Sexy Metal Band - The Creation of a Sex God

This review is a little our of my norm since it's for a hardcore adult romance. I would warn that this borders on erotica - but there's more plot than any erotica book I've ever tried to read. But there is LOTS of sex. Sex, sex, sex.

That being said, it was the book that really for me out of my reading funk a while ago. It has engaging characters and a great plot. When I read it, I wasn't aware that it was the second in a series, and as soon as I was done I promptly went and secured the other four books so that I could binge on them ASAP.

Of course, by now you're probably wondering what book I'm talking about. So let's lay down the details and move on to my video review!


Rock Hard

Written by: Olivia Cunning

Released: April 5th 2011 by Sourcebooks Casablanca

Summary: An ultimatum can break your heart....  

Every night lead singer, Sed Lionheart whips thousands of women into a frenzy with his voice alone. But the stage is the only place Sed feels any passion since he lost Jessica... 

If you’re not willing to break all the rules... 

It shattered her heart, but law student Jessica broke off her engagement to Sed, determined to be successful on her own terms. But no other man can ever hold a candle to Sed... 

Then a chance meeting and tortuously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they’re in danger of truly scandalous public exposure...

Now on to the video review!







I hope you enjoyed it!! And I hope you'll go out and try the book for yourself.

Also, if you're interested in the first book in the series, I reviewed it here --- Backstage Pass

March Book Hauls!

I am surprised that I posted FOUR book hauls in March - having only bought a few books myself. I'm sad to say that I didn't even include my Amazon book purchases for Kindle - those will have to be combined in a mega haul and include a few months worth of Kindle books and other ebooks obtained in that period of time. 

Until then, here are the videos to my book hauls from last month! 

Thanks for watching!

Amazon Book Review - JL Paul x 2

Hey y'all!

This is going to be a little different for today's review - mostly because it's for:

1. Amazon books
2. which were previously published on Fictionpress where I first read them
3. the second and third in a series since I consider the first to be more of a prequel and these two are one and a sequel with the same characters
4. they're self-pubbed from an indie author

I have started reviewing the amazing Amazon books that I've read in order to get them out there more in the world. This includes the freebies and the paid ones, so be warned! And, of course, most of this is being done on my YouTube channel before being posted here - which is why there's a delay between post dates.

But I'm getting away from today's review. Here it is!

Phone Calls from a Rock Star

Written by: JL Paul

Released: June 28, 2013 for Kindle

Summary: What would you do if you were sitting in a drive-thru late one night and a rock star jumps in your car? Would you scream? Call the police? 

You could do what Isabella Ames did – become his friend. 

After meeting Jake Johnson, lead singer for the band, Controlled Environment, hops in her car, Isabella is instantly plunged into a friendship that takes her through some rocky times. But when that friendship turns into something more, things couldn’t look better. 

Enter the tabloids and the rumors and the crazy fans. Isabella’s blissful life is suddenly turned upside-down. 

Being the girlfriend of a popular rock star isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.

Back to the Top

Written by: JL Paul

Released: October 9, 2013 for Kindle

Summary: So much has changed since graduation. 

For Isabella Ames, life was supposed to start after high school; college, career, and living the rest of her life with Jake Johnson. 

But life always seems to throw a curve... 

Isabella’s new life is not what she expected, but she’s adjusting well. She has a job that she loves and is engaged to a wonderful man. 

But she finds herself face-to-face with Jake again, after three years and several heartaches. Although they have both moved forward, the connection that binds them hasn’t weakened in the least. Now Isabella is struggling to fight her attraction for the only man she’s ever really loved while trying to do what she thinks is best. 

Enter more paparazzi, family issues, and a new generation and things get crazier. 

Will Isabella find her way back to Jake or is she fated to this new life?

And now the video review!







So in short, while both books need some TLC from someone who isn't attached to them (i.e. a professional editor), they have an amazing story to tell and characters to love.

You're immediately sucked into the story and the romance between the main characters. However, what's refreshing about this is the fact that you're not dealing with any form or insta-love like you seen in so many comparable novels in the YA and NA genre.

While you have to pay a few dollars for each book on Amazon (sorry, no free first book here), it's well worth the money if you are interested in seeing where the story goes. If anything it's a great few hours in someone else's drama - which really does suck you in.

