"But truth be told, I'd never get enough of Colby, because I was completely and hopelessly addicted to him."
4 Stars!
Wow, this book just wo
"But truth be told, I'd never get enough of Colby, because I was completely and hopelessly addicted to him."
4 Stars!
Wow, this book just wormed its way under my skin. It's a sweet friends-to-lovers story that kind of reminds me of Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty and Abbi Glines' Rosemary Beach series.
"Just friends. As in no benefits."
Addicted to You follows the main characters Colby Callahan and Isla Diaz. Growing up in a fishing town of Port Lucia, they are best of friends since childhood. Now that they're grown-ups, Isla realizes that she's falling in love with Colby. Unfortunately, Colby doesn't seem to feel the same way about her and he only sees her as a friend and nothing more. But one drunken night, these two dare each other to hook up which ends up in bed and a whole new level of awkwardness.
Colby and Isla's relationship was so interesting. I loved how they started off as friends. The romantic development was not forced or anything, and the chemistry was very palpable. All throughout the book I found myself rooting for them and begging them to get it together and profess their feelings because they’re clearly tormenting themselves.
Both characters were also likeable. Colby... Colby... Colby... Book boyfriend alert, ladies. And Isla-- well, she is one perfect and not annoying character. I loved the way she cares for her grandmom and for the people around her.
Another thing that I loved about this book was Colby's brother Landon. He is all kinds of swoon-worthy and adorable. (I wish the next book is going to be about him.:) )
Maybe I just needed a little bit of angst and a touch of unpredictability to make this book really spectacular but otherwise, I have no issues with the author's writing. I haven't read anything written by Renita Pizzitola prior to this book but after reading Addicted to You, I was awed. The author writes beautifully and her style suits my preference.
This was a beautiful summer romance book as a whole. The setting was perfect and the story was packed with all the sweet goodness that a contemporary reader craves. If you are a fan of Abbi Glines and Jenny Han, consider this book as your next read. :)
"And I totally won the girl."
I shook my head. "You didn't win me, Colby. You've always had me. There was no way to lose."
(An ARC was sent to me by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept Flirt and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
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Merged review:
"But truth be told, I'd never get enough of Colby, because I was completely and hopelessly addicted to him."
4 Stars!
Wow, this book just wormed its way under my skin. It's a sweet friends-to-lovers story that kind of reminds me of Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty and Abbi Glines' Rosemary Beach series.
"Just friends. As in no benefits."
Addicted to You follows the main characters Colby Callahan and Isla Diaz. Growing up in a fishing town of Port Lucia, they are best of friends since childhood. Now that they're grown-ups, Isla realizes that she's falling in love with Colby. Unfortunately, Colby doesn't seem to feel the same way about her and he only sees her as a friend and nothing more. But one drunken night, these two dare each other to hook up which ends up in bed and a whole new level of awkwardness.
Colby and Isla's relationship was so interesting. I loved how they started off as friends. The romantic development was not forced or anything, and the chemistry was very palpable. All throughout the book I found myself rooting for them and begging them to get it together and profess their feelings because they’re clearly tormenting themselves.
Both characters were also likeable. Colby... Colby... Colby... Book boyfriend alert, ladies. And Isla-- well, she is one perfect and not annoying character. I loved the way she cares for her grandmom and for the people around her.
Another thing that I loved about this book was Colby's brother Landon. He is all kinds of swoon-worthy and adorable. (I wish the next book is going to be about him.:) )
Maybe I just needed a little bit of angst and a touch of unpredictability to make this book really spectacular but otherwise, I have no issues with the author's writing. I haven't read anything written by Renita Pizzitola prior to this book but after reading Addicted to You, I was awed. The author writes beautifully and her style suits my preference.
This was a beautiful summer romance book as a whole. The setting was perfect and the story was packed with all the sweet goodness that a contemporary reader craves. If you are a fan of Abbi Glines and Jenny Han, consider this book as your next read. :)
"And I totally won the girl."
I shook my head. "You didn't win me, Colby. You've always had me. There was no way to lose."
(An ARC was sent to me by Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept Flirt and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
Talk about chemistry at its finest! Oh I love how this book made my heart skip a beat a hundred times. Seriously, Jake Conelly and Brenna Je4 Stars!!!
Talk about chemistry at its finest! Oh I love how this book made my heart skip a beat a hundred times. Seriously, Jake Conelly and Brenna Jenkins are one of those book couples worth rooting for!
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I liked this one better than the first book. One can never dislike an Enemies to lovers and pretend lovers theme, especially when it's written by one of the best NA authors like Elle Kennedy. If you have read her previous books the Off Campus series then you will know why. ;)
The book started off really nicely. Jake, captain of Harvard's hockey team, has always been determined to win the game against all the teams they encounter in the ice. That being said, he doesn't want any distraction in the team, including hook-ups and relationships. But can he fool himself when Brenna, daughter of Briar hockey team coach, makes him feel more distracted?
There were certainly ups and downs in this book. But what I loved most about it was how I felt connected to the characters. Jake was swoon-worthy and man, he's got all the points for Mr. Perfection. Brenna too was a great character and not difficult to love.
I guess the reason why it wasn't a 5-star read for me was because I just needed more! Like more Jake-Brenna interactions, more swoony moments. Yes, the sexy scenes were a total win, but maybe Elle Kennedy could've added situations to make-up a really good story for them. And please, I would've loved a strong ending.
One thing to take note about this book is that the story was not just about the romance. It also has some family drama with a twist of past-relationship history on Brenna's side. It was refreshing, however, I admit I got weary reading the side-story. I just wanted to focus more on Jake and Brenna. The present. And oh, I thought the Hollis and Rupi thing was a bit unnecessary, too.
All in all, a nicely written story that I mostly enjoyed. If you want to meet a perfect book boyfriend, this is the book!
