Review: Seduce Me at Sunrise by Lisa Kleypas

Series: The Hathaways Book #2

Format Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 360

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Synopsis from GoodReads

 

He has tried hard to forget her.

Kev Merripen has longed for the beautiful, well-bred Winnifred Hathaway ever since her family rescued him from the brink of death when he was just a boy. But this handsome Gypsy is a man of mysterious origins—and he fears that the darkness of his past could crush delicate, luminous Win. So Kev refuses to submit to temptation... and before long Win is torn from him by a devastating twist of fate.

Can she remember the man he once was?

Then, Win returns to England... only to find that Kev has hardened into a man who will deny love at all costs. Meantime, an attractive, seductive suitor has set his sights on Win. It’s now or never for Kev to make his move. But first, he must confront a dangerous secret about his destiny—or risk losing the only woman he has lived for...

 

Review

 

I've lost count of how many times I've read this book. This was always my favorite in this already amazing series. Now, I think it may be falling down in my rankings, but still 5 stars obviously.

 

Win is great. She's a very refined and caring person. She may appear delicate especially because of her health issues but she has a fierceness and strength. She's kind, but doesn't let anyone walk all over her.

 

Merripen is angsty and brooding. He also feels deeply-especially for Win. I like that he works so hard and he does care for all the Hathaways. But I wish his life centered a little less around Win.

 

The romance is gripping and passionate. The fierceness with which these two love each other was always what I loved about the book. It still gets to me, but I see some of the flaws in this type of romance now. And Merripen has alpha/gypsy tendencies I'm sure some people would see as problematic.

 

I've really enjoying re-reading this series...again.

 

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Managed by Kristen Callihan

Series: VIP Book #2

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: NLA Digital

Synopsis from Goodreads

It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego.

I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.

That is until HE sat next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.

I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming.

If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Let the battle begin…

 

Review

This was kind of a surprise. I liked it more than I initially thought I would.

Sophie was surprisingly likeable. She's so outgoing and chatty. These characters can come across annoying, but she wasn't. Gabriel was much more likeable than I expected. He was so reserved in this first book, but here you get behind that facade. Authors don't always make that choice and keep the guy distant which disappoints me. But Ms. Callihan went all in.

The romance was pretty angsty. The simmering tension between these two is spectacularly written. It kept me engaged and turning the page. And I liked that they didn't have sex right away. No slut shaming here, but it was a nice change from other books I've been reading lately.

 

There are so many other people I want books about in this series. The next one doesn't have a synopsis or a release date. I just want to know!!!

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: The Seduction of Elliott McBride by Jennifer Ashley

Series: Mackenzies and McBrides Book #5

Format: Mass Market Paperback

Pages: 291

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: Historical Romance

Publisher: Berkley Sensations

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

Juliana St. John was raised to be very proper. After a long engagement, her wedding day dawns—only for Juliana to find herself jilted at the altar.

Fleeing the mocking crowd, she stumbles upon Elliot McBride, the tall, passionate Scot who was her first love. His teasing manner gives her an idea, and she asks Elliot to save her from an uncertain future—by marrying her…

After escaping brutal imprisonment, Elliot has returned to Scotland a vastly wealthy yet tormented man. Now Juliana has her hands full restoring his half-ruined manor in the Scottish Highlands and trying to repair the broken heart of the man some call irredeemably mad. Though beautiful and spirited, Juliana wonders if that will be enough to win a second chance at love.

 

 Review

 

This book had a lot of my catnip in it. Plus, I really enjoy Jennifer Ashley's writing.

 

This combines two tropes: marriage of convenience-which is a favorite-and unrequited love-which I don't like so much. But they worked very well together here. It probably helps that they both always loved the other.

 

Juliana was a fabulous heroine. She's strong, intelligent, and open-minded. She's a big list-maker which I connect with. And I really liked her relationship with her step mother. It's really easy to go full Cinderella with step parents.

 

Elliot had a lot of the characteristics I like. He is physically scared, but more interestingly, has PTSD. That is a major conflict for him and I love watching him deal with it. He has to figure out how to fit the new Elliot into his old life.

 

The romance was good and you could feel the attraction between Elliott and Juliana. I certainly cared about them and liked reading about them figuring out what it means to be a couple. I believe in the power of love, but there may have been a bit too much of the idea that love will fix PTSD.

 

Overall, this was beautiful story and I would recommend it. This is a really good series, too.

 

Thanks for reading!

Holly 

Review: Mortal Heart by Morgan LaFevers

Series: His Fair Assassin Book #1

Format:Paperback

Pages: 444

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Gift

Genre:Young Adult, Fantasy, Historical

Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

Annith has watched her gifted sisters at the convent come and go, carrying out their dark dealings in the name of St. Mortain, patiently awaiting her own turn to serve Death. But her worst fears are realized when she discovers she is being groomed by the abbess as a Seeress, to be forever sequestered in the rock and stone womb of the convent. Feeling sorely betrayed, Annith decides to strike out on her own.

She has spent her whole life training to be an assassin. Just because the convent has changed its mind doesn't mean she has...  

 

Review

 

Here's another book I've been putting off reading. And now that I'm writing this review. And now that I'm writing this, I don't know what to write.

 

As my rating suggests, I enjoyed this book. Annith was an interesting and compelling character. I enjoyed reading from her perspective even though the lord knows I don't like first person books. And I do like seeing more of the relationship between the three ladies.

 

The romance was fairly compelling. I won't be super spoilery, but I did figure out what I would call the mystery. I am a little conflicted about the romance between these two even though I enjoyed the chemistry between them.

 

I don't read a lot of books in this genre, but I have enjoyed them. I will continue to read Robin LaFevers books as they come into my possession.

 

Thanks for reading!

