This is a re-release which has been slightly edited since the original release. Before this I'd never read a book bMy review @ Coffee, Cookies & Books
This is a re-release which has been slightly edited since the original release. Before this I'd never read a book by this author although I'd had her on my TBR forever. I'll definitely read more of her works.
This story is a classic story of natural born enemies becoming lovers. Typical Romeo and Juliet style. Although this was a very short story there was a lot of information to get a feel for the world our two main characters were living in.
Kieran is a vampire and one night of hot sex with Melina tilted his world on its axis. Why can't he get the wolf shifter out of his mind when they are supposed to hate each other? And Melina feels pretty much the same way. Kieran is a protective and possessive alpha male with a sweet side to him and Melina is the female version of him. She goes against her families wish to see Kieran and he in return does everything to justify her faith in him.
Enemy Mine was a quick sexy read with adorable characters. I really hope that Katie Reus expands this universe and gives us more stories set in it.
ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - thank you!
This is a re-release which has been slightly edited since the original release. Before this I'd never read a book by this author although I'd had her on my TBR forever. I'll definitely read more of her works.
This story is a classic story of natural born enemies becoming lovers. Typical Romeo and Juliet style. Although this was a very short story there was a lot of information to get a feel for the world our two main characters were living in.
Kieran is a vampire and one night of hot sex with Melina tilted his world on its axis. Why can't he get the wolf shifter out of his mind when they are supposed to hate each other? And Melina feels pretty much the same way. Kieran is a protective and possessive alpha male with a sweet side to him and Melina is the female version of him. She goes against her families wish to see Kieran and he in return does everything to justify her faith in him.
Enemy Mine was a quick sexy read with adorable characters. I really hope that Katie Reus expands this universe and gives us more stories set in it.
ARC received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review - thank you! ...more
One - she writes the best heroes. They are always g[image]
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I love Ginger Scott. There are many reasons why.
One - she writes the best heroes. They are always good to the bone, kind, romantic, smart and special. Two - her heroines are always strong, resilient and with their heart in the right place. You might not love them right from the beginning but you always come to love them. Three - her extraordinary story lines that grip and captivate you and don't let loose until you read THE END. Four - she has this amazing talent - not only is her writing just beautiful she also knows how to start a story and you are smack dab in the middle of it. Her words have this way of pulling you in from the moment you open the book.
I could continue my praise for a while but let me get down to business now.
Liv's story is unbelievably tragic. Her family is a piece of work. Utter scum. Her mother is a psychopath out of the book, her dad a former boxing champion now tied to the bed after a stroke. Her uncle a thieving bastard. And that's the place she has to go back to out of necessity. Who knew that something good would come out of going back to the place she couldn't wait to leave.
Liv never wanted to tie herself to a fighter, seeing how the whole boxing business poisoned her family. She didn't see Memphis coming. A talented fighter, a man as beautiful as ambitious and driven and with a heart of gold. He is focused, doesn't need distractions while preparing for the fight that might change everything in his life. so he didn't see Liv coming either. Memphis shows her that if she wants love in her life she has to let go of the hate and slowly she disentangles herself from the unhealthy environment and her past. Liv is too broken, too suspicious and a little too prickly to love her from the start but give her a chance and you'll fall in love with her.
“You need to promise me that you won’t break me�
She tries so hard to resist him, is suspicious of every good thing coming her way but he tears down that sturdy fortress around her with his kindness, honesty and sweetness. Memphis and Olivia are made for each other. They have a lovely friendship they build on and while both of them feel the strong pull they don't give into their attraction. Olivia, because of her doubts and Memphis because he is just such a wonderful man and never pushes her beyond her limits. He holds her heart in his hands, gently, tenderly, always careful not to break it. Memphis is a fighter and he fights for his love. His soul is pure.
"I will wait for you to really know who I am, Liv. I’m confident in the man I am. I’m not those men upstairs who disappointed you, but I understand your guard. And I will wait until you believe I won’t break that promise. Breaking you, Liv, would be one of the biggest regrets of my life. And I just don’t do regrets.�
There is a side character that also stole my heart. I was beyond pleased that these three lost souls found one another and had a chance at something so beautiful (because you never know which way it goes with Ms. Scott). Miles is everything. How he teased Memphis and poked fun at him was hilarious. To call Liv's mother a mother is an offense to every good mother out there. She is a despicable snake with nothing but her own advantage on her mind. Hate is a strong word but boy, did I hate her.
I love the realism in Ginger's books. This toxic family could be your neighbors. Heck, they probably are.
MEMPHIS has more steam than every other book I've read by this author and if you ask me she can continue doing that. That one sex scene was, sexy, hot and she built up to it until you just wanted to shout "Oh my god, DO IT ALREADY!" It wasn't overly explicit but tastefully done, erotic and beautiful, with a lot of feeling.
"I want you because when I touch you I feel it in every square inch of my body."
If you need any more reasons to read this book scroll up and read the first paragraph again. Memphis definitely is one of my highlights this year. It is so Ginger Scott, yet so different too. It's a wonderful story about making peace with the fact that you can't change your upbringing and blood family, about the growth that comes when you let go of the hate and move past it. Ms. Scott teaches a lesson:
One - she writes the best heroes. They are always good to the bone, kind, romantic, smart and special. Two - her heroines are always strong, resilient and with their heart in the right place. You might not love them right from the beginning but you always come to love them. Three - her extraordinary story lines that grip and captivate you and don't let loose until you read THE END. Four - she has this amazing talent - not only is her writing just beautiful she also knows how to start a story and you are smack dab in the middle of it. Her words have this way of pulling you in from the moment you open the book.
I could continue my praise for a while but let me get down to business now.
Liv's story is unbelievably tragic. Her family is a piece of work. Utter scum. Her mother is a psychopath out of the book, her dad a former boxing champion now tied to the bed after a stroke. Her uncle a thieving bastard. And that's the place she has to go back to out of necessity. Who knew that something good would come out of going back to the place she couldn't wait to leave.
Liv never wanted to tie herself to a fighter, seeing how the whole boxing business poisoned her family. She didn't see Memphis coming. A talented fighter, a man as beautiful as ambitious and driven and with a heart of gold. He is focused, doesn't need distractions while preparing for the fight that might change everything in his life. so he didn't see Liv coming either. Memphis shows her that if she wants love in her life she has to let go of the hate and slowly she disentangles herself from the unhealthy environment and her past. Liv is too broken, too suspicious and a little too prickly to love her from the start but give her a chance and you'll fall in love with her.
“You need to promise me that you won’t break me�
She tries so hard to resist him, is suspicious of every good thing coming her way but he tears down that sturdy fortress around her with his kindness, honesty and sweetness. Memphis and Olivia are made for each other. They have a lovely friendship they build on and while both of them feel the strong pull they don't give into their attraction. Olivia, because of her doubts and Memphis because he is just such a wonderful man and never pushes her beyond her limits. He holds her heart in his hands, gently, tenderly, always careful not to break it. Memphis is a fighter and he fights for his love. His soul is pure.
"I will wait for you to really know who I am, Liv. I’m confident in the man I am. I’m not those men upstairs who disappointed you, but I understand your guard. And I will wait until you believe I won’t break that promise. Breaking you, Liv, would be one of the biggest regrets of my life. And I just don’t do regrets.�
There is a side character that also stole my heart. I was beyond pleased that these three lost souls found one another and had a chance at something so beautiful (because you never know which way it goes with Ms. Scott). Miles is everything. How he teased Memphis and poked fun at him was hilarious. To call Liv's mother a mother is an offense to every good mother out there. She is a despicable snake with nothing but her own advantage on her mind. Hate is a strong word but boy, did I hate her.
I love the realism in Ginger's books. This toxic family could be your neighbors. Heck, they probably are.
