Review ~ Anything but Broken (Hurricane Creek, #1) by Joelle Knox

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 25th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
After five years, tragedy brings Hannah Casey back to Hurricane Creek to bury what’s left of her family. She’s flunking out of college, haunted by scandal, and the only person who cares is Sean Whitlow, an irresistible bad boy with a soft spot for her. The problem? He’s her dead sister’s ex.

Sean doesn’t bleed red, he bleeds motor oil. During the week, he struggles to turn his auto repair shop into a profitable business. But when Saturday night rolls around, he’s the reigning stock-car king of the local race track. He doesn’t know how to lose–or how to walk away and leave Hannah alone with her grief.

Between her grades and her wealthy family’s dark secrets, Hannah’s barely holding her life together. And the last thing Sean needs is to get tangled up with another Casey girl. As the attraction between them spins out of control, they’ll either find a love with no limits–or go up in flames.

My Opinion

Overall this was a good read. It had everything I love in a romance, combined with racing. However, I feel like there was something missing.

Anything but Broken was an intriguing read. There was plenty going on to keep me interested and many story lines that took a while to unravel. Some were predictable, while others weren't, so it kept me turning the pages to find out what happened in the past.

As for the characters, I could relate to Hannah well. I sympathised with her for what she was going through and I understood her motives and reasons for the things she does. Her family sounded like a horrible bunch, but slowly Hannah becomes a part of a wider family as she's accepted into Sean's life. I enjoyed watching other characters slowly grow to help her and things with Gibb were a nice surprise.

Unfortunately, I can't say the same about Sean. I liked him and towards the end I sympathised with his situation as all of the reveals take place. However, his character wasn't defined enough for me. There was a clear sense of voice in his chapters during the the dual POV. He sounded too similar to Hannah.

This leads me on to my early comment of I felt something was missing. I just didn't feel a spark or any chemistry between the characters. There was one scene that was well done for passion, but I didn't feel it was carried throughout the entirety well. I can't place my finger on why, I just didn't feel it.

My only other problem was at times the writing wasn't all that clear. Things felt a little disjointed, especially Hannah's chapters.


Saying all of that though, I did enjoy Anything But Broken. It was a good read that did hold my interest. Although it wasn't a hot, passionate read, it was sweet so you might want to give it a go. I'll more than likely look out for Gibb's story.

3.5

ARC Review ~ Deal Breakers by Laura Lee

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: September 1st 2015

Publisher: LAN Fiction LLC

Description:
How were they supposed to know that one night would change everything?

Devyn has life all mapped out. She just needs to accomplish one more thing before graduating college and becoming a full-fledged adult—lose her virginity. And who better to assist her than her best friend, Riley?

Riley is the self-proclaimed king of fling. His college years have been filled with meaningless hookups until the one night that ruined him for all other women. The one night he spends with his best friend, Devyn. Right before he screws it all up.

Balls to the wall, baby!

Now five years later, Riley is determined to atone for his mistakes and prove that he can be the man that Devyn deserves. Little does he know that Devyn’s been keeping a secret from him all these years. A big secret. Now he has to figure out how to win back the only girl he’s ever loved while navigating the pitfalls of her unexpected revelation.

Deal Breakers is filled with lots of laughs, a sexy romance, and an overflowing swear jar.

My Opinion

I haven't read anything by this author before. However, I decided to take a chance on it when I saw it up on NetGalley. It sounded like a sweet, summery read I wanted to jump into straight away, yet I've had to put off reading it until nearer the release date.

That basically sums the book up perfectly. It's a fast-paced, sweet read I couldn't help but get lost in. I kept telling myself one more chapter before work then ended up finishing the whole thing in one go. It is a short read, but I liked how the author have us hints into every year of college before diving into five years down the line.

I will admit at the start I wasn't sure about the constant time jumps. However, by the end I think it worked well. It meant when Riley and Devyn start interacting once more I did feel that old spark reigniting.

