Love Lessons (Brooklyn Bruisers #10) [Ian & Vera] by Sarina Bowen

It has been a hot minute... My life took quite the turn and reading haven't been on the agenda.. It is now! I started reading this book MONTHS ago. When I opened it again I couldn't remember A THING. So I started from the beginning (and immediately everything came back...). I have to say this one wasn't my favorite. If you're looking for a HOT read with an easy vibe this one will be just for you. For me it simply wasn't "enough".

I've been following the Brooklyn Bruisers for what feels like years. They're all a fun bunch together or on their own. This time they are all going on vacation together meaning the somewhat uptight Vera with the carefree Ian. 

A Monstrous Light by Cari Z.

I liked the idea behind this novella. I wonder if at a different time I would have felt differently about it. Reading it left me feeling.. sad. I'm not even sure what I feel about the ending as I'm not entirely sure what it means for Beniel and Korran. 

The story is told from Beniel Tallance's POV. He has lost his lover in - a monstrous light - a few months ago in the battle of a lifetime. Korran was gone and yet, and yet he didn't really. He became something else. Something Beniel isn't sure how he's going to find and when he does what he's going to do in order to have him back in his arms. 

This novella is his journey, through unfriendly towns and scary roads to the end of the universe where they fought. Writing these words saddens me. Beniel doesn't have anyone besides his lover. Their relationship was even more complicated with Korran being a prince and Beniel his "Indulgence", let's call him his valet, since a young age. Now after the war is over, the old ruler (Korran's father) dethroned, his brother Ormyr is the ruler and things aren't exactly working in his favor. He needs Beniel's help and he is offering the one thing that matters to him. Beniel accepts.

House Rules by Cari Z.

Though I'm usually a BIG fan of Cari's novels this one missed the mark but that's mostly becuase it was too short and also BDSM mostly doesn't work for me. Are you into spanking? Because if the answer is yes I think you'll really enjoy this one. Thing is, there is a lot in the first part of the novella that REALLY intriged me. The life of Jon and Al seems to follow rules that are made to keep Jon healthy and safe but sadly as this was rather short what we got isn't more about the two of them but what Jon knew he'll get once Al is home - what he deserved.

An Unseen Attraction (Sins of the Cities #1) [Clem & Rowley] by K.J. Charles

Though I liked a lot of things about this novel, and especially the way KJ portrayed both of our MCs, I guess I was frustrated with them for basically the same reason. The plot was complex though also in a way simple for someone from the outside to guess most of it, even if not ALL of it. That was the "theme" for me. The complexity and simplicity and the way it entwined together frustrated me WAY too much.

Clem Talleyfer manages a lodging-house. It's not really his though he has his own sort of claim to it. He takes a lot of pride in his work, even the things that aren't that simple for him. You could say Clem is a bit slow. He has the kindest heart, he is good with people, he truly cares, but he knows he has his limitations and mostly how to get around them or not put himself in places he might not belong or be overwhelmed. The highlight of his days in the past 8 months have been sitting for tea with one of his lodgers - Mr. Green. He might not reclaim his feelings for him, but he would rather at least have him as his friend.

Rowley Green loves his new place and not only because it's close to his shop when he makes and sells preserved animals. Other people might not look kindly about his occupation but Clem Talleyfer never has. He too waits for their daily tea meeting when he comes back to the house from work. Clem might need his routine and not be pressed when he is doing something, but Rowley simply accepts him as he is. This made me really adore Rowley. There is a simplicity to how he sees Clem, without prejudice and judgement.

"Something's out of focus. It's not you any more or less than my eyes are me. And just as without my spectacles everything is blurred, for you it's..."

