Review ~ My Clarity (My Clarity #1) by M. Clarke

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: May 9th 2014

Description:
Still reeling from the death of her father, Alexandria hopes to find both independence and reprieve from her grief by heading off to college. However, life throws her a serious curveball when she discovers that her roommate isn’t quite the person she had imagined.

Smoking, tattoos, and street racing for fast cash are Elijah’s only interests. A harsh life has made him apathetic and indifferent, until Alexandria enters his life. When their paths cross, turmoil abounds.

An inevitable encounter, an undeniable attraction, and an unexpected chance at love—will it be enough?

My Opinion

This book has drawn mixed emotions from me so bare with me during this review. I'm still trying to get my head around what I think overall.

My Clarity started off well. While it was predictable what was happening with the room mate situation, I was intrigued to see how the author would develop things. It posed some interesting situations and I liked the relationships between the characters originally.

Similarly, I enjoyed this book until about 60%. It held my attention well and I liked the characters. I liked that the author was taking the time to develop the relationship between the characters and it was, but also wasn't insta-love. I'm also glad Elijah helped Alex through her dad's death and I thought her growth was good.

However, this book lost it for me in the end. My attention began to wane and I found myself very disinterested. For me I didn't like the romance. Elijah wasn't bad enough and I didn't see a transformation to the loving doting boyfriend. Moreover, I didn't really enjoy Alex's transformation. For a virgin she was incredibly forward.

I think my main problem was after such a build up, it didn't deliver. Things happened too quickly and it just lost the emotion and tension that had been developed. I can't place my finger on what was missing, but there was something for me. It felt a bit bland and left me on a note I can only describe as "meh".


Overall, the majority of this book is good. It's a shame the end didn't deliver, but I wouldn't not recommend it.

3

Review ~ Jax (Breaking the Declan Brothers #1) by Kelly Gendron

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: March 2015

Description:
“Some boys can get rough, some don’t always listen when you tell them to stop, and some boys, they’re just monsters. You gotta be careful who you play with…” ~ Jax Declan

I’m a tease, always have been. In my teens, Jax Declan tried to warn me about staying away from the bad boys. The only boy I ever wanted was Jax. But, no matter how much I tried to play with him, he rejected me. 

I haven’t seen Jax Declan in years. A couple friends and I are going back to the Bayou for the summer. A little older now, and a bit wiser, I’ve decided that I’m going to find my teenage crush and I’m going to break him. This summer Jax Declan will play with me. 

But the closer I get and the more I learn about the reserved, discreet, and sexy Jax Declan. Well, I’m starting to think that Jax Declan might just be one of those bad boys he tried to warn me about all those years ago.

My Opinion

It was the teasers I'd seen on Goodreads that convinced me to take a chance on this book. I haven't heard or read anything by this author before, yet they intrigued me.

In general this was a quick, hot read. It took me just under two hours to finish and held my attention well. I like second chance romances, or book about old friends reconnecting so I fell in love with this story instantly.

Jax was an interesting character. I liked his dominance and control. I also liked the way he teased Emmie and turned the tables on her. He was hot and swoon worthy.

I'm still on the fence about Emmie. She wasn't very likeable to me because of her attitude. She acted like a tease and even admitted to being one. It's okay for a bit but she just didn't connect with me completely. I preferred her around Jax rather than her friends.

My only real complaint was that at times the writing could have been clearer. I found myself re-reading pages to figure out who was speaking in the conversations. It wasn't always obvious who said what, which led things to be a bit confusing.

Overall though this was an enjoyable read. The ending was mean as I want to know what happened to Slate so I'll definitely be reading more.

4

Review ~ Diamond Duplicity (Jewels of Desire, #1) by Erica Lucke Dean with Elise Delacroix

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: June 9th 2015

Publisher: Cinnabar Silk

Description:
Passion hotter than stolen diamonds

Lucy Matthews can’t believe her crazy luck. While she’s on a date with Mr. Wrong, her evening tilts from merely unfortunate to downright surreal when his attempt to sneak them into a club lands them in the middle of a diamond heist.

When gorgeous Max Callaghan discovers a hot and disheveled Lucy clutching his bag of diamonds at the crime scene, he brands her with a fiery kiss. His gang wants her dead, so Max rescues her by claiming her as his girlfriend. Lucy soon realizes with sudden, pulse-pounding clarity that she needs Max for another reason entirely, but their passionate ruse might not survive the intense pressure of a high-stakes mob war.

****GRAPHIC LANGUAGE, SEX, AND ADULT SITUATIONS****

My Opinion

Diamond Duplicity sounded like an interesting read. I did read some reviews before requesting it so I went in knowing it was short. I'd also seen some comments about the believability, but I decided to take a gamble on it. However, what I didn't expect was for it to be so unbelievable. With this book you really have to suspend reality and roll with it. If you questions everything you'll never get to the end.

The plot basically revolves around Lucy who's in the wrong place at the wrong time. She gets caught up in a gang's operation and falls for the leader Max. The whole story covers one night and that's where my problem lay. Everything was rushed.