“I'm tragically in love with you, and I wouldn't want it any other way.�
(I buddy read this book with sis Bea . :). Clic5 Coballoway Stars!
“I'm tragically in love with you, and I wouldn't want it any other way.�
(I buddy read this book with sis Bea . :). Click her name to read her awesome review.)
That heady feeling you get after finishing a book that you absolutely loved.
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I enjoyed Fuel the Fire so much more than I thought I would. Rose Calloway-Cobalt and Connor Cobalt will always be one of the couples that would never fail to amuse me and make my heart skip a beat. The nerdy battles, the sexual innuendos, the steamy romance... This couple can do no wrong!
I thought we had the happy ending for Rose and Connor in Kiss the Sky but we didn't know their story was just starting. In this book, their supposed to be happy marriage is ruined by the mad paparazzi and columnists who threaten to make their lives miserable-- as well as Jane's. Past issues and scandals also keep coming back when Scott Van Wright reappears in the scene.
"She fuels the fire in my soul, the embers slowly dying, and she tries feverishly to awaken me.�
Their commitment to each other was tested in this book big time and I was awed by how devoted they were to each other. Connor was so tough as a brick wall despite the chaos around them, and Rose stayed calm and in-control of her emotions. I had a lot of favorite scenes in this book. So many hilarious moments too in addition to the family drama. And the ending truly made me feel satisfied. This could be one of my favorite sequels in this series. The depth of the characters continues to grow and the romance continues to burn. Coballoway all the way!
“There are rare people who will fuel the fire inside of you, who will awaken a dormant passion, who will challenge you, who will push you and better you. She alone is my rarity.�
Oh, Will Sumner, my Will Sumner. Where can I even meet someone like you?
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It's been a while since I've read Beautiful Stranger but the feels are still here so when Beautiful Player called my attention the other day, I didn't resist it because I know I'm in for fun, sexy times.
The story begins when Hanna "Ziggy" Bergstrom turned to her childhood crush Will Sumner to ask for his 'guidance' on how to change her somewhat boring life and learn how to go out, have fun, and date guys. She's been living a scholarly life ever since, focusing only on her four-walled lab and with this, her family thinks she's clearly missing out. That's why hanging out with the playboy Will Sumner is a great opportunity. However, she and Will did not expect the chemistry that simmered the moment they saw each other again after years and keeping up a platonic relationship is almost too impossible.
I can't stand how swoon-worthy this book was. Will and Hanna's chemistry was on-point and it didn't help the fact that both characters are one helluva fun to read about. This is your typical friends-with-benefits book but it's clearly one of the best when it comes to this trope.
Their sizzling hot sex scenes got me all fired up. I couldn't also get over some of the hilarious scenes... like when they went to Hannah's parent's place where the chaos happened. lol. Man, I don't think I can ever get enough of these two!
The relationship development didn't happen abruptly, so I was happy. I loved that their sexy times transitioned to something more in the later chapters because for me, it was so believable and realistic.
I think this is the best book I've read in this series so far. I still have to read Beautiful Secret and I hope I will love it as much as I loved Beautiful Player. Sigh. Christina Lauren never fails!
“Is this how it goes? You fall in love, and nothing seems truly scary anymore, and life is one big possibility?�
I CANNOT CONTAIN M5 Stars!
“Is this how it goes? You fall in love, and nothing seems truly scary anymore, and life is one big possibility?�
I CANNOT CONTAIN MY FEELS!
*swoons uncontrollably
This conclusion of To All the Boys I've Loved Before trilogy was truly superb. It's THE PERFECT ending that I've been looking for. I hated Peter Kavinsky in P.S. I Still Love You but this book took all my rage away. Why? Because Jenny Han redeemed his character and it was all it took to make me swoon over him again.
I rarely enjoy YA these days so I was glad to find myself really loving this book from start to finish. As a matter of fact, this book is my favorite out of all the books in this series. I loved the drama that was not overdone, the romance which was totally cute, and Lara Jean's relationship with her family.
I had a lot of favorite scenes, for sure (Lara Jean's birthday, Dr. Covey and Trina's practice dance, the double date, ahh so much more!) and if only I could paint them in my memory to last forever, I would. *sigh And the soundtracks.. OMG! Did I just read Shania Twain lyrics out there? I loveeeeee!
Favorite characters of all time: KITTY and CHRIS.
After finishing the book, I felt like I was floating in a sea of clouds. It was such a sweet ending. I loved Peter and Lara Jean's journey and I can't help but start to miss everything that happened between them. You can only imagine how I became elated and at the same time, quite sad that their story already ended. It was totally a lovely conclusion. So worth it! I don't think I would ever forget this sweet piece of a chocolate chipsy story. Enough said because I'm crying with feels. *cries
“The best things in life are the ones you don't expect.�
Sigh. There should be more books as good as this. I am not surprised to 4.5 Stars!
“The best things in life are the ones you don't expect.�
Sigh. There should be more books as good as this. I am not surprised to find myself enjoying this book a lot. Elle Kennedy and Sarina Bowen blew me away when I've read the previous book of WAGs, Good Boy. Now that I've finished this second installment, all I want is more. More of these hockey stars goodness!
Stay brings out the story of Matthew "Matt" Eriksson and Hailey Taylor Emery. Matt, a divorcee hockey player of Toronto, is a loving and devoted dad for his two daughters. One with a successful sports career, he is not all happy with his interactions with his ex-wife. He blames himself for their divorce because of being away most of the time and being unable to spend more time with his family. When he started to interact with Hailey, a co-owner of a premier virtual assistant company called Fetch, he became curious about her. He has always been resorting to her company's services for his everyday errands and the more he communicates with her online, the more he becomes determined to see her in flesh.
