I had a great time with this book! This is the second book in the Arizona Vengeance serThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time with this book! This is the second book in the Arizona Vengeance series but it could easily be read as a stand-alone. Anyone that has had the chance to read the first book in the series, Bishop, will recognize quite a few of the characters but there should be no issue if a reader decided to jump in here. This book really grabbed me right from the start and I ended up reading the whole thing in a single sitting. It really was a joy to watch Blue and Erik figure things out.
Blue and Erik were both great characters. Blue works as a flight attendant on the hockey teams plane and she is anything by impressed by Erik. When she isn't working, she spends her time trying to be there for her disabled brother since she is all he has left after the death of their parents. Erik can't figure out why he keeps striking out with Blue. When he sees her out with her brother, he starts to think that there is a lot more to Blue than he originally thought.
Erik and Blue both show a lot of growth over the course of this book. Blue has had to deal with a lot of things during recent years and she has a lot of guilt from some of her past actions. The fact that she was able to give Erik a chance and forgive him was a big step and I liked the fact she wasn't afraid to apologize. Erik didn't grow up with the best role model when it came to dealing with women. He has changed from his younger days and is willing to go the extra mile when needed to win over Blue. I loved seeing how he was with Blue's brother.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. I had a great time watching Blue and Erik fall in love. This short book was able to blend some swoon-worthy moments, a touch of humor, steamy scenes, and more serious moments with ease. I can't wait to read more of this wonderful series from Sawyer Bennett!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I had a great time with this book! Blue and Erik were such a wonderful couple with loads of chemistry. I thought that Blue's brother Billy added a lot to the story. Some parts of the book were a bit predictable but there were some really touching scenes as well. Some of Erik's teammates played an important role in this book and I can't wait to read their stories. ...more
I struggled with this book from the very start but kept pushing myself to read just a bit more until the story had a chance to grab me. Unfordnf @ 54%
I struggled with this book from the very start but kept pushing myself to read just a bit more until the story had a chance to grab me. Unfortunately, after reading more than half the book I am still finding it a struggle so it is time to give up on this one. I think that the premise is pretty interesting but I just feel nothing for the characters. I actually thought that Fern's voice was the most interesting part of the story. This was a book that I was really excited to get the chance to read but it just isn't working for me.
ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley....more
This was another great installment in the Invisible Library series. I have really enjoyThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was another great installment in the Invisible Library series. I have really enjoyed all of the previous books in this series so I was really excited to read this new installment. This is the fifth book in the series and I do think that this is a series that is best read in order. I had a great time jumping back into this complex set of worlds and thought that the story was very well done.
In Paris of a neutral world, peace talks are being held between the dragons and Fae with the Library's help. When an important dragon is found murdered, Vale along with Irene are asked to travel to that world to investigate the murder. Kai goes ahead to help and be with his uncle, a Dragon King. They are quickly buried in a complex and far-reaching mystery that will have a great impact on the peace talks.
I think that I grow to love this group of characters a little bit more with each book. Irene is amazing. She is dedicated to doing what is right and getting the job done often at great risk to herself. I was happy to see that Vale plays such an important role in this book. He is such a skilled detective that is able to see what most others would miss. He insists on doing the job in the best manner possible and will not compromise himself for anyone else in any circumstance. Kai is incredibly strong but often underestimated. He is very supportive of Irene and has no problem deferring to her judgment.
I thought that this mystery was very complex and well executed. Since the murder occurs at a political event, there are a lot of Fae, dragon, and Library politics wrapped up into the mystery. There were so many factors at play and individuals that seemed less than trustworthy. I love how original each book in this series is since they are all set in worlds with their own set of rules. The special abilities of the Fae, dragons, and Librarians always seem to keep things interesting. I really enjoy the way that Irene is able to apply the use of the Library's Language to each situation and think on her feet. There are a whole lot of exciting scenes to keep this one interesting.
I would recommend this series to others. It is such a well-done series with great characters and remarkable world-building. I cannot wait to read more of Irene, Kai, and Vale's adventures in future installments.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Another great installment in the series. Irene finds herself trying to solve a murder along with Vale, Kai, and others. The mystery kept me guessing until the very end and there was plenty of action along the way. I did enjoy the progression of the personal relationships in the series as well. ...more
I didn't love this one. My feelings about this book are actually pretty mixed. I didn'tThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I didn't love this one. My feelings about this book are actually pretty mixed. I didn't hate it but I am not really sure that I liked it either. I requested this book on NetGalley when it was listed as Can You Keep a Secret? without any details. I am a curious person by nature and I just had to know about this book that was so exciting it had to be kept secret. I don't think I would have asked for this book if I had known what the actual description was.
The story opens at the funeral for Caro and Stephanie's stepmother. After the funeral, the estate needs to be settled and Caro needs a place to live so she goes to the house to sort through things. It becomes obvious almost immediately that the people in the small town her stepmother lived in do not think much of Caro. The only person that shows any kindness to Caro is the man living in the cottage on the land her stepmother's home is on, Craig.
