Showing posts with label < Three Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label < Three Stars. Show all posts
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)
Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)
Forbidden to Touch by J.C. Harroway
Within thirty seconds of meeting Reid Faulkner again, I’m reminded of exactly why I had a crush on him for so many years. That confidence, that effortless control, that thigh-clenching hotness… Only, this time I’m not little Blair Cameron, sexually frustrated teenager. No, now I am an adult woman reliving every filthy fantasy I’ve ever had about him…
His dark, sexy stare is filled with naughty promises. Promises of sex. Great sex.
But I’m here to work for him. I have a contract, and I won’t let any man—no matter how delicious—underestimate me again. So I am proposing a second contract. An unofficial one, where we explore my every desire. It’s the perfect no-strings arrangement—all sex, no emotions. The only problem is that I made a concession: to play by his rules.
Now we’ve crossed that line and tasted the forbidden. It started with only a touch. But will a man who controls everything protect his heart at all costs…even if it means breaking mine?
My Rating: ★ — I don't think I was in the right head space to attempt this one. I wasn't able to connect with either of the characters or the plot. Maybe I'll try again some day because I've loved other books from this author.
dual pov, contemporary romance
dual pov, contemporary romance
His Dark Game by CD Reiss
THIRTY DAYS
That’s all Adam Steinbeck demands of his wife.
Thirty days in a remote cottage, doing everything he commands. After that, he’ll sign her divorce papers and give her complete ownership of their company.
That’s how long he has to rediscover the man he once was. The Dominant Master he hid when he fell in love with her five years before.
She wants the business they built badly enough to go to the cottage for a month. Cut off ties to the world and do his bidding. She can submit to him with her body, but her heart will never yield.
She thinks this is his pathetic attempt to repair their marriage.
She’s wrong.
My Rating: ★ — I'm taking a break from this book. After seeing so many of my fellow readers rate this duet so highly, I thought for sure it would be something I'd love. And it's CD Reiss! Her writing is always incredible. But... I was bored. I don't even know why but I found I didn't care about the characters, their falling apart marriage, their history or their future, their nothing. How could this be???
Ah well, I look forward to reading more from the author. One story that wasn't for me won't stop me from being a huge fan of hers.
dual pov, contemporary romance
Ah well, I look forward to reading more from the author. One story that wasn't for me won't stop me from being a huge fan of hers.
dual pov, contemporary romance
Perfect Sense by Amanda Cowen
He's gorgeous.
He's reckless.
And he's every woman's dirty fantasy in the state of California.., except one... Quinn Ashby.
Recent graduate of Penn and top of her class, Quinn is whip smart, ambitious and interning as the new marketing coordinator for the Bexley Bruisers American Hockey League team. The last thing she needs is to waste her time on guys…especially one as lethal to her focus as Cash Brooks.
But once the bad boy hockey star tempts her into his world, threatening her professional future, she’s forced to decide whether to let him into her heart…or to leave him behind forever.
My Rating: ★★1/2 — The book was full of drama, which at least helped to keep things interesting.
I couldn't connect with either of the main characters. Quinn was supposed to be depicted as a good girl, a daddy-pleaser, but to me, she came off as weak, judgmental and condescending. Cash was what the stereotypical star athlete would be. Narcissistic, arrogant, inconsiderate, alpha, and promiscuous.
The two of them together made no sense. How they even hooked up is still a mystery to me. How does one give oneself to a guy who constantly flaunts his conquests, much less fall in love with hiim??? I was baffled while reading this entire story.
The book's ending was left unfinished in anticipation of the second book of the series, Perfect Love, which is slated to come out in 2017. I'll be reading that because I just have to know how the author is going to redeem her characters.
I couldn't connect with either of the main characters. Quinn was supposed to be depicted as a good girl, a daddy-pleaser, but to me, she came off as weak, judgmental and condescending. Cash was what the stereotypical star athlete would be. Narcissistic, arrogant, inconsiderate, alpha, and promiscuous.
The two of them together made no sense. How they even hooked up is still a mystery to me. How does one give oneself to a guy who constantly flaunts his conquests, much less fall in love with hiim??? I was baffled while reading this entire story.
The book's ending was left unfinished in anticipation of the second book of the series, Perfect Love, which is slated to come out in 2017. I'll be reading that because I just have to know how the author is going to redeem her characters.
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)
Let me know if you've read any of these or plan to. I'd love to know your thoughts :)
The Billionaire's Trust (Covington Billionaires #1) by Erin Swann
Bill
The women in my life are all temporary. Things are simple. Charm her, enjoy her, discard her, and repeat. Once she hears my family name her focus is on the size of my wallet and she can't be trusted.
Until Lauren shows up at my doorstep one night and I am suddenly in charge of the family company. I need to save the family legacy and ten thousand jobs. I can't do it without her. She's beautiful, sassy, brilliant, and brutally honest. She can't stand me.
I need her. In my bed, in my life, as my wife. Everything's going according to plan . . . Until, she disappears.
Lauren
I fell for him as soon as I saw him last week, all of him, the full package.
Until, he sent me back to his condo to get rid of the girl--the naked one in his bed. He didn't even know her name.
Today he's the new CEO, and he's screwing up. Royally. I told him what I thought of him.
Again.
Now, he won't take no for an answer. When he makes a fairy tale proposal in front of hundreds, I can't say no. Together we have a plan to save the company.
But he's keeping secrets, and I uncover the worst one.
My Rating: ★ — I tried.
I really did.
But I vowed to myself that I will no longer torture my mind with stories that don't appeal to me.
No more pushing through, gritting my teeth to the end.
If I don't like it by the middle, it's time to give up.
But I tried.
I want to make that clear.
However, as much as I enjoyed the hero... the author did an incredible job with his character... the heroine belonged in the crapper. She suffered from foot-in-mouth syndrome and did nothing to fix that. She made insane assumptions, expected fidelity and 100% disclosure from someone she wasn't even dating. Yeah, it was clear he was interested, but they weren't together. What he does or doesn't do isn't your business and you have no right to be mad at him for it. On top of that, her attitude was atrocious. To Her Damn Boss! Hated this chick SO MUCH!! Her apologies for her misconceptions and her bias were lackluster and if it were me, if I were the hero, she wouldn't be getting not one more iota of my attention. As the reader, I can say 'good day'.
So I'm done.
I really did.
But I vowed to myself that I will no longer torture my mind with stories that don't appeal to me.
No more pushing through, gritting my teeth to the end.
If I don't like it by the middle, it's time to give up.
But I tried.
I want to make that clear.
However, as much as I enjoyed the hero... the author did an incredible job with his character... the heroine belonged in the crapper. She suffered from foot-in-mouth syndrome and did nothing to fix that. She made insane assumptions, expected fidelity and 100% disclosure from someone she wasn't even dating. Yeah, it was clear he was interested, but they weren't together. What he does or doesn't do isn't your business and you have no right to be mad at him for it. On top of that, her attitude was atrocious. To Her Damn Boss! Hated this chick SO MUCH!! Her apologies for her misconceptions and her bias were lackluster and if it were me, if I were the hero, she wouldn't be getting not one more iota of my attention. As the reader, I can say 'good day'.
So I'm done.
The Billionaire's Whim boxset by Bella Forbes
Twenty-three year old Lillian Jones can’t seem to stay employed; she always lets her temper get the better of her. Her life is a mess; her debts are piling up, she’s about to be evicted, and she’s desperate for a job. Then she gets one last a job as a personal assistant for sexy billionaire Trent Blackwell. Her independent spirit recoils at the idea of working for such a demanding, controlling man, but something inside of her melts at his command. She promises herself that she’ll do everything she can to hold on to this job, no matter what. After his father’s death, Trent Blackwell finds himself in charge of Blackwell Enterprises at the age of 32. A man of confidence, he gets what he wants, when he wants it. And the second Lillian told him off during her interview, he knew he wanted her. He’s determined to take her in hand and teach her some respect, and he knows that’s what she secretly craves. As he brings her to a new level of sexuality, they dive into a world of temptation, desire, and broken boundaries. But a scheming ex and some suspicious activity within the company mean that Trent and Lillian will need to work together if they are to save the company, as well as their lives.
My Rating: ★★1/5 — Although I didn't love this series, I didn't hate it either. It only had a few errors and it was written very well. I liked both Lillian and Trent, just not together. The idea that this was a "love" story or romance is absurd. It would be more believable if the first sex scene didn't involve the H and his ex, Melanie. That scene was hot. Anything that came after that was a joke. He was more passionate, more lustful, more taken, and more out of control in that scene than any other. Dude performed cunnilingus on Melanie and said she was delicious. I never read anywhere in this book anything close to that in his feelings towards Lillian. The author then tried to save the story by making Trent think of Lillian while he was with Melanie, but unfortunately that didn't work. Because before he thought of Lillian he was passionate, even loving and tender, but then he turned cruel and animalistic. Punishing. Wth?! Then when it's done he regrets the act. PLEASE!! Sorry, I just don't believe it. And that's why I couldn't rate this any higher. He treated Lillian like garbage. Absolute filth. And I'm supposed to believe in their love?! Heck no. Not happening. And the ending was ridiculous. The story wasn't saved at all!!
Stalked by Love by Eva Winters
A Deadly Obsession
Her ~ Scorned by the one person who was supposed to love me, my mother, I made up my mind long ago that love was for the weak and it was just something I didn’t need nor desire. But, in time, what was in my mind was soon overridden by the desires of my heart.
