Good afternoon, peeps! Welcome to my last post for the day =) It’s my disappointing wrap up for February. This was a reaaally slow month for me – I hope to make up for it on March!
Tag: february
Convincing Leopold, from Ava March (London Legal #2)
Hi, there! Good afternoon to you 🙂 I’d like to start this post apologizing to Ava. Convincing Leopold was re-released today, so I had promised my review for Feb. 8th and failed miserably. I’m so so sorry 😦 But better a bit later than never 😉
As said once or twice, Ava is re-releasing the London Legal series and adding up a third book to it on 2016. Reviews for book one and book three are already available ❤ Both 5 stars, btw!
And yes, another Ava March book review, sorry not sorry, haha!
The Story
Arthur couldn’t be happier with his lover, Leopold. Without the threat of coming home to an empty and cold apartment, Arthur is refreshed and working even harder than usual. Except that Leopold seems to be restless of late and just won’t let Arthur rest at all during the night… And not in a pleasant way.
Leopold couldn’t be happier with his lover, Arthur. Without the threat of losing him again to some other more respectable gentleman, Leopold is refreshed and sober as he never has been. Except that Arthur’s hours at the office seem to only increase and Arthur just hired a new secretary… And a beautiful man, nevertheless.
Will Arthur and Leopold work out their differences or prove that they weren’t ever suited at all?
The Analysis
Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂
I like Convincing Leopold even better than Convincing Arthur. As I mentioned on the review for book one, Leopold is one of my favorite Ava March’s males. He is so exotic, beautiful and adorable, ugh! I wanna hug him.
Ahem.
This book was a re-read and I lost count of times that I did so since buying it, so it’s another case of over analyzing something that I’m deeply familiarized with. Not a bad thing, just means that you’ll have to bear with me for a while longer, haha! This book was more dramatic than the last and left me with my heart in tiny pieces on my bedroom floor. I cried hard on the first read and, sometimes, I still do. I just can’t stand what Arthur did to Leopold. But we’ll get there. Important thing is that this book is an excellent sequel and a five stars book 🙂
The narrative in all March’s books so far is third person styled with switching points of view between the couple (a.k.a. my favorite kind), so once again we are able to see what goes on with Arthur and Leopold. And that only makes the reader’s heart more broken when they start to fall apart. You know how much they love each other and you can’t do anything to help them or assure them how perfect for each other than they are.
Honestly, you have no idea how I felt when I couldn’t show this line to Leopold:
Yet being with Thorn felt right. More than right, in fact. Thorn felt like home.
Okay, I’m okay. I think.
The plot was simple and straightforward: a couple having adjusting problems on their relationship thanks to lack of proper communication. The innovations? Arthur and Leopold are a gay couple on the Regency era, a time were you could be hanged for sodomy. And just like that, a simple plot becomes something exciting, haha! Oh, and of course that no matter the complexity of the plot if it isn’t well executed. March is my queen in plot executions ❤ (I have to say that Jacqueline E. Smith is hard competition. Maybe if Luke and Chase started a romance in Lost Souls…).
Now, let’s talk about my sweet darling Leopold. Yes, I know, there is Arthur and Jones, but they can wait, hunf. I usually like top guys best in gay couples, but Leopold just caught me hard. His subtle arrogance and insecurity did the trick, I guess. A quick quote from Arthur for you to catch my meaning:
“You do realize you are the very embodiment of temptation?”
Thorn arched a knowing brow.
Yes, of course he knew.
And Leopold is so right. #justsaying
Also, he has a condition that made me relate a lot with him. I already experienced similar crisis and there is nothing you can do besides waiting for it to pass. He said himself that two days in bed weren’t that bad and he was right. Last year, I had a break down and was abed for two weeks. I barely looked up on internet, wouldn’t personally talk to my parents or do much besides stay tucked in my bed. For two weeks, I couldn’t attend my college classes or get out of my bedroom at all. Add this to the knowledge that Arthur was a freaking selfish bastard that couldn’t bother to just be honest with Leopold and then you have all my reasons to like Leopold better, haha!
However, of course, I have to give Arthur credit. In the moment he realized how big of a mess he had made, he chased after Leopold like a blind hellhound. That was really cute. And creepy.