MEMPHIS has more steam than every other book I've read by this author and if you ask me she can continue doing that. That one sex scene was, sexy, hot and she built up to it until you just wanted to shout "Oh my god, DO IT ALREADY!" It wasn't overly explicit but tastefully done, erotic and beautiful, with a lot of feeling.
"I want you because when I touch you I feel it in every square inch of my body."
If you need any more reasons to read this book scroll up and read the first paragraph again. Memphis definitely is one of my highlights this year. It is so Ginger Scott, yet so different too. It's a wonderful story about making peace with the fact that you can't change your upbringing and blood family, about the growth that comes when you let go of the hate and move past it. Ms. Scott teaches a lesson:
TITLE: DRUMMER GIRL AUTHOR: Ginger Scott RELEASE DATE: July 30 2019 GENRE: Young Adult with mature themes THEMES & TROPES: Mental Illness, D
TITLE: DRUMMER GIRL AUTHOR: Ginger Scott RELEASE DATE: July 30 2019 GENRE: Young Adult with mature themes THEMES & TROPES: Mental Illness, Drug Abuse RATING: 4 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
(live on July 30th)
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I've read quite a few books by Ginger Scott and there is only one book by her that didn't work for me. But that's another story and I am happy to report that she has come back as expected with flying colors. Before I continue scroll up and read the beauty that is the blurb for this book. DRUMMER GIRL is a departure from this author's usual sports romance. This time around music is the theme that is front and center in this mature YA story. If you think you've read it all, nothing can surprise you, think again. Because if there is something Ms Scott excels at it's giving us stories that haven't been told before. She doesn't just polish up an old trope, no, she creates them.
Arizona is a shy young girl, playing snare drum in the school's marching band. One day a boy moves in next door and at first it seems like they don't have a lot in common with Jesse being the epitome of a bad boy, smoking pot, being a musician, playing hooky from school. This is the kind of boy our parents told us to run from. The deeper you dive into the plot though and the closer Jesse and Ari become, you see that this isn't the dysfunctional relationship you'd expect. Jesse's growth from the troublemaker who is up to no good to the person Ari can rely on is subtle but you see it. Jesse will never be a choirboy but he is an example why girls want to tame those bad boys and be THE ONE for them.
This is a slow, careful gift from a boy I find dizzyingly perfect despite all of his crazy. He doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. He’s a genius, he’s a wreck—he’s my first.
As you go not only Jesse's fight with with his demons comes to light but also Arizona's and her family's - that was quite a twist and quite heart-wrenching
The message in this story is something we should remember in our every day life when we judge people harshly, especially people we don't know very well. We all have something we battle, something that we don't necessarily share with the world. Mental illnesses still have that flavor of crazy and often times people are ashamed. But we don't choose them. And there is no shame in seeking help.
Nothing about anything in this life is normal, but maybe that’s everyone’s story. Maybe normal is the odd man out.
Ginger Scott puts the spotlight on a sensitive matter with a very delicate and tactful hand and a surprising amount of steam. She makes music and depression the background for a first love that is set to become epic. Once again this author proves what a force in YA she is and why she is one of my favorites. She writes emotional stories, full of love, sweetness and beautiful words about extraordinary people and DRUMMER GIRL just fits the mold.
I love him. I love him so fucking much. He is my lake, and I dove in head fucking first.
Merged review:
TITLE: DRUMMER GIRL AUTHOR: Ginger Scott RELEASE DATE: July 30 2019 GENRE: Young Adult with mature themes THEMES & TROPES: Mental Illness, Drug Abuse RATING: 4 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
(live on July 30th)
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I've read quite a few books by Ginger Scott and there is only one book by her that didn't work for me. But that's another story and I am happy to report that she has come back as expected with flying colors. Before I continue scroll up and read the beauty that is the blurb for this book. DRUMMER GIRL is a departure from this author's usual sports romance. This time around music is the theme that is front and center in this mature YA story. If you think you've read it all, nothing can surprise you, think again. Because if there is something Ms Scott excels at it's giving us stories that haven't been told before. She doesn't just polish up an old trope, no, she creates them.
Arizona is a shy young girl, playing snare drum in the school's marching band. One day a boy moves in next door and at first it seems like they don't have a lot in common with Jesse being the epitome of a bad boy, smoking pot, being a musician, playing hooky from school. This is the kind of boy our parents told us to run from. The deeper you dive into the plot though and the closer Jesse and Ari become, you see that this isn't the dysfunctional relationship you'd expect. Jesse's growth from the troublemaker who is up to no good to the person Ari can rely on is subtle but you see it. Jesse will never be a choirboy but he is an example why girls want to tame those bad boys and be THE ONE for them.
This is a slow, careful gift from a boy I find dizzyingly perfect despite all of his crazy. He doesn’t pretend to be something he isn’t. He’s a genius, he’s a wreck—he’s my first.
As you go not only Jesse's fight with with his demons comes to light but also Arizona's and her family's - that was quite a twist and quite heart-wrenching
The message in this story is something we should remember in our every day life when we judge people harshly, especially people we don't know very well. We all have something we battle, something that we don't necessarily share with the world. Mental illnesses still have that flavor of crazy and often times people are ashamed. But we don't choose them. And there is no shame in seeking help.
Nothing about anything in this life is normal, but maybe that’s everyone’s story. Maybe normal is the odd man out.
Ginger Scott puts the spotlight on a sensitive matter with a very delicate and tactful hand and a surprising amount of steam. She makes music and depression the background for a first love that is set to become epic. Once again this author proves what a force in YA she is and why she is one of my favorites. She writes emotional stories, full of love, sweetness and beautiful words about extraordinary people and DRUMMER GIRL just fits the mold.
I love him. I love him so fucking much. He is my lake, and I dove in head fucking first.
TITLE: BRED AUTHOR: Ginger Scott RELEASE DATE: May 10th 2019 GENRE: Young Adult, Coming of Age TROPES: Retelling of Great Expectations RATING
TITLE: BRED AUTHOR: Ginger Scott RELEASE DATE: May 10th 2019 GENRE: Young Adult, Coming of Age TROPES: Retelling of Great Expectations RATING: 2.5 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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It took me a while to find the right rating for BRED by Ginger Scott and I don't find much joy in writing an unfavorable review for a book written by one of my favorites so I'll keep it short.
BRED is a retelling of Dickens's Great Expectations. Henry, our hero, considers himself incapable of loving someone. Being raised by a cold fish of an adoptive mother that was to be expected. He runs hot and cold with Lily, who I thought was a doormat and made a lot of excuses for Henry. I'm not going into detail about this but I had a serious issue with how Henry treated the heroine. His selfishness and arrogance made me want to wipe that smirk off his face.
Henry is nothing like me. He’s broken in a different way, and he doesn’t feel things like pressure or guilt. That much I know. He barely feels at all.
70% of the book Lily and Henry are firmly in the friend zone until it all turns around in the blink of an eye. I like a good slow burn but this took a little too long without any character growth from either hero or heroine. They were friends, until they weren't. I understand that Elena, Henry's despicable, horrible adoptive mother, brainwashed him but even after Lily and Henry got involved and seeing their relationship develop I wasn't confident any longer that Henry would make a good boyfriend. Lily tried to show some resistance but failed every single time. Henry only had to aim his cocky smirk at her and she was a puddle who would forgive anything.
“He is exactly as I hoped he would be. Nobody will ever break Henry’s heart—he will leave behind the heartbroken, and he’ll rule this world because of it. I made sure that he wouldn’t suffer from my biggest flaw.�
BRED was disappointing. The author who can write good-to-the-core male characters like nobody's business made me dislike one of them. But, it happens. Sometimes, rarely, our favorite authors don't hit the mark for us and that's fine. I'm confident that the next book by Ginger Scott will make me fall in love with her characters again. Also, make sure you check out the other reviews - a lot of people loved this one. Maybe you will too.