One phone call changed everything. . .
Now, I crave a man I’ve never met. He was only meant to be, part of my job, just another voice over the phone. Could it be this voice belongs to the man I need? But, is there a difference between falling in love with him and learning to trust him?
I wonder?
Him ~ Some say I’m a wounded soul and maybe I am. Yet I want her like I’ve never wanted another. Now I’m questioning my own motives as the lines begin to blur.
It was a job. Falling for her wasn’t supposed to be a part of the plan, but once desire took hold, it refused to allow me to walk away. I had to have her. I had to protect her, even if that meant I had to become someone I didn’t want to be.
Someone has their eye on her. Someone seems drawn to her like a moth to a flame. I will stop at nothing to keep her safe from them, from harm, but at what cost? When desire turns to fixation, then, obsession. Is it possible for the cause of her problems, to also be the solution?
My Rating: ★ — I don't know if it's the story or my mindset, but I can't get into the plot. None of the characters or the baseless plot they're involved in are keeping my interest. Nothing makes sense and I'm not going to continue hurting my brain trying to figure this ish out.
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
BLURB - Every bit as ruthless as his reputation suggests…
Shepherd ravages both Claire and her conquered city, refusing to let either slip through his fingers. He steals Claire's innocence and future by forcing a pair-bond on the rare, unwilling Omega female. Violent, calculating, and incapable of remorse, he demands his new mate's adoration. Her attention. Her body.
SAINT
College. My one chance to escape. And I ran as far and fast as I could.
Straight into the arms of something more dangerous.
Oliver.
He thinks I’m a good girl. But he doesn’t know what I’m running from.
He thinks I should stay away from him. But I can’t.
I like his cruel words. And his intoxicating smile.
He’s a temptation I can’t resist.
Am I a sinner or saint?
SINNER
College. Second year.
There are bad decisions at every turn.
Including the new freshman, Layla.
Temptations I can’t fight. Shackles I can’t escape.
I’m only comfortable with the cruelty that slips from my lips.
Her innocent charm isn’t going to polish away my bad reputation.
This wasn’t going to end well.
We all have secrets. What’s your sin?
Sadie Sawyer wants to learn how to blow a guy.
She’s my sister’s best friend.
The girl I’ve known since grade school.
The girl I’ve always considered off-limits.
She’s the girl that crawled under a table in a bar one night and changed everything between us. Now the brain in my pants is more than willing to step up. The rules are simple.
No kissing.
No screwing.
No falling in love.
But the more I let her use my body in the name of experimentation, the more I know being friends isn’t enough. Is it too much to want it all with her?
The taste of her lips.
The sweetness of her innocence.
The chance to earn her love.
I might have a real shot with her…if her douchebag ex and my past don’t ruin everything.
Born to be Bound by Addison Cain
BLURB - Every bit as ruthless as his reputation suggests…
Shepherd ravages both Claire and her conquered city, refusing to let either slip through his fingers. He steals Claire's innocence and future by forcing a pair-bond on the rare, unwilling Omega female. Violent, calculating, and incapable of remorse, he demands his new mate's adoration. Her attention. Her body.
My Rating: ★ — You know those stories that are going so well, you're so absorbed you can't stop to do anything you must do to sustain your lifestyle... like work or clean or feed your kids... You just have to keep reading to figure out what's next?
This was one of those kinds of reads. It wasn't romantic but it was hella explicit and dirty and all shades of wrong. The idea of consent was a pipe dream, there was power exchange, there was a war-torn society, there were all shades of darkness.
And then the so-called hero did something that turned a 4 or 5-star read into something you can't even stomach continuing to read. He completely ruined the story with one action [cheating] and I don't even care what his reasons were. He did it and my time with this story is over. Will I read the rest of the series? Ummmmmmm no because I won't even bother finishing this one.
This was one of those kinds of reads. It wasn't romantic but it was hella explicit and dirty and all shades of wrong. The idea of consent was a pipe dream, there was power exchange, there was a war-torn society, there were all shades of darkness.
And then the so-called hero did something that turned a 4 or 5-star read into something you can't even stomach continuing to read. He completely ruined the story with one action [cheating] and I don't even care what his reasons were. He did it and my time with this story is over. Will I read the rest of the series? Ummmmmmm no because I won't even bother finishing this one.
The Best Years by Elena Monroe
SAINT
College. My one chance to escape. And I ran as far and fast as I could.
Straight into the arms of something more dangerous.
Oliver.
He thinks I’m a good girl. But he doesn’t know what I’m running from.
He thinks I should stay away from him. But I can’t.
I like his cruel words. And his intoxicating smile.
He’s a temptation I can’t resist.
Am I a sinner or saint?
SINNER
College. Second year.
There are bad decisions at every turn.
Including the new freshman, Layla.
Temptations I can’t fight. Shackles I can’t escape.
I’m only comfortable with the cruelty that slips from my lips.
Her innocent charm isn’t going to polish away my bad reputation.
This wasn’t going to end well.
We all have secrets. What’s your sin?
My Rating: ★ — It's probably the case of "it's me, not you". I wasn't able to get past the way it was written or the discrepancies that were apparent from the start. I didn't like any of the characters and couldn't care less about what was happening in their lives.
Swallow Me Whole by Gemma James
Sadie Sawyer wants to learn how to blow a guy.
She’s my sister’s best friend.
The girl I’ve known since grade school.
The girl I’ve always considered off-limits.
She’s the girl that crawled under a table in a bar one night and changed everything between us. Now the brain in my pants is more than willing to step up. The rules are simple.
No kissing.
No screwing.
No falling in love.
But the more I let her use my body in the name of experimentation, the more I know being friends isn’t enough. Is it too much to want it all with her?
The taste of her lips.
The sweetness of her innocence.
The chance to earn her love.
I might have a real shot with her…if her douchebag ex and my past don’t ruin everything.
My Rating: ★ — What. The. Ever. Loving. HECK!!
The title and blurb suggested a dirty little friends to lovers romance I would fall in huge love with. I've read from Gemma James before and each time was a blast. I figured this would be too. And... nope. The heroine was a complete waste of time and I couldn't continue to torture myself with her story.
I'm almost twenty-three-fucking-years old -- the same as Ash and Mandy, who are light-years ahead of me when it comes to sex. But me? I must be the last virgin from our graduating class. How pathetic is that?
Wanna know what's pathetic?
- Thinking there's an age limit on losing your virginity
- Finding your boyfriend getting a bj from someone else (because you never gave him one -- boo hoo) and going out, getting drunk, and giving a bj to one of your best friends for kicks
- Being consumed with the idea of sexuality vs. worth instead of finding some confidence in yourself so people don't walk all over you
I had so many issues with this book. Will I still try Gemma James again? Probably. Hating one story can't erase the pleasure I found in others.
The title and blurb suggested a dirty little friends to lovers romance I would fall in huge love with. I've read from Gemma James before and each time was a blast. I figured this would be too. And... nope. The heroine was a complete waste of time and I couldn't continue to torture myself with her story.
I'm almost twenty-three-fucking-years old -- the same as Ash and Mandy, who are light-years ahead of me when it comes to sex. But me? I must be the last virgin from our graduating class. How pathetic is that?
Wanna know what's pathetic?
- Thinking there's an age limit on losing your virginity
- Finding your boyfriend getting a bj from someone else (because you never gave him one -- boo hoo) and going out, getting drunk, and giving a bj to one of your best friends for kicks
- Being consumed with the idea of sexuality vs. worth instead of finding some confidence in yourself so people don't walk all over you
I had so many issues with this book. Will I still try Gemma James again? Probably. Hating one story can't erase the pleasure I found in others.
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
BLURB - An unforgettably searing and unapologetically honest romance about enemies, lovers, and the music that binds them.
Atticus Creed saved my life. His voice talked me down. His lyrics stripped me bare. His tattoos against my hidden scars made me feel beautiful. In turn, I wrecked him with a love that exposed his soul and lies that called to his vilest demons.
We were innocent then.
I’m not a broken girl anymore. Now I’m the woman who reigns over the corrupt record label he abandoned, and he’s a tortured musician who wants retribution as viciously as I want another taste of his lips. Inevitably, he will crash in my arms, and I will burn in his.
Depravity is all we know. It’s in the air we breathe, it’s in our sweat, it’s the music we make.
What was meant to be a fun evening to benefit charity, suddenly became so much more…
They were both volunteered into attending the Boy Toy Auction.
One as a contestant.
One as an attendee.
Emerson lost an internal battle the moment Nicholas stepped onto the stage.
As soon as he started moving his hips to the rhythm of the music, she was captivated. Suddenly, the timid girl became a warrior as she fought to have the highest bid.
There was no way she was leaving without him at her side.
From the moment Nic saw her, Emerson became his focal point.
The beautiful woman in the silver dress.
The one that held his stare.
He needed her to win.
He needed her.
He’d make sure this was the best money she’d ever spend.
Or the worst…depends on how you look at it.
Because sometimes, it doesn’t matter what you want, life has a way of throwing you a curve ball that you aren’t prepared for…
Have you ever heard of the old Celtic legends of the Fae—beautiful, magical, and deadly creatures that have a love of messing with humans just for kicks and giggles?
Welcome to my world.
