Probably my favorite Colleen Hoover novel. Definitely a favorite book. Unforgettable. I was so conflicted about the subject matter, which is probably Probably my favorite Colleen Hoover novel. Definitely a favorite book. Unforgettable. I was so conflicted about the subject matter, which is probably exactly the way I was supposed to feel. ...more
The first in a favorite new series! 5 gigantic, shiny stars.
Mack is a tough girl, raised on the streets since her Dad died when she was 13. But she gThe first in a favorite new series! 5 gigantic, shiny stars.
Mack is a tough girl, raised on the streets since her Dad died when she was 13. But she gets in over her head when she goes looking for her missing best friend among the Boston mafia. There she meets Lachlan, head of the Irish bad guys.
I'm partial to Irish heroes. Not sure why, but if the word "Irish" is somewhere in the blurb, it's almost a guarantee I'm gonna read it. And I luuuurved these guys.
This is a somewhat dark series. Not dark-dark. No explicit rape, which is a huge no-no for me. There are rape scenes, but you don't get details. No glorifying that type of thing. The good guy bad guys (lol) are very protective of their women. Just not so much the other dudes. There are pretty explicit torture sequences, especially in book two.
However, it was so easy to sink into this dark, gritty, bold, and uncompromising world. No punches pulled. This was INTENSE, from start to finish. You want alpha? You fucking got one with Lachlan! ...more
My absolute favorite of the series so far. How will Nancy Haviland top this frigging heart-wrenching, stunning installment in her Wanted Men series? SMy absolute favorite of the series so far. How will Nancy Haviland top this frigging heart-wrenching, stunning installment in her Wanted Men series? She's outdone herself. I'm sitting here, heart beating fast, eyes wide, soooo stoked already for the next installment. This book is huge. HUGE. Aleksander and Sacha have an extremely complicated past. Even though their individual betrayals tore at me, their heartbreak was even worse. They loved (and love) each other so much, but the circumstances that surround their romance are just not conducive to rational thoughts.
The rest of the guys and their women are intimately involved with this plotline, and Vasily takes center stage throughout much of the story as well. One phenomenal reveal in particular blew my mind. Serious. Shivers. The anticipation is going to kill me. ...more
This second book in Tillie Cole's Scarred Souls series was perhaps not quite as brutal as the first book. I adored the first half of this book in whicThis second book in Tillie Cole's Scarred Souls series was perhaps not quite as brutal as the first book. I adored the first half of this book in which fighter 221 begins to come back to life after over 20 years in captivity. The series has a slight sci-fi bent, as the premise circles around an underground mafia fighting ring in which the fighters are prisoners hyped up on drug cocktails that make them into rage machines with no memory of their previous lives, and no will to do anything but kill. Thankfully, Cole doesn't get into the specifics and leaves it up to the reader's imagination, so we can't pick it apart.
I'm all about the hero who is primal, chest beating, and brutal, but turns powerless when it comes to his woman. That is for sure 221, or Zaal, as we come to know. Talia brings him out of his shell slowly but the attraction between these two is evident from the first moment she reaches out and touches him while he's chained to the basement floor, trying to overcome the drugs coursing through his system. It's the first soft touch he's felt in 21 years, and my heart just melted at that point. The next 150 pages were golden. I lost a little steam during the super sappy ending for this couple. The purple prose was a little overwhelming. But the good parts way overshadowed those bits and the series arc progressed even more with the last couple of pages. I think readers might guess what's coming up for the next book, and I can almost say that I think a handful more pages could have really enhanced this story. However, it's not a cliffhanger per se. Just a teaser for book three, I'm assuming.
These two books were my first by this author and I'm very impressed! I can see why all the fuss now. She does caveman alpha very, very well.
My second book by Loreth Anne White, and a new go-to for Suspense with a dash of romance. The romance is always intermingled with some pretty heavy suMy second book by Loreth Anne White, and a new go-to for Suspense with a dash of romance. The romance is always intermingled with some pretty heavy subject matter, so it's definitely not the light and fluffy sort.
