My TBR List ~ January ~ Polling is Open!

My To-Be Read List is a meme hosted by Michelle @Because Reading. I think it's a fabulous idea because it gets y'all in the game and it helps me knock off some of the many, many books on my TBR list. You're more than welcome to join in the fun! I've included the basic rules below but you can click on the graphic above to hop over to Michelle's site where you can find all the details. 

Here's how it works:
On the first Saturday of each month, I will make a post with three books from my TBR List (these books can be already on your ereader or bookshelf OR books you might want to purchase) and add your link on the linky that will be provided on Michelle's post. Y'ALL will help me choose which book I will read next. The following Saturday, I will announce which book won. Then the last Saturday of the month, I'll post my review.

Fun, right?!?

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It's been awhile, yeah? One of my Bookish Resolutions is catching up on series - I'm behind in 148 series! - so this month I'm having y'all decide which series I'm going to work at catching up on! :D

Your Choices Are:

Reckless
Thoughtless #3

Synopsis
Can love survive when life gets Reckless?

When the band hits it big, Kiera and Kellan must ask themselves: Can their love for each other survive the constant pressures of superstardom? The friendships they've formed, the new family they've found, and the history they've forged will all play a part in helping them navigate the turbulent waters of the band's exploding popularity. A greedy executive hell-bent on success, a declining pop star looking for an edge, and a media circus that twists lies into truths are just some of the obstacles the lovers will have to overcome if they are going to remain together. Fame comes with a price-but will it cost Kiera and Kellan everything?



Rampant
Condemned #2

Synopsis
Life is twisted. Cruel. After being ripped from the safe haven of Rafe's arms, my new kidnapper is waging a sick game. Unable to make my boy do his bidding, he's resorting to psychological warfare. He'll bend my mind until I break, and when I do, that just might be my saving grace.

I'll forge through hell to get back to Rafe, body and spirit broken and bleeding, but I'm unprepared for what I find. He's done what I can't: he's erased eight years of pain and betrayal. I don't know how to bring him back to me, because brining him back means ripping him to shreds all over again.




The Evolution of Mara Dyer
Mara Dyer #2

Synopsis
The truth about Mara Dyer's dangerous and mysterious abilities continues to unravel in the New York Times bestselling sequel to the thrilling The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer. Mara Dyer once believed she could run from her past. She can't. She used to think her problems were all in her head. They aren't. She couldn't imagine that after everything she's been through, the boy she loves would still be keeping secrets. She's wrong. In this gripping sequel to The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, the truth evolves and choices prove deadly. What will become of Mara Dyer next?



Okay, now vote! And thanks! :D


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**Blog Tour Review & Giveaway ~ Rampant ~ Gemma James**

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Gemma James' Rampant! My stop includes all the pertinent information for the book and series, my review, and a giveaway.

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Rampant

(Condemned #2)

Life is twisted. Cruel. After being ripped from the safe haven of Rafe’s arms, my new kidnapper is waging a sick game. Unable to make my body do his bidding, he’s resorting to psychological warfare. He’ll bend my mind until I break, and when I do, that just might be my saving grace.

I’ll forge through hell to get back to Rafe, body and spirit broken and bleeding, but I’m unprepared for what I find. He’s done what I can’t: he’s erased eight years of pain and betrayal. I don’t know how to bring him back to me, because bringing him back means ripping him to shreds all over again.

RAMPANT is a new adult dark romance with disturbing themes and explicit content, including sexual scenes and violence that may offend some. Intended for mature audiences. Part two of the CONDEMNED series. I recommend beginning with TORRENT first. This is not a stand-alone read.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – iBooks – Kobo

Add Rampant to your Goodreads list!

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About Torrent (Book #1)

I’ve been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him, even now.

Now that he’s holding me captive on an island.

Rafe has his reasons for doing what he’s doing, and if I’m honest, I can’t blame him. I’m the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn’t commit.

But now he’s free and the tables have turned…now he’s the one driven by obsession.

TORRENT is a new adult dark romance with disturbing themes and explicit content that includes sexual situations and violence. Intended for adult readers 18+ only. Part one of the CONDEMNED series. This is not a stand-alone read.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – iBooks – Kobo – Smashwords

Gemma James

Gemma James

Gemma James is the multi-genre author of several novels and novellas, from new adult suspense to dark erotic romance. She loves to explore the darker side of human nature in her fiction. She’s morbidly curious about anything dark and edgy, from deviant sex to serial killers. Readers have described her stories as being “not for the faint of heart.” She lives in Oregon with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention.

Blog – Twitter – Facebook – Google+ – Goodreads

Rampant was just as dark, twisty, suspenseful, and riveting as I was hoping it would be. Ms. James hit her stride in conveying this story - it flowed well and the new twists and possibilities had me flying through the pages.