I was also surprised that this book did draw slight emotions from me. I felt bad for Jackson even if I rooted for Riley. Sure, their story is predictable and filled with quite a few tropes, but it's cute and I'm glad the author focused on positive attitudes. This books could have been very different had it focused on anger and guilt over the past and I'm glad it stayed away. It made this a light-hearted read that was enjoyable and kept a smile on my face.

Overall, a great read and I'll definitely be looking out for Brody's  and Drew's books. If you want a light-hearted read to chill out with during the end of summer, you may want to check this out.

4

ARC Review ~ Demon Road (Demon Road, #1) by Derek Landy

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 27th 2015

Publisher: Harper Collins

Description:
Full of Landy’s trademark wit, action and razor sharp dialogue, DEMON ROAD kicks off with a shocking opener and never lets up the pace in an epic road-trip across the supernatural landscape of America. Killer cars, vampires, undead serial killers: they’re all here. And the demons? Well, that’s where Amber comes in...Sixteen years old, smart and spirited, she’s just a normal American teenager until the lies are torn away and the demons reveal themselves.

Forced to go on the run, she hurtles from one threat to another, revealing a tapestry of terror woven into the very fabric of her life. Her only chance rests with her fellow travellers, who are not at all what they appear to be…

My Opinion

I've been looking forward to this ever since I finished the final book in the Skulduggery Pleasant series. That series is one of my favourites and I was interested to see where Derek Landy took his writing next.

However, and it pains me to say this, but I just didn't connect with this story. I really cannot place my finger on why as his usual humour, action, and easy-going writing shone through and translated across to this book well. It's strange because everything I loved was there, except I didn't engage with it. From around 57% I began skimming. If it was by any other author I'd have probably marked it as DNF. However, I wanted to give Landy a chance to win me back as I've loved his previous work. Sadly, I found myself skimming more.

This is going to sound odd, but I think it was too similar to Skulduggery. I know that sounds like it should be a good thing if I love that series, but I can't help but feel it's bad. Some of the characters felt too similar in their attitudes and I guess I was just after something different. They weren't the characters I loved, but they felt like they were trying to be.


Saying all of that, I don't think this is a bad book. I think this is a personal issue I had with the story and it may work for you. If you've loved Landy's other work I'd definitely recommend giving this a chance.

2.5

Blog Tour ~ ARC Review ~ Capture by Rachel Van Dyken

eARC received via Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 20th 2015

Description:
Losing your ability to speak at the age of seventeen; it’s not normal or fair.
But trauma, has a way of throwing normality out the window.

Dani lives anything but a normal life.
Her sister is married to one of the biggest names in Hollywood.
Her best friends are rockstar duo AD2.
And she has more love around her than most people experience in a lifetime.
But that doesn't change the fact their parents are dead.
Or that it's her fault.

It seems her new normal is being a mute, living on the inside, unable to actually communicate on the outside.
That is until Hollywood’s newest heartthrob Lincoln Greene hires her as his assistant for the summer.
He's gorgeous, completely unavailable, and unobtainable.
But that doesn't stop her from wondering...if things were different...would he want her?
If she was whole, would he be the other half?

My Opinion

I just love this author. Seriously, I have yet to pick up a book by her that I haven't been totally enthralled by. I will admit her Eagle Elite series will always top my favourites of hers, but every other book is great, and Capture was no exception.

I didn't know there were previous books in the Seaside series when I signed up for this tour. However, while I thought that might be the case while reading it due to the secondary characters having found their matches. I was still able to understand and enjoy it to its full potential. From the start it had me hooked and I couldn't stop reading even when I should have been working.

Rachel Van Dyken just had a great style. I love how she merges serious issues in with her laid-back and humorous comments. Her characters are always well-rounded and put a smile on my face. I get their humour and I never want the books to end.

In Capture Linc was no exception. Gone are the Hollywood stereotypes in this book as he's a down-to-earth, loveable guy. He had a good head on his shoulders and he was sweet. I loved him.

Similarly, Dani was an interesting character. It was an unusual concept that she didn't speak because of trauma for the first section of the book, but The author still managed to convey her personality brilliantly. I liked it overall, it made things different and gave her a real hurdle to overcome. Moreover, the fact the her development was combined with a sweet, passion-filled romance didn't hurt. I thought there was a good amount of chemistry between the two.


