Showing posts with label 4 Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 4 Stars. Show all posts
{Review} Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
Labels:
4 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Katie McGarry,
Young Adult
·
Series: Thunder Road Series #1
Author: Katie McGarry
Published: May 26th 2015
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Paperback ARC provided by publisher for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5
Goodreads | Amazon
BLURB:
An unforgettable new series from acclaimed author Katie McGarry about taking risks, opening your heart and ending up in a place you never imagined possible.
Seventeen-year-old Emily likes her life the way it is: doting parents, good friends, good school in a safe neighborhood. Sure, she's curious about her biological father—the one who chose life in a motorcycle club, the Reign of Terror, over being a parent—but that doesn't mean she wants to be a part of his world. But when a reluctant visit turns to an extended summer vacation among relatives she never knew she had, one thing becomes clear: nothing is what it seems. Not the club, not her secret-keeping father and not Oz, a guy with suck-me-in blue eyes who can help her understand them both.
Oz wants one thing: to join the Reign of Terror. They're the good guys. They protect people. They're…family. And while Emily—the gorgeous and sheltered daughter of the club's most respected member—is in town, he's gonna prove it to her. So when her father asks him to keep her safe from a rival club with a score to settle, Oz knows it's his shot at his dream. What he doesn't count on is that Emily just might turn that dream upside down.
No one wants them to be together. But sometimes the right person is the one you least expect, and the road you fear the most is the one that leads you home.
Another fabulous book by Katie McGarry, filled with mystery, danger & passion!
REVIEW:
The story:
Wow, this story is one massive emotional roller coaster!
Emily has been forced to spend the Summer with her biological father and bikie gang member, Eli, and she's not happy about. Under the belief that her father never really wanted her, she's always been distant towards him and never even really met the rest of that side of her family. All she sees is a dangerous bikie gang that she wants nothing to do with. Including Oz, the young bodyguard assigned to stick to her like glue to prevent a rival bikie gang from hurting her.
But as she spends more time with all of them she starts to realise that first impressions are not always correct and nothing is as it seems. Everyone around her are keeping secrets, and Emily is determined to discover why they are trying the hide the truth about her past. But as she digs deeper in the past, little does she realise she's putting everyone around her in danger, including herself.
The characters:
Emily & Oz have grown up in complete polar opposite worlds. Emily has lived a safe and sheltered life, while Oz has has spent his entire life surround by the bikie way of life.
Emily is sweet and kind, but very reluctant to open up to her new found family. She's wary of their unfamiliar lifestyle and I could completely understand that. I also loved seeing her grow in confidence, but still remain to true to herself.
Oz is extremely loyal to The Rein of Terror bikie gang. They've been his family from birth, and he can't wait to patch in just like his father. I loved seeing how protective his was of his surrogate family, and despite what outsiders believe, he is a genuinely good guy.
The romance:
Who doesn't love a classic good girl falls for bad boy trope. At first these two clash, with both of them making massive assumptions about each other. But as they are forced to spend time together, they realise that they may have been wrong. They grow closer and learn to trust each other, with Emily feeling like she can rely on Oz to keep her safe. Their relationship grew fairly quickly, but it felt natural progression over the course of the book.
The writing:
I've always enjoyed Katie's storytelling and this book is no different. While some people may find her books a little to dramatic, it's the exciting drama that I love the most. Was the ending a little unrealistic? Yes. Did that matter to me? Not one bit. The beautifully flawed characters and complex storyline more than made up for it.
FINAL WORD:
I really enjoyed this story, and being set in the bikie gang culture was quite eye opening. Another fabulous book by Katie McGarry, filled with mystery, danger & passion!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / kissing, heavy petting and discussions of sex
Violence: medium / gun violence, shooting, and death threats
Language: medium / occasional f word
Drugs & alcohol: medium / some minor underage drinking
{Review} TWO OF HEARTS by Christina Lee
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Christina Lee,
Contemporary Romance
·
Title: Two Of Hearts
Author: Christina Lee
Published: 5th May 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4.5/5
BLURB:
From the author of the Between Breaths novels comes a gripping romance about finding yourself while taking a second chance at your first love…
Dakota Nakos was always the resilient, strong-willed achiever. But when her father dies and she’s entrusted with the family’s casino, she feels vulnerable, scared, and more than a little emotional —not exactly the best time to see an old lover she’s never really gotten over.
Dakota once meant the world to Shane Garrity. Then suddenly he left town to train as a U.S. Marshal, and their love for each other crashed into a memory. Now he’s come home for her father’s funeral, and one look at the girl he left behind stirs up both memories and regrets, and reignites a fire he feared he’d lost forever.
