ebook downloaded for free via Amazon
Release Date: October 10th 2013
Description:
My name is Jasmine and I have HIV.I was 14 years old the first time my mother’s boyfriend hit me and at the age of 18, I was forced to be a prostitute. Cast away by the same people I thought were family, I was ready to take my own life. Until I met Nate. He didn't run away when I said I was sick. But I wonder why a handsome, funny, Mr. Right like him would love someone like me?My name is Nate and I have a secret.I met Jasmine at a crossroads in my life. She was beautiful, desperate, and inspired me in ways I didn't know were possible. She makes me better in everything and I want to help her get better, too. But I have a secret, one she doesn't have to know - until the time is right.
My Opinion
This is a little different from my normal reviews, but it is the most concise way of writing down my thoughts.
- the start wasn't easy to read and I did think I was going to give up at one stage. I thought I was getting a romance and it was taking too long to arrive. When it did, I was disappointed with it.
- there were too many plot strands crammed into a relatively short read. It meant there was little development on each individual strand leading to a choppy writing style. Things weren't developed enough, motives were missing and therefore it was hard to understand why things were happening. It also meant there were a lot of loose ends.
- because there was so much going on I found it hard to connect with the book or characters. There wasn't enough emotion for me. Things happened too quickly, and the whole book needed to be slowed down.
- I didn't buy into the romance. It all moved too quickly and things magically went away when Nate arrived. It wasn't realistic.
Overall it has potential to be a good story. The concept would be interesting and moving, but it needs a lot of work to get there.
2
ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: November 9th 2013
Description:
What good is running AWAY when you only end up lost? Cassandra Pierce had her whole "perfect" life planned out by her parents. One night of pure weakness and lust has her running away from it all and seeking refuge in Alamosa with her best friend. But it seems life has other plans for her when she finds herself lost in the small town of Keaton. Jason Bradley is a charming country guy. He lives a simple life that’s nothing like what Cassandra is used to. A single moment in life changed everything he thought he once knew, leaving him with a broken heart and an unplanned future. What happens in Keaton is nothing Cassandra or her heart could have ever prepared for. The instant connection she shares with Jason is no secret, but what they're keeping hidden from one another is. Will these two be able to find a way to trust each other or will their secrets tear them apart?
My Opinion
Sigh, sigh, and sigh again. Everything was going so well and then it went horribly wrong and left me disappointed. I hate saying this as for most part it was a good book, but the ending was horrible and ruined the entire book.
I'm not going to give anything away as there are a few secrets in this book that take awhile to come to light. I also definitely didn't guess Jason's so I don't want to ruin it for you if you choose to read Away. For that reason I'm keeping this relatively short.
For the most part this book was a cute, adorable read. The romance was sweet and the characters were easy to like. However, for me, all of this was let down by the ending. It didn't draw any emotion but annoyance from me and I felt let down. I hate books that end on a bad note, especially when the romance is good. It ruined the entire book for me and there were quite a few things that weren't tied up satisfyingly. This book is more like one big prequel to set up book 2 and it shows in the pacing, which was sometimes slow, and at others very choppy.
Similarly, the whole deal with Cassie's parents was jarring and felt more of an add on. I didn't believe her emotions to go to them and from that point on I was turning every page hating the story. I'm guessing it was meant to break my heart but really I was just angry.
Overall the majority of this book was good. However, if you like HEAs don't read this. The ending ruined this book entirely for me and it was enough to bump my rating down. I would have rated it 3 stars, but when a book leaves me in such a bad mood I can't bring myself to do that. The endings are important for me and make or break books in my opinion. For me it doesn't matter how good the story is, if the ending sucks the whole book is ruined.
2
eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: May 21st 2015
Publisher: HarperImpulse
Description:
After losing her elderly parents, portrait photographer Anna will do anything to avoid losing the family home – the only thing she has left of her perfect childhood.
When a friend who works at the exclusive boutique hotel, The Lavington, provides a hot tip – an A list film star is staying there with her rumored toyboy lover – Anna comes up with a plan. A photo of them together could be the answer to all Anna’s money problems.
