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** spoiler alert ** This is definitely one of my favorites among the "food books" I've read! I loved the characters (Raggedy Ann and Ken Carson included)! Even though Kayla is a pessimist (which I usually dislike in a character), her personality is the perfect formula in the story. Kayla is the school rebel, she wears unusual clothes, makes fun of the "popular" crowd in school, and she only have one friend in school---Nicole. Lately, things have been changing around her. Her mother barely talks to her and her best friend is dating her long-time crush Ben! On her disastrous 16th birthday party, she made a wish to make all her birthday wishes come true. The following day she wakes up with a pink pony on her backyard! The next day it was a room full of gumballs, and the next her Raggedy doll Ann was brought to life! She figured out that her birthday wishes are coming true and she have to find a way to stop it before her 15th birthday wish comes true---which is a kiss from Ben! I really had fun reading it. It reminded me a lot of my childhood and my silly wishes. I might have wished for a one year supply of chocolates or a new BMX bike before, LOL! Also, there are a lot hilarious events that occurred in the story. My favorite is definitely Ken's dancing pecs! haha! The story ended abruptly though. I wish we found out what happened to Ann, Ken, the pony and the rest of her wishes...instead of Kayla waking up the following day with them gone. Overall it was a quick read. If you are looking for something light and fun, this is perfect for you!
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** spoiler alert ** "You are what you drink." I'm a huge fan of coffee but I don't buy my coffee in Starbucks or other coffee shops because I find it expensive. If you drink too much coffee like I do, it's economical to make it myself. LOL. So, I'm not very familiar with the kind of coffee and lattes being mentioned in the book. However, I find Jane's match making skills amusing. It sound unreal but interesting nonetheless. Jane Turner is a teenage employee of Wired Joe's coffee shop. She's been working as a barista for a while now that she can predict a customer's order just by looking at them. She keeps a notebook where she writes her observations. One day, one of her favorite regulars broke up with his girlfriend and Jane got an idea to set him up with her co-worker's friend. She finds the two suitable for each other because of their usual coffee orders and their personalities. To make the story short, her boss found out about her unusual hobby and used it as a promotion for their shop which became very successful. Jane is an unusual character, she's been skipping school and stopped going to the community college for her college credits because she find school "boring", but she wants to get in to a fashion school...totally unrelated to coffee (and matchmaking) business right? Anyway, what I didn't like about her character is her un-professionalism at work. She gives away free drinks to cute guys (Will and his friends) and she power trips (sending her co-worker to do bathroom duties for a month because she ratted her out for giving away free coffees). That was totally uncool. Being an assistant manager doesn't allow you to do such thing to your co-workers, it only shows that she's not the best person for the position. Jane is a great friend though, she consoled her broken hearted best friend Em and quickly tried to apologize when her matchmaking plan backfired on them. This is a fun and cute read. Perfect for YA Chick Lit readers and coffee lovers.
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Roar is one of my favorite characters in Under the Never Sky and I'm so happy to read his story. Roar is usually the happy and out going kind of guy but in this book we see his serious side. This novella left me wanting for more! I felt so bad for Liv and Roar...I hate Vale! How could he sell his own sister?!? Anyway, I hope Roar finds Liv in the next book!
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** spoiler alert ** If you feel like travelling to Europe and you don't have the money for it, read this book and you'll experience the beauty and madness of Europe! When I read Aunt Peg's first envelope, I thought this is just a simple adventure she made up for Ginny. I thought she just want Ginny to loosen up a bit and try to have fun. However, as I continue reading her little blue envelopes, I realized that Aunt Peg want Ginny to get something more than just fun on her Europe escapade. Sometimes I find Aunt Peg's instructions crazy and unsafe...not bringing a cellphone for example, how can you call for help in case of emergency? And that one where she instructed Ginny to ask a guy out in Rome---she almost got raped by that guy! Anyway, I find Ginny's character admirable. You can see how much she loved and trusted her Aunt that she followed all the instructions in the letters and left the US with only $1000 in her pocket. I would never go anywhere without my phone or laptop! I wasn't very satisfied with how things ended in this book. I was disappointed when Ginny lost the 13th envelope. Sure we learned that Aunt Peg married Richard, they sold her expensive art, etc.. however, we never knew what her final words were. =( I wasn't crazy about the Keith and Ginny "romance" either. Overall,it was a good read---perfect for summer reading!
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3.5 stars I read and enjoyed the first two novels from this series and I have to say that in this book I miss the "sporty" part of this supposedly sports contemporary novel. Anyhow, I still liked it and there were a lot of lessons pertaining to faith and religious belief. I have nothing against Christian novels, I read them occasionally and enjoy them most of the time. On this particular novel though, you have to understand that the heroine is a teenager and is in a process of finding herself. You have to be patient with Kate and keep an open mind as you read a long because she's a little confused. She's also re-evaluating her choices and decisions made in the past few months. Kate was raised in a Christian family and have been a regular church attendee of Forrest Sanctuary all her life. (Note: In Stealing Parker, Parker used to go to the same church as Kate's and was shunned by the said church members after her mom's "scandal"). Anyway, Kate have been carrying a guilt for assisting her best friend to go through abortion. She felt like she and her bestfriend needed saving and tried to involve Emily to find forgiveness through prayers. However, Emily had a change of heart since her abortion. She no longer share the same faith as Kate's thus their misunderstanding. When Emily's family found out about the abortion, she was kicked out of her house and had to work to support herself. She's supposed to go to a summer camp as a councilor with Kate, but due to her current situation, Kate had to go alone. There she reunites with Matt, the first and only guy she kissed. Kate's character wasn't very easy to like. She's uptight and judgmental. However, I understand where she's coming from. She is what she is because of her upbringing. She's a good kid and she just followed what her parents and her church says. Matt on the other hand is a laid-back college student. Even though he's a Christian, he joined a fraternity, drinks beer occasionally and hangs out with non-Christian kids. He's sweet and kind though. Despite their differences, they were attracted to each other. Most of the time, Kate's actions and thoughts were annoying but I'm glad she learned a few things in the end. She became open-minded about other people's belief and learned to respect them. I think the main lesson in this book is for us to understand that religions and churches are not perfect. I'm a Roman Catholic and I have friends who are from different religious groups (INC, Mormons, Baptists, Born Again, Muslims, etc) and I never had a hard time talking about religion with them. In fact i'm fascinated with the similarities with the religions. Respect and open-mindedness is very important when you deal with people who have different values and religious beliefs, otherwise, you'll have problems like Kate had. Anyway, this was a good read. I only recommend this book to YA readers who don't have issues in reading books about religion.
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Blaire Wynn didn't want to ask her dad for help. He left when her sister died in a car accident and never called back when she informed him about her mother's cancer. There is no love lost between them, but he is the only family she have left. Her mother died just a few weeks ago and she have to sell their house to cover her mother's medical bills. With only 20 dollars left on her pocket she drove from Alabama to Florida to live with her dad and his new family. Unfortunately, when she reached Rosemary Beach, she learned that her dad is away on a trip with his wife. With no money, no gas, and an empty stomach, Blaire was ready to fall apart. However, when her silver-eyed stepbrother offered her a place to stay, she immediately accepted. Rush was rude, insensitive, and a certified player... but, he's also sexy as hell! How long can Blaire ignore her attraction to her step brother? She's innocent, he's worldly, she's poor, he's insanely rich. He is definitely out of her league, but are those reasons enough to stay away from him? "I didn't fit in with them. I'd never fit in at my high school either. My life was just one big awkward moment." - Blaire This book started so well, Blaire came to Rosemary Beach packing a 9mm gun. I was like woah, this girl is a bad ass! Also, Blaire have been through a lot--her twin sister died in a car accident, her father left them, and the most recent one is her mother's death from cancer. Blaire is independent and works hard to support herself. With that in mind, I was expecting her to be different. I thought she can handle herself around Rush and give the guy a hard time chasing her, but no! Just one look at Rush and poof, the fierce Blaire was gone. Despite that, her character isn't that bad. She's a good girl and a hard worker. I also liked her friendship with Bethy and Jimmy. "I know my actions don't appear to back that up but if you'd just let me explain. God, baby, I can't stand seeing you in so much pain." - Rush Rush is an intriguing character. I liked him in the beginning because he's hot! However, as I read along, I realized that he doesn't have any other admirable characteristics. Sure he was a great brother (to Nan at least) and he's protective of Blaire, but I don't know... it felt like he's not showing his feelings correctly, probably his secret is affecting his behavior. Anyway, there's one character I really loved in this book--- Woods! Even though Blaire didn't even try to get to know the guy, Woods was nice and decent. He's always looking out for her and helps her whenever he can. I think he's the only guy who have an actual job in this book! LOL. I'm looking forward to read his story! This is a fast-paced, hot and addictive read. Highly recommended to New Adult Fiction readers. PS. Thanks to my GR friends who informed me about the cliff hanger ending! =D PPS. I'm reserving my comments about Nan for my review of Book 2. On to the next book...
