Quarantined by Tracey Ward [Series Review]

Quarantined
1. Until the End - Paperback | Kindle
2. In the End - Paperback | Kindle

Tracey Ward
| Website | Facebook | Amazon |

Until the End
Format: ebook
Source: free Kindle download 08/15/13
Date read: March 5, 2014

Synopsis (Goodreads):

An outbreak of The Fever has taken hold of Portland, Oregon, bringing the population to its knees. The Fever spreads and kills quickly, but the dead aren't staying dead.

When her neighbor, Jordan, saves her from one of the infected, Alissa joins him in his plan to escape the city, the disease and the threat of a quarantine that will lock the living in with the undead.

What she doesn't tell him is that she has an illness of her own, one that plays tricks with her mind and makes her a dangerous companion. But Jordan has a secret as well, one that compels him to keep Alissa, a veritable stranger, safe at all costs.

As they fight for their lives and race for their freedom, they'll discover that what they truly need in order to survive is to stay together until the end.

Thoughts on Until the End: This book was RIDICULOUSLY good. No wait. Not ridiculously. Just perfectly. I'm all flaily hands and crazy eyes over it. Alissa and Jordan's relationship felt right, you know? It FELT RIGHT.

While I'm admittedly (slightly) obsessed with zombie apocalypse love stories at the moment (what? It's a thing. A thing I like A LOT!), I really liked the slow burn of their attraction. Sure, the timing isn't great and there's always the possibility one or both of them will run into the worst sort of trouble, but their banter and awkward looks worked so nicely.

I really liked that we were given a look at how someone who relies on drugs to keep herself balanced has to deal with the possibility she won't be able to get anymore once her current supply runs out. That fear, thrown on top of a shambling horde of undead who want to EAT THEIR FACES OFF, adds an extra layer of tension.

Yes, I'm smitten with this book. Can you tell? CAN YOU? I want more. MOAR!

In The End
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Date read: March 20, 2014

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Jordan and Alissa made it out of Portland, away from ground zero where The Fever still rages on. But they couldn't beat the quarantine. Now barriers are being built and the remaining survivors of the outbreak are trapped.

And the undead just keep coming.

The wave of infected is building as city after city is devoured. As they head east into the mountains they will be forced to fight both the dead and the living as they search for a safe place to weather the storm.

But what they believed would be the death of them might actually save them, and in this hell on Earth they'll uncover something even more shocking than the risen dead. Hope.

Thoughts on In the End: I am crazy in love with book 1 and that love carries over to book 2. It isn't so much the zombies and all the craziness they're dealing with (sometimes literally), but rather the relationship between Alissa and Jordan. I really really REALLY liked it.

Throw in Alissa's Uncle/Dad (long story and not nearly as sordid as it sounds) giving Jordan the stink eye every time he thought Jordan and Alissa were getting too close and I was in zombie apocalypse love story heaven.

Between the tight quarters, the very real possibility that Alissa's medication will run out, and constantly being on alert for the shambling undead, Jordan and Alissa don't have it easy. I loved their fighting. I loved their making up. I loved their banter. I loved that Jordan was willing to accept Alissa with all her flaws and he didn't run away at the first sign of her crazy rearing its head.

But you know what I really love? THAT THERE'S A FOLLOW-UP SERIES. MORE ZOMBIE APOCALYPSE LOVE STORY GOODNESS! YAY!

*The Quarantined Series is followed by the Survival Series, a spinoff trilogy of books chronicling life 10 years after the outbreak with a few familiar faces...

Charming the Alpha by Liliana Rhodes [Review]

Charming the Alpha (The Crane Curse #1) by Liliana Rhodes
Format: ebook
Source: provided for an honest review as part of the Fated Mates bundle
Date read: March 20, 2014

The Crane Curse
1. Charming the Alpha - Kindle
2. Resisting the Alpha

Liliana Rhodes
| Website | Twitter | Facebook | Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

Hannah Crane just graduated college, lives at home with her mom, and has no idea what to do with her life. One night while visiting her grandmother, she's startled by a wolf and everything changes.

In the forest investigating a recent rash of murders and missing shifters, werewolf Alpha Caleb Overstreet doesn't expect to run into a human, let alone a witch. Especially not one whose scent tells him she is his other half…or is she?

As the secrets of her ancestry are revealed, Caleb and Hannah are unable to stay away from each other and Hannah finds herself in danger. A rival pack believes her to be at the center of a curse that would enable them to control other shifters. But is Hannah the wolf charmer they believe her to be? Or is she really Caleb's fated mate?

Thoughts on Charming the Alpha: I didn't hate this book by any means, but I also didn't love it. I had moments while reading it where I felt like something had happened that wasn't sufficiently explained, followed by moments that were over explained. Frankly, the whole Jersey Devil idea threw me for a loop whenever it was mentioned. While I know what the Jersey Devil is, its connection to the characters was tossed in without much explanation and I kept wondering how it all connected. (This was explained eventually, mind you, but not until the end.)