In this book, the heroine is a true crime writer with her own true crime story waiting for her to tell. When her fear of commitment leads her fiancee to step back from their relationship, she feels led to close that chapter of her life. She goes back to her small harbor town where she grew up, where her sister was brutally raped and murdered, where her father killed the suspect, and her mother eventually committed suicide. So yeah...there's some baggage that this woman carries around. Her high school boyfriend still lives there, and the two still have an intense attraction. But the focus of the story is definitely on the whodunnit. A whirlwind of characters with intertwining lives constantly leads the reader in different directions. In the end, it wasn't even a question of who committed the crime, but why they did it, and why they let the aftermath destroy so many different families.
I felt like the end wrapped up very quickly. There were a lot of people touched by the senseless tragedy that happened over twenty years ago, and each of them is brought into the fold; however, they don't really get any closure. And in fact, their lives are torn apart, but after all is said and done, the author chose not to really give the reader any more from them.
White definitely doesn't shy away from brutal details. But she's not overbearing with them either. It's enough to horrify me but not haunt me. A great read.
Advance Copy provided by the publisher for review....more
I'm writing one review for this book "duo". Mainly for myself, so I can remember why the lower rating. I enjoyed the story...however, the execution waI'm writing one review for this book "duo". Mainly for myself, so I can remember why the lower rating. I enjoyed the story...however, the execution was awkward, the plot was riddled with glaring and uncomfortable holes (view spoiler)[ The heroine is stabbed twice in the leg...to the bone, but the wound is never mentioned again, she is raped but has no aftereffects and goes on to have sex within days (hide spoiler)], and the violence was extreme. Rape of important people (view spoiler)[ the heroine is raped, King's childhood friend is raped in a flashback, and another of King's friends is raped by a gang with a stick of some sort (hide spoiler)] constant blood and gore, the death of many likeable characters, and King's over the top high-handed bossiness wore me the eff out. Each book was around 200 pages, the first of which ends on a major cliffhanger. I think this could have either been pared down into one book with less drama or lengthened and strengthened by some hard core beta reads and editing. As is, it felt thrown out there and unfinished. It was a good bare bones plot, and I think I'm more bummed at the lost potential than anything else. ...more
Not as much a fave as Undeniably You but still okay. This had a great storyline, but it dragged on for a little too long, and the sex scenes were beyoNot as much a fave as Undeniably You but still okay. This had a great storyline, but it dragged on for a little too long, and the sex scenes were beyond redundant. Upwards of twenty or more, no exaggeration. I know a lot of my hussy friends like that, but for me sometimes less is more :D :D :D A definite cliffie on the ending. Huge. So be prepared. I liked how the heroine was very different with regards to her lifestyle, but it got to be waaaay overdone. We know, we know...she's vegan, she's compassionate, she's rich but lives poor, she's vegan, she gives to charities, she's utterly quirky and cute...and oh, yeah...she's vegan. Vegan. Ve-gan!
Still, I moved right on to the next book. I'm trying to understand why in the world she's keeping her past such a secret from Quinny the sexy Latin Lover....more
BAM! That is how it's DONE, folks! It is 4:58 in the morning as I sit here tapping out this review. The last 150 pages of this book had me enthralled.BAM! That is how it's DONE, folks! It is 4:58 in the morning as I sit here tapping out this review. The last 150 pages of this book had me enthralled. From page one, the whodunnit and the twists and turns made it ridiculously hard to stop reading to live my life. I'm telling you, as soon as I thought I figured out a plot twist, something new would be uncovered. It was like the author was saying "No, no, no. Don't you remember this guy..." And I'd change my mind again, only to be led down another line of thought. I wrestled with two or three scenarios for the entirety of the books.
And that ending! Wow!!! It just doesn't get much more intense than this.
I'd recommend this to readers who like a little romance with their suspense, and those who can take the nitty gritty side of things. This author pulls no punches. The heroine went through every woman's worst nightmare, and we the readers get to hear about it all. There are a LOT of people involved in this multi-layered, strangely not coincidental convergence of connected characters. No ponies, butterflies and rainbows here. No, sir. But it IS very well done. I'm possibly a little scared of the woods now...and the dark. I may hold off on camping for a bit.
A hero who needs to be a hero again, a heroine who has been broken down in unimaginable ways, a cop who's not even sure himself if he's on the right side, a little girl who's growing up too fast, and a sadistic, sociopathic killer who's come back for round two...makes for one hell of a ride.
