Review: Watch Over Me by Sydney Landon

Watch Over Me (Danvers #7) by Sydney Landon

Publication Date: September 1st 2015 by Signet

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

About the book: 

Gwen Day has never been lucky in love, but now she’s betting on one man ready to care for her like no one ever has…

Fresh off of the most humiliating romantic disaster of her life, Gwen sees no reason not to get tipsy and throw herself at her sexy bad boy neighbor. But she never expected their one night stand to have consequences that would keep them together...or for his concern to turn into something that feels like it could last.

Dominic Brady has always admired Gwen from afar, and now that she’s single, he has no reservations about saying yes to one wild night. Soon he’s interested in a real relationship. But when their future is uncertain, Dominic is determined to show her that he takes care of what’s his. And that no matter what happens, he’s one man she can’t lose.

My Thoughts:

Even though Gwen wasn’t in love with her last boyfriend, Mac, she’s still smarting by being dumped by him and then having him run off and get married immediately after. She’s having the worst birthday ever until she gets enough liquid courage in her to go after the neighbor she’s been ogling for months, Dominic. Knocking on his door and taking what she wants for once leads to a steamy physical relationship, but there’s something different about Dominic and her heart becomes hopelessly entangled lightening fast.  

Dominic was biding his time to ask Gwen out when his best friend, Mac swooped in and stole his thunder. Dominic knew Mac was dating Gwen more to move on after the love of his life, Ava couldn’t commit.  When Ava finally got her head straight and realized she was going to lose Mac forever Gwen ended up being collateral damage, but Dominic couldn’t be happier.  Gwen was always the one he wanted and so he planned on making his move, but Gwen beats him to the punch and shows up tipsy and taking charge in all the best ways. 

Dominic and Gwen’s romance started off hot and heavy and I loved Dominic! He was a take charge kind of guy but also showed how serious and devoted he was to Gwen right off the bat.  He’d been crushing on her from afar for so long that he wanted everything to go right now that he finally got his chance with her.  Unfortunately, Gwen was struggling with insecurities after a series of relationships that went bad and so this colored her reactions to Dominic even though he seemed utterly devoted to her and their growing relationship.  I understand why Gwen would feel insecure. It would be hard to trust after a run of bad experiences.  If that were the only issue here I would’ve liked this story a lot more, but Gwen witnesses an interaction and makes an assumption, without giving Dominic the benefit of the doubt that leads to misunderstandings and unnecessary drama. This went on for a good portion of the book.  Dominic did make an effort to try and find out what was bothering Gwen, why she pulled back, but when that doesn’t work he starts taking advice from Gage, the absolute last person that should be giving relationship advice and the situation becomes even worse. 

I loved the last Davers installment, Mac and Ava’s romance, so I was really looking forward to Gwen and Dominic’s story, but I wasn’t thrilled with how it all played out.  I hate drama caused by miscommunications, and faulty assumptions, so while Watch Over Me started out really strong, I had to speed read through about 40% of the book because I was frustrated.

2.5 Suns

Review: The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood #13) by J.R. Ward

The Shadows (Black Dagger Brotherhood #13) by J.R. Ward

Published March 31st 2015 by NAL

Two brothers bound by more than blood fight to change a brutal destiny in the heart-wrenching new novel of the Black Dagger Brotherhood by #1 New York Times bestselling author J. R. Ward.

Trez “Latimer” doesn’t really exist. And not just because the identity was created so that a Shadow could function in the underbelly of the human world. Sold by his parents to the Queen of the S’Hsibe as a child, Trez escaped the Territory and has been a pimp and an enforcer in Caldwell, NY for years- all the while on the run from a destiny of sexual servitude. He’s never had anyone he could totally rely on... except for his brother, iAm.

iAm’s sole goal has always been to keep his brother from self-destructing- and he knows he’s failed. It’s not until the Chosen Serena enters Trez’s life that the male begins to turn things around... but by then it’s too late. The pledge to mate the Queen’s daughter comes due and there is nowhere to run, nowhere to hide, and no negotiating.

Trapped between his heart and a fate he never volunteered for, Trez must decide whether to endanger himself and others- or forever leave behind the female he’s in love with. But then an unimaginable tragedy strikes and changes everything. Staring out over an emotional abyss, Trez must find a reason to go on or risk losing himself and his soul forever. And iAm, in the name of brotherly love, is faced with making the ultimate sacrifice… 

Arlene's Thoughts

I’d like to note for the record what a good book friend I’m capable of being. I had no intention of reading The Shadows after touting how (1) I’m completely done with the BDB series, (2) J.R. Ward lost me several installments ago, (3) there’s nothing I find interesting in this world anymore, blah, blah, blah… So leave it to my favorite reading buddy who has a convincing, or rather determined should I say, way about her to get me to read something I didn’t have my radar on. You know who you are… ;)
Well it was no surprise that the flavor and style hasn’t changed from the last installments that have been major misses on Ward’s part. Unfortunately, The Shadows didn't keep my interest in the slightest. It’s a wonder I completed the book in its entirety, which didn’t involve me skimming or skipping any parts. No, I suffered through it completely.