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2.5 - 3 Stars WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD! I've been waiting for this book to come out since last year. I loved the first two books in this series even though the second book ended with Emma leaving Evan. I wasn't able to read Out of Breath as soon as it came out because I joined a reading challenge and I actually have to follow a reading list. So, when I finally got around reading it, there are a lot of reviews in GR already and being a natural curious, I read them. Unfortunately, the reviews are not what I was expecting. A lot were disappointed, and even though it pains me to say this: I agree with them. The book is written in 2 POV's- Emma and Evan's, but majority of the chapters were written in Emma's POV (Chapters 1-14 are all written in Emma's POV). Okay, here it goes: It was bad. Not the writing style, but the story. It was painful to see Emma like that. She's self-destructive. I think I liked the Emma before despite the abuse and battery she experienced because I can offer sympathy to those kind of characters. It wasn't their choice to be in that situation in the first place. However,in this book, Emma was almost always drunk, she makes out with guys she doesn't know, and does other impulsive stuff. She's really in a bad place and I can't stomach what she's doing to herself. And then she met Cole. I didn't like Cole, but I didn't hate him either. He seems like a nice guy, but I like Evan too much that I couldn't make myself to like him. He was patient with Emma, and he somehow helps her forget her issues. They slept together, a LOT, but get this, THEY ARE NOT DATING. I pretty much skimmed ALL the parts whenever Emma uses Cole as her distraction or as her anesthetic, and by that, I meant them having sex. I'm just so mad at Emma at this point, I almost gave up reading the book and then FINALLY Evan showed up on Emma's mom's funeral. Honestly, Evan is the only reason why I continued reading this book. I was very curious about what happened to him after Emma left. It wasn't revealed in an instant but there were hints that he was really messed up when Emma left. (grrr Emma!) I didn't like his decision to spend the summer in California because it's obvious that he's not over Emma. Plus, Cole and Emma are together even though she says they are NOT DATING. I also think his 2 week deal with Emma was really stupid. I felt really bad for Evan because it's painful to see some one you love with another person. I even wished that he hooked up with Nika, or any girl just to get back at Emma (I know, I sound so immature *sigh*). However, when he finally revealed what happened to him the past 2 years, I was actually RELIEVED that after Emma, he was with Analise. I was relieved because at least he wasn't alone. He had someone who loved and cared for him even if he was at his lowest. What else? Hmmm...I didn't enjoy the epilogue. I also found the switching of POV's a little confusing. Ugh, there's so many things I didn't like about this book. Let me type some things I liked instead: Sara - I love her character. She's a great friend. She kept on taking care of Emma even when she was in France. Emma is so lucky to have Sara as a best friend. Emma and Evan took their time before getting back together - thank God! After so many pages of Emma and Cole having sex, I really didn't want her to get intimate with Evan, at least not until Emma spill out her secrets and forgive herself. I liked that they tried to get to know each other again and started communicating about their feelings before committing in a relationship. HEA - Even though I didn't like Emma here most of the time, I still think that her story deserves a happy ending. I'm glad that Emma and Evan found healing, forgiveness, strength and happiness with each other. I heard Ms. Donovan is writing a novel about Jonathan (the guy Emma left with at the end of Barely Breathing). I don't like Jonathan, in fact I hated it every time Emma mentions or remembers him. So, I probably won't read his book. What I want to read though is a book about Evan. His life two years ago, while he was with Analise... while he was in Yale. We always see Evan as this sweet, caring, understanding guy... I want to see the other side of him, his life without Emma, where he acted out, when he was angry, sad, and confused. This may not happen of course, but IF the author decided to write one, it will make me REALLY happy. 3 out of 4 books I've read this week didn't meet my expectations, I hope the next one on my list is good. *fingers crossed*
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4.5 Stars "You know that feeling of deja vu people talk about? I live it. Every. Single. Day." This book is about a 16 year-old girl who can predict her next day through dreams. Nara Collins lives her day twice and she finds it boring. One night before she went to sleep she wished for just one "surprising" day... she woke up the next day regretting her wish and decided to do something to prevent her dream to happen. I read this book for a reading challenge that I joined and I wasn't expecting much about it. I thought it was just another YA paranormal book, but I was wrong! I had a hard time putting it down. It sucked me in after reading a couple of chapters. I loved the plot, the writing style, the pacing, the characters... I think I liked almost everything about it, LOL! Nara isn't your typical YA heroine. She's tough, independent and athletic. She's not perfect though. When she stopped dreaming her future we learned that she's misusing her gift...she started failing her classes, not performing well as a soccer goalie, and to top it off, her relationship with her best friend became shaky. Through all of that stuff, there's one guy who unexpectedly became her ally. Ethan Harris is a mystery to everyone. He has a bad reputation and keeps to himself until she met Nara. They became good friends and later developed into something more. The chemistry between this two is undeniable, they are just perfect for each other! *sigh* As they get to know each other, their secrets are revealed one by one. The mystery is one of the best things in this book...*note: AVOID READING SPOILERS!* it will make you want to read more. Also, the twists in the plot and the action will keep you on the edge of your seat! There's one thing I didn't like on this book though --- Nara's friends, including Lainey. I think I'm more hurt and annoyed than Nara when Lainey believed Sophia about the whole Jared thing. The way they turned their backs on her when she wasn't performing well on their soccer games made my blood boil. And the pranks...arrgh, thank God for Ethan Harris! Anyway, I am so glad that I have a copy of book 2 handy because the book ended abruptly, there were a lot of questions left unanswered. I immediately jumped to Lucid as soon as I hit the last page of The Brightest Kind of Darkness. I had to find out what happens next! If you plan on reading this, make sure you buy Lucid too. =) This book is highly recommended to readers who like action romance and mystery on their YA books. =)
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** spoiler alert ** 4.5 Stars Holy crap! It's only the 10th but I'm already stacking books on my February top reads shelf. This one is definitely one of them. Rieux, France - Scarlet Benoit's grandmother have been missing for three weeks. The detectives didn't find any signs of violence and assumed that her grandmother left on her freewill. Scarlet refused to believe that her mother will leave without notifying her. Everything about it felt wrong, she knew that something happened to her grandmother. As she try to find ways to get information about Michelle Benoit's whereabouts, she encountered Wolf, a shy and handsome street fighter. When her father came back rambling things about being captured, Michelle's secrets and tattooed men, she immediately thought of Wolf and the tattoo on his arm. When she confronted Wolf, the street fighter swore that he has nothing to do about the kidnapping and promise to help her find her grandmother. New Beijing, Eastern Commonwealth - Cinder was able to escape her prison cell with a cadet in tow. With the use of her new hand provided by Dr. Erland and her Lunar abilities, they were able to escape the prison unscathed. The Cadet... er Captain Carswell Thorne proved to be useful when he told Cinder about his spaceship. Though stolen, it was perfectly safe and undetectable. Together they were able to travel without being found. Cinder felt that it's time to learn about her past and her first step is to look for the woman who helped with her adoption. She needs to go to France to find Michelle Benoit. Cinder and Scarlet may have different motives but they both have the same goal. Their paths will eventually cross and will be the beginning of an epic journey. The book is a fairy tale retelling of The Little Red Riding Hood with heavy aspects of sci-fi. In the beginning, I wasn't very interested with Scarlet... I care more about Cinder and Kai, (thank God for the multiple POV's) but as I read along she started to grow on me. Her character isn't hard to like, she's opinionated, strong and independent. Wolf on the other hand was timid and awkward, but he's physically strong and handsome too. I also liked the addition of Captain Thorne and the return of Iko. "You're ... rather handsome, Captain Thorne." Cinder groaned. "And you, my fine lady, are the most gorgeous ship in these skies, and don't let anyone ever tell you different." The temperature drifted upward, until Cinder dropped her arms with a sigh. "Iko, are you intentionally blushing?" The temperature dropped back down to pleasant. "No," Iko said. Then, "But am I really pretty? Even as a ship?" "The prettiest," said Thorne. LOL! Iko and Thorne are the constant source of humor in this book, I love them both! I also liked the romance between Scarlet and Wolf (sorry, no Kai-Cinder romance this time) Wolf's expression iced over and he looked away. His tone became uneasy again. "I know you must want nothing to do with me. I don't blame you." Wolf scrunched up his shoulders, and met her with an expression full of regret. "But you're the only one, Scarlet. You'll always be the only one." Her pulse fluttered. "Wolf--" "I know. We met less than a week ago and in that time I've done nothing but lie and cheat and betray you. I know. But if you give me a chance ... all I want is to protect you. To be near you. For as long as I'm able." Awww, these two are so cute they made Iko blush--- "Maybe next time we're on Earth you can pick up some sensors? I feel like I'm eavesdropping having the audio on all the time. It's becoming awkward." "Awkward?" The running lights brightened, reminding Cinder of a blush. She wondered if it was intentional. "Scarlet and Wolf are saying gushy things in the galley," Iko said. "Normally I like gushy things, but it's different when it's real people. I prefer the net dramas." LOL Iko! Anyway, like what I've said no Kai-Cinder romance this time. I felt bad for Kai because he's confused and unprepared for the events that occurred. He felt so betrayed for what Cinder did, even more when he found out that Dr. Erland somehow assisted with Cinder's escape. I hope everything works out between them on the next book. I have to add that I liked Chapter 45! Meyer added Queen Levana's POV. Even though it was only a chapter, we get to be inside her head to learn her motivations and fears. Yep, I had to use Lana Parilla's evil queen image from Once Upon A Time because I think she's perfect for the role of Queen Levana. =D Scarlet is fast-paced, engaging and action packed sci-fi romance. With how things ended, I'm expecting more action in the next book. It pains me to know that Cress wont be available until next year, however i'm excited because my favorite fairy tale character will be featured on the next book: Rapunzel and Cinder in Sahara!!! I can't wait to read it!!! PS. Before reading this book, I recommend that you guys read The Queen's Army for you to better understand Wolf's background and his behavior.