Merged review:
TITLE: BRED AUTHOR: Ginger Scott RELEASE DATE: May 10th 2019 GENRE: Young Adult, Coming of Age TROPES: Retelling of Great Expectations RATING: 2.5 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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It took me a while to find the right rating for BRED by Ginger Scott and I don't find much joy in writing an unfavorable review for a book written by one of my favorites so I'll keep it short.
BRED is a retelling of Dickens's Great Expectations. Henry, our hero, considers himself incapable of loving someone. Being raised by a cold fish of an adoptive mother that was to be expected. He runs hot and cold with Lily, who I thought was a doormat and made a lot of excuses for Henry. I'm not going into detail about this but I had a serious issue with how Henry treated the heroine. His selfishness and arrogance made me want to wipe that smirk off his face.
Henry is nothing like me. He’s broken in a different way, and he doesn’t feel things like pressure or guilt. That much I know. He barely feels at all.
70% of the book Lily and Henry are firmly in the friend zone until it all turns around in the blink of an eye. I like a good slow burn but this took a little too long without any character growth from either hero or heroine. They were friends, until they weren't. I understand that Elena, Henry's despicable, horrible adoptive mother, brainwashed him but even after Lily and Henry got involved and seeing their relationship develop I wasn't confident any longer that Henry would make a good boyfriend. Lily tried to show some resistance but failed every single time. Henry only had to aim his cocky smirk at her and she was a puddle who would forgive anything.
“He is exactly as I hoped he would be. Nobody will ever break Henry’s heart—he will leave behind the heartbroken, and he’ll rule this world because of it. I made sure that he wouldn’t suffer from my biggest flaw.�
BRED was disappointing. The author who can write good-to-the-core male characters like nobody's business made me dislike one of them. But, it happens. Sometimes, rarely, our favorite authors don't hit the mark for us and that's fine. I'm confident that the next book by Ginger Scott will make me fall in love with her characters again. Also, make sure you check out the other reviews - a lot of people loved this one. Maybe you will too.
Preface: This review covers all four episodes in this series. I'm trying to be as vague as poss5 BUTTERFLY STARS
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Preface: This review covers all four episodes in this series. I'm trying to be as vague as possible and to keep it spoiler-free so that those who haven't read all episodes yet can enjoy the full experience.
Sometimes I like to venture into the darker corners of my mind with the help of a super talented author. When I hear Keri Lake has a new book coming out I'll hand over the reins and let her take me out of my comfort zone. I trust her to make me squirm uncomfortably...and still have a good time.
Dylan is only a few weeks away from her 18th birthday and it can't come quick enough. At the hand of her uncle she suffers unmentionable abuse which she only bears in a drugged up stupor and barely remembers what happened afterwards. Her mother died of a drug overdose, or that's what authorities want her to believe, and her father committed suicide. Dylan's only tether to a semblance of normalcy and the one being she cares most about is her dog Charlie. After another horrific experience with her uncle she has had enough and flees the filthy apartment. Having no money to get by is a problem so what's a girl to do?
Ripley is a hitman for one of the mob families competing for power in Chicago. When he follows one of his targets he observes a girl getting into the car of the man he is supposed to kill. He saves her from being raped and killed...and is bemused. Rip doesn't *save* people. He tortures them, makes them beg for a merciful death without remorse. This girl, though, is an enigma to him. She is innocent and yet she isn't, she is naive and still streetwise. Ripley doesn't need witnesses yet he sends her off on her way...but...he can't stop thinking about her. So what's a guy to do?
If you think loving a man like Rip is impossible let me tell you - it isn't. In some twisted logic Keri Lake makes you believe that this cold blooded, obviously psychopathic killer is deep down a good man. He is ruthless, twisted, charismatic and single minded in his focus on his target. Dylan brings out the tender feelings inside of him he didn't think he had. Is he gentle with her? Far from it. Their love is raw, violent and volatile.
And as much as I fear that my demons will ultimately tear her apart, the disturbing reality is, they’d probably get drunk with hers and have a fucking orgy together.
“This is what fascinates me about you. Doesn’t matter that you’re tied to a bed in a basement, facing all variety of gruesome outcomes, you never lose that spitfire attitude.�
Dylan is probably my favorite heroine by Keri Lake as of yet. She is strong with enough softness, sweetness and vulnerability to make her relatable. She has a youth about her that belies the darkness inside her. I don't think I would have survived the atrocities she experienced in her young life. Together Dylan and Rip are explosive but if you look closely there is a gentle side to their relationship that comes unexpected. I adored how they took care of each other, how these two broken souls fell in love and made sense despite their darkness.
Merciless and merciful. Wild and broken. He’s a raging fire, with the inclination to destroy whatever gets in his path, and I’m nothing but a small scrap of kindling. Yet the way he stares at me with such reverence, makes me feel like I’m the one holding the match.
Keri Lake's gritty writing is flawless as usual. She tackles a very real and uncomfortable subject and passes with flying colors. The mood is intense. Sinister, brutal and raw and not for the faint of heart, yet in the end you'll find yourself deeply in love with a brutal killer and the love of his life. If you haven't read a book by this author yet and love grungy and gritty tales I urge you to pick up one of her stories. You won't regret it.
Preface: This review covers all four episodes in this series. I'm trying to be as vague as possible and to keep it spoiler-free so that those who haven't read all episodes yet can enjoy the full experience.
Sometimes I like to venture into the darker corners of my mind with the help of a super talented author. When I hear Keri Lake has a new book coming out I'll hand over the reins and let her take me out of my comfort zone. I trust her to make me squirm uncomfortably...and still have a good time.
Dylan is only a few weeks away from her 18th birthday and it can't come quick enough. At the hand of her uncle she suffers unmentionable abuse which she only bears in a drugged up stupor and barely remembers what happened afterwards. Her mother died of a drug overdose, or that's what authorities want her to believe, and her father committed suicide. Dylan's only tether to a semblance of normalcy and the one being she cares most about is her dog Charlie. After another horrific experience with her uncle she has had enough and flees the filthy apartment. Having no money to get by is a problem so what's a girl to do?
Ripley is a hitman for one of the mob families competing for power in Chicago. When he follows one of his targets he observes a girl getting into the car of the man he is supposed to kill. He saves her from being raped and killed...and is bemused. Rip doesn't *save* people. He tortures them, makes them beg for a merciful death without remorse. This girl, though, is an enigma to him. She is innocent and yet she isn't, she is naive and still streetwise. Ripley doesn't need witnesses yet he sends her off on her way...but...he can't stop thinking about her. So what's a guy to do?
If you think loving a man like Rip is impossible let me tell you - it isn't. In some twisted logic Keri Lake makes you believe that this cold blooded, obviously psychopathic killer is deep down a good man. He is ruthless, twisted, charismatic and single minded in his focus on his target. Dylan brings out the tender feelings inside of him he didn't think he had. Is he gentle with her? Far from it. Their love is raw, violent and volatile.
And as much as I fear that my demons will ultimately tear her apart, the disturbing reality is, they’d probably get drunk with hers and have a fucking orgy together.
“This is what fascinates me about you. Doesn’t matter that you’re tied to a bed in a basement, facing all variety of gruesome outcomes, you never lose that spitfire attitude.�
Dylan is probably my favorite heroine by Keri Lake as of yet. She is strong with enough softness, sweetness and vulnerability to make her relatable. She has a youth about her that belies the darkness inside her. I don't think I would have survived the atrocities she experienced in her young life. Together Dylan and Rip are explosive but if you look closely there is a gentle side to their relationship that comes unexpected. I adored how they took care of each other, how these two broken souls fell in love and made sense despite their darkness.