What started out as a strange assignment, led to one of the most gruesome murder mysteries of our times. My friends and I are set and determined to find out who is killing off Fae and Witches alike.
Couple of problems in the way – I hate the Fae and the Prince of the Dark Fae is bound and determined that I work for him. He’s a rude, overbearing egotistical ass with a compulsive need to possess, dominate and control me. Oh—did I mention that he is absolutely sex-on-a-stick gorgeous and he makes me feel things that I never ever wanted to feel for a Fae... every time he touches me or looks at me with those dangerous golden eyes he seems to pull me further in under his spell, despite my better judgment.
My friends and I can’t trust anyone and nothing is as it seems on the surface—not even me.
Breakdown by Aly Zigada
My Rating - ★BLURB - An unforgettably searing and unapologetically honest romance about enemies, lovers, and the music that binds them.
Atticus Creed saved my life. His voice talked me down. His lyrics stripped me bare. His tattoos against my hidden scars made me feel beautiful. In turn, I wrecked him with a love that exposed his soul and lies that called to his vilest demons.
We were innocent then.
I’m not a broken girl anymore. Now I’m the woman who reigns over the corrupt record label he abandoned, and he’s a tortured musician who wants retribution as viciously as I want another taste of his lips. Inevitably, he will crash in my arms, and I will burn in his.
Depravity is all we know. It’s in the air we breathe, it’s in our sweat, it’s the music we make.
That cover? Instant horny vibes.
The blurb? Color me intrigued.
The abundance of 5-star reviews? Reading this should be a no-brainer.
And yet...
I didn't like it. I couldn't get past Imogen's character. She obliterated any hope I had within the first chapter. Rather than continue to read and fall even further into feelings of disgust and hate, I'll pass the gauntlet to someone else. I'm thrilled that others read and loved this book. I have a feeling it's more of a 'me' thing instead of anything against the story.
To anyone interested in reading this book... Enjoy and best wishes! 🖤🖤
The blurb? Color me intrigued.
The abundance of 5-star reviews? Reading this should be a no-brainer.
And yet...
I didn't like it. I couldn't get past Imogen's character. She obliterated any hope I had within the first chapter. Rather than continue to read and fall even further into feelings of disgust and hate, I'll pass the gauntlet to someone else. I'm thrilled that others read and loved this book. I have a feeling it's more of a 'me' thing instead of anything against the story.
To anyone interested in reading this book... Enjoy and best wishes! 🖤🖤
Boy Toy Auction by C.A. Harms
My Rating - ★What was meant to be a fun evening to benefit charity, suddenly became so much more…
They were both volunteered into attending the Boy Toy Auction.
One as a contestant.
One as an attendee.
Emerson lost an internal battle the moment Nicholas stepped onto the stage.
As soon as he started moving his hips to the rhythm of the music, she was captivated. Suddenly, the timid girl became a warrior as she fought to have the highest bid.
There was no way she was leaving without him at her side.
From the moment Nic saw her, Emerson became his focal point.
The beautiful woman in the silver dress.
The one that held his stare.
He needed her to win.
He needed her.
He’d make sure this was the best money she’d ever spend.
Or the worst…depends on how you look at it.
Because sometimes, it doesn’t matter what you want, life has a way of throwing you a curve ball that you aren’t prepared for…
Emerson was way too much of a doormat... for her dad of all people... for me to continue. Nicholas was amazing. He was patient and understanding and loving and hot and sweet and sexy and... and... and Emerson kept pushing him away because he deserved better. You're damn right he did!
Fighting Destiny by Amelia Hutchins
My Rating - ★Have you ever heard of the old Celtic legends of the Fae—beautiful, magical, and deadly creatures that have a love of messing with humans just for kicks and giggles?
Welcome to my world.
What started out as a strange assignment, led to one of the most gruesome murder mysteries of our times. My friends and I are set and determined to find out who is killing off Fae and Witches alike.
Couple of problems in the way – I hate the Fae and the Prince of the Dark Fae is bound and determined that I work for him. He’s a rude, overbearing egotistical ass with a compulsive need to possess, dominate and control me. Oh—did I mention that he is absolutely sex-on-a-stick gorgeous and he makes me feel things that I never ever wanted to feel for a Fae... every time he touches me or looks at me with those dangerous golden eyes he seems to pull me further in under his spell, despite my better judgment.
My friends and I can’t trust anyone and nothing is as it seems on the surface—not even me.
Damn. I really wanted to like this one. It seemed to be right up my alley, but I couldn't get into it. I didn't care for the heroine or her voice and it sort of lost me from there. I've heard great things about this story and it's been recommended time and time again, so I'm chalking it up to it being a 'me' problem rather than a problem with the book.
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
The Disappearance of Catherine Brodie by Grace Harper
My Rating - ★
Genre - Contemporary New Adult Romance
Genre - Contemporary New Adult Romance
BLURB - Catherine Brodie has a happy life in Brighton, she has friends, a secret boyfriend and almost at the end of her law degree. However, everything changes when she reaches her twentieth birthday. She tells a white lie to get out of a family dinner to celebrate her birthday and sneaks off to a party. The repercussions upend her secure and stable life. Two weeks later, she attends the funeral of her brother and parents. Each birthday following sends Catherine into turmoil with more heartache and misery. There are those that wish her harm. Alexander Devlin was there the night of her birthday and by coincidence, he crosses paths with her every year. Catherine dismisses the coincidence, but her best friend Tara Adkins is convinced fate is throwing them together. The first novel of a new quartet that tells the story of Catherine Brodie and her struggle to come to terms with what she did that had far-reaching consequences. It is an epic tale of love, passion, and revenge. Devastated with her loss, Catherine carves out a new life and starting her own business. The group of friends she picks up along the way helps her hide from those who wish her harm. It doesn't take long for her harasser to find her and make her life a misery once more. The question is, will Alexander Devlin be there in time to save her?
Where do I even start?
The heroine was a mess. She was 20, living at home, and I'm guessing the story was supposed to have this 'coming of age' feel about it, but I didn't get any of that. All I got was an immature person who tried to act grown up and kept reverting to childhood. It was weird and I couldn't, in good conscience, continue. Nothing about this book appealed to me and I'm still a little upset by the many times it was recommended to me! It was so bad (for me) that I couldn't even give the hero or the romance a chance.
The heroine was a mess. She was 20, living at home, and I'm guessing the story was supposed to have this 'coming of age' feel about it, but I didn't get any of that. All I got was an immature person who tried to act grown up and kept reverting to childhood. It was weird and I couldn't, in good conscience, continue. Nothing about this book appealed to me and I'm still a little upset by the many times it was recommended to me! It was so bad (for me) that I couldn't even give the hero or the romance a chance.
His Virgin by Vivian Wood
My Rating - ★
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Genre - Contemporary Romance
BLURB - Whatever she wants, I want it ten times harder.
My name is Elijah Scott, and I’m going to be your next president. I’m a rich, ripped, and ready to conquer the campaign trail. When it comes to women, I’m not looking for anything serious. Not now, not ever.
Until I see Meredith.
The sweet little blonde with curves in all the right places. One look into those beautiful blue eyes, and I can’t help imagining how her hips would fit just right in my hands.
I’ll never forget the secret she whispers in my ear: she’s never been with anyone before. She’s a temptation I can’t resist.
She’s fresh out of college, just twenty-two years old and on the campaign trail with me… as a reporter. One leak exposed by Meredith, and my entire future goes up in flames.
As my secrets pile up, I can’t stop fantasizing about Meredith. She’s dangerous, a risk I can’t afford… but her taste, her voice moaning my name over and over… I can’t stop. Worse, I don’t want to watch her walk away.
You'd read that blurb and think hot and sexy too, right? Wrong!
Not hot. Not sexy. Not good. Not worth it.
Which sounds bad, but honest.
It was recommended on both Goodreads and Amazon, so I thought I'd try it.
My bad.
Not hot. Not sexy. Not good. Not worth it.
Which sounds bad, but honest.
It was recommended on both Goodreads and Amazon, so I thought I'd try it.
My bad.
Nero by Sarah Brianne
My Rating - ★
Genre - Contemporary Mafia Romance
Genre - Contemporary Mafia Romance
BLURB - Nero is the king of Legacy Prep, living a life of power.
Elle is the school’s punching bag, living a life of fear.
The only good girls Nero knows jump in his bed when he tells them to.
The closest Elle has come to a bad boy like him is in the cafeteria line.
The mob boss gave him orders to find out what she knows.
Her mouth is sealed.
Hey! Everyone who told me that because I love mafia romance, I'll love this series...
I can't unread what I've seen.
Why did this chick, Elle, do nothing to hold my attention?
She was completely flat. Aside from being bullied and protecting her friend from being bullied more, she didn't exist. She had no personality, no character, no depth. And you expect me to punish myself with more of this?
It was bad enough that this story is set in high school. It was even worse that the trope was so familiar to me (like I haven't read tons of stories with the EXACT same set up). But the fact that Elle was the primary storyteller...
I can't unread what I've seen.
Why did this chick, Elle, do nothing to hold my attention?
She was completely flat. Aside from being bullied and protecting her friend from being bullied more, she didn't exist. She had no personality, no character, no depth. And you expect me to punish myself with more of this?
It was bad enough that this story is set in high school. It was even worse that the trope was so familiar to me (like I haven't read tons of stories with the EXACT same set up). But the fact that Elle was the primary storyteller...