Advance Copy provided by Montlake Publishing...more
This was a short-ish New Adult Romance, the third in Tracy Wolff's Extreme Risk series. What makes it unique is that it involves two of the o3.5 Stars
This was a short-ish New Adult Romance, the third in Tracy Wolff's Extreme Risk series. What makes it unique is that it involves two of the original group members and doesn't introduce anyone specifically to the main storyline. (Although I'm wondering about a certain pseudo-love interest and whether he will get his own book.)
Luc has, up to now, sort of been the guy in the background. He's more beta male than the other two guys, and less of a standout than the uber confident and outgoing Cam. The way he has thus far melted into the shadow of his snowboarding kings and queen could have made him out to be less dynamic than they were, but I didn't find that to be true. He is unique in his calmness and his ability to not stay in the limelight. Turns out, being around his ridiculously talented, risk taking friends sort of made him okay with his place in the snowboarding world. Except for the fact that he's had to sit and watch Cam pining after someone else. And except for the fact that he's so much better than he's even given himself credit for.
I'm a huge fan of friends to lovers stories. I love the big moment of realization, when one or both have their eyes opened to their attraction to each other. And the inevitable sexy times that follow tend to burn up the pages. That's definitely the go-to scene in this book. A particular pool scene comes to mind...although pretty much every scene in which Luc gets to let loose his inner dominance basically blew my head off. Wolff can write some SEX. Not particularly dirty or kinky, but rough and powerful and full of emotion. Add in what these two do for each other outside of the sheets, and they make the perfect couple. They build each other up, and they both see the best in one another.
I liked the way she ended the story...there's a bit of a twist...but I felt like I could have used another few pages of Cam and Luc wrapping things up...an epilogue, another scene in which they connect and come to terms with their strong emotions toward each other.
I'm glad I caught back up with this group of friends and I plan on checking out her other series. If they're half as spicy as this book, I'm in for a treat.
High on the suspense, high on sexual tension, low on romance...
Everyone was really hard and intense in this new SB book. Crawford, the Texas Ranger, wHigh on the suspense, high on sexual tension, low on romance...
Everyone was really hard and intense in this new SB book. Crawford, the Texas Ranger, who is constantly beat down, in the wrong place, wrong time, meeting the wrong people, getting into trouble that he never started...his story was exhausting and I spent the entirety of the book just wanting something to go right for this man. He didn't show much emotion other than anger, and it kind of kept me from falling for him as much as I usually do with Brown's heroes. Considering that his existence during the course of events that take place is centered around getting custody of his young daughter, I expected more softness, I guess. More circumspection, more thought before acting.
Holly is a judge...a job in which softness isn't really an option. The fact that she is presiding over Crawford's custody case makes their relationship a little eyebrow raising to begin with, but the way Crawford throws caution to the wind with regards to Holly was kind of a downer for me. He's awfully pushy/stalkerish in that respect.
Even so, the suspense is top-notch. Intense without being overly dramatic. The build up to the romantic relationship is long and perfection. I would have liked some kind of epilogue, or maybe some more time with Crawford's daughter, showing his Daddy side.
Color me surprised, I really ended up loving this book! It's a New Adult, pseudo insta-love, angst filled rock star romance, and I lapped it up like mColor me surprised, I really ended up loving this book! It's a New Adult, pseudo insta-love, angst filled rock star romance, and I lapped it up like melted chocolate. There were a couple of instances of ott drama, but for the most part, it was just fun and sexy, sometimes goofy, sometimes serious, and always hot. Oh, and no cliffie, thank goodness!! I'll definitely be giving the next in the series a try....more
Deep takes one of my favorite tropes and adds it to a new favorite series of mine and man, I missed out for such a long time! Where was I when everyonDeep takes one of my favorite tropes and adds it to a new favorite series of mine and man, I missed out for such a long time! Where was I when everyone else was reading this series?
I think we could all see Ben and Lizzy's romance blowing in from a mile away. I didn't see it going exactly this way, though. I love how Kylie Scott added in bits and peices of their relationship into previous books. She had this stuff planned out from the beginning. And it made me relive those scenes and look at them in a completely different light than I did the first time. Ben is such a rock solid guy. Lizzy wasn't my favorite girl before this book, just because she seemed so much younger than the other heroines, but in true Scott style, I was brought 'round eventually. She fits right into the Stage Dive family, and despite her "affliction"...or possibly because of it...she and Ben had some of the most smoking hot sex scenes of the series.
