Book Review: Charged (Saints of Denver, #2) by Jay Crownover

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Format: Kindle

Publishers: Harper

Published: 24th May 2016

Pages: 400

Genre: Adult, New Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Avett, Quaid
Date Read: 10th July - 15th July 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:The next book in the smoking hot SAINTS OF DENVER series from NYT bestselling author of the MARKED MEN series, Jay Crownover
Avett Walker and Quaid Jackson’s worlds have no reason to collide. Quaid is a high powered criminal attorney as slick as he is handsome, and Avett is a pink-haired troublemaker with a bad attitude and a history of picking the wrong men.
When Avett lands in a sea of hot water because of one terrible mistake, the only person who can get her out of it is this insanely sexy lawyer. The last thing on earth she wants to do is rely on a man who thinks of her as nothing more than a nuisance, yet there is something about him that makes her want to convince him to loosen his tie and have a little fun…with her. Quaid never takes on clients like Avett. She could stand to learn a hard lesson or two, but something about her guileless hazel eyes intrigues him. But keeping their relationship strictly business is becoming more impossible with each day he spends with her.
They have to figure out a way to get along and keep their hands off each other – because the chemistry between them is beyond charged.

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I'm not a huge fan of the cover and normally I would most likely look past this kind of cover as there's nothing that grabs me. The only thing I like about this cover is the girl that's been used does remind me of Avett especially with that pink hair. I think what spoils this cover for me would be the colour used for the title as I don't think it really works well with all the other colours used.

I don't know why but I was a bit nervous about reading this book but I needn't have been as from the very beginning to the last page I loved it there was nothing that didn't have me annoyed. What I thought was going to bug me was that this one overlapped with the first book as I thought that I wanted it to start from the end of Built but thankfully it never bother me one bit as I was too involved in Avett and Quaid's story to care about the previous couple. I loved the chemistry between Avett and Quaid as they were meant to be together and you could tell how much they cared about one another. They had smoking hot moments but what I loved the most was the sweet and tender moments as it made it feel real. I loved that it wasn't just about the romance but also about learning to love themselves wart and all. There was never a dull moment with something always happening. I loved the ending as it felt realistic.

I loved all the characters in this book well maybe not the ones that we were supposed to hate as they where just evil as for the rest I loved them. Avett was a great character and what I loved the most about her was she wasn't perfect like all female characters are in other books that I've read. Avett had her issues that she had to work through but even with all those issues you could tell she wanted to better herself. Quaid another great character that had a difficult past that he hadn't quite got over but I still loved him especially the way he was with Avett. There was some appearances from Marked Men series which I still haven't read but it still has me excited about reading their stories as well as some future Saints of Denver main characters.

Overall, this has to be my favourite Jay Crownover book that I have read so far and I can't wait to read more from her if this one is anything to go by her books are just going to improve the further I go into her series.

Book Review: Can't Help Falling by Kara Isaac

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Format: Kindle

Publishers: Howard Books

Published: 11th October 2016

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Emelia, Peter
Date Read: 1st July - 9th July 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:A funny, heartfelt romance about how an antique shop, a wardrobe, and a mysterious tea cup bring two C.S. Lewis fans together in a snowy and picturesque Oxford, England.
Emelia Mason has spent her career finding the dirt on the rich and famous. But deep down past this fearless tabloid-reporter façade, there’s a nerdy Narnia-obsessed girl who still can’t resist climbing into wardrobes to check for the magical land on the other side. When a story she writes produces tragic results, she flees to Oxford, England—home to C.S. Lewis—to try and make amends for the damage she has caused.
Peter Carlisle was on his way to become one of Great Britain’s best rowers—until he injured his shoulder and lost his chance at glory. He’s determined to fight his way back to the top even if it means risking permanent disability to do so. It’s the only way he can find his way past failing the one person who never stopped believing in his Olympic dream.
When Peter and Emelia cross paths on her first night in Oxford, the attraction is instant and they find common ground in their shared love of Narnia. But can the lessons from a fantasyland be enough to hold them together when secrets of the real world threaten to tear them apart? Cobblestone streets, an aristocratic estate, and an antique shop with curious a wardrobe bring the world of Narnia to life in Kara Isaac’s inspiring and romantic story about second chances.

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I really like the cover for this book as I love the use autumn/winter colours and weather which I feel is in keeping with the story. It also gives off a romantic feel and was probably the reason why I wanted to read this book as I do like a romance novel.