I read all about Trez and Selena, which I’ll have to admit that their ending surprised me. I suffered through Rhage’s anxiety attacks, Assail and the Lessors drug fest, iAm’s search for a cure to Selena’s condition and the opening of the new BDB training center, which introduced us to Paradise. As I've said before, too many storylines shoved into one book. Too much going on and nothing that I was interested in.

I will say that for some reason the dialog and narrative in this book annoyed me quite a bit. All the acronyms and lingo made the story feel contrived, which didn’t add to the heavy nothingness that hung in the air.

As I’ve said before, I have no interest in continuing with this series despite Ward’s intention of rehashing all of the brother’s lives once again. My feeling is if you told their story once and you feel you need to tell it again, you clearly didn’t do something right the first time. Yes, that’s a blatant reference to the debacle that was Blay and Qhuinn’s story, but Ward had her chance and I’ve lost interest. Sorry to say…

2.5 Suns

Crystal's Thoughts:
I have given this series everything I have. I've looked past what Ward did to Jane, I've looked past the numerous storylines that take over the entire book and main couple, I've even grudgingly let go of Qhuay, but I can't do it anymore. This was my one last ditch effort to fall back into this series that I once loved and unfortunately it just showed me that I have to let it go.

So many things were wrong with this installment. I don't know if Ward has just lost her mojo or if she is taking this series in a new direction that just doesn't connect with but whatever the reason this book fell flat. What reasons did it fall flat you ask. From the top of my head I can tell you that the language she used which in past books I loved and thought was funny grated on my nerves, I had no connection to Trez & Selena, and the guys were WIMPS!

I'll start with the language. Ward has always had slang thrown in her books and at first it was fun because it wasn't over done. In The Shadows she must have had an expert sitting next to her because every other sentence it felt like she threw in slang words. At one point Wrath said scruued....Yeah it didn't fit. I'm okay with slang when it fits, but it was used way too much. And now that I am thinking about it maybe she used it to man up her men?? Which brings me to my next point...

The guys! WTH?! I remember reading these books and counting down the pages until I saw MINE! I remember thinking I have to wait 20 pages for a steamy scene?! That's too long! My goodness this book if I had to rate it on steam scale would be a negative 100. Okay well let me take that back because the Chosen sure sexed it up in this one. So much so that I felt uncomfortable and started wondering if maybe Ward gave the girls the testosterone! When Cormia came around she wasn't like this and I thought all Chosen were like her, a little timid, a little shy, and not very knowledgeable when it came to the opposite sex. Boy was I wrong. Selena could make even V blush I bet! Anywho back to my main point, the guys were so wimpy and emotional in this one. I just don't get what happened. I miss the MINE days and the selfish arsehole days *sigh*

Trez and Selena were another problem I had with this book which hello was about them so yep its a big problem. I was so psyched when I found out this book would be about the shadows. I have loved them from the beginning so I couldn't wait to dive in. Well what I wanted was not what I got. Basically Trez and Selena were an episode of the Bachelor with only one girl trying to win. Yes it was sad what eventually happened which I thought was unnecessary, but it didn't really bother me because I wasn't connected to either one of them. IAm storyline felt like Ward decided she needed some kind of HEA so she threw in a few minor changes and served a few things on a silver platter for her readers. Yeah not cool in my opinion and just made it all seem ridiculous.

Okay I'm done ranting. I could go on about the whole strange Shadow world that didn't really fit, or the Rhage situation that was a complete waste of time and made me want to scream GROW A PAIR, but I'll leave it and just say I am officially done. I don't need to see what happens with the BoB or the new recruits. I don't even need to see what happens with the angel. I'm just done.

1 sun..yes that's right 1 =/

Review: The One & Only by Emily Giffin

The One and Only by Emily Giffin

Published May 20th 2014 by Ballantine Books

In her eagerly awaited new novel, beloved New York Timesbestselling author Emily Giffin returns with an extraordinary story of love and loyalty—and an unconventional heroine struggling to reconcile both.

Thirty-three-year-old Shea Rigsby has spent her entire life in Walker, Texas—a small college town that lives and dies by football, a passion she unabashedly shares. Raised alongside her best friend, Lucy, the daughter of Walker’s legendary head coach, Clive Carr, Shea was too devoted to her hometown team to leave. Instead she stayed in Walker for college, even taking a job in the university athletic department after graduation, where she has remained for more than a decade.

But when an unexpected tragedy strikes the tight-knit Walker community, Shea’s comfortable world is upended, and she begins to wonder if the life she’s chosen is really enough for her. As she finally gives up her safety net to set out on an unexpected path, Shea discovers unsettling truths about the people and things she has always trusted most—and is forced to confront her deepest desires, fears, and secrets.

Thoughtful, funny, and brilliantly observed, The One & Only is a luminous novel about finding your passion, following your heart, and, most of all, believing in something bigger than yourself . . . the one and only thing that truly makes life worth living.

Arlene's Thoughts

“You know in your heart when you’re doing the right thing and when you’re not. And you just have to do everything you can to stay the course.”
The One and Only is my first novel by Emily Giffin, which I was excited to dive into. Unfortunately, this didn't quite work out for me, so I’m not quite sure how to proceed with this author.

The One and Only shares Shea’s story at a time when a life changing event shifts the town of Walker, Texas – a town that revolves around their football team and worships Coach Carr’s reign over the team. When his wife dies, the team rallies to win the championship for him. And, thirty-year old Shea struggles to make sense of her feelings for the Coach that not only practically raised her, but is also her best friend’s father.

First and foremost, I have to admit that I struggled with the relationship between father-figure Coach Carr and Shea. I just couldn't let my imagination float to enjoy the possibilities between these two. Even the main character admitted that there were too many reasons it wasn't right, including (1) he was too much older than her (20+years), (2) he recently lost the love of his life, and (3) he was her best friend's father. What I'm surprised she left out was that he practically raised her. His nickname for his is “girl” and to hear him call her that throughout the book just didn’t sit right with me. I had such a tough time transcending through the dynamic of this relationship.

Secondly, I liked the football aspect to the story and loved the main character’s ability to pick herself up and plow forward. Shea being a sports writer was interesting and I appreciated her love of the game and her craft. The games were exciting and all of the elements that go into a football season such as draft picks, investigations, etc. was interesting to read about.

Also, the dynamics that the secondary characters added was enjoyable and full of depth. Miller was surprisingly one of my favorites. Lucy was just okay and Ryan lost his appeal quickly.

Overall, I feel it would have been a great story if the love interest had been someone else. The particular dynamic between Shea and Coach Carr just didn’t work for me, and I was a bit disappointed in my first and probably only novel by Emily Giffin.

2.5 Suns

Brandie's Thoughts

Right off the bat I will say that if you're not a fan of football - not even a little bit - you probably won't like this book. I have seen a lot of poor reviews where that is the first thing people mentioned. I don't like to see the negative reviews because of that fact, but I know not all women love football as much as I do.

That was the main reason I was so excited to read this book. Immediately, it had a little bit of a Friday Night Lights kind of feel (love that show), and I was loving the setting. 

Shea is a die hard football fan. She lives and breathes the sport, living in a small college town where the football coach is famous, and just happens to be the father of her best friend. After college, she even takes a job in the athletic department of her college, which allows her to stay close to the people she loves and continue supporting her favorite team.

Her relationship with Coach Carr and his family is unique, as him and his wife practically raised Shea when her family was falling apart. Her mom was best friends with Coach's wife and naturally his daughter Lucy and Shea grew up as close as sisters. 

SPOILER!
Then tragically, Coach loses his wife to cancer and everything changes. On the heals of Mrs. Carr's death, Shea starts questioning her life and if she's exactly where she wants to be. Does she see a future with the guy she's dating? Is she happy with her job? Her new revelations make her also start questioning her feelings about Coach. She has hero worshiped him her whole life. His love for the sport, his love for his family and for her - he is the best man she's ever known. At some point she starts to realize that she may have stronger feelings for him, and is faced with having to deal with this new truth, and how it could crush everyone she loves dearly.

I will admit that the age difference did start out as an issue for me. Just the thought that she could have feelings for a man her father's age was a little unsettling. I normally avoid books like this, but I tried to stay open minded and push through it. I am so glad I did. The intense feelings these two had, but were so good at keeping to themselves, had my heart racing. When they finally had an intimate moment - I was dying. It was amazing and perfect. I didn't see their age difference anymore. I only saw how sweet he was to her and how much they cared for each other. By the end of the book I was rooting for them and my heart was breaking because of their situation. I wanted nothing more than for these two to get their happiness.

END SPOILER

This was a slow starting book for me. I didn't really feel like it took off and had that suspenseful, can't-put-down feeling until the halfway point. But once I got there - I finished it in one sitting. The football references were a great added bonus, but it was the story of love and friendships that made this book truly wonderful.

If you are a lifelong Emily Giffin fan, and love football - I think you will absolutely enjoy this book!

4.5 Suns

Review: Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Wicked by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Published on December 8th, 2014

Things are about to get Wicked in New Orleans.

Twenty-two year old Ivy Morgan isn’t your average college student. She, and others like her, know humans aren’t the only thing trolling the French Quarter for fun… and for food. Her duty to the Order is her life. After all, four years ago, she lost everything at the hands of the creatures she’d sworn to hunt, tearing her world and her heart apart.

Ren Owens is the last person Ivy expected to enter her rigidly controlled life. He’s six feet and three inches of temptation and swoon-inducing charm. With forest-green eyes and a smile that’s surely left a stream of broken hearts in its wake, he has an uncanny, almost unnatural ability to make her yearn for everything he has to offer. But letting him in is as dangerous as hunting the cold-blooded killers stalking the streets. Losing the boy she loved once before had nearly destroyed her, but the sparking tension that grows between them becomes impossible for Ivy to deny. Deep down, she wants… she needs more than what her duty demands of her, what her past has shaped for her.

But as Ivy grows closer to Ren, she realizes she’s not the only one carrying secrets that could shatter the frail bond between them. There’s something he’s not telling her, and one thing is for certain. She’s no longer sure what is more dangerous to her—the ancient beings threatening to take over the town or the man demanding to lay claim to her heart and her soul.

My Thoughts:
I had a hard time with this one.  When I first heard about this book I was so excited because I lately I am so over the typical NA formula.  Well Wicked threw in my favorite things fae and JLA so I thought this book would be a solid 5 star.  Unfortunately I had a lot of problems throughout the book and I am left really thinking that NA just might not be for me.

I know a lot of people who have loved this so don't just take my review and throw this book out the window.  My problems with it are all most likely just my own, but I'll explain why this didn't quite work for me...

First Ren.  A few years ago I would have been swooning and squeeing with the masses over him, but this time and day yeah not so much.  He was too perfect.  I don't need damaged beyond belief characters to fall in love with, but I don't need say all the right things, beyond gorgeous where every woman within a 100 mile radius tells you he's gorgeous, and in general too perfect either. I wanted Ren to be more.  Yes he was there for Ivy in every sense of the word and in every way possible and yes he did have a nice way of throwing her against a wall in the rain, but it all felt too perfect.  He always said the right things and he was just the all around nice guy.  I can see you are thinking I'm nuts and I should be head over heels, but I don't want too perfect.  I guess I just wanted Ren to be a little more edgy.

Ivy I liked.  She was a little too naive with Ren especially for someone who had experience, but I could live with that.  She was protective over her friends and took her job seriously.  I honestly liked her for the most part.  Ivy was my light at in the darkness for this book.  I liked looking through her eyes except for when she was looking at Ren.  I have to give her credit though she did stand her ground with him for awhile and give him a run for his money which was nice to see. All in all I was happy with her.

My biggest problem with this story though was the story itself.  I really liked the fae world that JLA has created, but there were so many holes and well the twist I saw coming a mile away and was really let down by it.  I think too much time was spent saying no no no and thrown in the readers face that it made the obvious too obvious.  I don't like where things ended and I can see a big angsty tug and pull arc in the next one.  I would have personally preferred the story to stay centered around what happened with the fae and the Order rebuilding.  I knew I would get a little angst since this is NA, but I did not expect to be fully thrown into another NA formula with just an added paranormal spin.  I don't mean to sound better because I actually really did enjoy the fae world, but it's hard to focus on that world with so many holes and angst hiding in the corner.

You might like this a lot of people did.  It's not bad by any means just not for me.  I wanted a tighter story and I feel like there were so many threads lose with this story and its characters.  I don't know if I will read the sequel because I don't want to read the fall out between Ivy and Ren.  It honestly took me 3 days to finish the last 3 chapters because I knew what was coming and I didn't want to read it.  I'm so sad that this one didn't work for me.

2.5 suns

Waves of Fiction 2015 Reading Challenge
-A book set in a college

Review: Bound by Flames (Night Prince #3) by Jeaniene Frost

Bound by Flames (Night Prince #3) by Jeaniene Frost
Published on January 27th, 2015 by Avon 

Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…

Crystal's Thoughts:
I have been a longtime fan of Ms.Frost and I have always loved Vlad, but this installment left me wondering if I have outgrown this series.

It's been awhile since I read the previous book, Twice Tempted, but I am pretty sure this one takes off where that one ended.  Leila is now a vampire and is married to Vlad.  They are looking for Vlad's worst enemy and as you can guess things go terribly wrong just when you think they have the upper hand.  Leila is captured and this is where my interest started waving.

The whole capture scene was icky.  I have a lot of things and I am not icked out normally, but there is a scene with duck tape and well I just went ICK!  Add that to regurgitated blood and I'm out folks.  It was all just a little too much for me.  Thankfully this whole mess didn't last that long, but honestly the story kinda dragged after that.  Yes there was a lot of running and evading, but nothing we haven't seen before.

The ending left me going meh as well.  There was so much build up and while I did like Vlad's secret the ending just felt like a let down.  I expected a way bigger showdown than what I read.

My biggest problem with this series is Vlad.  Where is the funny self assured vampire I met in the Cat & Bones series?  In this he is brooding, emotionally closed off, and just boring.  He was so moody!  The reason why I loved this series was because he was so funny and always made incredible one liners.  In this one he barely even talks!  Plus he was so closed off to Leila that I got frustrated for her.  She shouldn't have had to deal with that on top of everything else. She was the one tortured!   Vlad should have been there for her.  Honestly my favorite part was when Vlad was talking to Cat & Bones. 

I just felt really let down with this one.  The story was ho hum, the characters not up to the standards I am used to reading from Ms.Frost, and the fun was just lost.  Will I read the next one, yes because everybody has an off book and I am just going to throw this story out of my brain and replace it with the next one.