I found the bulk of the book to be really slow. There is a whole lot of action crammed into the last part of the book but for most of the book, it didn't feel like a whole lot happened. We spend a lot of time in Caro's head thinking about all the things she doesn't know and I hate to that it got old pretty fast. I did wonder if Caro would prove to be an unreliable narrator simply because she seemed so clueless about so many things.
There were things that I did like about the book. Once all of the pieces came together near the end, I did find the book to be much more exciting. There were quite a few surprises that were revealed during the book's finale. I also liked the parts of the fairy tales that were worked into the story. I was really pretty interested in the story of the pear drum specifically.
I think that a lot of readers might like this book more than I did. I didn't hate this book but it failed to completely grab me. While I found this book easy to set aside at times, I was curious enough about how everything would work out to keep me reading until the very end and I was satisfied with its conclusion.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Avon Books UK via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I didn't love this one. When I requested this book from NetGalley, I had no idea what exactly I was asking for. It was listed as Can You Keep a Secret? without any details. I am curious by nature so I asked for the book. I have to say that I probably wouldn't have requested this one if it had been a straightforward request. I never could get into this book completely. Caro was really hard to connect with and not all that likable. It seemed like the majority of the book was focused on Caro thinking about what she couldn't remember and it was really slow going. I think that all of the actual action and answers to everything was crammed into the last 10% or so of the book. I was curious enough about how everything would work out to keep me reading until the end. ...more
I loved this romance! This is the third book in the San Francisco Thunders series but iThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I loved this romance! This is the third book in the San Francisco Thunders series but it would work just fine as a stand-alone. There are some ongoing family issues that continue throughout the series but I think that everything is explained well enough for readers jumping in with this book. This was a pretty quick read that I found hard to put down.
Sadie and Griffin were both fantastic characters. They had fantastic chemistry from the very start of the book and I couldn't wait to see how things would develop between them. They made such a good pair and just worked well together from the very start. I loved the way they seemed to see each other in a way that others didn't.
I really liked the fact that these characters were dealing with some pretty tough issues in this book. I found my heart breaking just a bit for Griffin, Sadie, and the Braddock family. Griffin had his priorities in the right place but it seemed like everyone was working against him at times. Sadie was trying so hard to be what everyone needed her to be and take care of her family. I found the parts of the book that dealt with her father's decline to be both touching and heartbreaking.
The side characters were a lot of fun in this book. Sadie and her two sisters make a rather interesting team and I loved their interaction. Their older brother, Jude, was also very close to them. I loved how they all teased and joked with each other. Griffin's daughter, Charlie, was adorable and added to the story as did his brother, Hunter. Sadie's father played an important role and I thought the fact that he had some really powerful scenes.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. I had a fantastic time with Sadie and Griffin as they fell in love. I am very glad that this book is told from alternate points of view because the reader really gets a chance to see what each character is feeling about everything going on in their lives. I can't wait to read more from this amazing series!
I received an advanced reader edition of this book from Forever Yours (Grand Central Publishing) via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts So it is really no surprise that I loved this one. I loved Griffin and Sadie together and thought that their chemistry was really well done. I liked that their hold-ups to a relationship were somewhat understandable. Sadie's family is fantastic and it was fun to see their interactions. Charlie was a great kid and only added to the story. I can't wait to read more of this series....more
I really enjoyed this romance. I have had this series on my radar since it got started This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really enjoyed this romance. I have had this series on my radar since it got started and have even collected a couple of the installments but have never had the chance to pick one up. I am so glad that I finally jumped into the series. I am happy to report that this book works perfect fine as a stand alone despite being the fifth book in the Boston Fire series. I had a lot of fun with this really well done novel.
I found that this book felt really authentic. I can't think of single thing that happens in this story that didn't feel like it could happen in the real world. I loved the fact that Derek is divorced with kids that are the center of his universe. Since I was a divorced mother of a 4 year old child when I met my husband, I could completely relate to the way he was trying to find the right balance. I also loved the way that Derek and Olivia met. I was once stuck in an elevator and while I didn't have a firefighter there to rub my feet while we waited for rescue, I did have a whole crowd of firefighters gathered to rescue me so I could totally see their meeting happening.
Derek and Olivia were both great characters. Derek is a firefighter and divorced father of two. He has a great relationship with his ex-wife which did seem to make everything a bit simpler. Olivia is a highly organized and driven business owner. Her life is scheduled down to the last detail and she likes it that way. This pair had some great chemistry and there were plenty of steamy moments. There really wasn't any manufactured drama in this one which their biggest obstacle being trying to figure out how to blend their very different lives with each other.
I would recommend this book to others. I had a great time spending time with Derek and Olivia and my heart may have melted just a bit as they fell in love. I do want to read more from Shannon Stacey very soon and will probably start with the earlier books in the series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Carina Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this book. I think one of the things that I liked the best about the story is the fact that the characters felt very real and the issues that the had to work through were ones that I could easily relate to myself. Derek and Olivia were great together and I loved how his kids were a big part of the story. ...more
This was good! I have not had the opportunity to read any of Mark Edwards writing before picking uThis review can also be found at Pure Textuality PR.