Ben, Ben, Ben...I wish he'd have stepped up a little quicker than he did. I felt like he did a lot of running away or standing still, and not nearly enough time doing what needed to be done. But just like me, he came 'round as well.
I burned myself out on Paranormal Romance after the Twilight craze sucked me into the genre. I rarely pick it up any more, but I'm glad I snatched thiI burned myself out on Paranormal Romance after the Twilight craze sucked me into the genre. I rarely pick it up any more, but I'm glad I snatched this one up. I'm a huge fan of Fallen Angel stories, and especially when the angel...in this case, Garon...chooses the woman he loves over immortality.
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An interesting twist to this particular angel/human romance is that Garon is Jessica's guardian angel, and has been all her life. He knows her every secret, and he's loved her since she was a newborn. He's watched her go through the childhood tragedy of losing her parents, through her tumultuous teenage years and foster care, and up into adulthood. He's always felt a special bond with his human, but it isn't until he realizes that her fate has taken a turn for the worse that he understands how unusual that bond is. Angels don't fall in love with their humans. It's not allowed. But when Garon finds out that Jessica's life is meant to be cut short, his angel eyes are opened and he knows just how far he'll fall to keep her in his life.
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A lot has happened in Jessica's short life. So much sadness...but she's always been able to rely on George, her imaginary friend who comforts her and understands her. As a child, he was her constant companion. As she's gotten older, she's intentionally paid less and less attention to him. After all, only crazy people keep their imaginary friends past childhood, right? So who's this man who shows up out of the blue to rescue her...the one who looks so familiar? And why does she feel so drawn to him?
This plot took a couple of tropes and put an interesting twist on them...first, the fallen angel/guardian angel thing. So unique, and it leads to the second (and often widely scorned) trope...insta love. But it's NOT insta love because these two have known each other their whole lives. What the gist of the story is about is convincing Jessica of Garon's authenticity. She struggles with her analytical mind vs. her romantic heart.
At the center of the story is the sizzling attraction between Garon and Jessica. Garon has no real understanding of lust until he falls. Until now, it's only been jealousy and interest in the going's on in Jessica's love life. But now that there is a flesh and blood body to sate, it's game on!
"With a clenched jaw and a fierce expression, he'd become an animal of carnality. A fallen angel indulging in earthly pleasures previously forbidden him."
And Leighton sure does know how to light up the pages. This is erotic romance...not the light and fluffy kind of loving. Garon's self discovery leads to a lot of passion, and it seems like years of pent up lusts. What it didn't lead to is aggression. This is not an alpha male, ladies! This is a man who is confused and way out of his element. I dont' necessarily think that Garon is normally so passive, but it's the situation that makes him so. Fortunately, Jessica has no problem giving directions or orders.
Here is my issue with the book, and what kept it at four stars. Jessica was too abrasive for my taste. I can usually relate to any type of heroine...the scared and abused, timid heroine, the bold and brash and mouthy heroine, and everywhere in between. But when a woman is ott vulgar or hateful, it turns me away. And Jessica edged toward too much for me.
However having said that, she could have been that way because that's what Garon needed.
This debut by Jennifer Leighton speaks of great things to come from this author. This is a stand alone, so no series to slog through, but I know she's got some historical romance in the works. If this was our first taste, I'd say we're in for a treat!...more
Un-put-downable!!!!! It's no secret that I'm a huge Anne Stuart fan, and Bastien from Black Ice will always be a favorite hero of mine. While I can't say that James has usurped Bastien's place in my heart for best ass hole gamma hero, I can say that he is neck and neck with the other Ice series heroes. This is what I feel like I've been waiting for since consuming the Ice series three years ago. More of the Committee...only Peter Masden is in charge now, and we have a whole new set of nearly-unloveable heroes and the women who effing OWN them.
