Showing posts with label ARC. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ARC. 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
{Tour Review + GIVEAWAY} ALL PLAYED OUT by Cora Carmack
Labels:
5 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
College,
Contemporary Romance,
Cora Cormack,
Giveaway,
New Adult
·
Title: All Played Out
Series: Rusk University #3
Author: Cora Carmack
Published: 12th May 2015
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided by publisher for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5
BLURB:
First person in her family to go to college? CHECK.
Straight A’s? CHECK.
On track to graduate early? CHECK.
Social life? …..yeah, about that….
With just a few weeks until she graduates, Antonella DeLuca’s beginning to worry that maybe she hasn’t had the full college experience. (Okay... Scratch that. She knows she hasn't had the full college experience).
So Nell does what a smart, dedicated girl like herself does best. She makes a "to do" list of normal college activities.
Item #1? Hook up with a jock.
Rusk University wide receiver Mateo Torres practically wrote the playbook for normal college living. When he’s not on the field, he excels at partying, girls, and more partying. As long as he keeps things light and easy, it's impossible to get hurt... again. But something about the quiet, shy, sexy-as-hell Nell gets under his skin, and when he learns about her list, he makes it his mission to help her complete it.
Torres is the definition of confident (And sexy. And wild), and he opens up a side of Nell that she's never known. But as they begin to check off each crazy, exciting, normal item, Nell finds that her frivolous list leads to something more serious than she bargained for. And while Torres is used to taking risks on the field, he has to decide if he's willing to take the chance when it's more than just a game.
Together they will have to decide if what they have is just part of the experiment or a chance at something real.
REVIEW:
Opposites attract in ALL PLAYED OUT, with plenty of humour, romance and of cause her trademark awkward heroine moments!
The story:
Nell has always been very studious, working hard to complete her college degree earlier than most. But as her graduation looms, she starts to realise that maybe she's missed out on some of those college experience that everyone has. So what does a smart girl do? She makes a list of course! Nell's list of college things, including skinny dipping, college parties & hooking up with a jock. And it just so happens that Mateo Torres is on board for helping her tick some items off that list.
Teo is all about having wild crazy fun, and he wants to show Nell how much fun he can be. At first their adventures are all innocent fun, but it's not long before they both start to realise that there may be something more between them, than just a hookup. As their relationship intensifies, Teo's past comes back to haunt him. The question is, can their new found romance over it?
The characters:
Wow, I felt such a kinship to Nell, always making lists and choosing the 'safe' option. She's very innocent to the wild side of college life, but you can she that she's desperate to experience it all. It was so refreshing to see her challenge herself to do different things, rather than other characters pushing her out of her comfort zone. The list was her choose, her decision - it was Nell who wanted to make the change in her life, and I just love how empowering that was for her! She's a really kindhearted character and it was great to see that her personality need changed, she's still the same sweet Nell, but isn't afraid to live her life more now.
Mateo, Mateo, Mateo, what do say about you. I always thought he was a little to obnoxious for my liking, partying and not able to take anything seriously. But oh how wrong was I. Yes he's loud and shameless, but there are so many other layers to him. He's had his heart broken before and is just trying to forget by having carefree fun. But Nell changes all that and makes him face the feelings he's tried to ignore. Teo does a lot of growing up in this book, but he's still the shameless confident guy we all love.
The romance:
Loud/quite, outgoing/studious, sporty/academic - Nell & Teo really are the Yin & yang of romance. They are complete opposites in so many ways, and they challenged each other to see things from different perspectives. While things start out as just a bit of fun, soon they begin to develop deeper feeling for each other, and thing start to heat up! There was a lovely balance of genuine chemistry & steamy scenes, which is exactly what I look for in any contemporary romance!
The writing:
Every time I read one of Cora's books, I worry that this might be the one that disappoints me and makes me realise she's not a superhuman robot author unable to write anything but pure awesome…but no, I loved this book just like all her others!!! Her writing is as vibrant and humorous as ever, and of course her trademark awkward heroine moments. I've come to the conclusion that Cora is actually a superhuman robot author and I will love her books forever.
FINAL WORD:
I am absolutely loving this series!! Opposites attract in ALL PLAYED OUT, with plenty of humour, romance and of course her trademark awkward heroine moments!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / some sex scenes
Violence: mild / sports related injuries
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: medium / main characters get drunk
GIVEAWAY:
{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} 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} GARRETT by Sawyer Bennett
Labels:
5 Stars,
Adult,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Sawyer Bennett
·
Series: Cold Fury Hockey #2
Author: Sawyer Bennett
Published: 17th February 2015
Age Group: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Roamnce
Source: eARC provided by publisher via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5
BLURB:
Carolina Cold Fury star Garrett Samuelson never wants to miss out on a single minute of fun. Whether he’s playing hockey, hanging out with friends, or walking the red carpet with a new date on his arm, he lives every day to the fullest. When he meets Olivia Case, he sees someone who’s exactly his type—confident, sexy, smart . . . his next fling. But the more he pursues her, the more Garrett shares a side of himself that other women don’t normally get to see.