This was good! I have not had the opportunity to read any of Mark Edwards writing before picking up this book so I really had no idea what to expect. I now know that I want to read a lot more of his work. This was a book that pulled me in right away and kept me guessing until the very end. I was completely entertained by this wonderfully woven story.
Jessica is a happily married mother of two children. Jessica’s sister, Isabel, died in a tragic accident years ago. Or did she? Jessica’s young daughter, Olivia, seems to know things about her aunt that just isn’t possible since she is too young to remember Isabel. Did someone kill Isabel? If so, who could have done it? Is Isabel’s ghost really speaking to young Olivia or is something else going on?
The mystery in this story was pretty complex and it really seemed like just about anything could have happened. I loved the fact that it kept me guessing until the very end. It was really interesting to spend time with Isabel in the time leading up to her death. I thought that the things happening with Olivia was just creepy enough to give me a small case of the chills. I enjoyed watching Jessica desperately work to put the pieces of her sister’s death together. There were really a lot of things that came up that may have played a role in what happened.
This was my first experience listening to Ester Wane’s narration and I thought she did a great job with this story. She really had the perfect voice to tell this story. I thought that she added a lot of intensity and emotion to the story. She handled the cast of characters very well and the dialogue in the story felt very authentic. She had the kind of voice that was very easy to listen to for hours at a time.
I would recommend this book to fans of mystery thrillers. This book had a lot of great elements that came together to tell a story that was hard to put down. I look forward to reading more from Mark Edwards soon!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK via NetGalley and borrowed a copy of the audiobook from Kindle Unlimited.
Initial Thoughts This was good. This is the first book by Mark Edwards that I have had the chance to read so I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. The mystery really kept me guessing in this one and I was never quite sure what would happen next. The kid was pretty creepy at times which had me giving the book a whole lot of bonus points. I listened to the audio for this book and thought that Ester Wane did a remarkable job with the story....more
This was great! I feel like I have been a fan of Sandra Brown forever. Maybe not foreveThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was great! I feel like I have been a fan of Sandra Brown forever. Maybe not forever but a very long time. I haven't read all of her books yet but I have been able to keep up with her new releases each year. It is probably no surprise that I went into this book with rather high expectations. I am happy to report that this met every one of those expectations. Once I started reading this story, I didn't want to put it down and ended up having a fantastic time with it.
This book opens with Rye, a pilot, agreeing to fly a box to a small airport near Atlanta even though the area is covered with blinding fog. Rye will fly in any kind of weather so he isn't even concerned about landing until something unexpected happens. Brynn was given the task of retrieving the box and getting it back to Atlanta as soon as possible. Soon Brynn and Rye are both pulled into a series of events that seems to become more dangerous at every turn.
This book kept me guessing. Just when I thought I had things figured out something would surprise me. I thought that the suspense element was very well done and the fact that the characters were on a deadline kept things moving at a pretty quick pace. One thing that I really liked about the story was how realistic everything was. I honestly could see a situation similar to this happening and maybe it already has. I found this to be a pretty thought provoking read.
I liked Rye and Brynn. There is a bit of romance to the story but I really felt like it was a smaller part of the story although it was very well done. Rye was a character with a big personality and I knew that he had to have a story. He really was a stand up guy who refused to cross certain lines and looked out for others. Brynn grew on me throughout the book. At first I wasn't sure about her but as pieces of her past came out along with her intentions I grew to love her. I loved that these two were able to work so well with each other to meet their goals.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this book was very well written with a fairly complex plot. There was a whole lot of excitement, characters that had me cheering for them, and a few villains that were kind of fun to hate. I can't wait to read more of Sandra Brown's work in the future.
I received a copy of this book from Grand Central Publishing directly and via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was great! I have been a fan of Sandra Brown for a very long time and I am happy to report that this book was able to lived up to my expectations which were set fairly high. The story took a lot of twists and turns and I was rather surprised several times along the way. Rye and Brynn were both amazing characters but I loved the fact that although there was a bit of romance between them the romance never overpowered the rest of the story. ...more
I thought that this book was excellent. I had not read any of Grace Draven's work beforThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I thought that this book was excellent. I had not read any of Grace Draven's work before picking this book up but I had heard a lot of really good things. Since the premise of this book appealed to me, I decided to give it a try which ended up being a very good decision. I made the mistake of starting this book just before I planned to go to sleep. I had planned to read just one chapter but the first chapter of this book blew me away and I didn't want to stop after just one chapter. It has been a long time since I picked up a book with such a strong opening. I had a great time reading this amazing story.
Gilene and Azarion have both been through a lot. Gilene has been sent by her village to the capital as a sacrifice to be burned alive. She has a few special powers and has survived this event for the past five years but not without a terrible cost. Azarion is the best gladiator in the capital. He was sold into slavery ten years prior and it is really a miracle that he has been able to survive not only the fighting but the empress's whims.