Holly  

Review: On the Fence by Kasie West

Stand Alone

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the Library (Overdrive)

Genre:Young Adult Contemporary 

Publisher: Harper Teen

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

For sixteen-year-old Charlotte Reynolds, aka Charlie, being raised by a single dad and three older brothers has its perks. She can outrun, outscore, and outwit every boy she knows—including her longtime neighbor and honorary fourth brother, Braden. But when it comes to being a girl, Charlie doesn't know the first thing about anything. So when she starts working at chichi boutique to pay off a speeding ticket, she finds herself in a strange new world of makeup, lacy skirts, and BeDazzlers. Even stranger, she's spending time with a boy who has never seen her tear it up in a pickup game.

To cope with the stress of faking her way through this new reality, Charlie seeks late-night refuge in her backyard, talking out her problems with Braden by the fence that separates them. But their Fence Chats can't solve Charlie's biggest problem: she's falling for Braden. Hard. She knows what it means to go for the win, but if spilling her secret means losing him for good, the stakes just got too high.

 

Review

 

Look, I finally read a Kacie West book.  And I enjoyed it. There was a little bit of a Miranda Kenneally tone to it. Charlie is a lot like Kenneally's heroines, but a more likable.

 

I did really like Charlie's personal growth. She develops stronger empathy for others. And she grows into herself. She's a very typicall tomboy in the beginning. Then, she's exposed to make-up and girly girls. Through all of this, she blends "girly" into her life. It isn't a complete change, but exposes her to other options. And there are actually positive female friendships. I feel like you just don't see a lot of this in young adult.

 

The romance was cute. It was pretty drawn out and had a nice simmer to it. I'm not always a fan of friends-to-lovers stories (and I use lovers loosely here), but this one worked for me.

 

At the beginning, I was a little worried about this, but it came together. I'm glad I read it and will certainly read another Kasie West book in the future.

 

Thanks for reading!

Holly 

Review: The Darkest Promise by Gena Showalter

Series: Lords of hte Underworld Book #13

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from the Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Harlequin

 

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 
Possessed by the demon of Misery, Cameo isn't allowed to experience joy. If she dares, her memory is wiped clean. With no other recourse, she sneaks into a land more fantastical than any fairy tale, determined to find the one man with the key to her redemption.

Lazarus the Cruel and Unusual rules his kingdom with a single unwavering focus: to build his army and annihilate his enemies. Nothing distracts him - until Cameo. He is relentless in his quest to make her smile and seduce her into his bed.

As dark forces conspire against them, threatening to destroy the fragile bond they've forged, the once-calm Lazarus grows crazed. Every heart-stopping kiss and wicked touch causes Cameo to teeter on the brink of happiness. But if she falls, she risks forgetting him forever

 

 Review

 

Cameo has been a kind of mysterious character throughout this series so I was eager to read her story. And I was quickly invested in her story with Lazarus. But I will say this series is getting a little too big for me. Generally, I'm enjoying myself, but I'm forgetting who everone is and their relationships.

The romance was a bit too sexual for me. I've been saying that a lot lately, so I'm starting to wonder if it's me. I could tell they cared about each other and was cheering them on, but I did wish they would talk about sex less.

Lazarus was kind of a nice surprise. He had shown up earlier, but he was really developed here. And I found myself excited for chapters in his POV. not, that I didn't like Cameo, because I did.

Speaking of surprises-Viola. She came out swinging in this one. I know I complained about this series being too big, but I do want a book for her. this book. With just what I got in this book, she seems to be an interestingly complex character. Ms. Showalter does seem to be good at leaving bread crumbs like that.

I'm glad I read this and it was better than the previous book. I'm curious to see what happens in the next couple books. But I think I'm going to just focus on the romances instead of trying to keep track of the larger plot lines, like the Pandora's box stuff.

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Idol by Kristen Callihan

Series: VIP Book #1

Format:Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Plain Jane

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

 

 Libby

I found Killian drunk and sprawled out on my lawn like some lost prince. With the face of a god and the arrogance to match, the pest won’t leave. Sexy, charming, and just a little bit dirty, he’s slowly wearing me down, making me crave more.

He could be mine if I dare to claim him. Problem is, the world thinks he’s theirs. How do you keep an idol when everyone is intent on taking him away?

Killian

As lead singer for the biggest rock band in the world, I lived a life of dreams. It all fell apart with one fateful decision. Now everything is in shambles.

Until Liberty. She’s grouchy, a recluse—and kind of cute. Scratch that. When I get my hands on her, she is scorching hot and more addictive than all the fans who’ve screamed my name.

The world is clamoring for me to get back on stage, but I’m not willing to leave her. I’ve got to find a way to coax the hermit from her shell and keep her with me. Because, with Libby, everything has changed. Everything

Review

 

Generally, I'm not a fan of rockstar stories. I'm not even sure why. But I decided to give this a try because I've enjoyed other Kristen Callihan books. And I was pretty pleased.

 

 Libby was a nice play on the typical shy new adult heroine. She's an introvert, but that doesn't mean she hates people or can't have a potty mouth. And Killian is a lot like an alpha male, but not too over-the-top. he has a lot of sweet moments with Libby and his friends.

 

The romance was very sexual, but not rushed. These characters actually talked to each other and learned each other's personalities. I could've used less sex, but that's more of a personal preferance. 

 

Ms. Callihan  did address some sex-shaming and double standards when it comes to sexuality. I've been reading more of this which I appreciate. However, the "fighting back" was often biting toward other women. I don't hold it against her too much because this is a tough situation to deal with.

 

There were a bunch of great side characters in this book. I'm definitely interested in the whole band, Brenna, and Scottie. I don't know if they'll all get stories, but I hope they do. I've already borrowed the second one from the library.

 

Thanks for reading!

Holly