Dakota may be the same driven girl she always was, but she’s also changed in ways neither could have anticipated. She’s not just a young woman searching for own identity in the Native American community in which she was raised, but one questioning her new life outside her father’s shadow. Above all she wonders if Shane can push past her weakened defenses to rekindle what they once had, or whether the intense blaze between them will ultimately reduce her heart to ashes.
A culturally diverse & passionate romance mixed with plenty of suspense and intrigue!
REVIEW:
The story:
After just loosing her father, the last thing Dakota and her family need is pressure from their Native American community to sell their family casino. Dakota belives she can do her father proud and carry on his work at the casino and within the community, but as the pressure mounts, threats against her and their family highlight just how dangerous the situation is getting.
But Dakota has an unexpected person in her corner. Ex boyfriend and US Marshal, Shane, is back in town will stop at nothing to protect Dakota. But as he starts to investigate her father's death, he starts to realise just how much he cares for her and questions what he wants for the future. The question is can they overcome their past difference and the escalating danger to make their relationship work?
The characters:
Dakota is a very serious character. She wants to continue the success and their family casino and is dedicated to being the best she can. She very proud of her Native American heritage, which was fantastic to see. And I loved seeing her vibrant personality come to life around her friends & in particular with Shane.
I loved Shane so much. He's such a strong alpha male type guy on the surface, but he was never dominating with Dakata. While he wants to protect her, he always sees her as an equal - something I love to see!! He's also very respective of the Dakotas heritage and has he's own place in their community - which added a really interesting element to the story.
Also so exciting to see lots of Dakota's brother & best friend, Kai & Rachel (from Christina's previous book Whisper To Me)!! Kai & Rachel actually have their own mini side story that was extremely emotionally and had a real effect on me.
The romance:
I love second chance romances, and it was so obvious to everyone around them that these two were made for each other. The chemistry was perfect and they just seemed so natural together. Lots of misunderstandings and confusions between them make for a complicated reunion - they needed to learn how to talk to each other! But it all felt worth it in the end!
The writing:
I love that Christina knows how to balance a romantic storyline between sexy and sweet. This is an adult novel (not New Adult) and as a result the characters are a little more mature and this is evident in the dialogue between all characters. It was also exciting to see the Native American elements throughout the story. I found the cultural storyline fascinating and it's just so refreshing to see some diversity!
FINAL WORD:
A culturally diverse & passionate romance mixed with plenty of suspense and intrigue!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / several sex scenes
Violence: medium / minor assault
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} MAGONIA by Maria Dahvana Headley
Labels:
4 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
Fantasy,
Young Adult
·
Author: Maria Dahvana Headley
Published: 28th April 2015
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Fantasy
Source: Paperback ARC provided by Harper Collins for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Maria Dahvana Headley's soaring YA debut is a fiercely intelligent, multilayered fantasy where Neil Gaiman's Stardust meets John Green's The Fault in Our Stars in a story about a girl caught between two worlds . . . two races . . . and two destinies.
Aza Ray Boyle is drowning in thin air. Since she was a baby, Aza has suffered from a mysterious lung disease that makes it ever harder for her to breathe, to speak--to live. So when Aza catches a glimpse of a ship in the sky, her family chalks it up to a cruel side effect of her medication. But Aza doesn't think this is a hallucination. She can hear someone on the ship calling her name.
Only her best friend, Jason, listens. Jason, who's always been there. Jason, for whom she might have more-than-friendly feelings. But before Aza can consider that thrilling idea, something goes terribly wrong. Aza is lost to our world--and found, by another. Magonia.
Above the clouds, in a land of trading ships, Aza is not the weak and dying thing she was. In Magonia, she can breathe for the first time. Better, she has immense power--but as she navigates her new life, she discovers that war between Magonia and Earth is coming. In Aza's hands lies fate of the whole of humanity--including the boy who loves her. Where do her loyalties lie?
There are birds, pirates, flying ships, magic, singing and so much more that make this the most unique story I've read.
REVIEW:
The story:
Wow, I don't even know where to begin with this review. I was so different to anything I've ever read, and certainly not what I expected from the blurb. The entire world and concept of Magonia is so incredibly unique in every way possible. The book is told from two POVs, however Aza has the majority of chapters with Jason only having a few throughout the book. Aza has suffered from a rare and unknown illness all her life. Everyday she struggles to breath and doctors have no idea how to cure her. It's very difficult to say much about the story without giving away any spoilers, as the majority of this book is something that needs to be experienced as you read it first hand.
