ARC Review: The Reckless Engineer by Jac Wright

Title: The Reckless Engineer

Author: Jac Wright
Publisher: Soul Mate Publishing, New York
Release Date: 6th Nov 2013
Find on: Goodreads 

Quick Review: 

Love is a battlefield. 
The aftershocks of an affair reverberate out to those in the lives of the lovers, who will NOT take it lying down.

Jack Connor's lives an idyllic life by the Portsmouth seaside married to Caitlin McAllen, a stunning billionaire heiress, and working at his two jobs as the Head of Radar Engineering of Marine Electronics and as the Director of Engineering of McAllen BlackGold, his powerful father-in-law Douglas McAllen's extreme engineering company in Oil & Gas. He loves his two sons from his first marriage and is amicably divorced from his beautiful first wife Marianne Connor. Their delicately balanced lives are shattered when Michelle Williams, with whom Jack is having a secret affair and who is pregnant with his child, is found dead and Jack is arrested on suspicion for the murder.

Jeremy Stone brings London's top defence attorney, John Stavers, to handle his best friend's defence.

Who is the bald man with the tattoo of a skull seen entering the victim's house? Who is "KC" who Caitlin makes secret calls to from a untraceable mobile? Has powerful Douglas McAllen already killed his daughter's first partner and is he capable of killing again? Is Caitlin's brother Ronnie McAllen's power struggle with Jack for the control of McAllen Industries so intense that he is prepared to kill and frame his brother-in-law? Is the divorce from Jack's first wife as amicable on her part as they believe it to be? Are his sons prepared to kill for their vast inheritance? Who are the ghosts from Caitlin's past in Aberdeen, Scotland haunting the marriage? What is the involvement of Jack's manager at Marine Electronics?
​
The cast of characters is made even more colorful by the supporting entourage: the big Scott and his gang, Hosé and Heineken, who carry out Douglas McAllen’s “troubleshooting;” McAllens' bumbling solicitors McKinley and Magnus Laird; Caitlin McAllen’s handymen, Cossack and Levent; and Jeremy’s sidekick, the gay black actor working in the London West End.

While Jack is charged and his murder trial proceeds in the Crown Court under barrister John Stavers’ expert care, Jeremy runs a race against time to find the real killer and save his friend's life, if he is in fact innocent, in a tense saga of love, desire, power, and ambition.

Detailed Review: << review copy received from the author himself >>

For me, this book was actually quite good but I found it quite relaxed as in the tone of the book. It kinda gave of a 'boring' feeling because this genre was not much of a YA. Well, it isn't - so it didn't really suit my taste in story. 

But the quality of storyline was amazing and the characters were expectedly detailed and not too complex. His style of writing is quite compelling if you're into psychological crime and murder stories. Moreover the story had a style of quick witted characters and characters that I have come to love. 

Putting aside my feelings of the book, I think The Reckless Engineer was written in really reality-based and proved to be very realistic. In other ways, the book was pretty good and I enjoyed it as well :) 

The author (Jac Wright) has an excessive knowledge and a clear understanding of the underworld and reality that has made me rethink and reread his book! Clearly, this book has made an impact to some readers who enjoy thriller and suspense genres. 

But what made me enjoy the book the most was it's detailed storyline! 

Wright has developed a clear understanding yet equally as confusing and thought-bearing that made me think and question the likes and dislikes of the characters and plot. But in the end I wish the book was more bending to the YA genre... 

I'd give it 4.5 or 5 stars but my rating system is designed to give a fair rating - but due to it's imaginative quality, it deserves to have a better rating. The only down side to this book was it's slow development from the start but it definitely picked off later on. 


Brief Review: The Reckless Engineer was interesting and fantastically developed. Jac Wright (the author) has used such a provocative style of writing that had finally won me over to the very end of the book! This book is definite lover to readers who enjoy a suspense and thriller story!

My Rating: 4/5   "Really Liked it!"

Reviewer: 

TGIF - Feature & Follow #173

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
What book are you embarrassed to admit you LOVED?

Hmm... none. I love every single book I've read. All of them are pretty interesting, fascinating and amazing! None of them are an embarrassment to me :) 

Waiting on Wednesday: Waiting for Romeo by Diane Mannino

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: Waiting for Romeo

Author: Diane Mannino

Release Date: 8th November 2013

Publisher:--

Find on: Goodreads

Heartbroken by the one guy she simply couldn’t resist, Emilia King is determined to move on. But Logan Prescott is also determined… determined to win her back. He lost the only person who truly mattered to him and now he’ll do whatever it takes to convince Emilia to give him a second chance.

