Monday, February 29, 2016

Strangely Familiar by Cari Z.

What an enjoyable read! Though it's short, I was surprised we even got a sort of world building that made enough sense, a world, much like our own only containing witches, creatures etc who live freely within it. Cecily is a witch from a line of powerful witches, as the youngest in her family she has one more thing she needs to achieve - summon a familiar. While it's usually a natural thing which comes without much of an effort Cecily is quite surprised and frankly a bit  afraid when she finds out she attracted more than a mere Jaguar but a Were-Jaguar who isn't thrilled to be linked to anyone, a witch especially.

In Memoriam by Cari Z.

This one was hell of a strange little story. I started reading it last night and I"m only being fair when I say I was DEAD tired so I the slow pace of the story, the picturesque town Felix and Lee are vacationing on made me even more sleepy (so I finished it this morning). There was a certain pull between these two even though they seem to come from different worlds and even though it's quite obvious that when each returns to his work they are bound to be apart (due to their occupations).

Sunday, February 28, 2016

Dex in Blue (Johnnies #2) [David "Dex" & Carlos "Kane"] by Amy Lane

Another emotional ride, but not as crushing as the previous one in the series. I liked both Dex and Kane in the previous installment and was happy to get to know them better in this one. I gotta say, these two together are not what you would expect, Dex is a smart guy and I'm not saying Kane is stupid (I might get hit by Dex ;)) but he is "slower" and he doesn't always get social clues (such as sarcasm). Yet they are actually perfect for one another, they somehow complete each other and while a lot of "smart people" look down on "less smart people" Dex isn't like that at all, he saw Kane for who he really is and appreciated his good qualities, dismissing his "bad" ones.. 

Saturday, February 27, 2016

COVER REVEAL - Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) by Sarina Bowen

Remember how hyped up I was about "The Ivy Years" if not, clearly you have been missing out, it was and I'm sure will be THE best New Adult college series EVER. But after 5 books it was over and I was really sad though I always think it's better putting aside a series when the time is due than continuing on when it doesn't make any sense.. so here Sarina gives us an AWESOME opportunity to keep this series "on" while forwarding it into adult characters in a spin-off series "Brooklyn Bruisers". Also if you've read "The Ivy Years" you already know the MC in this one and got a little of their back story (not enough!) and you are dying like I am to get the full story packed with the HEA this time around. 

Hope you have a fan near by (or at least a bunch of papers to wave around your face ;))


Rookie Move (Brooklyn Bruisers #1) - BLURB

Thursday, February 25, 2016

Chase in Shadow (Johnnies #1) [Chase "Chance" & Tommy "Tango"] by Amy Lane

This book was SUCH a ride, an emotional one. I think a year ago (maybe a bit more?) I wouldn't have been able to read it, too many issues would have bugged me enough to put it aside or not even giving it a chance so actually I'm really happy I've broadened my horizons and I'm able to read more genres and concepts I was uncomfortable with in the past. 

The book starts almost at the end point chronically, we get to Chase's breaking point where he realizes he can't keep on living the way he has all his life. We met Chase in the prequel of Donnie and Yandro, and even if you haven't read it (it's not necessary, it gives background information about Donnie and Chase's friendship and the forming of his relationship with Yandro) it's obvious he is so deep in the closet he can't even see there IS a closet. He has a girlfriend he lives with and plans on finishing his engineer degree and provide for her and the family they will build together. When he finds it hard to save money for a house while studying and working low pay jobs he stumbles upon a job in the Gay Porn Industry. "Johnnies" is actually a very nice company, with a great manager, who actually cares about his employees, the guys are also great, they have a lot more going on than doing porn (which will naturally be explored in the next books in the series). "Johnnies" gives Chase (known as "Chance") an opportunity to explore his true wants and needs even if only in the physical aspect. Until he meets Tommy ("Tango")..

Wednesday, February 24, 2016

COVER REVEAL - Touch the Sky (Free Fall #1) by Christina Lee & Nyrae Dawn

I've been a fan of Christina Lee's New Adult novels for a while now. I absolutely ADORED her series "Between Breaths" so getting a new NA by her is really exciting news! Also since it's a collaboration with another author - Nyrae Dawn - I haven't read yet is also great news.

<3 <3   SOOOO EXCITED!   <3 <3

Touch the Sky by Christina and Nyrae will be out on the 28th of March (a month away!).
There are still no pre-order links (I'll add those when they are available), right now, be sure to add the book on GoodReads.