Overall this was another great read by this author. I would say I'm sad to get to the end like normal, but this time I have a few previous books in the series to read!

5

ARC Review ~ Turn of the Moon (Royal Shifters, #1) by L.P. Dover

eARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 25h 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
One girl. Two wolves. Promised to one. Destined for the other. 

To escape the cruel, overbearing, Kade, the Yukon Pack alpha she’s been promised to, Bailey Whitehill flees her home in search of a new life, one of freedom where she can make her own choices. However, Kade will stop at nothing to make her his and begins the hunt. 

As Bailey starts her new life, everything she’s known to be true, is not. Time is of the essence and choices have to be made or consequences suffered. Not only does Bailey fear Kade, but another danger lurks deep in the recesses of the forest. Unbeknownst to her, that danger is what she’s been searching for all along. At the turn of the moon, her fate hangs in the balance . . . and it’s up to her to make the right choice.

My Opinion

As many of you who read my blog will know, I've been shying away from paranormal stories recently. They've slowly been losing my interest and for that reason I was hesitant to request an ARC of this book. However, over the last year LP has become one of my favourites and since she's promised sexy alpha males again in Turn of the Moon I couldn't resist. I had to at least give it a chance, and I'm glad I did.

Turn of the Moon drew me straight into the story. It was fast-paced right from the start and the characters were clearly defined. Kade is instantly the bad guy and one you hate, while Bailey's stubbornness and strong will comes across. She was a character I liked and sympathised with.

When Ryker came into the picture things became even more interesting. Like LP promised he was hot and had a commanding presence. However, it was also easy to feel the connection he had with Bailey. I thought the complimented each other well and they had me rooting for them.

As for the paranormal element, I thought it was well done. LP kept things simple and I think it was subtly done. It was a constant presence in the book, but never did it feel over the top or too far-fetched. The shifter aspect is probably one of the closer to human lifestyles and I think for that reason I enjoyed it more.

My only slightly complaint was it was too short. It did skip a lot of time periods regularly and there were a few scenes I would have like to read about. One of those is towards the end with Ryker and Kade. I understand why the author didn't include it initially, but I would have liked to experience Ryker's feelings in that final moment.


Overall though another great read by this author. I'm still not fully invested in other paranormal books, but I'll definitely be continuing this series.

4.5

Review ~ Revived (Revved, #2) by Samantha Towle

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: July 12th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
India Harris didn’t have the best start in life. Abandoned as a baby, she and her twin brother, Kit, spent their lives in foster care, only having each other to rely on. Then, at a young age, a relationship with the wrong man left India pregnant. Wanting to give her son the life she never had, she put herself through school and graduated with honors. 

Now, at the age of thirty, she’s a highly respected therapist.

At the top of his game as a Formula One driver, Leandro Silva had everything—until an accident on the track left him staring death in the face. After enduring twelve months of physical therapy, Leandro is now physically able to race, but his mind is keeping him from the track. Frustrated and angry, Leandro’s days and nights are filled with limitless alcohol and faceless women. 

Entering the last year of his contract, he knows he has to race again, or he’ll lose everything he spent his life working for. Forced into therapy to get his life back, Leandro finds himself in the office of Dr. India Harris.

Falling for his uptight therapist is not part of Leandro’s plan. 

Having unethical feelings for her patient, the angry Brazilian race car driver, is not part of India’s plan. 

But what if the wrong person is the only person who is right?

My Opinion

It seems I've been waiting for this book for ages. I ended up buying it from America because I had a voucher, but of course that meant I had to wait even longer for it to arrive. Anyway, I had a nice surprise this morning when it arrived a week early.

Just like with Revved, this book held my attention brilliantly and I ended up not doing anything for the whole day. Although Leandro isn't a major part of book one, I soon came to feel for him and slowly love him. I believed in his emotions and I liked how his feelings developed.

Moreover I liked India. Although she was slightly repetitive I'm glad she came to her sense. I liked that she was self-sufficient and strong. She'd been dealt a rough life, but she was a fighter. She didn't scrounge of Leandro and was determined to make something of herself.