Merciless and merciful. Wild and broken. He’s a raging fire, with the inclination to destroy whatever gets in his path, and I’m nothing but a small scrap of kindling. Yet the way he stares at me with such reverence, makes me feel like I’m the one holding the match.
Keri Lake's gritty writing is flawless as usual. She tackles a very real and uncomfortable subject and passes with flying colors. The mood is intense. Sinister, brutal and raw and not for the faint of heart, yet in the end you'll find yourself deeply in love with a brutal killer and the love of his life. If you haven't read a book by this author yet and love grungy and gritty tales I urge you to pick up one of her stories. You won't regret it.
If there is one author I trust implicitly with dark romance, it's Keri Lake. While her characters are m[image]
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If there is one author I trust implicitly with dark romance, it's Keri Lake. While her characters are morally dubious at best, they always have a good core and a good reason for their actions. In Absolution we are introduced into a new world that is no less violent and bleak as her Vigilante world.
Ivy is poison in my blood.
Like all her male characters Damon has experienced great loss. He turned to his faith and became a priest and so far he has been steadfast and strong. Enter Ivy. I wouldn't call her a damsel in distress, the problems she has are way more sinister. One day she witnesses and proper Father Damon doing something very unpriestly and uses that knowledge to manipulate him into helping her getting rid of the thorn in her side that is actually more of a dagger.
Damon is charismatic, mysterious and commanding but also surprisingly kind. No one would ever call him sweet though, except when we get the flashbacks and glimpses of him with his daughter.
Ivy is a cunning little devil but she isn't a bad person. She has no compunctions to fight dirty to survive and has buckets of spunk. But there is also a vulnerability and it gets pronounced towards the end when she shows the weakness she has for the sinful priest.
“You’re quite the little serpent, aren’t you? Disguising yourself as innocent and naïve?�
“And you’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so how bout we both shed these skins and be real for a moment.
ABSOLUTION is a long-ish novella but Miss Lake has this incredible talent to masterfully plot like there is no tomorrow. You get unbelievable depth for a book of this word count. It feels like a full length novel.
Keri Lake doesn't use pretty words in her books. They are honest and gritty, violence is part of the world her books are set in so she doesn't spare the reader by fading to black. Yet there are glimpses of purity and beauty and light and those are the ones you live for when you take a book by this author into your hands. I hope she expands on this world and makes it a series because I need more Ivy and Damon!
I can’t take my eyes off this girl, this enigmatic, intriguing little creature who’s seized my attention.
Merged review:
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If there is one author I trust implicitly with dark romance, it's Keri Lake. While her characters are morally dubious at best, they always have a good core and a good reason for their actions. In Absolution we are introduced into a new world that is no less violent and bleak as her Vigilante world.
Ivy is poison in my blood.
Like all her male characters Damon has experienced great loss. He turned to his faith and became a priest and so far he has been steadfast and strong. Enter Ivy. I wouldn't call her a damsel in distress, the problems she has are way more sinister. One day she witnesses and proper Father Damon doing something very unpriestly and uses that knowledge to manipulate him into helping her getting rid of the thorn in her side that is actually more of a dagger.
Damon is charismatic, mysterious and commanding but also surprisingly kind. No one would ever call him sweet though, except when we get the flashbacks and glimpses of him with his daughter.
Ivy is a cunning little devil but she isn't a bad person. She has no compunctions to fight dirty to survive and has buckets of spunk. But there is also a vulnerability and it gets pronounced towards the end when she shows the weakness she has for the sinful priest.
“You’re quite the little serpent, aren’t you? Disguising yourself as innocent and naïve?�
“And you’re a wolf in sheep’s clothing, so how bout we both shed these skins and be real for a moment.
ABSOLUTION is a long-ish novella but Miss Lake has this incredible talent to masterfully plot like there is no tomorrow. You get unbelievable depth for a book of this word count. It feels like a full length novel.
Keri Lake doesn't use pretty words in her books. They are honest and gritty, violence is part of the world her books are set in so she doesn't spare the reader by fading to black. Yet there are glimpses of purity and beauty and light and those are the ones you live for when you take a book by this author into your hands. I hope she expands on this world and makes it a series because I need more Ivy and Damon!
I can’t take my eyes off this girl, this enigmatic, intriguing little creature who’s seized my attention.
Pamela Sparkman's writing is like a song. Lyrical, melodic, colorful, descriptive, eloquent. And when [image]
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Pamela Sparkman's writing is like a song. Lyrical, melodic, colorful, descriptive, eloquent. And when she puts that in a fantasy story you bet it's phenomenal. A MONSTER LIKE ME is the second in the Heart of Darkness series and if you haven't read The Moon Shines Red you definitely should do that before diving into this one.
A Monster Like Me starts where we left Zeph, Elin, Arwyn and Lochlan. As I dug deeper into Zeph's story understanding for his antagonistic, aggressive behavior came to me. I didn't want to love him, the things he did, how he treated pretty much every one around him, I couldn't see how I would ever forgive him. But then I found out what a tragic character he really is, that no punishment somebody else could deal was nearly as bad as the one he inflicted on himself. Zeph didn't feel worthy of anything good.
Everything he was feeling, he was setting it free, letting it out, and all his hurt and pain, anger and guilt, fear and sadness, they felt like a whip and a lash against her skin. But she took it. She took it all. Because he had carried it inside him for so long� and it was killing him.
Healing a broken soul like that takes a special person and Arwyn definitely is that. She's tenacious, thoughtful, compassionate, fiercely loyal and deeply in love with Zeph. She was the constant in his life, his rock and the balm that soothed his soul.
“You know my heartbeats?�
â€Âٴdz¾±ð³Ù¾±³¾±ð²õ,â€�
she said,
“I don’t know if they are yours or mine.�
But it's also Elin's forgiving heart and the budding friendship between Zeph, Searly, Lochlan and Favian that gives this tortured man peace. I loved their friendship so much - these scenes gave me some much needed comic relief when emotions had been running rampant. This group of people made him see that he wasn't beyond saving and that he deserved happiness. Every time one of them managed to weaken Zeph's grip on his guilt it felt like a reward.
Don't expect that the romance between Arwyn and Zeph will be on the forefront of the story. While it is undeniably romantic and beautiful, it's Zeph's path to redemption, his own forgiveness you will be routing for. Maybe because despite Zeph's struggles to accept love, theirs was inevitable.
“Thank you,�
he said.
“For what?�
“For loving me when I was so unlovable.�
“Thank you,�
she said breathlessly.
“For what?�
“For not giving up.�
“You wouldn’t let me.�
Scattered throughout the story there are action scenes that will leave you breathless.
The Moon Shines Red and A Monster Like me are fantasy at its finest. These books will wrap you in a magical and wondrous world full of adventure. The characters will break your heart and you will root for every single one of them. With her narrative Pamela Sparkman makes sure of that -Â she gives us fully fleshed out side characters. To say goodbye to them all is my own struggle because they have taken up a little space in my heart. I hope the author keeps writing fantasy in the future - she definitely has a talent for it.
You are neither man, nor monster, my friend. You are the magic that makes everything else shine.
Merged review:
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Pamela Sparkman's writing is like a song. Lyrical, melodic, colorful, descriptive, eloquent. And when she puts that in a fantasy story you bet it's phenomenal. A MONSTER LIKE ME is the second in the Heart of Darkness series and if you haven't read The Moon Shines Red you definitely should do that before diving into this one.
A Monster Like Me starts where we left Zeph, Elin, Arwyn and Lochlan. As I dug deeper into Zeph's story understanding for his antagonistic, aggressive behavior came to me. I didn't want to love him, the things he did, how he treated pretty much every one around him, I couldn't see how I would ever forgive him. But then I found out what a tragic character he really is, that no punishment somebody else could deal was nearly as bad as the one he inflicted on himself. Zeph didn't feel worthy of anything good.
