OctobeRec Fest ~ A Month of Recommendations

Welcome to my Second Annual OctobeRec Fest. As a nod to Oktoberfest, I'm once again spending a month dedicated to reading the many, many books on my ereaders and bookshelves thanks to you, my blogging friends. (and a few beers will probably be added into the mix! ;) That's right - the entire month of October, I'm going to be reading those books that I've one-clicked (or physically grabbed) thanks to your reviews and recommendations.

Here are some of the books on my schedule for the month. I'm sure you'll recognize your recommendations but I'll make sure to call you out in my reviews. ;)



Thanks so much to you all for sharing book love! And hopefully I can get a few of you interested in some new books to try. 

**OctobeRec Fest Late Review ~ Consequences ~ Aleatha Romig**

I one-clicked Consequences after reading Braine @Talk Supe's review awhile back. (seriously, I one-clicked this on March 6, 2013!) Braine talked about what a "mind fluck" this book was. So I was intrigued. I started reading Consequences right before heading to Cincinnati for the Queen City Indie Con, because Aleatha Romig was attending. I got to meet her and she's sooo cool! I had to laugh when I was at her table as she had button swag for us and she picked up one that said "I Love Tony". When I told her I was reading Consequences, she said, "Oh, then you don't love Tony right now" and handed me a "I Hate Tony" button instead. 

Braine, I can't thank you enough for turning me on to this series. I can't wait for the next "mind fluck"!

***

Consequences 
Consequences #1
Release Date:

Genre: Dark, Adult Contemporary Romance
Source: I purchased a ecopy on Amazon
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms

Synopsis

Every action has consequences.

Waking in an unfamiliar bedroom in a luxurious mansion, Claire Nichols is terrified to discover that a chance encounter led her into the cruel hands of her abductor, Anthony Rawlings. Claire has no understanding of why she's there, but it's been made abundantly clear - she is now his acquisition and every action has consequences.

Learn the rules to survive.

Facing incomprehensible circumstances, Claire must learn to survive her new reality - every aspect of her livelihood depends upon the tall, dark-eyed tycoon who is a true master of deception. Driven by unknown demons, he has no tolerance for imperfection, in any aspect of his life, including his recent acquisition. Anthony may appear to the world as a handsome, benevolent businessman, but in reality Claire knows firsthand that he's a menacing, controlling captor with very strict rules: do as you're told, public failure is not an option, and appearances are of the utmost importance.

Captivate the captor.

To fit together the pieces of the puzzle, Claire must follow his rules. Will her plan work, or will Anthony become enthralled by Claire's beauty, resilience, and determination, changing the game forever? If that happens, will either of them survive the consequences?

Nobody ever did or ever will escape the consequences of his choices. - Alfred A. Montapert

I think y'all know I appreciate twists in stories. Honestly, the twistier the better. Consequences - well, I don't think I've ever read more of a "mind fluck" than this. I've never finished a book with a WTF?? feeling like I had when I finished Consequences. And I loved it. I never knew what was coming. Oh, I knew something was coming, but I didn't know what. I was on edge for so much of the book just waiting for the other shoe to fall. And when it did, it was completely unexpected.

I like villains - those characters you love to hate. I have a new appreciation for villains like Anthony Rawlings. I despised him, the I warmed to him little by little. It never reached love or admiration - but when that shoe finally dropped, I felt duped. The I did admire him - for his evil ways. Tony is sooo good at being bad. I never could figure him out even though we got snippets from his POV. I didn't...couldn't understand his motivations. Although I now know, I still don't understand.

Claire - I did admire her resilience. At times, I felt she'd lost some of the inner strength she'd possessed. I couldn't comprehend how she didn't see how Tony was changing her. But truly, she was resilient in her coping. She managed the best she could - while being taking in by Tony's softer side. I feel under his spell, too. I wanted to believe. I smiled at the return of her backbone and dignity though.

The quotes at the chapter beginnings were masterfully used as clues. This was an incredible psychological thriller...dark and oh, so twisty. I did think it was clunky at times. Perhaps I didn't need all that information. Once I finished, I realized it was all necessary. It was needed to set up that WTF moment. Ms. Romig has now placed herself on my favorite authors list.

**OctobeRect Fest Wrap-Up**

Well, today is the last day of October, thus my OctobeRec Fest is at its end. And I only managed to get 4 reviews done this month. I was trying to finish Consequences by Aleatha Romig (a recommendation from Braine @TalkSupe) but I'm still not quite done so my review will post in November.

