Always a Booklover

The magic of books just enchants me. I love reading, what more can I say?

Book Blast: The Perfect Duke by Dawn Ireland


Hey there! Welcome to today's book blast! Today's book is by Dawn Ireland, The Perfect Duke, a historical romance. I truly enjoyed this book and it made for a fast-paced and interesting story. The characters were enjoyable and the storyline never failed to impress. So, my review isn't done yet, so I'll post it up sometime soon instead! Sorry for the last post by the way! 



The Perfect Duke


Known as The Marble Duke amongst the Ton, Garret Weston, the Duke of Kendal sets himself apart from his peers. Nothing will hinder his guilt-driven attempt to become a perfect duke. Nothing that is, save the alluring and imaginative betrothed he’d thought dead. His intended believes-of all things-that she is a Vicar’s daughter. The “perfect” duke needs a “perfect” duchess, but how was he to discern her suitability? Employing her as a governess to his niece seemed like an ideal solution. But whose “suitability” is being tested? His betrothed refuses to see he is beyond redemption. And most grievous of all, she stirs his blood, making him forget what’s important.

Cara believes fairy tales really can come true, until she meets the unrelenting and arrogant Duke of Kendal. He looks like a Prince, but acts like a Beast. Why must he challenge her at every turn? Her greatest peril is her attraction to the vulnerable, seductive man behind the title. A match between them would be impossible. But can she show him, without losing her heart, that “perfect” is in the eye of the beholder?


Check it out at Amazon!



Dawn Ireland


“Once Upon a Time” are four of Dawn’s favorite words. Her love of story became a love of romance when she read Georgette Heyer’s, Devil’s Cub. It inspired her to write stories with strong characters that discover love is never easy, but always worthwhile. Dawn’s written several award-winning novels set in Georgian England – an era filled with rules and intrigue. Her characters often defy “Society” as they pursue love, run away, pursue, run away – well, you get the idea.

Then again, she might write romance in order to do the research. What other profession encourages you to sit in the audience at Harlequin’s Male Model search, and take notes, or just sigh?

Dawn lives in a Victorian home in Upstate New York with her husband and very independent cats. When she’s not writing, she’s singing, gardening, learning to play the harp or wood carving. If you’d like to learn more about Dawn and her novels, go to her website at www.dawn-ireland.com.




Time for a short excerpt!

Garret’s voice stopped Cara before she reached the door. “What of the cut on my chest?”

She turned back, fighting to sound normal. “It didn’t look that bad.”

He picked up the cloth, soaped it, then stalked toward her. Everything about him belied fluid grace as he handed her the fabric, a challenge in his gaze.

With as much indifference as she could muster, she dabbed at the cut on his chest.

“Harder,” he breathed, his dark velvet voice sending shivers down her spine. “You’ll not hurt me.”

She cleansed the cut, admiring the feel of the hard muscle beneath the cloth. Her fingertips extended beyond the material to caress his moisture-slicked skin. She stepped closer, until his chest was the only thing in her vision.

The rag dropped between them. Of their own volition her fingers spread, pressing her hands flat against the hard contours of his body. She began an exploration, noting the fine dusting of curling golden hair that tickled her palms as she moved them upward.

The smell of the ointment clung to him, but it couldn’t block his alluring scent, a mixture of brandy, wood, and spiciness. She inhaled deeply, savoring the heady combination as she ran one fingertip around his nipple, marveling at the pebbling on the outside edge.

Part of her brain acknowledged she shouldn’t be doing this, but she couldn’t seem to stop.




So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Blog Tour: Project Five Fifteen by Samantha Summers - Review


Hey guys! Welcome to today's blog tour! Project Five Fifteen is a series by Samantha Summers. The first book is First Light, and it sequel is As You Were. Both books are YA Romantic Thrillers. First Light was published on 12 May 2012, and As You Were published on 14 December 2013.




First Light


A government experiment. Sixteen teenage boys on the run. An innocent young girl caught in the middle. When Ronnie Rose meets the handsome and alluring Kalen Smith, she can tell there's something he's hiding - something dangerous. But in trying to uncover his secret, Ronnie is plunged into a terrifying world she isn't prepared for... and the consequences could be deadly. Can we choose who we fall in love with?

Check it out at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads





As You Were


For every choice, there is a consequence.

Ronnie and Kalen are finally together, living their life in secret under the radar of the people who want Kalen dead. But when a visit from an old friend sends Kalen away on a rescue mission, Ronnie finds herself plunged back into the world of Project Five Fifteen quicker than she ever thought possible.

It’s fast becoming clear The Agency will never give up their hunt for the boys, and a betrayal closer to home starts a chain reaction that will change everything. Now, caught in a deadly web of lies and deceit, Ronnie is forced to question who she can trust; even the person she once trusted most.

As enemies close in, Kalen’s past threatens to destroy the happiness they sacrificed so much for, and it’s only a matter of time before the ultimate choice must be made.


Check it out at Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Goodreads




Samantha Summers


Born in London, an only child with an overactive imagination, Sam spent much of her childhood telling ghost stories to her younger cousins and dreaming about far away places. She graduated university with a BA in marketing, but it wasn't long before her passion for storytelling and travel got the better of her. She currently lives in Sydney, Australia, where you'll probably find her hidden away in the corner of a park somewhere - writing, reading, dreaming or watching movies on her iPad. She loves everything spy and assassin and has a slightly unhealthy obsession with Star Wars, mainly Darth Vader.




And now, check out my review of First Light.

My Rating

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My Review

I rather enjoyed First Light. It was a relatively sweet YA romance with just a little bit of action packed in. The characters were rather interesting and real, and the pace of the book of the good. While I didn’t feel that the storyline was to die for, it was a pretty good introduction to this series.

Veronica, or Ronnie, as she likes to be called, is an independent girl. Yet, there’s just something about her that is vulnerable. From the start, I liked Ronnie. She was a rather witty character, and while not the most interesting of characters, she was real and I could relate to her. While there are parts of her I didn’t really like, generally she was a good female protagonist. Her character development was rather good and I could see her maturing as the book progressed.

Kalen on the other hand, was amazing. Mysterious, hot, dangerous. How could a girl not be instantly drawn to him? But I think what’s best was how he loved Ronnie. From everything he did, it just showed he cared. And that just made me smile. Because it showed even someone so strong can fall prey to the mighty power of love.

The side characters were also rather nice to read about. I liked that there weren’t too many characters to keep up with and that they weren’t neglected as the story progressed. We did see some bits of their character development and I look forward to reading much more about the boys. And for some reason, Laith. I just want to know more about him, there’s just something interesting about him.

One thing I would have liked was to see more of Kalen's past. Those teasers simply aren't enough! He is such an interesting character to read about, someone so mysterious that I simply want to learn more about him. You know, just try and figure him out.

I did enjoy the ending. I am curious as to how Ronnie and Kalen’s relationship will progress, especially now that she has realized how much she loves him. And her decision at the end is just going to make for a more interesting story in the second book, As You Were. This is a relatively easy read and a rather enjoyable one too.






Enter the giveaway here! There will be 2 winners, with each winner getting a signed copy of both books and a T-Shirt.


a Rafflecopter giveaway


So yep, that's about it for today! Go here to check out the other tour stops! You'll find loads of awesome stuff on the other tour sites too! :D

Zzz...

Whew, I've finally reached the Z post! Never thought I would see this day! I mean, I wanted to give up halfway through when everything was just so hectic! Glad I didn't though! And while I wasn't the most punctual of posters, at least I wrote a post for every letter! Hope that makes up for something haha.

And finally, at the end of this challenge, it is time to sleep. Sleep is something that every student in Singapore craves but few get enough of it. Trust me, when you're 16 and above in Singapore, sleep is going to get sacrificed. To hear the words, sleep is so relaxing. To realise you can actually sleep is one of the best things you can think of.

But even other than that, sleep is just so important, is it not? There's just something about sleeping that just puts everyone on the same level. Because in our sleep, we're all vulnerable, are we not? I love books with dangerous characters, but somehow, when they sleep they just suddenly look so much more innocent, less world-weary and more human.