Aza find's herself thrown into the unknown world of Magoina. A land of floating/flying ships in the sky, where she meets her 'mother' Caption Zal and is told she has a destiny to fulfil to save the Magonians from starvation. She's introduced to her Magonian 'partner', Dai, and together they have the power to change not only future of Magonia but the human world bellow. But helping Captain Zal with her plans, might just mean betraying the world bellow and people she loves.
The characters:
Aza is one of the of most sarcastic narrators I've ever read, and I absolutely loved it! Every word out of this girls mouth is coated in her dry sense of humour. Naturally her new world scares her and she has trouble adapting to her supposed 'destiny'. She a loyal character, but her loyalties are tested when her density will mean betraying the life and the boy she's always loved.
Jason and Aza are very similar characters. They are both smart and witty and aren't afraid to bend the rules. When reading Jason's POV it's clear that he's quite an eccentric person, spending days without sleep and counting the number of PI to keep calm. He's also extremely devoted to his friendship Aza, which I just loved him for.
Dai is Aza's Magonian 'partner'. He was a difficult character to read, and I still don't really know what to make of him. He's devoted to Captain Zal's quest, and although he seemed nice enough, I'm not sure if he can be trusted.
The romance:
The romance between Aza & Jason is slow building for the majority of the book. They have been best friends since childhood, and have been there for each other no matter what. Slowly we see that there may be something more between them, but the romance is never really the centre of the story, just quieting building in the background. If there is a sequel, their commitment to each other will be tested even further. I sincerely hope that a love triangle doesn't develop with Dai, but if it does, I'm most certainly Team Jason.
The writing:
While this book does follow the typical YA trope: girl turns 16 and discovers she's from another world, and has destiny to complete, I felt Headley's unique world building and intelligent character voice's ensured this book was like nothing else out there.
FINAL WORD:
This book pushes the limits of fantasy and many times I found myself saying "this is such a strange story". There are birds, pirates, flying ships, magic, singing and so much more that make this the most unique story I've read.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: mild / some mild kissing
Violence: medium / some mention of fighting and 'gore'
Language: mild / occasional f word
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} THERE YOU STAND by Christina Lee
Labels:
4 Stars,
Book Review,
Christina Lee,
Contemporary Romance,
LGBT,
m/m,
New Adult
·
Series: Between Breaths #5
Author: Christina Lee
Published: 21st April 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance (m/m)
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
From the author of All of You and Before You Break comes a new Between Breaths male/male standalone romance about the silent, inked up skateboarder and the tattoo artist who unravels him piece by piece…
Tattoo artist Cory Easton has worked long enough at Raw Ink to know, just by looking at a dude, what his body art reveals, what makes him tick, what even makes him scared. Until he meets the quiet and remote Jude York—so unreadable, so unreachable, and so unlike anyone else, he can’t help but arouse Cory’s curiosity.
As captivating and complex as his ink, Jude is a mystery—and Cory’s falling fast and hard under his spell. Against his better judgment to steer clear.
The rumors of Jude’s past overshadow him—whispers of prison and an unmentionable secret that’s kept him in the protective shadows of a local motorcycle club. As Cory probes deeper, he wonders how much he really wants to know. Especially since Jude has awakened something inside him that has been buried too long—and has him feeling completely alive for the first time in forever…
With swoony male heroes, intriguing backstories and a pair of scene stealing dogs, THERE YOU STAND is a fabulous NA romance!
REVIEW:
The story:
There You Stand follows the relationship of Cory, a tattoo artist and Jude a mysterious British skateboarder. And yes it's as awesome as it sounds. Cory & Jude's mutual love of dogs provides the perfect meet cute at the local skate park, and sets their romance up perfectly. It gives them some common ground and leads to a few impromptu run-ins at the park.
As these two grow closer, it becomes clear that they have a few obstacles overcome before they can have their HEA. Jude's hiding something about his past, something that scares him and also makes him want to push Cory away to protect him from the demon's he's fighting. Cory won't let go of Jude that easily but when he discovers the truth, will it be too much for their new relationship to handle?
The characters:
Cory always came across as very happy & confident, nothing really seemed to phase him. But now that we get to know him better, we see a lot of that is a front. He's still dealing with a tragedy in his past and it still affects him years later. Cory is such a 'nice guy' and I reckon he'd be an awesome friend to have.
Jude is very quite and has very little dialogue to begin with, but he had such presence is every scene. Just one word from him could have such a dramatic effect. As the story progresses we learn why he's reluctant to talk or open up, and we get to see the real Jude underneath, who is such a kindhearted man.
Cory's dogs, Ace & Chopper, add so much to the story I had to mention them. Their interactions with Jude & Cory give a great insight into their personalities. And of course dogs are always awesome for supplying some hilarious & heartwarming scenes too!