Once again, I was captured by March’s beautiful way of building and portraying of a relationship trying to work. Convincing Leopold is all about how communication is vital for a health commitment. And all about how perfect Leopold and Arthur are for each other ❤
To close the characters’ section, I’d like to acknowledge Jones, Leopold’s butler. His devotion and loyalty to Leopold were touching, especially on a time were employees were almost slaves on the hands of the royal and the wealth. I wanted to hug him too, haha!
As always, I can’t treat March’s sex scenes as a bonus point, as they are present on ever book that she writes please never change and they are always smoking hot. I will say this on every single review: March knows her business. I still get impressed with the overflow of feeling during her character’s most intimate moments. They may be mad at each other or just not care at all for each other, but when it comes to the bed, you feel that there is nothing outside in the world besides them and their play. This is magical. I think it’s fair enough to say that all March’s characters make love ❤
Of course, I also need to express how much I loved the new cover! I have the old edition and trust me, this one is way better ❤
Overall, this book made me laugh, made me cry and made me love Leopold even more ❤ This is one of the best sequels that I have read and I don’t think I’ll even stop re-reading this book.
That’s it, thank you for bearing with me! The best part is that you can read an excerpt of Convincing Leopold here and find the ebook on the usual places:
February New Books!
Hello, there! Good afternoon to you and sorry for the tardiness of this post today. It took me so much longer to write it than I had expected, ugh!
Anyway, today is that time of the month when I pick my favorite releases according to Goodreads lists and my own researches, haha!
Without further ado, I present you with my February Hot Releases! Dad, if you chose today to catch up with my blog, take some notes ❤
Day 2
- Assassin’s Heart (Assassin’s Heart #1), by Sarah Ahiers
Love and hate and assassins? Count me in 😀 #wishlist
- The Asylum Novellas: The Scarlets, The Bone Artists, & The Warden (Asylum #1.5, 2.5, 3.5 ), by Madeleine Roux
I’m madly passionate about The Asylum series since page one of book one. Unfortunately, I haven’t encountered book three to buy and read yet, but I shall not give up! I can’t wait to read the extra stories, they sound awesome! #wishlist
- The Hunter (Victorian Rebels #2), by Kerrigan Byrne
And you thought I would drop the historical romances deal, right? Eh, wrong. I may not add then to my to-read list on Goodreads, but I’ll still fuss over them, haha!
- In Another Life, by Julie Christine Johnson
This book sounds mind blowing! I wish I could put my hands on it.
- Kingfisher, by Patricia A. McKillip
I love YA books with male main characters! We need more men in YA, haha! Goodreads’ blurb for this one got me hard, so I need to read this now! #wishlist
- The Queen of the Night, by Alexander Chee
Another mind blowing one, but with an extra help: historical book! I love historical adventures ❤
- Remembrance (The Mediator #7), by Meg Cabot
I started to love ghost stories thanks to The Mediator series and even if it lost its position as the best one of its genre to Cemetery Tours series [link], I still need more!! #wishlist
Why almost all Meg Cabot’s covers are so crappy? For crying out loud, that is ugly.
- Starflight (Starflight #1), by Melissa Landers
My friend Mandy, from The Reading Diaries, introduced me to this book quite accidentally and it does sound cool! Now I want to read it as well ❤ #wishlist
- Stars Above (The Lunar Chronicles 0.5, 0.6, 1.5, 3.1, 3.6), by Marissa Meyer
I couldn’t leave this book out of my selection. Recently, my friend Jess, from Mud and Stars, made my mind for real on this series and I will try to buy the first book this month to start it 🙂 Thank you, Jess! Besides, I needed to show case this, as the cover is gorgeous.
- Unhooked, by Lisa Maxwell
I saw this book today at my friend Nicole’s blog, Away in Neverland. She was so excited about it that I had to check the book. And guess what? I fell for it too, haha! Now this needs to hit my local bookstores asap!! #wishlist
- The Warden (Asylum #3.5), by Madeleine Roux
Besides releasing all the novellas in just one book, they also released a new story for the Asylum series today, that’s why this title is also here ❤ #wishlist
- Will’s True Wish (True Gentlemen #3), by Grace Burrowes
Yes, another historical romance. I love Grace Burrowes, so I would never leave her releases out of my lists ❤
Day 8
- The Abyss Surrounds Us (The Abyss Surrounds Us #1), by Emily Skrutskie
This book is lucky that I loved its premise, because both the cover and the way that they have written the synopsis just suck. #wishlist
Day 9
- Convincing Leopold (London Legal #2), by Ava March
And you guys though you were free of my obsession over queen Ava March. Poor you. She’ll be re-releasing Convincing Leopold with a brand new hot cover this month and TWO REVIEWS for her books are coming. Brace yourselves, haha!