Sleep is amazing. Honestly. I love sleeping. Call me lazy, but yeah. Sleeping does miracles. It soothes hurt, it gives you beautiful dreams, makes you face your worst fears, and it heals your body. I love sleeping.

And with that, its off to bed for me. I have completed this challenge. Somehow. Zzz... It's time to sleep:)

You

This is something I wrote recently. This is for you.


I think I could get over you if I wanted. Or at least, if things didn’t work out. Maybe in a few years I would be able to let you go. Yet, I don’t know if I could ever trust again. Sure, I could probably get attracted to someone else, maybe even start falling for someone. But I don’t think I would be able to let the person get so close the way I’ve let you get so close to me. I don’t even want to imagine someone holding me, telling me they love me. I think sometimes I ask myself how strong are my feelings are for you if I can still think other guys are good-looking. No, I’m not attracted to them. But I have to admit that they have good looks. Of course, it doesn’t do the same thing to my heart the way your looks does to mine. And no other guy could ever make me smile as much as you make me do. Of course, maybe they can make me laugh. But that doesn’t mean I’m happy. You make me happy, in ways I never thought could be happy in. I didn’t even know it was possible to be that happy until you.

And that’s why I don’t want to lose you. Because I equate losing you with losing happiness. Because honestly, how would I smile, knowing that you aren’t there? How could I laugh, knowing that I can’t tell you about it when I saw you next? And how could I cheer up after I screwed something up, knowing you aren’t there to comfort me? Because I think if I lose you, those walls around my heart are going to be so strong that I doubt anyone will want to try and break in. And you didn’t even have to try. From the start, my heart trusted you enough. I thought you were the one who took down my walls. But I think from the start, my heart knew. My heart didn’t even try to build up the walls and make myself strong. Instead, it helped you to take them down, and even speeding up the process. 

I’ve never been so vulnerable to another person before. You could crush me I think. It wouldn’t take much. My heart knows that. But yet, my heart and my brain know enough to trust you to never do that. That even if you’re angry, your first thought is still going to be me. Somehow, I don’t doubt your feelings at all, and that amazes me every time I think of it. Maybe part of the reason why I don’t doubt yours, is because I’m having equally strong feelings for you. I wouldn’t want you to ever get hurt. I want to be there to protect you, to keep you safe, happy and satisfied. If I could take your sadness, I would, if only for the sake to make you happy. 

I think I’m finally beginning to stop doubting my own feelings and the intensity of it. Because what else could describe what I feel about you? Its not just one thing that I love about you. Its everything that makes who you are, that is the reason for me loving you. I wouldn’t want you to be different in any way. Because I’ve seen your bad side, even though it doesn’t really seem bad to me. And to be honest, I don’t think its bad at all. I mean, its you. But in any case, in spite of your flaws, I still love you. And I think that’s what love is about. Its not about loving the good, because who couldn’t? Its about seeing the flaws, and loving them because they make up who he is. Its about loving the little things, the things done unconsciously, the things that just make him him. That’s what I think love is about. I questioned whether what I felt was just infatuation. Until I realise, it wasn’t just loving you and being loved that was what made me say I love you. It truly is about loving you. I love you for you. Not for what you do, not for what you are around other people, not for your position, not for anything. I just love you. The person. It truly is indescribable. Wow. That was a revelation while writing. I truly do love you. I always say it, but its now that I truly understand how much I mean it. It’s everything about you. It doesn’t matter what you are doing, I still love you. You could be the poorest beggar on this world, the most unwanted person, or the worst as the world determines you to be, and I would still love you. Corny, cheesy and mushy to be sure. But its true. Because I believe that even if you became all those things, who you are isn’t going to change. You’re still going to be that adorable, cute, charming boy that I love. You’re still going to make the same hand gestures, speak the same way, walk the same way, question things the same way. You’re still going to be you. And as long as you’re you, I will love you. That’s it, isn’t it? Pure and simple. Loving you for who you are. That is love. 

And yes, this is very late. The challenge is more or less over, but I wanted to finish this at least! :)

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