2.5 Suns

Arlene's Thoughts:
I’m a huge fan of Jeaniene Frost, especially her Night Huntress series. So whenever she adds a new book to her paranormal bookshelf, I’m all reading eyes. Night Prince is no exception. The first two books were absolutely explosive, so I’m not sure what happened in this third installment.

In Bound by Flames, we take off on a high adventure with Vlad and Leila as they track down Vlad’s life long enemy Szilagy. There’s no lack of action in this book as both sides target each other through destruction and torture. However, the measures Vlad employs to protect Leila can eventually prove to be a liability when she’s captured and tortured.

I feel comfortable admitting that Bound by Flames is definitely not as good as the first two installments. Where Frost flexes her style best is with action and drama, and she proved it in this book. However, I would have like to have seen a bit more romance and emotional connection coming from Vlad. Every time he closed himself off from Leila I tuned out. There seemed to be a character piece missing in Vlad, which I missed.

However, I did enjoy Vlad’s confession at the end of the book where he shared how his Dracula legend was revealed. The story and the reaction was classic. Small moment that reminded me Vlad has humor and character beneath all that flame.

Since there's only one book left, I'll definitely finish this series out. I hope it ends on a high note.

3 Suns

Waves of Fiction 2015 Reading Challenge 

-A third book in a series

Review: Since You've Been Gone by Anouska Knight

Since You've Been Gone by Anouska Knight

Publication Date: July 29th 2014 by Harlequin HQN

Purchase Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iBooks

About the book: 

How do you learn to love again?

In one tragic moment, Holly Jefferson s life as she knows it changes for ever. Now to the external world, at least she s finally getting back on her feet, running her business, Cake. Then she meets Ciaran Argyll.

His rich and charmed life feels a million miles from her own. However, there s more to Ciaran than the superficial world that surrounds him, and he too is wrestling with his own ghosts. Will Holly find the missing ingredient that allows her to live again and embrace an unknown and unexpected tomorrow?

My Thoughts:

Since You’ve Been Gone seemed like it would be a sweet romance, unfortunately, I wasn’t blown away.

Holly’s life is basically on autopilot the last two years, since her husband was killed. She still has dreams of her husband’s presence, vivid in longing.  Holly owns a bakery and does a steady business, and she’s close to her sister who is about to give birth, but as far as moving on that’s quite another matter. A cake delivery to a posh estate/castle is about to change all of that. This is where she meets Ciaran Argyll, the rich son of property mogul, Fergal Argyll.  Soon, last minute, high priced cake orders start coming into her shop.  Ciaran also starts popping up everywhere and Holly doesn’t know how to handle the unexpected and unwanted attraction she feels for him.  He’s the last person she wants to fall for, a seemingly spoiled (according to her prejudices) playboy with details of short lived romances splashed all over the gossip pages.  However, Ciaran just won’t go away.

I had high hopes for Since You’ve Been Gone. On paper this is exactly my type of story.  I love a multilayered romance with a quirky secondary cast, but this failed to meet my expectations. I did enjoy parts of the story, but my overall feeling at finishing was disappointment.  Holly’s constant pushing and judgmental attitude towards Ciaran rubbed me the wrong way.  It seemed like he was genuinely trying to help her out and Holly was suspicious and insulted at his efforts.  Plus, it seems like she was ready and willing to believe the worst about him at every turn.  I also had issues with what went down at the very end with Ciaran’s father and his ex-fiance! I had a hard time believing that his father just got through extolling his son’s value and saying how thankful he was that Ciaran kept it together for the years he was falling apart, and then that happened! It felt like it came out of left field and then was just swept under the rug.  It seems Ciaran had no issues with his father’s behavior and everyone was a happy united family by the end.  I felt that was hard to believe given how much his ex-fiancé had hurt Ciaran.

I’ve been in the midst of a reading slump so maybe this has some bearing on my reactions, and I even have a friend who enjoyed this book immensely; so take a look at the other reviews before dismissing this story altogether. 

2.5 Suns

Review: Forever Kind of Guy by Khelsey Jackson

Forever Kind of Guy by Khelsey Jackson

Published October 4th 2013 by Hot Ink Press (first published October 3rd 2013)

Gretchen Elliot wasn’t looking for love, she’d had enough of ‘love’ to last her a life time. All she wanted was a little fun and a good time, and she’d found it in one passionate night with Claus. Now with her divorce about to be final, Gretchen can’t help but think back to that amazing night with that amazing man. Too bad they’d promised never to contact each other again.

A Chance encounter…

Stefan Romano never imagined that he would meet the woman who’d been haunting his dreams again, let alone arrest her for car theft. Now he can’t wait to get her beneath the sheets again. He just hopes he can keep her there this time, while fooling himself into believing he’s not a forever kind of guy.
Can two people not looking for love, avoid falling for each other and keep things on a no strings attached level? Gretchen and Stefan believe they can…

My Thoughts

Gretchen Elliott is in the middle of a messy divorce that is complicating her life. She simply wants a fresh start with no demands from her ex-husband. So when she comes across Stephan, a handsome officer that pulls her over for driving the car her ex reported stolen, the last thing she thinks she wants is a relationship… with anyone. However, when Stephan comes across as anything but the “forever kind of guy” she takes a chance.

