Quantcast
Girls*Heart* Books: Harlequin UK
Showing posts with label Harlequin UK. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Harlequin UK. Show all posts

Monday, December 3, 2012

'Alice in Zombieland' by Gena Showalter: Review & Giveaway


Alice in Zombieland
The White Rabbit Chronicles Book #1 
By Gena Showalter
Published by Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: September 25, 2012 

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.
I'd tell them I love them.
I wish... Yeah, I wish.

Alice in Zombieland is the first book in the White Rabbit Chronicles by Gena Showalter. I received this book from Harlequin UK in exchange for an honest review.  I have to begin by saying I don't normally like zombie stories very much (or at all if I'm being totally honest.) They're just not my cup of tea.  That said, I was surprised by how much I absolutely loved this book.  It started, of course, with the gorgeous cover. I couldn't turn it away now could I? I'm very glad I stepped out of my safety zone to check this out.

The story is told from the point of view of the main character, Ali as she attempts to move on with her life following the death of her family. Honestly, Ali has every right to hide under her bed for the rest of her life after what she witnesses. Instead, she plunges head first back into the world, determined to learn the truth. You have to respect the hell out of her for that, in my opinion. Add to that her humor and compassion and you have a very likable character on your hands. 

Thanks to Gena Showalter I now have another book boyfriend to share with you all. Cole Holland is that boy. Holy hotness, ladies! He's a bad boy with an even worse reputation but he's so much fun to look at. And the oddest things seem to happen whenever he and Ali let their gazes meet. He's very mysterious and seemingly aloof. Admit it, ladies, we cannot walk away from that combination.  I am going to go ahead and say it's impossible to not drool just a little over him. 

Alice in Zombieland is action packed and overflowing with twists, suspense and even some romance. I never had any idea what would happen next and I thoroughly enjoyed it.  I cannot wait for the next book in this fantastically enjoyable new series. 

My Rating: 








And now for the giveaway!
a Rafflecopter giveaway



Gena Showalter is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in paranormal and contemporary romances, as well as young adult novels. Her series include White Rabbit Chronicles, Angels of the Dark, Otherworld Assassins, Lords of the Underworld, Alien Huntress and Intertwined.

Her novels have appeared in Cosmopolitan Magazine, and Seventeen Magazine, and have been translated all over the world. The critics have called her books "sizzling page-turners" and "utterly spellbinding stories", while Showalter herself has been called “a star on the rise”.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

'Spellbound' by Cara Lynn Shultz: Review


Spellbound
Spellbound Book #1 
By Cara Lynn Shultz
Published By: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: June 21, 2011 

What's a girl to do when meeting The One means she's cursed to die a horrible death?

Life hasn't been easy on sixteen-year-old Emma Connor, so a new start in New York may be just the change she needs. But the posh Upper East Side prep school she has to attend? Not so much. Friendly faces are few and far between, except for one that she's irresistibly drawn to—Brendan Salinger, the guy with the rock-star good looks and the richest kid in school, who might just be her very own white knight.

But even when Brendan inexplicably turns cold, Emma can't stop staring. Ever since she laid eyes on him, strange things have been happening. Streetlamps go out wherever she walks, and Emma's been having the oddest dreams: visions of herself in past lives, —visions that warn her to stay away from Brendan. Or else.
(From Goodreads)

Spellbound is the first book in a series of the same name by Cara Lynn Shultz. Set in modern day New York City, the story spans the course of several months. Following a tragedy that leaves her all alone, the main character, 16 year-old Emma Connor, moves there to live with her aunt.  I found myself drawn into Emma's story from the very start. 

Told from Emma's point of view, the narrative is highly amusing. It is very easy to get caught up in the mystery she finds herself immersed in. I found myself completely entranced with this book and stayed up until 1 am on a work night to finish it. I simply had to know how things turned out between Emma and Brendan. 

I really enjoyed the characters in the book. Emma is hugely likable and it's very hard to not admire her strength and humor in the face of the turmoil surrounding her life. Brendan,  Emma's love interest, is funny, sweet and arrogant all at the same time in that  oh-so appealing way only gorgeous teenage boys can be. My favorite character is Emma's best friend, Anglelique, though. Completely unique and proud of it, she accepts Emma from her first day at the uptight private school and she is always there for her from then on, regardless of the circumstances. 

I have to say that I did see a few of the twists in the plot coming; some parts were a little predictable. However, the characters kept me engaged and hanging on until the end. I enjoyed this book very much and look forward to reading the next volume in the series. 
My Rating: 




Cara Lynn Shultz’s love of supernatural writing began when she was 7 and wrote a play about ghosts, which she and her friends acted out on her grandparents’ porch. Since then, her work has appeared in Teen People, Alternative Press, Stuff, InStyle, Us Weekly, and The Guardian UK.She is a proud graduate of Fordham University and is currently a senior editor at People.com.Cara lives in her native New York City with her husband, tuxedo cat and 8 million other people. Spellbound is her first novel.
Follow the Author: