Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

WORLDS KEPT THEM APART. DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER. Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers

My thoughts: I struggled to get in to this book at first. I'm not sure why, I think it was quite hard for me to get my head around the post-apocalyptic setting of the story. Once I sort of understood that aspect I really started to enjoy the story. I finished the book in two days because I simply couldn't put it down. Aria started of as a bit naive and slightly annoying to be honest, but she seemed to grow up a bit throughout the book and I enjoyed seeing her gradually learning about the outside world and coming to terms with what was happening in her own world. I liked the developing relationship between Aria and Perry although it didn't really make sense to me at first. I am looking forward to finding out what happens to them in the next book. Unfortunately I did feel that the ending of the book was a bit disappointing, it didn't really do the story justice, but hopefully things will be resolved in the next book.

Never Mind The Botox Rachel by Penny Avis and Joanna Berry

Never Mind the Botox is a series about four professional women all working on the sale of high profile cosmetics surgery business the Beau Street Group. Each book reveals how the women cope with one of the most glamorous but challenging deals of their careers, and the dramatic impact it has on their personal lives. With a briefcase in one hand and a glass of wine in the other, can they navigate their way through a surreal world of boob jobs by day and intrigue by night - and still keep their own love lives on track?

Rachel Altmanis a corporate financier with a prestigious accounting firm who's desperately trying to keep on the straight and narrow. Hopelessly led astray by her bar diving boyfriend, she gets the chance to turn things round when her boss gives her the break she's been waiting for. But when the deal doesn't go as planned Rachel panics, sparking off a chain of betrayal and lies that threaten to ruin bith her love life and her career.

My thoughts: The setting for this story was interesting, I don't know a lot about corporate finance and how businesses are sold, so it was a bit hard to understand some of that side of things, but it was all kind of explained throughout the story as Rachel talked about her job to friends throughout the book.

The main character, Rachel, seemed quite realistic in that she has quite a few flaws, for example staying out late when she has work the next day, I can totally relate to that!  But I didn't feel like I got to know her very well and when she makes decisions there was no explanation about why she made those decisions.

I also had trouble believing some of the unrealistic relationships in the story. For example, there's a nurse who is having an affair with at least three men at once, which I guess could happen, but it seemed a bit hard to believe for me.

Overall it's a fun read and I'd recommend it if you're looking for something a bit more intelligent than your average chick-lit.

Book received in exchange for an honest review. 

The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

My name - my True Name - is Ashallayn'darkmyr Tallyn. I am the last remaining Winter Prince, son of the Queen of the Unseelie Court. And I am dead to her. My fall began, as many stories do, with a girl...

Loveis a weakness for mortals and fools. And Ash, heir to the winter court is no mere mortal. But when he swore to be Meghan Chase's knight, his oath bound him to her irrevocably. Now the girl Ash loves is ruler of a realm where no Winter Prince can ever survive. To be with her he must have a soul and a mortal body, yet the tests he must face to earn these things are impossible.

There is one stronger than his will to live: his vow to Meghan. As Ash battles he learns truths that challenge his darkest beliefs and show him that, sometimes, it takes more than courage to make the ultimate sacrifice.

My thoughts: Having only read the first book in this series "The Iron King", I was a bit worried that this, the fourth book, wouldn't make a lot of sense to me. Fortunately that wasn't the case at all. Everything is explained really well and I think I could have quite easily enjoyed this book as a standalone.

Ash wants to be with Meghan, but unfortunately for him, the realm where she lives is deadly to him. The only way he can go to her is if he completes a quest to get a soul and become mortal. Ash is joined on his quest by a group of companions, includng Robyn Goodfellow, the Big Bad Wolf, Ariella and Grimalkin the talking cat. I thought that this made the story more interesting and the banter between the characters was amusing.

The story is packed full of action and adventure with some romance and sadness thrown in. I was hooked from start to finish and strongly reccommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good fairy tale.

Received from MiraInk in exchange for an honest review.

Touch of Power by Maria V Snyder

Synopsis from Goodreads: Laying hands upon the injured and dying, Avry of Kazan assumes their wounds and diseases into herself. But rather than being honored for her skills, she is hunted. Healers like Avry are accused of spreading the plague that has decimated the Territories, leaving the survivors in a state of chaos.

Stressed and tired from hiding, Avry is abducted by a band of rogues who, shockingly, value her gift above the golden bounty offered for her capture. Their leader, an enigmatic captor-protector with powers of his own, is unequivocal in his demands: Avry must heal a plague-stricken prince—leader of a campaign against her people. As they traverse the daunting Nine Mountains, beset by mercenaries and magical dangers, Avry must decide who is worth healing and what is worth dying for. Because the price of peace may well be her life...

My thoughts: Touch of Power has a strong female lead character, Avry, who is captured for her healing powers by a group of men trying to save their Prince from the plague. Along the journey to save Prince Ryne, Avry must decide if the Prince is worth giving up her own life for or if there is another even worse fate awaiting her. She also begins to wonder how the plague really started and what the Healers' Guild were really doing.

I really enjoyed this book. It was very reminiscent of Poison Study, Maria's first book which I absolutely adored.Once again I enjoyed reading an adventure story set in a fantasy world. The characters were really interesting and I love the way that the background characters made the story even more interesting.

I feel like I would like to know more about Avry and her powers, I'm really looking forward to more from this series! 

Reviewed as part of the Touch of Power blog tour.