What I absolutely loved about Matt and Hailey's story was the overall cuteness which was mixed with enough sexiness and sufficient amount of chemistry between the characters. The story had an incredible depth. You can't expect a heavy amount of angst here because the way their story was portrayed-- it was laced with humor. I cannot fangirl enough over how the story progressed!
I especially loved Matt and the way he treats his little kids with so much affection. I also loved the way he treats Hailey with warmth and not just lust. Compared to most heroes in a sports romance, Matt was not an arrogant character and I loved it. He was gentle and loving and kind. Hailey, on the other hand, was a fun and easy-to-like heroine. I loved her sweet, honest, and open personality.
Moreover, I loved the hockey players' and their women's (WAGs) tight bond. I can't help but smile with the way the WAGs support each other, especially the way they welcomed Hailey and made her feel like she's already part of the family.
And oh, there's this certain character (Mr. Dick) who gave me chuckles along the way. He's definitely one of the most interesting characters in this book. Lol.
Stay, as a whole, was a pleasant, light-hearted, and thoroughly enjoyable romantic read. It absolutely left me with that feel good factor. I would recommend this book and this series to romance fanatics without hesitating!
Oh, how I loved this book! I admit I was a bit lost in the first few parts because the book mentioned secondary characters who happened to be 4 Stars!
Oh, how I loved this book! I admit I was a bit lost in the first few parts because the book mentioned secondary characters who happened to be from Him and I didn't read Him! Shame! Anyways, this was such an enjoyable, sexy friends-with-benefits read.
I loved Blake Riley and Jessica "Jess" Canning's story. I simply can't get enough of their sizzling chemistry and their romantic development which was never hurried nor dragged. I loved how they started out as acquaintances then progressed to f*ck buddies, then friends-with-benefits, then lovers. I ship this couple like nobody's business!
Yes, it may sound stereotypical but I did enjoy it. It helps when the authors behind the story really know how to tickle the readers' hearts and Sarina Bowen and Elle Kennedy were able to do it for me.
Every scene was cute and the sexy times were scorching. Jess's character development was also well-done. She started off as someone who's unsure of herself and everything that she does but later on, she became the best version of herself.
If you love sexy and light sports romance books with friends-with-benefits tropes, this is the best choice. I think it's not necessary to read Him to enjoy this novel, but it's still recommended. :) Now I will certainly read the upcoming books in this series!
I don't even know where to begin. Let's just say Hooked really hooked me. It was cute, sexy, and angsty in equal measure.
Miranda Carr4 Swooning Stars
I don't even know where to begin. Let's just say Hooked really hooked me. It was cute, sexy, and angsty in equal measure.
Miranda Carr and Jake Birch's story is one that you can categorize as a fairytale kind of love story. Miranda is unlike any other girl. She's hardworking and goal-driven. Working in housekeeping at Dupont Tower as well as at Lucky's nightclub while studying at the same time to pursue a business degree is such a tough thing to do. For her, her dreams and ambitions are more important than relationships. Until she met the super hot but grumpy ice hockey player Jake Birch. She wasn't supposed to fall in love with him, but their connection was too strong to deny so it wasn't easy for her to resist him.
I totally loved the chemistry between these two. It was too apparent and strong. There was no moment in this book where I didn't find myself swooning over how cute they are as a couple. Both Jake and Miranda were likable characters and despite some of their flaws, it wasn't difficult for me to connect with them. Jake had issues and personal baggage but he was easily redeemable which I really loved. I also loved the way Miranda cared about Jake and supported him all the way until he was emotionally healed.
The story was well-balanced in a way and the sports aspect was also on-point. Although the romantic development between the characters moved a little faster than I anticipated, it was understandable since the story's pacing was also fast. I highly recommend this book to everyone who loves New Adult sports romance!
(An ARC was provided by Loveswept publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
(I've read this book together with my lovely sis Bea. Click her name to read her wonderful review.)
You can always count on Katy EvanMore than 5 Stars!
(I've read this book together with my lovely sis Bea. Click her name to read her wonderful review.)
You can always count on Katy Evans delivering such a novel complete with a perfect mix of angst and steam. I've been a fan of her works since her Manwhore series because of her way of writing that is simply addicting and her Alpha male men that are hot and irresistible.
Apparently Mr. President has rendered me utterly amazed. It was an all-consuming novel, so different compared to her previous works. As what the blurb says, this book tells a story about two characters living in a political world, Matthew "Matt" Hamilton and Chralotte Wells. Matt is the son of an ex US President while Charlotte is the daughter of an ex Senator. They first met when Charlotte was 11 years old and Matt and her father went to her family's house for a visit. She has been crushing on Matt ever since that day and she even promised to support him if he ever runs for presidency in the future. Now after 11 years, they met again and this time, Matt is already a candidate for President and Charlotte is working for his campaign.
"You will not be the reason for me losing. If anything, you'll be the reason for me winning."
What made this book stand out for me was the off-the-charts chemistry between Charlotte and Matt. They simply hit it off! I loved how their relationship was built up from a simple crush to a deep attraction which later on bloomed into sexual tension and frustration and yes-- white-hot love.
"She grounds me. She obsesses me. She fuels me. This woman not only makes me want to be a great man, she makes me want to be the best goddamn president that ever lived."
Both characters are also likeable. Matt is such a sweet and passionate person. The way he looks at Charlotte like he's the last woman on earth even when there are tons of people around. Oh MY GOD. And don't even get me started on his irresistible charm that wins millions of people. On the other hand, I adore Charlotte's character. She's a natural. She has a soft heart for the place where she grew up and she's a down to earth person despite the fact that she belongs to a well-endowed family.
What's even great about Charlotte's character is the way she loves Matt in a selfless way. She doesn't set expectations right when they started their secret love affair. She knows what's bound to happen and that their relationship is about to fall when America chooses Matt as the next president. She's not whiny and needy and these qualities made me love her.