Let's see if I can reel in the gushfest that's trying to spill onto my review space :D
A huge reason that I fangirl over Anne Stuart is because of how true she stays not only to her characters, but to her overall series. The Committee has never been (and I'm assuming never will be) anything less than a hardhearted, cold as ice group of people who do whatever it takes to right some wrongs. That's not to say that everything they do is ethical or legal. Hell no. But they get stuff done, and lucky for us, they give rise to some of the most intense heroes and heroines that have been written into romantic fiction. These people are just the same as they were when the series started.
In this book, the heroine starts out somewhat naive, somewhat lonely, and definitely searching for something that she doesn't know is missing. Somehow the universe deems it a fit time to introduce Evangeline to Bishop, a Committee operative and intrinsically hard hearted man. When she witnesses a murder, Bishop's sadistic partner insists on executing her. But as with all of Stuart's heroines, Evangeline has that intangible something that pulls out James' (Bishop's) protective side. But only for long enough to save the girl. Then, he abandons her and disappears.
And the rest is golden. It's a mental battle for a man who is as cold as they come...a man who has spent his life living with no emotion and no remorse, not to mention no tenderness or love. And poor Evangeline! Trying to move on and yet tied to a man she still loves, even though he wrecked and ruined her. It's the ultimate in the good vs evil dilemma. There is most definitely some evil in James, but his demons come out to play when his "wife" is threatened once again.
Throw these two together again, and the magic that is Anne Stuart is back with a vengeance! I am unreasonably excited about this new series. Especially if this is indicative of how much I'll love it!
Advance copy provided by the publisher for review...more
If there's one thing that makes Victoria Vane stand out, it's her unconventional plots and her unique heroes and heroines. This book is so different fIf there's one thing that makes Victoria Vane stand out, it's her unconventional plots and her unique heroes and heroines. This book is so different from the cookie cutter cowboy romances, and it was all the better for it. The first half of the book is basically the setup for the past, but it reads like it's happening right now. It's the slow burn portion of the somewhat tragic beginning for Dirk and Janice. Both are very young...early twenties, and it shows in their actions. They make rash decisions, they are at times indecisive, and they are both obviously searching for their purpose in life. Janice is weighed down with responsibility, and Dirk perhaps doesn't have enough responsibility. Both are good people, and they are drawn toward each other. It's the other people in their lives and their influence that mucks up what could have been a picture perfect love between these two.
But everything happens for a reason, and the reason is evident in the second half of the book.
I loved the way the time frame was laid out in Rough Rider. It lent a natural feel to their romance, and getting so many details about their history was awesome. The sex, as ever with a Victoria Vane novel, was spontaneous and smoking hot. A little dirty talking (and dirty thinking) with a rough and ready cowboy in dire need of some nookie made for some hot, Hot, HOT sexy times.
This is my first book by Vane that wasn't one of her historical romances, and as always when an author switches genres on me, I was curious and hesitant. But I think she pulled it off really well. It still has her signature all over the place, and pairing Vane with cowboy worked out really well. You can tell the woman has some love of all things rodeo/cowboy, and that genuinely came across in every scene. Some authors write way too honky tonk...so much so that it comes across as cheesy. Not so in this book. It was perfectly cowboy, precisely country enough to be lifelike and realistic.
Advance copy provided by the author for review...more
Good but not my fave by Maggie Stiefvater. It may be partly because I listened to the audio and could only steal little bits and pieces at a time to lGood but not my fave by Maggie Stiefvater. It may be partly because I listened to the audio and could only steal little bits and pieces at a time to listen. The story was a little convoluted for me at times and left me wondering what the heck was going on. I'm at a loss as to what the "Big Idea" of the story is. What is Cabe's Water? I have no idea. Someone enlighten me.
But it was still good. I like the characters and how extremely varied they are. I could totally see this being an excellent movie, if the casting was done right. Blue and Adam being the "poor kids" and finding a sort of hidden bond in that is a nice hook. The idea that Gansey is really the future for Blue yet Blue is destined to end his life throws a pretty cool wrench in the mix though. What's going on there? I'm super interested to find out. Ronan, that poor tortured guy...I find myself drawn to him for some reason. I think he needs a happy ever after more than the rest of them. Noah is a fantastic addition, even though he's in the background for much of the book. He adds an intensity to the mystery that keeps the plot elusive enough to fascinate me.
Will definitely continue, hopefully when I have longer stretches of time to devote to it....more
Duchess Nicole
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