I felt really bad for giving this book such a low rating as every review I've seen seems to love this book but I just never felt it. Can't Help Falling was very hard to get into, there was only a few moments when I thought I was going to start to love it but it never lasted long enough. I never believed in the romance between Emelia and Peter as it never felt genuine and very cheesy which I don't usually mind but with this book it felt too much. They also never felt like they went well together as a couple as there was too many obstacles. I felt that this book was far too predictable for my liking as I always knew what was going to happen and when it was going to unfold. What I did like was the Narnia involvement as it made this book a bit different from other contemporary romance novels. The ending would've been cute but in the end it all wrapped up a bit too quickly so for me not realistic enough.

I think that maybe it was the characters that made me disinterested in this book as I never warmed too any of them as they where all hypocrites and very annoying. I think if any of the characters that had the most potential to be a likeable character was Emelia as she was quirky and she was trying to redeem her past mistakes which is always commendable. Peter was nice enough in the beginning and I did feel sorry for him but the character just fell flat.

Overall, this just wasn't my cup of tea and for me it just never picked up enough for me to fall in love with it.

Book Review: Frozen by L.A. Casey

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Format: Kindle

Publishers: Montlake Romance

Published: 19th April 2016

Pages: 274

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Neala, Darcy
Date Read: 26th June - 30th June 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
There’s one must-have toy this Christmas, and Neala Clarke has told her niece Charli she’ll get it for her. Never mind that she’s got less than a week and it looks like everywhere is sold out. She’s promised Charli a Fire Princess doll—and Neala is a woman of her word.
Darcy Hart is a people-pleaser. So when his adorable six-year-old nephew, Dustin, asks for a particular doll at the last minute, he says yes. Luckily for Darcy, there’s one left in stock at the local toy store. Unluckily for Darcy, he’s not the only person who wants it—and his rival is the one woman who’s immune to his charms.
Neala and Darcy have loved to hate each other since they were kids, and they’re both willing to do whatever it takes to get that doll. This can’t possibly end well for both of them…can it?

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I kind of like this cover as the body language could be from the story. Even though I like the colours used I would have preferred it if the girl was wearing a blue dress as Neala doesn't wear a red dress so then it would have felt even more in keeping with the actual story.

I was drawn to this book because of that blurb it sounded like something new and different to what I've read before so I was very excited about reading it and for parts of the book I really enjoyed it the rest not so much. The beginning was so funny and had me laughing out loud I just couldn't believe some of the things that those pair got up to. Once I got about halfway through I felt like it started to go down and I got bored at times plus I think they went a bit too far in some of the things they got up to before they where snowed in. They hated each other for most of the book and even though you could tell they both had hidden feelings for one another I felt everything changed for too quickly and was unrealistic. Neala and Darcy where never really together so I never really felt any kind of connection between the pair. The ending was cute but I felt as though there was no real ending as for me I wanted more from that ending.

I wasn't a huge fan of any of the characters as they all had there moments when I just wanted to slap them. For the most part I liked Neala as she was very funny and not just the things she said but also the things she did. There was one thing that she did that really annoyed me but by the end I felt so sorry for her. Where the things Neala did I found funny but with Darcy he annoyed me with the things that he did especially with how all the hate began with in the first place was just awful and she had every right to be angry with him. Both Neala and Darcy's family where funny at times but in the end they where very pushy and took things too far. The only characters that I liked throughout was Charli and Dustin they where so cute.

Overall, it was a funny book at times but then the other times it just annoyed me but it was an okay first book that I have read from L.A. Casey and I will most likely try more of her books.

Book Review: Sunset in Central Park (From Manhattan with Love, #2) by Sarah Morgan

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Format: Kindle

Publishers: HQN Books

Published: 30th August 2016

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Frankie, Matt
Date Read: 20th June - 26th June 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
In the chaos of New York, true love can be hard to find, even when it's been right under your nose all along… 
Love has never been a priority for garden designer Frankie Cole. After witnessing the fallout of her parents' divorce, she's seen the devastation an overload of emotion can cause. The only man she feels comfortable with is her friend Matt—but that's strictly platonic. If only she found it easier to ignore the way he makes her heart race… 
Matt Walker has loved Frankie for years but, sensing how fragile she is beneath her feisty exterior, has always played it cool. But then he uncovers new depths to the girl he's known forever and doesn't want to wait a moment longer. He knows Frankie has secrets and has buried them deep, but can Matt persuade her to trust him with her heart and kiss him under the Manhattan sunset?

I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I like this cover more than I did the first cover in this series as I love the same colour in different shades. I do wish there was more to it as for me it's a bit too simple but it is different which is a plus.

