Tag: book reviews

Review: The Hellion

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The HellionThe Hellion by Christi Caldwell
My Rating: 4-Stars
 Genre: Historical Romance
 Release Date: available now
 Formats: Kindle Unlimited, eBook ($5), Paperback ($10)

The Hellion is book #1 in the Wicked Wallflowers series. While it’s a nice introduction to the Killoran family, it should have been the final installation in its predecessor series, Sinful Brides. For that reason alone, I detracted a star from an otherwise excellent story.

Cleopatra Killoran will give up everything if it means protecting her sisters. When their older brother arranges one of the ladies to be sponsored for the London Season by their former gaming hell rivals, Cleo steps into a world she detests. The timing couldn’t be worse: the Hell and Sin Club was just destroyed in a fire, and suspicions are high regarding her family’s involvement.

Adair Thorne could do nothing to save his family’s gaming hell. In one night, the Hell and Sin Club, along with his home and his future, was consumed in a blaze. Now residing at his brother’s home, he tasked with keeping watch on Cleopatra, and ensuring that she isn’t doing anything devious. This puts the two in constant contact and at constant odds, and soon the couple discover that there’s much more behind the roughened street image they each possess.

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Review: Beg, Borrow or Steal

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Beg, Borrow or StealBeg, Borrow or Steal by Susie Tate
My Rating: 3.5-Stars
 Genre: Contemporary Romance
 Release Date: available now
 Formats: Kindle Unlimited, eBook ($3)

Libby Penny is a single mom trying to get through med school while also paying the bills. Jamie Grantham is an accomplished anesthetist and the Medical Education Director, who is aghast when one of his students falls asleep during a lecture. Jamie meets Libby, and sparks fly.

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Review: Lies Jane Austen Told Me

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Lies Jane Austen Told MeLies Jane Austen Told Me by Julie Wright
My Rating: 2.5-Stars
 Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance
 Release Date: November 7, 2017
 Formats: eBook ($12), Paperback ($7)

Ever since Emma read Pride and Prejudice, she’s been in love with Mr. Darcy and has regarded Jane Austen as the expert on all things romantic. So naturally when Emma falls for Blake Hampton and he invites her home to meet his parents, she is positive an engagement is in her future. After all, Blake is a single man in possession of a good fortune, and thus must be in want of a wife.

But when it turns out that what Blake actually wants is more of a hook-up than a honeymoon, Emma is hurt, betrayed, and furious. She throws herself deeper into her work as CMO of Kinetics, the fastest growing gym franchise in the nation. She loves her work, and she’s good at it, which is why she bristles when her boss brings in a consultant to help her spearhead the new facilities on the East Coast. Her frustration turns to shock when that consultant turns out to be Blake’s younger brother, Lucas.

Emma is determined not to fall for Lucas, but as she gets to know him, she realizes that Lucas is nothing like his brother. He is kind and attentive and spends his time and money caring for the less fortunate.

I obtained an advanced reading copy of Lies Jane Austen Told Me from Netgalley back in May. What captured my attention immediately with this book was its clever cover.
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Review: Holy Crap! The World is Ending!

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Book CoverHoly Crap! The World is Ending! (Anunnaki Chronicles #1) by Anna-Marie Abell
My Rating: 3.5-Stars
Genre: Romance, Sci-Fi, Fantasy
Release Date: September 21, 2017
Formats: Kindle Unlimited, eBook ($3), paperback ($16), hardcover ($29)

Unique, bizarre, interesting, funny, outlandish. Non-spoiler alert: the Earth is going to be destroyed.

I received an ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I was angry when I originally finished Holy Crap!, but at the time it was unclear on Netgalley that it was book one of a trilogy. The author reached out and explained this, and with that understanding the unresolved ending makes sense. However, consider that a warning if you’re someone who doesn’t like diving into a series before it’s completed.

The president has announced that Earth is going to collide with a rogue moon, and in the process, our entire planet is going to be smashed to bits. As one would expect, upon hearing this news, humans went ballistic. It was as if every sports team in the world lost their championship game at the same time. No car was left unrolled—but oddly enough, Taco Bell remained open and made unfathomable profits in the last days. Apparently, Doritos Locos® Tacos were a popular last meal.

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Review: Everyone Brave is Forgiven

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Book CoverEveryone Brave is Forgiven by Chris Cleave
My Rating: 1.5-Stars
Genre: Historical Fiction
Release Date: out now
Formats: Kindle ($10), Paperback ($9), Hardcover ($12)

After 2.5 months of trying to be interested enough in this book to finish it, I finally conceded that I don’t care enough about the story to be bothered. I’ve been sitting at page 193 (not quite halfway through) for at least a month. Today I decided to skip to the final chapter and couldn’t even finish that.

What’s the problem? The writing is superb, the details succinct, the topic heavy. But… the characters are wooden. They don’t have much personality, and what’s there is either unlikable or bland. There’s no real hook at the end of each chapter, which makes it easy to put down if you don’t have a lot of time, but also gives you no reason to pick it back up. The dialogue is too witty too often, giving a feel of unrealistic banter.

I had high hopes for this book but it just wasn’t for me.

 

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