While their attraction to each other is undeniable, the obstacles they’re forced to confront may be too much. And just when it seems their love for each other is a bond that knows no bounds, Emilia faces her worst nightmare.

With her newfound inner strength, Emilia realizes fighting to be with Logan is her only hope…and waiting for him may ultimately determine not only their future together, but her own destiny.

This book is coming out in 8 days. AAAHH I can't wait anymore! Ever since I've read the first book, Running from Romeo in the series, I've been trying to guess what will happen in Waiting for Romeo. The ending in the previous book really gave me a heart attack! And the cover, isn't it grand? It's so beee-yoo-ti-fuuuuul!

Check out my review of Running from Romeo HERE!

Review: Water by Heather James

Title: Water
Author: Heather James
Release Date: 19 October 2013
Publisher: -
Find on: Goodreads

Quick Review: Water pooled around my feet, rising at an alarming rate. I stared - panicked - at the palms of my hands, willing the water gushing out of them to stop as miraculously as it had begun.

I only sneezed!

Jasmine is struggling to control her new powers, causing floods and fires with an accidental flick of her wrist. In a desperate attempt to master at least one aspect of them, she travels to the Brizan Realm, where she comes closer to discovering the truth about her parents than ever before. But not everyone wants their secrets revealed.

Alone, powerless and, for the first time in her life, afraid, Roxy has only one thought occupying her mind: escaping Cinaer's clutches before it's too late. Her flight will take her across the ocean, but not in the direction she is expecting. Before she can try and get back to Brae, she needs to rescue herself.

Despite being on opposite sides of the world, the girls soon find themselves closer than ever.

Detailed Review: I am in love with this book. Heather James has once again broken and satisfied my heart. Every word she wrote, every page was so filled with delicacies that it makes you want to devour the book all at once without even stopping to chew through it. That's what Water is. It's like a favourite food you'll never get tired of eating. 

The story has once again entranced and captivated me with its numerous twists and surprises together with its characters. It is written in Roxy and Jasmine's points of view. And besides that, it actually gives us a more brief look into two of the four realms.

If you don't know or have forgotten what the four realms are, here's a recap:

The Helian Realm
The Sephan Realm
The Brizan Realm
The Arcan Realm

In Water, we get to know more about the Sephans and the Brizans. Jasmine, thought to have been a descendant from Helian and Brizan parents, decides to follow her best friend and the Arcan prince Brae to the Brizan realm so she can control the Brizan part of her powers and to find out more about her parentage. But what she finds will shock her.

Roxy, on the other hand, is being controlled by Cinaer and her control-freak mother. Cinaer is determined to use her to gain the throne. When given a chance to escape, she takes it and embarks to the Arcan realm. But something happens before she reaches it. She finds herself in the Sephan realm instead. 

Now, the Sephans, they're like us in the present. They have a democracy. But they do not have technology. They depend completely on nature. So in a way, they are like a bunch of intelligent cavemen (pardon me, Heather, I couldn't find a better phrase to describe them).

I'd also like to present an all new character in the story: Tristan. He's a Sephan protecter and is running for President in his realm. I think he's possibly the most intelligent of his kind in the Sephan realm and to be honest, I do have a love-hate relationship with him. He's actually very intriguing and sadly, the author didn't reveal much about him, which made him seem all the more mysterious. I'd love to know whether he harbours some secret feelings for Roxy ;) 

It is in these two different realms that the two girls, Roxy and Jasmine find themselves so close, no matter how far apart they seem, connected in a way they could never imagine. 

The ending: makes me want to cry and stage a protest against the author for writing such heart-breaking endings. I was not prepared for that. 

Brief Review: I am once again impressed by Heather. Her characters are very powerful with their personalities, especially the girls. Jasmine and Roxy are both amazing heroines. And perhaps it is the idea of having two heroines, not just one that makes the book unique in it's own way. The story itself is already interesting enough, but the characters just makes it even more vibrant.

Final Rating: 5/5 'Totally Amazing!'

QUOTE: 

To most Helians, including Roxy,

All the powers in the universe are already ours. It is we who have put our hands before our eyes and cry that it is dark---Swami Vivekananda

Your Reviewer: 

TGIF - Feature & Follow Friday #172

FEATURE & FOLLOW FRIDAY is a blog hop that is designed to provide as much exposure towards other bloggers as well as yourself, and to expand following. It's hosted by Parajunkee and Alison Can Read, each whom feature a chosen blog for a week, it's also an interesting way to get to know one another bloggers.