Overall, I have to say this abbreviated story felt rushed and choppy. I guess that’s expected from a shorter story. However that wasn’t my biggest gripe. It’s no doubt that this book needs a good editor to clean and spot the many flaws and grammatical mistakes. They eventually became too excessive and it ultimately distracted me from the storyline that I was trying to grasp. For that reason alone, it doesn’t quite rank in the three star rating category.

I read this for the glowing reviews, but in the end it was simply an average story with characters I never really got to know and writing that was messy and flawed. I counted the phrase “forever kind of guy” THIRTEEN times in this story. I got it after the second time. Sadly, this wasn’t quite for me.

2.5 Suns

Review: Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan

 

Undeniable by Madeline Sheehan
Published on October 7, 2012

About the book
Warning: This is not a "typical love story". This is an all-consuming, soul-crushing, tear-your-heart-into-pieces story. It’s intense, gritty and raw, dark and disturbing, and it doesn’t happen overnight. This is an epic love story that knows no boundaries and has no time limits. It grows and develops—with hurt, sacrifice, and heartache—over the span of a lifetime.

Eva Fox is the princess of the Silver Demons Motorcycle Club. Growing up with bikers in the club lifestyle is all that she knows. When she’s a young girl, Eva meets the reason for her existence. Deuce West is the sexy, biker bad-ass of the Hell’s Horsemen Motorcycle Club. Like Eva, he was born and raised in the club—but that’s where the similarities end. Their first meeting is innocent, but as Eva matures into a woman, their chance reunions evolve into a fit of lust and love. Fate continues to bring them together time and time again, but their twisted journey is filled with pain, betrayal, and bloodshed that could tear them apart. Eva sees in Deuce what he cannot see in himself—a man worthy of love—and Eva spends her lifetime proving to him that her undeniable love is the one thing he can’t live without.

This is Eva and Deuce’s story.

It wasn’t easy.
Nothing worth doing ever is.
And love is worth everything

My Thoughts:
Let me start off by saying this book will not be for everybody, hell I'm still not even sure if it was for me.  It is dark, edgy, icky, raw and everything you would probably think of when you hear motorcycle club.  I expected all that, but what I didn't expect was actually rooting for the main character Eva and hoping that she would stay the same strong character throughout the book.  Sadly she didn't but my fierce hope for this girl never left.

Eva has grown up in the life since her father is the President of the notorious motorcycle club The Silver Demons. She doesn't know any other life and from the day she was born she had the whole MC wrapped around her pinkie.  We meet Deuce really early on in the story and this is where I think a lot of readers will go "umm yeah not for me"  See Deuce is I think 24 when he meets Eva and she is only 5.  Yes I said ick too, but I still kept reading.  I figured if I could get over a seventeen year old werewolf imprinting on a newborn then I could probably get over this too as long as nothing icky happened until she was of age.  Well she wasn't exactly of age but really with the way the book is written I probably should have expected it.  I will say that at least the author waited until Eva was eighteen to let Deuce have his way with her, not that that excuses what he did when she was sixteen but I have to pick my battles with this one.  Oh and I have to say too that what Deuce does to her at sixteen leaves him with two bullet holes woohoo!  A fitting punishment I think.

Okay moving on, Eva and Deuce have a very weird and rocky relationship if you can call it that.  That come together once every few years and completely destroy each other.  The big drama happens after they meet up way later in life and Eva is married to her fathers second in command, Frankie.  This guy was just straight up psychopath.  In every story I read I always wish I could read it from every characters POV, but with Frankie I have no desire whatsoever to read anything from his POV.  He truly scared the daylights out of me and I was so not happy when Eva finally gave in to him.  They grew up together when her father took him in and Frankie became obsessed with Eva.  It was beyond unhealthy and in the beginning she refused him.  That is when I liked Eva, she was strong confident, spoiled yes, but it was awesome seeing her have all these tough biker men under her spell.  That all changed when she got together with Frankie.  Eva was finally broken when that happened and I was not a happy camper.

Does this stop her from sleeping with Deuce..nope not even a little bit. That is another thing that will turn people off about this book all the sleeping around.  If you know me then you know that I am not a fan of sharing typically.  I understand certain circumstances and I can let certain things go, but for the most part I prefer my couples to be exclusive, well in Undeniable there is none of that.  There is so much sleeping around that I wasn't sure if they would ever get their mess straightened out.

Things go from bad to worse and then to just destructive.  By 3/4 of the way through the book I lost all respect for Eva and I just wanted Deuce to go to the ground.  Why wasn't he there for his woman??!!  He is a very flawed character and I had a hard time finding any redeeming qualities in him and the ones I found I don't think were enough to make me love him.

