ARC Review ~ Flirting in Florence (Summer Flings #6) by Aimee Duffy

eARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 25th 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Description:
Part 6 of Summer Flings – a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

Instead of hitting the designer shops with her friends, Ciara’s all about proving Florence can be enjoyed on a budget – and she isn’t talking about the sexy Italians Elle and Gem pick up for the duration!

One-on-one with Zack is getting too intense so she plans a grape-squishing trip to a vineyard hoping to leave her problems back in the city. Of course her doomed affair is the least of her worries when her friendship with his cousin is on the line.

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

My Opinion

Okay, so I knew this was coming at some point in the series but that didn't mean I liked reading it--well I enjoyed reading more about these characters, I just don't like the way nothing's going as I want it to!

This instalment had me wanting to scream at Ciara the whole way through and in a way I'm glad Elle did. You finally see a different side to Elle in Florence and it was a believable and nice change that tied in well with how the secrets were revealed.

It was inevitable that Ciara would use her past as an excuse to push Zack away and my heart broke for him. There was more emotion in this instalment and I dislike the the author for leaving it on such a cliffhanger! It's just mean and makes me want to start the next one even though it's 1am. :-)


All I can hope is I get the ending I'm looking for in the final book, which I'm both sad and excited to start. This is also my favourite cover of the series--just beautiful!

4.5

Book Spotlight ~ Unabridged by Melinda De Ross

Unabridged

Release Date: August 17th 2014

Genre: Romantic Comedy/Chicklit

Description:
Ironically, it all starts with a popular book about BDSM. When Angelina Jameson steps into her boss's office armed with an acid article about 'Billionaires, BDSM and Blah-blah-blah', she thinks her career will take off. But her career aspirations drop into second place when she finds herself face to face with her nemesis.
Blade Spencer is the new editor-in-chief of Unabridged—the literary magazine where his ex-lover Angelina works. For three years, since she fled small town Jamestown without a word of explanation, they haven't heard from one another. Now, when they meet again, the past and all the feelings they once had between them come rushing back, making them realize their love has never died. But can they reconcile their new circumstances and the changes that have occurred during the three years they were apart? Neither is the person the other used to know.
Then there is the faceless shadow who hunts them from the dark, driven by obsession and greed...

*This book contains strong language and explicit descriptions of sex.

Buy: Amazon

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Anca-Melinda Coliolu, writing as Melinda De Ross, lives in her native Romania with her husband, Ionut-Augustin Coliolu.

She attended Law School and got her degree but worked as a journalist for several newspapers, polishing her writing skills.

It never occurred to her that she wanted a career as an author until she began writing, as therapy to get perspective on a crucial part of her life.

Melinda was a professional target shooter for a decade, winning multiple National Championships. She was breaking records in her teens until health issues forced her to give up the sport.

Out of that heartbreak, Rendezvous with Hymera started taking shape and so began her career as a Romantic Suspense author.

Melinda has always been a fan of writers like Diana Gabaldon, Nora Roberts and Sandra Brown. Currently she weaves romance into tales laced with the paranormal and occult. Her interests in yoga, philosophy and a large range of other disciplines give her work depth and color.

She is also the author of the series Coriola (Mirage Beyond Flames and Dante’s Amulet) and A Touch Of Poetry, a short poems collection.

ARC Review ~ I Want It That Way (2B Trilogy #1) by Ann Aguirre

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 28th 2014

Publisher: Harlequin UK (Mira)

Description:
Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she's determined to make them come true—for her parents' sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B…. 

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can't risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, a social life is out of the question. The last thing he wants is for four noisy students to move into the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia's and Ty's paths cross, and soon they can't stay away from each other. 

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can't know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

My Opinion

I will admit that when I requested this book I was on the fence about whether it would be for me. I liked the sound of the romance but the young dad aspect had me wary about whether this book would be for me as I'm not that fond of kids. I knew it was a risk but I'm glad I took a chance on this book as by the end it, and Sam had won me over--actually Sam won me over when he first came on the scene with his handshake.

I like how things progressed and felt Ty was a great male lead. He wasn't the usual arrogant, self-obsessed guy who can get any girl he wants you find in these types of books. Whilst he was described as hot (wasn't feeling the ginger though), he genuinely put Sam first and was a great dad. The relationship the two of them had was adorable and you couldn't help but love him all the more for it. As well as this, his past, although predictable, was dealt with sensitively and I liked that it wasn't overdone.

Similarly, I thought Nadia was a great character. She was loving, supportive and great with Sam. It wasn't just with the guys though, she was like it was all of we friends who I grew to like as well.

If there was one thing that I wasn't so keen on to begin with, it was the romance. I felt the start was a bit slow and took a while to get into things. I also didn't really like the friends with benefits side of things--even if they slowly fell for each other. I'm not sure what it was in the beginning but it didn't feel that natural and there was something that wasn't connecting with me. To start with I felt quite disconnected with the writing but I'm glad it grew on me. By the end I was fully invested in the characters' stories and loved them all. I was pleased with how it ended and it did leave a smile on my face.

Overall, I didn't expect to enjoy the child aspect of this book but it came as a pleasant surprise. It was a nice read and has some great characters.

3.5

ARC Review ~ Ibiza Insanity (Summer Flings #5) by Aimee Duffy

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 21st 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Description:
Part 5 of Summer Flings – a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

After their not-so-relaxing week in the sun, the girls are off to the clubbing capitol of the world to let off some steam.

Skater boys, Ibiza’s Next Top Model competition and skimpy gold bikini’s don’t compare to the man Ciara’s desperate to cheer up. She’s beginning to realize her summer fling isn’t as uncomplicated as it should be.

To make things worse, she finds out that her best friends are keeping secrets from her that could change everything…

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

My Opinion

I'm not sure how I feel about this short in the series. I think anything would have a hard time following the previous one, so whilst it wasn't as great as that, it was still an enjoyable read. There are more issues coming into play with Ciara and Zack's relationship as it develops further than either of them want to admit, and they are frustrating me beyond belief--in a good way. Things aren't looking all that promising and I only have two books left. I may have liked a bit more to happen in this book as it wasn't as full of stuff like the rest of the series but hopefully, Florence will hold more adventure and I'll get the ending I want in Dublin!

Review ~ Geeks Go Greek (Summer Flings #4) by Aimee Duffy

eARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: August 18th 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Description:
Part 4 of Summer Flings – a fun, flirty and laugh out loud rom com series of short stories.

Who needs fun when you can chill out in a stunning villa in Santorini all week and be pampered in every way possible? Ciara does.

After an unfortunate wardrobe faux par, challenging her friends to jet ski racing, and hooking up with an unexpected visitor, Ciara’s all about sex on the beach… the yacht… in the sea – wherever and whenever really! And she’s not alone. It’s the perfect fling in theory, but what happens when their Greek adventure comes to an end?

The ideal summer treat for those relaxing days soaking up the sun!

My Opinion

This has got to be my favourite short in the series so far! I absolutely loved this one. The heat level really kicks up a gear in Geeks Go Greek and I love that Zack features so heavily. Finally he is involved more than just by rescuing them or a quick hook up.

I really enjoyed that this book had the girls relaxing and having fun more than going wild and getting in trouble. It kept a smile on my face and I wanted it to go on longer. The relationships were developed and built on well and I find myself growing to like Ciara and Zack even more. Once again, I'll be starting the next one soon.