unsatisfied, and wanting more? Apparently that's supposed to be a good thing. I was left wanting to know more and what will eventually become of Clara and Tucker. When it came to Christian, I knew from the very beginning that there was something wrong with him. He was just too... perfect. Tucker Avery on the other hand, had felt more real and perfect for Clara. Their relationship was just very sweet and adorable. One character that I still have my suspicions on is Angela; it seems like she has a motive, but it could be me talking here. Overall, Unearthly was a story about love, finding ones' own identity, and defying destiny in order to be truly happy. I loved every single moment of it.

When I first started out reading this book, I was rooting for Christian and Clara due to the misleading summary on the side. I did not know of Tucker's existence until later on in the book. Contrast to Christian's perfectness, Tucker is far from perfect. I find it amusing that he happens to be the type of guy who teases and makes fun of the girl that he likes. How adorable yet so childish! While Clara was mooning over Christian... Tucker was always there on the sidelines watching her. But enough of that, this book actually has a story in it as well.

Clara Gardner happens to be one quarter Angel and this is her story of fulfilling her 'destiny' or purpose. Her visions consists of a forest fire in Wyoming and a boy that happens to be Christian. Mysterious isn't it? Throughout the entire book, she often has these visions and each time, it's slightly different because her every move in the present affects her future. I totally dig the idea. But her destiny dramatically changes when she meets Tucker Avery and gets to know and love him. This puts things is another whole level where she is eventually forced to choose between love or her destiny.

To sum it up, Unearthly is a great book that will have you on the edge of your seat when it comes to finding out which of the choices that Clara ends up choosing. I'm actually devastated to know that the next book, Hallowed will be released next year. Oh well! The world will still go on but yeah, this was such a great read that I wouldn't mind reading it again. 5/5 stars!

Rating: ★★★★★

Dragon Bound by Thea Harrison

This was such an amazing and heartfelt book. If you want a kickass and witty heroine along with a super alpha and sexy hero, this is the type of book you should be checking out!! I absolutely adored Pia because she was sarcastic and readers can't help but like her. Her entire life has been a secret and when she meets Dragos, everything changes. It's a story about finding true love and the process of figuring out your own identity. I'm truly glad I checked this book out because I love paranormal romance where there are lots of sexy moments between the H/hr (Yes! Lots of explosive chemistry between Pia and Dragos!!) and the fact that there's also plenty of action as well. For Thea Harrison's first debut, this one is definitely a winner and I absolutely can't wait for Tiago and Trick's book! I know for sure that that book will be another great one.

I guess I've always had a thing for books about dragos. Eragon anyone? But this one definitely hit the mark for me. A super aplha and possessive hero, a kickass heroine, and add in lots of actions and romance between the two? This is definitely my type of book. At first, I did thought the beginning was rather slow... but when Dragos finally tracks Pia down, that is when the story finally begins for me. I loved their sexy banter towards one another. Oh! Especially that one scene where Dragos tries to beguile/seduce Pia but ends up falling into his own trap. Ahaha, I loved it! From the very beginning, Dragos was doomed because to him, Pia was irresistable. Pia also had the same dilemma because hello! He's sexy, dangerous, and there's just something about him that calls out to her. Yep, lots of laugh out loud moments here. I loved it whenever he gets possessive of her and tells Pia that she's his, mmm.

And if you thought their chemistry was explosive, wait until they finally get together and make love. It will be some of the most sizzlin' hot scenes that you'll ever read about! Either way, this was definitely an unforgettable read that any type of romance lovers would love. The world that Thea Harrison created was magical and very unique, and that is something that's quite fascinating. Plus, there are also some new characters that will be introduced: Graydon (my favorite), Rune, Tiago, Tricks, and many more! Fans of J.R. Ward and Larissa Ione will gobble this up like no other. 5/5 stars!!!