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REVIEW CONTAIN SPOILERS! Just like any other Immortals After the Dark fan, I've been counting the days for the release of this book. So when it came out two days go, I immediately read it and pull an all-nighter to finish the book. It was entertaining. I was able to keep my eyes open and finish the book until three in the morning. However, there are some things about the new IAD book that I find disappointing. One. The cover. I know, do not judge the book by its cover... blah blah blah, but if you've been reading the series for quite some time, covers are important! When the cover was revealed, I was a tad disappointed. Still, I love the Lykaes and I kept my fingers cross that the content will compensate for the not-so appealing cover. Unfortunately, it didn't. Two. The characters. Like I said, I loved the Lykae heroes on the IAD series but Uilleam is probably an exception. Ugh, he was very stubborn and cruel. I can't stomach what he did to Chloe, he's such a jerk! Chloe's character on the other hand, was very promising. I liked her in the beginning. She's physically strong (she's a professional soccer player), independent and doesn't take shit from no one. However, when her true nature was revealed, she changed completely. From Ms. Athletic and Independent, she became Ms. Pathetic Succubus. Her situation was frustrating because other than dying, her only choice is to stick with Uilleam. She couldn't leave because everyone in the Lore wants a piece of her-being Webb's daughter and all. Also, her Succubus nature made her dependent to Will: No sex, she dies; sex with an unwilling man, she dies. I'm not kidding! She's probably the most helpless heroine in the entire IAD series. Three. The story. MacRieve is mediocre compared to other IAD books. It's pretty straight forward and a little predictable. It revolved mainly on Chloe -Will romance, and Will's traumatic past. I find the conflict resolution anticlimactic. The book left me dissatisfied and it felt like the book was just a filler or a novella despite it's total word count. It's definitely not your usual KC novel. Compared to it's predecessor Lothaire, it lacks action, complex story line and shocking plot twists. I think MacRieve was not intended as a stand alone novel, you'll definitely get lost if you haven't read the earlier books in the series. If there's one thing I absolutely enjoyed in this book, it's definitely Nix' cameo. She's one of my favorite character in the entire IAD series and I'm truly grateful that she appeared in the first few chapters in the book. She's so funny! I love her SLUT shirt. I still think that KC is one of the best paranormal romance author out there. I have no complaints about her writing, and I will continue reading her books-- fillers or not. Honestly, MacRieve isn't that bad, thus the 3-star rating. However, if you've read Lothaire before reding this, it's hard not to be disappointed. Lothaire was a really good read! Hopefully, the next book will be better than this one.
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** spoiler alert ** I have always loved Ms. Glines' Sea Breeze series and this book is not an exception. After reading While It Lasts, I couldn't wait to get my hands on Just for Now to read more about the Sea Breeze boys and their partners! Still, after reading this book, I realized that Cage York will always be my favorite Sea Breeze guy! LOL. Don't get me wrong, Preston is really hot, it's just his lifestyle turned me off a bit. Amanda have been crushing on her brother's best friend since she was 16 years old. She tried so hard to make him notice her, but he never looked at her in that way (atleast that's what she think). One night, Preston surprisingly noticed her which ended in the storage closet and Manda losing her virginity. To make the matters worst, Preston thought he dreamed the whole thing! Preston have never been attracted to any woman as much as he did with Amanda. However, he couldn't make a move towards his best friend's sister, she's off limits. Also, his job isn't really something he can be proud of. Selling his body to earn for money is not his job of choice, but he needed the income to provide for his siblings. How can an innocent woman like Amanda can love a guy like him? Preston believes that he will never be good enough for Amanda Hardy. Preston Drake. I already mentioned how Preston's life as a man-whore turned me off but the guy have some redeeming qualities. I like the caring brother Preston. He's such a bear when it comes to Daisy! He really just want to make his brothers' and sister's life less miserable. Amanda Hardy. I admire Amanda for being so brave. Being with Preston would be difficult. Let's face it, Preston was a gigolo. He may have changed his ways, but people would still see him as that guy who slept with rich and older women for money. I want to see Amanda's mom's reaction once they tell her that she and Preston are back together! LOL. Jason Stone. OMG, I am hoping that we get to read a book about Jason! He seems like a great guy, and he's been a great friend to Amanda even though he knew that she's in love with some one else. While It Lasts is still my favorite Sea Breeze book, but this one is also an enjoyable read. =)
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** spoiler alert ** 3.5 stars. This is the fourth and final book in the Significance series. Though it's sad to see the series end, it's still nice to know that Caleb and Maggie finally got their HEA. The book starts with Maggie being bombarded with issues--- Lynne and Kyle's abilities not manifesting, Rebecca and Ralph's accident, the vision about Jen and Bish, etc. They had to cut their London visit short to attend Becky and Ralph's "funeral service". They found out later, through Maggie's vision, that Marcus planned Beck's accident and that it's possible that the two are still alive. Caleb and Maggie immediately took off to search for their friends. With their wedding coming up and Caleb with new responsibilities as a champion of the Jacobson's clan, there are still things that needs to be taken cared of. With Marcus still around and making trouble for their clan, things will not be easy for Caleb and Maggie. Likes: Caleb's POV, finally! I also liked the happy ending, the epilogue was cute. Dislikes: Okay, I have to say that I was a little disappointed with how things ended. I was really looking forward to their wedding but it didn't meet my expectations. I know the Aces wedding is different from the regular human wedding but, idk, I just didn't like that they were married with 3 other couples. Even though they were their relatives, it's just... different. It didn't feel special to me at all. Sorry! Also, I really missed the action. I was expecting them to encounter some more powerful ace or something but they only had a fight with Marcus who was no longer an ace and powerless. Although it was a little heart pumping because Maggie almost died, it wasn't as good as the epic battles in Accordance and Defiance where they used their supernatural abilities. Hmmm, what else? I think the issue about Maggie's mom (her showing up and the telephone conversation Maggie heard) just came out of nowhere and wasn't really resolved. Oh, i almost forgot, Becky seriously annoyed me in this book! I probably wont forgive her if I were Maggie...Becky called Maggie a freak when she learned about her abilities. This is after Maggie saved her and Ralph. What an ungrateful cow! Well, since I'm a Significance series fan, I still read and enjoyed the book. It may not be as awesome as the other 3, but it was still a good read.
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** spoiler alert ** ""You...love my brother?" My chest hurt at the desolation in his voice, as if he never expected to love again, couldn't really even believe in it anymore. "Yes." Opal started with Dawson lurking in Katy's room...despite being back with his siblings, the old Dawson was gone. He will never be the same again without Beth. Katy fully understand how Dawson feels specially now that she's fallen in love with Daemon. She is going along well with the two boys and even enjoys their zombie movie marathons! Dee, however, is a different story. Still mourning and bitter over Adam's death, Dee and Katy's friendship is falling apart. Worst, Dee is hanging out with Andrew and Ash also known as the "Bitch Squad". With her mom still communicating with Will, Beth being held by the Daedalus, and Blake showing up in school again, things are even more complicated than it was before. Likes: I have one word for you: Daemon! hahahaha. Although Dawson is also a likable character, there will be only one alien I will always love, and that is Daemon, LOL. Katy is a one damn lucky hybrid! Seriously though, I liked how the relationship between Daemon and Katy developed. They became more open to each other in terms of communication before they become physically involved. I also liked the fact that Katy wasn't very annoying in this book, hehe. For some reasons, I 'm also glad that they were able to rescue Beth despite what happened to Katy in return. I'm happy for Dawson and Beth, but my heart hurts for Daemon... Oh, I also liked the change that happened with Ash and Andrew...I just hope it lasts. Dislikes: Blake. When he came back I just knew that he's going to f*ck them all over again. That part was a little predictable and bleh...and what was the deal with him sleeping in Katy's bed?!? What a psycho! I hope not to see Blake again in the next book, or if ever he will re-appear, I hope it's his death scene, haha! Of course I hated the ending! Waaaaah, I need the next book now! "I love you, Katy. Always have. Always will," ---Daemon To all Lux series fans, this book is a little frustrating but you'll like it. I promise! If you want to get a dose of alien hotness and a little bit of action, this is perfect for you! =) PS. I hope that the next book will be written in Daemon's POV...