In my review of Torrent, I mentioned that I had difficulty in connecting with the characters due to some of the quiestionable actions. Ms. James rectified that issue in Rampant. In fact, I'm almost mad her her for making see this tiny glimmer of redeem-ability in one of them. I don't want to like him...he's awful. But she revealed this detail that could - just maybe - provide reason for his awfulness. But still...

With his memory loss, Rafe is not the same person he was before. He has no memory of being in prison, whether or not he deserved to be there, or any of the events following his release. He's appalled at what he's been told and despite a gut feeling of wrongness, decides it's better to stay away from Alex. Seeing this other side of Rafe, who he used to be, softened me towards him. This Rafe wants to protect Alex - even if it's from himself.

Zach - I didn't soften towards him. Well, maybe the tiniest bit when there was the teeny-tiny, itty-bitty shimmer of redeem-ability. But I'm just not sure. His actions, feelings towards Alex are - gah, they make my gut twist. His view of love and his expressions of it are warped. However, there was a hint about why he is the way he is, and I'm anxious to see where that goes. Honestly, I knew there might be something there, but I am shocked by what I think it might lead to.

I feel for Alex. She has endured - suffered - so much. And she's never had anyone to confide in - to support her. That she survived the events herein are a testament to her inner strength. In Rampant, her vulnerability is more obvious. Her determination to make amends for the wrongs she feels guilty for - her desire to escape the prison she's lived in - did much to sway my feelings for her. Seeing firsthand that she really has no one to rely on - save Rafe - saddened me. It's no wonder this girl has mixed-up feelings when it comes to intimate relationships.

Ms. James has drawn me deeper into this dark world. The hints at possible plot twists ramped up the tension and suspense. And I'm eager to know where the story is going as well as which characters played/will play what roles. I said after finishing Torrent this story feels like a psychological thriller...after Rampant, it feels even more so. Fervent can't get here soon enough!

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**Blog Tour Review ~ Torrent ~ Gemma James**

Welcome to my stop on the blog tour for Gemma James' Torrent. My stop includes all the pertinent details for the book and my review. 

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Torrent by Gemma James
Condemned Series: Book One
Release Date: July 22, 2014
Genre: New Adult, Dark Romance
Source: I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review
Rating: 3.5 Bookworms

Synopsis

I’ve been obsessed with Rafe Mason since I was thirteen. The twisted part of this story is that I still want him, even now.

Now that he’s holding me captive on an island.

Rafe has his reasons for doing what he’s doing, and if I’m honest, I can’t blame him. I’m the girl who sent him to prison for a heinous crime he didn’t commit.

But now he’s free and the tables have turned…now he’s the one driven by obsession.

TORRENT is a new adult dark romance with disturbing themes and explicit content that includes sexual situations and violence. Intended for adult readers 18+ only. Part one of the CONDEMNED series. This is not a stand-alone read.

Amazon – Barnes & Noble – iBooks – Kobo – Smashwords

Add Torrent to your Goodreads list!

Torrent is not a read for everyone. It's dark, twisty, unseemly, and unsettling. It's a story that makes you think. I grappled with trying to understand the reasons behind the characters' actions. I'm torn because on the one hand, who am I to say how a person, experiencing the events Alex and Rafe did, would react to them. But on the other hand, not wanting to excuse their behavior.

Alex has suffered for the last 8 years. And the guilt and disgust she feels about what she's suffered coupled with the remorse at putting an innocent man in prison is almost mentally crippling. 

Rafe has spent the last 8 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Not only does he want answers about why Alex did this to him, he wants revenge. And he has a plan to get both - which begins with kidnapping Alex.

Okay, here's where my trouble with the story begins. In a way, I think I get Alex's reaction to being taken by Rafe. She thinks she deserves his treatment on some level because of the self-loathing she feels. She also feels a certain amount of relief from being removed from the abusive situation she's been in. She has feelings for Rafe which haven't diminished since he was away and his treatment of her does the exact opposite of his intent. Now, why Rafe would risk going back to prison by committing a crime, I couldn't understand. But he did want his answers and spending 8 years locked up might make you crazy to have them. I also hae a wee bit of trouble with his particular brand of BDSM. But I'm not judging. He did soften with Alex once he got his answers - of course, those answers brought on a whole new set of problems.

I will absolutely continue this series. I'm still thinking about it. And I give kudos to Ms. James for that. It's kind of a dark psychological thriller of sorts. I definitely want to see what comes next following that ending! I also hope that Ms. James will give us a bit more background on Alex and Rafe. I want a better understanding of them both. Although I had some issues with Torrent, it was a compelling read. Alex and Rafe are under my skin. And even if I don't necessarily agree with their actions, I'm fascinated with the psychology behind them.

Gemma James (a pseudonym for Christina Jean Michaels) loves to explore the darker side of sex in her fiction. She’s morbidly curious about anything dark and edgy and enjoys exploring the deviant side of human nature. Her stories have been described as being “not for the faint of heart.” She lives with her husband and their four children—three rambunctious UFC/wrestling-loving boys and one girl who steals everyone’s attention. Sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss out on future releases!

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