"I don't care about more. I don't care that there is no future for us if he wins. I won't deny us both this moment. He said he needs me. And I need him."
As for the ending, well, this was me after that ending...
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...a hot mess. A steaming pile of mess.
It's not yet a happily-ever-after for Charlotte and Matt but the ending promised all kinds of feels and goodness in the upcoming sequel. And I so need the next installment so bad it hurts!
A real page-turner, this book is no doubt one of the best romance novels I've read this year and possibly one of the most beautiful political romance books ever written. The story was brought out in a passionate and intoxicating way. The angst was overwhelming and the love the characters both share for each other made this book a keeper. Yet another book added to my favorites shelf!
"Love has no place in the White House."
(An ARC was provided by the author Katy Evans in exchange for an honest review)
My expectations were met when I thought I would love a Cora Carmack book. Her books have been on my radar since 2014, but because to4 Daredevil Stars!
My expectations were met when I thought I would love a Cora Carmack book. Her books have been on my radar since 2014, but because too many books too little time, it was only two days ago when I had my first taste of her work. And it certainly did not fail.
"Do you ever think that maybe that's all people do? Fix some things and break others? And we all just live in this giant cycle where we screw things up and hurt people we love, and then we turn around and try to atone for that by fixing other things. And maybe we're all just waiting on our turn for a broken heart and the person who will fix it."
All Lined Up's plot revolves around two characters Dallas Cole and Carson McClain. Both students of Rusk University in Texas, their attraction started when they met in very strange situation while they were at a college party. However, no matter how strong their connection is, their booming relationship is bound to doom since Carson is one of the football players of Rusk where Dallas's father is the coach. Since Carson has a goal of becoming a full scholar at the University, he vowed to never let Dallas become a distraction for his plans. But their chemistry is of course so strong that they find it hard to resist each other.
I am generally a sucker for college romance that has sports element so basically I expected this book to knock me off my feet. I ended up adoring it because Cora Carmack's writing matches my taste. There was absolutely something beautiful about the way she writes a sweet book with a bit of an angst and mild steam. At first I was afraid that I would end up disliking it since the storyline is already worn out. The book reminds me of Whatever Life Throws at You and Moonshot where the heroines' dads are heads of a certain sports team. But even if All Lined Up has a similarity to those books, it differs when it comes to the characterizations.
Dallas is one likeable character. I love that she knows what she wants to pursue in life which is dancing and how she's very determined to attain it. Her relationship with her dad is so genuine that at times I was teary-eyed. Even when she's growing up without a mom, she turned out such a strong girl. Carson, on the other hand, is also a character that's worthy of admiration. He is not a typical sports hero who gets all the attention of the girls on campus. He is so down to earth. Growing up in a family who lacks sufficient money to support him in his education made him become a responsible, goal-driven person and that makes him my favorite character.
"I can't walk away from you because I don't want to. There are a thousand things I want and need to do, but you trump all of them You drive me to distraction, and all I want to do is get lost in you. All I want to do is make you lose it, too."
The romantic development in this book is one of my most favorites. Dallas and Carson's relationship was not forced. It developed so naturally. I loved how they shared each moment even if they were just stolen. I also loved that they are both family-oriented and that they learn lessons from each other as their relationship progressed.
All in all, it was a sweet and cute college sports romance. I couldn't agree more with everyone who attest that Cora Carmack is a great story-teller. It's proven. I can't wait to read the next books in this series and the author's other works.
"Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty... royalty is forever."
3 His-Royal-Ass Stars!
(I buddyread this book with the amaz
"Infamy is temporary, celebrity is fleeting, but royalty... royalty is forever."
3 His-Royal-Ass Stars!
(I buddyread this book with the amazing Bea. Check her review by clicking her name.)
Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook. By the sound of his name you already know your heart is about to pop out of your chest and go crazy. Because he is indeed such a swoon-worthy royal character. And perhaps the prospect of reading about a prince being labeled His Royal Hotness is the main reason why I was drawn into this book.
Told in alternating POVs between the main characters, Royally Screwed gives us a view of what modern day royalty romance novel is like. I haven't read a lot of books that fall into this category because mostly I used to devour historical romances-- with are about dukes and princes and lords (which I loved and missed, by the way) so starting this book kind of thrilled me. No way will I ever dislike royal characters *coughs Dorian Havilliard *coughs Cal *coughs Nikolai Lantsov.
But apparently this book was not perfect for me. Yes, I enjoyed it and it's all because Your Highness Nicholas Pembrook has always been very funny. Like most Emma Chase's books where the male leads don't fail to entertain with their hilarious and naughty POVs, Prince Nicholas is no different. His POV actually reminds me of Drew Evans from Tangled. And I guess that's the problem. I wanted him to be a little bit different to Emma Chase's previous characters. I wanted to meet a hero that is, in a way, refreshing. But Nicholas wasn't. Cocky, flirtatious, and somewhat always horny (lol), he is Drew Evans.
But my main reason for not rating this book higher than 3 stars is both the main characters. Nicholas unfortunately didn't steal my heart 100% because he appeared to be insensitive for the most part of the book. I didn't like the way he came up with a resolution to their conflict. For me it was kind of stupid and uncaring. As for Olivia, I really hoped she had it in her to say "no" sometimes and not "yes" all the time whenever Nicholas asks her for anything. A little bit of playing hard to get and having Nicholas exert an effort wouldn't hurt, right?
The ending, however, brought a smile to my face. It was sweet despite the fact that it's also a bit predictable. But I liked how it ended in a way that everyone was happy. Well, almost. There's still one character who badly needs his own piece of happily ever after. I'm looking at you, Prince Henry. I'm so excited to read his story in the next book, Royally Matched. OMG, did the blurb just say it has The Selection and The Bachelor vibes??? *grabby hands. This should be fun!