There's no character development because really, how could there be? The sex is instant, leading me to dislike Lucy for being too easy. There a whole load of insta-love, and for a guy high up in some kind of mafia to admit to wanting a girl forever after one night seemed unrealistic--even if he wasn't in the mafia it would have been unbelievable. I don't mind insta-love but the books have to be longer so there's development and growth. I just couldn't buy into this. From the amount of sex it was more lust than anything.


Overall, this is a quick read. If you don't mind suspending reality and all beliefs then you may enjoy it, but for me there were too many unrealistic qualities and it was too short to dispel them.

2

ARC Review ~ The Consequence of Revenge (Consequence #2) by Rachel Van Dyken

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: June 9th 2015

Publisher: Amazon Skyscape

Description:
After losing his best friend to another guy, the notoriously too-confident Max Emory suddenly feels lost. He may have devastatingly good looks, an abundance of charm, and a claim to one of the biggest hotel empires around, but he has no ambition anymore. So when his fed-up friends decide they’ve had enough of his moping, they sign him up to be the next bachelor on the reality series Love Island. And between his pride and his forged signature on an ironclad contract, Max just can’t say no.

Now he’s stranded in paradise with twenty-four women, one terrifying goat, and Becca, the breathtaking barista who already turned him down back home. The closer Max gets to Becca, the more determined he becomes to win her over. As she gets to know him better, things start heating up. But is Becca really after Max’s heart—or is she after the cash prize she could claim once the cameras stop rolling?

My Opinion

I loved the first book in this series. It is one of the funniest reads I've ever picked up so it's needless to say I was dying to read this story. I loved Max from the beginning and I couldn't wait to see where the author took his story.

The Consequences Of Revenge didn't disappoint. It was different from what I was expecting seeing as I didn't read the blurb before requesting it, yet it was just a enjoyable. Max was his usual over-confident, loveable, and over-exaggerated self. He made me smile and although I didn't laugh out loud as much with this book, it definitely kept me in a good mood.

The plot was interesting and kept me engaged. I'm glad the author kept Milo, Colton, and Jason involved in the book and I loved the additions of Hades and Little G (you'll have to read it to find out who/what they are). The relationships were once again created well. The bonds between the group were good and there are plenty of accidents once more--poor Jason!


Basically, these books are feel good reads. Whilst I enjoyed book one more, this still kept me entertained and I couldn't put it down. This author is quickly becoming a favourite of mine and I hope there is more to come from this series.

4.5

Review ~ No Limit (Armed and Dangerous, #1) by L.P. Dover

eARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: June 1st 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Murder. Lies. Betrayal.

I deal with those things every day. My name is Jason Avery, one of the best undercover agents in the country. I have yet to fail on a mission, which is why I’ve been sent to Vegas. Countless women have been abducted, tortured, only to show up dead in the middle of the night. It’s my job to find out which sick fuck is responsible. Unfortunately, every lead sends me to a dead end; at least, until Aylee McFadden shows up at my door.

Aylee is a stubborn, headstrong FBI agent and also one of the sexiest women I’ve ever seen with a gun. In joining me, it gives us the leverage we need to get on the inside. She fights me at every turn, but soon realizes there’s more to me than tattoos and a dirty mouth. I can’t get enough of her. Now that we’re in the game, we’re one step closer to solving the crime. However, gambling with money isn’t what the big boys want. They want the one thing I’m not willing to give.

It’s a no limit game, and if I back down I lose everything. I will lose her.

**STANDALONE NOVEL **

My Opinion

I hate that I'm writing this review. In fact I always hate reviewing LP's books because that means I've got to the end of whichever one I'm reading and have to wait for the next one. I don't think I'll ever be able to get enough of her writing and I'm so glad to be part of the indie community so I can discover great author like this.

As you'll all probably know if you follow my reviews, for the past year and a bit I've had a soft spot for LP's Gloves Off series and her fighters. Whilst I was sad to see that series end, I was also excited to see what she came up with next with her new spin off Armed and Dangerous. Jason intrigued me in Camden's Redemption and I couldn't put his books down. Also for those of you who love Gloves Off a few of the guys make an appearance!!

Anyway, No Limit was an exciting, edge-of-your-seat read. It held my attention the whole way through and the only reason I stopped was because I didn't want it to be over in one evening. The plot was interesting and I didn't fully guess what was going on--I was half right. Things were paced well and I thought the romance that developed around the case was just as great as her other books. It had its ups and downs where the author toys with your heart, but in the end she never fails to make me smile.

Moreover, the characters were a perfect match for each other. Aylee was strong willed, stubborn, and fiery. She easily matched Jason with wit and strength, and she was someone you couldn't help but respect. Not only was she someone you couldn't mess with but she put her life on the line. Similarly, Jason's just as dedicated to the force. He was cocky and arrogant but I liked that this came across as more of a joke around Aylee. I think the author struck a good balance of taming him and letting him run free with his arrogance. It made him likeable.


Overall this was a great read I enjoyed immensely. LP's books never miss the mark and she's rapidly rising to the top on my favourite author list. I'd recommend not just No Limit, but any book by her! If I could give her more than 5 stars I would.

5