Author: Stephanie Doyle

I don’t usually read books from Harlequin Super Romance as they’re usually long winded and lack hot steamy romance in it, but boy am I glad I picked up this one against all odds. Unlike many books published by Harlequin where the featuring hero is usually macho and domineering, this one is not. In fact, the hero in this story is somewhat helpless due to his illness and I like how he was persistent in resolving the heroine’s insecurity issues.

Quite a good book to pick up if you like unconventional heroes who are strong even when they are weak.I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book and I did not receive any compensation of any form for it.

Book description:

Anna Summers has always been more than Ben Tyler’s assistant. She’s even been more than his best friend. Too bad Ben didn’t realize it until after she quit. Now that he’s more like his old self after fighting against a life-threatening illness, he’s ready to win Anna back.

Of course, it’s not simple. One night Ben broke his own rule about getting involved with an employee. And now Anna is pregnant. She refuses to let him use the baby as a reason for them to reconcile. It will take an act of persuasion to convince her they belong together…and not only because of the baby.

Dealing Her Final Card by Jennie Lucas is another one of those typical Harlequin romance that you’d probably pick up to read during one of those lazy Sunday afternoon. I usually enjoy Harlequin books, but to be honest, I did not really like this story despite the fact that I admire the heroine’s character. Nope, I have nothing against the heroine besides the fact that she’s way too overprotective over her younger sister.

The plot was smooth and the setting was marvelous, but I did not like the hero of the story. In my humble opinion, the hero of the story is too obnoxious and not to mention ruthless to my liking. He’ll do whatever he pleased to get what he wants and take revenge on the woman whom he actually left 10 years before. The man  is also domineering and made too much assumption not only about the heroine, but everyone around him in general and hence, makes the story less palatable for my reading pleasure. I like heroes who are less jackass in nature.

I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book and I was not compensated in any ways for this review.

Book description:

If my card is higher, you’ll belong to me, obeying my every whim, for as long as I desire.”

As Bree Dalton hears the icy words of Russian Prince Vladimir Xendzov, the man whose ring she once wore and life she once ruined, she nervously accepts the biggest wager of her life. Her body for a million dollars.

Bree knows better than to doubt the steely ruthlessness of this man. With everything to lose and the weight of Vladimir’s gaze upon her, she will have to play the best she’s ever played—or run the risk of losing herself completely….

Only the most innocent touch can melt their ice-cold hearts.

So, I’ve been making quite a long revisit to my childhood years and started to read Enid Blyton’s works again. ‘Five Run Away Together’ was an absolute favourite from my childhood years. I lost count how many times I’ve read this particular book, and re-reading it as an adult still does not bores me. ‘Five Run Away Together’ by Enid Blyton is an absolute escapism. Every kid, and kid at heart, should read this book. There is nothing not to like about this book. There’s plenty of heartwarming scenes in this book that I like. Plenty of moral for you to reflect on too. The language used? Definitely proper, and something all parents would approve of. This masterpiece was nothing like our modern YA books that’s filled with ridiculous vulgarities and whatnot.

Love this book a lot, and would still rate it a 5 star. You folks should recommend this to your kids too, if you have any. If you don’t, you might wanna pick up a book in the ‘FIVE ISLAND ADVENTURE’ series, and escape to a wonderful world as you read along.

Be forewarned, though. Reading Enid Blyton’s ‘FIVE ISLAND ADVENTURE’ series will whet your appetite. There’s plenty of good food featured every now and then in her books.

Kindle Edition, 224 pages

Published: December 1st 2012 by Harlequin KISS

ASIN: B009YP9L7U

Edition language: English

Original title: Waking Up Married

Waking Up Married by Mira Lyn Kelly is pretty much heart-warming and is a definitely easy read. There’s plenty of cheeky quirks here and there that made you smile throughout the book, but I couldn’t help but noticed that there’s plenty of insecurity issues brought up by the author through the characters. Nevertheless, this book is really romantic, so if you’re looking for some light and easy and playful read, this one is just the one that you might wanna pick up from the shelf.

I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Harlequin publisher via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book and I was not compensated in monetary ways for writing this review.

Book description:

Her first thought: “Who are you?”

It’s the morning after her cousin’s bachelorette party in Vegas and Megan Scott wakes up with the mother of all hangovers. Even worse, she’s in a stranger’s penthouse having woken up with something else as well—a funny, arrogant, sexy…husband!

Up until now, finding even a boyfriend had seemed impossible—been there, got the broken heart, sworn off men for good. Then a few martinis with Carter…no, Connor Reed and she’s gone from first meet to marriage in one night!

Megan wants a lawyer. But Connor’s shocking bombshell?

“I don’t want a divorce.”

Paperback, 126 pages

Published September 1st 2003 by Scholastic (first published July 1st 1992)

ISBN : 0439568471 (ISBN13: 9780439568470)

Edition language: English

original title: Welcome to Dead House

Series: Goosebumps #1

So, okay, this is the first book I’ve officially read in 2013. I was feeling rather nostalgic, and therefore, i decided to pick up something that I never had the guts to do before when I was much younger; which is to read R.L Stine’s books. They’re generally spooky, and I was quite a chicken when I was a kid, I must say. So this is what I have to say about ‘Welcome To The Dead House’ – Creepy, but not creepy enough to give me terrible Goosebumps. But that’s only because I’m reading this book when I’m already an adult who is already in the end of her 20s. If I were to read this book when I was a little kid or when I was still a teenager, this book would probably give me the chill.

Highly recommended to teenagers, but definitely not for those who does not have a strong heart to withstand such goosebumps.