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
Vow of Revenge by P. Rayne
My Rating - ★
Genre/Trope - New Adult Contemporary Romance / arranged marriage
POV - Dual
Length - 358 pages
Genre/Trope - New Adult Contemporary Romance / arranged marriage
POV - Dual
Length - 358 pages
BLURB: Nothing ruins a perfect day like your dead fiancé showing up in the middle of your first class.
Mirabella La Rosa
When my father arranged for me to marry the next in line to lead the Costa crime family, I swore I’d do anything to escape that fate. I have way more to offer my family than being some man’s arm candy, producing heirs, and making appearances at weddings and baptisms.
Marcelo Costa might be my fiancĂ©, but he’ll never be my husband.
Somehow, I get lucky because he and his father are killed in a car bombing. Not only do I not have to go from being a mafia princess to a mafia wife, but now I can attend college at the Sicuro Academy—an affluent private college created for mafia children like me.
I’m so excited. I’ve moved into my dorm room with my best friend, put on the uniform and am ready to learn. But all my plans come to a screeching halt when he shows up on campus alive and well, seeking revenge on those that crossed him.
Marcelo Costa
The look of shock on my fiancĂ©e’s face when I walk into the classroom at the Sicuro Academy gives me more pleasure than it should.
Mirabella made it clear she didn’t want to marry me, and she’s a problem to be dealt with for sure. But now, she’s the smaller of my two problems.
The only reason I’m at the Sicuro Academy is because my investigation into the bomb that killed my father and almost took me out has led me here.
So I’ll allow Mirabella to stay at the academy while I track down my father’s murderer, but once I’ve brought that person to my own particular brand of justice I’ll remove her from campus and make her my wife.
And no amount of pleading on her part will change my mind.
I’m sorry Jess, but I quickly realized that this book isn’t for me. I loved the reviews I found for this book and grabbed it up real quick, but nah. It ain’t for me. The characters are too young, too entitled, too too too too much.
The Selkie Wife by Andie Beckham
My Rating - ★★
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / instalove
POV - Dual
Length - 121 pages
Genre/Trope - Paranormal Romance / instalove
POV - Dual
Length - 121 pages
BLURB: From the deep, she's scented him: her perfect match.
On his bleakest night, Arran, a lighthouse keeper's son, encounters a beautiful stranger with a mysterious, glossy coat. Struck by her alluring magic and feral kinship with the ocean, Arran's trepidatiously-balanced life quickly descends into dreamy, passionate chaos.
One thing haunts him: he can't let his violent father find her.
As Arran's heart drifts toward the Selkie like a beacon, he learns the wild seal woman has plans of her own. Her startling proposition to give him a child is only the beginning. The selkie's powerful allure unlocks Arran's secret that could change everything.
I’m still unsure how I feel about this story. While I liked the concept of the selkie female finding her mate on land, I found it hard to engage with this book because of the writing style. I’m not a fan of reading in the present tense, so it kept throwing me off. However, I enjoyed the way this author captured these characters. Rose’s speech patterns and mannerisms were super cute and Arran’s naivete and vulnerability made him incredibly endearing.
Contempt by A. Zavarelli
My Rating - ★★
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / amnesia + second chance
POV - Dual
Length - 554 pages
Genre/Trope - Contemporary Romance / amnesia + second chance
POV - Dual
Length - 554 pages
BLURB: Before the world knew me as a rock god, I was just the angry boy who stole her heart.
She was a good girl.
The forbidden fruit I wasn’t meant to taste.
Our stars were crossed, and fate had doomed us from the start.
She was promised to someone else.
I had her secret smiles.
Moments stolen in dark corners.
But I couldn’t have her future.
Destiny tore us apart, and all that remained was the ghost of her memory.
When she died, I did too.
But when I catch a glimpse of her five years later, alive and well, that love turns to hate as the bitter truth emerges.
She left me.
She lied.
And now, I’m going to make her pay.
I love the concept of this book. I can get behind a good amnesia/revenge plot. But I couldn’t really get behind the way this story was told. There were too many flashbacks and not enough answers. Even in the end, I’m still wondering why it was told this way. It didn’t make it more mysterious. It made it more annoying. Every time there was a flashback, I got irritated. Why? Because just when I thought the glimpse into the past would give me SOME FREAKING ANSWERS, I got nothing. What was the point???
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
He Wants It All by Marilena Barbagallo ~ DNF
Genre - Contemporary Romance / enemies to lovers
POV - Dual
Length - 399 pages
POV - Dual
Length - 399 pages
Krum Botev has never had anything in life apart from himself. He knows only what he has been taught. Hard, selfish, insensitive, but faithful to the Father, the one who raised and educated him according to the values of the secret society he is part of. No one has ever succeeded in knocking down his armor. No one can touch him outside or inside; no-one except her, who is part of that past Krum cannot forget. Ambra Livori, a beautiful and wealthy heiress, has always had everything. But nightmares don’t give her a break. They go on showing her the man who ruined her life when she was only sixteen. The memory of him, over time, has become a perverse feeling she cannot tolerate. Just when Ambra decides to learn how to control her emotions, she receives a strange call. Her origins will be questioned and the past will become a terrible present from which she won’t be able to escape. Fighting for herself will be the only solution. What links Ambra and Krum? But most of all, can two different souls be able to touch each other outside and inside? A secret organization, an uncontrollable passion, a man and a woman destined to clash.
Honestly, the writing was a bit all over the place and I think that's because this was translated from Italian. I really wish I could read it in the original language. I believe a lot of what the author was trying to convey was lost in translation. The concept of this story is so intriguing that I wish I could have continued.
Hammered by Jasinda Wilder ~ DNF
Genre - Contemporary Romance / a bit of forced proximity
POV - Heroine 1st person
Length - 342 pages
POV - Heroine 1st person
Length - 342 pages
Dad Bod Contracting—for ALL your domestic contracting needs. Have a leaky faucet or clogged disposal? Need a new patio with intricate brickpaving designs? Want your garage transformed into a yoga studio? Dad Bod Contracting has you COVERED. Our clean, well-mannered, and friendly professionals pride themselves on attention to detail. Every job comes with a 100% customer SATISFACTION guarantee. No job is too small. Hand us your “honey-do” list and we’ll get it done, and we’ll look good doing it! A good job well done is one phone call away, so call Dad Bod Contracting today! It started with a window that was jammed shut. Pretty simple, right? All I wanted was to open the windows while I tidied the house. I’d been after my no-good husband to do it for months, but he never did. And then he shacked up with his secretary, leaving me with a pile of bills, husband-free for the first time in ten years, and with a house that was falling apart. The ad popped up on the side of my social media feed—a local contracting agency willing to do pretty much anything. Since I don’t really know a screwdriver from a ratchet, I gave them a call. And let me tell you, the ad was NOT lying. Jesse O’Neill can do it ALL…and looks amazing doing it. He fixed my window, so I called him back to fix the sagging, splintery front steps. Which led to him fixing my kitchen sink. And then he recarpeted my stairs. And then fixed the squeak in my bed. He was supposed to fix my house, not my rusty, sputtering libido. And certainly not my broken heart.
You know those books you REALLY wanna like? Hammered was one of those books. It should have checked many of my boxes, but it somehow failed to do that. It could have been the fact that it was told from only Imogen's perspective (and you know how I hate that). I was more interested in the side characters than the ones this story was about. I even liked the little I got to know of Jesse (the MMC). It just fell flat, I'm afraid. It's too bad because I know that a lot of people enjoyed the heck out of this story. I've really liked other books by this author so I'll be giving her another try.
Balls in Play Box Set by Kate Stewart ~ DNF
Genre - Contemporary Romance / sports
POV - Dual 1st person
Length - 273 pages (for Anything but Minor)
POV - Dual 1st person
Length - 273 pages (for Anything but Minor)
“She’s a nerd.”
“Heyyyy!”
“Okay, she’s a flight instructor.”
“Better.”
“He’s a ballplayer.”
“The best that ever was.”
“Technically, you aren’t according to MLB stats.”
“See? Total nerd. She also has no filter.”
“He’s no southern gentlemen.”
“I had one last season to prove my worth.”
“I’d never seen a game.”
“He told me he was a player.”
“She told me she was a lesbian.”
“But you fell in love with me anyway.”
“Yeah, baby, I totally did.”
I know it's a "me" problem. I've seen so many 4-and-5-star reviews for this series and I couldn't even get through book one with ease. I was infinitely bored and the heroine, Alice, annoyed me. I can't even pinpoint why she irked me, but aggravate me she did. So I'm one of the few that didn't love this supposedly laugh-out-loud novel.
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you.
Tap by Georgia Cates ~ 2 stars
Genre - Contemporary Romance / brother's best friend
POV - Dual 1st person
POV - Dual 1st person
Craft beer and the sexy men who brew it.
A faceless name. That’s all she was when I agreed to play a part in deceiving her. But then the unplanned happened.
We met. And all I wanted from her was a dirty weekend... until that wasn’t enough and I longed for so much more.
Lawrence Thorn suddenly means the world to me. And that’s a problem. She’s my business partner’s sister. Forbidden fruit. Pursuing her can mean trouble for me at Lovibond Brewery. But I don’t care.
I yearn for her skin against mine. I crave her smell on my body. I want to make her laugh and then hear her moan my name. And she does for a brief moment in time.