- Glass Sword (Red Queen #2), by Victoria Aveyard
I’m really excited to read Red Queen, so it would be stupid to leave this book out of my list 😀 #wishlist
- I’ll See You in Paris, by Michelle Gable
This book sounds so amazing and mysterious! And it has a catchy title and beautiful cover and that’s why it is featured on this list.
- Reign of Shadows (Reign of Shadows #1), by Sophie Jordan
This month, we seem to have a lot of mind-blowing books. This sounds like a Rapunzel retelling for me and I can’t wait to see if it’s true 😀
- A Spy’s Devotion (The Regency Spies of London #1), by Melanie Dickerson
Hello, my name is wanton for historical romances. Add spying and beautiful distrustful males to the mix and you win my heart. #wishlist
- These Vicious Masks (These Vicious Masks #1), by Tarun Shanker and Kelly Zekas
This book sounds the perfect marriage between paranormal and sugared romance. I love both, so naturally I’m pinning for this one. Besides, have you seen this awesomely beautiful cover? #wishlist
- The Vatican Princess: A Novel of Lucrezia Borgia, by C.W. Gortner
I love almost non-fictional books, specially this kind. Also, the Borgias fascinate me, haha!
Day 11
- Behind Closed Doors, by B.A. Paris
This book had me hooked on the synopsis. Honestly, I good goose bumps reading it, I need more! #wishlist
- Earth’s End (Air Awakens #3), by Elise Kova
I really want to read the first book in this series, as my friend Lindsey thinks I’d love it and she knows me very well, haha! I just had to announce this volume 🙂
Day 15
- The Lie, by Karina Halle
I usually am not a just romance kind of reader, but I loved the mystery behind this couple ❤ #wishlist
Day 16
- Asleep, by Krystal Wade
Mind Blowing alert! I love books that have asylums as their theme as you may have realize from my early comments on this list, so I was on my toes to know what the hell is happening on this book! ❤ #wishlist
- Dancer of Death (SPECTR 2 #2), by Jordan L. Hawk
I can assure you that I have loved every book that I have ever read from Jordan. So what that they are only three? I already downloaded the first one in the SPECTR series and it is on my TBR shelf just waiting for it’s turn, so it was nice to know it has a brother, haha!
- An Evening In Baker Street (Holmes and Watson), by David Ruffle
I love everything based on Sherlock Holmes. Just give it to me. Even if this story passes right before their retirement and may lead me to fangirl tears.
- The Immortals (Olympus Bound #1), by Jordanna Max Brodsky
This book got my full attention on the first lines of the synopsis. Please, just grab me a copy of this jewel, thanks. #wishlist
- Ruler of Beasts (Dorothy Must Die 0.6), by Danielle Paige
As I’m pinning to start this series for a while (no such luck in finding it at my local bookstores, though), I’m really interested in any new releases for it 😀
- The Shadow Queen (Ravenspire #1), by C.J. Redwine
Fairy tale retelling alert!! It’s a new adaptation of Snow White and has love born from hate! *–* I need this NOW! #wishlist
- Star Wars: The Force Awakens Junior Novel, by Walt Disney Company
I loved this movie deeply and I love Disney novelizations, haha! #wishlist
Day 18
- 13 Minutes, by Sarah Pinborough
I love Sarah Pinborough, but only have read Tales from the Kingdoms series from her so far. As this book sounds really badass, I’ll try to change that by grabbing this one 😀 #wishlist
Day 23
After the Woods, by Kim Savage
Another mind blowing book! I love books that plays with the mind, haha!
- Firstlife (Everlife #1), by Gena Showalter
I usually am not really a dystopian reader, but this book hugged me when I saw it on Goodreads. Now I need to hug it back. At my place. #wishlist
- The Forbidden Wish, by Jessica Khoury
I had never seen a supernatural book with jinnies as main creatures/characters. This retelling of Aladdin made my head spin in excitement, haha! #wishlist
- The Groom Wore Plaid (Highland Weddings #2), by Gayle Callen
What did I say about the historical romance deal? lol
- ”I Do”…Take Two!, by Merline Lovelace
Yes, two in a roll.