The romance:
I loved seeing the progress of their friendship to lovers. It was natural and never felt rushed or forced. They get to know one another, develop a friendship and as the chemistry between them grows it develops into something more. They were such a beautiful couple and seeing them grow to trust and respect each other was awesome.
The writing:
I love Christina's writing. Her books are always jam packed with emotions and there is never a dull moment, and she always has the perfect balance of heartwarming & steamy scenes.
FINAL WORD:
With swoony male heroes, intriguing backstories and a pair of scene stealing dogs, THERE YOU STAND is a fabulous NA romance!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: strong / several descriptive sex scenes
Violence: mild / minor references to bikie violence
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild-medium / minor references to drug dealing
{ARC Review} Shaken, Not Stirred by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Title: Shaken, Not Stirred
Series: Last Call #5
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 17th Mar 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Casey Markham is a man-eater in a rut. Swearing off relationships may keep her heart safe, but she's beginning to question if her casual flings will ever leave her satisfied. She's wondering if it's finally time to let go of the past and stop letting history control her future.
Bad boy biker, Tenn Jennings can't get Casey off his mind. A chance encounter with the beautiful blond has left its mark, and now he's determined to prove her wrong about everything she thought she knew about men.
It’s safe to say… Casey Markham has met her match.
Hero is an ex marine, bike riding cowboy - enough said
REVIEW:
The story:
We've all read the story of the MC who is against love & commitment, but I just love that this time it's about a woman. Casey is all about having carefree fun and has her rules about not getting too close to any man. But all that starts to change when she meets, Tenn. He's a ex marine, bikie who grew up on his family's ranch, and the perfect guy to shake up Casey's world.
Casey's past pain goes much deeper than being dumped or cheated on. It's more about being made to feel worthless and underserving of true love. Never wanted to feel cheap again she's locked her heart away and jumps from one casual meaningless fling to the next. At the first sign of commitment she runs. But Tenn is having none of that. He challenges her in all aspects of her life and for the first time she's starting to believe that maybe she could have more. However Tenn is hiding things about himself, fearing it will scare her away, but when she finds out, will their new relationship be strong enough to convince Casey not to keep running?
The characters:
On the surface Casey is a just a wild fun loving girl, and her aversion to relationships is simply her not wanting to be tied down. But as we get to know her better we see that she's been hurt before and isn't willing to risk her heart again. On some level she also doesn't believe she's good enough for true love and will always be a man's fling. But I really enjoyed watching Tenn show her that she deserves better and that he can be the one to give her that.
Tenn is an ex marine, bike riding cowboy - what a lethal combination. Or as Casey says: "You like have all the hot guy tropes covered." Despite his initial description making him sounds like a typical bad boy hero, he's actual extremely sincere and a really sweet guy. He has a 14 year old daughter from an ex wife and absolutely adores her. He's not at all a cliche character and has a really unique personality, and sometimes almost came across as shy. I really loved this guy!
The romance:
After being hurt in the past Casey has a very negative outlook on love. Despite her being upfront from the beginning that she's not interested in a relationship, Tenn knows there is something special between them and is determined to capture Casey's jaded heart. The chemistry is off the charts and slowly Tenn manages to break down her walls and show her that love and respect is something she deserves.
The writing:
I love how Sawyer's books are always new and exciting, and it never feels like your reading the same story with slightly different leads. She also continues to find new and interesting ways of writing love scenes. No one can possibly accuse her of being repetitive or boring. Two words: Horseback ride… *slow claps*
FINAL WORD:
Hero is an ex marine, bike riding cowboy - enough said
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / descriptive sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild / several scenes set in bar
{ARC Review} The Only Way by Magan Vernon
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Magan Vernon
·
Series: Only #4
Author: Magan Vernon
Published: 18th March 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads | Amazon
BLURB:
William "Tripp" Chapman has always been the black sheep of his family's political dynasty. His oldest brother works on Wall Street, his youngest-groomed for the senate. And Tripp is the brother known for wrecking his Porsche after a drinking bender and winding up in rehab.
On the night of his father's presidential election he takes a detour and meets a waitress at a local hole-in-the wall. Samantha "Sam" Green is just as broken as he is, but covers it up with enough snark so no one tries to get too close.
When Sam gets kicked out of her apartment, Tripp agrees that she can crash on his couch until she gets on her feet. But as they grow closer physically, the ghosts of their past threaten to burden their new relationship
The Only Way they can overcome their demons is to face them instead of running. Can Sam help Tripp find his way or will their own battles bury them further?