Best of Both Worlds

Today I bring to you my review of The 100 - which will be airing on The CW for its series premiere on Wednesday. Personally, I can't wait to actually see how the two relate. From the commercials I can already see that they've changed quite a bit. I'm also hoping that it will give me a few answers that the book left open. Of course, there is also a sequel to this duology (it that even a word?!) coming out this September. I'm hoping for an ARC at BEA in a few months. ;)

Stay tuned below for my video review of the book! There was so much more that I wanted to discuss in the video - but I also wanted to keep it short.

The 100

Written by: Kass Morgan

Released: September 3rd 2013 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Summary: In the future, humans live in city-like spaceships orbiting far above Earth's toxic atmosphere. No one knows when, or even if, the long-abandoned planet will be habitable again. But faced with dwindling resources and a growing populace, government leaders know they must reclaim their homeland... before it's too late.

Now, one hundred juvenile delinquents are being sent on a high-stakes mission to recolonize Earth. After a brutal crash landing, the teens arrive on a savagely beautiful planet they've only seen from space. Confronting the dangers of this rugged new world, they struggle to form a tentative community. But they're haunted by their past and uncertain about the future. To survive, they must learn to trust - and even love - again.

So, unless you didn't watch the video (shame on you) you saw that I did enjoy the book.

I loved how the characters stories were all laced together in one way or another - not that this should be a surprise since they live on a relatively small space ship - and how there were flashbacks mixed in with the present day so that you could understand they "why" better.

Since this was made into a CW show, or because of it, it really reads like a prime time drama on the station. While I personally enjoyed this aspect, I can see where others wouldn't find it the same way. There was a sense of predictability about the whole book, but when there were twists you expected them, but had no idea what they would be.

While it took me a few seconds each chapter to get into the different character perspective, I did enjoy the four main characters and seeing the events from their eyes. I loved how each of them were able to bring something different to the story and how they differed vastly.

I can't wait for the second book. It needs to come faster.

Ch-ch-ch-ch-CHANGES!!!

Hello all! I was super bored tonight and decided that it would result in my fooling around with my blog design. I wanted something clean and fresh for this new year.


(And yes I'm aware it's mid-March - maybe this stems from the never ending winter we're all living with)


The only good thing that's come from this late dumping of snowpocalypse is the fact that I'm ahead in my Goodreads challenge!! I might even surpass my goal this year if I keep up this pace!

On a side note, who else is just waiting for the end of May to get here so we can go to BEA? It can't be just me. Although if there's still snow then, I might not be the easiest person to be around. Heads will roll.

Stay tuned for more updates soon! I've been sick/tired/working/playing and haven't had the time to do much more than check my email on my computer lately. But I have some videos and posts that should pop up soon!!

Happy reading ladies and gents!

Top Ten Tuesday - Popular Author I've Never Read

See more of my YouTube videos on my new YouTube channel - MsLadyCritic!

Visit The Broke and the Bookish for more Top Ten Tuesday and join in on the fun!!!!

Grim In All The Right Ways

Grim: A Fairy Tale Anthology

Edited By: Christine Johnson

Written By: Ellen Hopkins
Amanda Hocking
Julie Kagawa
Claudia Gray
Rachel Hawkins
Kimberly Derting
Myra McEntire
Malinda Lo
Sarah Rees-Brennan
Jackson Pearce
Christine Johnson
Jeri Smith Ready
Shaun David Hutchinson
Saundra Mitchell
Sonia Gensler
Tessa Gratton
Jon Skrovan

Released: February 25th 2014 by Harlequin Teen

Summary: Inspired by classic fairy tales, but with a dark and sinister twist, Grim contains short stories from some of the best voices in young adult literature today.

The Video Review!





The Extra Review!

The short stories in this collection are from some of the best YA writers out there (right now) and are nothing short of amazingly imaginative. While I was able to guess most of the fairy tale influences for each, there were one or two where I had no clue what tale they drew from. I especially loved the story about The Chad (I kept picturing Tom Green from Charlie's Angels) and the Bluebeard rendition. I'm definitely going to keep my eyes out for this one when it's released later this month.

I received my copy of Grim from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.







Also, until the publication date, and if you're a resident of Canada or the U.S., you can enter on Goodreads for an ARC giveaway!!