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Measuring Up was a light and quick read for me. I've read and loved several Nyrae Dawn novels and I think this one is pretty enjoyable. Not her best, but still an entertaining read. I liked the story, it's simple and well explained. The characters were so real and easy to relate to. Annabel is a 17 year old with body image and self-esteem issues. Teagan on the other hand, is an 18 year old fitness trainer with daddy issues. When they first met in a gym where Teagan is working, there was an instant attraction between them. However, Annabel's insecurities made her believe that there is no way Teagan will like a girl like her. I liked the relationship between the two, I loved the banters and their work outs. It reminds me of my own attempts to lose weight! =D This is the "relatable" part. I'm actually the same height with Annabel and even though I never reached her weight (which is 168 lbs, my heaviest weight was 135 lbs), my BMI is still overweight. I understand her frustrations and fear of failing. It takes a lot of commitment and self control to reach your goal in loosing weight. Annabel is lucky to have Teagan to push her to her limits and encourage her to lose weight. I did it on my own and it was so freaking hard! I did met my goal like Annabel did, of course her's was better because she received a bonus--- Teagan! I have to add that I loved Teagan's loyalty and sense of responsibility to his family. Even though he's trying too hard to make up for his dad's absence, I still think that Teagan is a good kid. Speaking of families, I hate Annabel's mom! I wish she tried harder to get to know her daughter and understand what she's going through. Parents are not perfect, but they should at least try right? I love Teagan's Mom and brother though. I recommend this book to those who are struggling with their body image and self-worth. This is a perfect weight loss success story, it can motivate you and push you to try harder to meet your goals. The love story is pretty good too! =)
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** spoiler alert ** Accordance begins with Caleb and Maggie in California with their chaperons (Bish and Kyle). Now that the couple have ascended, Maggie is now a Seer but Caleb's ability haven't manifested at all. With Kyle's constant attempt to make Maggie like him, Bish being overprotective and her new found role as a Visionary, Maggie can no longer handle the pressure on her own. Together with Caleb and the rest of the Jacobson's, they will find ways to get used to her abilities and face the trials ahead. Likes: Caleb! He's so sweet, caring and selfless. Even though he thought that his ability will not manifest, he never got jealous over Maggie's abilities and Visionary role. I was also relieved that they finally shared the Aces' secret to Bish. Atleast now he'll stop being a paranoid and overprotective of Maggie. I'm also glad that Maggie finally got rid of Kyle, hahaha. I loved the fight scene on the last chapters when we finally realized what ability Caleb has. His power reminds me of Peter Petrelli of the TV Show Heroes, hehe, he borrows the supernatural abilities of people around him. It's pretty cool! Dislikes: It annoys me everytime Kyle tries to get Maggie's attention, why can't he just let go? His efforts were useless because Caleb and Maggie's soul chose each other, there's no way he can get Maggie away from Caleb. I can't tell you how thankful I am when he finally found his significant! haha. I was also disappointed about the Jenna - Bish situation. "Don't touch me," she begged, "I have a daughter and I have to think of her. Please, don't touch me." Poor Bish and Jenna. Hmmm, I think I maybe be the only one who doesn't approve of Maggie and Caleb's engagement. I think it's too early for them to get married! I mean, sure we already know that they are going to be together anyway, but why rush it? Maggie isn't even 18 yet... Anyway, this was a great sequel! I'm going to re-read the next one...
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** spoiler alert ** I'm re-reading the series while waiting for the 4th and final book...INDEPENDENCE! I'm addicted to this series and I can't wait to read the last book! Maggie is a really smart seventeen year old who is graduating a year early from high school but she's having her worst year. Her mom left, her adopted brother is in New York and she is stuck with her depressed Dad. Also, her boyfriend dumped her 3 days after her mom left. She was forced to work so that she can support herself since her father was sacked from his job. Boyfriend-less and no plans for college, she attended her graduation day with no expectations. Her long time friend Kyle asked her to have a date with him that night, since she's been rejecting his invitations for the entire year after her break up with her long time boyfriend, she finally agreed. Night came and she found herself saving a guy from being trampled by a truck, a guy who will change her life. Caleb was saved by the girl he was ogling at the stop light, she was beautiful and charming, funny too. Apparently she was his cousin's (Kyle) date. Who would've thought that the girl he just met will be her significant for the rest of his life? Caleb belongs to a non-human family. They are called Aces because they have supernatural abilities. The manner of marriage is made through "imprints" the imprint chooses their soul mates. However, there was no imprint that occurred for the past 20 years, thus, many Aces are single and powerless (because they only get their supernatural abilities in the process called ascending AFTER they imprinted). This is the reason why Maggie and Caleb's imprinting created a buzz within the Ace community---it brought hope to others and envy to enemies. Also, the fact that Maggie is a human and only 17 years old made things more complicated. Usually imprints occur for Aces that are on their early twenties which is of marrying age in the Ace community. I liked pretty much everything in this book! LOL. Like what I've said, I'm addicted! I loved the story, the characters as well as the writing style. Some people might hate the "insta-love" between Maggie and Caleb, but I actually loved it. Maggie and Caleb are perfect for each other, nuff said. Caleb was an amazing significant, he's just so sweet and caring. Maggie is not bad either, instead of giving up when she was held in captivity by the Watsons clan, she stayed strong and managed to escape. Plus, Maggie's ability is pretty awesome! Did I say how addictive this book was? If you're a fan of paranormal romances you have to read this! And make sure you have the 2nd and 3rd book available because you'll want to read the next book as soon as you finished the first one, lol! "He can't keep you from me. No one can. I told you I'll always find you."--Caleb
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This is the nth time that I re-read this book and I'm sure it wont be the last. A Walk to Remember is the first N. Sparks book I read and will always be one of my favorites. The story begins with Landon Carter reminiscing his senior year in Beaufort High. The year where Landon, a politician son fell for Jamie Sullivan, a pastor's daughter. Destiny brought these two different personalities together which changed their lives and the people around them forever. Likes: Everything! When I first read this book, I was completely awed by how good it was written considering the fact that it was in a male's POV. The writing was simple and poignant. What I really liked about the story is how pure and innocent the love is between the main characters. Sure they were young, but what they had was real. The characters are also likable. Landon was flawed, he's insecure, and probably not the brightest kid in school but deep inside he's a good guy. Jamie was the good girl but her goodness seems to repel people. In other words, she's a social outcast. I love the character development. We saw how Jamie changed Landon and how his experience made him a better person. Dislikes: I couldn't think of anything... This book is highly recommended to those who are addicted to tear-jerkers and bitter-sweet endings.
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Okay, so this happened.I was absolutely spellbound from the first page. I missed these characters and their crazy (so unbelievably crazy!) antics. I had an incredible time reading this. It was so much fun being swept up in that whirlwind, I can't wait for the next book. Especially since I have a new couple I love and ship. That being said, it has not improved skill-wise. Like the book before SJM had a ton of ideas and just put them all in, whether they make sense, fit the natural progression of the story or add to the ebb and flow a book should have. She just stacks one thing on top of the other,throws in every trope she knows, people switch sides every other chapter, it's crazy. Like I said, entertainingly crazy, but still. It's the book equivalent to an over-the-top soap opera and I really wish she would leave a little bit of it on the cutting room floor. I mean, (view spoiler)[the end image of Feyre and Rhys flying over Velaris would be so beautiful but of course she's wearing lingerie. Did they forget that? Did Sarah? Come on! (hide spoiler)] This is also the book where SJM noticed that people want more LGBT representation and proceeds by randomly introducing LGBT people. I had the impression that she literally put all the sexualitys and names in hats, drew some and decided to just go with whatever fate told her. I'm also pretty sure that a lot of shippers are mad about one choice she made here... Until neyt year,fellow readers, when the crazy continues. My prediction: Feyre gets pregnant by the end of it, (view spoiler)[Elain is caught in a love square, Mor and the cursed princess get it on, hopefully Nesta and Cassian make some progress (I'm so invested, there are no words. how did this happen to me?) (hide spoiler)], more people switch sides all the time and all the things we've learned so far are revealed to be false. It will all be very shocking and i'm gonna enjoy all of it giddy with a bag of popcorn.
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Absolutely amazing conclusion to the best duology I've ever read. If you've read the first one you know how great the worldbuilding, characters and action in these books are. Thoug the (hilarious and natural) banter is the best part for me, it's hard to have an ensemble cast and do everyone justice but Leigh Bardugo manages it starting at the first page. I loved it!!