But Lawrence wants more than I’m able to give. And it’s a damn shame because there’s no one on earth I want more than her.
An epic love.
A miserable ending.
Unless it’s not.
It wasn’t the most interesting story, but I was still reading.
I felt like Lawrence was supposed to be super likable with her hippy-ish ways.. She’s vegan people. So tired of it. Anyway, I didn’t really feel her. Nickname Lawry should have given me a clue, right?
Lucas was also hard to like. I just didn’t like any of the characters in this book.
However, I absolutely loved the epilogue. Both stars go to that ending. It almost made everything I read in this story worthwhile.
A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day ~ 2.5 stars
Genre - Paranormal Romance / forbidden
POV - Dual 3rd person
POV - Dual 3rd person
Of all the Fallen, Raze’s hungers are some of the darkest and most insatiable. His brazen seductions cost him his wings, leaving him soulless and immortal, the most dangerous of seducers. He has roamed the earth for eons, hunting the rogues of his kind and protecting the humans who provide him with blood and sex. He is content with his life and the transient pleasures that flow through it... until one night and one woman change everything.
Kimberly McAdams is smart, beautiful, and wealthy. She can have any man she wants, but the moment she sets eyes on the lethally stunning Raze she knows he’s the man she needs. As one searingly erotic night burns into something deeper and far more vital than either of them expected, an adversary from Raze’s past sees a chance for revenge. Twisted by hatred, she will take from Raze what was taken from her—the precious gift of love.
The absolute seduction of this story played me for a fool. What was up with the fade to black sex???
Kimberly was hard to understand. She came from a family of cops so understood the need for someone in law enforcement to keep secrets, but she’s supposedly wealthy. Where did the money come from?
Raze and his fellow fallen were interesting, however, it felt like I was dropped in the middle of a story when it came to their origins and connection.
Sol by Leslie McAdam ~ 2 stars
Genre - Contemporary Romance / brother's best friend
POV - Dual 1st person
POV - Dual 1st person
I kissed her, then I left her. My best friend’s sister. The only girl I ever loved.
And that kiss? Gave new meaning to the words, “pinball machine.”
But the army called. No matter what, I am a man of honor. I’ll always do my duty. Even at great personal cost.
Now, four years later, I’m back. A little older. A little wiser. And unfortunately, the bearer of horrifically tragic news.
There’s no one else to do it.
I’ll go to the ends of the earth to find her.
But I don’t know what will happen after I hand her that letter.
Dani was delusional, self-centered, and way too cavalier about life. I didn’t like how she expected everyone to conform to her beliefs about life, especially when she was so vehemently opposed to conformity.
Trent was this great guy who blinded himself to obvious things. He allowed Dani to walk all over him and it was pitiful. Here was this big, strong man who allowed himself to be swallowed up by Dani and her bullshit.
A painfully boring read with bits of color.
Hello hello! I'm back with some more books that didn't really work for me, but might be winners for you. These all rated pretty well on Goodreads and Amazon, so I think, once again, that this is a ME problem more than anything wrong with the actual books.
| Dec the Holls by Jasinda Wilder | Cuff Me by London Hale |
|---|---|
| Genre - Contemporary Novella Release - December 19, 2014 |
Genre - Contemporary Novella Release - July 11, 2017 |
| A week before Christmas, and all through office not a soul is stirring, not even a mouse. Holly is working overtime, cold and lonely and broke. Across the hall, Declan is lonely too, and thinking this Christmas is going to be a joke. Then one blustery night Holly’s car won’t start and Declan is there to help with a little love in his heart. | From the moment Lola moved into my apartment building, I’ve wanted her. She’s too sweet and seemingly innocent, but it doesn’t stop me from lusting after her. There’s something about the hours she keeps, though. Something about the life she leads that has warning bells going off in my cop brain. Yet I can’t stay away. Not when she needs my help. Not when she needs me. Even if being with her could cost me my future. |
| My Rating - 2 stars I found that I didn’t care for this book. The story didn’t really have a chance to grab me and I was really hoping it would. I could see myself probably liking both Dec and Holly if given more time. |
My Rating - 2 stars I’ve actually really enjoyed other books from this author… just not this one. The heroine, who believed that the only job she was qualified for was as an escort… she really tried my nerves. From there, I just didn’t care whether or not she got a happily ever after with the hero. Honestly, I didn’t even know why he liked her so much. |
| Pitch Black by Elise Noble | When Gargoyles Rise by Ashley C. Harris |
|---|---|
| Genre - Suspense/Mystery Release - December 1, 2015 |
Genre - YA Paranormal Romance Release - September 5, 2017 |
| After the owner of a security company is murdered, his sharp-edged wife goes on the run. Forced to abandon everything she holds dear - her home, her friends, her job in special ops - she builds a new life for herself in England. As Ashlyn Hale, she meets Luke, a handsome local who makes her realise just how lonely she is. Yet, even in the sleepy village of Lower Foxford, the dark side of life dogs Diamond’s trail when the unthinkable strikes. Forced out of hiding, she races against time to save those she cares about. But is it too little, too late? |
When Rose was born in the year 1544, she and the other gargoyles were a beautiful race of humans with dragon's wings. Created by magic, the gargoyles were able to do and take whatever they wanted... Until the vampires came, and with them, they brought a curse. Almost five hundred years later, Rose awakens from stone in Washington DC, to a world that's very much changed. The kingdom of the gargoyles is no more; instead, the same group of blood suckers that cursed Rose's family now rule a hierarchy of shades and shadows. Desperate to awaken her loved ones and break the spell, Rose learns she must convince Sean Noble, a human, to fall in love with her. Something that should have been easy... if he and Rose weren't only seventeen, and required to attend school. Sean and his high school girlfriend dislike Rose as much as they do homework. And to make things worse, the handsome vampire prince, Adamus, who betrayed Rose in the year 1556, he and his bad boy brother have surfaced... Rose, before graduation, must find a way to keep her identity secret from Adamus, not let him get too close, and trick Sean into falling in love. Easy if you have wings, right? Not so much. |
| My Rating - DNF The story sounds intriguing, but I’m not a fan of single perspectives and I could feel myself getting bored with just the one voice. |
My Rating - DNF I just can’t. No. |
| Beast by Measha Stone | Passion & Venom by Shanora Williams |
|---|---|
| Genre - Contemporary Romance Retelling Release - February 27, 2018 |
Genre - Dark Romance Release - September 12, 2016 |
| Wouldn't you give up everything for the one you love? When Ellie's father is taken by a group of thugs planning to take his life in exchange for his debts, it’s no surprise she goes running straight into the beast’s lair. After all, Ellie Stevens has been her father’s keeper for as long as she can remember. However, Ashland Titon isn’t a man of mercy. If you owe, you pay. End of story. His unrelenting control has built his empire, and he’s not going to give over that power now. But when Ellie charges into his life with her demands and possibilities of sweet surrender, her offer proves too tempting to pass up. Yet there’s more at play here than just working off a debt. There are secrets buried in the shadows, and dangerous desires to be explored. While the two of them dance to an erotic beat, outside forces threaten Ashland's empire and Ellie must decide where her heart truly lies - and what she's truly willing to risk for love. |
Imagine this: Your husband is murdered on your wedding day. Your gown is soiled in his blood. You are taken hostage... Treated like a caged animal. The man behind your husband's murder is revealed. His name is Draco Molina. Draco has power. Respect. Wealth. He is a savage beast of a man - dominant in every way. Soon after, he makes you an offer that you can't refuse. All you have do is submit to him, and in return you won't be punished. He will reward you handsomely. But if you disobey, you must be prepared to face the consequences. What do you do when the most wanted man in the world . . . wants you? |
| My Rating - DNF The heroine fell into every bad trap a heroine could fall into. And while I like retellings and can see why she was prone to pitfalls, I found it hard to care. |
My Rating - DNF I was set to love this story. I was warned that it got really dark and from what I’ve read, it was heading there. Gia’s husband is murdered right in front of her on their wedding day. And then she’s kidnapped, beaten and humiliated. So far, so good. Then Gia’s thoughts about her fellow captive, whose arms have been amputated via torture, made her an unsympathetic heroine and I struggled to continue. Yes, he has been helpful at times, but he is a complete jackass. It’s no wonder he’s here–or why those men did that to him. He has a smart mouth. I’m sure he doesn’t control anything he says. I still tried, but then I read this: Those thin, dark brown eyes are… How are the eyes thin? And then this type of phrasing kept happening and I gave up. |
I'm back with three more books that just didn't work for me, but might be right up your alley. If you've read any of these or plan to, please think about letting me know what you thought in the comments below!
Queen of Diamonds by Natalie Bennett
Genre - Mafia Romance
His enemy. His partner. His whore.
His mind games. Her morals.
Well, there is no road to hell.
I already live there.
I was forced to partake in a rigged game of seduction, manipulation, and murder.
Mateo Remmington is my formidable opponent.
He makes the devil look like a saint.
He’s immoral.
He's ruthless.
He's a goddamn king.
King of a clandestine empire who sits on a throne covered in innocents’ blood.
I’ve become his obsession.
He’s becoming my deadly addiction.
And if I make one wrong move he’ll end my life.
My Review: DNF
I couldn't get into this story. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be dark or mysterious or whatever. I was lost before the story even really started. And now I'm sad because I have the entire series SIGNED on my bookshelves. I wish I could have dived in and loved it.