The Only series is a series of standalone novels. You do not need to read one in order to fully understand the other. M/F. HEA
The Only way is a beautifully raw and gritty story on the dark world of addiction and mental illness, and provides the reader with a sense of hope.
REVIEW:
The story:
Tripp has hit rock bottom, after checking out of rehab for drug addiction and depression he's trying to rebuild he's life. But being the black sheep in his family and feeling shame for dragging his family's political name through the mud, recovery is anything but easy. And meeting a feisty waitress by the name of Sam certainly wasn't in his plans, but he can't deny his attraction to the sexy red head. After helping her out of sticky situation and offering her refuge on his couch until she can find a new apartment, the two develop a close friendship. However they are both reluctant to pursue anything romantic and destroy the first real friendship they've ever had. But how long can they deny their true feelings?
The characters:
Tripp may be the black sheep of the family, but he still has a heart of gold. He wants to change his life and be able to help others who a dealing with similar issues. But he does have a self sabotaging personality. As soon as something positive happens, he has a tendency to destroy it. He grows a lot and still has a lot more work to do, but he definitely works hard to become a better man.
Sam comes across as a tough, confident character who just gets on with life. But underneath that tough exterior is a girl who's desperate to find her place in the world. She a has a dry and wicked sense of humour, which I just loved.
The romance:
I really loved the the romance between Sam & Tripp doesn't 'heal' Tripp's addiction. While Sam is supportive in his recovery they both realise this is something he needs to do for himself. It was also great to see them develop a friendship first, before anything romantic really happened, it made their chemistry much more believable.
The writing:
Mental illness and drug addiction are not easy topics to write about. Finding the balance between light and dark, while being realistic with the approach is tricky. I loved that Magan didn't make the journey easy on the both her characters or the reader. But at the same time, I was left feeling hopeful about Tripp's future, which as a reader is extremely important.
FINAL WORD:
The Only way is a beautifully raw and gritty story on the dark world of addiction and mental illness, and provides the reader with a sense of hope.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / some sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: strong / main subject has drug addiction
Other: main theme addresses mental illness and depression
{Review} Breaking The Rules by Katie McGarry
Labels:
4 Stars,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Katie McGarry,
Young Adult
·
Series: Pushing The Limits #1.5
Author: Katie McGarry
Published: 8th December 2015
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
A summer road trip changes everything in this unforgettable new tale from acclaimed author Katie McGarry
For new high school graduate Echo Emerson, a summer road trip out west with her boyfriend means getting away and forgetting what makes her so... different. It means seeing cool sights while selling her art at galleries along the way. And most of all, it means almost three months alone with Noah Hutchins, the hot, smart, soul-battered guy who’s never judged her. Echo and Noah share everything — except the one thing Echo’s just not ready for.
But when the source of Echo’s constant nightmares comes back into her life, she has to make some tough decisions about what she really wants — even as foster kid Noah’s search for his last remaining relatives forces them both to confront some serious truths about life, love, and themselves.
Now, with one week left before college orientation, jobs and real life, Echo must decide if Noah's more than the bad-boy fling everyone warned her he'd be. And the last leg of an amazing road trip will turn... seriously epic.
While I had a few minor issues with this book and didn't quite love it as much as Pushing The Limits, I still really enjoyed spending more time with Echo and Noah!
REVIEW:
I absolutely LOVED Pushing The Limits, and it is still one of my favourite books! So needless to say I was very excited about this book. While I really enjoyed Echo & Noah's continuing story, I feel like it didn't quite live up to it's prequel.
This story takes place over one week - the last week of their summer road trip. Both Echo and Noah have made so much progress in their lives since we first met them, but they still have a lot of issues to overcome, both separately and as a couple. Echo is still struggling with her relationship with her mother and related nightmares from the attack. While Noah is trying his best to believe he's worthy of Echo's love and can give her the future he knows she deserves.
I personally felt there was a little unnecessary drama in this book, and while I love some good old teen angst, it just didn't work as well for me this time. I think the main reason is that with all of McGarry's books, one or both of the main characters are keeping a secret from each other, and it's that process of each of them uncovering the secrets and getting to that HEA, that is what I love about her books. But as Echo and Noah already know each other's past secrets, there was less natural tension between them, so the drama that McGarry had to create felt somewhat artificial. Personally I would have preferred to see this sequel take place a littler further into the future.
That being said I still thoroughly enjoyed getting back into the world of Echo and Noah and it was great to see Echo following her dream of becoming and artist. I felt Echo grew more of a back bone is this book and started to really stand up for what she wanted - I loved that! It was also great to have Beth and Isaiah feature quite a bit in the story. Seeing Isaiah and surprisingly Beth too, being so protective of Echo was so beautiful. These characters have all becomes such a beautiful family, I just love it! This series continuities to be one of my favourites and I'm looking forward to the next instalment - hopefully Abby will get her book next!