The ending is just crazy and I realize that I haven't said too much about the plot but honestly there really isn't one.  This book is all about the crazy life of MC's and what goes on behind the scenes.  We don't really get a look into all the illegal stuff just the insane relationships of the characters and how they treat each other.  All just craziness!  Oh and if you are offended by language in a book then this isn't for you either.  My friend looked it up and discovered that the f bomb was dropped over 1000 times...I am shocked that I could write this review without 30 f bombs since I think my brain has been reprogrammed to just let that word fly.

Anywho a very strange drama filled story that yes I am going to continue on with.  I am on the hunt for something different and well this fits so I'm game.

2.5 Suns

Review: Lover at Last by J.R. Ward

Lover at Last by J.R. Ward
Published on March 26, 2013 by NAL Hardcover
Purchase: Amazon

About the book
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one.

Arlene's Thoughts:
Waiting for close to two years for this installment of Qhuay, I have to admit my expectations were pretty high so maybe the let down was inevitable. I can’t think of any other series right now that has me so completely vested all the way into an 11th installment. I consider myself an avid fan, and as such I’d like to believe I would afford my favorite author some leeway in terms of storytelling.

J.R. Ward has always managed to hook me, surprise me and often excite me. So when Qhuay’s story finally hit the shelves I couldn’t describe myself as anything short of giddy.

However, after finishing Lover at Last, I’m afraid my love affair with J.R. Ward’s series has quickly dissipated and I’m a bit saddened. I was willing to continue the journey with the Brotherhood, but after such a disappointment I’m sorry to say that Ward and I might likely part ways.

Lover at Last was without a doubt my most, I mean absolutely MOST anticipated book of the Brotherhood bunch. I love Qhuinn and Blay… together they could have been explosive, but what Ward created for them was anything but… so I’m calling foul!!

And to hear that their story isn’t over… she has more in store for them!! Really? After 700+ small font exhaustive ePages of Lover at Last, I’m suppose to accept that she didn’t tell their whole story? Well the opportunity was lost and to understand that she plans to re-visit each brother and give us more - all I get from that is she didn’t develop their story right the first time. Why would she do that to her fans? Well, the obvious reason is money, but it doesn’t make it right in the slightest.

So where did Lover at Last fall short for me?

First off, there was just too much noise in this book. I can’t describe it any better way when I see Ward shoving in secondary and tertiary characters along with plotlines that quickly distracted me from who this story should really be about. When I wanted to just read about Blay and Qhuinn, I kept stumbling upon Xcor, Assail, Sola, Benloise, Trez, iAM, Thor… too much! Just too much! 

Secondly, the lessors… I never liked their plotline to begin with, and I never will. When I find myself skimming their sections and not feeling like I’ve missed out on anything significant I call that a blatant filler. Those sections were a huge waste of time that could have been re-invested in who were suppose to be the stars of the show.

Also, I have to admit that Qhuinn and Blay’s moments felt light and not quite to their character. It bothered me how much time these two wasted. Why wasn’t Blay forthright about his relationship with Sax? Why so much time trying to understand the true relationship between Layla and Qhuinn? Talk people!! Errrr… I mean vamps… Just talk to each other!! Truly frustrating…

So what did I like? There were a couple of things…

I would have never thought that my favorite moment in this entire book would have been between Zsadist and Qhuinn. I loved that moment after Qhuinn landed the Cessna. What those two went through together and how Z reacted when it was all said and done… best moment in the entire book.

I also have to give props to Payne. She delivered an emotional moment that reinvested my hopes that it would all turn out well for Layla.

So overall, yes I’m disappointed... yes, I'm a bit irritated to learn we didn’t get the full Qhuay story... and, no I don’t plan to continue this series to see what’s next for each of the Brothers. I invested time in each one of their books and that’s quite enough. Anymore than that… there’s just too much out there calling my name right now. Truly disappointed…

Final note... I'd like to get "Don't Stop Believing" out of my head. Can we maybe go with this one instead? 

Song Choice

2.5 Suns

Crystal's Thoughts:
First let me say that I love BDB, I absolutely love the writing, the characters, the world and just everything about this series.  That being said I have to confess I am so disappointed in this installment.  Maybe I went into it with too high of expectations or maybe when it comes down to it nothing would have satisfied me I am not sure which it is, but I am so sad at the moment.

Lover at Last is Qhuinn and Blay’s story.  After several books leading up to their conclusion we readers were finally going to get their story.  Their road has not been an easy one and knew going in that I was in for an emotional ride.  What I got was very emotional, but so very different than what I was expecting.  Key things were left out of their story that I have become accustomed too with the BDB series.  The whole “Mine” concept and the bonding scent were two of the main things I so could not wait for and sadly they weren’t there.  The males in the BDB world are very aggressive and do not share so I expected some explosive scenes seeing as how both characters were male, I just don’t know what happened!  I know I keep saying I expected this and got that but I just don’t know what else to say. 