Virginity, Thy Name is Bliss

Losing It

Written by: Cora Carmack

Released: February 26th 2013 by William Morrow

Summary: Virginity.
Bliss Edwards is about to graduate from college and still has hers. Sick of being the only virgin among her friends, she decides the best way to deal with the problem is to lose it as quickly and simply as possible-- a one-night stand. But her plan turns out to be anything but simple when she freaks out and leaves a gorgeous guy alone and naked in her bed with an excuse that no one with half-a-brain would ever believe. And as if that weren’t embarrassing enough, when she arrives for her first class of her last college semester, she recognizes her new theatre professor. She’d left him naked in her bed about 8 hours earlier.

The Video Review!

Check out my YouTube channel for more book related videos!!!






An Extra Review!!!!


So, this book interested me mainly because of the whole virginity angle; I find it fascinating that the main character is almost a university graduate and still has her virginity in tact. Today, kids are losing their virginity at such younger and younger ages and it can be quite alarming - especially with news reports of 14 year old girls and younger becoming pregnant from it. But that’s a whole other topic.

I loved the fact that Bliss, the main character, was still a virgin by choice. No religious or old fashioned  beliefs here folks. I also found it interesting that she really wanted to lose it ASAP — but in the right way. I feel like, because of this fact, this book will be able to speak to a lot of girls (and guys) who are interested in the New Adult genre. Or just interested in this book itself. 

Pair a good plot with great characters and this was a greatly enjoyable read, even though I found a hard time getting into it. But I blame that fact mostly on having to read a PDF on my computer since my personal paperback copy is in storage with most of my life*. 




*Moving stinks. Having to wait to move into your new house stinks even more. Especially when having to live with your mother until then. 

Walk Like an Egyptian

So, months ago - while I was still living in BC - my commute into the city was long and boring if I went by myself. To ease this boredom, I started to listen to audiobooks. I was killing two birds with one stone; I started to ease out of my book reading slump, and I made my drives interesting.

One of the first books was the first in the Kane Chronicles, and since it was so amazing, I continued with the second when I got my hands on an audiobook copy.






The Red Pyramid

Written by: Rick Riordan

Released: May 4, 2010 by Disney-Hyperion

Summary:Since their mother's death, Carter and Sadie have become near strangers. While Sadie has lived with her grandparents in London, her brother has traveled the world with their father, the brilliant Egyptologist, Dr. Julius Kane. 

One night, Dr. Kane brings the siblings together for a "research experiment" at the British Museum, where he hopes to set things right for his family. Instead, he unleashes the Egyptian god Set, who banishes him to oblivion and forces the children to flee for their lives. 

Soon, Sadie and Carter discover that the gods of Egypt are waking, and the worst of them —Set— has his sights on the Kanes. To stop him, the siblings embark on a dangerous journey across the globe - a quest that brings them ever closer to the truth about their family and their links to a secret order that has existed since the time of the pharaohs.

The Throne of Fire

Written by: Rick Riordan

Released: May 3, 2011 by Disney-Hyperion

Summary: Ever since the gods of Ancient Egypt were unleashed in the modern world, Carter Kane and his sister Sadie have been in trouble. As descendants of the House of Life, the Kanes have some powers at their command, but the devious gods haven't given them much time to master their skills at Brooklyn House, which has become a training ground for young magicians. 

And now their most threatening enemy yet - the chaos snake Apophis - is rising. If they don't prevent him from breaking free in a few days' time, the world will come to an end. In other words, it's a typical week for the Kane family. 

To have any chance of battling the Forces of Chaos, the Kanes must revive the sun god Ra. But that would be a feat more powerful than any magician has ever accomplished. 

First they have to search the world for the three sections of the Book of Ra, then they have to learn how to chant its spells. Oh, and did we mention that no one knows where Ra is exactly? 

Narrated in two different wisecracking voices, featuring a large cast of new and unforgettable characters, and with adventures spanning the globe, this second installment in the Kane Chronicles is nothing short of a thrill ride.

Here's my video review!

Basically, this series is wonderful. Ok, I'll admit that I didn't love it like I love the Percy Jackson series, but still. This is aimed at a slightly younger audience - but is still awesome for all ages. I did, when the first book was released, try to read it and it fell a little flat. But this is why I love the audiobooks so much. The voice actors really make the characters and the story come alive, and thus made me enjoy the book immensely. 