So Close (Tierney Bay, #1) [Auburn & Trey] by Serena Bell

I'm not sure how to review this book. I liked many elements in it, especially the feel of Tierney Bay and how magical it felt not just for the people living but also to the people visiting again and again, and yet I had a hard time connecting with our MCs, mainly Trey. I guess he "redeemed himself", his actions weren't actually due to "bad character" but to a situation that he found himself in and needed to fix, and not just for his sake. As his reasoning were explained to Auburn, I could see why SHE started to like him, and yeah, there was MAD attraction between the two, and yet, I still didn't see what there was there between them BESIDES the attraction. I don't think they "fit in" together, and it doesn't make sense to me the change that Trey went through in literally a WEEK he was in Tierney Bay even if Auburn sees it as a magical place who changes people and allow wonderful things to happen.

Auburn Campbell have lived all of her life in Tierney Bay and worked many years in "Beachcrest Inn", it's her home now, with it's owner - Carl - feeling like a father figure, especially after her parents passing. She always thought the inn will be hers when Carl retires, yet after he suffers a heart attack she realizes her dreams might come to an abrupt end. Seems Carl was in a bad place a few years ago and sold half of the inn to his grandson Trey. Trey was helping out Carl, he didn't have any designs on the property but things changed recently and now he intends to sell the place for investors destroying the resort and Auburn's dreams with it.

Edge of Darkness (Hunter Legacy #3) [Knox & Leni] by Lara Adrian

Though I've been a fan of the Midnight Breed series for YEARS now, and it's basically (still) my favorite Vampire series I feel like this book was TOO predictable, not in the story-line sense, but in the way the characters behaved (especially Knox). I could basically say what he was about to say/think before it happened. The way they fell for one another felt like Lara's usual format and though I usually enjoy it, I needed more from this book.

I KNOW we've met Knox Hunter before but for the life of me, I simply CANNOT figure out where from. He is a part of the "Hunter Program" and after his release he as built a home with 3 more survivors but he left after he lost the woman he cared for. I REMEMBER this from another book by Lara I hope I'll be add this detail somewhere in the future when it comes to me (or after I do enough of digging ;)). As this is a spin-off series all the details you need to know about the world is built into the story so this (as the other books in the series) can truly be read as a standalone bringing you a little bit into the interesting world Lara created for her Vampires.

The Art of Possession by Cari Z.

I can't really say why but this book just didn't work for me. I think there was somehow not enough of the adventure - action or the romance. The premise of this one was quite different, a bit like Indiana Johns yet unlike him our MCs were not about STEALING treasures but rather making it available to the world to enjoy, especially the country of origin which is a hot debate at the moment and I really appreciated Cari bringing us a modern approach to artifacts and how they should be treated.

Malcolm Armstrong used to work for the British Museum before his name got tainted. He alluded to an artifact being fake only to find himself out of a job, his name shattered and also sans boyfriend - Gerard Thorburn who also works for the British Museum and in fact has donated a lot of artifacts from his personal collection.  Gerard found it very easy to move on from Mal but now he needs him and he has no problem calling him back to retrieve a stolen artifact that was suppose to be donated to the Museum and later on be moved to it's country of origin.

Mal isn't thrilled by Gerard offer, but after speaking to the guy who up until recently have owned the artifact - Specter - believes it could be genuine. What he isn't sure about is the guy with the gun - Alex Tucker, an american working for a private security company who is hired to be the muscle of the operation (him being there just to verify the item's authenticity).

Heart of the Hunter (Dragon Chalice #1) [Ariana & Braedon] by Lara Adrian (originally as Tina St. John)

I'm not sure what I was expecting but this was, well, different. While there is a definite Paranormal element to this one, it takes quite a while until we understand where it comes from and there are STILL many questions left unanswered. I guess the world building in this one was more of a "you get the information you need as you go" and I gotta say, I'm not a fan. Yeah it means there's a HUGE element of mystery to this one but I felt too much in the dark and so it was less engaging for me. That being said, as this IS Lara, once the action starts I really enjoyed the pace.