I liked both of these characters. Gilene accepted her role and did her best to continue to protect her village. Azarion has not given up hope of returning to his homeland and he sees that Gilene may be the key to making it happen. I completely understood his desperation and his willingness to force Gilene to aide him with his plan.
This was a really exciting story that explored several unique and interesting settings. The horror of the Empire was incredibly vivid and emotional. It pained me to think of the needless sacrifice so many women were forced to make for the amusement of others. The book takes the reader on a journey of the lands surrounding the capital where each was a little different but still touched by the empire's power. Azarion's homeland was such a nice contrast to the capital and I really enjoyed learning about his village.
There were plenty of action scenes to keep the pages turning. Azarion and Gilene find themselves in trouble at various points of the story and there were times that I found myself holding my breath because I was worried about how things would turn out. It was fun to watch them learn to start trusting and counting on each other. I thought that the romance that built between them felt very authentic. I really enjoyed the extra abilities of both Azarion and Gilene and thought it added an interesting element to the story.
I would recommend this book to others. I thought that this book blended fantasy and romance in a spectacular manner that had me wanting things to work out for the characters more than anything. I can't wait to read more books in this series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group - Ace via Net Galley and First to Read.
Initial Thoughts I thought that this was really good. Gilene and Azarion were both great characters and I loved that we got to see then in a number of really interesting and varied settings. There was plenty of action and suspenseful moments in addition to a few that melted my heart. This one is definitely worth picking up....more
This one was a winner! It didn't take much to get me excited about this book. Once I saThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This one was a winner! It didn't take much to get me excited about this book. Once I saw Sawyer Bennett's name on the cover and saw that it was about a hockey player, I knew that I had to read it. The fact that it is the first book in a new series is even better. I have really enjoyed the Cold Fury Hockey series but I was looking forward to meeting a new group of characters. I ended up having such a good time with Bishop!
Bishop has been added to the new expansion team, the Arizona Vengeance, and is new in town. The whole team has just been put together and he is excited to see how things will work out. He goes out to a local bar the night before his first team meeting and meets Brooke. The two end up spending one very steamy night together. Turns out Brooke is the coach's daughter and an employee of the team and things are not as simple as they thought it was going to be. When Brooke tells her father they are engaged, Bishop doesn't know what to think.
I don't always spend a lot of time reading book descriptions so I had no idea that this book was going to have a fake relationship. I love the fake relationship trope lately so I was really excited to see it play out in this book. These two had such great chemistry with each other so it was really no hardship for them to have to spend a little bit of extra time with each other. This fake relationship started looking pretty real to me rather quickly.
I really liked the characters. Bishop and Brooke were both new in town, having moved to Arizona to be a part of the new team. Brooke is dealing with a few more changes in her life since her new job isn't really what she wants to do long term but she feels like she needs to be there for her dad. Bishop wasn't really all that thrilled to have to move to the expansion team but he wants to make the most of it. There were a few of Bishop's teammates that played a pretty big role in the story and I really liked what they added as well. There was one character that was really hard to like in this book but it was kind of fun to see all the crazy things she was doing.
I would recommend this book to others. I had a great time with this romance and found it to be the perfect blend of great characters, steamy scenes, and heartfelt moments. I cannot wait to read more of this series by Sawyer Bennett!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This was a winner! I really didn't read the blurb for this one since I knew that I wouldn't want to pass up a Sawyer Bennett book about a hockey player. I love the fake relationship trope so this book worked really well for me. Bishop and Brooke were both great characters and I had a blast watching them fall for each other. The character causing all of the trouble in this book was so over the top that it was kind of fun to see what she would do next. ...more
This was good. I decided to read this book largely because I have been enjoying Chloe NThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was good. I decided to read this book largely because I have been enjoying Chloe Neill's Devil's Isle series and I noticed that this book was the start of a new series. I didn't initially realize that this series is a spin off of the Chicagoland Vampires series so I was a little nervous after I made that discovery since I have only read the first book from that series. I am happy to report that this book works perfectly fine as a starting point and there is no need to have read the Chicagoland Vampires series to enjoy this novel.
This book starts out very strong. Elisa is in Paris with a friend when the area is attacked and she springs into action. Tensions are high among the European vampires so representatives from the areas go to Chicago to discuss peace. Elisa hasn't been home to Chicago in years but she is determined to help make these peace talks successful.
I really enjoyed the characters in this book. Elisa was very smart and resourceful. She knew how to handle herself and was willing to take necessary risks. She did have fears and worked hard to hide certain things from others. Connor was absolutely wonderful. He is the son of the local werewolf pack and has known Elisa since they were kids. He was smart, tough, protective, and incredibly sexy. Lulu, Elisa's best friend, added some laughs to the story. She was very competent and seemed to be exactly what Elisa needed at times. Theo worked very well with Elisa and proved that even humans could hold their own with all of the supernaturals in the area.