Rating: ★★★★★

Breaking Point by Pamela Clare

I think it's time I finally pay my respects to the wonderful Pamela Clare. I absolutely adored Natalie and Zach's relationship because of the explosive chemistry that they had together as well as the situation that ensued these two to meet. It may not be my favorite, but it's definitely second best when it comes to the previous book, Naked Edge. I don't know if I can give this review justice, but this was equally another amazing book in the I-Team series! My heart broke for both Zach and Natalie because they were two broken souls who needed love-- esepcially after the tragic events that had to occur in their lives. The characters were well-developed and we actually get to see the rest of the team from the previous books! Hunter, Darcangelo, and my favorite? Rossiter!! There's also Joaquin... which I'm pretty sure we'll be able to get his book later on. I sure hope so because he also deserves his HEA as well.

Let's talk about Natalie, Zach, and their amazing chemistry! I must admit that the way the met was not the best situation. It was horrifying to read how Zach got tortured and how one of the Zetas (Quintana) had sort of 'violated' Natalie. Thankfully, they managed to escape and so begins their journey across the dangerous desert to the border. While I do admit that the romance between these two were hot with a capital H, I also felt that it was a little bit too fast. Zach kept on "assuring" Natalie that nothing was going to come out of this so called 'relationship' that they were having. He just didn't want to admit that he was falling for Natalie. But I do understand the process that came to be because of their love for one another. Natalie knew right off the bat that Zach was the one even though she thought that she wasn't able to love again after her fiancee, Beau died. But... with Zach, she felt as if she was able to love again. As I've said, Zach and Natalie are both lonely people who crave love.

Natalie happens to be the only survivor in her family and Zach happens to be also the only survivor out of his group of friends. Sad isn't it? These two have so much in common with each other that it's heartbreaking. I'm just glad that Zach finally saw the light and accepted his love Natalie and her love for him. Ah, and I must mention the intense love scenes between the two. Wowzers! It was smokin' hot and very sexy. That waterfall scene was a nice bonus, but my favorite part was what happened after Zach told Natalie about his time in the war. I'm talking about the morning after and the intense love session that occurred, LOL! ;)

Overall, I loved it and the villains of the story got what they deserved! My favorite quote related to Zach has got to be one of his monologues:

She was his absolution, his redemption, his salvation.

It's simple yet very meaningful! 5/5 stars!!

Rating: ★★★★★

Just One Of The Guys by Kristan Higgins

Just One Of The Guys happens to be one of those books where the heroine has always been in love with her first love since the very beginning. It's sweet and I have a thing for that. But due to some difficult circumstances and misunderstandings... things just didn't work out. I've been a fan of Kristan Higgins for awhile now and I've loved every single one of her books. It's charming, witty, and just downright heartbreaking sometimes. I absolutely adored Chastity because even though she's a tomboy and is often "mistaken" for her brother Lucky, she still dreams of love and being married to the guy she loves and children! Trevor happens to be her one true love but unfortunately, because he's always been treated as another brother in her family, things... are definitely complicated. It was frustrating to see her not being with him while she was dating another guy name Ryan. Hah, that was a joke!

But yes, even though they didn't get together until the very end of the book (argh!), I still loved their relationship nonetheless. It was heartbreaking and seriously cute because he pops up when she least expects it! Oh no, Trevor's not her real brother by the way. Her childhood story involving him was very sweet... and I'm just going to leave it at that. And ever since then, he has been treated as family by her family members. I do believe the scene that cracked me up the most was the scene where Chas is on her date with Ryan and Trevor and Hayden (Trevor's ex-fiancee) happened to be there! She gets a green stain on her white blouse right on her breast. I mean what is this! Hahaha. Trevor ends up helping her out and quite frankly, the scene turns out to be hilarious.

Last but not least, there was another part in this story that was rather... very sad. You see, Chastity's mom ended up divorcing her dad because she wasn't able to "wait" for him anymore-- in other words, she had been telling him to retire but he keeps on refusing her. In the end, she ended up marrying another, even though she still loved her ex-husband, and that just breaks my heart. I wanted her to get back with her husband but that didn't end up happening. Overall, I truly enjoyed this book!! 4/5 stars.