This was such a fun way to spend my month. And it taught me a few things:

1) YOU, my blogging friends, read some great books! ;) Thanks so much for all the recommendations. I'm going to continue to make my way through them through November and December. Oh, who am I kidding?!? Do you know how many books y'all have caused me to one-click? It'll take me longer than 2 months. But I'll be working on it. :)

2) I read at a much slower rate when I don't have imposed deadlines. I was anticipating reading so many books and I only managed 4 (well, 4.9). It has been a busy month with marching band, family, AND I worked more than usual too. But still...

3) I liked reading at the slower pace. 


I think this is a feature I'll do annually. It was a great way to make time to read some books I found because of YOU!

If you missed any of the four reviews I posted, you can read them by clicking on the titles below.

Angel Kin by Tricia Skinner

With You by Nashoda Rose

Kissed by a Dark Prince by Felicity Heaton

The Arrangement #2 by HM Ward

**OctobeRec Fest Review #4 ~ The Arrangement #2 ~ HM Ward**

I started The Arrangement after Sharrice @Reese's Reviews gifted me a copy of #1. I was immediately hooked on this story so I decided to continue it during my month of reading blogger recommendations. :) Thanks, Sharrice, for introducing me to Sean Ferro! ;) 

***

The Arrangement #2
Release Date: January 16, 2013
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased ecopy @Amazon
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
Avery's life is slipping between her fingers. Everything that she worked to achieve will be gone if she doesn't take this job. The idea of being a call girl doesn't appeal to Avery, but her first client does. Sean is too difficult to resist. This might be the opportunity to fix her finances and find love. She just has to have enough guts to go through with it.

Oh the anticipation! Both Avery and Sean are harboring secrets from one another. Avery needs this job and she wants Sean but feels she shouldn't. Sean apparently feels the same way about wanting Avery. And then there's this darned arrangement between them...

This second installment definitely ratcheted up the tension. The will they or won't they, the fun they share getting to know one another, and the remorse and guilt coupled with the lust they feel for one another, it all made for tension so thick you could almost cut it. However, none of my questions were answered.

I still don't know who Sean Ferro really is or what deep, dark secrets he hides that send him to a place where he buys his dates. I'm also beginning to wonder if there's more about Avery that I don't yet know. And it's all so compelling.

Ward does an excellent job of doling out information and excitement in small enough doses to keep me riveted. I hope once all is revealed that it's worth the price tag because at $3/novella, times 16, it's a pricey, yet irresistible serial.

**OctobeRec Fest Review #3 ~ Kissed by a Dark Prince ~ Felicity Heaton**

I won Kissed by a Dark Prince from Berls @Fantasy is More Fun during her Blogoversary giveaway. I'd been meaning to start the Eternal Mates series because Berls loves it so much (as does Traci @Mad Hatter Reads) so when I won the first two books, I was ecstatic!! 

***

Kissed by a Dark Prince
Eternal Mates #1
Release Date: November 30, 2013
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Won an ecopy from Berls
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
Olivia thinks it's her lucky night when a dangerously handsome unconscious fae ends up on her inspection table. He's her change to redeem herself with her employer, the demon-hunting organisation, Archangel. But when the tall, dark and deadly immortal warrior awakes, she gets much more than she bargained for...

Attacked by his enemy in the elf kingdom, the last thing Prince Loren expects when he comes around is a beautiful angel watching over him and medical technology of the mortal realm. Hazy from his injuries, all he can focus on is the pulse ticking in her throat and the sweet allure of her blood.

One single bite reveals she is his eternal mate, triggering a bond between them that will leave him weakened until it is complete...or broken, and pulling Olivia into the crossfire of his ancient feud.

To protect his people and his mate from the machinations of a madman, Loren must risk everything by working with Olivia at Archangel to find a way to break the bond blossoming between them.

But will Loren be strong enough to place duty before desire and give up the one thing he has waited millennia for and craves above all others -- his eternal mate? And will Olivia be able to resist the incredible heat that burns between them and the temptation of her dark prince's kiss?

After having read Berls' and Traci's reviews of Kissed by a Dark Prince, I was eager to get started on this series. My only regret upon finishing? That I waited this long!