As for the plot it held my attention well. It had a bit of everything and I really enjoyed it.


Overall another great read and I can't wait to get my copies signed next year!

5

Review ~ Sinfully Mine (Lessons with the Dom, #2) by Kendall Ryan

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: July 14th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
She was forbidden.

I didn’t care.

As my best friend’s little sister, Macey Hale was off-limits, but the girl was tempting as sin and forbidden as fuck. I wish I could say that stopped me. I wish I could tell you I behaved like a gentleman.

I didn’t.

When she waltzes back into my life with that same spark I fell for, looking every bit the beautiful woman I knew she’d grow into, I have to force myself to remember I’m different from the man she once knew. I’m colder. Harder. And for good reason.
With my heart on lockdown and my hands aching to touch her, I set out to prove that I can keep myself in check this time.

No strings. No attachments.

And definitely no falling for her again.

My Opinion

I loved the first book in this series and I was glad I didn't have to wait too long to read Sinfully Mine. I was intrigued by Reece in book 1, and of course couldn't wait to read more about the hot, alpha males in this series.

Whilst I don't think it was as good as The Gentleman Mentor, I still enjoyed it. I liked that Reece and Macy had a past and that was a hint of the forbidden relationship because of the brother's best friend trope.

I thought that overall the story was good. It wasn't as hot as book 1 because of the walls the characters had, but I thought they changed and grew together well.


Overall another enjoyable read by this author I couldn't put down.

4

Review ~ Just Say When by Kaylee Ryan

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: May 12th 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
‪Saving myself for marriage, not hardly.‬‬
Saving myself for someone who will make my heart race, most definitely.

In theory it's a good plan, however even the best-laid plans fall through. Seeing him, being around him, alerts all my senses and I dream about being his, wrapping myself in his arms and never letting go. The only problem – he sees me as his sister.

My name's Ava Evans and I'm in love with my older brother's best friend, Nate Garrison. 



Burying myself in work for the past two years, avoiding any thought of her, has worked, until now. She's everywhere, in my dreams, in my gym, and in my heart. I'm not sure when I fell in love with Ava Evans, but I am completely in love with my best friends baby sister.

At first she was too young for me and that made it easy to stay away. Now, it's a struggle to keep my distance.


How am I supposed to resist her when I can’t escape her? If he ever found out, it would ruin our friendship. Even with that knowledge all she would have to do is...

Just Say When.

My Opinion

This was a cute, sweet read. I didn't know what to expect from this author but Just Say When has been on my tbr pile for awhile now, and it was worth waiting for and taking the chance on.

Just Say When was an easy, laid-back read that was heart-warming and endearing. It held my attention the whole way through and it was just a happy book. Unlike a lot if NA there isn't any major traumatic back stories with either characters. It was very much about Ava and Nate finding each other again and admitting their feelings.

In general I thought the feelings were developed well. It felt like they'd known each other for years, and Nate was almost too perfect. I liked that things took their time to build and that it wasn't overly graphic with sexual description. There was passion and chemistry without the need to go over the top.

I will admit it was a little predictable with regards to Brody, but I didn't really care. That's the only small negative I have.


Overall a really enjoyable read. It has a tight cast, great friendships, and is one of those perfect summer reads. Highly recommend.

5

Review ~ More Than Fashion (Chasing The Dream, #3) by Elizabeth Briggs

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: July 30th 2015

Description:
They’re enemies who will do anything to win...including each other.

When pre-med student Julie Hong wins a spot on a fashion design reality TV show, she celebrates by picking up a hot English guy in a hotel bar. But too many drinks leads to a night of embarrassment and a major hangover, and wow is she glad she’ll never see him again.

Until the show starts, and he’s on it too.

Julie quickly realizes she’s out of her league among the other designers, and Gavin Bennett, with his cocky grin and sexy accent, is her biggest competition. Julie can't decide if she wants to kiss him or kill him. Or both.

After she’s almost kicked off, Julie convinces Gavin to pretend they’re sleeping together for the camera. The ploy works, but as they get closer to the show’s finale their fake relationship starts to become too real. But only one of them can win the show—and they might both end up heartbroken.

