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Review: Dark Wild Night

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Review: Dark Wild NightDark Wild Night (Wild Seasons, #3) by Christina Lauren
Series: Wild Seasons #3
Published by Gallery Books on September 15, 2015
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 341
Goodreads
four-half-stars

FINAL DECISION: My favorite of this series by far. I loved Lola and Oliver. Their friends to lovers story was complicated and emotional and difficult. These two are perfect for one another but have to find a way to be together.

THE STORY: Lola and Oliver are the final couple of the three that met and married impulsively in Las Vegas. But Lola and Oliver see themselves as the wise couple. Instead of engaging in sex, the two spent the evening walking Las Vegas and talking before their quickie divorce the next day. In the months since the two have become good friends. But there are deep undercurrents to their friendship as each is intensely attracted to the other but fear destroying their friendship by reaching for more.

OPINION: This is the first book that I really loved in this series. Lola and Oliver felt much more relatable to me. They are proud nerds, Oliver owns a comic book store and Lola writes graphic novels. Both have issues arising from parental abandonment when they were children. But each has a different sensitivity because of their past — and that causes complications.

Lola and Oliver have built a special friendship with one another. I loved their relationship which felt real and connected. When so often romance books concern couples meeting and falling in love in days, I really enjoyed this story where Lola and Oliver have an obvious rapport with one another. By the time their relationship becomes something more, there is a deep emotional significance. And that made the sex scenes hotter and more emotional.

I adored Oliver who is much more understanding and tolerant than many would be of Lola’s quirks, insecurities and naivete. I might have believed him too tolerant until he finally took a stand. I loved that he retains all his strength but loves Lola and wants her to be her best self as well. I also really love a hero with glasses.

Lola is the more difficult character in this book. She was sometimes hard for me to feel sympathy for, but I loved how this book unravels her fears and shows her development. Things are messy with her and imperfect and I enjoyed seeing how she grows as an individual.

I was really into these characters. I truly felt that these two had a basis for which to love one another. Their issues are many, but I think this is one couple I can see making it long term.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book sets up the couple for the next book.

CONNECTED BOOKS: DARK WILD NIGHT is the third book in the Wild Seasons series. This story can be read as a standalone although there are overlapping characters and their relationships span the entirety of the series so far.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

four-half-stars

Review: Beautiful Secret

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Review: Beautiful SecretBeautiful Secret (Beautiful Bastard, #4) by Christina Lauren
Series: Beautiful #4
on April 14, 2015
Genres: Contemporary
Goodreads
three-stars

FINAL DECISION: This book was okay, but disappointing compared to the other books in this series. I quickly got annoyed by Ruby who seemed immature and annoying for pretty much all the book.

THE STORY: Ruby Miller has had a crush on Niall Stella for months. When she is sent to New York with Niall for work, Ruby worries that she will embarrass herself because she can’t think when Niall is near. But soon the two are flirting with one another. Niall is finding his feet after his divorce. He doesn’t know how to deal with women, but there is something about Ruby that brings Niall out of his shell. But time spent away from real life in London might not last when they return.

OPINION: I think this book would have benefited from giving this couple some time to live their relationship. Ruby comes across too aggressive emotionally toward Niall. If the roles had been reversed, he would be excoriated as being an alpha jerk. This is Ruby. She’s pushing a man who is just divorced from his wife of fifteen years and plays the victim when he doesn’t act as committed as her.  Just because she has been “stalking” him for months is no reason for her to not give him real time in their relationship. Parts of this book made me cringe because I kept thinking — just give the guy some time to breathe.

Despite this, I did enjoy this quieter man who has been keeping himself so under control for years finding his sexual groove. I also enjoyed the two different characters finding a middle ground for their lives together.

Niall was adorable in the prior novella where he was introduced, but I wish he was more adorable and less neurotic here. He is still recovering from his relationship with his ex-wife, the only woman he has ever loved or ever had a relationship with. He is tentative and unsure about how to move forward. This seemed a reasonable position to me.

I had mixed feelings about this story. I would greatly enjoy portions as the two got to know one another and then I would feel uncomfortable at points. I wanted to like this more and thus I was disappointed.

Things seemed to finally be getting better when the two returned to London and then we had the big problem and that was resolved in a few pages. I left this book not feeling confident about this couple.

WORTH MENTIONING: The heroine here, Ruby, was mentioned in a very, very minor way in DIRTY ROWDY THING.