There was a really well done mystery at the core of this story. There is a murder that needs to be solved but nobody in charge seems to want to look beyond the surface. Elisa knows that there is more to the story so she works to figure out what is really going on. There is plenty of excitement and a few twists and turns that kept me guessing. I thought that there was a really nice balance of creativity, action, character development, humor, and a touch of romance.
I would recommend this series to others. Elisa and her friends were all really strong characters trying to solve a rather complex mystery. I do look forward to future installments in this series.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This is probably more like 3.5 stars but I am rounding up for now. This book was exciting and some of the dialogue made me laugh but I never found the book hard to set aside for some reason. I liked the characters well enough and thought that all of the key players were rather unique. There were a couple of mysteries going on and I liked how they were tied together in the end. There was even a bit of romance that kept things interesting. ...more
I enjoyed this book. I don't think that poor Evelyn is ever going to catch a break. ThiThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book. I don't think that poor Evelyn is ever going to catch a break. This is the third book in the Evelyn Talbot Chronicles which is a series that is best read in order since much of this book builds on the events in previous installments. I was eager to see how things were going for Evelyn and Amarok when I picked up this book and I found that I was quickly pulled into the story. I found this newest installment in the series to be quite entertaining.
In a lot of ways, this book felt like a continuation of the story that started in the previous installment, Hello Again. Evelyn is still very focused on her work with psychopaths at Hanover House. Her relationship with Amarok is in a very similar place since Evelyn can't seem to offer Amarok the commitment he wants. The threat of the man who nearly killed Evelyn all those years ago is having a big impact on the daily lives of both Evelyn and Amarok.
This book really focused on Jasper and it was nice to finally let that story play out. The reader knows who Jasper is posing as in the book and we get to see things from his point of view quite often. It was really interesting to see things from all the key players perspectives as the story played out. It was interesting watching Amarok and Evelyn figure things out and get themselves out of a few dangerous situations.
There were a few other things going on in this book that also worked to keep things interesting. There is a missing woman from an area cabin that Amarok has to deal with. He also has an old girlfriend that is back in town and determined to rekindle their relationship. To top things off, Evelyn's sister comes to Alaska for a visit and causes some stress of her own and causes Evelyn to make some pretty big decisions.
I did find parts of this story to be a bit unbelievable. I had no problem just accepting the story as told but I did find a few things rather far fetched. I also thought that some of the relationship issues between Amarok and Evelyn felt a bit manufactured and added unnecessary drama to the story. These issues didn't stop me from enjoying the book even though I did take notice.
I would recommend this series to others. I thought that this was a nice way to wrap up the Jasper story arc and I actually felt that it wrapped up the series quite nicely. I was surprised to find an excerpt for a fourth book in this series and I have to admit that I am very curious about how this series will go moving forward. I wouldn't hesitate to read more from Brenda Novak in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this book. There were times that some of the things that happened seemed completely unrealistic but I still had fun with it. Some of the relationship drama between Evelyn and Amarok felt a bit manufactured. Why can't we just let these two be happy for a little while?! This is the third book in the series following two full length books and a novella and I do think that this is a series that is best read in order. This book was very focused on Jasper. The reader knows who he is but I had a great time watching the other characters try to figure out how to stop him. ...more
I enjoyed this book and am very happy about how the series wrapped up. This is the thirThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I enjoyed this book and am very happy about how the series wrapped up. This is the third book in the Blood Type series which really does need to be read in order. All three books in the series come together to tell a single story with cliffhangers at the end of the first and second books. Since all three books are currently available, I would say that this would be the perfect trilogy to read back to back. I know that once I had my hands on a copy of this book, I couldn't wait to get started with it.
This is the kind of book that is really best approached as blindly as possible. It is also a very difficult book to review because almost anything that I say about the actual story would be a spoiler. I am going to do my best to be as spoiler free as possible in this review.
The second book ends with a huge cliffhanger and things are not looking so good for Reyna. She has so much to overcome in this installment and the way she dealt with everything shows a lot of character growth since the start of the series. This book had a whole lot of ups and downs and I spent a whole lot of time worried about how things would work out for Reyna and everyone else. The characters in this book go through a wide range of emotions that really pulled me into the story. There was plenty of action and a whole lot of excitement that really kept me turning the pages as quickly as I could.
I would recommend this series to others. I thought that this was a really well done trilogy with a very satisfying ending. I am really quite amazed by how pleased I am about how everything came together at the end of this book. I cannot wait to read more from K.A. Linde in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I am really happy with how this story wrapped up. These characters have been through a lot during the series and have all grown quite a bit. There were some pretty exciting developments and a lot of unexpected turns. ...more
I really had a good time with this book. It is no secret that I love a good vampire stoThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I really had a good time with this book. It is no secret that I love a good vampire story so this book got my attention right away. I thought that this vampire world sounded just different enough to be really interesting and I knew that I would have to make reading it a priority. I was pulled into the story right away and found myself trying to read every moment that I could. I found this book to be an incredibly entertaining romance.