My Opinion

I've been following this series from the start and I've really enjoyed the first few books. Therefore, when I saw More Than Fashion up on NetGalley I was excited to read it. I was also intrigued to see the author stepping away from the bands and into the world of fashion. Unfortunately compared to the other books in the series, this one missed the mark for me.

I hate to say this, but I felt this book was a step backward for this author. She started off in reality shows and moved away and has now come back to them. I knew that going in, but I hoped she'd bring something different to it. Sadly, I felt there were too many similarities between More Than Music and this book, for example: the rigging, the set up of the show, the romance. I wanted to like it, but I found myself getting bored.

Similarly, the world didn't really draw me in. Unlike with the bands, the fashion element was quite slow. There wasn't much excitement that could be created and the scenes felt repetitive once more.

As for the character, I liked them, but they didn't draw any strong emotions from me. Being English, I didn't find Gavin as charming with the accent and everything, but he was a sweet guy. I thought more could have been made of his past as it seemed a little underdeveloped, but he was a genuine character and not one of these guys that played games. With regards Julie, she was another nice character, but I never really engaged again. I didn't really like her sleep-with-everyone attitude, but I did believe in her transformation.


Overall, this was an okay read. For me it didn't have the passion or fast-paced action as the other books, but it was easy to read and had nice characters. I'm not sure I'll read the next book, but you should check out the first 2.

2.5

Review ~ Fearless by Shae Ross

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 18th 2015

Publisher: Entangled Embrace

Description:
Every fighter has a weakness...
Devi Dalton won't let anyone hold her back. With the help of her friends, she's taken control of her future and traded her messed-up family life for a new job in Manhattan. Her only obstacle? Ben Winslow, the sexy friend she's desperately trying to resist. If she's going to succeed, she can't afford to be distracted, no matter how hot the chemistry burns between them.

Cage fighter Ben spent six months trying to convince Devi to take a chance on a relationship. Now that they've reunited in New York, he's not letting her push him away again. They're more than friends-always have been-and he'll do whatever it takes to prove it to her. First, he has a few demons of his own to slay...one of which could ruin his chances with her for forever.

But every fighter has a weakness. Ben's is Devi. And this time, she'll need more than just her favorite "Fearless Red" lipstick to protect her heart if she lets him in...

My Opinion

Sigh ... I don't really know what to say about this book. It was the fighter element that intrigued me, but that side of things was so disappointing and almost non-existent that I now only feel let down. In fact I don't really understand how it can be sold as a book with a male lead who's a cage fighter.

However, before I get into all of that I'll start with the good points. This book was an easy read and a short one, which I think worked in its favour. It started off well and engaged me instantly as I wanted to know how Devi and Ben's relationship developed. I liked the friendship to romance trope and therefore I was intrigued.

Sadly, this book didn't hold my interest that well the whole way through and around the halfway mark my attention drifted. My main issue was that there was nothing to do with Ben being a fighter. He has one fight set up, which never happens and then Devi is the cause of everything else (I won't spoil it even though it was predictable). I just felt like I'd been lied to in the blurb and I wasn't getting what I thought I was. Instead the book was filled with family issues that were kind of samey. Again I won't say what all of these issues are, but it didn't work for me. Things felt too slow and there wasn't enough chemistry between the character. I didn't buy into their feelings as the book went on and they're constant hot and cold relationship drama was repetitive.


Overall, it's an okay read. If you're looking for fighter books, this isn't one. However, if you like plenty of family drama it may be for you.

2

Blog Tour ~ The Seeker Series by Amy Reece

 The Seeker Series by Amy Reece

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

SEEKER - Book #1: http://amzn.to/1eNLjLI

DREAMER - Book #2: http://amzn.to/1eNLlmO

SEER - Book #3: http://amzn.to/1P0lx3R

ORACLE - Book #4: http://amzn.to/1M0JNTr

SEEKER, The Seeker Series #1

- SYNOPSIS -

Ally Moran has always just known about things—things she shouldn’t really be able to know… 

Suddenly when she starts having vivid visions about a former friend who is in desperate trouble, the adults in her life think she might hold the key to an ancient mystery. 