Rating: ★★★★☆

All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins

Kristan Higgins has always been a favorite of mine when it comes to contemporary romances. Her writing is funny, sweet, and even emotional at times! Well, after reading this lovely book, All I Ever Wanted... I would really like to have an Ian McFarland all to myself. Callie and Ian are two completely different people from different ends of the spectrum. Callie happens to have a very bubbly, nice, and talkitive personality while Ian is stiff, he doesn't talk much, and at times, he is very unfriendly! It's interesting to see how Callie eventually melts his cold persona and find her happily ever after in the end.

This was a really cute contemporary and to be honest, I wouldn't mind to read it again. It was cheesy, but it's the adorable kind of cheese. I loved Callie but she also has many faults as well. She often tries 'too hard' as Ian pointed out-- and in a way, it's true. She's so nice that people, especially her boss Mark, takes advantage of her! Argh. If you're looking for one of those cute families in books that love each other yet they bicker to one another, I think you should definitely read this! Noah, Callie's grandfather, was an amazing character and it was really sad that he had to go in the end. As for Ian and Callie's first meeting, well that was rather amusing! After having a terrible day at work (Callie thought that Mark was going to propose to her but instead, he broke up with her) and ending up in line at the DMV, Ian happens to be the jerk behind her! Ah, what a wonderful beginning.

Now Ian Macfarland, the town's vet who happens to be very stiff and unfriendly. It's cute to see his transformation from that into someone who is definitely more lovable. I loved how he learned to love from Callie because of how, in his own words, "alive" she is. She basically brings the life and emotion in his life. Isn't that just sweet?! This isn't those types of book where the H/Hr pretty much get together immediately. It wasn't until more than halfway into the book that they finally started 'going steady,' haha. It was lovely to see the reason why he has such a bitter perspective towards woman... and my heart reached out towards him. Thankfully, Callie came into his life and made him happy! What a lovely turn of events, eh? To sum it up, this was a very enjoyable book and if you're looking for something fun and summer-ish to read, I recommend this book!

Rating: ★★★★★

Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson

I don't even know how to describe my feelings after finishing this book last night. It was beautiful, inspiring, and tantalizing in every way. I cried so much for Alex and Annie because of the sufferings that they had to endure to be together. The journey in finding true love is not always an easy one... but when it comes, it is always unexpected. I loved the relationship between Alex and Annie so much that it hurts. I wanted them to get their happily ever after and in the end, I got exactly what I wanted and even more! If you think about it, if Douglas had never done what he did, Alex would never have met Annie and loved her this much. Fate is such a funny thing. What was so heartbreaking about this book was the fact that our heroine, Annie, was also misunderstood and people believed that she was a moron... when in fact, she was just deaf.

Annie's Song by Catherine Anderson is definitely one of the best western historical romance novels that I have read this year. It was a sweet story about two people growing to love one another so much that living without them would be like "dying inside." I loved each and every one of the characters-- except Annie's parents. Not only were they ignorant, but they were also selfish. Especially her dad! Her mother did redeem herself... so I hated her less. One of my favorite parts in the book was when Alex finally told Annie that he loved her with the ear trumpet. It was so heart wrenching because soon after, she ran out of the room crying! The thoughts that were inside her head, my god. She believed that Alex deserved someone that wasn't HALF of a person, like her. Someone who wasn't deaf and could be able to love him as much as he loved her.

I was actually shocked at how hot the love scenes were. Even though other would say no, I thought it was both sweet and spicy at the same time. Alex and Annie definitely have chemistry! To sum it up, this book is definitely a keeper. I wasn't able to stop thinking about what would happen next and I think in that aspect, Catherine Anderson has done a wonderful job!!

Rating: ★★★★★

In Cold Blood by Truman Capote

In Cold Blood is a haunting novel that portrays the darker side of society. While I did not enjoy reading it since my Professor assigned this reading to us, it is still a novel that I will never likely forget. It explores the faults of our very own justice system and how everything isn't just always black or white... but also shades of gray. Ultimately, I felt sorry for the Clutter family and Perry Smith but pity for Dick Hickock. Even towards the end, he was never remorseful or apologized for his sins-- hence forth his death was his very own redemption. Perry on the other hand, is an entirely different matter.

