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: Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop

Series: The Others Book #2

Format: ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Borrowed from Library (Overdrive)

Genre: Fantasy, Sci-Fi

Publisher:  Roc

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murder of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard - Lakeside’s shape-shifting leader - wonders if their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now, the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet - and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

 

Review

Holy crap! I haven’t read a book in one sitting in a long time. Like I got up to go to the bathroom while reading this and was actually annoyed by it. The first book slowly worked it’s way under my skin while this one immediately sucked me in and wouldn’t let go.

This book is an excellent example of how to write tension. My favorite-and probably the most minor-is the sexual tension because I love romance. Then there’s the general tension and unrest in the world. It kept me engaged and on the edge of my seat but didn’t stress me out. Sometimes books are too tense and they make me feel like I’m going to have a panic attack which is too much and I don’t like.

First, let’s discuss issues. Well, there’s one: There isn’t enough Sam. OK, that isn’t a real issue but he’s so cute. And I love his relationship with Meg. But there’s so much going on and sacrifices have to be made.

The world building became even stronger in this one. More characters and information was introduced. I feel like I learned more about the different “Others” both as a whole and individuals. Plus, we got to explore more about how the world is set up and different countries/continents. Then, there’s the information that was provided about the Blood Prophets.

I have to talk about the romance or budding romance. In the first book, I thought there would be a romance but I didn’t know if I was just delusional. But this time it was thrown in my face. But I feel like it’s going to be soooooooooo slow. I felt like I was getting book blue-balls because I just wanted them to kiss.

I’m amazed by how much happened in this book. The big climactic moment I knew would happen, but I figured it would be a few books down the line. So, I have no idea what’s going to happen next. I am certainly excited to find out soon. I just have to wait on another library hold. 

Thanks for reading!

Holly

Review: Bet Me by Jennifer Crusie

Stand Alone
Format: Trade Paperback
Pages: 337
Rating: 4 Stars
How I Got It: Borrowed from Library
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Minerva Dobbs knows how to work the odds.
Calvin Morrisey always plays to win.

But when they face off, neither one is prepared.
Because when real life meets true love, all bets are off. . . .

Minerva Dobbs knows that happily-ever-after is a fairy tale, especially with a man who asked her to dinner to win a bet, even if he is gorgeous and successful Calvin Morrisey. Cal knows commitment is impossible, especially with a woman as cranky as Min Dobbs, even if she does wear great shoes and keep him on his toes. When they say good-bye at the end of their evening, they cut their losses and agree never to see each other again.

But fate has other plans, and it's not long before Min and Cal meet again. Soon they're dealing with a jealous ex-boyfriend, Krispy Kreme doughnuts, a determined psychologist, chaos theory, a freakishly intelligent cat, Chicken Marsala, and more risky propositions than either of them ever dreamed of. Including the biggest gamble of all---true love.
Bet Me is the winner of a 2005 RITA Award

Review

 
I've been hearing about this for years. People talk about it being the best romance novel or it being the one that made them love the genre. But I have a general aversion to bet story lines. Somehow, I was finally worn down and picked this up at the library.

It is a good book and I read it in one sitting. But it was a little too long for me. I kept waiting for something to happen and it got kind of frustrating.

The characters were great. I totally relate to Min and I'm sure a lot of women do. It's always nice to read about a "normal" woman. She's also full of sass. Cal is also a well-developed character, Then, there's all the fantastic friendships. I always love books that incorporate positive relationships-especially between women.

It's easy to see why people really like this. My mom apparently loved it. And I would recommend it, but I wouldn't call it a favorite or necessarily put it in my romance conversion kit.

Thanks for reading!
Holly

Review: The Return by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series: Titan #1

Format: Ebook

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal, Mythology

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

The Fates are cackling their bony asses off…

It’s been a year since Seth made the deal with the gods that pledged his life to them. And so far, the jobs they’ve given him have been violent and bloody–which is kind of all right with him. But now Apollo has something else in mind for Seth. He’s got to play protector while keeping his hands and fingers off, and for someone who really has a problem with restraint, this new assignment might be the most challenging yet.

Josie has no idea what this crazy hot guy’s deal might be, but it’s a good bet that his arrival means the new life she started after leaving home is about to be thrown into an Olympian-sized blender turned up to puree. Either Josie is going insane or a nightmare straight out of ancient myth is gunning for her.

But it might be the unlikely attraction simmering between her and the golden-eyed, secret-keeping Seth that may prove to be the most dangerous thing of all.

Because history has once again been flipped to repeat.

Book 1 in the new adult paranormal TITAN series, spin-off to the best selling COVENANT series.  

Review

I’ve wanted to read this since I first read the Covenant series, but I’ve been putting it off because I prefer to marathon series. For some reason, during the middle of my recent vacation I felt an overwhelming need to read it. So, I bought it and read it as I was traveling home.  And like a lot of Jennifer Armentrout books I flew through it.

First, I’m so happy this was written in dual POV. I prefer that in my NA/romance reads and she does it so well. And I would’ve been disappointed if there was no Seth POV. One issue I had was that the POVs weren’t clear. I could tell them apart and the voices were distinctive, but I would have preferred that they be labeled.

During the Covenant series I had conflicting emotions about Seth, but in the end I loved him. That didn’t change here. He is a great character and I’m very excited to see him evolve and, hopefully, happy. Being in his head shows how good he wants to be. And it also shows the insecurities he has and is constantly trying to hide.

I really like Josie. She’s funny and I like her bumbling. She doesn’t have a lot of physical strength, but she has so much emotional strength. She obviously doesn’t handle everything perfectly, but she is dealing with all the crazy very well.

The romance was definitely a slow burn. Maybe too much of a slow burn, because I was starting to get frustrated. But I do want them together and happy so much.

It was great to see some past characters. They are great and I love when that happens in companion series. I don’t remember enough about how the first series ended, but I really want to see Alex and Aidan. I especially want Josie to be able to talk to Alex. And reading this made me want to re-read the Covenant series.

If you read the first series you should definitely check this out. If you need extra motivation—there’s lots of shirtless Seth.

Thanks for reading!

Review: The Fifteenth Minute by Sarina Bowen

Series: The Ivy Years (Book #5)

Format: Ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, College

Publisher: Rennie Road Books

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

Freshman Lianne Challice is known to millions of fans as Princess Vindi. But sometimes a silver screen sorceress just wants to hang up her wand, tell her manager to shove it, and become a normal college student. Too bad that’s harder than it looks.

She’s never lived a normal life. She hasn’t been to school since kindergarten. And getting close to anyone is just too risky — the last boy she kissed sold the story to a British tabloid.

But she can’t resist trying to get close to Daniel "DJ" Trevi, the hot, broody guy who spins tunes for hockey games in the arena. Something's haunting his dark eyes, and she needs to know more.

DJ's genius is for expressing the mood of the crowd with a ten second song snippet. With just a click and a fade, he can spread hope, pathos or elation among six thousand screaming fans.

Too bad his college career is about to experience the same quick fade-out as one of his songs. He can't get close to Lianne, and he can't tell her why. And the fact that she seems to like him at all? Incredible.  

Review

I don’t really know why but this book made me so happy. Basically, I was smiling like a girl surrounded by her crush the whole time. There are definitely some sad things, but it was also a very sweet story. And Sarina Bowen knows how to write characters and a romance I will care about.

Lianne interested me in Bella’s story, but she’s amazing. She’s very likeable and intelligent. And I really like how she is shy and confident. Some people probably think you can’t be both, but different situations will bring out different parts of your personality. And I’m very happy we still get to see her friendship with Bella because it’s great. And lady friendships.

Then, there’s DJ. Oh my god, I think I have a crush on that guy. He’s so nice and caring. He just does all of these little things for Lianne that showed he is such a good person.

The romance was so well done. It felt like a very traditional development but that’s kind of refreshing because New Adult is usually full of a bunch of craziness. I also really enjoyed how music brought them together and took down barriers. Those were some of my favorites scenes. Their chemistry is spectacular and the progression of the physical aspect of their relationship was handled very well.

Speaking of things that were handed well, let’s head into spoiler terroitory.

Ms. Bowen decided to take on a pretty touchy subject. And I shouldn’t be surprised at this point but she did it with care and respect. Rape and assault are very common in New Adult and I love that she looked at the person who is accused of rape. Daniel had to face serious consequences both internally and in the world at large. And I’m so glad Annie wasn’t some vindictive bitch. She had her own issues and is also a good person. Their story shows how important it is that we discuss assault and how we handle it.

Onto more cheerful things. One of the reasons I really like reading companion series like this is the opportunity to see the other couples happy. There was so much Bella and Rafe and Graham and Rikker. It’s like Ms. Bowen knows what my catnip is and wrote it all into one book.

Oh, I almost forgot about the pretty heavy sequel bait. I’m a sucker for it and really put it out there. I hope there will be more books in this series because I love Harkness so much, but I’m very excited to read the first book in the spinoff series. I don’t want to wait until next year.

Thanks for reading!

Review: Deeper by Robin York

 

Series: Caroline and West Book #1

Format: Ebook

Rating: 5 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, College

Publisher: Bantam

Synopsis courtesy of Goodreads

In Robin York’s sizzling debut, a college student is attacked online and must restore her name—and stay clear of a guy who’s wrong for her, but feels so right.

When Caroline Piasecki’s ex-boyfriend posts their sex pictures on the Internet, it destroys her reputation as a nice college girl. Suddenly her once-promising future doesn’t look so bright. Caroline tries to make the pictures disappear, hoping time will bury her shame. Then a guy she barely knows rises to her defense and punches her ex to the ground.

West Leavitt is the last person Caroline needs in her life. Everyone knows he’s shady. Still, Caroline is drawn to his confidence and swagger—even after promising her dad she’ll keep her distance. On late, sleepless nights, Caroline starts wandering into the bakery where West works.

They hang out, they talk, they listen. Though Caroline and West tell each other they’re “just friends,” their feelings intensify until it becomes impossible to pretend. The more complicated her relationship with West gets, the harder Caroline has to struggle to discover what she wants for herself—and the easier it becomes to find the courage she needs to fight back against the people who would judge her.

When all seems lost, sometimes the only place to go is deeper.

 

Review

I picked this up after hearing Sonali Dev rave about it on the DBSA podcast. She said it was an incredibly well written New Adult novel and I have to agree. The characters and writing are both great. And it should be no surprise that I would like an author who deals with things like slut shaming and revenge porn.

This story is told a little weird. The chapters alternate POV and are specific chunks of time. They also travel in forward and back in time regularly. Sometimes it was a little jarring or frustrating because I would want to know what a particular character thought about something. But I liked that it was just a little different from the other NA books I’ve read.

Caroline and West are both great characters. They are very well-developed and appropriately flawed. And I loved seeing them grow to believe in themselves and each other.

And I really like that Caroline has some good friends. Quinn and Bridget are so supportive throughout all of the horrible things that happen to her.

West seems like the stereotypical bad boy hero, but he isn’t. He hides behind that image to protect himself. And he cares so much for his family and Caroline. I’m not a huge fan of violent/aggressive guys anymore but Ms. York does a good job of making his behavior understandable.

The ending was beautiful. I know there’s a second book which I’m really excited about. But there’s something tragically perfect about it. In so many ways this can be a complete story, just with the ending I wouldn’t typically want.

So, thank you Sonali Dev. I’ve been meaning to read your books for a while and now I’ll move them up on my list.

Thanks for reading!

Welcome to Christmas, CA by Kiersten White

My True Love Gave to Me

Format: Hardcover

Pages: 32

Rating: 4 Stars

How I Got It: Purchased

                This is another story that had a slow start. It’s hard to be really successful when you have a slow start in a short story. But in the end, I enjoyed the story well enough.

                I found the story interesting and a little different. At this point, Maria is probably the most negative character from the get-go. But Ben was a good complement.

                I also liked the way Ms. White played with expectations. Especially when it comes to Maria’s parents.

                There was a lot going on though. I still don’t completely understand who all the characters are and their relationships to one another. I also struggled with Ms. White’s voice. I can’t quite put my finger on it, but it didn’t work for me.