Rules of Attraction

Rules of Attraction by Simone Elkeles

Published- April 27th 2010
Publisher- Walker and Company
Pages- 324 pages (Paperback)

This is the 2nd novel in the Perfect Chemistry trilogy. In my opinion this was a brilliant novel just like Perfect Chemistry. It tells the romance story between Carlos Fuentes and Kiara Westford. This novel kind of starts the same way that Perfect Chemistry did in the way that Carlos and Kiara start off hating each other and then they start developing feelings for each other. The story finishes with a chapter which is 26 years in the future so you find out what happens for Kiara and Carlos in the future.

This trilogy of novels keep you gripped until the very last page as you just want to keep reading to find out if Kiara and Carlos become a couple. Kiara is a girl from a rich family, whereas Carlos is a poor guy who is just like his brother Alex in many ways. Carlos wants to be in a gang, he's a hardman, likes fixing cars and is a mystery to others. Carlos and Kiara have their lives changed forever when Carlos comes to live with the Westford family after something (I can't say what as it would spoil the story) happens to him.

Kiara is a really good main female character as she has a lot of males traits about her. For example, she likes fixing cars, climbing mountains and doing fun/daring challenges. She starts off innocent (like Brittany), but Carlos makes her come out of her shell. Carlos is also an irresistible male character (like Alex) as he is a mystery to women, but in the end he would do anything for the woman he loves.

Overall, this novel shows how this couple decides their own future and battle through the challenges standing in their path. Throughout the whole novel challenges are coming for every angle and Carlos and Kiara have to try and get through them whether that be together or alone. This is definitely a novel everyone needs to read if you love romance novels or just loved Perfect Chemistry. I give this book a rating of 5 out of 5 stars as it was a fantastic novel. Chain Reaction is book 3 in the trilogy and it focuses on Alex and Carlos' younger brother Luis.

                             Rating 5/5
    

Perfect Chemistry

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

Published- January 1st 2011
Publisher- Walker Books for Young Readers
Pages- 360 pages (Paperback)

I have never actually read a romance novel before and in my opinion this was an amazing book. That is why I was taking my time reading it as I just wanted the story to go on and on. It tells the romance story between Alex Fuentes and Brittany Ellis. The story starts from them knowing/hating each other at school going right through into the future and what happens to them both.

There are lots of trials and tribulations thoughout this whole story which keep you gripped until the very last page. Everyone at school thinks Brittany is perfect, but in her world she is far from perfect. Whereas, everyone at school see Alex as a hardman gangster, but is there more to him than first meets the eye. Only reading this story will tell you the answer to that. Both Brittany and Alex's lives are changed forever when they are partnered up in chemistry class.

I think Brittany is a brilliant main female character as she starts off the perfect innocent girl and when partnered with Alex in chemistry becomes a teenage rebel. Whereas, Alex is a brilliant/irresistible main male character as he starts off the hardman gang member and becomes the guy who would do anything for the girl he loves. Without giving too much plotline away this is the perfect romance story which everyone needs to read.

Overall, this has the perfect couple going through situations lots of couples go through. Alex is an irresistible guy who I think every girl who reads this novel will fall in love with. Alex is perfect who would protect his girl from his world of gang violence. My rating for this book is definitely 5 out of 5 stars. I can't wait to read the 2nd book in this series which is Rules of Attraction. Rules of Attraction focuses on Alex's younger brother Carlos. Everyone pick yourselves up a copy of this novel and have a read as I'm sure you will all love it as much as I did.

                             Rating 5/5
    

In The Shadow of the Lamp

In The Shadow of the Lamp by Susanne Dunlap

SOLICITED ARC REVIEW

Published- April 12th 2011
Publisher- Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages- 304 pages (Hardcover)

I did notice a few inconsistencies throughout this ARC such as female's changing from Mrs to Miss and Emma's soldier's name changing from Thomas to Robert in one scene. However, all these mistakes will be corrected in the finished version of the book I'm sure.

This book was the perfect mix of war and romance. The romance throughout the story contained Molly, Emma and their gentlemen. The premise of the story is about a group of nurses being sent to Turkey to help the wounded men from the Crimea War. Molly was the main character throughout the whole story, however Miss Nightingale did play a big role throughout this novel. Will was a good male character because he cares so much about Molly, whereas Dr Maclean helps Molly become a much better nurse in the warzone.