I'm not a huge fan of game changing secrets being kept from main characters. Especially when it's "for their own good" or any variation on that theme. Hannah's grandmother acted unpardonably, in my opinion, and Hannah's mother keeping who her father was a secret seemed borderline ridiculous considering what Hannah could potentially become.

I really don't know what to think of this book. It wasn't terrible, but it wasn't for me. Parts of it were over the top (Hannah's grandmother harping on her hair started to grate after, I don't know, the first time it was mentioned) and I can't figure out how Hannah's best friend fits into the grand scheme of things.

Top Off Tuesday - Mmm. Abs.

I've decided to join Felicia, Christi and Amanda for their gratuitous shirtless covers on Tuesdays. Because nothing says Tuesday like flashing some skin! Hop over to Felicia's blog to see who else is participating!

I'm overlooking the fact I share a name with the hero and focusing on the abs. Mmm. Abs.

In Kelly's Corner (Fighting Connelly's #1) by Roxie Rivera

After a stalker breaks into her home, internet entrepreneur Bee Langston decides Kelly Connolly is the only man who can help her—but seeking help from the former Marine isn’t easy, especially after she made a spectacular fool of herself trying to kiss the sinfully sexy bodyguard.

When Kelly spots Bee weaving her way through the Houston nightspot where he’s working security, all those feelings he’s desperately tried to deny for his best friend’s sister come flooding to the surface. He’ll do anything to keep her safe, even if means getting up close and personal with the one woman he simply can’t have.

Soon, Bee’s stalker isn’t his only problem. His gambling addict father is tangled in a mess of debts to two of Houston’s toughest loan sharks. With the family gym on the line, there’s only one way for Kelly to make everything right. He agrees to fight for the Albanian mob in an underground bare-knuckle fighting tournament.

But winning the tournament and saving his family’s legacy comes at a high price—one that just might cost Bee her life.

A Change to Bear by A.E. Grace [Review]

A Change to Bear (Last of the Shapeshifters #1) by A.E. Grace
Format: ebook
Source: provided by the author for an honest review
Date read: March 13, 2014

Last of the Shapeshifters
1. A Change to Bear - Kindle

A.E. Grace
| Amazon |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

A girl who needs a change...
Terry Spencer is curvy, spontaneous, and brimming with attitude. When a crazy job and a crazier family overwhelm her, she leaves for Vietnam with nothing but a backpack. But she doesn't expect to bump into a strange and stunning traveler on a train in the middle of the countryside. She certainly doesn't expect to find herself falling for that man who so obviously harbors a dark secret...

A broken man on the run...
Liam is heading for Vietnam in search of an old friend. He happens across a beautiful woman with the unique capacity to both attract and irritate him. But he's got a secret that ices is heart, that prevents him from falling in love. He's one of the last of the shapeshifters, and he's got a hunter on his scent who won't stop until he, and everybody he cares for, is dead...

A love on the line...
Will Liam give in to his desire, and allow his emotions to surface in the face of the hunter threat? And will Terry, confronted with the reality that shapeshifters exist, still feel the same way?

A Change To Bear is a slow burn shifter romance that follows a spunky woman as she discovers something new, and a hurting man who rediscovers something old.

Thoughts on A Change to Bear: This is definitely a slow burn romance as it says in the blurb. Liam is drawn to Terry from the first time he sees her, but with circumstances being what they are, he's not willing to pursue anything. Then they meet again. And again.

And, as you know, eventually you just have to give in and accept that you're not going to get rid of one curvy lady who irritates you as much as she intrigues you.

Hey, these things happen.

I liked that the shapeshifter mythology was a little different from most. Liam's had a long, eventful life. He's been through a lot and it's left its mark on him. Taking Terry into his confidence isn't easy for someone as closed off as he is, but he does and then he has to wait and see if Terry is able to deal with the reality of his existence.

I feel like we've barely tapped the surface with this story. Liam and Terry still have plenty to work out and learn about one another and we're given some information at the end of the book that could put a whole new spin on their relationship. Unless I'm reading too much into things. Which sometimes happens.

The point is, their journey doesn't feel like it's over. Both on the physical and emotional end. There's plenty more to be explored and I am curious.

RtP Week in Review (07/06/14)

Reading the Paranormal's Week in Review

• Cold Hard Secret by Sierra Dean [Review] - I really can't wait to see how things play out in the final book.
• 2014 Seriously Series 'Sessment - Kelly Tackles Round 2 - Series books. I read them!
• Top Off Tuesday - Just bask in the beauty!
• 2014 Seriously Series 'Sessment - April-June - Link 'em up!
• See How She Runs by Michelle Graves [Review] - Enjoyable for the most part, I just got hung up on betrayals and inept minions.
• Absolution by Angela Louise McGurk [Review] - An intriguing world filled with corrupt and corruptible vampires and a handful of humans who know what's what.
• All-American Wolf by Adriana Hunter [Review] -
• Blog Housekeeping [40] - Time to CLEAN HOUSE!

