Sunday, November 29, 2015

Humbug by Joanna Chambers

Let's face it, this one getting a 5 star review is NO surprise and yet when I started reading this one I was a bit worried.. I mean, Quin sounds like a real douche.. redeeming a douche is ALWAYS a possibility but question is - can it be done in 74 pages? YES, apparently ;) 

Quin Flint is exactly the kind of guy I would love to hate. A self centered guy, who is not only just about himself, he is also all about the job and thinks everyone around him MUST be consumed by work responsibility 24/7.. He is a mean boss, he doesn't interact with his workers in a considerate way and not only that, he is also not that a good friend to his REAL friends. 

Friday, November 27, 2015

In Your Eyes (Mates #3) [Samuel & Korban] by C. Cardeno

~sigh~ I can't be more pleased with this beautiful love story. I read it in two gulps. The first up until the most significant moment of confrontation between the two packs where I realized I"m too ansgty to handle what's going to happen.. then returned the day after to read the whole thing in one sitting. I loved both Samuel and Korban though we only heard Samuel's voice. They truly completed one another. 

Thursday, November 26, 2015

Until Forever Comes (Mates #2) [Ethan & Miguel] by C. Cardeno

Well, I liked this one, but not as I did the first one. Which is a part of the problem - I'm comparing! I"m not sure what I would have thought if I'd read this one as the first in the series.. I loved Zev and Jonah SO MUCH. But here Ethan felt a bit "weak". He is sweet, I'll give him that, but he is also very childish and needs a lot of taking care of / teaching the way of the world which I wasn't very fond of. Miguel was sort of sweet in a creepy sort of way ;) He is a "bad ass" vampire, very strong and old, Ethan totally takes him by surprise. He is attracted to him, he wants to protect him - what's up with that? Ethan calling him his "true mate" doesn't really help because Miguel doesn't believe in these things.. In general he isn't very impressed with the shifters (which was really interesting actually, getting the story from a vampire's perspective). But it doesn't take much for both of them to realize they are "it" for one another - Until Forever Comes.

Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Wake Me Up Inside (Mates #1) [Zev & Jonah] by C. Cardeno

This is the first book I've read by Cardeno, I got great recommendations for books by her and I was really excited to finally try her books. Actually I didn't really know what to expect, as it was, I started the first chapter before going to bed and even from reading the synopsis the day after, it was different from what I expected. 

First off, this book it SO damn sweet, the romance was heart warming in a way, honestly, I'm surprised wasn't a bit too much for me. I was just hooked from the first chapter to Zev and Jonah's love story, I couldn't wait to get to the point when Zev and Jonah are finally connected as mates. 

Saturday, November 21, 2015

Real World (Bend or Break #5) [Tom & Reese] by Amy Jo Cousins

This one was everything I could have hoped for and more. I can't express how happy I am with the way this one turned out. I LOVED both Tom and Reese in the 1st installment in the series, and yeah, it was obvious that their problems won't just disappear when they are finally committed to one another but here we got to see them 4 years later and though there's much of the same (no one changes over night..), it's different, their relationship is stronger, their connection is beautiful and even when they are both making mistakes it's obvious where their heart are. 

Level Hands (Bend or Break #4) [Denny & Rafi] by Amy Jo Cousins

I loved the little glimpse I got of Denny and Rafi in the previous installment and was really interested in getting their story. Through the synopsis it's quite obvious we are going to get Rafi's POV, with his struggles in a new place (Carlisle College) where he doesn't fit in, for too many reasons.. his color, being gay, lacking academically, not coming from "money" and especially since he is only there because of a scholarship he got from Cash and Denny's family heavy meddling

If someone can get what it feels like being an outsider it's me. Though I never had any of the specific problems Rafi has. I could totally get the feeling of inferiority and what it made him think, but I couldn't understand what it made him DO - mostly toward Denny - his only point of support

Saturday, November 14, 2015

The Girl Next Door (Bend or Break #3) [Cash & Steph] by Amy Jo Cousins

This wasn't exactly what I was expecting.. I mean, I LOVED Cash, he is one of my absolute favorite male characters. He's got it all, mostly a BIG heart and no prejudice no matter the subject. It's exactly what makes him such a good friend not only to Reese and Tom, but also to Steph, even if back in college their friendship had a bit more.. Now, a few years later, he is living in Chicago, has left all his fortune behind to coach young kids through a none profit organization. 

Friday, November 13, 2015

As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes

"The Princess Bride" is my absolute favorite movie. I can and had watched it gazillion times and know all of it by heart. It's a brilliant movie, can be watched by kids as well as grown ups and it never feels "old". If you haven't watched it - now is the time. Though maybe you should watch it with someone else who HADN'T watched it or by yourself (if none other virgins can be found ;)) because there is nothing WORSE than watching a movie with someone who keeps quoting the WHOLE movie next to you ;)

I came by this book totally by accident. I was talking to my brother about Andre The Giant and said I've heard so many amazing things about him by fellow cast members. So when I went on a look out on Youtube I found a video of Cary Elwes promoting his new book and I simply HAD to have it. 

Monday, November 9, 2015

Nothing Like Paris (Bend or Break #2) [Jack & Miguel] by Amy Jo Cousins

While I absolutely LOVED the previous one this one was VERY disappointing. I didn't know what I would feel about Jack who was really mean to Tom in the previous installment. The question of "is he redeemable" was asked and the answer is - there is nothing to redeem. If I would have heard/read about him without knowing his age, I won't give him more than 9 years old and that's me being generous.. The point where I stopped (32%) was after he and Mike/Miguel were on a mission to hang a poster of Batman on the school's wall. Well, I think it was a wall, frankly in a certain point I started skimming this chapter, not understanding what the F I'm reading here..

Saturday, November 7, 2015

Off Campus (Bend or Break #1) [Tom & Reese] by Amy Jo Cousins

Though I was really looking forward to reading this series, when it was right there in it's scheduled spot I was a bit worried.. I've just put aside a series people were raving about and now here's another series I heard so many great things about and I wasn't sure what to expect. So when I finally had the time Friday evening I just opened the book and started reading (then stopped and remembered I didn't even read the synopsis! went back to read it and continued on). It was 1 AM in the morning when I realized I WANT to keep on reading but my eyes are burning with how tired I am. Reluctant I went to sleep only to wake up two hours later to read a bit more, then woke up in the morning to finish it. Didn't even have my coffee.. 

I was really floored by just HOW amazing this book was. In a way I don't like writing a raving review of a book I absolutely love because I feel like I'm screwing it up! There is NO WAY I'm able to express how good it was, how and why I liked it that much and here it's the same. I loved both MC, they both dealt with horrible experiences, were doing the best they could on their own and it just didn't cut it. Because as much as we want to be big heroes and deal with life, sometimes it's a bit too much for us on our own, especially since we adapt a certain world view according to our experiences (not always positive or adaptive) so another person's perspective is a good idea. I'm saying here that not only Reese and Tom were PERFECT for one another they genuinely NEEDED each other.  

Friday, November 6, 2015

Unforgivable by Joanna Chambers

Truthfully, it's pointless to even attempt to write a review for this OUTSTANDING novel. It's one of THE best I've read this year. I enjoyed many books this year, some by authors I know and other by authors I WISH to know better, but this one, I don't know, just throw me completely. Even though I already knew I loved everything else I've read by Joanna it was still a surprise just how MUCH I enjoyed it. Especially with one issue it deals with that could have changed my review for the worst - it's no secret that the hero cheats on the heroine - repeatedly! But before you condemn this book because of this issue, or because you're not into HR, or some other reason - please, I ask of you - give it a shot. It's SO well written, it's IMPOSSIBLE to put down and it's so heart crushing it's impossible not to be sucked into this story without even wanting to return to life as we know it. 

You see what I mean? what is there more to say?

Yet, I WILL write a review, if only to give you an idea of what this one is about, and to remind myself in the future when I look at this beautiful cover and try to remember what it was all about and why I get the sudden feeling as though I want to hug the screen...

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

It's Not Shakespeare by Amy Lane

Well, I liked this book but frankly, I didn't really enjoy it. I know it doesn't make any sense, it's just that on the one hand, I really liked the idea, the concept of a professor, a literature professor (!) dating an Hispanic mechanic with no real education, and yet, I didn't really "connect" with both MC. There was something that was putting me off both of them (on their own, I did like them together). I struggled to finish this one, even though it's quite short. 

Monday, November 2, 2015

Alex (Cold Fury Hockey #1) [Alex & Sutton] by Sawyer Bennett

I truly expected to love this series and yet I don't.. there were few things that annoyed me enough to put this book aside and not continue on reading this series. First off, I have to say, even if it's obvious - this is my personal opinion - so feel free to disagree and rave about this series. I've read a LOT of positive reviews to realize I'm not in the majority here, which is fine by me.