All in all, Royally Screwed was an alright read for me. I didn't hate it but at least I liked certain parts of it. Emma Chase continues to write such a fun, adorable smuttastic read. :)
I have been so interested to read the Mal's story ever
"Life`s a song, Anne. Let's play."
5 Stars!
You cannot just simply resist Mal Ericson.
I have been so interested to read the Mal's story ever since Lick. Well who doesn't want to get to know him more? He's such a fun and goofy character and I knew that behind his playful attitude there's a different side of him that we have yet to see.
Malcolm "Mal" Ericson is Stage Dive's drummer. He is known as someone who always "plays" around when it comes to women. With his happy-go-lucky lifestyle, relationship is certainly out of the picture. But when he met a personal dilemma that requires him to basically snag a pretend girlfriend, he didn't have a choice but to look for the perfect one to act as his girl. Meeting Anne Rollins at Ev and David's party though was a perfect timing. They automatically clicked after a few minutes of flirting. And because Anne happens to have financial troubles, he proposed to meet her needs in exchange of moving with her in her apartment and her cooperation in his pretend relationship scheme.
"You're the best boyfriend. Fake or not."
You can imagine my face while I was reading this book the whole time.
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There were certainly lots of hilarious moments in this book. Mal didn't fail to crack me up with his sexual innuendos with Anne and his crazy exchange and shenanigans with his band mates. Hilarious scenes aside, there was an emotional side to it that made me appreciate its entirety. I loved Mal and Anne's dynamic. While Mal might be a player, his character development throughout the story-- the way he stuck to Anne and basically followed a monogamous relationship, very well pleased me. There was no cheating involved which made me love this book even more. I also loved Anne's character. The way she accepted Mal behind his many layers and the way she stood by him despite the fact the she too has some personal issues was really admirable. This couple is perfect for each other!
Like most pretend relationship books, these characters fell into a real relationship together, but what I loved about this book was Mal and Anne's mutual acceptance when it comes to their weak sides. Each conflict was immediately resolved without getting into so much drama which I really loved.
What also made me embrace this book was Mal's relationship with his family, especially with his mom. It was touching. I even found myself crying over some scenes here. I think his family relationship was the one that truly changed Anne's feelings toward her mom, too.
I also thought the rock star theme here was more palpable compared to the previous book. In this installment there was certainly a lot of stage actions by the Stage Dive. I felt their passion to music because of their performances and connection with their fans.
"Mal's playing and the music owned me, the smoothness of his movements and his absolute focus. His energy."
Kylie Scott made it really possible to balance out both the hilarious and emotional vibes in this book. Play, in my opinion, was better than Lick. I loved that it possesses all the elements (sexy times included) to make it a lot more enjoyable. If you've enjoyed David and Ev's story in Lick, then you definitely need to get into Mal's story.
"What do you do when the thing you want most suddenly feels like it's beyond your fingertips?"
5 stars will never be enough for this book.
I
"What do you do when the thing you want most suddenly feels like it's beyond your fingertips?"
5 stars will never be enough for this book.
I still can't believe how this series ended in such a beautiful, satisfying, and all-consuming fashion. This is absolutely one of the riveting series-enders I've read so far-- one that will stay glued in my mind forever.
In this second and final book of Sempre duology, Carmine and Haven's life totally changed. Both of them were forced to separate and go in opposite directions because of the deal Carmine made with Salvatore in the previous book. Carmine is now a full-pledged member of the Mafia while Haven is basically free and is pursuing a normal college life in New York. With the absence of each other, their hearts didn't seem to grow fonder and despite the things that happened, both of them weren't able to forget their love.
I cannot think of better words that will do the book justice. Everything messed up my emotions. First off, I loved J.M. Darhower's writing. As always. It just didn't get old. This author manages to leave such an overwhelming impact to her readers because of her raw and brilliant way of writing. The dialogues shared by the characters were so intimately sensitive that I found myself falling in love and feeling their sadness and pain.
"He was surrounded by violence and death, the ugliness eating away at him, but then on the other side, there was her. She was peace and hope, and pure beauty. She was the good that he hoped would overpower the bad."
Sempre: Redemption didn't particularly prepare me with its much darker approach. I thought Sempre has a mild touch of darkness and graphic violence scenes but in this book, I can say that J.M. Darhower gave it all when it comes to the intensity of its dark theme. Some daring actions were thrown in and even the major character Corrado Moretti (who was so much badass-er) was given an opportunity to stand out.
Haven and Carmine's character was also nicely developed here. I loved their strength and their faith. What basically made them admirable was how they didn't give in to possible new relationships when they were no longer together. It took a lot of chapters for me to endure their sacrifice but in the end, I was glad because what happened to them was exactly what I wished to transpire in the book.
Yes, this book was hard to read at times because of its emotionally-draining scenes which were dragged on an interlude of heartaches and even tragedies, but it was so worth it. This book was so heartfelt and it wasn't just about two characters in a forbidden love but it was also more about how these Mafia people value their devotion to their family. Given the length of the book which is about 500+ pages, I wasn't intimated. It's because no matter how tough this book was and even if there were sad and terrifying moments that occurred, the ending turned out to be a perfection it made me wept both sad and happy tears. I will never forget this series. It will remain in my heart, SEMPRE.
"Everyone falls sometimes, son, even me, but the trick is to get right back up. They’ll always target the ones who appear vulnerable, so you need to be strong. Fake it until you make it."
I'm incredibly impressed. And I'm in shock that I have not read a Sawyer Bennett book. Clearly I was missing out because this bo5 Stars!!!
What a book!
I'm incredibly impressed. And I'm in shock that I have not read a Sawyer Bennett book. Clearly I was missing out because this book is written so well. It left me on the edge and kept me on my toes.
I wasn't expecting what I got when I started Sugar Daddy. I knew it was a dark read and yet I was stunned by all the surprising elements that I found here.