FINAL WORD:
While I had a few minor issues with this book and didn't quite love it as much as Pushing The Limits, I still really enjoyed spending more time with Echo and Noah!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / mildy descriptive sex scene
Violence: mild / some minor fighting
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium-strong / underage drinking, mention of party drug use
{Review} CONTRADICTIONS by Tiffany King
Labels:
4 Stars,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
New Adult,
Tiffany King
·
.jpg)
Title: Contradictions
Series: Woodfalls Girls #3
Author: Tiffany King
Published: 6th January 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: Purchased via Amazon
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
When everything starts spinning out of control . . .
Three years into college, Tressa Oliver’s life is a nonstop party. She’s skating by in her classes, and there’s no shortage of drinking, dancing, and general hell-raising. The only aspect that hasn’t been much fun: She can’t shake the toxic jerks that always seem to gravitate toward her.
It will take someone totally wrong . . .
Trent Lawson is the classic anti-bad boy: smart, boring, and way too serious. To a wild girl like Tressa, there’s no way in hell they’re compatible—especially since Trent seems to see straight through her defenses.
To set her right.
When a college prank goes terribly wrong, Tressa starts to suspect that her partying ways are leading nowhere fast. Now she has to turn to the last person she ever thought she’d ask for help—and quickly discovers that there’s more to Trent than meets the eye . . .
Trent is what made this book for me, he is exactly the hero I love to read about, an intelligent, sweet, kind hearted nerd!
REVIEW:
The story:
Tressa, the loud, outgoing party girl, always knows how to have fun. But with her grades slipping and her position at college on the line, thing need to change. Her academic probation forces her to change her priorities, but choosing to study instead of party doesn't go down to well with her best friend and roommate Cameo. To confuse things even further, Tressa's new tutor just so happens to be Trent, the nerdy guy from high school who had a massive crush on her…and still does.
A the time he was too shy to do anything about it. But while tutoring her, he sees an opportunity to make a move. At first Tressa not only turns him down, but is outwardly rude to him. Claiming they are just too different and would have nothing in common. But Trent doesn't give up that easily. Slowly building a friendship with her, Trent sets out to show Tressa just how well they get along, and it's not long until Tressa feels more of a connection with him than she has with any other man. But can she get over her judgemental issues to embrace a real relationship with him?
The characters:
Tressa was a little difficult to like in the beginning. She's very judgmental and at some points she was actually really nasty towards Trent. She teases him about being a geek, and not in a flirty way, but is very condescending about it. It's at about the half way point that Tressa starts to mellow and grow. Yes she's a flawed character, but nobody's perfect - what was important was that she learnt from her mistakes and becomes a better person for it.
I have a soft spot for the 'nerd' heroes and I absolutely adored Trent. I loved his geeky comments, and dry sense of humour, and truly respected the fact that he wasn't ashamed of his so called 'geeky' personality. He's kind hearted, intelligent and can make a girl laugh - to me that is the perfect hero!
The romance:
The romance starts out very one sided, with Trent's feelings not being reciprocated. But as Tressa starts to see past her stereotypical views of Trent, the connection between them blossoms. Tressa started to realise that Trent was one of the most decent men she'd ever met and started to question if she was good enough for him - which early on I actually had to agree with. But Tressa works hard and becomes a better person - someone deserving of Trent's love.
The writing:
What I loved out this book is it's not just solely about the romance. Tiffany has addressed many other issues that college kids face; academic probation, partying too much, roommates, hazing and most importantly, consequences. The characters all learn from the mistakes they make, in particular Tressa. The balance of all of these topics was really effective and tied the story together beautifully.
FINAL WORD:
Trent is what made this book for me, he is exactly the hero I love to read about, an intelligent, sweet, kind hearted nerd! Contradictions is all about character growth and learning not to judge people based on appearances.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes
Violence: mild / some hazing incidents
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / main characters drink heavily
{Tour Review} WITH A TWIST by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Series: Last Call #4
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 6th Jan 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
Wyatt Banks is ready to give one woman the world. Unfortunately, his job as a cop tends to interfere with other goals. When Wyatt is sent deep undercover to investigate a sex slave ring, he doesn’t have time to do anything but focus on staying alive in a dark and dangerous underworld.
Wyatt isn’t alone though in his quest to save the women that are being sold into sexual slavery.