Everything he was feeling, he was setting it free, letting it out, and all his hurt and pain, anger and guilt, fear and sadness, they felt like a whip and a lash against her skin. But she took it. She took it all. Because he had carried it inside him for so long� and it was killing him.
Healing a broken soul like that takes a special person and Arwyn definitely is that. She's tenacious, thoughtful, compassionate, fiercely loyal and deeply in love with Zeph. She was the constant in his life, his rock and the balm that soothed his soul.
“You know my heartbeats?�
â€Âٴdz¾±ð³Ù¾±³¾±ð²õ,â€�
she said,
“I don’t know if they are yours or mine.�
But it's also Elin's forgiving heart and the budding friendship between Zeph, Searly, Lochlan and Favian that gives this tortured man peace. I loved their friendship so much - these scenes gave me some much needed comic relief when emotions had been running rampant. This group of people made him see that he wasn't beyond saving and that he deserved happiness. Every time one of them managed to weaken Zeph's grip on his guilt it felt like a reward.
Don't expect that the romance between Arwyn and Zeph will be on the forefront of the story. While it is undeniably romantic and beautiful, it's Zeph's path to redemption, his own forgiveness you will be routing for. Maybe because despite Zeph's struggles to accept love, theirs was inevitable.
“Thank you,�
he said.
“For what?�
“For loving me when I was so unlovable.�
“Thank you,�
she said breathlessly.
“For what?�
“For not giving up.�
“You wouldn’t let me.�
Scattered throughout the story there are action scenes that will leave you breathless.
The Moon Shines Red and A Monster Like me are fantasy at its finest. These books will wrap you in a magical and wondrous world full of adventure. The characters will break your heart and you will root for every single one of them. With her narrative Pamela Sparkman makes sure of that -Â she gives us fully fleshed out side characters. To say goodbye to them all is my own struggle because they have taken up a little space in my heart. I hope the author keeps writing fantasy in the future - she definitely has a talent for it.
You are neither man, nor monster, my friend. You are the magic that makes everything else shine.
I'm quoting the author when I say, this whole book is one huge spoiler so I'm not going to talk
✬✬� 5 "UNIQUE" STARS ✬✬�
I'm quoting the author when I say, this whole book is one huge spoiler so I'm not going to talk about the plot...a lot.
Often when I close one book and start a new one I feel a bit disoriented. Going into the first of a fantasy series can be quite overwhelming to begin with. More often than not it's an information and name dump that makes your head spin. Many authors totally ignore the fact that most readers don't remember the names and details a couple of pages later. This is NOT what's happening here. Pamela Sparkman uses names and details only where needed, you transition right into the story.
The character development is well done. Ms. Sparkman creates a multi-dimensional cast of personalities.
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Let me begin with the heroine, Elin, who is a sweet and brave young woman, with a compassionate heart and lots of spunk. She doesn't trust easily but there is an instant connection she feels with the hero. Elin has a unique gift, she can see the happy memories of people which I found to be a refreshing change. In stories such as this one you often have a character who can see the horrors of people.
Lochlan, our hero, is heartachingly lonely. He has a cross to bear that is inconceivable, you wonder how he has become such a good person. His anguish is in every word. Lochlan doesn't mope though, when danger touches both of our main characters' lives he has his work cut out for him and takes charge. Lochlan is a good man who is loyal to those he loves and relentless when he needs to protect them. The farther you get into the book, the deeper the feelings for Elin become, the more you feel how desperate he is. It's a testament to this author's writing that you physically feel Lochlan's loneliness and yearning.
The side characters are so vivid that it's almost a crime to call them that. The villain of the story is fantastic. He is a conundrum of callousness, cruelty and kindness and compassion. I know it's hard to believe but trust me on that...he is an awesome bad guy. Searly is Lochlan's most trusted and beloved friend. The guy always looks on the bright side and not a lot can dim his light. He holds my heart hostage because he was pure kindness and love.
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The story is written like a scavenger hunt. Hints are laid out throughout the story. You follow bread crumbs, solve a puzzle and that opens up a whole new lot of questions. Most of them - important for this story - if not all, are being neatly tied up and answered in this installment.
One thing I should mention are the POVs we have here. Every chapter from Elin's point of view is written in first person, every other character's POV is written in third person. I didn't have a problem with it at all, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. After the first two, three chapters you have adjusted (if you actually need to) and won't even notice anymore.
I'm a first time reader of Pamela Sparkman. Yes, I must have lived under a rock because this lady knows how to write. Her proficiency at spinning a gripping tale is comparable to a lot of veteran writers so she must have honed her skill. Let her take you away in The Moon Shines Red, away into a land full of magic and adventure. I promise you'll be utterly enchanted and charmed.
I'm quoting the author when I say, this whole book is one huge spoiler so I'm not going to talk about the plot...a lot.
Often when I close one book and start a new one I feel a bit disoriented. Going into the first of a fantasy series can be quite overwhelming to begin with. More often than not it's an information and name dump that makes your head spin. Many authors totally ignore the fact that most readers don't remember the names and details a couple of pages later. This is NOT what's happening here. Pamela Sparkman uses names and details only where needed, you transition right into the story.
The character development is well done. Ms. Sparkman creates a multi-dimensional cast of personalities.
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Let me begin with the heroine, Elin, who is a sweet and brave young woman, with a compassionate heart and lots of spunk. She doesn't trust easily but there is an instant connection she feels with the hero. Elin has a unique gift, she can see the happy memories of people which I found to be a refreshing change. In stories such as this one you often have a character who can see the horrors of people.
Lochlan, our hero, is heartachingly lonely. He has a cross to bear that is inconceivable, you wonder how he has become such a good person. His anguish is in every word. Lochlan doesn't mope though, when danger touches both of our main characters' lives he has his work cut out for him and takes charge. Lochlan is a good man who is loyal to those he loves and relentless when he needs to protect them. The farther you get into the book, the deeper the feelings for Elin become, the more you feel how desperate he is. It's a testament to this author's writing that you physically feel Lochlan's loneliness and yearning.
The side characters are so vivid that it's almost a crime to call them that. The villain of the story is fantastic. He is a conundrum of callousness, cruelty and kindness and compassion. I know it's hard to believe but trust me on that...he is an awesome bad guy. Searly is Lochlan's most trusted and beloved friend. The guy always looks on the bright side and not a lot can dim his light. He holds my heart hostage because he was pure kindness and love.
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The story is written like a scavenger hunt. Hints are laid out throughout the story. You follow bread crumbs, solve a puzzle and that opens up a whole new lot of questions. Most of them - important for this story - if not all, are being neatly tied up and answered in this installment.
One thing I should mention are the POVs we have here. Every chapter from Elin's point of view is written in first person, every other character's POV is written in third person. I didn't have a problem with it at all, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. After the first two, three chapters you have adjusted (if you actually need to) and won't even notice anymore.
I'm a first time reader of Pamela Sparkman. Yes, I must have lived under a rock because this lady knows how to write. Her proficiency at spinning a gripping tale is comparable to a lot of veteran writers so she must have honed her skill. Let her take you away in The Moon Shines Red, away into a land full of magic and adventure. I promise you'll be utterly enchanted and charmed.
TITLE: BATTLE ROYAL AUTHOR: Lucy Parker SERIES: Palace Insiders #1 RELEASE DATE: August 17, 2020 GENRE: RomCom THEMES & TROPES: Opposites Attract, Bake Shows, Reality TV RATING: 5 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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[image] The giddy feeling when you know you've found a new author to obsess over is priceless. BATTLE ROYAL is my first experience with Lucy Parker and I see a long author-reader relationship in the future for the two of us. I adored every single thing about this story.