Sugar Daddy follows the main character Sela Halstead. She was 16 years old when she was drugged and gang-raped by the men she could not identify. All she could remember when it comes to the people responsible for the rape was a guy who has a phoenix tattoo on his body. All throughout the years after she recovered, she bowed to herself that she would take revenge and destroy that guy. One day she learned that the guy was Jonathon Townsend, the owner of the dating app sensation known as Sugar Bowl. Seeing a great opportunity for her plan, she took the risk of getting involved with his business by pretending to be a sugar baby. But there is a huge conflict and that is Beck North, Jonathon's co-founder of Sugar Bowl who happened to make his way through her heart.
What specifically made me feel drawn to the book was the pacing. Sugar Daddy is a quick and fast moving read and it was so hard for me to put it down. There was an intensity in its plot that made it all the more gripping and edgy.
And for someone like me who easily gets attached to the characters with enough depth, it wasn't that difficult for me to be enthralled by both the male and female leads. I loved Sela's character. I knew she lacked a little bit of development in her character and she has some flaws... like lying to Beck all the time in order to keep her secrets and plans hidden, but despite her imperfections, she felt real to me and I totally connected with her. She was't anything annoying and I loved her strength and how she was able to overcome her traumatic experience. Beck, on the other hand, quickly wormed his way under my skin. I loved that he always gives his everything to the woman he loves and even though he didn't say the three magic words to Sela, his actions tell everything a woman needs to know. To put it simply, he is a perfect male lead. Not to mention hot.
There were of course, a lot of steamy scenes thrown here and there and by steamy I mean really, really HOT. Those scenes were delivered so nicely that you can't help but swoon and root for the two characters to be together until the very end. Another thing that I loved most about this book was the conflict which had a great impact to me. It was so nerve-racking!
If you read the synopsis of this book, you will have an impression that it's dark and yes, it was truly dark but not to the extreme. I could say that the book very much focuses more on the romance rather than its dark theme.
All in all, it was a spectacular contemporary read. The romance was all-consuming and too good to be true and the author's writing style was a win. I'm happy to say that Sawyer Bennett made it successfully to my new favorite authors in this genre. I will surely read the sequels of this series as well as her previous and upcoming books!
Note: This book ends with a cliffy. Prepare the second book before you start this one if you don't want to freak yourself out. :)
"... All these things are part of what twisted us up inside, but somehow those tangled strands fused until we were whole again."
4.5 Stars!
"... All these things are part of what twisted us up inside, but somehow those tangled strands fused until we were whole again."
4.5 Stars!
(I buddyread this book with my fabulous sis Bea. Click her name to read her fantastic review.)
Talk about one of the most overwhelming twists of the year.Twisted Palace practically made me sit on the edge of my seat. And I never got to sit back.
I admit I didn't quite trust this book to stun me the way the previous books of the series did to me. Seeing mixed reviews did that. But after finishing it, I could say Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick did not fail. The conclusion of this series is truly amazeballs!
After a set of cliffhangers in Paper Princess and Broken Prince, we finally get to have a satisfying ending. And we get to have the ultimate answer to the million dollar question: Who killed this character???
Twisted Place may have a slow-building plot but it surely brought me on a roller coaster ride because of its good amount of mystery. As I was reading it, I found myself collecting clues and piecing together some explanations but no sooner than I have formed an answer in my mind was it immediately taken away in the most insane twist. THAT TWIST, everyone, was the twist that I was looking for... and was thankfully given. I swear that revelation was something that I did not see coming.
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There are things that stood out in this book including Reed and Ella's romantic and character development. The spark that these characters ignited was so bright, almost blinding. And I loved it. They have been through the rough patches and the bumps in the road but still, they both ended up so strong and solid together. I really bought the affection they felt for each other.
I loved that Ella remained tough in her decisions and was basically there for Reed in times of difficulties. Her undying presence and love for the Royal boy and the whole Royal household really worked out so well. And Reed... OMG. This guy. He was nicely fleshed-out. It's such a wonder seeing him grow from a mean character to a kind and dependable one. In this book we finally see a different Reed, one who can definitely control his anger issues.
Let's face it. Series-enders with a combination of fluffy and dark themes like The Royals is a risk, and a lot of series have failed when it comes to satisfying the readers with a great conclusion, but I am happy to say that the authors in this series were able to give it to us. At no point did the overall intensity of the book feel forced.
There may be some unnecessary dramas here and there (which kind of pissed me off at first) but soon I realized that they are necessary spices. They were actually the things that brought steam in this finale. And even though I was expecting more action, I still found myself getting thrilled and nervous because I knew that anytime a bomb will drop.
All in all, I was satisfied with the series' ending and right now I'm having this separation anxiety because well... the series already ended. It's sad to say goodbye to Ella Harper and the Royal Boys and everyone that complete this series. Twisted Palace was brought out in an epic way and the series, as a whole, was one of the best series I've ever had the privilege of reading. I will definitely recommend it to the fans of this genre. :)
I loved The Goal. Elle Kennedy has always been very good at this genre and once again she managed to delight me w3.5 Stars
Can I take John Tucker home?
I loved The Goal. Elle Kennedy has always been very good at this genre and once again she managed to delight me with her writing style. The book started off so good that I was like:
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But when I hit 70% Sabrina the heroine did finally get on my nerves. She's honestly the main reason why this book didn't make it to my 4-5 Stars list. I always have a big issue with characters that annoy me, most especially heroines who can't seem to make up their minds and have the tendency to hurt the people who love them so much. Sabrina falls into this category.