I couldn't get into this story. I wasn't sure if it was supposed to be dark or mysterious or whatever. I was lost before the story even really started. And now I'm sad because I have the entire series SIGNED on my bookshelves. I wish I could have dived in and loved it.
Ghosted by J.M. Darhower
Genre - Contemporary Second Chance Romance
He's a troubled young actor, Hollywood's newest heartthrob, struggling with fame as the star of the latest superhero franchise. Through scandal after scandal, addiction on top of addiction, a flurry of paparazzi hunt him as he fights to conquer his demons.
She's a single mother, assistant manager at a grocery store, existing in monotony with her five-year-old daughter. Every day when she goes to work, lurid tabloids surround her, the face of a notorious bad boy haunting her from their covers.
A man and a woman, living vastly different lives, but that wasn't always the case. Once, they were just a boy and a girl who bonded over comic books and fell in love unexpectedly.
When Kennedy Garfield met Jonathan Cunningham back in high school, she knew he had all the makings of a tragic hero. With stars in his eyes, and her heart on her sleeve, the pair ran away together to follow their dreams.
But dreams, sometimes, turn into nightmares.
Now, years later, the only thing they share is a daughter—one who has no idea her father plays her favorite superhero. But Jonathan is desperate to make amends, and at the top of his list is the woman who gave up everything for him and the little girl he hasn't yet met.
My Review: DNF
The heroine was so wrong. And while I couldn't really connect with Jonathan, the ways in which Kennedy had him jumping through hoops so he could connect with the daughter he didn't know he had... wrong! The secret baby trope is so hard to do well and this one didn't work for me.
The heroine was so wrong. And while I couldn't really connect with Jonathan, the ways in which Kennedy had him jumping through hoops so he could connect with the daughter he didn't know he had... wrong! The secret baby trope is so hard to do well and this one didn't work for me.
Down On Me by J. Kenner
Genre - Contemporary Friends-to-Lovers Romance
Tight muscles. Vibrant Ink.
Meet Mr. January. Winter’s never looked so hot…
Certified bachelor Reece Walker wants two things — to save the local bar he manages and to get Jenna Montgomery into his bed.
He has a few ideas for the bar. But Jenna... well, he’s going to have to rely on cold showers, because she’s been his best friend for years, and that’s a line he just can’t cross.
Until one wild kiss on a dark night changes everything. Now Reece is certain Jenna’s meant to be his.
And with long nights in bed, sensual caresses, and deep, lingering kisses, he sets out to thoroughly convince her that friends can be lovers, too.
My Review: 2 stars
Overall, this was a decent story. I loved the friendship that Reece, Jenna and Brent shared. Best friends for life, they knew everything there was to know about each other and supported each other in all things. And that's where my problem lies. Jenna knew Reece. She knew his hangups. So why... why when they FINALLY get together... why did she try to change him? And not only change him, but give him an ultimatum to try to force him to change?
I stopped liking Jenna after that. All of her thoughts on how to sway Reece to her side made me physically ill. If you love someone, love them. No conditions. No doubts.
Overall, this was a decent story. I loved the friendship that Reece, Jenna and Brent shared. Best friends for life, they knew everything there was to know about each other and supported each other in all things. And that's where my problem lies. Jenna knew Reece. She knew his hangups. So why... why when they FINALLY get together... why did she try to change him? And not only change him, but give him an ultimatum to try to force him to change?
I stopped liking Jenna after that. All of her thoughts on how to sway Reece to her side made me physically ill. If you love someone, love them. No conditions. No doubts.
This week I chose to cover more books than usual. To be honest, there a ton of books to go through for this type of post and I'm trying to keep up. It sucks but it's the truth. So here are FIVE books that I didn't happen to love, FIVE books that were actually well-liked in the reading community, FIVE books that you may enjoy a lot more than I did.
Pretty Dead Girls by Monica Murphy
Genre - Young Adult Thriller
Beautiful. Perfect. Dead.
In the peaceful seaside town of Cape Bonita, wicked secrets and lies are hidden just beneath the surface. But all it takes is one tragedy for them to be exposed.
The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she's next. All the victims so far have been linked to Penelope—and to a boy from her physics class. The one she's never really noticed before, with the rumored dark past and a brooding stare that cuts right through her.
There's something he isn't telling her. But there's something she's not telling him, either.
Everyone has secrets, and theirs might get them killed.
2 stars - The most popular girls in school are turning up dead, and Penelope Malone is terrified she's next.
You know I hate you when I hope you are.
Penelope (don't call her Penny) was a mean girl who didn't think she was a mean girl.
And I'm not saying that anyone should have been killed, however...
When the killer was revealed, I was like "Hmmm... you crazy, but I don't really blame you."
Not kidding. I'm just joking.
I just didn't like anyone in this book. The one character I did think I could like, Cass, came off as too soft. I already knew from the beginning that he was gonna get cast in a certain light. And for Penny (bitch, I'll call you what I want) to actually believe rumors and doubt him... spoke more to her lack of character than anything else.
In the end, I was kinda rooting for the killer and wanted Cass to find a new girl.
You know I hate you when I hope you are.
Penelope (don't call her Penny) was a mean girl who didn't think she was a mean girl.
And I'm not saying that anyone should have been killed, however...
When the killer was revealed, I was like "Hmmm... you crazy, but I don't really blame you."
I just didn't like anyone in this book. The one character I did think I could like, Cass, came off as too soft. I already knew from the beginning that he was gonna get cast in a certain light. And for Penny (bitch, I'll call you what I want) to actually believe rumors and doubt him... spoke more to her lack of character than anything else.
In the end, I was kinda rooting for the killer and wanted Cass to find a new girl.
Imposter by K. Larsen
Genre - Mystery Thriller
The next blockbuster thriller for those who loved The Girl on the Train, Jezebel and The Butterfly Garden...
In idyllic Brunswick, Maine, tragedy strikes, leaving one family struggling to stay together.
Seven-year-old Sophie Anderson vanished from a neighbors' front lawn in 2006 leaving the Anderson family reeling.
Helen, a mother who never gave up hope.
Sam, a father who couldn’t cope.
Cora, the even-keeled sister, and Shane, the angry half-brother fought to maintain their family after losing Sophie.
Just when the Anderson’s thought they had moved past Sophie’s disappearance,
Cora finds Sophie shivering behind a dumpster in Portland, Maine 10 years later.
As Sophie integrates back into her family a series of dark revelations rear their ugly heads.
How well do you know your child, your spouse, your best friend or neighbor?
How far would you go to protect your family?
How many secrets could you keep before your world begins to crumble?
How far would you go to better your life?
Everyone has skeletons. Everyone lies. The question is, which lies are harmless and which skeletons are meant to be bared?
2 stars - Stories about missing children will always break my heart so it was a given that I would be shattered by everything I read. I liked that I continued to be surprised by what happened right up to the end. Little Sophie deserved so much more and her family is forever broken. The mom, Helen, wasn't a wholly sympathetic character, but I did feel for her. Shoot, I felt bad for all of them.
While I enjoyed what was written, I didn't really enjoy the way it was written. It was broken up in a way that didn't work for me, but I'm sure it will be fine for others.
While I enjoyed what was written, I didn't really enjoy the way it was written. It was broken up in a way that didn't work for me, but I'm sure it will be fine for others.
Professed by Nicola Rendell
Genre - Contemporary Romance / forbidden / student-teacher
At a secret masked ball at Yale, Naomi Costa is literally swept off her stiletto-blistered feet by a man with a killer jawline, a perfect body, and an even-better kiss. They bust out of an emergency exit and have axis-shaking sex. He pours whiskey in her belly button and after they run out of condoms, they have to get creative. That kind of sex.
The next day, she learns that he is none other than Dr. Benjamin Beck, a brand new member of the Yale faculty and the hottest thing to happen to academia since… well, ever. She has to take his damned junior seminar to graduate, but it gets worse. He’s also her College Master: her boss, her advisor, her everything. And he’s just moved in, right downstairs.
They can’t stay away from each other. They're either fusion or fission or both. They’re making out in libraries, hiding notes between stones, and sneaking off to nautically themed AirBnbs. Hear that sound? It’s the academic code of ethics going up in flames.
If they're found out, he’ll lose his job and his reputation. She'll lose her scholarship and be forced to return to the life of lobster fishing that she thought she’d escaped.
And they will be found out, yes they will.
So what the hell are they going to do?
1 star - I've loved everything I've read from this author.
Except for this book.
I didn't like ANY of the characters.
I didn't care if things worked out.
The sex (forbidden or not) wasn't hot as much as awkward.
I'll still read from this author.
Except for this book.
I didn't like ANY of the characters.
I didn't care if things worked out.
The sex (forbidden or not) wasn't hot as much as awkward.
I'll still read from this author.
A Not So Meet Cute by Meghan Quinn
Genre - Contemporary Romance / fake relationship
How did you two meet?
The quintessential question asked to every couple. And the answer is usually some bubbly, lovey dovey tale of being struck in the bum by Cupid’s arrow.
My meet cute (well not so meet cute) is slightly different. I was trolling a wealthy neighborhood in Beverly Hills, searching for someone to take me as their bride, you know, to make my arch nemesis jealous who consequently just fired me.
He was stomping around the block like some sort of gorgeous ogre, mumbling about a business deal gone wrong and attempting to finagle his way out of it.