I was a bit dubious about reading Frankie and Matt's book as I didn't really warm to Frankie but I did end up liking it just not as much as the first book. It did take a long while to actually get going so for the beginning I didn't think that I was going to enjoy it. It was the middle part of the book that I really enjoyed to the point where I could have easily given it the full 4 stars. The chemistry between Frankie and Matt was there throughout it was just because of all of Frankie's issues that made me feel as though I didn't even want them together. I liked the garden/flowers used in the story which is surprising as I hate anything to do with the garden but the way it was interweaved with story was great. With most of the book being drawn out you would think that the end would also be drawn out but no it felt a little bit too rushed for my liking.

I kind of liked all of the characters but some of them also annoyed me at times. Frankie was the one character that for the most part I just didn't get yes her parents had a bad break-up but I still don't get why she didn't want any relationship because of them as she was also surrounded by her friends family. I loved Matt even more in this book than the first one as he was just so sweet and would do anything for anyone. It was also nice to see more from Paige and Jake but I was surprised that they weren't in it even more since they are best friends and family with the couple. I am really looking forward to Eva's book as she seems like such a sweet girl who just wants to be in love.

Overall, it was a good book I just wished it was a great book.

Book Review: Pucked (Pucked, #1) by Helena Hunting

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Format: Kindle

Publishers: Indie

Published: 3rd May 2015

Pages: 380

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sport Romance

Main Characters: Violet, Alex
Date Read: 15th June - 19th June 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:With a famous NHL player for a step-brother, Violet Hall is well acquainted with the playboy reputation many hockey stars come with. She’s smart enough to steer clear of those hot, well-built boys with unparalleled stamina. That is until she meets the legendary team captain—Alex Waters.
Violet isn’t interested in his pretty, beat-up face, or his rock-hard six-pack abs. But when Alex inadvertently obliterates Violet’s previous misapprehension regarding the inferior intellect of hockey players, he becomes more than just a hot body with a face to match.
In what can only be considered a complete lapse in judgment, Violet finds out just how good Alex is with the hockey stick in his pants. But what starts out as a one-night stand, quickly turns into something more. Post-night of orgasmic magic, Alex starts to call, and text, and e-mail and send extravagant—and quirky—gifts, making him difficult to ignore, and even more difficult not to like.
The problem is, the media portrays Alex as a total player, and Violet doesn’t want to be part of the game.

I had to read this one as I heard some good things about this book which I kind of agree with it's just not as good as what I thought it would have been...

This is a smoking hot cover that body looks like it could be Alex. I love the use of colours but maybe too dark for this book as there isn't anything dark about this book it's more of a light relief book.

When I first started reading this I was finding myself agreeing with all the positive reviews as I was really enjoying it, however the further I went into the book the more I got fed up with things being said as well as what people where doing. It was a really funny book that had me laughing out loud nearly all the way through although somethings that was meant to be funny had me rolling my eyes. I kind of liked the romance between Alex and Violet as they could had smoking hot chemistry but there was times when I couldn't see them lasting. I felt there was a bit too much sex involved in the story which sometimes had me cringing. The ending was okay everything was cleared up but I did felt it was a little bit rushed.

I had a love/hate relationship with most of the characters except for Alex. I liked Alex's character as he was different to the kind of guys I read in my books as he's a nice guy and not a player however most of the characters don't know about this so he does get called out a lot. Violet could be really funny but then there was times when she really annoyed me to the point when I thought she wasn't good enough for Alex.

Overall, it was a really funny book but it did grate on me at times. I'm not sure I will be able to continue on with this series as even though I didn't hate it I didn't like enough of the characters enough to want to read on.

Waiting on Wednesday - Honor (The Breaking Point, #1) by Jay Crownover

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here's this week's book that I can't wait for...

Honor (The Breaking Point, #1) by Jay Crownover

Expected Publication: 18th October 2016

Synopsis:Don't be fooled.
Don't make excuses for me.
I am not a good man.
I've seen things no one should, done things no one should talk about. Honor and conscience have no place in my life. But I've fought and I've survived. I've had to.
The first time I saw her dancing on that seedy stage in that second rate club, I felt my heart pulse for the first time. Keelyn Foster was too young, too vibrant for this place, and I knew in an instant that I would make her mine. But first I had to climb my way to the top. I had to have something more to offer her.
I'm here now, money is no object and I have no equal. Except for her. She's disappeared. But don't worry, I will find her and claim her. She will be mine.
Like I said, don't be fooled. I am not the devil in disguise… I'm the one front and center.

Not sure it's my kind of book but as soon as I saw it was written by Jay Cownover I got very excited.



What are you waiting on?