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The best book I have ever read. Hands down. I could not stop reading and when I finished I wanted to read it all over again. There's such an amount of suspense, believable romance, humour (where is that humour coming from? It's a very serious storyline and yet I laughed 'til I cried so many times), surprises and tragedy in this book, it's insane. All brought to you wrapped in beautiful prose. I can find not a single flaw apart from the fact that the ending is abrupt and the promised short stories are still not out.... So basically, my only problem is that it was over much too soon. Absolute perfection, recommended to everyone. I will never get over it. OTP. Put this down for all the awards.
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This was the most atmospheric book I've ever read. The clothes, the food, the culture - you can almost smell the spices. What a good idea to read this in the summer heat. I was not swept away by the romance the way others were but the writing had such an amazing flow, its world was so enchanting, I really didn't need a perfect love story. Looking forward to book 2
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Oh my. I keep thinking I should not love this book as much as I do simply because most of it is based on "everything you've been told up to now was a lie" and that's just not very elegant. And yet it actually works simply because the new facts are so much more interesting than the ones established in the first book, just like the new characters are so amazing they make you glad we switched to them. Also kudos for the focus on ptsd everyone deals with! No, this is not a perfectly crafted story (the forementioned retconning and the fact that a lot of things are just too convenient) but it's so much fun to read I'll forgive anything. Part 1 was nice enough but after part 2 I cannot wait for the next book (and also would not mind for this series to be more than a trilogy). GIVE IT TO ME NOW
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I got headaches from crying so much while reading this book. 5/5. Would recommend. Fuck everything.
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Hilarious, clever and absolutely adorable - I couldn't put it down! I've just finished reading and now my face hurts because I've been grinning so hard. The characters are amazing, the pop culture references are all wonderful (and you get recced for a lot of great music) and the ship is so freaking amazing you can't help but want them to get together now! Right now! I was yelling at the text. Absolute feelgood read. Would reccomend. 5/5. I can't even.
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"I've been thinking about that book about the boys who crash on an island." "Lord of the Flies. What about it?" "You know how you said it wasn't a true measure of humanity because there were no girls and you wondered how it would be different if there had been girls?" "Yeah?" "Maybe girls need an island to find themselves. Maybe they need a place where no one's watching them so they can be who they really are." Full of dark humor, sarcasm, rightous anger and glitter, Beauty Queens sets out to empower girls and make fun of a society that tries to push girls into being perfect little dolls. Just a wonderful read.
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I'm sorry, Bree. I think if I started listing all the things I hated about this, the things I rolled my eyes at and made me facepalm then I would exceed the character limit (okay, no, it's gonna bother me if I don't list anything. The weird feminism: "We girls need to help each other." "Actually, I don't trust any women and the girl who likes my bf is the DEVIL. That weird and unneccessary love triangle. How we are told Celaena's a badass assassin. Seriously, so skilled and brutal. But instead are shown a spoiled brat who comes across as like maybe 12 years old? etc etc etc). I will say that I liked the idea behind it. And I like the cover (the badass one, not the beauty pageant one). But that's about it. Luckily I know a series by this writer that I really enjoy so I'm gonna look forward to the next book in the acotar series!
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This book was provided for free by the author via IndiGo Marketing & Design in exchange for an honest review. This was a fast, tightly-written romance with two very likable leads who have great chemistry. I only wish it was a little more fleshed-out! Isaiah, a widower with a 14-year-old gender-fluid son, is a professional football player who is immediately attracted to Victor, a Russian dancer who may face persecution from his home country if he cannot stay in the United States. The men share a night of passion but they both realize a relationship isn't in the cards for a man who is still grieving his husband, so they agree to be friends and nothing more. But when Isaiah learns Victor may be sent back to Russia if he can't find work, they hastily agree to marry to keep Victor safe. It's going well for a little bit since Victor and Isaiah's son, Evan, hit it off quickly and Victor falls easily into their home life, but when both men realize they can't stay away from each other, the situation gets sticky. The biggest flaw in this story is how we were deprived of that delicious build-up from fake lovers to real lovers. The sexual tension was relieved within the first 10% of the story and these two couldn't keep their hands off one another to save their lives. It never felt like the stakes were high enough for them. Isaiah's deceased husband, Stephen, never feels like a full enough character in the story to make us feel Isaiah's grief--a book that pulled that off much better is Robert Winter's September. And I expected there to be at least some sort of sub-plot about someone being onto the marriage scheme, but that point of tension just sort of fizzled. I found the ending to be anticlimactic for such a good plot idea. Also, for the two main characters being a football player and a dancer, there's very little of either sport in the story, especially football. We get a few good glimpses into Victor's dancing life, but if we weren't explicitly told several times Isaiah was an athlete, we'd be none the wiser. This is a fast story with fun characters. I read the book very quickly and liked the writing. It just needed to be longer and we needed to get to know the characters better for us to really get lost in the story.
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This book was hard to pin down but enjoyable nonetheless. If I was 14 and blind-browsing a bookstore for a new read, I'd probably be disappointed picking this one up. It requires you to have read both the Harry Potter books (a given for most) and Rowell's amazing contemporary YA book Fangirl, and if you didn't enjoy either of those works, you won't enjoy this one. But since I liked them both, Carry On was a treat. If you've read Fangirl, you already know that Simon Snow and Baz Pitch are meant to be together, so it's the build-up from enemies to friends to lovers that we're all here for. It's a slow and lovely build that reaches a fever pitch (pun intended) and carries us quickly to the book's conclusion. The supporting female friends (Agatha and Penelope) were absolutely delightful and a part of me wishes it was their story, though their roles in the plot were great. I grew bored quickly by the older-generation sub-plots and intrigue (just because I love Marauders stuff doesn't mean lightning strikes twice), and I was disappointed by the fact that (view spoiler)[Simon never found out the truth about his parentage despite that being a huge plot point throughout the book. It sets the story up for a sequel, but the rest of the conclusion definitely doesn't (hide spoiler)]. I especially love Rowell's use of language as magic in the world of Simon Snow and the Watford School of Magic. We're used to wands and sing-song incantations from Harry Potter, but since Rowell assumes we're all familiar with Rowling's Wizarding World, she doesn't waste time on world-building a contemporary school of witchcraft. We already understand the setting, so Rowell takes a fun and imaginative twist by having these British witches and wizards use common household phrases like "a little bird told me," "out, out damned spot!," and "up above the world so high" to achieve little magical feats like learning secrets, washing clothes, or flying. A love of language is common among all authors, but Rowell loves it so much she makes it a cornerstone of her magical world. This is a cozy, fast-paced read for people looking for a new take on a beloved YA fantasy formula.
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This was a hard one to rate. I hovered between a two and three-star rating because, while I really didn't enjoy the story, I know there will be a lot of people who will. It appeals to a certain mentality, and all in all, it's a technically sound piece of fiction. I just didn't connect with it on any level. The story takes place in the English countryside where working mom Marlene Greene is camping with her kids Charlie, Billy and Maggie, Charlie's best friend Peter, her sister-in-law Joni, and Joni's daughter Lola. Marlene starts as the stereotypical career woman who just wants a second alone with her Wi-fi while her poor neglected babies yearn for their mummy (let's just say this story doesn't look fondly on working moms). Her unseen husband is revealed to be absolutely useless as he is both unemployed and refuses to take part in any housework or childcare--(view spoiler)[the only time we see him, he's dead, which doesn't change much for the family dynamic (hide spoiler)]. Marlene is ready to get back home, but when they get out of the country, they discover that all of urban England has fallen to a mysterious plague and they're safer in the wilderness than they are in cities. So they all head back into the forest, and the story really begins. Judging by the title and synopsis, Marlene sounded like an interesting character. I imagined a woman who was never truly called to motherhood but finds herself as a stand-in mother to all of these abandoned children (who include Peter, an unnamed child they call Lost Boy who adds nothing to the story, and a group of campers from a boy's school) during a crisis. It sounds like a story rich in possibility for a non-conventional female character. But the thing about Marlene is that she's already an amazing mom--we're just told she's not a good one. Page after page sees her capably handling shit while the wishy-washy American Joni breaks down, and she also finds time to be nurturing, tough, and resourceful when the situation calls. If Marlene is the Worst Mom who needs an apocalypse to start appreciating her children, then the whole of Britain must be flush with Stepford Wives and super-moms. It didn't help that Marlene's kids, especially Billy and Maggie, were totally intolerable shits throughout the story. All they did was cry, scream (If I read "Mum-may" one more time, I'd have joined them in disgruntled screaming), destroy food and medicinal supplies, cling to Marlene, and generally get in the way. I just wanted Marlene to explode, even just once. I wanted her to lose her shit and put the fear of survival into her kids' minds. But even though we're supposed to get this idea that Marlene re-bonds with her kids over their shared pain and fear, there's a constant disconnect between them all. Marlene works to keep them alive, but I never felt any real intimacy between them. There were some sickly-sweet moments of snuggling and hair-stroking while they were asleep, but it read as very generic. Instead of being endeared to Marlene and her children, the purple prose and uncomfortable bouts of gushing over how sweet and beautiful her kids are was more eye-rolling than emotional. It didn't succeed in making me care about Marlene's arc as a mother--in fact, it felt completely forced. Marlene's development was apparently that she learned to sacrifice everything for her kids, but by the end, all I wanted was for her to take care of herself and put herself first once and for all. It all just fell flat for me. The story feels dated--I could see it working for audiences thirty years ago as a response to feminist backlash. But nowadays, we know that women struggle to maintain their identity and individualism after having kids and that there are many story possibilities to be gleaned from that struggle. It feels like a waste of a story for the "moral" to be selfless love for your children (there's even a moment when Joni blatantly says "we only matter because we matter to our kids"...like, ugh. How bleak). The best parts of the book were when the plot pushed forward and the stakes were high. I liked the parts with the "Cleaners" and the turning point in the story when we realize (view spoiler)[the characters are not going to be rescued, and, if anything, they'll be exterminated to prevent spread of the disease (hide spoiler)]. I actually liked Marlene best when she wasn't with her kids, when she was out on her own and trying to figure shit out. I also thought the (view spoiler)[brutal injury and death of Peter was an emotional high point and showed some gritty development for both Marlene and Joni (hide spoiler)]. I'm sure there are a lot of people who will get something out of this book. Unfortunately, I was not one of them.