CONNECTED BOOKS: BEAUTIFUL SECRET is the fourth book in the Beautiful series. This book can be read as a standalone although there are some overlapping characters.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

three-stars

Review: Beautiful Beloved

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Review: Beautiful BelovedBeautiful Beloved (Beautiful Bastard, #3.6) by Christina Lauren
Series: Beautiful #3.6
Published by Pocket Star on February 2, 2015
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 102
Goodreads
five-stars

FINAL DECISION: Max and Sara are probably my favorite couple in the series, and I loved seeing them struggle after the birth of their daughter with how to deal with all the changes in their relationship. The book is funny and serious and sweet and hot, hot, hot.

THE STORY: After the birth of their beautiful beloved daughter, Max and Sara are trying to find the balance between parenthood and the sexy escapades that they have enjoyed as a couple. With help from their family and friends, they try to recapture the joys of being a couple while adapting to being a family of three.

OPINION: This is a continuation of Max and Sara’s relationship. Now that their daughter has been born, the two have to find a new balance between them. I loved that this story continues the tone of BEAUTIFUL STRANGER. This novella has humor and is super hot (if you were offended by the sexcapades of Max and Sara before, this novella is not any different). This is a definite read for fans of Max and Sara. As a parent, it also felt uncomfortably and amusingly real and immediate. Loved this one for fans of the Beautiful series.

WORTH  MENTIONING: This book also introduces Max’s brother Niall who is the hero of the next book in the series, BEAUTIFUL SECRET.

CONNECTED BOOKS: BEAUTIFUL BELOVED is book 3.6 of the Beautiful series. This is a followup on Max and Sara from BEAUTIFUL STRANGER. This novella is better knowing everything that has happened before in the series, but at least BEAUTIFUL STRANGER should be read first.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

five-stars

Review: Strong

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Review: StrongStrong (Stage Dive #4.5; 1001 Dark Nights #88) by Kylie Scott
on September 25, 2018
Genres: Contemporary
Goodreads
three-stars

FINAL DECISION: Nothing to dislike about this story, but it is pretty unremarkable. The best parts of the story are the humorous scenes with the existing Stage Dive characters. A nice add on for fans, but I wouldn’t recommend it for new readers.

THE STORY: Sam Knowles, the head of security for Stage Dive, has had his eye on Martha Nicholson for years. When Martha returns to help her brother and his wife with caring for their son, Sam begins to make his move. Martha, who has been a troublemaker and who doesn’t intend to get involved with the quiet and determined Sam, nevertheless can’t help but be attracted him.

OPINION: I enjoyed this story, but I didn’t think it had much depth to it. Much of my enjoyment came from the appearances by the Stage Dive band and their wives. I can always enjoy seeing Mal again! But all the depth to the story (Martha confronting her misdeeds) comes from the prior books. I enjoyed the story and would definitely read it as an add on to the Stage Dive series, but I don’t think it stands on its own. Sam and Martha don’t have much depth to their story. Therefore, I put this as a good read that really depends upon the prior series to make it worth reading.

WORTH  MENTIONING: I don’t believe the official blurb is an accurate depiction of the story here. Sam doesn’t have any reservations about the relationship and indeed spends most of the story chasing Martha.

CONNECTED BOOKS: STRONG is book 4.5 of the Stage Dive series. The romance in this book is self contained and can be read independent of the series. The assumption of knowledge, however, makes me recommend this only as part of the series.

STAR RATING: I give this book 3 stars.

three-stars

Review: Dirty Rowdy Thing

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Review: Dirty Rowdy ThingDirty Rowdy Thing (Wild Seasons, #2) by Christina Lauren
Series: Wild Seasons #2
Published by Gallery Books on November 4, 2014
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 352
Goodreads
four-stars

FINAL DECISION: Better than the first in the series, I really enjoyed how these two traveled in their relationship. Getting both characters points of view helped with understanding when they acted like jerks to one another. Fun and really hot.

THE STORY: Harlow Vega and Finn Roberts can’t get along except their hot sexual escapades. Married for less than a day in Vegas (after a drunken wedding and a quickie divorce), the two seem like oil and water and yet they keep circling back to one another. Both hard headed and fiercely independent, perhaps they are both too alike for their own good.

OPINION: This antagonistic relationship to something completely different was much better than the first book in the series to me. Perhaps because we get the thoughts of both characters, I understood them both even when they were pretty much jerks to one another.

Both characters are at crossroads in their lives and only slowly reveal themselves to one another. The sex in this book is definitely scorching and as the two draw closer, readers can see their fears of true intimacy. Their sexual encounters become more intimate emotionally and they both have fears.

WORTH MENTIONING: This book is told in alternating first person points of view.