We've known Sabrina in the previous books as Dean's bitchy enemy. In this book she's now the love interest of John Tucker a.k.a. Tucker, a Briar hockey star who lives with Garrett, Logan, and Dean. Sabrina and Tucker both have this opposing personalities. Tucker is a soft-hearted good boy with a Southern charm that could drop every girl's panties. One who grew up as a mama's boy, he also has this domestic side in him. Yes, ladies. He cleans the house and cooks delicious foods and does them without any complain. Now Sabrina. This female lead is an independent, strong-willed, hard-working law student who takes two jobs at a time while striving to achieve her dream of becoming a Harvard alumni. She basically grew up without parents and she lives together with her grandma and her perverted stepdad who makes me cringe every time.
Now when Sabrina and Tucker collided, I saw an immediate chemistry developing. I thought they might make an interesting couple. Even though I knew Sabrina is going to be a pain in the ass because of the attitude that she displayed since the previous books, I HAD HIGH HOPES that this girl can be redeemable. Did not happen. Well, at least not until the very last chapter. Which was so frustrating!
So while The Goal had a lot of good things that happened (like Tucker's interactions with his fellow Hockey stars, his sexy times with Sabrina, his baby, his road towards a different "goal"), the book was not at all perfect. Things became quite off in the 3/4 part of the book and I blame it on Sabrina who turns out to be a very insensitive person.
I guess what's really lacking here was the effective communication between our two characters. I kind of wished that things were a bit different and that the affection was not one-sided and Sabrina was honest enough to admit her feelings (if there was any) to Tucker.
Nevertheless, I still ended up enjoying this book because... TUCKER. He's the best thing here. Compared to some of the male leads, Tucker proves that not every male character with abs and muscles is a manwhore. Give me a John Tucker character anytime and I'll be satisfied for the rest of my life.
Through Sabrina and Tucker's story, Elle Kennedy gave the readers a glimpse of the real world. It's as if the book is saying, 'Hey, this is not just about sex and hook-ups. It's also about the result and consequences of sex and hook-ups.' Which happens in reality.
The series, as a whole, ended up so good. I loved that all the characters have their piece of happy endings and I loved that each of them learned a lot of lessons most especially from painful experiences. They all developed into a person who has a drive to move on and trek a different road towards maturity. Best of all, their friendship remained strong until the very end. Whoa, what a journey! This series is literally New Adult at its finest! Thank you, Elle Kennedy. :)
(P.S. Elle Kennedy just announced on Twitter and Facebook that THERE WILL BE AN OFF-CAMPUS SPIN-OFF which would star our boy Fitzy!)
"You made sense to me. We make sense. We're a whole lot better together than apart."
4 Rock Stars!
This book was all I've ever needed in a r
"You made sense to me. We make sense. We're a whole lot better together than apart."
4 Rock Stars!
This book was all I've ever needed in a rock star romance story. Lick was a sweet, fast moving, and guilty-pleasure book that was a pure joy to read.
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The story began when Evelyn "Ev" Thomas woke up with a realization that she's married to the famous lead guitarist of Stage Dive band, David Ferris. She happened to forget the details on how she got married to him though, because apparently it was a drunken marriage that happened in Vegas. Now she is in for a crazy and unexpected ride of her life-- being a Mrs. David Ferris wherein she has to deal with paparazzi stuffs and obsessed fans. And being someone who's confused whether she wants the marriage to continue or not-- given the fact that it was an insta-marriage kind and that David is still a stranger, after all.
First of all, I loved David. I've read a few rock star stories with equally hot rock star leads but David is quite different. Apart from being a man-candy who has an intoxicating charm all over his body, this guy knows exactly how to care for his woman. I loved the way he extended his sweetness for Ev and the way he chased after her when things got bad.
Our heroine Ev is also likeable, although I wish to see more depth in her character. Despite the absence of that factor though, I found her feelings for David genuine. She didn't care about how rich and famous David is but instead she treated him like an ordinary guy. As for the side characters, I found them really adorable and interesting-- especially Mal and Jimmy. I can't wait to read their stories in the next books of this series!
Overall, this book met my expectations. It didn't fail to surprise me and make me smile the whole time I was reading it. I loved that it was just light and easy read, without unnecessary dramas. I also loved how it was written in an enticing and delicious way. It's my first time to read Kylie Scott's work and she sure made me fall in love with her writing style.
(I've read this book for the #NALitLoversPH #NewAdultAndBeyondPH readalong)
"Life sometimes doesn't run in the cycles it's expected to. We are all here for a blink. Life changes in a blink. We
4.5 Hot Smoker Guy Stars!
"Life sometimes doesn't run in the cycles it's expected to. We are all here for a blink. Life changes in a blink. We fall in love, sometimes, in a blink."
Forever in love with Katy Evans' books!
Callan and Olivia. Gaaah!!! I couldn't even begin to describe the sexual tension and overflowing steamy scenes between these two. I was so rooting for them from start to finish.
Olivia "Livvy" Roth was introduced in the previous Manwhore book Ladies Man and we've known her as Tahoe's little sister. When Tahoe endorsed her to his best friend's huge company to work as an intern, Olivia expected to meet a ruthless business mogul in the name of Callan Carmichael. While working there, she had an encounter with a literally hot smoker guy whom she thought as an ordinary employee (a mailman) and whom she shared smoking sessions every day and even had a one night stand with. Little did she know that the smoker guy was in fact, the very owner of the company-- Callan.
The book was basically steeped in steamy scenes after steamy scenes. Classic Katy Evans. Aaand I loved every bit of it. Callan and Olivia's chemistry was off the charts. They're both hot, success-driven, and they both understand each other's wants. To simply put, they're made for each other.
I loved that their story was not heavy on the angst and how the scenes were created to make the reader smile and swoon. It basically kept me on my toes. If you are looking for an office romance with over-the-top sensual scenes with less dramas, I believe you will love this book. You don't have to read the previous books in this series (although I recommend you to read them too because they are equally amazing!) because it is a standalone. All in all, Womanizer was another enjoyable book to devour. I'm excited about Wynn's story!