QUESTION OF THE WEEK:
Bookagram: Photograph your fave read in a funny place. 

Hopefully you can see... if not, that's Mystic City by Theo Lawrence. 

Say hi to Elmo! It's his comeback :)

Promo Post for Without You by Brooklyn Skye

Hey there chaps,

Welcome to our stop on the Without You Blog Tour!

Below you'll find Promo Post of the Week for Without You by the loveable Brooklyn Skye!


                                                     

Click HERE to see the full blog tour schedule! This is going to be a good one! So check out the other stops and get stuck in! You don't want to miss out on this!

 So, firstly, a little bit about the Book. We'll start with the Release date and the Summary!

WITHOUT YOU

by Brooklyn Skye

Release Date: 10/22/13

Goodreads summary:

She was broken when I met her, shattered from the death of her sister and running from love. Not to sound like an egotistical douche or anything, but I fixed her. Put her back together, filled in the cracks, and made her whole. A true fairytale in her eyes.

But now real life is getting in the way: school, jobs, and the unexpected opportunity to travel the world under a legendary photographer. This internship will open doors not even my father’s influence could. It’s something I’ve been waiting all my life for. But so is Quinn, and accepting this internship will mean leaving her. 

And breaking her all over again.

Sounds good right? We thought so, too. Alright take a quick breather...

All good? 

Good! 

Well then, here it is!

Now isn't that a beauty? Such a great cover. Well, great cover for a great book! You'll love it, a real page turner this one.

So, if you're you're not familiar with the author, scroll down for a brief little bio!  Links included. 

Brooklyn Skye grew up in a small town where she quickly realized writing was an escape  from small town life. Really, she’s just your average awkward girl who’s obsessed with words. You can follow her on Twitter as @brooklyn__skye or visit her web site for updates, teasers, giveaways, and more. www.brooklyn-skye.com 

| Brooklyn Skype on Twitter | Brooklyn on Wordpress | Brooklyn on GoodReads | 

And last, but certainly NOT least...

A SUPER-DUPER-CRAZY-GOOD  GIVEAWAY, WOOOOO!

Signed picture of cover, signed paperback copy of STRIPPED, and a $50 gift card to either Amazon or Barnes & Noble (winner's choice) (US only) a Rafflecopter giveaway



 ... Okay, one more thing... LISTEN UP TRUSTY BOOKWORMS...

 A Limited Edition of WITHOUT YOU will be available for release

week only which includes a bonus interview between Torrin and

the author!


Both STRIPPED and WITHOUT YOU will be on sale for $0.99. If you

purchase both and forward the receipt to the author at brooklynskye1@gmail.com, she will

send you a handwritten letter!


But psst. it's a secret... you didn't hear this from us! ;)

Without you is now Available from Amazon UK / Amazon US / 

Get your digital copy of Stripped from Kobo and Barnes & Noble here! Or if you prefer to get it from Amazon...


That's it for now, folks! Hope you enjoyed our stop! So if you've started either of those books, why not give Brooklyn a tweet and tell her about your reading experience?!

And for all those who haven't started...what are you waiting for? I mean, really? ;)


xo




 

Waiting on Wednesday: No One Else Can Have You by Kathleen Hale

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by us, that highlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

This week's pre-publication 'can't-wait-to-read' selection is:

Title: No One Else Can Have You
Author: Kathleen Hale
Release Date: 7th January 2014
Publisher: HarperTeen
Find on: Goodreads

Small towns are nothing if not friendly. Friendship, Wisconsin (population: 688) is no different. Around here, everyone wears a smile. And no one ever locks their doors. Until, that is, high school sweetheart Ruth Fried is found murdered. Strung up like a scarecrow in the middle of a cornfield.

Unfortunately, Friendship’s police are more adept at looking for lost pets than catching killers. So Ruth’s best friend, Kippy Bushman, armed with only her tenacious Midwestern spirit and Ruth’s secret diary (which Ruth’s mother had asked her to read in order to redact any, you know, sex parts), sets out to find the murderer. But in a quiet town like Friendship—where no one is a suspect—anyone could be the killer.

First impressions of the book: creepy... But the cover totally had me going for it. It seems a bit scary but  I'm willing to give it a try though.