Ariana of Clairmont is on a mission. After receiving information her brother is being held prisoner in France and will only be freed if she comes by herself with his ransom - his life work journals about the magical "Dragon Chalice"and where it can be found - she sets up for the journey. But before she even set sails across the sea her bodyguard is killed and her savior doesn't really feel like the "saving" type. Getting him to accept accompanying her to her destination is also a difficult task especially as she can't really tell what he WANTS from her or WHY is he really doing all of this for her.

Braedon "le Chasseur" ("The Hunter") is frustrated with himself getting stuck somehow in Ariana's business. While he acts as if he's helping her, he is mostly trying to return her back home, especially when he realizes what she is tangled in now is exactly what almost killed him (but DID kill some of his best mates) less than two years ago. He might be the best hunter with amazing instincts but what Ariana is after will need much more of that. There is dark magic involved and he would rather they both turn away from it before it's too late.

William (Enemies to Lovers #3) [Will & Heath] by Anyta Sunday

It's hard for me to summarize my thoughts about this book. I started really liking it, liking Will and his freakish behavior, trying to like Heath but not successfully getting there. I think that's my problem really. I didn't get Heath. His behavior was a constant "Hot-Cold". When he was cold he was downright mean to Will but when he was hot it was worse. He was SO high-handed I felt I can't connect with him AT ALL and didn't understand what Will saw in him. The story, through the name of the book, holds a dark secret, a truly heart breaking one and though I felt bad for the Wallace family and everything they went through I didn't feel the coupling of Heath and Will was "right".

After his bad break up with Karl (the MC from the second installment), William Sharp needs to sort his life. He decides continuing his studies in the far away New Zealand is his best bet. He got a sweet deal with Vicky Wallace who offered him a place to stay while her son is in College but not long before he arrives Vicky tells him of a change in plans - her son would actually be living with them. Nothing to freak about really.. Right?

Holding Out (Returning Home #4) [Griff & Becca] by Serena Bell

While I LOVED the previous installments in the series, this one just wasn't for me. First of it felt VERY different from the previous ones, the issues it deals with and mostly the WAY it is dealt with. For me the main problem with this book was the amount of sex, sex talk and constant thoughts about sex. If I could I would have deleted round 90% of that and THEN this book would have been GREAT. I just felt like instead of DEALING with anything really, they turn to sex as a sort of escape. It was even in conversations, a real meaningful conversation would end with a sex innuendo instead of feeling like there's a real progress being made. It's OBVIOUS for me that this exact issue for me could be a TURN ON for someone else - books are subjective and that's the beauty of it, right?

Griff Ambrose & Becca Drake have known each other for a while now. He is friends with Nate who is married to Becca's sister - Alia. But it was mostly a casual sort of friendship. They would meet on family and friends meetups and that's about it. Everyone knows Griff is a "player", and Becca is quite a sheltered girl who wants to be brave and strong but finds it hard to date men since she is 24 and still a virgin. For some reason guys are freaked out about that and she had enough.. Which is how she finds herself asking Griff to "help her out" - just a one time thing - like he does.. Griff accepts and though they have their own rules once Becca is back for two weeks working in Jake's resort (where Griff also works) they find it hard to keep their hands from one another.. and the big question is - what happens next..

Arrange Me (The Arranged Duo, #1) By Katy Regnery

Reading the synopsis I already knew I'm going to have SOME problems with this book. I don't believe in arrange marriages, and while it DOES work in other places in the world or it DID work in the past I don't think it CAN work in our times. Also what Courtney is looking for isn't an "arranged marriage" is a promise NO ONE can give her for a "Happily Ever After" and more specifically getting an immediate "Ever After" which, again, isn't something realistic. Though I DID enjoy the story and the progression of the book I was beyond annoyed by her behavior and general way of thinking.