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I often dread mental asylum plots in fiction, especially historical works. Maybe the American Horror Story: Asylum scarred me for life. Maybe it's because, as a mentally ill lesbian, I'd almost certainly be in one myself if I were living 150 years ago. Either way, they always leave an unsettled feeling in my belly. However, for once, this book, the third full story in the "Whyborne and Griffin" series, (view spoiler)[provides a very satisfying conclusion to a 1890s mental asylum (hide spoiler)]. Instead of our boys nabbing the one man they know for sure is innocent and calling it a day, (view spoiler)[they free the entire asylum, making sure the prisoners either go to state hospitals that will give them better care or get back to their homes and families. If there's a little demonic sorcery involved, well, when isn't there in good 'ol Widdershins? (hide spoiler)]. I was dreading the moment Griffin stepped foot into the Stormhaven Lunatic Asylum. As a reader of both LGBT romances, historical fiction, and horror fiction, the only logical next step would be (view spoiler)[poor, tortured Griffin being restrained by his previous captors and tossed into a dungeon while the heavy doors are slammed and locked in his distressed lover's face (hide spoiler)]. But, since this is Jordan L. Hawk, that never happens. Her mysteries are easily contained in one book with outreaching plot tendrils rather than huge, cliff-hanging overarching plots, which I really like about her works. The subject matter might be scary, but I consider the "Whyborne & Griffin" to be a quintessential cozy mystery series with a backdrop of Lovecraftian horror. At times, I almost feel like these stories are too safe, but the bigger part of me is happy to just settle in and enjoy them for what they are. Whyborne does need to get his shit together soon, though. The poor guy is so self-conscious that he can't imagine why Griffin would like him, and soon, he's just going to have to accept he's hopeless and adorable and everyone loves him.
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I haven't been this pumped about a new release in a long time. A little illicit daddy kink here, a little family drama there, a whole lot of tattoos in the mix...what's not to love? I've read a few tattoo-related romances recently (Jove Belle's Bitterroot Queen had some hot lady artists on the side and I think Spencer Cohen, Book One by N.R. Walker had a very thin tattoo shop background), but this is the first one that has actually gone into detail about what it takes to become a paid tattoo artist. We learn a lot about how a shop is run, the technical aspects of tattooing, and how artists approach their work. I'll admit I was a little bored by the whole "graffiti is legit art" argument, only because I think it's a little dated, but I liked the themes of finding value in art where you need to find it. I don't think either Jericho or Poe are deeply-written characters by any means, but they work well together, inside and out of the bedroom. You can see the mutual respect blossom between them as their power dynamic in the bedroom shifts the opposite way. I couldn't stand Blue as a character, but I don't think we're supposed to be very warm towards him yet. Though I do think the erotica is kinky, it could've gone a little harder. The daddy-boy kink is actually named in the book rather than being one of those lame "oh my god I called him daddy this is sick and wrong God help us both" moments. Both Poe and Jericho recognize it as a kink and nothing more, which means I wish they explored it a little more. More subspace for Poe would've been nice. And a sin indeed was committed when (view spoiler)[paddling was mentioned in a one-line passing moment with no smut whatsoever (hide spoiler)]! What's a daddy kink without some down-and-dirty ass whuppin'? I was also hoping for a little more grit when it came to the dynamic between Poe, Jericho, and Landon, because I really love when healthy-but-complicated father/son relationships are examined in M/M fiction. A part of me sort of wanted Landon to knock Jericho's lights out, and a part of me wanted there to be a little more tension among these three grown men with a very, very tenuous relationship. It wasn't all sunshine and daisies, but I do think there could've been a bit more drama as Landon and Jericho butted heads. I like that Poe is written as pansexual with a preference for older partners in general. In fact, it seems like his previous dominant partners have mostly been women over fifty, which...I would not mind reading about at all. And how about we get Harriet, the no-nonsense lesbian desk clerk for Permanent Ink who doesn't date women under 30, her own book? I'd love to see her get a little mommy kink action herself. I'm guessing the next book is going to feature a (view spoiler)[Blue/Callum (hide spoiler)] relationship, which sounds alright but is nothing I'm super excited about. Riptide is proving to be a really inclusive publisher, though, so I'm hoping Harriet will get her kinky sequel. I'm also sensing that (view spoiler)[Landon and his yet-unnamed shop apprentice might have their own book? That could be interesting (hide spoiler)]. This was worth purchasing right when it came out. While the narrative itself isn't fully unique, it feels like a modern read with good kink. I'm excited to see which characters the authors focus on next.
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This story had me on the edge of my seat. Hawk is great at fast, plot-driven paranormal mysteries, and I think I like the plot to this one better than I did with the first book. It felt like a nice, contained story that still furthered our affection for Griffin and Whyborne as a couple as well as supporting characters like Christine and Whyborne's mother. Even though some of the creatures, creepy-crawlies, horrid lab experiments, and cramped mining shafts can be terrifying, this series still feels cozy, like the characters welcome you back with open arms to go on adventures with them. Even though it is a common enough romantic device, I liked the conflict of "I don't deserve him" that both men feel. Griffin still feels like a broken man after he was committed to a mental institution after the death of his partner, and Whyborne still feels gawky and naive compared to his more worldly lover. The introduction of a shady man from Griffin's past doesn't help with the jealousy, but the stakes feel appropriately low in light of the, you know, (view spoiler)[demon alien creatures swooping down and body-snatching the citizens of a mining boomtown (hide spoiler)]. I also really got a kick out of how Griffin demands Whyborne tell him something only the two of them would know to prove he hasn't been compromised and Whyborne basically yells in a panic "YOU LICKED MY ASSHOLE LAST NIGHT." And Griffin was like okay, yeah, this is him. Hawk knows how to tell a great story while adding bits of romance at just the right times. Even when our heroes are saving a mining town from ruin or quarreling about past lovers, a perfectly-placed kiss, nuzzle, or "my dear" is enough to make it all right again. Only two books in and these have fallen into a beautiful domesticity throughout whatever they have to deal with. I'm hopelessly endeared by Whyborne's slightly fussy characterization, especially the way he won't even be outside the bedroom with Griffin in something as risque as shirtsleeves. Unbuttoning him is always a treat. I read this one very quickly and I am currently devouring the next.
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I was in the middle of three or four very good books, but I had a deep and sudden craving for more of Maris Black's intense, dirty erotica. Maybe it was the weather. Maybe I'm ovulating. Anyone's guess. This book didn't quite scratch the itch as well as Black's Kage series did, but it was a decent read. It's definitely just as intense as her other works. Very erotic. Maybe a hair faster than the honey-slow build-up in Kage, but still very satisfying. Pinned takes place in a college setting that is very odd and very unlike how college was for me, and that's not including the intense homo-eroticism. For starters, we were not locked into our dorms after midnight--that sounds more like boarding school. And we didn't call our professors "teachers," which is one of my pet peeves in college-set books. It almost felt like Black maybe winged it on the college research? I don't want to sound like a dick; I just didn't get big college vibes from the setting. I kind of liked how Jeremy was put through the ringer a little as the cute new gay boy on campus. He's cocky and hot-headed (he and Beck are both what I would lovingly describe as "fuckboys" only because I, as a lesbian, don't have to fuck them) and wants to be "in" right away, but both the wrestlers and his gay friends have to show him the ropes in this new world. I liked the whole "poppers and public blow jobs" aspect of introducing Jeremy to the campus' gay culture. It felt really bad but weirdly real. I'm not a gay man, but I certainly was put through my fair share of queer-exclusive hazing when I met older lesbian friends. It isn't always GSA and rainbow flags. Queer kids come together in different ways, and not all of them are squeaky-clean--just like how the straight college students come into their own. Black definitely has a kink for dominant, possessive alphas who protect their partners with their life. And I have a kink for that too, so, neat-o. I thought that was a delicious dynamic between Kage and Jamie in Kage. But I feel like Beck isn't a fleshed-out enough character to have him be so fiercely possessive of Jeremy. The jock strap locker room scenes were super erotic, but (view spoiler)[when Jeremy was raped by the assistant coach, it seemed like Beck was more upset that the coach touched what was his than with the fact that his boyfriend was sexually assaulted. That really settled like a brick for me, and I didn't enjoy it (hide spoiler)]. It went a little too far and a little too fast in this book. I've seen a few reviews saying that Jeremy is too feminized, but I think he's too infantilized. Of course, in romance, the women themselves are often infantilized, so there's a whole can of worms we can open here. Jeremy does put on the pouty-lipped wide-eyed coquette thing, which is equally cute and annoying, but it just becomes baffling when you see his headstrong, hot-headed personality otherwise. I think these characters were drawn a bit too sloppy, but that doesn't mean I didn't generally enjoy them most of the time. What I really liked about this book was the group of very different college guys who are loosely "friends" because they're all trying to scrape by as gay men in a severely scrutinizing setting. Seth and Beck would never tolerate each other if they didn't have one very vital thing in common, and you can tell the core friendships between the guys are very strong. I'm excited to see them play out in upcoming books.