Jack Ruiz has a troubled past, but is trying to make a fresh start at a new high school… 

He just wants to keep his head down and graduate, hopefully before he turns 20. The last thing he needs is to get involved with a feisty redhead and her psychic visions. 

While Jack valiantly attempts to keep Ally at arm’s length, she is equally determined to be a part of his life. Who will win this battle of wills? 

More importantly… 

Can this unlikely couple work together to find answers to Ally’s visions before someone gets killed?

- PURCHASE -

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1USeFcQ

- TEASERS -

Review ~ Passing His Guard (Against the Cage #2) by Melynda Price

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 25th 2015

Publisher: Montlake Romance

Description:
Aiden “Disco Stick” Kruze walked away from it all—money, family, friends, and a successful career as a lawyer in Manhattan—to pursue his dream of being an MMA fighter. When a sexy private investigator shows up at Aiden’s gym, he mistakenly assumes she’s a cage-banging groupie.

Ryann is determined to haul Aiden back home. She’s desperate to claim the reward money that will pay off her father’s creditors before the man who killed her father comes to collect from her.

Aiden is done living his life under the microscope of being a senator’s son. He’s not going back to New York—ever—and there’s nothing this tenacious redhead can do about it. Or is there?

When the demons of Aiden’s past catch up with him, he realizes the lies, deception, and betrayal run deeper than he ever imagined. Aiden must put his career and his life on the line to save the woman who’s stolen his heart.

*NOTE: Can be read as a standalone*

My Opinion

When I saw the length of this read I didn't expect to read it in one sitting. However, that's exactly what I ended up doing because I couldn't put it down.

Having never read or heard of this author before I wasn't sure what to expect. I have a high expectation for fighter romances after having read so many, but it's safe to say this one lived up to previous books and is one of the better ones out there.

From the start it had my attention. Once again this is a book with a female lead in a job that wouldn't typically be considered 'women's work'. As a PI, Ryann, was an interesting character. She wasn't over the top with her kick-ass attitude, but she was strong and resilient. I believed in her emotions and I thought the author combined her weaker moments in a way that was realistic.

Similarly, Aiden was an interesting character. From player to good-guy, I thought the two sides to him were well defined and the transition was believable. I liked how he softened around Ryann, yet he was unsure of himself. It was easy to see he cared, even if he tried to hide it with anger.

Moreover, there was definitely chemistry between the two. The passion and lust that started off was filled with tension and I thought the author kept the intensity up well. It grew with their emotions and changed in a natural way as feelings changed.

As for the plot, it was good. This book had the added bonus of involving the mafia as well as MMA so I can't fault it for that. It had plenty of secrets to reveal and plenty of plot strands to keep things interesting. At times I did feel description or thoughts went on a bit too long and it could have been cut down slightly more. There were also a number of questions left unanswered in the end (to view spoilers visit Goodreads version). It just seemed a bit rushed and small details weren't considered. That is the reason this isn't a five star read for me.

Overall though, a great read. I'm hoping Nikko is going to get a book next, but for now I'd definitely recommend this.

4

Review ~ Tear (Seaside, #1) by Rachel Van Dyken

ebook downloaded for free via Amazon

Release Date: November 23rd 2012

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Life as a teenager is never easy. But for Natalee Murray, things have just gotten way more difficult. Bored with life, she can't wait to graduate high school and get out of town, especially considering the famous band members from AD2 suddenly start attending her school, making her once boring life, absolutely insane.

It starts with a pen. A single brush of fingers, and she is captivated.

But Alec and Demetri have a dark secret, one that could shatter their reputations and Natalee's heart. What do you do when one guy paints your life with color while the other infuses your soul with passion? How do you choose when your heart is divided?

My Opinion

Another enjoyable read by Rachel Van Dyken. When I saw this was free I couldn't resist, and then I had to start reading it straight away.