"I couldn't remember ever wanting another man as badly as I wanted Chase. For a while, I'd thought it was because he was my boss--
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"I couldn't remember ever wanting another man as badly as I wanted Chase. For a while, I'd thought it was because he was my boss-- that exciting feeling of being tempted by the forbidden. But I knew it was more than that. So much more, it scared the hell out of me. "
4.5 Stars!
Chase Parker is so delicious. I mean, Bossman. The story. :p
It's my second time to read a Vi Keeland book and I must say this was better than the first book I've read which was The Baller: A Down and Dirty Football Novel. I needed a fun, flirty, and light NA read and reading some glowing 5-star reviews from my friends, I was totally sold and I considered it as an immediate read. It didn't fail. The book was what I was really looking for.
Bossman started off when Reese Annesley had an encounter with Chase Parker at a restaurant where she's meeting her date, Martin. Chase overheard her sending a voicemail to her friend, complaining about her boring date. A few minutes later, she was shocked when Chase joined her table and basically crashed her date by making up stories about their "childhood". Lol. Now few weeks later, they met again and she eventually learned that Chase is in fact, an owner of a wax company where's she's about to start her new work.
What made me love this book? It was for the sole reason that I enjoyed everything that happened here. Chase was so adorable and sexy and his made-up stories just cracked me up. Reese, on the other hand, was a likeable heroine. Despite her issues about her past, she didn't have annoying dramas which made it easy for me to like her. I loved that the majority of this book focused more on the flirty side rather than the emotional one. I've been reading sad books lately and I can't take another heartbreak for now. So this was indeed a book where you can expect yourself to be laughing out loud because of the humor and the sexy interactions shared by the characters.
There was of course, a huge thing that happened in the later part of this book. Some sort of twist that kind of deviated the story into a heart-breaking one. But it was a good thing since it gave the story a depth and it made me appreciate the characters more because of how they handled the situation and managed to overcome it. I was also able to see the broken, different side of Chase, although it shattered my heart into pieces.
The best part of the book was the ending. I loved it! It left a smile on my face and it simply made me happy. As a whole, this book was fun and enjoyable, with oozing sexiness all over the place. Chase is such a perfect Bossman! I highly recommend this book if you love smexy office romance and friends-to-lovers tropes with a tiny bit of drama.
"You're fired," he groaned as he buried his face in my hair. "So fucking fired."
(I've read this book for the #NALitLoversPH #NewAdultAndBeyondPH readalong)
"To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."
Rhys clinked his glass against mine. "To the stars who listen� and the dreams
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"To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."
Rhys clinked his glass against mine. "To the stars who listen� and the dreams that are answered."
1,000,000 Stars!!!
First of all, can we take a moment to glorify the perfection that is Rhysand?
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No doubt, A Court of Mist and Fury tops my favorite sequels this year. It basically owned me, took my heart, broke it into a million pieces, and mend it all back together. Sarah J. Maas sure doesn't stop giving me goosebumps. I've just realized that there are so many reasons why I need to stick to her works and never let go, because she does it better. Always.
Notable things to expect in ACOMAF:
> remarkable plot > character development > new setting > new characters > romantic development > series of revelations > sizzling romantic scenes > deep, tear-jerking dialogues > plot twist
and of course--
> Rhysand and lots and lots of Rhysand
These things are more than reason enough for me to rate this 5++++ stars. There was just too much goodness that happened in this book. So much improvement, especially when it comes to Feyre's character. I loved how she handled and basically maneuvered all the rough situations here, how she listened not only to her heart but to her mind as well, and how she was able to use her critical thinking in the end. I've just witnessed a new Feyre and with that, I was more than happy.
I guess it's already quite obvious and it's fair to say that this book is about Rhysand, isn't it? Yep. Where is Tamlin? What is Tamlin?
He's gone. Figuratively. And this isn't a spoiler. Tamlin (in ACOTAR) was non-existent here. He basically changed-- or so I thought. I admit that it was so hard for me to accept his character changes because I rooted for him in the first book. I kept asking, why? Why did the author change his character? It was when I reached the near-end part of the book when I finally realized that he didn't really change. I just saw the REAL him. He was in my opinion, a good character. It's just that... He's weak and his love for Feyre and the need to protect her was all-consuming, to the point where he became so manipulative and territorial.
That's why in the end, my vote goes to Rhysand. I've known his character in the first book as someone who's cocky and literal bad boy, but I didn't know anything about him, really. In this book, I saw him as a well-developed, wholly different character. I didn't know that behind his pretty face and sexy grin lies dark secrets full of pain which made me feel for him.
"He thinks he'll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out."
The best thing about this sequel apart from the character and romantic development was also the setting. The Night Court was so beautiful it's too much! I loved how the place was described in a vivid and captivating way. I found myself really dreamy just by imagining those beautiful stars and sunsets *sigh.
This is what I imagine The Night Court to look like:
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I had a lot of favorite scenes here, too. Like the Starfall festival scene, the Court of of Nightmares smexy and full-of-sexual-tension scenes, and the scene when Feyre said:
"You love me? Then eat. "
Did I say that I also love it every time Rhysand calls her, "Feyre darling?" ;)
In addition to my favorite scenes, the new characters also rocked! Amren, Cassian, Mor, and Azriel for the win!!! I like the Inner Circle and their bad-assery and I need more of them soon, in the third book.
I actually have a lot more to say, but they're going to be really spoilery so I am just going to leave it here:
FEYSAND IS LIFE.
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If you haven't read this sequel yet, do it already. If you haven't started this series yet, do yourself a favor and read it. BEST ONGOING SERIES EVER. . :)
"Then I learned your name. Hearing you say it... It was like an answer to a question I'd been asking for five hundred years."
(Note: I would like to say thank you to my dear friend, Allie who gave me a physical copy of this book. You are such a wonderful person with a generous heart. Best of all, you are a sweet soul! <3)
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