Let's begin with the beautiful cover
LOVE the messy hair :)



Touch the Sky (Free Fall #1) - BLURB:

Saturday, February 20, 2016

Super Sock Man (Johnnies 0.5) [Donnie & Alejandro] by Amy Lane

Sweet romance novella. I liked it but can't say I loved it. On the one hand it was SO DAMN SWEET, on the other hand, though I loved Donnie's childish innocence it was also a bit of a "turn off" for me. I could and couldn't see was Yandro found in him. 

Thursday, February 11, 2016

Surviving the Change by Cari Z.

You know how I keep complaining about the whole "alpha" role in shape shifters/were wolves novels and how much I hate it? Well, not only this short novella was SUPERB it also had a totally different take on the "Alpha"'s concept. Frankly, it escaped me until it was pointed out to me "LOOKY HERE!". I totally missed the signs. LOVED it. I know I'm being vague, but I really don't want to spoiler anything in this one. 

This story takes place in a world in which other species are known to men, but they don't mix seamlessly. They sometimes have different laws and they tend to stick to themselves. Blythe works in a pub owned by a vampire which caters to shifters. He AND the vampire aren't fond of shifters but they both swallow the bitter pill to be able to pay the bills.. 

Tuesday, February 9, 2016

Wanting More by Cari Z.

Another great short novella by Cari. It always surprises me how much depth and actual story a short novella like this can hold. Alex is a stripper and dancer. It's not something he plans to do for life, rather help pay the bills for his culinary studies. He doesn't have long before he finished and when he does he plans on finding a job as a chef (even if it's quite obvious the pay won't be as good..)

Alex meets James in a very uncomfortable situation when James catches Alex with James' (soon to be ex-) boyfriend. As it seems both James and Alex are intrigued by this encounter yet it takes James two weeks before he comes to see Alex in the strippers club.  

Monday, February 8, 2016

Sing to Me by Jeffrey Rivera

I guess my rating makes it clear I didn't like this book and yet I think it's extremely important to say what my main problem was - this is a Young Adult Romance novel. There are very few of those I can tolerate. If you are into this genre, you might really enjoy this book but I personally just don't have the tolerance for "kids" (even though  the MC in this one are round 19-20 years old). I"m usually more careful with the books I chose but with this one, there weren't enough Tags on the GoodReads page and also not many reviews which is how I totally missed it being YA.

Different Spheres by Cari Z.

5 stars are NOT enough for this sweet, funny, heart warming short novella. I"m not sure what I expected but what I got, from the start is the very clever and funny POV of Gil, who have been diagnosed with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) and have been struggling with the growing effects it has on him after managing the illness for the past 7 years. 

As much as Gil is depressed with the situation he is in, and as much as it is heart breaking, the way he sees everything around him, how he describes everything and the words he uses (as a literature professor) is hilarious! Even when he is so down, he still managed to put a smile on my face with his observations

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Marrying Mr. English Part 1+2 (Blueberry Lane 1 - The English Brothers #7) [Tom & Eleanora] by Katy Regnery

Okay, lets start with the most important news - This book is NOT in fact Part 2 of Eleanora and Tom's love story, it's the COMPLETE novella - part 1 + part 2. When I opened this book yesterday and realized I STRUGGLED though the disappointing "12 Christmas Romances to Melt Your Heart" Anthology containing the first part of this story, only to realize I already had it on my kindle in this version I was seeing RED! then I calmed myself, went back to my bed, opened my kindle and delved into the story (from about the third mark were the second part starts). Eleanora and Tom went through quite a lot in their first few months together, which made both of them grow up and be sure of what and who they wanted in their lives.

Saturday, February 6, 2016

12 Christmas Romances To Melt Your Heart by Catherine Gayle, Jami Davenport, Riley J. Ford, Emma Roman, Allie K. Adams, Geri Foster, Tammy Falkner, Tawdra Kandle, Chris Keniston, Katy Regnery, Becca Boyd & Jodi Vaughn

This Anthology is different than the usual I tend to grab, but since I REALLY wanted to read Katy Regnery's novella I "had no choice" but to grab it even though ALL the short novellas in this one are a part of a series. The only way I can describe this Anthology is a HUGE disappointment. I had a few DNFs and mostly I rated these between 1-2 stars.

I started writing individual reviews, but as I continued on reading and was annoyed with most of what I read, I decided bashing everything ISN'T the way I want to go.. So I'm rating (without review) the ones I wasn't impressed with, while writing a positive review to the ones I DID like