And that’s when we bumped into each other.
There were no sparks.
Not even a hint of blossoming love.
But next thing I knew, I was scarfing down free chips and guac, listening to this man lay out all of his problems which led to his big ask . . . he wanted me to be his Vivian Ward, you know, from Pretty Woman--minus the frisky behavior.
We’re talking about living in a mansion, intimate double dates, and pretending we were head over heels in love . . . and engaged. Can you imagine?
The absolute audacity.
But people do crazy things when they’re desperate. And I reeked of desperation. So, I struck up a deal.
My one big mistake, though . . . big . . . HUGE? I accidentally fell for the incomparable Huxley Cane.
2.5 stars - I really wanted to like this one. It had so many things that I look for in a book. And the tropes usually work for me. Who doesn't like a fake relationship slash enemies to lovers romance?
But Lottie was a hard pill to swallow.
Introduced as a desperate doormat, why was she so rude to Huxley? Her attitude sucked and I don't care how beautiful she was to look at.
Huxley was the typical 'love can't touch me' hero and it was lovely to watch him fall. I just don't like who he fell for. Lottie was a bit toxic and I'm not a fan of how everyone would put her in her place and excuse her behavior at the same time. Give her some dang consequences!!
But Lottie was a hard pill to swallow.
Introduced as a desperate doormat, why was she so rude to Huxley? Her attitude sucked and I don't care how beautiful she was to look at.
Huxley was the typical 'love can't touch me' hero and it was lovely to watch him fall. I just don't like who he fell for. Lottie was a bit toxic and I'm not a fan of how everyone would put her in her place and excuse her behavior at the same time. Give her some dang consequences!!
Darkness Awakened by Katie Reus
Genre - Paranormal Romance / second chance / fated mates / secret baby
Years ago he ended things between them to protect her…
As leader of one of the fiercest werewolf packs in the south, Finn Stavros is in full battle mode 24/7. He has no choice—he’s one of the few beings strong enough to fight the Akkadian demons, whose mysterious escape from hell threatens the entire world. With the battle turning bloodier by the second, Finn is ready for anything…until his vampire long lost love shows up on his doorstep in desperate need of his help, sending his heart into a tailspin. He agrees to help her, unaware that she carries a shocking secret that will turn his life upside down.
This time, he’s not letting her go…
Vampire Lyra Marius curses the day she met Finn. The ruthless werewolf promised to love her forever, but he rejected her instead—before she could share her life altering news. Pregnant, kicked out of her coven, and cast aside by the love of her life, Lyra struggled to raise their rare shifter-vampire daughter Vega alone among humans. When the 16-year-old is kidnapped and used to fulfill a frightening prophecy, Lyra swallows her pride and turns to Finn for help. But how long can she fight her feelings for him and keep him from guessing the truth about who Vega really is? As they race against the clock to save their daughter, they must defeat the lethal threat imposed by demons infiltrating the human world and a hell gate that could not only reveal their existence to mankind, but destroy the world in the process.
2.5 stars - I actually enjoyed this one. I love forbidden romance. With Finn being all sexy Alpha and Lyra being a fierce vampire, there were lots of battles to be fought. My only hangup was the 'secret baby who's now on the verge of adulthood' thing.
I'm not sure if I'm interested enough in this one to give the others a try. I guess we'll see some day :)
I'm not sure if I'm interested enough in this one to give the others a try. I guess we'll see some day :)
I'm back with three more books that didn't work for me, but they have amazing ratings so I know it's a 'me' problem.
Maybe you've read one. Maybe you plan to. Let me know!
Wicked Fall by Sawyer Bennett
Genre - Erotic Romance
Never in your wildest dreams could you begin to imagine all the filthy and depraved things that go on inside The Wicked Horse. Step inside and Woolf Jennings will make every one of your dirty fantasies come true.
He's covered in a facade of deception. An enticing blend of multi-millionaire and hot-as-hell Wyoming rancher, those that think they know Woolf Jennings admire his abilities to preside as CEO of his family's cattle and oil empire. But only a privileged few truly understand what fuels the glitter of depravity in those gorgeous blue eyes. Only a few know he's opened up a sinfully erotic and private sex club named The Wicked Horse right at the base of the beautiful Teton Mountain range.
Sweet Callie Hayes has returned home to Wyoming and is looking forward to starting her life over again. After a night of impetuosity, she's managed to put herself right in Woolf's line of sight... the man who she foolishly offered up her virginity to years ago and was flatly turned down.
Now Woolf is seeing that Callie is all grown up and has a kinky side to her that leaves him as confused as it does turned on. Worse yet, both Callie's dirty desires and sweet heart are getting under his skin, and making Woolf question everything he's ever believed about himself.
I ended up not finishing this one. I thought I could handle reading something with menage like I used to, but I didn't enjoy it. It threw me off. So while the writing was on point, I couldn't stomach the story anymore. So I didn't even rate it.
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Hold My Breath by Ginger Scott
Genre - Contemporary Romance
Fractions of seconds can do lots of damage. One decision can ruin lives. A blink can be tragic. And loving a Hollister…can hurt like hell.
I would know.
They say the average person can hold their breath under water for two full minutes when pushed to the extremes. Will Hollister has been holding his for years. The oldest of two elite swimming brothers, Will was always a dominant force in the water. But in life, he preferred to let his younger brother Evan be the one to shine.
Evan got the girl, and Will…he got to bury all of the secrets. A brother’s burden, the weight of it all nearly left him to drown.
The daughter of two Olympians, my path was set the day my fingertips first touched water. My future was as crystal clear as the lane I dominated in the pool—swim hard, win big, love a Hollister.
My life with Evan burned bright. He gave me arms to come home to, and a smile that fooled the world into believing everything was perfect. But it was Will who pushed me. Will…who really knew me.
And when all of the pieces fell, it was Will who started to pick them up.
In the end, the only thing that matters are those few precious seconds—and what we decide to do while we still have them in our grasp.
This was a DNF too. I couldn't like the heroine. She was too immature and I didn't like how she treated the hero. I didn't even get a chance to warm up to her and I felt no connection between them so I wasn't sold on the romance. It was proving too hard and boring to read, so I quit it and didn't rate it.
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Awakened by Brenda K. Davies
Genre - Paranormal Romance
Traumatized by her past, and struggling to move on from it, Sera has spent the past three years of college hiding herself from the world and content to stay that way.
A chance encounter with Liam shatters her sheltered world, leaving her stunned and shaken by the strange feelings and emotions he arises in her, feelings she never thought she would experience and that frighten her in their intensity.
Harboring a dark and deadly secret of his own, Liam knows that he should stay away from Sera; that he will only bring her more hurt, but he is irresistibly drawn to her and unable to deny himself the pleasure that only she can bring to him.
But when their pasts collide with their present, and Liam’s true nature is revealed, will their love for each other be enough, or will they be torn apart forever?
I read and loved a previous series from this author, but this one didn't work for me. I couldn't stand the heroine, which would make it hard to enjoy the following books. I quit about halfway through and didn't think it would be fair to rate it so I gave it a DNF.
Since the last one of these posts, I received a few messages asking why I would basically put these authors on blast. Here's the thing: that's not my intention. AT ALL! These posts aren't about putting down these books or these authors. Things that bother me in a book, things that make me quit or rate poorly, aren't necessarily the same things that would trouble you. We are individuals with independent thoughts, opinions and actions. What I like may not be the same thing you like. I could possibly hate what you love. And there's nothing wrong with that.
Some people love angst or slow builds or little to no sex in their books. I'm not that person. Will I read and enjoy books like that? Absolutely! However, they don't always work for me. And as anyone who has ever read my reviews will tell you, heroines usually make or break a book for me. So there's that.
Welcome to another post about three books that didn't work for me, but just might be your next favorite read!
Play with fire, pay the price.
Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…
Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…
*** DNF ~ I had to stop at 18%. I realized I was forcing it and that is no way to enjoy a book. I'm over Leila. I can't put up with her for one moment more. Which sucks, because I have these books sitting on my bookshelves and I was so looking forward to reading and falling in love with these characters. If only I got some of Vlad to keep me going. Unfortunately, this is Leila's story and Vlad is just a character in it. Unfortunately. So unfortunate.
In 1944, women were thought to be the weaker sex. Divorce was unheard of—a woman’s place was in the home, obeying her spouse and raising their children. After a miscarriage, Calvin Barnes blamed his wife Sarah for being too weak to carry out her duties. His violent, drunken rampages turned deadly.
A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger empowers Sarah to find freedom, sexual enlightenment, and love. Wealthy businessman, Jon Bartleaux, teaches Sarah there is more to life than the 1940s mindset of sex only being for procreation at the pleasure of the husband. Treated as an equal, he teaches her that tender, generous, mutually satisfying sex can be enjoyed by both partners.
Sarah puts the pain and guilt of her past behind her until her sister Carol asks for help with a neighbor who is desperate to escape her husband’s abuse, with the added danger of a standing hitman contract should anything happen to him. Will Sarah risk revealing her secret weapon for ending spousal abuse to help Twyla?
Will Jon’s terrible secret unravel it all?
*** DNF ~ I'm not going to rate this because I didn't finish. Technically, I got to 32% and skipped to the end. It was a hard read for me.
★ I actually liked the realistic abuse scenes between Sarah and her husband. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone it, but I admire the author for not sugarcoating how ugly it was.