Kissed by a Dark Prince not only chronicles the lives of Olivia and Loren following their fateful meeting but also sets up the world this series inhabits, as well as explaining how the bond between eternal mates works. We learn that the world is inhabited by shifters, vampires, fae, and demons. Oh, and elves. Vampires are essentially evil but everyone else seems to co-exist relatively peacefully. There is a human organization, Archangel, that hunts supernaturals. I'm not sure their mission exactly, but Olivia seeks knowledge of the others in order to better relations between species. When Loren surreptitiously lands on Olivia's doorstep, a species Olivia has never seen, she's excited.

Olivia is a doctor and as such studies the other species brought into Archangel. She has had a few bad experiences though and feels a desperate need to redeem herself with her colleagues. Loren seems like the perfect place to start - until he bites her and sets into motion something that will change her life forever.

Loren is an elf prince and comes around with no recollection of how he got to Archangel. What he does know is that he's in need of blood and this beautiful woman hovering over him will suit just fine. But the first taste of her blood unleashes something he was unprepared for...something he'd stopped hoping he'd find.

I liked both Olivia and Loren. Olivia is smart, tenacious and stubborn. She's always thinking, calculating, considering - and I liked that about her. Of course, I wished she'd stopped over-thinking at a few points and had just gone with her heart. But I understood her reasoning. Loren is strong, loyal almost to a fault, kind, and protective. He's sacrificed so much to protect  his people, never giving up hope of finding his mate. He and Olivia share compassion for others and complemented one another well. It took awhile for Olivia to see their link wasn't just about the bond.

We also meet Loren's brother, Vail, his second in command, Bleu, Olivia's best friend, Sable, and others. Each character is well defined and I'm anxious for their stories. They added depth, and often humor, to the story.

I will admit that parts of the story dragged for me. I tired of Olivia's waffling on whether or not she wanted to complete the bond with Loren. Of course, the waffling enabled them to better get to know one another and realize they had developed real feelings, so it had purpose. The last 25% though, the action and tension really ramped up and I was flying through the pages. I was shocked at the turn of events - and just as relieved by them as Loren and Olivia were.

Kissed by a Dark Prince was every bit as good as I was hoping it would be. I'm looking forward to losing myself in this world again and seeing who's up next in finding their eternal mate.

**OctobeRec Fest Review #2 ~ With You ~ Nashoda Rose**

I one-clicked With You after reading a tempting review from Naomi @Nomi's Paranormal Palace. Thanks, Naomi!! I can't wait to get started on Torn from You. :)

***

With You
Tear Asunder #0.5
Release Date: December 20, 2013
Genre: Dark, Contemporary Romance
Source: *Freebie* puchased on Amazon
Rating: 4 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
Sculpt is an illegal fighter.

He's also the lead singer of a local rock band.

No one knows his real name.

And from the moment I met him, he made me forget mine.

In order to convince Sculpt to give me self-defense lessons, I had to follow his one rule - no complaining or he'd walk. I didn't think it would be a problem. I could handle a few bruises. What I hadn't anticipated was landing on my back with Scult on top of me and my entire body burning up for him.

I tried to ignore it.

I failed of course, And having a hot, tattooed badass on top of me week after week, acting completely immune to what he was doing to my body - it was frustrating as hell, so I broke his rule - I complained.

Then he kissed me.

Author's Note: This novella is Sculpt and Emily's beginning and how they met. It is an extra and not required to be read before Torn from You. Their story and what happens to them is the novel Torn from You.

*Warning* Huge cliff-hanger. Like huge! But With You and Torn from You are released on the same day.

With You is the prequel to Torn from You and is a compelling introduction to the characters of Emily and Sculpt. I'm hooked and am eager to begin the rest of their story.

Emily lost any chance of building self-confidence when her father died when she was 10. Her mom was too self-absorbed and reminding Emily constantly of how she'd ruined her life. She spent most of her teen years with her best friend and her best friend's brother, whose unique circumstances bonded them. A frightening experience sends Emily looking for Sculpt, a fighter, hoping he'll teach her some self-defense moves.

Sculpt is a fighter as well as the lead singer for the band, Tear Asunder. We don't know much else about him other than his past is scary, he doesn't talk about it, and he's over the moon for Emily.

We are witness to these two getting to know one another and falling for each other. And it's heartwarming really, and I enjoyed it. Both Emily and Sculpt have walls put up to keep people from getting in. But, while Emily does some growing, we still don't know that much about Sculpt aside from his feelings for Emily and he doesn't have much character growth. 