Olivia has been keeping a secret. While Garrett lives for the next thrill, Olivia’s not sure she’ll live to see the next day. She’s undergoing treatment for some serious medical issues, and she doesn’t have time for a relationship with no guarantees—especially one with a hot-as-sin womanizer who won’t take no for an answer. But as she gets to know the real Garrett, Olivia can’t help falling for him . . . hard. To reveal the truth would mean risking everything—but you can’t score without taking the tough shots.
Garrett is an incredibly heartfelt story with emotional depth and one of the best epilogues I've ever read!
REVIEW:
The story:
Olivia has just discovered she is about to face one of the biggest challenges life can throw at you. She's dealing with a life threatening illness and romance is the last thing on her mind. But after meeting hockey star, Garrett, romance may not be that far away. Things start out casual, and Olivia is reluctant to share her life threatening issues with a man who's known for he's philandering ways. She also believes it's unfair to to start a relationship with him, knowing that her future is uncertain. But Garrett's not willing to let her go that easily, and for the first time he's acutely thinking about the future with one woman. But will Olivia's secret tear them apart or bring them closer together?
This story was extremely emotional and I found myself in tears several times. This wasn't a simple light hearted, fluffy romance. There is depth and heartache and yes some sexy times too.
The characters:
I loved Garrett from the very beginning, which I found strange since I'm not really a fan of 'the player' heroes. But Garrett's attitude to the women was what made the difference, he's respectful and just looking to have some fun. I also adored the way he treated Olivia, he was so kind and caring and protective a her. Simply put, Garrett is awesome.
Olivia is a creative and vibrant character, and despite facing an uncertain future she has such a positive attitude. She still had her fragile moment (as anyone in her situation would), but she didn't let it change her. She shows incredible strength and determination and was a really inspiring character.
The romance:
Their relationship might have begun as one fun night, but it was clear neither of them would be able to leave it at that. Garrett turns into such a sweetie and becomes very protective of Olivia. And while Olivia's cousin and his best friend Alex, warn him to stay away from her, I was so happy to see him defend his relationship. These two deal with a lot of ups and downs, but it's those challenges that made their connection so much stronger.
The writing:
Sawyer's writing is always very emotive, but this is her most powerful story yet. Illness is never an easy topic to write about, especially when trying to balance realism with that all important HEA, but I think Sawyer found the perfect mix. And absolute top marks for that EPIC epilogue, I can't even begin the describe how simply amazing it was. Possibly one of the best epilogues I've ever read - it was exactly the ending this book needed to give the reader closure.
FINAL WORD:
Garrett is an incredibly heartfelt story with emotional depth and one of the best epilogues I've ever read!
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / several sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium - strong / frequent f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
{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
{Review} A Thousand Pieces of You by Claudia Gray
Labels:
5 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
BTCYA,
Claudia Gray,
Sci-fi
·
Title: A Thousand Pieces of You
Series: Firebird #1
Author: Claudia Gray
Published: 7th Oct 2014
Age Group: Young Adult
Genre: Sci-fi Romance
Source: Paperback provided by HarpCollins for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5
BLURB:
Every Day meets Cloud Atlas in this heart-racing, space- and time-bending, epic new trilogy from New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray.
Marguerite Caine’s physicist parents are known for their radical scientific achievements. Their most astonishing invention: the Firebird, which allows users to jump into parallel universes, some vastly altered from our own. But when Marguerite’s father is murdered, the killer—her parent’s handsome and enigmatic assistant Paul—escapes into another dimension before the law can touch him.
Marguerite can’t let the man who destroyed her family go free, and she races after Paul through different universes, where their lives entangle in increasingly familiar ways. With each encounter she begins to question Paul’s guilt—and her own heart. Soon she discovers the truth behind her father’s death is more sinister than she ever could have imagined.
A Thousand Pieces of You explores a reality where we witness the countless other lives we might lead in an amazingly intricate multiverse, and ask whether, amid infinite possibilities, one love can endure.
Spanning multiple universes, A Thousand Pieces of You is a compelling story of love, loss and the importance of every choice we make.
REVIEW:
The story:
Okay so WOW this book blew my mind with it's epicness. A Thousand Pieces of You is a fascinating take on the multi-verse concept. Marguerite's parents have just created a device, a Firebird, that can transport a person from their body into another version of themselves in an alternate world. But with the Firebird being so valuable, danger lurks around every corner, and now Marguerite's father has been murdered, it's up to her and her parents grad student assistant Theo to find the main suspect and other assistant, Paul and bring him to justice. But when Theo & Marguerite jump universes, thing get oh so very complicated. And once she jumps into an historical Russian universe, she starts to question who her real enemies are.
It's very difficult to say much about the story without giving away crucial plot points and spoilers, and trust me, there are some thing you need to discover and FEEL in the moment. There is so much intrigue and excitement as we jump from a futuristic universe, to a royal Russia and even a water based landscape. It was so thrilling to discover so many new places in one book!
The characters:
Marguerite was a little naive to begin with. She sees herself as the 'boring' girl amongst a family of geniuses. But throughout the story, she's faced with many challenges and is forced to make some difficult decisions. And while she may not always make to right choice, she certainly grew into a stronger character.