His partner, FBI Agent Andrea Somerville, is immersed just as deeply as he is, and she’s the bait to lure the sex slavers out into the open, as she poses as an erotic dancer in an attempt to snare the enemy. But danger runs as high as the sparks between them, and now Wyatt is caught between the job he loves and the woman he wants.
A fast paced suspenseful romance filled with intrigue and raw passion!
REVIEW:
The story:
I must admit this story surprised me, as the first half is very different to the rest of this series. While the first three books are relatively light and breezy romances this one is much grittier and had some real bite to the story.
Local cop, Wyatt, has been sent undercover to infiltrate a sex slave ring, that is believed to be kidnapping dancers from their strip club and selling them to wealthy customers. FBI agent, Andrea joins the investigations, posing as a vulnerable stripper, ripe for kidnapping. As Wyatt and Andrea work together to set the trap and catch the criminals, their strictly professional relationship gets complicated when the sexual attraction between them grows. Crossing that line may not only risk the investigation, but also their lives. But how long can these two deny their connection…and more importantly can it survive away from the intense undercover operation?
The characters:
When Wyatt and Andrea first meet, he's a little gruff and standoffish, not hiding his uncertainty that Andrea may not be able to handle the job. But it soon becomes clear that he's rough exterior is no more than an undercover persona he's created. He's also very protective of Andrea, and tries to shield her from as much of the heinous actively going on in the nightclub. Wyatt is surprisingly sweet and unlike many male NA characters, he's actually looking to find love and settle down.
Andrea is a strong and passionate heroine. She's not afraid of hard work and shows sheer determination to catch the criminals she's investigating. I also loved that when it came down to it, Andrea showed she had the lady balls to take charge and make the first move. She's a very empowering character.
We also get to see the rest of the Last Call cast of characters is the second half of the book which was excellent! Sawyer's always fabulous at creating a family characters that you just wish you were a part of.
The romance:
The attraction between these two was obvious from the beginning. But working undercover in a strip club makes things difficult. Despite feeling attracted to Wyatt, Andrea is convinced Wyatt's interest is purely professional. But after being forced into a compromising (and oh so hot!) situation, they struggle to deny the attraction. The romance between these two is very seductive, but also has a few very sweet moments too.
The writing:
Sawyer has a real knack for creating unique and interesting stories and this one is no exception! The first half of the books was very fast paced with lost of suspense and intrigue, and as the story progresses, their is a nice balance of light romance that has been excellent throughout the whole series.
FINAL WORD:
With a Twist is a fast paced suspenseful romance filled with intrigue and raw passion! Looking forward to the next book in the series for Casey's story.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: strong / several descriptive sex scenes, references to sex slaves and assault
Violence: medium / kidnapping, gun violence and murder
Language: medium-strong / frequent f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / drug use
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today Best-Selling author, Sawyer Bennett, is a snarky southern woman and reformed trial lawyer who decided to finally start putting on paper all of the stories that were floating in her head. She is married to a mobster (well, a market researcher) and they have two big, furry dogs who hog the bed. Sawyer would like to report she doesn’t have many weaknesses but can be bribed with a nominal amount of milk chocolate.
{ARC Review} SPEND THE NIGHT by Elizabeth Lee
Labels:
4 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Elizabeth Lee
·
Series: The Hotel Collection #1
Author: Elizabeth Lee
Published: 20th January 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by author for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
Goodreads | Amazon
BLURB:
Spend the Night – Episode 1
Welcome to The Wellesley-Crawford...
Hannah Wellesley has spent her entire life running the halls of her family-owned hotel, the infamous and opulent Wellesley-Crawford. Noted as one of the city's richest, most luxurious hotels in Chicago, the WC is what Hannah has devoted her life and career to.
The hotel’s Annual Masquerade Gala is the event of the year, but this year Hannah’s evening involves more than just handing out masks. After a mysterious rendezvous in a secluded stairwell with an irresistible and unidentifiable man, Hannah becomes consumed with discovering the identity of her masked lover. Just as she’s about to give up the search, two men blow back into her life with drastically different intentions. They both have secrets and uncovering them will lead Hannah down a darkly dangerous path.
Drawn to both of the intriguing bachelors, she’ll have to determine which one is after her heart and which one plans to do her deadly harm before it’s too late.
Exciting beginning to a mystery romance serial!
REVIEW:
The story:
This is the first episode of a 3 part serial following hard working hotel heiress, Hannah Wellesley. On the brink of taking over the reins of the hotel Hannah has one night of crazy fun, hooking up with a mysterious masked man at The Annual Mask Gala. But months on and she's unable to forget that night of passion with the stranger she has never been able to find. Trying to move on she meets up with new chef, Carter who may or may not be her mysterious man. Also entering the scene is fellow heir to the Wellesly-Crawford Hotel, Trent Crawford. Both bring their own secrets and it's unclear what their real motivations might be.