Courtney Jane Salinger is 29 years old and she is SICK of dating. She wants to find the love of her life, but the "dating scene" has broken her. Well, it has broken us all.. I TOTALLY know the feeling. It's a game, and it you're not playing by the rules or if you don't know the rules you're in for a disappointment. Courtney is in a good place. She came from a wealthy family but she also has a great job with a steady income, has her own place and the only thing missing is the guy she wants to share her life with. Coming across a commercial of arranged marriages website she decides to sign up and be arranged. In 6 weeks from applying she is going to meet her man on the alter (with only 2 e-mails between them to actually ARRANGE the wedding).

Cash (Lucky, #2) [Cash & Rae] by Garrett Leigh

I gotta say that though I'm a HUGE fan of Garrett, and  I'm saying that after reading ALL of her books, this book simply wasn't for me. I had a hard time connecting with both MCs and frankly with the subject at hand. Cash and Rae have the same calling in life - saving foxes from illegal hunts. While I LOVE animals and I do NOT agree with these kind of cruel acts I also in a way see no point to "Sabing" - Sabotaging (illigal) hunts. The whole thing felt futile from beginning till end and I felt sorry for everyone involved for how useless it all felt. They DID save foxes' lives at times but mostly they got hurt and no one cared (like the authorities..) about them or their lives, on the contrary, the were hunted by them as well. This is corruption for you..

We've met Cash at Lucky's book. While Lucky and Dom have a very important play in this book it can still be read as a stand alone. Cash lives a quiet life in a house he got from his uncle after he stopped Sabing. Took quite a long time to hear the WHY of that which was extremely sad and heart breaking. So currently he's all about his job as a mechanic (together with Lucky) but besides that he doesn't' have anything else in his life. Lucky for him he has Lucky! and Dom, his "roommates".

Friendly Fire by Cari Z.

While I did enjoy this book I feel like it was somehow "half cooked". I would have loved seeing both men open up more, especially Lennox who stayed a closed book in front of Elliot. We only know about his past though small glimpses. The relationship buildup, even if wasn't lengthy time-wise felt very genuine. I could see how these two fell for one another even if no words of emotions are truly spoken between them. Which is a bit of my problem, I wanted MORE of them as a couple, mostly opening up.

Elliot McKenzie made mistakes and he has paid for then, now he is the CEO of a company who gives second chances for everyone who is willing. Not everyone believes he is genuinely a good guy now, but for him - HIS truth is what's important. He wishes his family, his sister mostly, would look at him and see who he has become but mostly he is quite content with life. Yet when strange occurrences - some bizarre others life threatening are circling around him his right hand - Serena - brings Lennox, a family member for help, she has NO IDEA what's this meeting will bring to everyone's lives, mostly Elliot and Lennox.

The Guardian by Mary Calmes

Though I enjoyed this book it was  a bit too tangled for my liking. It felt rushed at times, disorganized and the relationship buildup was on the verge of insta-love. Yet the story was fun and engaging and I was interested to see how Jude and Eoin would find a way to build a life together. 

Jude Shea had a good life, a job he enjoyed, a gorgeous boyfriend he hopes to build a future together with when he finds himself with no boyfriend and no job in one night. For the past two weeks he isn't sure what to do with himself and then comes a restless night he goes for a walk and stumbles upon a huge dog mauled by a group of stray dogs. Not sure what drew him to the situation he takes the dog to the vet and makes him his own. "Joe" doesn't look or behave like a regular dog but for Jude he's a companion he enjoys having even though his life is so uncertain at the moment.

Midnight Unleashed (Midnight Breed #14.7) [Trygg & Sia] by Lara Adrian

The "Midnight Breed" used to be my all times favorite PNR series though lately its place have been taken. Yet I still get excited when I hear there's a new novel in the series, even though it's just a short novella which doesn't feature most of the known characters in the series. These novellas are a nice way for people to try this series and see if it works for them, because it doesn't reveal too much and allows people who don't know any of things that happen in the 10+ books to enjoy a short novella and also be tempted to grab the first one and immerse themselves in the Midnight Breed world. 