Then the night of Emily's first time to see Sculpt's band...BAM!! I'm chomping at the bit to know what happens next!

**OctobeRec Fest Review #1 ~ Angel Kin ~ Tricia Skinner**

I one-clicked Angel Kin after reading great reviews from Carmel @Rabid Reads and Traci @Mad Hatter Reads. Thanks, ladies. Angel Kin is a book I'm happy to have one-clicked! :)

***

Angel Kin
Angel Assassins #1
Release Date: April 28, 2014
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Source: Purchased ebook on Amazon
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Goodreads ~ Amazon ~ B&N

Synopsis
While channeling Robin Hood's "steal from the rich and give to the poor" attitude at a local politician's house, ex-con Katie Logan witnesses a forced suicide. Dirty or not, supernatural or not, he didn't deserve to die, especially not by his own hand. But with her record, stepping forward as a witness isn't an option. On the run from the police and the murderer, she turns to The Bound Ones for help.

When a beautiful woman comes to The Bound Ones, half-angel assassin Cain is immediately drawn to her. But when she fingers him as the killer, he can come to only one conclusion. The twin he thought was dead is very much alive...and trying to send him a message. Unfortunately, that message is: "You're next."

It's a race against time as Cain fights to save the woman he's falling in love with before his brother Abel destroys them both.

Whoa. The beginning of Angel Kin immediately drew me into this story. It was a great way to introduce our heroine, Katie, and the crux of the plot. I'm a sucker for angel stories, so I was drawn into this new world wondering what Heaven and Hell were up to. 

Katie is the only girl in her firefighting family and a black sheep by her own admission. She got in trouble for having sticky fingers. But I quite enjoyed that Skinner made her a 'noble' thief. Katie was, after all, trying to get some loot to sell in order to save her friends. She is an extremely loyal and caring woman, which are traits Cain find very appealing. 

Katie finds herself enmeshed in the latest battle between good and evil, after witnessing a murder. She can't go to the police because the reason she was in the position to witness it would cause her some trouble, so her brother takes her to The Bound Ones. They promise to keep her safe but sparks really fly when Katie meets Cain - partially because of an attraction and partially because he looks exactly like the murderer.

Cain is one of The Bound Ones, a Nephilim whose powers have been bound. He and the three other Nephilim, all have different powers, which they refer to as their Grace. They use these gifts to protect innocents. Cain has kept his emotions locked down for centuries, never allowing anyone, outside of his brethren, in. Katie, however, brings out his possessive and protective instincts unlike no one else ever has.

Ms. Skinner did a great job of world building, weaving biblical mythology - angels, Nephilim, and even Cain and Abel - with human and Others - demons, lycans, shifters, and vampires. It was fascinating to see how they lived among one another and fought for political dominance as part of the proverbial battle between Heaven and Hell. The history Skinner built around the Nephilim and The Bound Ones is unique and I quite enjoyed it. The explanation of the powers, or Grace, how it manifests, was interesting as well. 

Angel Kin revolves around trying to find Abel, before it's too late, and understanding why he's not found Cain before. Of course, Abel's actions are part of a bigger agenda - that of the Renegades, or the surviving Fallen Angels, and others who've joined their fight against the Directorate, or Heaven.

In all, I'm so happy with this recommendation. With great world building and compelling characters, action, and a touch of romance, Angel Kin was an exciting start to the series. The only issue I had was with the pacing. I thought the beginning, despite a whopper of an opening scene, was a bit slow. But I'm eager for what promises to be the intriguing and possibly gruesome battle that is brewing between Heaven and Hell. I'm also eager to learn more about each of the other Bound Ones as the series continues, as well as what the Renegades are after and what the Directorate and Heaven intended when they started this.

**Special Feature ~ OctobeRec Fest**

Thanks to you, my blogging friends, I've accrued many, many books on my ereaders. I'd been joking about spending a month reading these recommendations and finally decided, why not? So the entire month of October, I'm going to be reading those books that I've one-clicked thanks to your recommendations.

Here are some of the books on my schedule for the month. I'm sure you'll recognize your recommendations but I'll make sure to call you out in my reviews. ;)




Thanks so much to you all for sharing book love! And hopefully I can get a few of you interested in some new books to try.