Day 29
- Honour Bound (Highland Magic #2), by Helen Harper
As Ava March’s book is a re-release, I had to chose another book to call favorite of the upcoming of this month’s lot. And I chose you, Honour Bound! I’ve read Gifted Thief [review here!] this past week and I’m too deeply in love. OMG, FEBRUARY 29TH WON’T BE HERE SOON ENOUGH!!!!!! #wishlist
So, I tried to be a grown up on this list and epic failed. Go me, haha! All the books marked with #wishlist are on my radar in case a miracle occurs on my local bookstores and I happen to find those releases there 😀 Or if I’m simply planning to buy it sometime in my life, haha! Dad, did you get the message? Over.
Thanks for reading and I’d love to know which releases you’re pinning for this month 😀
February TBR!
Hello, there! January came to an end and it is time to decide which books will be read on February 😀 I did my list in phases during last month, trying to balance received books, bought books, book club books and re-reads. The result is this list:
- Convincing Arthur, from Ava March (re-read to celebrate the re-release with the new cover <3)
- Convincing Leopold (re-read to celebrate the upcoming re-release with the new cover <3)
- The Answer, from D. M. Thornton (received)
- Eternal War: Army of Saints, from Livio Gambarini (received, you can learn more about this book here)
- Carry On, from Rainbow Rowell (bought)
- Sipping on Midnight, from Lee Brailsford (received, you can learn more about this book here)
- Falling Kingdoms (Falling Kingdoms #1), by Morgan Rhodes (book club)
- A Court of Thorns and Roses, from Sarah J. Maas (bought)
- The Doll-Master and Other Tales of Terror, from Joyce Carol Oates (received via NetGalley)
Ava March’s both books are quick reads, so they won’t take my time. I hope I can make through these books, as I’m not as fast as I used to be for reading, haha!
That’s it! Thanks for reading 🙂 Have you decided which books you’ll be reading this month??
TBR of the Week: Carry On, from Rainbow Rowell
Hello, there! Nice Sunday to you! We have lots of sun on my town and I think I’ll burst into flames – or so says my mom, that truly believes that I became a vampire sometime during college, haha!
Anyway, talking about vampires, it’s TBR of the Week day!
TBR of the Week: Eternal War: Armies of Saints, from Livio Gambarini
Hello to you! Hope you have an amazing Sunday filled with happiness! 😀 I’m overly optimistic today, as I’ll be home real soon, haha!
The chosen book of the week for this section was a title I received recently in exchange for an honest review: Eternal War: Armies of Saints, from Livio Gambarini 🙂
BOOK COVER REVEAL: Whispers of Bedlam Asylum, by Mark C. King!
Hello, there! Good morning and good Tuesday for you 😀 I have excellent news!
Mark C. King, author of the AWESOME book Sigmund Shaw: A Steampunk Novel [review here!], has just revealed the title and cover for his upcoming novel, sequel to Sigmund Shaw’s book!
I’m especially excited for and proud of this book, as I was one of Mark’s beta readers and gave him the last little nudge for this title to go out as it did, so Whispers of Bedlam Asylum already is a huge part of my life, one that I’m very thankful for! ❤
Without further ado, here we have the cover!
SO. BEAUTIFUL. I can’t wait for this book to hit the stores :DD Mark believes Whispers of Bedlam Asylum shall arrive to our hands in late February, 2016. IT’S ALMOST HERE, PEOPLE!
Oh, by the way, Whispers of Bedlam Asylum also has a Goodreads profile and an official blurb, folks!
There are no boundaries in madness…
Few places on earth have as dark a reputation as Bedlam Asylum in turn of the century London. Whispered rumours of brutality, fear, and hopelessness turn out to be only the beginning of its cruelty. One man is trying to protect his family by uncovering the darkest of Bedlam’s hidden secrets. One woman is following in her late husband’s footsteps to try and help those that can’t help themselves.
They will learn that finding what you are looking for does not make one prepared to face it.
That’s it! Thanks for reading and sorry for making a scene, but I’m so excited, haha! Do you like suspense/steampunk novels??
The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange 