Sunday, April 30, 2017

Frog by Mary Calmes

The perfect romance story really. Though it was short it had everything anyone could wish for. It was sweet and endearing, it was heart warming, and the only dramatic struggle was actually just in the MCs' head. Weber Yates wanted to belong but he never knew he could find a home and a family with someone like Cyrus Benning. Cyrus already had it all, the only thing he didn't have, and the only thing, the only one, who truly made him happy was Weber, the guy who would rather run away than stay. 


Saturday, April 29, 2017

Fish Out of Water (Fish Out of Water, #1) by Amy Lane

It's going to be silly saying this but I was scared of reading this book. Why? I'm not sure. Maybe because I've read mixed reviews and maybe because I wasn't sure what it's going to turn out to be. I can tell you now - it turned out GREAT. What was my problem really? I already know I love Amy's writing and though I had a few misgivings about her books before, that's BOUND to happen since this is the 51st (!) book I've read by her. Starting I was still a bit worried and even though my misgivings stayed for the remainder of the book, I'm still saying this - it was AWESOME. I enjoyed both the romance and the thriller side of the story, in my mind it was beautifully balanced and though we are mostly left with a HFN it's very important to add that this book doesn't resolve ALL issues since it's the first in what I guess will be new Romantic Suspense series of the best couple to solve crimes - PI Jackson Rivers and Defense attorney Ellery Cramer.

Friday, April 28, 2017

Darkest Hour Before Dawn (THIRDS #9) [Sebastian & Hudson] by Charlie Cochet

What can I say, I simply LOVE this series. Seb and Hudson's story was beautiful but it was mostly heart breaking. We've known about these two for a while now, and getting to hear Hudson's side of things made me feel so sorry for both of them. 7 years being apart yet never truly being able to put their feelings aside. That's what it means to be marked. 


Tuesday, April 25, 2017

On The Ropes Series Box Set (On the Ropes #1-3) by Aly Martinez

I know.. I just posted my last review of the third book in the series.. but since I bought the three of them in this book-set, I decided to make a sort of round-up of my thoughts. 

I'll start by saying I LOVED this series and I seriously have to look up more books by Aly. The first and third books were AMAZING. Filled with New Adult angst at its best. I was hooked and I couldn't and didn't want to put them down. All three siblings are connected through their love of boxing and the free program offered by the new boxing gym "On the Ropes" changed their lives forever. Every book deals with a serious issue one of the brothers were going through and since they have 5-6 years apart, we get to see all of them grow up and mature, make families, continued on with their lives, take care of one another and make each other happy they best they knew how.  



Fighting Solitude (On the Ropes #3) [Quarry Page & Liv James] by Aly Martinez

It's my third day of being sick and 3 is the charm, I was home all day but unlike the previous days I felt well enough to swallow this whole book. Quarry and Liv's story was beautiful, sensitive and the best rap for this awesome trilogy. I couldn't have asked for more. Quarry and Liv deserved each other but I guess a few years needed to pass by in order for them to find each other and be in the right place where they could at last act upon the love they shared for 13 years. If you haven't read any book in the series I think you should stop right here.. go back to the beginning, read my review of Till in "Fighting Silence" because I will be referring to spoilers to the previous books.  


Saturday, April 22, 2017

Fighting Shadows (On the Ropes #2) [Flint Page & Ash Mabie] by Aly Martinez

I admit that after the previous one, I had crazy expectation for this one, not only that, I really liked Flint and how different he seemed from both Till and Quarry (more of a silent, self controlled brainiac). But in this one, I found a bitter, angry and mostly high-handed man I disliked. Sadly, Ash wasn't a favorite either since she was too childish to my liking. So somehow I struggled through the book, and though I did find myself hoping they find their way to each other while both maturing and realizing who they are and what they want, it still felt lacking, mostly because my connection to both MC felt fragile. It was there one minute and then there was an eyeroll when I was annoyed with their behavior. I wanted this book to be so much more and I wanted to see Flint's progression in a much better way but somehow it was shadowed and rushed through. I guess with Flint's "It's no big deal" attitude I can see why it did make sense to skip it. 


Wednesday, April 19, 2017

Fighting Silence (On the Ropes #1) [Till & Eliza] by Aly Martinez

WOW, this was angsty as hell but was worth every second of it! This book was SO engaging, I was hooked from the start. Eliza Reynolds and Till Page have known each other since they were 13. Almost ten years later nothing and everything has changed. What they feel for one another was never the question, it was will they take the leap into romantic relationship instead of settling for "just friends". They mean the world to one another and yet risking Eliza's friendship is something Till is too scared to do. Besides his brothers (Flint and Quarry), Eliza is the most important person in his life and actually, she is important almost just as much to his younger brothers. 


Sunday, April 16, 2017

A Gathering Storm (Porthkennack #2) [Ward & Nick] by Joanna Chambers

I'm not sure what to make of this book. It wasn't what I was expecting and though I liked a lot of things about it, I'm not sure I truly liked both MC. Up until the middle I found myself struggling to keep going. While the setting of the story, the way Joanna portrayed the town of Porthkennack and Ward's growing interest in science through his journal were beautifully written, I felt the relationship buildup was left somehow "unattended". I wanted to see more of Ward and Nick TOGETHER to see how they connect and not through Ward's explanations of scientific discoveries. 

Sir Edward Fitzwilliam comes to the town of Porthenneck to pursue his interest in communicating with ghosts. Though it sounds like a mystical interest it's actually a scientific one. Ward is a respectable scientist or rather he was before he started this specific interest of his. It started after he lost his twin brother and ever since he's been obsessed. But as a good scientist he was looking for a way to contact George, his dead brother, as George was able to contact him (when he informed Ward of his death before anyone could have gotten wind of it). A natural area in Porthkennack has the ability to reconstruct the way he connected with George so naturally he bought the place and made it not only a home but a place to conduct his experiments. So now all he needs are subjects to test and see if others can connect with the dead as he was able in the same conditions. Yet no one in the town want to participate in his experiments.. Not after a truly unfortunate event Ward had actually nothing to do with.. The only unwilling subject he is able to get is Nicholas Hearn - who is not only half Gypsy but he also just recently lost his mother who was considered a "medium" by the people of the village. Nick isn't doing this of his truly own free will.. but once he and Ward start talking he realizes he enjoys their time together even if he won't admit it..



Saturday, April 15, 2017

The Bohemian and the Businessman (The Story Sisters #1) [Priscilla & Shane] by Katy Regnery

I gotta say each book I read by Katy makes me love her even more. I LOVED the previous sub-series "The Rousseaus" each book was a JOY to read with the last one being my favorite, this one was the same and yet better - something new and yet familiar and loved. Can't get enough of the Blueberry Lane series and Katy, mostly Katy.

The timeline of this one takes place 2 years before the "current time". It's the same timeline as "Crazy About Cameron" (from the Winslow Brothers) in which Margaret Story (Priscilla's sister) finds her HEA with Cameron Winslow. But if you haven't read it, or if you haven't read ANY of the books in the bigger "Blueberry Lane" series it doesn't matter because besides getting a little bit more about the Story sisters, and one scene that was "replayed" from a different angle nothing here is a spoiler. It's something really nice about the series, you can start wherever you want to and it doesn't really matter, though if you start in one sub-series I do think it makes more sense to start with the first one that introduces the siblings. Also it's a good way to avoid minor spoilers. 



Friday, April 14, 2017

Dark Soul, Volume III by Aleksandr Voinov

What can I say about the final installment.. It was as good as the previous ones were which means - AMAZING and impossible to put aside and in a way bittersweet because decisions had to be made.  
It brought Stefano into a very difficult situation with the authorities, and one particular vicious man - Sebastiano Beccaria who is actually Franco and Silvio's older brother. He might be on the different side of the law but he is a killer in his own way and getting his view totally showed that. 


Thursday, April 13, 2017

Dark Soul, Volume II by Aleksandr Voinov

I don't even know where to start. As with the first one, this part was impossible to put down, even more so now that I know both Silvio and Stefano. There is something about the pace of this story, or how it keeps you on edge, not only on what would happen between these two men, but also the Russian mafia and the way they decide to deal with them. 


Dark Soul, Volume I by Aleksandr Voinov

This is NOT a light read before bed, and I'm saying that because I had nightmares about the mob last night... Glad that I don't actually remember anything but the strange and mostly frightening vibe.. I knew this book (in three parts) was dark and not only because of the name, I also saw there isn't a clear tag to the genre which fits Aleksandr. He doesn't do ordinary, or "mainstream". I don't think I would have read and enjoyed this book if it wasn't written by him. I was uncomfortable and unsure about this the whole time I was reading it, yet I couldn't put it down. It was mesmerizing in an almost intimate and kinky way. Not sure how to explain it really.

This first two chapters in this one is told from Stefano Marino's POV. He is a young mob boss trying to establish himself. He is happily married and being a part of the mob he doesn't really know what to do with his sudden extreme reaction to Silvio “the Barracuda” Spadaro, a young enforcer of one of the "big bosses" who retired a few years back (though he is still in the game at times which is how Stefano meets Silvio). 



Wednesday, April 12, 2017

The Locker Room by Amy Lane

Beautiful beautiful story. One of the best I've read by Amy, though THE best is saved to "Sidecar" which frankly reminds me somehow of this one though only tiny ideas and nothing of the plot itself. One of the things in common is this book spans 15 years making Xander and Chris sort of epic (in Sidecar it's even more - 25 (!) years). If something was NEVER an issue in this book is their love for each other and how much they'll do to have each other in their lives. Another thing in common is Chris basically saves Xander from a life of hunger and abuse (similar in a way to Joe saving Casey's life though the circumstances are TOTALLY different as well as the plot line and setting). 

Xander Karcek and Chris Edwards meet at 15 for the first time on the basketball court which is THE thing that brings them together. Chris was merely waiting for his mother to bring take-out for the family, while Xander was playing in the court because he has no where safe to go and playing means he could ignore how hungry he is. When Chris asks his mother to bring Xander home to eat dinner with them he has NO idea the impact it would have on ALL of their lives.  