It was beautiful and romantic but unfortunately it was shoved between four other stories within these 590 pages.  I know Wards formula is typically one book per couple with a few chapters dedicated to the overall storyline, but with four other stories going on and two of them being with two somewhat new characters Qhuay’s story was cut so short and that might have been some of the problem.  Not all mind you because both characters still were not themselves.  I really don’t want to rant because I love Ward and her series, but Qhuinn and Blay deserved so much more than what they got.  They deserved to have their moment in a much more intimate setting and they deserved to have a real song if they were going to have one.  Every other character in this world has gotten their big moment, even the whole Jane ghostie situation had more in it then Qhuays. 

I know I will read the next installment, but it is only because certain things have been promised in regards to Qhuinn and Blay and yes I am not happy that I have to wait another year for more Qhuay.  Their story should have ended in this one…okay I am just going to leave it because the more I type the madder I get. 

Lover at Last was an okay book that introduced several new characters, but it was not THE story we were promised.  One of my stars is for the world that Ward has created because I do love it and the other star is for Qhuinn and Blay because we do get their story to a point.

2 Suns

Review: Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

Reflected in You (Crossfire #2) by Sylvia Day

Published: October 23rd 2012

Gideon Cross. As beautiful and flawless on the outside as he was damaged and tormented on the inside. He was a bright, scorching flame that singed me with the darkest of pleasures. I couldn’t stay away. I didn’t want to. He was my addiction… my every desire… mine.

My past was as violent as his, and I was just as broken. We’d never work. It was too hard, too painful… except when it was perfect. Those moments when the driving hunger and desperate love were the most exquisite insanity.

We were bound by our need. And our passion would take us beyond our limits to the sweetest, sharpest edge of obsession…

My Thoughts:
I loved Bared to You, so I was highly anticipating Reflected in You. There were things I loved about this story, unfortunately the things that frustrated me far outweighed those.

We pick up the Eva and Gideon’s intense story right where we left off in Bared to You. They’ve got past some of the Corinne drama, are seeing a therapist jointly due to their abusive pasts, and settled in for the long haul. Or so we think. From the get go we have possessive and controlling behavior on both sides. They both seem to thrive on it. Eva and Gideon are not confident in each other unless they’ve pushed the other one to make some over-the-top gesture to control, and consume one another. But let’s face it, we/I sort of love this, to a certain extent.

I can’t complain about 50% of the book because it was HOT and wonderful. Ms. Day really knows how to write some steam, and boy does she excel at getting you hot and bothered. And I’m not just talking about the spice. It’s the push and pull between Eva and Gideon and their overwhelming desire for one another. I have many delicious quotes and scenes highlighted in my Kindle that are sure to make anyone’s toes curl! Here’s a sample:

I found myself pinned to the hallway wall by six feet, two inches of hard, hot male. “You know what happens when you run, angel.” Gideon nipped my lower lip with his teeth and then soothed the sting with the caress of his tongue. “I catch you.”

I would’ve been fine with this situation had Gideon been more forthcoming. Didn’t we all finish Bared to You thinking we’re going to get answers about his past and behavior in this one? I know I did. Eva freely trusted and shared her past with him. I don’t know why he felt the need to hold back so much. Instead we get pages and pages of frustration, and behavior that infuriates with no explanation! Not even at the 80% mark were there answers! I was about to pull my hair out! Add to that is Corinne! Gideon knows what Corinne does to Eva:

Gideon: ”I thought I understood your feelings for Corinne, and, frankly, I thought you just weren’t dealing with it well. But I had no clue. I was a self-centered idiot.” Eva: ”I’m not dealing with it well. I hate her f&%king guts. I can’t think about her without feeling violent. “ Gideon: “I get it now. I didn’t before.” He GETS it because Eva turns the table on him with jealousy and he gets a taste of his own medicine. But does this stop the Corinne issue? NO!!!!!!!!! All we get is: “Trust me Eva.” When all I wanted to do was SHANK him at this point! Okay, okay, I’ll calm down…..this is fiction after all. So basically I was frustrated for about 40-50% of this book. I can take 20-30% of frustration, I expect it. We must have some hurdle to overcome. But when the frustration and confusion are for almost half of the book, I start getting ticked. I feel like the author is jacking me around. If Eva was enlightened, given a little clue, a breadcrumb, just a little bit before we hit the the 94% mark, I would’ve been happy. We still didn’t even get the full story until almost the last pages!!! In my opinion, this was completely unnecessary! Yes, I know, I am seriously ranty and harpy in this review. Sorry. I finished this story last night and was totally worked up, and woke up even more worked up, and went through the day in a foul mood because I COULDN'T GET THIS STORY OUT OF MY HEAD! This review is the result of that aggravation, I had to vent somewhere. You are my collateral damage.

I will say, I’m dying for the next installment and probably will pick it up the day it comes out. Is that all kinds of crazy? Maybe……probably. Maybe this is a testament of what a great job Ms. Day did in writing this story. Or maybe she’s just an evil genius, and I’m like a moth to the flame.

Thank you to Penguin Group and Netgalley for allowing me to read this.

2.5 Suns