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I read this series over about two days. It's exactly what a good romance series is supposed to be--fast, scorching, and fun. Originally, I read the first book, Kage, for the M/M Romance Author of the Month pick, and I ended up enjoying it so much I swept through the next two books. This book definitely took a turn into the crime genre for the last quarter or so, which felt a little rushed. By the time I was about 60% finished, I couldn't believe all of the loose ends would be tied up in time, and the conclusion was less than stellar. However, the last few pages were absolutely perfect, which made up for the poor execution before. (view spoiler)[I also thought it was a great way to end the series itself, though I heard Black was writing more books. Unless she uses different characters, I'm really wondering where she'll go with Jamie and Kage (hide spoiler)]. It has been a few days since I've finished these books and my fondness for them has only increased. They aren't terribly original or deep stories, but you can't help but become engrossed in Jamie and Kage's love story. I'm actually changing my star rating for the first book from four to five. One of my favorite romance moments I've read in a long time is when Kage knows he'll win the match and asks Jamie how he'd like him to win it, and as a prize, he'll fuck Jamie for the first time. It's slow and dirty and erotic, and it sticks with me as a pairing for the ages. There's a lot of anger and intensity with the characters and the story always feels heavy, even when the stakes end up being low.
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For once in a blue moon (werewolf pun intended), I enjoyed the plot much more than the romance! I was excited to read this one after enjoying the first two books in Harper's contemporary Life Lessons series. She has a gift for tense storytelling and smart plotting--a lot of romance/erotica writers know readers would be more than happy with pretty bodies rubbing up against each other for a couple hundred pages, but Harper also knows a good story is vital to even the steamiest romance. And, in the case of this werewolf paranormal romance, the plot is much more interesting than the steam. I'll always have a weak spot for werewolf world-building. Maybe that's the former Teen Wolf fangirl in me. I love stories about pack dynamics, shapeshifting, the lines between man and beast. It's all ripe ground for good stories and character interactions. The fact that this book takes place in Minnesota (as many of Harper's books do) excites me even further, because I love the idea of werewolves hanging around the Twin Cities. Harper takes an honest and well-crafted approach to writing urban fantasy. She trusts we know the drill, but she also builds the mythology with her own unique spin. For the most part, I enjoyed the fantasy element, but I do feel it missed the mark in some spots. For one, it seems like there's no benefit at all in being a werewolf in a pack. Unless I didn't read carefully enough, it doesn't seem like a werewolf would die or go insane without a pack. They'd be lonely, but so are humans without a support system. They are subject to rigid social mores and dominance customs that tamp down their individuality. They could be murdered by their higher-ranking members for all kinds of social infractions. Yet wolves like Simon, who have received nothing but abuse from their pack, seem resigned to it. And his tepid interactions with other pack members don't go far in making be believe he loves his pack. However, the ending (view spoiler)[was a satisfying conclusion that put stock in a supportive pack while also doing away with outdated customs (hide spoiler)]. Secondly, Harper's treatment of women within werewolf mythology? Totally disappointing. There was just no point to it. There are no female werewolves and only "bonded mates" can be privy to pack secrets, meaning a large percent of the pack's wives have no idea their husbands are werewolves. They can have children, but only boys, and the non-bonded wives have no idea their sons could be werewolves (or that they will never have daughters). And if a non-bonded wife loses her husband or son to a werewolf-related incident, the pack lies to her about their demise. This really left a sour taste in my mouth to the degree that I immediately began reading Dyre: By Moon's Light just to get some lady werewolf action. Harper's treatment of women in her M/M books has always been lackluster, in my opinion, but I haven't read enough of her works to make a real judgment. Now, onto the actual romance. I definitely enjoyed the build-up of Paul and Simon's relationship more than I relished in the payoff. I adore the werewolf tropes involving Simon wanting to feed Paul and take care of him--super cute. I was less interested in Paul overcoming his Big Gay Panic, but his first kiss with Simon actually felt really organic and sweet. The rushed nature of their relationship is certainly a plot point and it does serve a purpose, but it still felt stilted, and I still get the feeling that Paul was a little coerced into the whole thing. Their romance itself ended up falling flat for me despite my genuine affection for both characters. Did anyone else think Paul sort of got the shaft at the end? The book really established him in the beginning--we got to know him and his work, his emotions, his slow coping with his past. Then the narrative sort of drifted to more encompass Simon and much of Paul's development was shown through Simon's eyes. I wish we got more of his POV towards the last half of the book. From what I've read about the second book, Unexpected Demands, I'm much more excited about the prospect of a (view spoiler)[Aaron/Zach romance (hide spoiler)]. I love May-December relationships and forbidden romances, so this seems right up my alley, and there's a lot more room for more world-building. Not my favorite M/M romance by far, but definitely satisfying as a werewolf story.
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I'm not quite sure how I missed the fact that Damon Suede has written four other novels besides my favorite M/M romance of all time, Hot Head. I feel like I've been checking in on his author page here and there, and all of a sudden he has a bunch of stuff out I didn't even hear about! While exciting, I can't honestly say that this book is making me want to shell out out for the rest of them right away. I didn't devour it with the same hunger I did Hot Head, though it gave me quite a bit more to think about. Suede's writing, erotic and descriptive and grimy, is by-man, for-man. This feels like M/M romance that is not written for women, but written for the sexual enjoyment of men, which is shockingly rare for this genre. Before I read much M/M fiction, I was under the impression that it was for gay men while finding a decent audience of women on the side. I had no clue the majority of it was written by women for other women. Though Suede's books seem popular with both crowds, I get the feeling that he is writing for other gay men. So, pray tell, what is a 23-year-old lesbian doing reading this book? What could I possibly glean out of page after page of descriptions of cocks and pecs and assholes? Shouldn't I be shuddering at the mention of Patch and Tucker's meat/wads/bones/cranks/shafts/etc.? Well, a little. For the first time in a long time, I skimmed the sex scenes. The sex in this book is almost uncomfortably visceral. The smells, sounds, and textures of sex all come flying off the page and right into your face in the weirdest money shot of all time, and I found myself cringing under it a little (I mean, that sounds like what you'd normally do when ejaculated upon...I mean...I wouldn't know, but...). It is so incredibly kinky sounding, but in reality, Tucker and Patch's sex is pretty straightforward. The sex scenes are almost exclusively made up of (view spoiler)[edging, rope bondage, and rimming (hide spoiler)], which, while incredibly erotic under Suede's hand, were more repetitive than anything. The sex isn't the issue nor the crux of this book. Unlike the explosive, life-changing love scene in Hot Head, the scene that flipped the switch in my head that told me queer people could find true and everlasting love just as well as straight people, that queer love was just as heady and magnetic and real, the scene that became my framework for writing queer erotica (lesbian erotic included), most of the sex scenes in this book just made me want to give these boys a bar of soap and a bottle of mouthwash. It's a different kind of erotica--one that a lot of women, including myself, will shy away from. Patch (the early-twenties male-model-cum-DJ-cum-prodigal-son) and Tucker (the early-fifties deadbeat with a stolen trailer and a gallon of horse lube) do make a pretty pair, and their actual love story is excellent. Suede is especially savvy with romance tropes, because he knows how to use them and turn them around on themselves. Patch has all these ideas molded from his childhood sexual fantasies--that Tucker is the big-bad-daddy who wants to punish him and smack him around, that he's the perverted football coach, the stoic straight with a big cock and a mean streak--and Tucker is willing to fill those roles while breaking each of them down, one by one. He's a walking fantasy who urges Patch into reality (which is embodied in a chapter that feels like a fever-dream, it is such a colorful miasma of gay erotic stereotypes, including a handlebar mustache and some extremely public frottage). The themes tied into the sex are actually worth analyzing, which is so freaky coming out of a BDSM novel with a weird uncanny-valley cowboy cover. Speeding up, slowing down, waiting, taking chances...Patch might be hog-tied to a gorgeous brass bed (which in and of itself could supply fuel for a six-page literary analysis) getting edged to the point of oblivion, but at the same time, he's remaking himself, finding himself, and screwing himself over. He might be a romantic lead, but he feels very real and flawed, and he's just as fucked up as the rest of us. There's a lot of stuff, as a queer scholar, I adore out of this book. But in the end, this is a Dreamspinner romance, and in that respect, it didn't work for me. It's too heavy, too sad, too slow. You're not left feeling overly optimistic about the future of the two leads. I can't be the only one who was just plain depressed by this book, by the loneliness and sadness, the way the characters seem to only cling to each other because they're too lost to seek anything else. Patch spends most of the book reminding himself he'll be gone soon, back to a bigger life outside of the desolate Texas farm he'd escaped from years ago, and in reality, he really should have left. Maybe I'm just not romantic enough to enjoy this. Maybe I'm not the right audience for it. But I do believe in happily ever afters, and after reading this, I don't believe these characters will get theirs. That's why this book gets three stars from me. The quality of writing is an easy four, maybe even five,, but the fact that this is supposed to be an erotic romance nudges it down. I didn't rate for the sex itself, since I can't make judgments on a taste that just isn't my own. I just don't think romance is supposed to make you feel this...empty.