Paul, the supposed murderer of Marguerite's father. His characters is very intriguing as we actually spend more time with the historical Russian version of Paul, not the one from 'our' world. He's sweet, loyal and would do anything to protect every version of Marguerite.
Theo, is the sexy college guy, Marguerite has had a crush on for a while. He's intelligent, confident and very attractive, so what's not to like?! But as they travel between dimensions, we get to see different sides to him. There is a lot more to Theo than meets the eye.
The romance:
Let me just say, multi-verse romance is EXTREMELY COMPLICATED. In some ways this book has a love triangle between Marguerite, Theo and Paul. BUT, is the Historical Russian Paul, the same as Possible Murderer Paul? Well, no they are different versions of Paul…so maybe this is some kind of love hexagon??? Anyway, while there is some hints at a romance between Theo & Marguerite, the main romance in this book is between Marguerite and Historical Russian Paul, and I'm not going to lie, I may have shed a few tears over their the romance, it was that beautiful. I get the feeling the romance is only going to become more complicated in the next book, and I'm kind of excited by that.
The writing:
For a story that could have been extremely difficult to follow, Gray has done an incredible job on the storytelling. She's created a compelling and fast past story that flowed so smoothly, I ended up reading it in less than 2 days (which for me, is extremely fast!) I also loved how there were no obvious clues dropped in the first few chapters, so when the big reveals happen, they really are huge surprises!
FINAL WORD:
Spanning multiple universes, A Thousand Pieces of You is a compelling story of love, loss and the importance of every choice we make.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium / heavy kissing,discussions of sex, fade to black sex scene
Violence: medium / fist fights, mentions of murder, gun violence
Language: mild
Drugs & alcohol: medium / drug use scene
{ARC Review} Inside Out by Lia Riley
Labels:
5 Stars,
ARC,
Book Review,
Contemporary Romance,
Lia Riley,
New Adult
·
Title: Inside Out
Series: Off The Map #3
Author: Lia Riley
Published: 1st Dec 2014
Age Group: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Source: eARC provided via Netgalley for fair & honest review
Rating: 5/5
BLURB:
Lia Riley made New Adult readers fall in love with her breakout debut, Upside Down. Sideswiped, the second of her series, made readers clamor for more. Now, with INSIDE OUT, Lia Riley brings her evocative Off the Map series to a stunning conclusion.
When Talia first moved from California to Australia to study abroad, she never dreamed she'd find the love of her life. Bran understands her like no one ever has before. And despite the numerous challenges they've faced, they've always managed to figure out how to stay together. But this time they'll face their toughest hurdle yet. Is their love strong enough to keep them together?
Inside Out is the perfect ending to Talia & Bran's epic romantic adventure. You'll laugh, cry and snort giggle all the way to the very end!
REVIEW:
The story:
As sad as I am that Talia & Bran's story is over, I couldn't have asked for a better ending - if was perfect.
We pick up the story exactly where we were left hanging, at the end of Sideswiped. Both Talia & Bran are off doing their own thing, trying to find their own futures before they can find their way back to each other. But things don't run so smoothly for either of them. Bran's dealing a lot of self blame, regarding an incident that occurred of the ship in the Antarctic. While Talia contracts a severe illness in Africa with the Peace Corp, causing her to feel like she's failed. On top of that she's struggling to deal with her OCD. Both characters had to work through their issues, but that just made the ending so much more rewarding.
The characters:
Talia grows up a lot in this book. She doesn't want her life defined by other people, and finally starts to make some decisions about her future. She finds some independence, and even after some major setbacks and battling self doubt, she starts to create a future of her own choosing. I loved seeing how determined and strong she's become since we first met her.
Bran is still as stubborn as ever, but in a good way. I was so happy to see he never truly gave up on Talia. He had to fight hard to keep Talia from pulling away, and his dedication to her made me happy sigh more than once. He's hot, funny, caring, passionate and has lickable biceps - what more could you ask for?!
The romance:
I ship Bran & Talia so hard. They haven't made things easy for each other, and have had to work extremely hard to keep their relationship together, but that's so true of real life. When it comes down to it they are always there for each other, and they never give up of their future together. Even when Talia pulled away and he had to *cough* entertain himself *giggle* he never gave up.
The writing:
I loved Lia's writing in the first two novels, but I think this is her best book yet. She's really found a unique 'voice' that expresses so much emotion and humour. And it's that humour that is one of my favourite parts of her writing, I found myself crying with laughter sometimes. The dialogue is sharp and snappy, with hilarious banter between all the characters.
"I’m resting my hand, it’s tired.”
I lift my head. “On my ass?”
“As good a place as any.”
Plus I have officially declared Lia "Queen Empress of Self Pleasure Scenes" because of the epic hotness that occurs at 21% and 74%. And let's not forget Chester the self abusing Chinchilla - freakin hilarious!
FINAL WORD:
Inside Out is the perfect ending to Talia & Bran's epic romantic adventure. You'll laugh, cry and snort giggle all the way to the very end.
CONTENT:
Sexuality: medium-strong / several sex scenes
Violence: mild
Language: medium / some f words
Drugs & alcohol: mild
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