Sylvie is the heroine of my dreams. Mellow, clever, witty and with a heart of gold, I fell in love with her from the prologue when she doused a stoic, arrogant bake show judge Dominic in a unicorn glitter cake. All on camera, to the delight of every reality tv fan. He was hard to get a read on but the more I got to know him the more obvious it became that this was a character who felt deeply and who took care of those he loved. Dominic had a surprising tenderness and sweetness about him that I didn't think someone who seemed to lack warmth could have.
Coolly, he said,
“Jealousy is a destructive, pointless emotion and a complete waste of energy.�
“Fairly annoying, then, that it’s seeping from your pores right now?�
“V±ð°ù²â.â€�
These two are as opposite as they can be yet their deepening feelings felt completely natural and credible. Both were scared to let someone in for fear of getting hurt. Sylvie had experienced loss when her aunt passed away, the person who raised her, the only parent she knew. Dominic came from a rotten home, with parents who didn't deserve the moniker.
She finally raised her gaze higher than the scattering of hair and freckles on his bare chest—and saw, in that cool, experienced, always imperturbable face, a reflection of everything she was struggling with. At sea with the intensity of feeling. The uncertainty of the new. The fear of not being enough.
I laughed out loud so many times, I grinned and chuckled pretty much on every page - Lucy Parker writes a mean rom-com yet at the same time she surprised me with an emotional depth that made me choke up a little. I wasn't prepared for that but it showed me what an amazing talent this author is. If you love characters with lots of layers, who are lovable and relatable, a sprinkle of British Royalty and a bake show setting don't hesitate. I enjoyed this book so much that I was sad when I was done.
“You walked into my life, tipped it upside down, and when it finally righted—you were right there in the center.
TITLE: THE ADVESARY AUTHOR: Thea Harrison SERIES: Elder Races #9.95, Chronicles of Rhyacia #2 RELEASE DATE: July 26, 2021 GENRE: PNR/UF RATING: 5 [image]
TITLE: THE ADVESARY AUTHOR: Thea Harrison SERIES: Elder Races #9.95, Chronicles of Rhyacia #2 RELEASE DATE: July 26, 2021 GENRE: PNR/UF RATING: 5 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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It's been a minute since the last time I got to spend time with Pia and Dragos. Let me bring you up to speed. A year ago, Thea released the first part of a four parts serial, . A couple of weeks ago the author let us know that this will release as a duet. This was me when I read about it:
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Because Pia and Dragos. I can't get enough of them. But then I held THE ADVERSARY in my hands and let me tell you, it couldn't be more awesome. It has the fabulous Elder Races feel, a lot of Pia and Dragos goodness, lots of Liam, some of our most beloved characters from the series and a lot of magic, action and tension. I was glued to the pages, the adversary is one of the nastiest enemies our heroes (the whole bunch of them) have had to fight. That thing is a piece of work and Pia's snark brought comic relief from the tension.
The thing possessing Dragos had walked his evil cooties through the house. As soon as she had her mate back, she was going to turn on the complaining wife faucet and let that sucker run.
Dragos had to make a horrible, horrible call that affects his son for years to come, I suppose and I think we'll read about this in future Liam books. Which, btw., alludes the epilogue to. It sounds like we'll get a couple of those and I couldn't be happier. This young man has grown into a proud dragon, who still has a lot to learn but has Pia's level-headedness and Dragos's fierceness. So this will be interesting.
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Being so desperately in love with someone and mating with them—it came with a heavy price. And he paid it gladly, and he would keep paying it again and again...
I loved to see how far Dragos has come. From the dragon who was ruthless to someone...OK OK, still as ruthless but now he has a conscience and almost seems...human. Dragos and Pia's love is going strong and while they have moved into the phase where you are more aware of the flaws of your partner, they don't mind. Pia is so wise and yet so snarky about it. The love for one another is in every word.
"I never knew what loneliness was until you came into my life and taught me what it was like to love someone.�
This concludes this novella duet and I honestly can't see how Thea could have made it more than two parts. Oh OK, of course she could have but what I mean is that she packed so much in these two shorties and wrapped it up with a bow. If you're not familiar with this series I urge you to start at the beginning. These books need to be read in order. But I promise you won't regret it.
THE ADVERSARY officially releases on July 26, but you can already .
TITLE: WAYLAID AUTHOR: Sarina Bowen SERIES: True North #9 RELEASE DATE: July 20, 2021 GENRE: New Adult TROPES: Memory Loss, PTSD NARRATORS: Calli[image]
TITLE: WAYLAID AUTHOR: Sarina Bowen SERIES: True North #9 RELEASE DATE: July 20, 2021 GENRE: New Adult TROPES: Memory Loss, PTSD NARRATORS: Callie Dalton, Zachary Webber LENGTH: 10 hrs and 32 mins RATING: 5 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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The True North series gives me the warm fuzzies. Spending time with the Shipleys is such a treat for me. This time around Dylan's twin sister Daphne meets her match and let me tell you, Rickie is one of my top favorite heroes in this series. There is something so sexy about a man who knows what he wants.
Rickie works on the Shipleys' farm over the summer full time. The only Shipley who doesn't fall under his spell is Daphne and he can't quite figure out why. He's a natural charmer but Daphne is a hard nut to crack. Bad boys are...bad for Daphne's soul, especially after being burned by an elitist douchebag. Rickie is just another distraction she can't afford. Also, the guy stood her up and Daphne can hold a grudge like a champion. She is a planner and after the disaster at Harkness she has her future mapped out and a guy like Rickie doesn't have room in it.
I adored Rickie's easy-going nature, despite his memory issues and the psychological issues that come with it. He has no recollection of the details how he ended up losing a whole year of his life. And when Daphne realizes that he can't remember having her stood up a tentative friendship begins and that was the part I loved most. Their friendship was so honest and it showed the depth Rickie actually had. He was super-smart, thoughtful and sweet. He was 100% committed to win Daphne over. Daphne was just as smart. She made some bad calls in previous books but the impression I had of her made a 180 in her own story. Sarina Bowen is good at that. I really loved her, prickly, snarky nature and all. She got over her and Rickie's issues quickly, once she understood what happened to him. I love their flashbacks to when they first met because it showed their instant and easy connection.
As per usual we get to visit with all the other Shipleys and that's always a joy. What tickled me silly was grandpa dating two women at the same time. That man is hilarious and always good for a one-liner that'll crack you up.
I loved everything about this . Not only is the narration buy two of my favorites, Zachary Webber and Callie Dalton top notch - they are two of my favorite narrators and staples among audiobook narrators - the story is just heartwarming and emotional. It's also sweet, sexy, cute and fun. I was a big dollop of "AWWW" when I finished. I can't recommend this enough.
TITLE: THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS AUTHOR: Kristin Harmel SERIES: Standalone RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2021 GENRE: Historical Fiction THEMES & TROPE[image]
TITLE: THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS AUTHOR: Kristin Harmel SERIES: Standalone RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2021 GENRE: Historical Fiction THEMES & TROPES: World War II, Holocaust RATING: 5 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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This is my second book by this author and it's a confirmation that I've struck gold with Kristin Harmel. She aims at your heart with sniper precision and hits you right in the feels. THE FORST OF VANISHING STARS is Historical Fiction at its finest, full of adventure, heartache, heartbreak, tragedy but also hope and love.
"In the times of greatest darkness, the light always shines through, because there are people who stand up to do brave, decent things. What I am trying to say, Yona, is that in moments like this, it doesn’t matter what you were born to be. It matters what you choose to become.�
Inge was taken from her German parents when she was only two years old. Jerusza, the woman who abducted her had always known things other people didn't and thus she knew that the little girl she named Yona would change the world a little bit. She teaches Yona everything she knows, especially how to survive in the forest and staying under the radar and out of sight of other people. Years later World War II is raging and Jews are being hunted like animals. Yona's unique skills make her an asset to a group of Jews who have no idea how to not raise attention so she passes on her knowledge.