CONNECTED BOOKS: DIRTY ROWDY THING is the second book in the Wild Seasons series. The book can be read as a standalone although the characters from this book appear in the prior book and the events where the two have a Vegas wedding are in the first book.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4 stars.

four-stars

Review: Consumed

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I received this book for free from Netgalley in order to prepare an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.


Review: ConsumedConsumed (Firefighters, #1) by J.R. Ward
Series: Firefighters #1
Published by Gallery Books on October 2, 2018
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 416
Goodreads
four-half-stars

 

FINAL DECISION: Wow, this book has one of the most heart pounding and shocking introduction to characters and their situation as any book I have read. I really enjoyed this book. The characters are flawed and complicated; the story kept me interested and I left this book wanting more.

THE STORY: Anne Ashburn is a woman with something to prove. The daughter of a revered firefighter (who wasn’t who he seemed) and the sister of the current fire chief, Anne is fighting for her own identity in a profession dominated by men. Brash, opinionated, independent and strong, Anne loves being a firefighter. The thorn in her side is Danny McGuire a fellow firefighter. There is a blazing hot attraction between them that Anne acted on once, but never again. One fire changes everything.

OPINION: While I’ve always read and thoroughly enjoyed and sometimes outright loved Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood series, I think I might enjoy her recent contemporary series even more. Her BDB series is sprawling in scope with a huge set of characters. Her contemporaries take her ability to write overarching stories with compelling characters and compress them into smaller bites.

Whereas her Bourbon Kings series was a lush soap opera, the Firefighters series has a compelling sense of action, drama and urgency that is reminiscent of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, but exhibited in a totally different context. This is not the BDB and may disappoint those looking for a similar series, but I loved the complexity of the characters, their flaws and individuality, the connection between Anne and Danny, and the intriguing plot which propels the characters.

Anne is a woman who struggles with love, connection and trust after finding out the truth about her father. She loves the same profession that is the family calling but has difficultly reconciling being respected, being open and being driven. She is stubborn and reckless and good at her job. When her life is turned upside down, she has to find in herself the ability to go forward and reform her life into something worth living. I especially liked that Anne doesn’t fit traditional ideas of femininity. Like many of Ward’s heroines in the BDB universe, she is physically strong and unwilling to be the victim. And yet, she struggles with ideas of her own attractiveness and where she fits. She is flawed, arrogant and difficult and I liked her all the more for it.

Danny is excellent at his job, but terrible at following orders. But the realities of the job and its costs weigh on his soul. The dramatic events which occur at the beginning of the book tip him toward self-destruction. But through it all, he has a connection to Anne that marks him as a passionate hopeless romantic — even if he would never agree to that characterization. He can’t forget her and while he accepts her wishes for a while, I cheered when he finally decided that he was going to go for what I wanted.

At times I didn’t like the characters very much. They are at times, angry, foolish, annoying and arrogant. They are flawed. And ultimately, that is what made me fall for them. They felt raw and real. By the end of the book, I didn’t want their story to end and I hope that we get to see more of them in future books in the series.

WORTH MENTIONING: There is a slight overarching storyline that isn’t completed here. This book is a complete story, but there are threads that I expect will be picked up in the next book in the series.

CONNECTED BOOKS: CONSUMED is the first book in the Firefighters series. There are two prequel vignettes (and one prequel that is in fact the beginning of this book) but those are not necessary to read although you get some background on the characters.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

 

four-half-stars

Review: Sweet Filthy Morning After

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Review: Sweet Filthy Morning AfterSweet Filthy Morning After (Wild Seasons, #1.5) by Christina Lauren
Series: Wild Seasons #1.5
Published by Simon Schuster Audio on October 14, 2014
Genres: Contemporary
Goodreads
two-half-stars

FINAL DECISION: Didn’t really add anything to the original book for me.

THE STORY: Ansel Guillaume wakes up after a one night stand to find out that he is married.

OPINION: This is not a complete story. It just tells the events of the beginning of SWEET FILTHY BOY from the point of view of the hero. We get some insight into Ansel’s thoughts the morning after. It is necessary, however, to read SWEET FILTHY BOY in order to find out what happens in the story.

This audiobook was okay although I didn’t care for listening to the story exclusively through the accent of the hero since the story is first person point of view. I didn’t think it added much to the original story (which was just okay for me anyway). If you loved the book, this might be a good add on. If you didn’t care for the book, you can skip this.

WORTH MENTIONING: This story is only available on audio at the time of this review.

CONNECTED BOOKS: SWEET FILTHY MORNING AFTER is book 1.5 in the Wild Seasons series. It is, however, the telling of the events in the beginning of SWEET FILTHY BOY from the perspective of the hero.