Unfortunately, she’s the worst paparazzi photographer on the planet and Jack, the hotel’s new head of security, back in England after globetrotting as bodyguard to the stars, isn’t about to allow a picture on his watch. No matter how cute the photographer might be…
My Opinion
This was a short, sweet, and slightly humorous read that I enjoyed over the space of an hour. I preferred it to the first book in the series (the only other I've read) and it held my attention well.
Being a novella there, of course, won't be as much emotional depth. However, I thought the author fitted in quite a bit of back story for both characters and I could sympathise with Anna. I also like that she had morals.
I'd say the romance is more short and sweet than hot, but it had me smiling.
Overall this was an enjoyable read. I liked the author's style and the moments of comedy that come with Anna being a bad paparazzi. Oh, and it can be read as a standalone even though it's the fourth book in the series.
4
ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Release Date: August 2012
Publisher: Amazon Skyscape
Description:
It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain.
Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.
When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back...
My Opinion
This book has been on my tbr pile for ages but I've never got round to buying it. Therefore when I saw it up on NetGalley I thought it the perfect time to get into the series.
Sadly though, this book just isn't holding my attention. It got off to a rocky start and since then I've been struggling with it. I've made it to 60% but I'm skimming more than I'm reading now so I'm going to mark it as DNF. For some reason the story just isn't engaging me--and I know I'm in the minority here. There's not enough happening. It has it's moments where it picks up, but there's not enough for me. Maybe it's because I'm swaying more toward romance than paranormal at this minute, but I think it's more suited to a younger audience really. I may return to it at some point but for now I need to move on as I should have finished a book this length within a day, not spend a week and only reach 60%.
DNF
Paperback purchased by myself
Release Date: March 17th 2015
Publisher: Self-published
Description:
Race car mechanic Andressa "Andi" Amaro has one rule—no dating drivers. With a good reason behind the rule, she has no plans on breaking it.
Carrick Ryan is the bad boy of Formula One. With a face and body that melts panties on sight, and an Irish lilt that leaves women on their knees, begging for more. He races hard and parties harder. The youngest driver to ever sign with F1, he’s still at the top of his game five years later, breaking hearts on and off the tracks.
When Andi is offered her dream job working in the glamorous world of F1, she leaves her home in Brazil, positive she can handle working for Carrick. But she’s not prepared for the off-the-chart sparks that fly the moment they meet.
Now, Andi has a crush on the one man she can’t have, and her resolve is about to be put to the test, because Carrick has decided he wants Andi, and he plans on testing her to the very limit…
My Opinion
When I bought this I didn't realise I'd already ready and enjoyed some of this author's previous work. Instead I purchased it based on the sample and Formula 1 premise seeing as I'm a fan of the sport. It's needless to say I was pleasantly surprised when I found out I'd read Trouble late last year so knew what I was in for with this author.
I enjoyed Revved more than I did Troubled. It's one of those books I kept telling myself I'd only read another chapter of and then go on to read half the book, especially once it got going. I had a hard time putting it down and enjoyed the overall story. I've never read anything about drivers before so it was unique in that sense and it was a nice change from all of the MMA or cop books I've been reading lately.
As for the characters I liked Andi, especially at the start. I liked her feisty attitude and did think there was chemistry between her and Carrick. I did think she gave it up a bit too easily, but I still enjoyed it. Carrick on the other hand was the typical player. He was hot, demanding, and knew what he wanted. He was also a bit of an asshole at times but you still love him. I would have liked more detail on his past and how it affected him emotionally as I thought that came kind of out of the blue, but for the most part I liked him and the changing relationship between the two. I believed in Andi's emotions and reasons for doing what she did.
The only other thing I have to say about the story was I was slightly disappointed by the lack of racing. The chapters move around the different races on the calendar but we never got much detail. I know that's because this was a romance essentially, but I felt it could have been added slightly more as it's not common right now for me. Also, there were small things that didn't feel realistic with the racing. I doubt you'd notice them if you're not a fan of the sport, but they did bug me slightly as it's not something that would happen.
Overall though this is the second book I've read by this author an I've enjoyed both. For the most part this was an easy, laid back read I could enjoy over two days and I'd recommend it.
4