My heart broke for Yona. The old hag who stole her from her mother and father wasn't a loving parent. I deeply disliked Jerusza who was oftentimes cruel, uncaring and just awful with Yona. She took away the girl's childhood and I think I would have been more forgiving if she had been a real parent for Yona. Maybe it makes me a bad person but I was glad when this fictional character finally passed on.
After Jerusza's death Yona was alone. Humans are social animals and initially I was glad when Yona finally found a group of people she could take care of. She wanted to belong but even after months of travelling with this group she was an outsider. I hated that so much for her, how she gave her everything but was questioned and doubted at every turn. I thought that many of the people she helped were undeserving but Yona is the kinder one out of the two of us so even after her trust was broken and betrayed she looked out for them.
The heartbreak is balanced by the love and respect Yona eventually finds within the group of Jews she repeatedly saves from catastrophe. But there was one person who cherished her and loved her for who she was and dispel her doubts about her origins and gave her a feeling of belonging.
“We all come into this world with our fate unwritten, Yona. Your identity isn’t determined by your birth. All that matters is what we make ourselves into, what we choose to do with our lives."
There were some really hard situations to read about but whenever I read a book about the holocaust I think that I only have to read about it, the Jews of this world had to endure it, were hunted and killed. Even after almost 8 decades it's inconceivable to me that people would want to destroy a whole population because they are Jewish. And it still happens to this day.
But let me get off my soapbox and tell you how much I loved this story. Kristin Harmel's writing is beautiful, touching, emotionally charged and heartfelt. You can feel that telling these stories is important to her. So much research went into this book. THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS is based on true events - the forest is real, so were groups of Jews trying to survive until the war was over. It's the story about a remarkable, courageous heroic young woman, who was denied love from the early years of her life yet was kindness and love personified. You can't help but root for her. If Historical Fiction is your thing I can't recommend this enough.
I have one little niggle that didn't really influence my rating but I wanted to mention it. When Jerusza steals (then-) Inge from her parents, Inge speaks Yiddish. That was never addressed or explained and didn't make much sense to me, the only explanation I have is a bit of a spoiler but it would still be far fetched. But like I said, no biggie.
There is so much more to say about this exceptional story but instead let me encourage you to grab THE FOREST OF VANISHING STARS.
TITLE: WHEN STARS COLLIDE AUTHOR: Susan Elizabeth Phillips SERIES: Chicago Stars #9 RELEASE DATE: June 29, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance THEMES[image]
TITLE: WHEN STARS COLLIDE AUTHOR: Susan Elizabeth Phillips SERIES: Chicago Stars #9 RELEASE DATE: June 29, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance THEMES & TROPES: Enemies to Lovers; Stalking, Suicide (off-page), Forced Proximity RATING: 4 STARS CLIFFHANGER: No
I have no idea how the others in this series compare but this one was a winner for several reasons. Did I have issues with it? Sure. When I started reading this one I was completely taken aback because the heroine hated the hero from the get-go. I was very worried that I'd have two unlikable characters on my hands and would have to drag myself through the story. So for those who are tempted to quit early - don't. After resolving this first issue I really started to like Thad and Olivia.
Both of them have a totally wrong perception of one another although they are so alike on so many levels. Both of them professionals, a football player and a celebrated opera singer. Due to impaired vision Thad couldn't be the starter quarterback for the stars, he always had to play second fiddle. Olivia's ex-boyfriend had always begrudged her her success and when she broke up with him he committed suicide. So a relationship in which her partner wouldn't support her 100% and would demand too much of her headspace wasn't going to happen again. From the onset it seemed that these two didn't have the best cards to work out but over the course of the story Thad and Olivia learned to understand one another on a very deep level. I enjoyed their banter so much - I have to say that SEP's dialogues are some of the best out there. I had so much fun with Thad and Olivia going head to head.
Afraid you can’t keep up with me, aren’t you? Afraid you’ll be a dud.� “I’m not afraid I’ll be a dud.� She stuffed her hands in her jacket pockets. “Okay, I might be a dud.� He laughed. “You’re adorable when you’re insane.�
The opera setting was quite unique and although I'm not an opera fan I grew up in Vienna where classical music and opera are a big thing. When Olivia lost her voice Thad helped her to get out of her head and was so incredibly supportive (although his last act of support was stupid and hurtful). Olivia is high-strung but the beginning notwithstanding I didn't hate her. She was a kind, smart and funny woman who simply was scared. She definitely frustrated me but I loved her anyway, which is weird because I usually can't stand this kind of characters.
“You’re at the top of your game. In the starting lineup! A fucking tornado, not some twenty-year-old pretender afraid to open her mouth!� “That’s easy for you to say. You’re not—� “Stop being such a pussy.�
I loved Thad's protective nature, when Olivia received threatening letters he was always there to save the day. I got a little annoyed when Olivia put herself in harm's way despite knowing that it was dangerous. I also had an issue with how Thad treated Olivia towards the end. That last conflict felt more like him throwing a temper tantrum and being intentionally cruel. I understand that this was supposed to build up to a grand gesture but I didn't feel that the way Thad handled it was fair. But then again, there wasn't just one diva in this relationship.
She was so fierce and strong—ready to avenge wrongs and slay selfish lovers with her powerful arias—but he’d also seen her vulnerability.
I loved their chemistry though, the way they embraced each other's flaws, their unwanted attraction and I think my favorite part was when they started to respect one another. They fought their feelings tooth and nail but they were also very open and honest about every aspect of their relationship. I also enjoyed the suspense aspect of this story which was very well done and just what I needed.
Despite everything I loved WHEN STARS COLLIDE. SEP's writing style is very engaging and riveting and whenever I picked the story back up I didn't want to put it down. So I get it, I totally get why this author is such a big deal. I'm glad I have a huge backlist to catch up to. Yay.
TITLE: PRIVATE PLAYER AUTHOR: Louise Bay SERIES: Standalone RELEASE DATE: May 11, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance NARRATORS: Shane East, Clare C[image]
TITLE: PRIVATE PLAYER AUTHOR: Louise Bay SERIES: Standalone RELEASE DATE: May 11, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance NARRATORS: Shane East, Clare Corbett LENGTH: 6 hrs and 58 mins RATING: 3 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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PRIVATE PLAYER was a bit of a mixed bag for me. While I thought both main characters were really likable I wish the author had taken the time to flesh out both characters and give them more time to establish a real bond. I felt like they met, fell in lust, spent a few days with the hero's (very likable) family and said "I love you." In those almost seven hours we had three extended open door bedroom scenes which was just too much for my taste. The writing got a little repetetive and contained Madison and Nathan thinking how much they wanted the other one. At the end of the book I thought that it was a cute story but nothing that'd stay with me for longer than my next audiobook.
Shane East is a pro and his narration is always on point. Clare Corbett is a new to me narrator but I have zero complaints. She did a fantastic job making Madison her own.
I loved Colleen Oakley's You Were There Too. It had all the emotions I expect in a good story. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island waNo rating - DNF
I loved Colleen Oakley's You Were There Too. It had all the emotions I expect in a good story. The Invisible Husband of Frick Island was a bit of a bust for me. It was slow and to be honest I didn't like the characters a lot either. I got to 40% when I decided to throw the towel. The book and I just didn't work. While the hearts of the islanders were in the right place when it came to Piper's delusion I thought it was incredibly dangerous and unintentionally cruel. And maybe a little cowardly too.
When it took me more than a week to make it to this point I was ready to let it go. I'm sorry we didn't work out, book, but I won't give up on your creator.