Bookish Delights

• Books added to the pile - 6
• Peanut Goes to School (Elder Races #6.7) by Thea Harrison
• Diamond Dust (Takhini Wolves #3) by Vivian Arend
• A Demon and His Psycho (Welcome to Hell #2) by Eve Langlais
• Fairy Luck (Songs of Magic #6) by J.L. Bryan - For review!
• Saving Grace Devine by Catherine Cavendish - For review!
• Freebies - Check the prices before you buy!
• The Wolf Within (Purgatory #1) by Cynthia Eden (Paranormal romance)
• Books read - 8
• Currently reading 
• The Forbidden Life of Alex Moore by Erin Quinn

Globetrotting...

• On Tuesday, I talked about my writing plans for July at KellyApple.com.  Zombie apocalypse romance, dark fairy tales, and monsters. ALL THE GOOD THINGS!
• Free Books Need Love, Too! weekly reviews:
• Monday - Dragon Days by Abby McGovern
• Tuesday - GLA: Take Me: The Maiden and the Monster by Madelene Martin
• Wednesday - Hot and Bothered by Roxie Rivera

Check it out!

• Seriously Series weekly update: New quarter! Let's see how I do over the next three months!
• Series started in 2014: 5/18 (+5 since last week)
• Series started before 2014: 2/18 (+2 since last week)
• Series rereads: 7/9 (+0 since last week)

Blog Housekeeping [40]

It's that time again! Time to polish up your blog until it shines!

*This weekend is my wee boy's birthday (yeah, he's not so wee. He's 15 and taller than me!), so it's unlikely I'll be around. Does that mean I'm neglecting my housekeeping? Heck no! I planned for this and worked in a few tasks during the week! My boy is happy, my blog is happy, I'm happy.

Update:

• review archive - are you responsible for sites other than your own? Don't forget about those
• sidebar - check for buttons or links for events that have ended. Have any new events coming up? Now's the time to add them.
• reading challenges - update your progress, add links to challenges where you can link up. If you're a challenge host, do you try to comment on linked reviews? Now's your chance!
• blogrolls -  clean 'em up!
• crosspost - do you crosspost to Amazon, B&N, Goodreads, Library Thing? Don't forget to add your reviews to Netgalley or Edelwiess for those ARCs.
• check your subscription and social media links - if this isn't something that you normally check, now's an excellent time to make sure it's doing what it should be doing. (check out Felicia's Tech Tips for ideas on what to do if you're getting errors on your subscription link)
• check your static pages (About, Review Policy, etc) for outdated information, broken links, etc.
• review your profiles - when was the last time you updated your Goodreads or Facebook profiles? Is everything up to date?

Get ahead:

• July has arrived! The second half of the year wants you to schedule it! Prepare drafts of upcoming reads now so that you can write up the review as soon as you're finished! Do you accept review requests? Do the same with those.

Misc:

• respond to review requests and other bloggy emails
• check your spam folder - legitimate emails can sometimes slip through, catch them now.
• check the spam filter on the blog - get rid of the spam! save the legits!
• make the rounds - check back on blogs where you left comments, maybe spread a few new comments around like candy.

Did you do everything that applies to you? Well done! Now...

BACK UP YOUR BLOG!

| Tutorial |

The next Blog Housekeeping is scheduled for July 19th! I hope to see you there!

All American Wolf by Adriana Hunter [Review]

All American Wolf by Adriana Hunter
Format: ebook
Source: provided for an honest review as part of the Fated Mates bundle
Date read: March 14, 2014

Adriana Hunter
| Website | Twitter | Amazon | Kindle |

Synopsis (Goodreads):

When a dead, naked body is found frozen in the snow, recently promoted Detective Serena Daniels is assigned to the case. Determined to be taken seriously, she sets to work unraveling the mystery, one suspect at a time.

Brody Sullivan is a man with many secrets and he also just happens to be Madison County's newest citizen. So when he ends up on the list of potential suspects, it is Serena's job to clear his name. There's just one problem: Serena's felt an undeniable attraction to Brody that ignited from the moment they first met, and if she's not careful she may lose more than her job, she may lose her heart to the man who is willing to break every one of her rules.

Thoughts on All American Wolf: Overall, I liked this book. However, it did have a couple of interactions in it that bordered on rape and those weren't my favorite. On one hand, I was uncomfortable. On the other, what Serena went through WAS uncomfortable, especially as she came to understand what had happened and why she'd acted the way she acted, so that worked.

Still, rapey scenes aren't really my cup of tea.

BUT... hot werewolves who woo their lady friends with long looks and by saving their frozen booty ARE my cup of tea. So, yay!

I did like the mystery. Serena had to sort through a lot of unbelievable information to get to the truth and she handled it like a champ. Between the weirdness of this case and her attraction to both the main suspect and someone who was flat out telling her werewolves were real, she could have easily checked out mentally. Instead she follows her gut and works through what she knows to be true to find justice.

Not going to lie, the hot sex probably jump started her brain somehow. Because hot werewolf action ALWAYS helps.

Enjoyable for the most part. While I wasn't a huge fan of some of what Serena went through, I can appreciate how it worked with the story.