Reyna feels like she has no other option left so she signs up to work for Visage, a company that pairs vampires with humans willing to be fed upon. Usually these positions are temporary with blood donors cycling to a different vampire after a number of weeks but Reyna is selected for a new program where she will be assigned to a single vampire on a permanent basis. This is how she finds herself moving into Beckham Anderson's penthouse.
This story is told from Reyna's point of view and I liked her right away. I felt her desperation and her fear. I also understood why she felt the need to question everything she didn't understand although there were more than a few times that I wanted to warn her that speaking up may not be the wisest choice. Reyna was confused by Beckham, or Becks, at times and he was very hard to read during parts of the book especially at the start of the story.
This book had enough excitement to keep things very interesting. The world that the book is set in is a little different than I have read before so I really enjoyed just getting to experience the world along with Reyna. The book did take a few rather exciting turns. I was able to guess a few of the twists but others came as a total surprise. I really liked Becks and Reyna together and thought that they had fantastic chemistry but this was definitely a romance that was very slow to start.
I would recommend this book to fans of paranormal romance. This book does end with a lot of unresolved issues that will most likely be dealt with in the next book in the series. I am very excited that we will get the chance to watch the relationship between Reyna and Becks develop over the course of the series. I can't wait to read more of this amazing series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I really liked this one. I thought that the world it was set in was unique enough to make the story a little more interesting. I knew that Beckham had a lot more going on than was initially shown. I thought that the chemistry between Reyna and Beckham was very well done. I was able to figure out some of the big reveals in the book but there were a still a few things that did take me by surprise. I will definitely be picking up the next book in the series as soon as possible. ...more
This was a fun little book! My actual rating is closer to 3.5 stars but I have decided This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This was a fun little book! My actual rating is closer to 3.5 stars but I have decided to round up. I knew I would want to read this book as soon as I saw it. I have had a great time with the Oxford series so far so I had to see how everything would wrap up. This book is the fourth book in the Oxford series but it works perfectly well as a stand alone. This wasn't my favorite book in the series but I thought that it was a very enjoyable and solid story.
I thought that this was a well done friends to lovers story. Brit and Hunter are best buds and often tell others that they see each other as siblings. Brit tends to be pushed to the friend zone whenever she tries to start a relationship and she cannot figure out what she is doing wrong. She decides that she needs a man's perspective to help her seduce future potential suitors so she asks Hunter for instruction. You can probably guess how that is going to work out.
The story was pretty predictable in some ways but it was still a lot of fun to read. Even though I knew going in that Brit and Hunter were going to fall for each other, watching it happen was an enjoyable experience. I did think that it was a little strange how both of them felt no chemistry with each other but everything changed suddenly for both of them at the same time. Who knows...maybe it really happens like that. I do know that it great to watch them as the sparks started to fly.
I did like Brit and Hunter as a couple and individually as characters. Brit is ready for a relationship and isn't afraid to let others know. She knew what she wanted and was willing to do the work to make it happen. Hunter is happy with his life the way it is. He has some great friends including Brit and dates when he wants. Hunter does make some bad decisions in this book that did make me cringe more than a bit. As a couple, they worked really well. They knew each other really well and were very comfortable with each other. There were some pretty steamy scenes in this one.
I would recommend this book to fans of contemporary romance. This book had a lot of great elements including great characters, fun banter, heartfelt moments, and a bit of heat. I had a great time watching Brit and Hunter find their happily ever after. I look forward to reading more from Lauren Layne soon.
I received an advance reader edition of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts Maybe 3.5 stars but I am rounding up for now. I thought that the set up for this one was a little weird but I just went with it. I liked Hunter and Brit and thought that they worked well together. I did think it was a little strange that neither of them felt any spark before but then all of a sudden the chemistry was off the charts. It was pretty predictable but still an entertaining read. ...more
This book was truly great. I have to admit that when I first saw that this book would iThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This book was truly great. I have to admit that when I first saw that this book would involve a school shooting I was really nervous about reading it. Did I really want to read a book about such a terrible event especially in the current climate? I really wasn't sure but I decided to add this book to my reading schedule because I wanted to see what Kelley Armstrong could do with such a terrible event. I haven't read too many books written by Kelley Armstrong but I have really enjoyed the ones that I have read so I trusted that she would deliver a story worth reading. This book ended up being one of those books that are almost impossible to put down. I am so glad that I decided to give this one a try.
As previously mentioned, this book does involve a school shooting so I was really afraid that it would be one of those books that would break my heart to pieces. In some ways, I guess it did because I hated everything they had gone through but it wasn't the traumatic reading experience that I had feared it would be. The focus of this book is Skye, the sister of one of the teens responsible for the school shooting that tore her hometown apart just a few years earlier. Skye is forced to move back home with her Aunt and go back to the school with the same kids who knew her brother and what he did.
