Review: Mine Till Midnight by Lisa Kleypas

Series: The Hathaways Book #1

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 376

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Romance, Historical Romance

Publisher: St. Martin's

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

When an unexpected inheritance elevates her family to the ranks of the aristocracy, Amelia Hathaway discovers that tending to her younger sisters and wayward brother was easy compared to navigating the intricacies of the ton. Even more challenging: the attraction she feels for the tall, dark, and dangerously handsome Cam Rohan.

Wealthy beyond most men’s dreams, Cam has tired of society’s petty restrictions and longs to return to his “uncivilized” Gypsy roots. When the delectable Amelia appeals to him for help, he intends to offer only friendship—but intentions are no match for the desire that blindsides them both. But can a man who spurns tradition be tempted into that most time-honored arrangement: marriage? Life in London society is about to get a whole lot hotter.

Review

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book. As a series, this is my favorite Lisa Kleypas series. And this is one of my favorite books in it. 

Amelia is a fantastic heroine. She's so strong and independent. She's also a wonderful and caring sister. But she isn't a push-over with her family or men. Cam is also a great hero. He's intriguing and a little mysterious with the whole half gypsy/Roma thing.

I love the romance between Amelia and Cam. They balance each other very well. They're also a great example of what Ms. Kleypas does best: social differences. It is not normal or accepted in society for these two to be together. This is a reality they have to deal with. While this is a romance with a happily ever after it doesn't avoid harsh truths.

Oh, and the sequel bait. I forgot how much there was for the next book. There's so much angst between the next couple.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: The Heir by Kiera Cass

Series: The Selection Book #4

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 342

Rating: 3 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Young Adult

Publisher: Harper Collins

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Princess Eadlyn has grown up hearing endless stories about how her mother and father met. Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won the heart of Prince Maxon—and they lived happily ever after. Eadlyn has always found their fairy-tale story romantic, but she has no interest in trying to repeat it. If it were up to her, she'd put off marriage for as long as possible.

But a princess's life is never entirely her own, and Eadlyn can't escape her very own Selection—no matter how fervently she protests.

Eadlyn doesn't expect her story to end in romance. But as the competition begins, one entry may just capture Eadlyn's heart, showing her all the possibilities that lie in front of her . . . and proving that finding her own happily ever after isn't as impossible as she's always thought.

Review

I heard  a lot about Eadlyn before picking this up so I was prepared. I think that helped me enjoy this more than I might have.

Generally, I liked this book. It kept me engaged and I am interested in many of the side characters. I particularly like Kile, Erik, and Henri. Plus, it was nice to see the characters/couples from the original Selection trilogy. 

Then, there's Eadlyn. I really don't like her. She's such a selfish brat. She has no understanding of what other people are going through or that they are valid human beings. Now, I do hope this is leaving room for growth in the next book. I don't understand how Ms. Cass was able to write this character because she's so annoying. Like does anyone actually like her? America was annoying, but at least she was a good person.

I have a request with my library for the next book. I do want to read it, but I don't feel the need to keep/own these books on my shelf.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Twilight by Meg Cabot

Series: The Mediator Book #6

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 312

Rating:4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal

Publisher: Avon

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Suze has gotten used to ghosts. She's a mediator, after all, and communicating with the dead is all in a day's work. So she certainly never expected to fall in love with one: Jesse, a nineteenth-century hottie. But when she discovers that she has the power to determine who becomes a ghost in the first place, Suze begins to freak. It means she can alter the course of history... and prevent Jesse's murder, keeping him from ever becoming a ghost - and from ever meeting Suze.

Will Jesse choose to live without her, or die to love her? 

Review

I finally finished my re-read of this series. This isn’t perfect or my favorite series, but it is enjoyable and I would read it again.

The tension didn’t feel as high in this book. But I did like the romance and even got a little teary-eyed at the end. I would’ve liked to see Suze grow up a little more, but she did develop a bit especially when it comes to her relationship with Jesse.

In the next couple months I plan on reading The Proposal and Remembrance. Both I’ll be reading for the first time.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Damaged Like Us by Krista and Becca Ritchie

Series: Like Us Book#1

Format: ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, M/M

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Maximoff Hale is a force of nature. A ship unwilling to be steered. Headstrong, resilient, and wholly responsible — the twenty-two-year-old alpha billionaire can handle his unconventional life. By noon, lunch can turn into a mob of screaming fans. By two, his face is all over the internet.

Born into one of the most famous families in the country, his celebrity status began at birth.

He is certified American royalty.

When he’s assigned a new 24/7 bodyguard, he comes face-to-face with the worst case scenario: being attached to the tattooed, MMA-trained, Yale graduate who’s known for “going rogue” in the security team — and who fills 1/3 of Maximoff's sexual fantasies.

Twenty-seven-year-old Farrow Keene has one job: protect Maximoff Hale. Flirting, dating, and hot sex falls far, far out of the boundary of his bodyguard duties and into “termination” territory. But when feelings surface, protecting the sexy-as-sin, stubborn celebrity becomes increasingly complicated.

Together, boundaries blur, and being exposed could mean catastrophic consequences for both.