Unlike Dick, Perry never truly had a happy childhood but a rather misfortunate one. Every single one of his siblings ended up committing suicide except for his sister, Barbara Johnson-- she actually leads a pretty good life. I think the most heartbreaking aspect of all is the fact that essentially, his family is probably one of the main reasons why he ended up becoming a human being that is thoroughly flawed and lost. I think Truman Capote does exceptionally well trying to convey to his readers how pitiful Perry was and as a result, we sympathize with him. All Perry ever wanted in life was to be happy and search for 'lost treasure' but apparently, that won't likely ever happen. To make matters worse, he ended up in an accident that scarred both his legs and even his soul forever. It may seem like I'm trying to defend him for his crimes but I'm actually not. He is essentially a murderer who brutally murdered a family of four. But as a reader, I feel as if Perry was never 'right' in the head. He was often mistreated as a child ever since his mother and father became estranged. One of the worst things that I have read about Perry Smith's childhood was when he was beaten up by nuns in an orphanage. I don't think I could ever look at the world the same way again... and this is why Truman Capote became one of the most famous writers of his time and the most well-known in present day.

Dick Hickock is and will always be one of the characters that disgusts and make me pity him at the same time. He disgusts me because of his attraction to children and wanting to rape Nancy Clutter during the night of the murder. The scene that I will never likely forget is the one in which Perry and Dick are both in Miami, Florida and Dick tries to 'seduce' a twelve-year old child. Perry was disgusted and believe me, I wanted to throw up. He is essentially the true mastermind behind the entire murder and this is also another reason as to why I hate him. He could have lived his whole life as the ideal husband and father to his children but things ultimately changed, as life does in the outcome. Ever since he was in an accident that caused his face to be disfigured, the novel stated that he came out as a different person. I guess this is when his crimes truly began.

Even though I did not give this read a 5 out of 5 stars, this will always be a book that I'll never likely read again due to the emotions that Capote was able to pull out of me. Every time I think of the Clutter family, Perry and yes, even Dick... I think of the life that they could have had. The life and childhood that Perry had always wanted and the life that Dick could have had if he had gone to college instead of getting a job. Well done Truman Capote, well done.

Rating: ★★★★☆

Eleven Scandals to Start to Win a Duke's Heart by Sarah Maclean

Boy, if you thought that Sarah Maclean's first book to this series, Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake was amazing... then this book is going to blow it straight out of the water. I've been anticipating Juliana and Simon's relationship ever since book one. Remember the scene where they met each other while Juliana was looking for a gift for her brother? Starting right there and then, that was their beginning! I had high expectations for this book because while I loved Callie's story with Gabriel, I did not like Nick and Isabel's. Sarah Maclean finally redeems herself in this installment and gives her dear characters and happily ever after that they all deserve.

The romance between these two was amazingly hot because of their dynamic chemistry that started from the very beginning. I loved every stolen moment and kiss between Simon and Juliana because while he often and so repeatedly say that he would never fall with her... sometimes, you can't control love at all. Juliana Fiori is described as a walking scandal, and in a way, she is. Simon Pearson happens to be the Duke of Disdain because he grew up believing that reputation is everything. Scandal is definitely something that he should stay far away from! But of course, what man could resist someone like Juliana? Even though I didn't shed as many tears when I read Callie's story, Juliana's story with Simon was a heartfelt and beautiful story of finding love from someone that you least expect it to be. I loved how Juliana tempted Simon in every way-- which makes it so much more enjoyable!

The ending was a perfect conclusion to a wonderful story and as a reader, I am proud to say that Sarah Maclean has done a wonderful job wrapping everything up and somehow... leaving some stories open. I really hope Benedick and Georgiana will be able to get their own HEA because they deserve so much. A BIG five stars for this lovely read that I'll never likely forget!!

Rating: ★★★★★