Jesse was Skye's best friend and was possibly becoming more when everything happened. His brother was one of the victims and his life is completely different than it was before the shooting took place. Jesse not only lost his brother but also his best friend when Skye's family quickly left town. Jesse isn't really sure what to think about Skye's return to their hometown.
This book was a whole lot about the characters. Spending time with both Skye and Jesse as they work through their thoughts and feelings about everything going on was very eye opening. This book was also a really well done thriller. I think I might have actually missed the fact that there was some new issues when I first read the book's summary but I was quickly caught up in the events surrounding Skye and Jesse. I had a few suspects but I was never quite sure who was responsible for all of the things going on and I found myself completely glued to the pages. I really liked how Skye and Jesse were able to reconnect as they worked to figure things out.
I would not hesitate to recommend this book to others. I found this to be a thought provoking page turner filled with wonderful characters. I can't wait to read more from this talented author.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Children's - Crown Books for Young Readers via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I really enjoyed this rather exciting book. This story wasn't what I thought it would be. It was a lot better than I expected. I had no idea this would be a thriller but once things started happening, I didn't want to put the book down. I liked Syke and Jesse and was really hoping that things would work out for them. I was able to guess a few things that happened in the book but I was still completely entertained. ...more
I liked this book but I do have to say that it is my least favorite book in the series This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I liked this book but I do have to say that it is my least favorite book in the series so far. I was really excited about this book from the set up of the story that occurred in the previous book in the series, Reed. This book is the eleventh book in the series but it would read perfectly well as a stand alone because everything that is important to the story is included in this volume. That being said, the previous book got me really excited about this book despite the fact that I knew there was going to be a secret baby, which is a trope that only rarely works for me. I did enjoy this book even though I had a few issues with it.
My biggest problem with this story is that Marek and Gracen have the same argument over and over throughout much of the book. I get it that this is a really big deal to get over and it could never happen overnight. It just became a bit tiresome to read about this pair having the same issue coming up time and time again. I would have loved to see a little more of Marek getting to know Lilly or maybe a bit more of the three of them together. We do get to see some of this happening but I think that would have been a more powerful way of seeing them come together instead of the rehashing the same argument time and time again.
My other issue with this book was that Marek was a bit of a jerk at the start of the book. He brings Gracen and Lilly to his house and then promptly makes sure that he is never home to spend any time with them. I understand that he didn't know how to deal with the situation but how on earth can you get to know a child you are never home to be around. It just didn't make sense to me. Thank goodness Reed was there to put him in his place.
Marek and Gracen did have some great chemistry together and I really did like their interactions when they were not arguing with each other. These two have been through a lot and they really had to take some time to be able to be together while staying positive. I would say that the last third of the book or so was when things started to work for me a bit better. I liked the way they eventually were able to appreciate each other again.
I think that other readers might like this one a bit more than I did. This story did have some great points with a cute kid. a few rather romantic moments, and some pretty hot interludes. I can't wait to read more from Sawyer Bennett very soon.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Random House Publishing Group - Loveswept via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts This wasn't my favorite book in the series but I did enjoy it. Maybe 3.5 stars? I might round up once I have some time to think about it a bit. I knew going into this book that there would be a secret baby. That is not my favorite trope but I liked the way that things were set up in the previous book so I decided to give it a try. Marek and Gracen have more than a few issues with each other but they do seem good together and their chemistry is off the charts. Lilly was adorable. ...more
I had a great time with this book. I knew that this was going to be a book that I wouldThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I had a great time with this book. I knew that this was going to be a book that I would need to read as soon as I saw it. I have been a fan of The Dresden Files for quite some time so spending a bit of time with Harry Dresden and company was something that I was quite eager to do. I went into this book with pretty high expectations simply because I have come to expect great things from this series. I am happy to say that this book met every one of those expectations.
Of the 12 stories included in this collection, 11 have been previously published. I was lucky enough to have missed all but one of the stories so almost everything was new to me. The one story that I had read previously was one that I really enjoyed the first time so I decided to go ahead and read it again and ended up enjoying it just as much the second time around.
I loved how varied and original each of the stories were while giving me the taste of much loved series that I was looking for. Some of the stories feature Harry as the lead character but we do get the chance to see other characters take that role including Molly, Butters, Maggie and Mouse, and Warden Luccio. I loved getting the chance to see these other characters take the lead and enjoyed spending a moment hearing some of their thoughts.
When I pick up a collection of stories, I have discovered that I will probably like some of the stories more than others. I usually come across a few that I don't really care for as well but that didn't happen with this book. I really liked all of the stories pretty equally and can honestly say that every story in the group is solid and if rated individually, I would give them all either 4 or 5 stars.
I would highly recommend this book to others. These stories take place at various spots within the series but I think readers new to the series would appreciate this book. Fans that are up to date with the series will enjoy seeing favorite characters as we remember them. I can't wait to read more from this amazing series!