TITLE: THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS AUTHOR: Ali Hazelwood SERIES: Standalone RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2020 GENRE: Contemporary Romance, RomCom THEMES & [image]
TITLE: THE LOVE HYPOTHESIS AUTHOR: Ali Hazelwood SERIES: Standalone RELEASE DATE: September 14, 2020 GENRE: Contemporary Romance, RomCom THEMES & TROPES: STEM, Cancer of a Parent, Sexual Harassment RATING: 5 STARS CLIFFHANGER: No
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Sometimes I just want to leave it at "this was just wonderful" because I want readers to experience this book the way I did. Just a recommendation from a fellow reader to dive in.
This book was everything. From the shy, whip-smart, funny heroine who made some questionable choices along the way but you just can't help but love her, to the equally whip-smart, brooding, aloof hero who grows on you so fast because of the way he treats the heroine. How Adam really sees all of Olive and how she changes her opinion about Adam, that he isn't quite the asshole everybody thinks he is.
“Olive.� He pulled her closer, pressing his lips against her forehead. “It doesn’t matter. Whatever it is that you’re crying about, I will fix it. I will make it right.�
I adored every single page of this story. Add a STEM background to it and this is my catnip. I geeked out with all the science talk. We also get a fabulous supporting cast and I especially loved Malcolm and Holden, the two LBGTQ characters who made me snort-laugh.
Ali Hazelwood's voice is incredibly engaging. It feels like she has that amused twinkle in her eyes while writing, gleefully smiling because of the antics of her characters. I really loved that. And this is a debut author. Yes, people. A.DEBUT.AUTHOR. I can't wait for all the books by her - I have a feeling I'll love them just as much.
“I wish you could see yourself the way I see you.�
For all those who need a trigger warning: there is a scene of sexual harassment.
TITLE: PAUSE AUTHOR: Kylie Scott SERIES: Standalone (connected to REPEAT) RELEASE DATE: April 13, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance TROPES: Friend [image]
TITLE: PAUSE AUTHOR: Kylie Scott SERIES: Standalone (connected to REPEAT) RELEASE DATE: April 13, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance TROPES: Friends-to-Lovers, Cheating Husband NARRATORS: Andi Arndt LENGTH: 6 hrs and 17 mins RATING: 4 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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This was a very enjoyable friends-to-lovers romance. Man, can you imagine being in a coma after a car accident, waking up ten months later only to find out that your asshole of a husband cheated on you with your best friend while you were out?
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I adored Leif who was everything that is good and right in this world. Anna needed a good friend in her life before she could have a relationship again. Leif was smart enough to realize that. I was absolutely on board with their relationship and thought that they complemented one another. With Anna's growing independence from her husband she started to develop a backbone and I liked that Leif didn't have anything to do with her empowerment. She was a strong woman in her own right and her ex-husband and former "best" friend didn't stand a chance. This book is short and I think it would have benefited from a little more action and depth when it came to Anna's accident. All we know is that it was a hit and run, there isn't much speculating or even talk about the guy who caused the accident. So I felt that the resolution came a little bit out of a the blue.
As always Andi Arndt does an amazing job breathing life into all characters. She's an extraordinary talent and I'll always go back her works. I haven't read REPEAT but I'll fix that stat! If you like sweet, funny, low angst stories PAUSE is a great choice. Kylie Scott's writing style is so crisp and easy to read, which makes this a fast read!
PAUSE is a complete standalone but connected to Repeat.
TITLE: WHAT IF YOU & ME AUTHOR: Roni Loren SERIES: Say Everything #2 RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance THEMES & TROPES: Ment
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TITLE: WHAT IF YOU & ME AUTHOR: Roni Loren SERIES: Say Everything #2 RELEASE DATE: July 6, 2021 GENRE: Contemporary Romance THEMES & TROPES: Mental Health RATING: 4 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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Roni Loren really knows how to address the heavy stuff without making her stories unbearably angsty. It's always the exact right dose. What If You & Me in her new Say Everything series is a fabulous addition to this series.
If you've read the first book in this series, Yes & I Love You, you've met quirky Andi, who faces her past by writing horror books (and loving horror movies) and being a true crime podcaster. I loved her already in book 1 - she was adorable and easy to love. Thankfully this is exactly the personality we get in What If You & Me. She is resilient, strong, and has an inert kindness and sense of humor that sets her apart from other women. At least for Hill. After a traumatic relationship she has given up on a future with a man. She just doesn't know whether to trust them and having been wrong before she doesn't trust her instincts any longer.
“Andi’s like an eighty-year-old woman with a nose ring.�
The way he viewed himself made her heart hurt. All those people in that room tonight had looked at him as a hero, as someone who’d sacrificed for the good of others.
I enjoyed this installment as much as the first book. Roni Loren has hit a home run with her new series. The humor is on point, so are the emotions and all characters I've met so far are likable, even Hill's cheating witch of an ex. My guess is that the heroine of the next book is Eliza, Andi's friend and the hero Hill's firefighter bestie Ramsey. Can't wait to find out!
“You’ve completely ruined my life plan to be a grumpy hermit. I would’ve been so good at it.�
TITLE: MAKE IT SWEET AUTHOR: Kristen Callihan SERIES: Standalone (connected to Dear Enemy ) RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2020 GENRE: Contempora
TITLE: MAKE IT SWEET AUTHOR: Kristen Callihan SERIES: Standalone (connected to Dear Enemy ) RELEASE DATE: February 23, 2020 GENRE: Contemporary Romance THEMES & TROPES: Hockey meets Hollywood RATING: 4 Stars CLIFFHANGER: No
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It's been a minute since I read a Kristen Callihan book and I have to say I really miss her writing. If you've read and loved other books by this author you won't hesitate to pick MAKE IT SWEET up, no matter what any reviewer says. But since I'm one of those I'll force my opinion on you anyway.
The location where we spend most of our time in this story is an estate called Rosemont. The description of the place was so on point I could really see it before my eyes. This is where Emma, an A-list actress who was just kicked off a huge show (that felt a little like Game of Thrones but that could be me), goes to lick her wounds. This is also where Lucian, a former star hockey player has been staying for almost a year. He retired due to major head trauma and struggles to find a footing in this new reality. He is also a wizard in the kitchen and especially pastries and cakes are his passion which he loves to spoil his family and later Emma with.
From the first, she made me smile, threw sunshine and air into my dark, closed-up world.
I love me some moody and gruff hero with a heart made of marshmallow so Lucian was right down my alley. I thought he could have felt a little less sorry about himself and his situation but I also could relate that it was hard for him to find a new direction. There were chances and possibilities yet all he could see was the loss of hockey playing. I still loved him because...marshmallow heart. This charismatic man wooed Emma the only way he knew to and it didn't take long for Lucian to find his way through her belly to her heart.
With hockey out of my life, the kitchen had become my refuge, the one area that still felt familiar and pure. Here, I was in total control. Here, I was still king.
Emma was a lovely heroine who had so much in common with Lucian. She too felt the loss of her job and the consequences deeply. Her compassionate, intuitive nature, her understanding for Lucian's struggle. She was selfless but had a little spunk and a lot of sweetness about her that you couldn't help but love. Waiting and watching with her until Lucian found himself again and realize his worth hurt so good.
“Emma. Sweetheart. I don’t want you to see me weak.�
“Well, that’s good. Because all I see is strength.�
The best side cast is the one that engages in the story and shines like the main characters which is the case here. I LOVED Lucian's meddling grandmother Amalie and adored Sal, a family friend and quirky confidante of both Amalie and Lucian's. These made this story so multi-dimensional and took it to above average.
I felt this story was a little bit too sweet at times, I still loved it though. If you've read this author's works before you know that she's a master at writing about emotional pain. While MAKE IT SWEET was on the lighter side it did have some angsty parts that kept me reading on. And the slow-burn...damn, sizzling and hot! Kristen Callihan always rewards the reader with the best of HEAs after she put you through the wringer. After a long hiatus she is back and promised VIP #4 to be released early summer. I can't wait!...more
Astrid - The Bookish Sweet Tooth
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