Book description:

Enter at your own Risk: The first ever Goosebumps.
Now with creepy bonus features!

11-year-old Josh and 12-year-old Amanda just moved into the oldest and weirdest house on the block–the two siblings think it might even be haunted! But of course, their parents don’t believe them. You’ll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends.
But the creepy kids are not like anyone Josh and Amanda have ever met before. And when they take a shortcut through the cemetery one night, Josh and Amanda learn why.

Let’s just admit it, shall we? Without sex, married life is just bland and boring. Come on, folks, when you’re married, have kids, does not mean you got to stop making love to each other. Stop blaming your lifestyle and start igniting the passion that you used to have for each other.  It’s a well known medical fact that if a couple does not make love to each other often, they will get bored with each other easily, and when they are bored with each other, they will seek entertainment elsewhere, which is very unhealthy for your married life.

Don’t blame it on your partner for the lack of libido.Women need men to seduce them and make them to get in the mood, so if you feel that you cannot get aroused easily, you can always take viagra rezeptfrei so that you can perform in bed, or out of bed for that matter.

Publisher: Blacksmith Books

ISBN:  9789881900

Page count: 222

Author: Kathryn Chua

List price: Rm29.90

First of all, I have to say that I’m really surprised that this book was written in third-party point of view. Most YA books are written in first party point of view, so I guess this is quite refreshing, reading from third-party point of view instead of the first party point of view. Reading Midnight Walking by Kathryn Chua made me reminisce about Labyrinth, an old movie back in the 80s where the main character’s fate became pretty much intertwined with the owl that she encountered. There’s plenty of familiar things inside this novel, and the main character’s description, Lucy Pine, made me think of Bella from Twilight Saga written by Stephanie Meyer.

But despite of the familiarities, there’s plenty of mystery and surprises in this book. I suppose young adults will really enjoy this. I wouldn’t exactly classify this book as a fantasy horror, as the storyline is much more inclined to paranormal fantasy instead of sheer fantasy horror.

This book is definitely a good read if you’re looking for some paranormal escapism with a twist. Plenty of spooky nuggets inside, and plenty of unexpected twist and turns. The pace was quite slow in the beginning, but the book is doubtlessly page turning after a while. By the end of the book, I wish there was more.

I highly recommend this book to young adults age 14 and up. Great as permanent collection in your reading library, and perfect to be read during those dull, rainy nights.

Midnight Walking is available in Kinokuniya, MPH and most major bookstores in Malaysia. It’s currently available only in paperback version.

I received a complimentary copy of this book and I was not compensated in any monetary ways for writing this review. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars.

Book description:

Lucy Pine is an average teenager: relatively good grades, close friends, parents and one brother (previously two). So when a crow smashes into her window one night, she regards it as a one-off kind of thing.

What she doesn’t know is that the crow isn’t a crow at all, but a being called Cyrus who has a nasty habit of picking off young girls and slowly draining them of their souls.

As Lucy is tangled further in Cyrus’s web of manipulation and darkness, secrets from the past unravel, and her life is put in terrible danger.

Title:Guarding Jess

PublisherCarina Press

Pub Date:May 14, 2012

ISBN:9781426893759

Author:Curtis, Shannon

Category: FICTION – ADULT: Romance: Suspense

What happens when two people of completely different personalities collides? Well, love happens…if the two personalities realized the undeniable attraction, that is. I find this book, ‘Guarding Jess’ is pretty intriguing and suspenseful. A wonderful read if you’re looking for some adventure during those dull rainy days. I love the banther between thehero and the heroine. The story is a little bit slow in the beginning, but the pace picks up after a few chaper, and I certainly did not mind that.

I enjoyed reading this book very much. I rate this book 4 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Book description:

Jessica Pennington’s work as an etiquette coach requires her to be polite and proper at all times, especially now that she has a book coming out. The only thing that rattles her reserve is the increasingly violent emails and texts from her persistent stalker. With the book launch in jeopardy, she reluctantly hires a bodyguard.

Noah Samuels hates stuck-up, prim people like Jessica. He’s more the blunt, straightforward type. But to advance up the ranks at McCormack Security, he has to take the high-profile assignment. After a near miss on his first day on the job, Noah realizes that the stalker isn’t just hype cooked up to sell books-the threat is real.

As the stalker escalates from letters to letter bombs, Noah sees a vulnerable side of Jessica that rouses more than just his protective instincts. But can she let down her guard long enough to trust Noah before it’s too late?

Title:Snowbound with a Stranger

Publisher:Carina Press

Pub Date: May 28, 2012

ISBN:9781426893803

Author:Rogers Maher, Rebecca

Despite of the cold looking cover, this book is a pretty heartwarming read. I love how the story flow and love the fact that the story is kinda short and sweet. This will be a perfect read if you’re looking for something short and a tad emotional to read during your coffee break or lunch break.

This book is a fairly easy read. I rate this book 3 out of 5 stars. I received an ARC of this book from Carina Press via Netgalley. I was not required to write a positive review for this book and I was not compensated in any ways for writing this review.

Book description:

Dannie Marino is hiking with colleagues when a sudden blizzard separates her from her group. She’s rescued by Lee, a dangerously sexy stranger who leads her to a remote cabin to weather the storm.

When the night inevitably ends in an intense erotic encounter, Dannie is both shocked and liberated by her response. But being intimate means letting herself be vulnerable, which isn’t her style. Lee tries to reach out to her, but she avoids any emotional entanglement by pushing him away.

Snowed in and unable to hide from each other, Dannie and Lee must both face up to their most closely guarded emotions. When the storm abates, will they be able to stop running from the past and live fully in the future?