Series Review - Vampire Academy

Last year I reviewed the first Vampire Academy book by Richelle Mead and posted the video on YouTube (click the link here to see it), and it took me months to fish reading the series - admittedly reading the last four books within a few weeks after needing to know what happens next.

My love or the series is why I decided to make a video just about the series. Well, that and because I don't have my copies of the books to make said individual review videos*.

So here is my series review for Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead just in time for the Vampire Academy movie release this Friday!! I am so excited for the movie and even more excited for the Bloodlines series and see more of my favourite characters.

*not that I would need the books to make a review, but I like having the props!!

WOO!!! YOU TUBE GURL!!

Hola readerinos.


So, I'm not going to lie - I'm horrible at updating this site. Feel free to agree with me. However, to be fair to myself, I haven't been DOING anything with it to update... Until now!


Just in case you're late to the party (I'm always late... it happens), I made a new YouTube channel JUST FOR THE BOOKS!!! And its one that makes more sense for the blog, and the twitter, and the instagram....

This new channel is MsLadyCritic.  <----This is the link to click...
Sometimes I forget how to spell it. In fact, there's a video on there where I do - or there's one that I have yet to edit where it happens. Regardless, it happened.

Now, the reason for this post.

I suck at updating.

There, I said it. And that being said, I'm going to try REALLY hard to update here more frequently, but I'll be honest - the YouTube will probably be done more often. I think it's because I like the challenge of making and editing coherent videos where I don't quite look like the spaz that I am. And I love a challenge. It keeps me young.


So that's where you'll find me on the semi-regular. I'm trying, at least, to make more videos and not just reviews and book hauls*.


*I'm trying to not buy books until after BEA. We'll see how that goes.



Here's a cute picture of my Lucy!

Must See Movies

So, I'm watching* Clueless on Nexflix and discovered that the The Fault in Our Stars movie trailer was recently released. I'll admit, being as away from the book nation that I have been lately, I missed a lot of the hype. By missed, I really mean chose to ignore... but you know what I mean. When the book was first released I did scour every book store I could find to obtain a copy with a yeti in it, but my mission failed and I just didn't buy a copy. I should have just got the copy at Shoppers with the purple autograph. Hindsight, what can I say.

Regardless, I was excited to see that another young adult book was being made into a movie. I love that even the really poorly done ones are introducing so many more people to reading the books that they're based on - which makes them act like a gateway drug and leads these people down the dark road of reading YA and having ALL THE FEELS.

With the release of Vampire Academy next week, Divergent soon, and other amazing movies to come, this trailer just bumped TFiOS up on my 'must watch' list. Because of that, I'm sharing the trailer with you all too. Of course I realize that you probably have already watched this trailer on YouTube, but still. Here it is!!!

*by watching I mean it was on in the background and I wasn't really paying attention...

Reader Beware: Sexy Times Ahead!

So I read this amazing romance novel this month and I'm back into the review game! 

Basically this means good times all around! So stay tuned for the video review below. Or, if you like, you can watch it on YouTube here. I made a new YouTube channel too just for this blog for my book reviews. You can find my new channel here!!! Of course, all my old reviews are still on my old YouTube channel, but for now it's just going to be for non-book things!

Anyway, I made you wait long enough. Here is my first review of the new year!

Backstage Pass 

Written by: Olivia Cunning  

Released: October 1st 2010 by Sourcebooks Casablanca 

Summary: Five stunning guys, one hot woman, and a feverish romance... 

For him, life is all music and no play... 

When Brian Sinclair, lead songwriter and guitarist of the hottest metal band on the scene, loses his creative spark, it will take nights of downright sinful passion to release his pent-up genius...

She's the one to call the tune... 

When sexy psychologist Myrna Evans goes on tour with the Sinners, every boy in the band tries to seduce her. But Brian is the only one she wants to get her hands on... 

Then the two lovers' wildly shocking behavior sparks the whole band to new heights of glory... and sin... 

I bought my copy of this book on Amazon, but as soon as I can I'll be buying a physical copy. Hopefully one that isn't crazy expensive! ;)