Thursday, September 25, 2014

Review: Chained by Night by Larissa Ione

Title: Chained by Night 
Series: MoonBound Clan Vampire #2
Author: Larissa Ione
Edition: Paperback, 416 pages
ISBN: 1476700184 (ISBN13: 9781476700182)
(Expected) Publication: September 30th 2014 
Publisher: Pocket Books

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Larissa Ione sets the night on fire with a thrilling new novel of irresistible hungers and immortal enemies in a world as sensual and dark as her Demonica series.

THE FUTURE OF HIS TRIBE
Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction; or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation. To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader's daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans.

THE LOVER OF HIS SOUL
But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress's identical twin sister?


MY OPINION:

Let's see... where do I start? I only know that for all I could remember, this could be the only book, that gave me goosebumps when I received it, ever. I was soooo thrilled.

HUNTER:
As you can read from the synopsis, Hunter is a leader vampire clan who has to mate to his rival clan leader's daughter as part of the deal to save his clans member (read book 1, Bound by Night). It's also part of a plan for vampires to join forces against humans. Hunter despises his rival, and the daughter, Rasha, as well, but the clan safety comes first.
On the day of his mate arrival, vampire-hunter humans strikes and captures Aylin, Rasha's identical twin, who comes along with Rasha as a company. First, Hunter mistakenly her as Rasha, but soon finds out about the truth, and it only makes him longing her for more.

AYLIN (and Rasha)
Rasha and Aylin are total opposite. A bit cliche I guess because you can easily hate the other and feel sympathy to another. While Rasha is tough, hard and seductive (and selfish in my opinion), Aylin is a caring and loving second-born daughter with deformed leg who's being treated badly as if she was the lowest creature and held no meaning in her clan. As a vampire, she has to drink from a male and feed a male also. But there are only unwilling male to give her blood and she never feeds any male in her life because people in her clan believe that she's cursed. While Rasha is bound to mate with Hunter, Aylin is going to be mated with another clan leader, only the worse, maybe the worst. But first, she must accompanies her sister and act as a decoy, just in case if something went wrong.

I loved Hunter, I mean, really, who can resist a tall, dark, tough, caring alpha male lore? But as much as I loved Hunter--I really thought I would fall head over heels on him when I finished reading book one, I loved Aylin even more! I really think she shun over him. She's not perfect, but that made her so perfect. She's tough, caring, with an ability which I thought much better and superior to Hunter's. :D There were many parts of her life, including when it came to telling about the clan leader she's planned to mate to, that made me cringed! No wonder she would rather be dead. There were also parts which involving Hunter, the chemistry between them, and the feeling (and the lust) she had for Hunter, that made me feel like shouting to her, "You go, girl!" or "Come one, you obviously CAN live without him!". Hahahaha... 

Reading this book, I was hooked, sucked, and fell deeper. I felt like riding a roller coaster for there were up and down moments. Yes, of course, there were moments that got me a bit disappointed, despising, and eew-ing, parts when  I thought it's not like I expect. Like I wonder why the author chose that way as a mean for Hunter and Aylin to pass the portal. It felt... weird and... cheap. But only for the first time when they had to enter the other world. I didn't feel that way on the second time when they had to go back to their real world, because it's more...accepted, understandable, considering that Hunter's feeling for Aylin grew more and more. But then I realize I really didn't know what I expect. I only knew I just can't put down the book. After going through half book, things were getting more interesting. The pace, the action, the conflict, the adventure, the chemistry, made me feel like I was watching those Hollywood adventure, colossal, action, fairy tale, paranormal, with romance and erotic sparks, all in one. 

I saw more and more stories behind the story. Another conflicts, problems, relationships were about to reveal, and this is why I couldn't wait to read more about the series. More about Myne, more about Rasha, more about the clan (and other clans as well).  I loved that Riker and Nicole showed up quite often in this book. I loved how that Braddon didn't really scare to Hunter though he's a clan leader. Because this way, I can see how the members of the clan see each other to be equal with respect, something that didn't available inside Aylin's clan.

I still think that I don't give the book enough justice for I'm not sure I can express how I feel about this book. This is one of the moment when I dread my ability in written English. -_-

In a very short, I found it to be adventurous, with lots of actions, steamy, and addictive! I really can't wait to read the next book(s)! And I'm not even a paranormal romance fan! XD

This book is part of a must have series. It's a standalone read, but I really suggest you read the first book, Bound by Night, so that you can get a better picture about what was actually going on in that world, especially conflict between humans and vampires, and between clans. When I read this book, I had to check few things from the first book to freshen up my memory a get a better grasp since there's a year time gap between book 1 and book 2. 


BUY IT FROM:

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Rewind To You - Book Blast + Giveaway

Rewind to You Cover
Rewind to You 

One last summer before college on beautiful Tybee Island is supposed to help Sienna forget. But how can she? This is where her family spent every summer before everything changed, before the world as she knew it was ripped away. But the past isn’t easily left behind. Especially when Sienna keeps having episodes that take her back to the night she wants to forget. Even when she meets the mysterious Austin Dobbs, the guy with the intense blue eyes, athlete’s body, and weakness for pralines who scooped her out of trouble when she blacked out on River Street. When she’s with Austin, Sienna feels a whole new world opening up to her. Austin has secrets, and she has history. But caught between the past and the future, Sienna can still choose what happens now…





Laura Rewind to You AuthorAuthor Laura Johnston 

Laura Johnston lives in Utah with her husband and two children. Growing up with five siblings, a few horses, peach trees, beehives and gardens, she developed an active imagination and always loved a good story. She fell in love with the young adult genre both through her experience in high school as well as her job later as a high school teacher. Laura enjoys running, playing tennis, sewing, traveling, writing, and above all, spending time with her husband and kids. REWIND TO YOU is her debut novel.



Excerpt 

I’m increasingly aware of Austin—his shower-fresh scent, every curve of muscle and the rise and fall of his chest with every breath—as he stands behind me and wraps his arms around mine. “I’ll teach you,” he says, his hot breath against my ear seeping in. Whispering a thrill. His hand cups the back of mine. I watch as he positions my pinkie and ring fingers over the threads and slides my thumb down. “Hold the football with your fingertips.” I glance at his face above my shoulder, his blue eyes, strong jaw and his lips. And suddenly, football is the last thing on my mind.

Rewind to You Tour


Praise for the Book 

“Johnston’s debut spotlights romance and familial relationships, including themes like grief and self-sacrifice. It’s an ideal story for readers looking for a deep-rooted YA love story with the emotional ups and downs and poignancy of a Nicholas Sparks contemporary. There’s also a touch of wit and a sigh-worthy hero – a definite on your TBR list.” – RT Book Reviews   

“This is contemporary YA fiction at its best! –Kay Lynn Mangum, author of The Secret Journal of Brett Colton   

Rewind to You will steal your hear away.” –Kelly Nelson, author of The Keeper’s Saga



BookBlast Giveaway 

$75 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 10/5/14 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an iTunes Gift Code or River Street Sweets Gift Card. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.