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If all space operas were like this one, I'd be reading way more of them. This isn't your boy's club sci-fi. This isn't tech-heavy mumbo-jumbo you need Google and a set of blueprints to understand. This isn't grimdark or ultra-violent or edgy or brutal. It is intelligent, philosophical, carefully-rendered, entertaining sci-fi that is bound to become a cult classic for years to come. I read this for the Mary Sue Books and More Club BoM selection, the category being science fiction. I'd originally voted for a classic--Dragonflight by Anne McCaffrey--because I'm not incredibly well-versed in sci-fi, at least not as much as I used to be. Now I can't imagine being satisfied with cardboard plots and archetypal characters. People who have read a few chapters of this book will immediately compare it to other things, namely Firefly, and namely because of the character Kizzy. Kizzy is basically Kaylee Frye. That's pretty much the biggest issue of the book, and one of the only issues I had with it. Everyone loves Kaylee, so it is easy to write her into our stories. She's also a hard ideal to live up to, and when she is copied in other works, it is very hard to miss. However, people who say the story copies more than this from other sci-fi (Firefly, all Trek incarnations, Farscape) didn't read it carefully enough or didn't give it a chance. Modern sci-f- tends to take a tight look at things. In shows like Firefly or Battlestar Galactica, we get to know the people on the ships very closely, and they are the "universe" of the story. In this book, the crew of the Wayfarer are important, but the author acknowledges them as hardly grains of sand on one beach on one planet in an entire galaxy. They aren't saving the world--they're actually just punching pathways between planets to make it easier for others to save the world. The scope of this book is huge. The main character, Rosemary, along with Captain Ashby Santoso, Kizzy, and fellow mechanic Jenks are the only human members of the crew. Sissix, my favorite character, is a from an ultra-affectionate race of reptilians with pretty-painted claws and a mane of rainbow feathers. Dr. Chef, the aptly-named doctor/chef, seems to resemble something like a centipede (who begins life as female and shifts to male in middle age), and he's easily the High Strung Dad of the crew who takes care of everyone. Their navigator is a blue-furred Sianat pair--a being that started as a "he" and was infected by an ultra-intelligent virus who turned him into a "they." There are hundreds of languages, customs, planets, and species that exist alongside each other, and it's relatively a normal thing, which makes it so we as readers don't have to bat an eye are today's issues of racism, sexism, and homophobia. This story takes place in a world lightyears away from all of that, which is amazing. (view spoiler)[Oh, and the cranky dude who bitches at everyone to keep the noise down and leave him be? He's actually an illegal clone. And one of the main love stories of the book is between Jenks and the ship's AI, Lovelace, and it will make you cry. (hide spoiler)] It would take me my entire life to think up characters this creative and loved. Though they are not all human, the main idea throughout the story is humanity. These are all very real people navigating a very real world, and they're trying to live and love and exist alongside each other in a vast cesspool of fear and ever-changing views. The kindest characters have been ravaged by war, the cruelest characters have heartbreaking pasts, the sweetest characters do the dirtiest work, and they are all trying to be good in a world that can be very, very bad. There are a lot of mini-stories and great bits of relationship and character exploration within the larger story of getting from point A to point B. There is romance, but it doesn't dominate. There are politics, but the characters are too busy to involve themselves in the nitty-gritty. The best parts are when the characters are playing and having fun with one another on the Wayfarer. I could go on and on, but honestly, I went into this book knowing nothing and I think you should, too. It'll sweep you off your feet.
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There's a certain unsettling feeling I get in the pit of my stomach after I finish a really, really good book or series. Sure, part of it might be the simple feeling of sadness that I'm leaving behind great characters, but when it comes to LGBT fiction, it's something more. We all crave happy endings for the characters we love, but the LGBT community needs them, because happy endings have been few and far between in our history. Historical fiction like this series leaves me with a bittersweet feeling of dread, because I know authors like Charles are breathing a fictional life into worlds that have been in the dark for so long. I'm thankful for them, and I'm thankful we live in a time where stories like this can be read in general abundance. I fell in love with this love story before I even started this book. Richard is such a well-written character--he's the guy who fixes everyone else's problems and tries very, very hard to have none of his own. He dotes on his friends and nieces and nephews, giving them all the comforts that he can bring them, and goes to his bedroom at night where he silently, achingly, and miserably pines after his beautiful valet who vows to never lay a hand on. He's a man of principle and morality and genuine goodness, but he's also a mere mortal, and David Cyprian, "the great Cyprian," the most celebrated valet in society, will be his undoing. Now that's a love story. Even more so than the previous two books in this series does this book takes your expectations of a regency romance and twist them around until the setting and stories become wholly fresh and unique. Our common sense tells us that Richard is the employer and David the employee, one has the power and the other must submit, but every page, every conversation, every movement these two make plays with our very conceptions of power, wealth, dignity, and truth. Who is pulling the strings? Who can undo the other? And how in the world (view spoiler)[can a well-written story of decent length literally come full circle with Richard and David living as Lord and valet happily under the roof of a house of secrets and make complete and satisfying sense as a conclusion to the plot (hide spoiler)]? As far as the burn and smolder and panting sensuality of regency romance goes, Charles simply cannot be topped. A finger slipped beneath a shirt to undo a button, a palm pressed against a palm, a streak of wild red hair peeking out from beneath a uniformly powdered coif--what has become passe in other romances sizzles in this book. Seeing buttoned people become slowly and ravenously unbuttoned is one of the most satisfying romance reading experiences, and Charles knocks it out of the park every single time. Even the subplot is excellent. While the book would be satisfying as simply a story of two men finding their way to one another, Charles once again shows us how high the stakes are for these men (view spoiler)[by embroiling two minor characters, Ash and Francis, in a smutty letter-writing scandal that has Ash's twit of an older brother threatening their ruin if they do not bow to his blackmail and expose Silas Mason and Harry Vane as Radicals (hide spoiler)]. The ending climax allows us to see both Richard and David's strengths in full force and how well they work together even when he hardly see them interact on the page. This is an amazing conclusion to the series. It started with a newcomer and a dandy in A Fashionable Indulgence, boiled hotter with a Radical and his submissive lawman in A Seditious Affair, and ended with the leader of the Ricardians himself getting the happy ending he deserves. The characters come alive more and more with every bit of dialogue, every background movement, every interaction. Julius and Richard are two of the most well-done male romantic leads I've read in a long time and I only regret there isn't more of them to cherish. This book has earned a spot on my 'favorites' bookshelf and will be visited again, many times I hope. Ever since the start of this series, I've wanted to write about the diversity in Charles' writing and why this makes her a leader of the genre. Charles always makes an effort to feature minority characters in her historical works, which is absolutely vital and done with great love and care. She proves that just because they did not have the language at the time, people who differed from the norm have always existed and could be treated with respect, kindness, and compassion, even if the greater world would scorn them. In this series, (view spoiler)[Will Quex, owner of the exclusive gambling hell of his own name, is a trans man. David's mother has syphilis ("the pox") and it is treated as a chronic illness rather than a shameful damnation. Richard's respected elder brother is illiterate (possibly severely dyslexic) and relies on his wife and Richard to help him with business and correspondence. Richard himself is demisexual, not caring to have sex with a man who he does not care for. And there are several characters of color who work respected jobs and have personalities, humor, and characteristics of their own (hide spoiler)]. This shouldn't be a big deal, but in a romance fiction world full of white, able-bodied cis folks, diverse historical fiction is immensely valuable. It would've been so easy for Charles to take the traditional route, but she doesn't, and I love her for it. I have the rest of Charles' books all set to read on my Kindle. I can't imagine going the rest of the summer without reading them.
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