Sunday, April 9, 2017

Touch the Dark (Cassandra Palmer #1) by Karen Chance

This book is impossible to read. After 24% I realized that very little actually happened and I'm totally and absolutely LOST with all the details of the past and present BESIDES the actual plot. I was bored out of my mind when I wasn't confused or lost. The little that DID interest me just didn't move along. There was WAY too much information about the world and mainly about Cassie's past and yet when something happened it was full of action and gory. Not that I mind about that, my issue was the action was SO confusing I had to re-read most of it and still not know who the author was referring to. I wanted this book (and series) to be awesome but sadly I'm letting this one go right here. 


Friday, April 7, 2017

The Queen's Witch (Cassandra Palmer 0.6) [Gillian & Kit] by Karen Chance

This short novella is a sequel to "The Gauntlet", a few days after Gillian and Kit goes their own ways they meet again and Kit explains to Gillian what he needs her for and the importance in that. 


The Gauntlet (Cassandra Palmer 0.5) [Gillian & Kit] by Karen Chance

I enjoyed this short interlude into Cassandra Palmer's world though neither of the MCs in this one is in fact Cassandra. This short novella is told from the alternative POVs of Gillian Urswick - a witch, captured by the black circle who wish to eliminate the witches in general and Chris "Kit" Marlowe who is a vampire tasked with finding someone to help him uncover a certain plot against the queen. Gillian will certainly do but first he has to make her see she can trust him and then they have to find a way to escape which very quickly becomes almost impossible. 


Thursday, April 6, 2017

Heart-Shaped Hack (Kate and Ian #1) by Tracey Garvis-Graves

I'm sorry, this book isn't working for me.. I tried giving it the best shot I can, but 69% in, I lost the appeal. The little things that annoyed me throughout the book became too much for me to continue and I really do think I've read enough to have a good opinion on what I feel about it. 

There is a lot of unique concepts about this book. Both MC, at least in the beginning felt very different from what I'm used to reading. Ian sounded like the "anti-hero" someone we'll need time to see as capable of being a true "romantic interest", and Kate had everything she could wish for as a lawyer yet she put that all aside to work at a shelter for people with limited funds. That's really not a usual setting for a novel. Though them meeting when she found he was the anonymous donor DOES sound romance novel material and quite swoon worthy. 



Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Creature Feature - Landslide + Frank & Cael ficlet by Mary Calmes

This Anthology contains two short novellas, I just read "Landslide" (the second one) by Mary Calmes 
[I might get back to "Diagnosis: Wolf" by Poppy Dennison one day ]

This was literally a WHOLE story condensed into a novella. It had everything from romance to mystery with a murder to be solved, a family drama with an added bonus of life, occupation and friends in a very well designed Paranormal world. WOW. The only reason I'm not giving this superb novella 5 full stars is it was a little bit too crowded with details, some I'm not even sure why we got, though every last detail DID help make this book very real feeling (can't say genuine with all the vampires, werewolves, shifers and demons walking around..).


Monday, April 3, 2017

Once Upon a Rose (La Vie en Roses #1) [Matt & Layla] by Laura Florand

I don't like this book. Usually I give a better chance to books I feel aren't going where I want them to, but with this one I just can't and it even annoys me more because I got this book from a 'book friend' who thought I'd love it. Not to mention the first chapter ends with a mention of a Great Dane but it all ended for me right after that epic paragraph.. (starting Chapter 2).

I LOVED the way the land was described, the way Layla is lost in a field of roses. She was lost, she was confused, she was looking for something different in her life and though I had a hard time following what's exactly her issue is, being surrounded by this beautiful view which smells of roses SURELY has to be the solution. 



Sunday, April 2, 2017

The Sweetest Goodbye (Roadmap to Your Heart #3.5) [Billie & Dylan] by Christina Lee

For me, the name says it all. It's the sweetest goodbye from a beautiful series. I'm so happy we got Billie's story. We met him as a teenager in the 2nd installment and now, a few years later, he is grown and we revisit the small town the Montgomerys live in with little glimpses into the couples from the 2nd and 3rd installment. I LOVED Billie and even more I loved Dylan. Together they were simply endearing. I love the friends turn to lovers turf and this one was exactly that. 


Saturday, April 1, 2017

The Faintest Spark (Roadmap to Your Heart #1.5) [Mal & Sawyer] by Christina Lee

It's not the book, it's me. I dislike "MC" (Motorcycle Club) books. So why did I delve into this one? obvious reason - it's by Christina. It's hard for me to refrain from reading her books even though I knew, right from the start it's NOT my turf. But you see, though the first installment in the series was "so-so" for me, I LOVED the 2nd and 3rd installment so I wasn't going to pass this one out. Though it chronically takes place after the first installment (and has A LOT to do with what happened there) it's actually the last novella to close this series. There's another short novella published a few months ago that is chronically last but THIS is the sort of the finale with Mal the head of the "Disciples" Motorcycle club finding his HEA.