As this story progressed I kept trying to guess what would happen to each of the characters, but with some it was really hard to guess what was going to happen. This was good because it made me want to keep reading the novel just to find out what happens next. The ending was quite sad and makes you want to cry. However, the end of the novel is also really happy, so the ending is a mix of sadness and happiness. If you want to find out what I'm talking about then you will just have to read this novel to find out.

I really enjoyed the first novel I read by Susanne Dunlap which was The Musician's Daughter. Overall, I really enjoyed reading this novel. Susanne is a brilliant author and I love the way she writes because she puts so much description into her work. The scenes in her novels are very detailed, you find out a lot about the characters and there is a mix of war/crime and romance. By rating for this book is 5/5 stars and I would recommend this book to everyone. I really enjoyed it and I think you will aswell so everyone needs to go out and buy their own copy.

                            Rating 5/5
    

Wandering Souls

Wandering Souls by Molly Bryant

SOLICITED ARC REVIEW

This was a really good supernatural manuscript. The story was really good. However, there were a lot of spelling mistakes, but they will be corrected throughout the editing process. The action commences in the prologue of the story, but it then slows down a lot as you get the lead-up to the rest of the action.

The supernatural action doesn't commence again until over halfway through the story, which was a tiny bit annoying in my opinion. However, I did like reading about Tatum and Dallin's life together and how Lance became involved in their lives. I did guess what was going to happen towards the end of the story though (who Dallin would turn out to be). Overall, I believe this to be a really good supernatural story and I can't wait to read a sequel if Molly decides to write one :)

                      Rating 4/5
   

The Musician's Daughter

The Musician's Daughter by Susanne Dunlap

Published- December 23rd 2008
Publisher- Bloomsbury USA Children's Books
Pages- 352 pages (Paperback)

 

This book definitely gets 5 stars from me as I was just wanted to carry on reading every time I opened the book. It was filled with intrigue, corruption, murder and danger. You were always hoping that nothing bad would happen to Rezia (the main character). The intrigue came when you just had to know what happened to Rezia's father and how high members of society were involved in this and other horrible crimes. 

The writing was constant throughout the whole novel and it flowed at a really good pace. It was quick to read as the chapters were quite short and the text is medium sized. The characters were really good and I enjoyed reading the novel to find out what happened to Rezia, Mirela, Zoltan and Alida. The ending tied the whole story together and you found out what Rezia had planned for her future and whether her mother gave birth to her baby. If this book had more chapters I could have kept reading to discover what future adventures Rezia and Mirela had together. 

I really enjoy Susanne Dunlaps writing from what I have read in this novel. So I cannot wait to read 'In The Shadow Of The Lamp' (ARC), 'Anastacia's Secret' and any other novels released by Susanne Dunlap.

                              Rating  5/5

    

The Cold Moon

The Cold Moon by Jeffery Deaver

Published- July 13th 2006
Publisher- Hodder and Stoughton Ltd
Pages- 416 pages (Hardcover)

 

The Cold Moon is a novel in the Lincoln Rhyme series by Jeffery Deaver. This was an intense thriller which kept you guessing throughout the whole novel as you never knew what was going to happen next. It didn't get the full 5 stars as you already knew who the killer was throughout the novel so you weren't able to guess who the killer could be. However, it was filled with lots of action, tension and parts to make you think. 
The killer was quite a complicated person in some parts as he was very smart, you never knew what he would do next and you never knew what his overall plan was. You are supposed to think he is a murderer at the start of the novel, but towards the end you find out that there is more to him than meets the eye. You may get a bit confused during some of the novel as there are 2 different murder cases going on, so you have to remember what happens in both the cases. 
There is lots of action when the police are trying to save victims and when they are chasing after the killer trying to figure out his next move before he makes it. Overall, if you are a fan of thrillers and crime novels you will definitely love this book. Lincoln Rhyme is brilliant once again even though he is quite moody in some parts. Amelia Sachs is a brilliant crime scene officer working under the watchful eye of Lincoln Rhyme. If you love Lincoln Rhyme or just any books by Jeffery Deaver then you should check this book out straight away. Happy reading everyone!!!!!!

                    Rating 4.5/5