I received a digital review copy of this book from Berkley Publishing Group via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I enjoyed this book of stories. Even though most of the stories in this collection have been previously published, I had only read one of them prior to picking up this book. I liked that there was a short introduction from the author before each story to set everything up. It was great to spend some time with Harry, Molly, Butters, Maggie, and the rest of the gang. ...more
This book left me speechless. A lot of things happened and not all of them made me happThis review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
This book left me speechless. A lot of things happened and not all of them made me happy. I feel in love with this series shortly after the release of Menagerie and have eagerly awaited each new installment. In case you are wondering, this is the third and final book in the Menagerie trilogy which really does need to be read in order. To say that I couldn't wait to get my hands on this book would be an understatement because I just had to know what happens to Delilah, Gallagher, and the rest of the group.
This book is set up a little differently than the previous books in the trilogy. There are two timelines throughout the book where previous books had only brief glimpses into the past. This book focuses on the present day with Delilah and company but also goes back to 1986 as The Reaping began. I found the parts of the book set in the past to be interesting but I was a bit confused why the focus wasn't more on the present day. As I continued to read, things started to come together and I began to see the larger picture but the shift was a bit surprising.
As I have come to expect from this series, this book has its share of heartbreak. More than its share if I am being honest. The world that Delilah and her friends are living in is cruel and unjust. They must live in constant fear of discovery and simple tasks are quite risky. The group wants to reunite with others that they were separated from during their escape but every move could jeopardize their own freedom.
Delilah's pregnancy is a major focus of this story. Her pregnancy lasts a bit longer than a human pregnancy which is no surprise since the father, Gallagher, is a red cap. Neither Gallagher or Delilah made the choice to become parents but they are both committed to doing what is best for the child. It does put a strain on their relationship as they try to figure out how to move forward and what their roles will be.
I do have to say that I did struggle with the rating for this book a bit. I have been back and forth trying to decide if it is a 3 star read or a 4 star read. Some things happened in the book that I didn't like but I think it is a story well told. After some careful thought, I do think that the book deserves 4 stars. I was quite impressed by the complexity of the 1986 timeline and how everything ended up coming together. I still am not completely sold on the ending and would have liked to see just a bit more than we were given but I can deal with it as written.
I do highly recommend this trilogy to others. It is a really captivating tale of a world where cryptids must fear humans. I have already read some of the early books in the trilogy more than once and plan to re-read the trilogy again in the future which is rather high praise. I can't wait to read more from Rachel Vincent.
I received a digital review copy of this book from Harlequin - MIRA via Edelweiss and NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I am kind of speechless after finishing this book. This book was quite different than the other two books. There were really two timelines to follow for much of the story and seeing how they came together kind of blew my mind just a bit. I don't even know what to say about that ending right now. I need to take some time to really process everything before I decide on a rating.
ARC provided by the publisher via Edelweiss and NetGalley. Full review to be posted soon....more
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a This review can also be found at Carole's Random Life in Books.
I have very mixed feelings about this book. I have been a fan of Lisa Scottoline for a long time and have almost always really enjoyed her books so I went into this book expecting to love it. I didn't love it but I didn't hate it either. It was really just kind of okay for me. I had a really hard time getting into this book and it actually took me an entire week to finish it which is a very long time for me to be reading a single book. Once I really got into the book a bit, I did find the story a bit more entertaining and was very curious how things would work out.
I feel like Scottoline took a bit of a risk with how this story is laid out and I am not sure that it paid off at least for me. The book is told through 2 points of view and 2 different time lines. Noah's point of view starts at the end his trial for the murder of Anna and works its way backwards through time. Maggie's point of view begins with Anna's first contact with her since she was a baby and progresses towards the events leading to the trial. These two points of view move in opposite directions until they eventually come together. I feel that one of the reasons that I had such a hard time getting into the book was that I already knew that Anna was going to be killed and Noah was going to stand trial for the murder. I didn't know how those things would happen but some of the desire to find out what would happen next was lost simply because of how the story was laid out.
Eventually the two points of view meet up and start to follow the same basic timeline which really worked better for me. Some of that is achieved through Noah's memories while he sits in the courtroom during his trial. I think that some of the best parts of the book were the times that we would see an event from both Noah and Maggie's point of view.
I love a good plot twist. But I like for plot twists to be believable. I want them to be at least somewhat realistic. This book started taking twists and turns all over the place and most of them seemed way over the top. Instead of surprise over the turn in the story, I felt shocked that the story had become so implausible. The last part of the book spun in a whole new direction that seemed more odd than anything.
Despite my issues, I do enjoy Scottoline's writing and found this book to be very readable and I did like the book. I think that a lot of readers will enjoy this one more than I did so I would encourage anyone drawn to the description to give the book a try. I do plan to read more from Lisa Scottoline in the future.
I received a digital review copy of this book from St. Martin's Press via NetGalley.
Initial Thoughts I don't even know what I think about this one yet. Words that come to mind are far-fetched, over the top, unbelievable, and implausible. It was still a book that I felt compelled to keep reading. I feel like Scottoline took a few risks with this one and they didn't completely pan out. Despite my issues, I still thought that this was a decent read....more
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