★ I didn't like Sarah. She made excuses (which is typical of abuse victims), but she had the presence of mind to correctly identify how wrong things were. But she blamed herself. She couldn't leave because he'd kill her. But wasn't he killing you anyway?
★ the sex scene with Jon. What was that? It was hot if you take out the textbook mumbo jumbo. It was ridiculous!
So yeah, I was entertained for the most part and yet incredibly bored.
Andi has the perfect life. She is about to graduate with an Architecture degree and marry her-All American baseball star-fiancĂ©. When she catches him in bed with another woman, her world is turned upside down. Left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she takes on a new persona — a promiscuous one. This new role protects her heart from ever being broken again.
Andi now lives by a set of rules. The game? Sex with a new pawn every weekend. Every Friday, she sets her sight on a new sexy, successful man to play along — no strings attached, please. When Monday rolls around, she kicks them to the curb and moves on. It has helped her get through the pain of her past — that is, until she meets Jackson.
The mysterious Jackson is excited to play her game. He too has had his heart broken in the past and isn’t looking for a repeat. Eventually, hearts get involved and Andi wonders if the game is still worth playing. Will she look for a new pawn or will she break the rules with Jackson?
*** DNF ~ I don't think I have to tell most of you how very much I love K. Webster. From her sweet, erotic contemporary romance to her dark romance to her taboo reads, she continues to captivate me one book at a time. But this book... nope. I couldn't do it. I'm so glad her writing and her ideas have become so much better because if this was a taste of what she had to offer, I'm not sure I would have read from her again. I'm ecstatic that I'd already fallen in love with her amazing ass way before this.
The heroine: ick
The hero: no idea
The plot: seriously?
The heat: on point
Some people love angst or slow builds or little to no sex in their books. I'm not that person. Will I read and enjoy books like that? Absolutely! However, they don't always work for me. And as anyone who has ever read my reviews will tell you, heroines usually make or break a book for me. So there's that.
Welcome to another post about three books that didn't work for me, but just might be your next favorite read!
Bound by Flames by Jeaniene Frost
Play with fire, pay the price.
Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…
Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…
*** DNF ~ I had to stop at 18%. I realized I was forcing it and that is no way to enjoy a book. I'm over Leila. I can't put up with her for one moment more. Which sucks, because I have these books sitting on my bookshelves and I was so looking forward to reading and falling in love with these characters. If only I got some of Vlad to keep me going. Unfortunately, this is Leila's story and Vlad is just a character in it. Unfortunately. So unfortunate.
────── ♔ ──────
Lovers Lies and Lilies by Ronald D. Walker
In 1944, women were thought to be the weaker sex. Divorce was unheard of—a woman’s place was in the home, obeying her spouse and raising their children. After a miscarriage, Calvin Barnes blamed his wife Sarah for being too weak to carry out her duties. His violent, drunken rampages turned deadly.
A chance encounter with a mysterious stranger empowers Sarah to find freedom, sexual enlightenment, and love. Wealthy businessman, Jon Bartleaux, teaches Sarah there is more to life than the 1940s mindset of sex only being for procreation at the pleasure of the husband. Treated as an equal, he teaches her that tender, generous, mutually satisfying sex can be enjoyed by both partners.
Sarah puts the pain and guilt of her past behind her until her sister Carol asks for help with a neighbor who is desperate to escape her husband’s abuse, with the added danger of a standing hitman contract should anything happen to him. Will Sarah risk revealing her secret weapon for ending spousal abuse to help Twyla?
Will Jon’s terrible secret unravel it all?
*** DNF ~ I'm not going to rate this because I didn't finish. Technically, I got to 32% and skipped to the end. It was a hard read for me.
★ I actually liked the realistic abuse scenes between Sarah and her husband. Don't get me wrong, I don't condone it, but I admire the author for not sugarcoating how ugly it was.
★ I didn't like Sarah. She made excuses (which is typical of abuse victims), but she had the presence of mind to correctly identify how wrong things were. But she blamed herself. She couldn't leave because he'd kill her. But wasn't he killing you anyway?
★ the sex scene with Jon. What was that? It was hot if you take out the textbook mumbo jumbo. It was ridiculous!
So yeah, I was entertained for the most part and yet incredibly bored.
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Broken by K Webster
Andi has the perfect life. She is about to graduate with an Architecture degree and marry her-All American baseball star-fiancĂ©. When she catches him in bed with another woman, her world is turned upside down. Left to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, she takes on a new persona — a promiscuous one. This new role protects her heart from ever being broken again.
Andi now lives by a set of rules. The game? Sex with a new pawn every weekend. Every Friday, she sets her sight on a new sexy, successful man to play along — no strings attached, please. When Monday rolls around, she kicks them to the curb and moves on. It has helped her get through the pain of her past — that is, until she meets Jackson.
The mysterious Jackson is excited to play her game. He too has had his heart broken in the past and isn’t looking for a repeat. Eventually, hearts get involved and Andi wonders if the game is still worth playing. Will she look for a new pawn or will she break the rules with Jackson?
*** DNF ~ I don't think I have to tell most of you how very much I love K. Webster. From her sweet, erotic contemporary romance to her dark romance to her taboo reads, she continues to captivate me one book at a time. But this book... nope. I couldn't do it. I'm so glad her writing and her ideas have become so much better because if this was a taste of what she had to offer, I'm not sure I would have read from her again. I'm ecstatic that I'd already fallen in love with her amazing ass way before this.
The heroine: ick
The hero: no idea
The plot: seriously?
The heat: on point
It's Thanksgiving Monday here in Toronto and I'm about to get down to some serious eating, but I wanted to share another one of these posts before I do that. I've got so many of these books sitting on my shelves, not getting any shine, so I need to be putting these posts out a bit more frequently (hopefully).
Let me know if you'll be giving any of these books a chance!
Fall From Grace by Christine Zolendz
I'm finally home after struggling through my brother's illness and death. But, home is definitely a bit different. My best friend (the only person alive now that knows my secret) has a new boyfriend; and he has a friend. Shane Maxton: bad boy, tattooed rock god, eye candy extraordinaire. He is also New York City's most arrogant, self-serving, son of a, well, a definite one-night stand kind of a guy.
But, it doesn't matter to me because I've spent my existence looking for the love of my life, my angel. And, there is nothing that Shane Maxton can do to change that.
*** 1 star ~ I don't know what happened.
I've five-starred a bunch of this authors books and figured this one would be another win.
It wasn't.
I didn't like the heroine. AT ALL.
I think I would have liked the hero if he was allowed to grow. He didn't.
I couldn't care less about the side characters.
There was absolutely nothing 'mature' about this book.
It felt toxic. Like it was slowly infecting me with its fuckery.
The ending was where I found things to finally get interesting, but it was too late. I don't care!
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A Dash of Death by Michelle Hillen Klump
Bad news for Samantha Warren: The plucky Houston, Texas, reporter lost her job and her fiance in rapid succession. But Sam has a way of making lemonade out of the bitterest of lemons. At a meeting of the local historical-homes council, she serves up the homemade bitters that she made as gifts for her wedding party. She intends to use that as her "in" to become an in-demand party mixologist. But the party's over for one of the council members, who keels over dead soon after he sips the bereft bride's bitter brew.
It turns out that the victim, Mark, was poisoned--his drink spiked with oleander. Since Sam mixed the drink that Mark imbibed right before his demise, she finds herself at the front of the suspect line. Now, she'll have to use all of her reporter's wisdom and wiles to clear her name.
Who could have wanted Mark dead? His wife, Gabby? His girlfriend, Darcy? Someone who wanted his seat on the council? Or another citizen of this sweet Texas town that holds some seedy secrets?
Job hunting, building her mixology business, and fending off late-night phone calls from her nearly betrothed don't leave much time for sleuthing. But if Sam can't "pour" over the clues to find the killer, it may soon be last call for her.
*** DNF ~ I found the protagonist, Samantha, to be completely unsympathetic and unfortunate. It was impossible to gain a vested interest in this story when it was her story. It didn’t help that my ARC had so many words missing letters, making it incredibly difficult to read. I did find that it was written well, however, it took way too long for something to actually start moving in this story. I called it quits at 38% and nothing really happened. There was a death, a mystery surrounding said death, Samantha acting like a poor imitation of an investigative reporter, her endless inner ‘poor me’ monologues because her fiance left her, etc.
I’ve read a lot of cozy mysteries and have enjoyed most. While this wasn’t for me, I can see how it could be a winner for someone else.
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Damaged and the Beast by Bijou Hunter
Heir to the local motorcycle club and crime syndicate, Cooper Johansson is accustomed to taking what he wants. His newest conquest is college freshman Farah Smith.
When the tattooed bad boy reminds her of a rough childhood she desperately wishes to forget, Farah keeps him at arm's length. Yet, Cooper refuses to give up. He pushes her buttons, tears through her walls, and forces her to admit her feelings for him. What begins as lust soon builds into something more powerful than either expects.
Can the beast heal the damage inside the girl of his dreams?
*** 2 stars ~ Maybe if the entire story wasn't told from the heroine's pespective, I'd...
Maybe if the heroine could stop crying ON EVERY PAGE
Maybe if the hero was portrayed as something more than a bully I'd...
But alas, this book was chockfull of Farah whining, cringing, crying, running, crying, longing, crying, spazzing, crying, leaping to conclusions, crying...
You get it.
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