Although I knew parts of the story from Capture, it was great to find out more about the brothers and Nat in more detail. It was a read that held my attention well, even if all the cheating isn't my preferred subject matter, and I liked the characters.

I will admit I wanted a little more emotion in the back story and I wish it had been written in dual POV like her other books, but it was still good, and this is one of her earlier works. It was also slightly tamer in the romance side of things to what I've come to know from Rachel.

Overall, a great read and I can't wait to read Pull.

4

Review ~ The Hurricane (The Hurricane #1) by R.J. Prescott

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: July 14th 2015

Publisher: Forever Romance

Description:
Emily McCarthy is living in fear of a dark and dangerous past. A gifted mathematician, she is little more than a hollow, broken shell, trying desperately to make ends meet long enough to finish her degree. 

Through an unlikely friendship with the aging, cantankerous owner of an old boxing gym, Em is thrown into the path of the most dangerous man that she has ever met.

Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell is cut, tattooed and dangerous. He is a lethal weapon with no safety and everyone is waiting for the mis-fire. He’s never been knocked out before, but when he meet Em he falls, HARD. Unlike any other girl he’s ever met, she doesn’t want anything from him, but just being around her makes him want to be a better person. 

They are polar opposites who were never meant to find each other, but some things are just worth the fight.

My Opinion

In the world of fictional fighter very few books come close to my favourites by L.P. Dover. When it comes to fighters I have high standards and they're probably the hardest characters to get me to like because of that. However, R. J. Prescott has almost done it. If this book had been MMA rather than boxing, she'd have probably equalled my favourites.

I didn't know what I was getting into with this author. This is the first book I've read by her, but I took a chance on it because she's going to be at a signing I'm attending next year. For that reason when I saw it on NetGalley I couldn't not take a chance on it  and I'm thankful to the publisher for approving me.

I loved this book. I didn't think I'd fall in love with it this much at the start, but as it went on I found myself unable to put it down. The characters were great--not only O'Connell and Emily but the secondary characters too. I thought the bonds created were believable and they felt like a family. I loved how they fought for Em and protected her. For tough fighters they had soft hearts. 

Similarly, the author balanced moments of light and dark brilliantly. On one hand there's all of the crap with Frank, which wasn't always easy to read. However, she then throws in scenes with Con that made me smile. It kept my emotions changing, but also had me growing to love the characters even more. I could sympathise and engage with them all easily.

As well as that the storyline was crafted well. At not one point did it become slow. It held me the entire way through and I didn't want it to end. I also liked how it was British/Irish. It was nice to read a book set in the UK without Americanisms.


Overall one of the best books I've read so far this year. Although it hasn't quite dethroned my favourite series, it's a close second and I would highly recommend it. I can't wait to read the next book!

5

Review ~ SLATE (Breaking the Declan Brothers, #2) by Kelly Gendron

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: July 21st 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
First loves, we all got them. Mine is Slate Declan. He was kind, gentle, and caring. Still, he managed to break my heart. So I put miles between us, and eventually, my heart healed. 
I haven’t seen Slate in years, but a couple friends and I are going back to the Bayou for the summer. While I’m visiting my hometown, I’m going to look up Slate Declan. And I plan to break his heart, just as he did mine. I'll remind him of what he has lost, and then I'll prove to him that I’ve moved on. 
It should be real easy, right?
Well, let me tell you, Slate Declan is not the same guy that I left behind. And there’s another problem. How do you break someone’s heart when they no longer have one?

My Opinion

After I'd finished Jax upon its release I wanted to read Slate's story instantly. For that reason when I saw it up on NetGalley I couldn't wait to get my hands on it.

For the most part it did deliver. I liked reading about Slate and Rayna's past and how their relationship had come into existence and been broken. I especially liked that some of the chapter were written when the characters were between the ages of nine and their late teens. They showed Slate's sweet side and created a nice contrast between that guy and the one he is in the present day.

Similarly, just like in Jax, Slate has a dirty mouth that makes the intimate scenes even hotter. When he dropped his guard or got lost in the moment he was a character you liked. For the other times he was someone you rooted for to beat his addiction.

As well as this, I admired Rayna's loyalty. I believed in her emotions and I'm glad Slate had her.