The characters:
Hannah has always done the right thing. She's hard working, passionate and very good at her job. But she's yet to find that one man to give her heart to. That one night of reckless passion, has opened her eyes to something exciting and she's determined to feel that excitement again.
Trent Crawford appears to be the typical arrogant heir. He's cocky and is used to getting what he wants. He could sometimes come across as a bit of an ass, but I personally believe that's a bit of a cover, and we are yet to see the 'real' Trent - the one that 17 year old Hannah remembers.
Carter is a little mysterious, we don't really know that much about him yet, but he's kind and seems to really like Hannah.
The romance:
We have a bit of the makings of a love triangle here. Carter is new in Hannah's life and he brings something fresh and exciting. On the other hand, Hannah has known Trent all her life and they have 'history'. I have to admit I'm very much #TeamTrent!
The writing:
I really loved the writing format Elizabeth used with Hannah's POV telling the majority of the story and a few chapters told by 'Him', the mysterious man. We can assume that it's either Carter or Trent, and it's so exciting trying to pick the clues and guess who it is and whether or not they are the 'good' or 'bad' character!
FINAL WORD:
Exciting beginning to a mystery romance serial! Can't wait for episode #2…go #TeamTrent!!!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / descriptive sex scenes
Violence: none
Language: mild-medium / occasional f word
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{ARC Review} Path Of Destruction by Casey Quinn & Elizabeth Lee
Labels:
4 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
Caisey Quinn,
Contemporary Romance,
Elizabeth Lee,
Young Adult
·
Series: Broken Heartland #2
Author: Casey Quinn & Elizabeth Lee
Published: 24th Dec 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by authors for fair & honest review
Rating: 4/5
BLURB:
They ignored the warning signs and it cost them everything...
At the end of a life-changing summer a devastating tornado hit the small town of Hope’s Grove, Oklahoma.
While the brick suburban mansions of Summit Bluffs saw very little damage, their occupants weren’t so lucky. As the members of both communities struggle to put the pieces of their lives back together, lies will be told, truths will be revealed, and nothing will ever be the same. The road to recovery is long and paved with past hurts and future heartbreaks.
They ignored the warning signs, and one of them didn’t make it out alive. The four that remain know they’d be crazy to think the storms are actually over..
Because it’s just when you think you’re safe that you find yourself right in the path of destruction.
Path Of Destruction is filled with overwhelming grief and pain, but leaves you with a sense of hope that the future can be brighter for all the characters.
So I have decided to write a SPOILER FREE review for this book, which means I am very limited in what I can say. I'm not going to mention any specific characters as that will obviously reveal who didn't die is the last book.
REVIEW:
The story:
Okay so at the end of book 1, Storm Warning, we are left hanging. We know one of the five main characters was killed in the storm, but WHO?! Well we find out early on and of course it's absolutely heartbreaking. The four remaining characters are all affected by the death, and they each handle their grief in very different ways. Some shutdown and push their loved ones away. While others turn to each other for comfort. But all of them struggle with the loss and it results in a lot of hurt between all of them. All of their futures are riddled with uncertainty and at times it was almost too painful to continue reading. We are left with another cliffhanger, but not as tragic as last time. The next book is sure to bring us even more FEELS and I have no idea who everyone will end up with. To be honest I have no idea who I WANT everyone to end up with. All I know is that I just want everyone to get a happy ending (YOU HEAR ME QUINN & LEE!!)
The romance:
Let's just say the romance get so much more complicated in this book and I am a complete mess. There are so many possibilities for each of the characters and I feel the confusion that each of them feel. They've been hurt and had their hearts broken, and all of them are reluctant to trust their feelings or put their hearts on the line again. The next book is going to be very interesting to see what happens with the interwoven relationships!
The writing:
Caisey & Elizabeth seriously know how to inject MAJOR FEELS into their writing. I spent the entire book in an emotional fog. I felt all the grief, hurt and confusion that each character felt right along with them. I will be sending my therapy bills to them both.
FINAL WORD:
Path Of Destruction is filled with overwhelming grief and pain, but leaves you with a sense of hope that the future can be brighter for all the characters. The Broken Heartland series is not for faint hearted and will leave in an emotional pit of of despair, holding your breath for the next book!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-heavy / heavy kissing, detailed fondling, nudity, fade to black sex
Violence: mild / some minor punch ups
Language: medium / several f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / underage drinking and some minor drug use
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