Review

I've been excited for this book since it was announced. And I read it in a day and enjoyed myself. I want to make that clear, because this review may come across a little negative. I stand by the 4-Star rating but wanted to talk more about my "issues".

It's nice to spend time with all the Hales, Meadows, and Cobalts. But I thought this would have mroe of Jane and Sulli. Don't get me wrong, I love Moffy, but I wanted all three of them. I really like his relationship with Jane. Maybe they'll get POVs in future books. And I really like the bodyguards. They're a good addition to this ragtag family/group.

The romance was steamy. I do like Farrow and Moffy together. The Ritchies handled it well but I always feel a little iffy about romances with potential power issues this one.

And I absolutely love how normalized sexuality and LGBTQ lifestyles were. There are still some messed up people in the world, but there's much more acceptance. Hopefully, that's really what our world looks like in the future.

I thought I had more to say, but now I can't remember what those things were. I am excited for the next book to come out though.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Vision in Silver by Anne Bishop

Series: The Others Book #3

Format:Mass Market Paperback

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Fantasy

Publisher: Roc

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

The Others freed the  cassandra sangue  to protect the blood prophets from exploitation, not realizing their actions would have dire consequences. Now the fragile seers are in greater danger than ever before—both from their own weaknesses and from those who seek to control their divinations for wicked purposes. In desperate need of answers, Simon Wolfgard, a shape-shifter leader among the Others, has no choice but to enlist blood prophet Meg Corbyn’s help, regardless of the risks she faces by aiding him.

Meg is still deep in the throes of her addiction to the euphoria she feels when she cuts and speaks prophecy. She knows each slice of her blade tempts death. But Others and humans alike need answers, and her visions may be Simon’s only hope of ending the conflict.

For the shadows of war are deepening across the Atlantik, and the prejudice of a fanatic faction is threatening to bring the battle right to Meg and Simon’s doorstep…

Review

 

I liked this, but I didn't love it the way I did the previous two books. I still love the characters and world. And there were certainly some emotional moments in this one. And those things have raised the stakes.

 

But most of the book felt like a set up for future things. Laying groundwork for a series is important, but the individual book should also have it's own story. It was just a little lacking in this one.

 

 Thanks for reading!

Holly 

Review: Stolen Songbird by Danielle L. Jensen

Series: The Malediction Trilogy Book #1

Format: ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy

Publisher: Strange Chemistry

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

For five centuries, a witch’s curse has bound the trolls to their city beneath the mountain. When Cécile de Troyes is kidnapped and taken beneath the mountain, she realises that the trolls are relying on her to break the curse.

Cécile has only one thing on her mind: escape. But the trolls are clever, fast, and inhumanly strong. She will have to bide her time…

But the more time she spends with the trolls, the more she understands their plight. There is a rebellion brewing. And she just might be the one the trolls were looking for...

Review

I first heard about this from Bekah Awesome Book Nut. She loved it so I wanted to read it. But I was cautious so I wanted to get it from the library.

So, I did enjoy the story and characters. I’m a little confused about the world, but understood the troll politics at least. Cecile was an engaging character. I liked Tristin too, but his POV chapters were few and far between. The romance was a bit rushed. I just don’t think the “L” word needs to be dropped so fast.

I don’t have much to say obviously, but I have one potential spoiler.

So, Tristin makes a comment about how the Trolls aren’t from earth and that’s not what they are called. So, they’re fairies. I don’t know this for sure but the hints were heavy-handed. I’m not sure how I feel about this. I kind of wanted them to be real trolls, because I’ve never read a story about them before.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Love the One You're With by Lauren Layne

Series: Sex, Love, & Stilettos Book #2

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher:Loveswept

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

As a leading columnist for Stiletto, Grace Brighton has built a career warning women about rotten, cheating liars. She just never suspected her fiancé would be one of them. After Grace takes a heart-mending hiatus, her first assignment is to go on a couple of dates with a counterpart from the men’s magazine Oxford and report her impressions. Grace 1.0 may have been instantly smitten with the gorgeous correspondent, but Grace 2.0 has sworn off relationships for six months, and she’s not falling for his outstanding bod and trophy-winning kisses . . . or is she?

Jake Malone wants to get back to the fly-by-night, who-knows-what’s-next guy he used to be, and he knows exactly how to do it. Oxford is adding a travel section, and Jake—with no wife and no kids and a willingness to live anywhere, eat anything, do everything—is perfect for the job . . . except that his playboy reputation makes his new editor nervous. To get the gig, he must agree to a fluffy joint article with Stiletto. But after just one date with snooty, sumptuous, sensational Grace Brighton, Jake starts taking this assignment a whole lot more seriously.

 

Review

I’m really boxing this series and Lauren Layne’s writing. This reminds me of a romantic comedy. It has those awkward and unrealistic situations, but you still love it. And the characters are cute with great chemistry. Plus, there’s the quirky female friendships.

There isn’t a lot to say about this one. It’s a great romance with likeable characters. I did like it a little bit more than the first book in the series. I’m very eager to read the next one.

Thanks for reading!

Holly