Sariel by Mary Calmes

I was quite surprised with the actual story Mary managed to build in only 28 pages! It has a lot of sexual interactions (considering it's length) but there is also a really nice idea behind it. Though it does contain "insta-crash/love/commitment".

When Jacob Gray is offered to go to Italy with the new company he just started to work with he is excited! But as the boss takes JUST him with a few associates on a car ride he starts to get anxious and rightly so... They are planning to rape torture and kill him.. Yet he gets offered to suffer those OR be given to "The Beast". Jacob does the "unthinkable" and decides to go with the unknown beast only to find he isn't actually a beast at all..

Winter Ball (Winter Ball #1) [Skipper & Richie] by Amy Lane

I liked both Skipper and Richie and they surely deserved to find their HEA with each other, but somehow I wish this story would have been MORE than it actually was. The side characters (besides Clay) were very flat and predictable and the sex, IMO, took too much space in the book/romance. 

Skipper and Richie have been best friends for the past 6 years but they were mostly soccer buddies to be truthfully. For Skipper (our sole POV) he's actually the only real friend he has, though he does tighten his friendship with his work pal Clay throughout the book. He doesn't have a family so for him, the interaction of the team is the best he can have. He yearns for a true relationship but these never worked out before no matter how much he wanted them to work. 

Racing for the Sun by Amy Lane

I really don't know how to start this review.. I wanted this book to be so much more than it turned out to be. I liked the two MCs in the beginning but as the book progressed I was sick of all the angst and how much Sonny was childish and immature but mostly that he was SO damaged I don't think he will EVER be "fine". He will always be a responsibility for Ace because he NEEDS to be taken care of. For me it's a HORRIBLE place for a relationship in which it almost feels like a parent-kid dynamic. 

Sonny and Ace mate at the military. Ace was Sonny's superior. Right from the start he got the feeling Sonny is the kind of guy someone should keep an eye on and that he did. They were kind of "friends" while in the service, and yet there was always the fact Ace was higher ranking. Somewhere along the way, Sonny admits to Ace his big dream of building race cars and makes Ace promise they'll share it with Ace riding the car Sonny builds. I'm not sure if neither of them meant it, talking on the desert in Afghanistan. It's not a place to dream.. it's a place not everyone survives. 

Judgment by Mary Calmes

I'm not a big fan of Science Fiction, it's not the genre's fault - it's mine. I somehow lack the necessary imagination to understand what THE HELL is going on. Funny enough it works WONDERFULLY for me in any Fantasy world (NOT set in the future). Yet I've read one adorable story from "Time in Eternity" Anthology (Do Over by Amy Lane) and so when I saw the same cover on this one, I had to give it a go. 

First off, I'll say that I DID understand what the hell was going on, I thought that in this aspect the setting was well explained, surely for a 50 page novella. We got a little glimpse into Jeritt and Frost's relationship, how it started and how involved they are now, years later, also as working partners. The beginning of their relationship was a bit rushed, I didn't get why it has to be this way.. It was a little too OTT for me. 

Manny Get Your Guy (The Mannies #2) [Taylor & Brandon] by Amy Lane

I don't really know what to say, somehow though I rooted for these two I had a hard time with the way the relationship progressed. Taylor and Brandon started hating each other on sight, though both felt the desire under the surface, in a day flat, when Brandon realizes he's being a douche he more than apologizes, he grabs Taylor for the taking and he won't take no for an answer.

We've met most of the characters in this one in the previous installment. Taylor was Nica's best friend, the one she wanted so much more with but realized too late that though they ARE best friends, they could never be more because Taylor is absolutely and totally gay. Heart broken she falls into Jacob's arms and now, 10 years later they are about to have their 5th kid. That's A LOT - even they realize it so they ask for Taylor's help in being the Manny - like Tino, Nica's brother was to Channing. Don't worry we meet these two as well as Sammy.