Saying all of that though, I don't think it Slate was as good as Jax. Everything in the book seemed too easy. I never really experienced the withdrawals Slate supposedly went through and it all happened too quickly. Personally, I felt his recovery was a bit too miraculous. I wanted to see more darkness and struggles. He didn't lose it half as much as I thought he would.

Moreover, it ended too quickly. I get the ending about Zeke to make you want to read his book, that wasn't an issue. My problem was I didn't feel Slate and Rayna had a proper ending that felt final and satisfying. It was a bit rushed.


Overall, it was a good read. I did prefer book one, but it's a good continuation and I'll more than likely read Zeke's book in the future.

3

ARC Review ~ Tough Love (Ultimate, #3) by Lori Foster

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 25th 2015

Publisher: Harlequin

Description:
Vanity Baker loves a good, clean match, but she's not above playing a little dirty. She's wanted Stack "The Wolf" Hannigan from day one. Seems as though the best way to corral the famously commitment-phobic fighter is to insist on keeping it casual. And her plan works—deliciously well—until Stack's past steps out of the shadows. 

Stack learned early to stay free of attachments. But with sexy, forthright Vanity, he's the one always left wanting more. Then his troublemaking family comes back into the picture, threatening everything Stack cares about—Vanity included. Suddenly he realizes they're much more than friends with benefits. He's ready to go to the mat for her…but will it be in time to protect the woman who's tamed him for good?

My Opinion

I really like this series. Each book captures my attention perfectly and holds it the entire way through.

Tough Love was no exception to this. I loved Stack an Vanity's story. It was full of hot, steamy scenes, plenty of action, and loads of drama. There was never a dull moment. I won't say too much in regards to the plot as I don't want to ruin it so you'll just have to read it. It's great.

As for the romance, I enjoyed it. I thought the characters were well crafted and how could I not fall for Stack? He had a soft side for his family but was also this tough fighter. He was surprisingly tender for a guy in this genre, but it worked.

I will admit I would have liked more MMA, yet it was still a great read nonetheless.


Overall I highly recommend this series and I can't wait for Armie's book!

4.5

ARC Review ~ Hard to Fight (Alpha's Heart, #1) by Bella Jewel

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 11th 2015

Publisher: St. Martin's

Description:
Grace is a bounty hunter who wants to be taken seriously, but her boss refuses to believe that a woman can bring down a dangerous criminal. She finally gets a chance to prove herself when she's given the case of a lifetime: capture Raide Knox and bring him to justice.

Raide is a dangerous fugitive on the run...and the sexiest man Grace has ever met. Catching Raide won't be easy. He's not the kind of man to go down without a fight. Raide is more intense and frustrating than any man she's ever had to deal with, and the instantaneous attraction that sparks between them is undeniable. One thing is for sure...it's going to be a case they will never forget.
**Hard To Fight is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA**

My Opinion

What more could you want from a book than a kick-ass bounty hunter for a female lead and a hot guy on the run? This book had me from that concept alone and I couldn't wait to get into it. Thankfully it delivered in every aspect and I ended up reading it in one sitting.

Hard To Fight was a strong book. It's throws you straight into the action that surrounds Gracie's job and doesn't stop for the entire book. At no point did I feel this book dragged. I thought it was paced perfectly and there was always something to keep me wanting to read on.

In general, I liked Gracie. She was a strong fighter and she had guts. She didn't have the most typical of jobs for a woman as a bounty hunter, and I liked how the author mixed that theme into the story of her wanting the bigger cases and to prove we worth. She may have been badass, but she also had her own doubts about herself.

Moreover I liked the relationship. There was definitely a spark with Raide and there were quite a few steamy scenes. Although I didn't connect with Raide as much as I could have, I liked him as a character and the emotions that developed in the relationship tugged on my heart strings as the lies came out.

As for the story, the majority was good. It had a bit of everything I liked. The only reason I didn't rate this book a five was because of the final few chapters. Everything did seem too easy with Dean, but maybe that's just me.


Overall a great read and I'll definitely be looking out for more by this author.

4