STAR RATING: I give this story 2.5 stars.

two-half-stars

Review: Rebel Hard

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Review: Rebel HardRebel Hard (Hard Play, #2) by Nalini Singh
Series: Hard Play #2
Published by Tka Distribution on September 18, 2018
Genres: Contemporary
Goodreads
five-stars

 

FINAL DECISION: Fabulous story of two people who struggle with their expectations and learn to communicate their wants, desires and needs. I absolutely adored Nayna and Raj who are sweet and sexy and have a relationship of mature respect. This is a great addition to a great series.

THE STORY: Nayna Sharma has agreed to an arranged marriage as part of her effort to keep things peaceful and happy in her family. Nanya has kept her own wants and desires suppressed to make her parents happy. One night out with her friend at a party results in her meeting a sexy hunk, Raj Sen. Raj is a man damaged by his childhood. He wants security and a traditional marriage. He meets a woman, however, that calls to him in passionate ways he never expected, but their conflicting dreams seem destined to keep them apart.

OPINION: This is a sweet and yet emotionally fraught story. Nanya and Raj feel a connection from the moment they see one another, but the question quickly arises of whether the two will be together because Nanya capitulates to her family’s expectations, whether the two will be at odds because of their different desire for the future or whether they can manage to forge something new together.

I loved this story, loved this couple. Nanya is a woman finding herself for the first time. Indeed, her relationship with Raj gives her the springboard to forge a different life for herself. At the same time that she finds comfort and companionship with Raj, she also must face the possibility that her growth might take her away from Raj.

Raj is a man who wants a traditional marriage and life, but then he meets Nanya and he must confront the reality that he wants this woman above all other things. And yet, the tension remains as to whether giving Nanya the freedom she wants means that he will lose her forever.

This book is subtle and intense and personal. There aren’t flashy, overdramatic events. Instead, this is a complex, emotional journey for these characters. Is it possible for Raj and Nanya to change and grow and reconcile their disparate visions of the future?

These characters are grounded in their families. Singh always has a wonderful way to creating community around her characters and this book is no exception. The people around Nanya and Raj matter. They are developed characters with personalities and complexities of their own. We get to see their culture, their personal foibles and strengths. It always seems that any of the secondary characters in Singh’s books could be the subject of their own book. They are that interesting and well constructed.

This is a wonderful book about compromise and understanding, about change and the importance of family and tradition. There are no easy cliches in this book. And Nanya and Raj are just adorable together. Loved it.

WORTH MENTIONING: I love the inexperienced hero and heroine combinations.

CONNECTED BOOKS: REBEL HARD is the second book in the Hard Play series. The romance here is self-contained and can be read as a standalone. I think this book is so connected with the prior book in the series (and in fact happens concurrent with that book) that I would recommend reading the books in order.

STAR RATING: I give this book 5 stars.

NOTE: I received an ARC of this book via Netgalley in order to help prepare this review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

five-stars

Review: More Than Crave You

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Review: More Than Crave YouMore Than Crave You (More Than Words Book 4) by Shayla Black
Series: More Than Words #4
Published by Shelley Bradley, LLC on September 18, 2018
Genres: Contemporary
Goodreads
four-half-stars

 

FINAL DECISION: My favorite of the series because of the geeky, socially awkward, hero who is the voice of the book and the woman who opens up his world.

THE STORY: Evan Cook is a successful tech entrepreneur and owner of his own company, but he is not as good at personal relationships. After his wife and unborn child die in an accident, Evan eventually realizes that he needs a wife to help him and wants to remarry, but has no desire to love again. Instead, he asks his assistant, Nia Wright, to help him find the right woman. But one night forces Evan to see that Nia is a woman who calls to every part of him. Now Evan wants to marry Nia, but Nia wants a man to love and who will love her.

OPINION: I’ve enjoyed this series, but this book is my favorite. The hero is awkward socially — especially romantically — and has that cute geeky feel. I especially liked that this social ineptitude is combined with a successful career. Evan is frustrating at times, clueless at others, and cute and endearing. He’s a man who has only been with one woman (his wife) and is threatened by Nia’s experience. I especially enjoyed that part of the story as Evan has to confront his feelings and then overcome them.

Since the story is told primarily from Evan’s point of view, Nia is a more mysterious character, but she is also more emotionally open and well-adjusted than Evan and so she is upfront about her feelings and emotions so readers get a good sense of her character and motives. She is comfortable with herself and knows what she wants. Part of that comfort is with her sexuality and that drives Evan crazy (he has a hard time at first coming to terms with a woman who understands and appreciates her own identity as a sexual being).

I enjoyed the storyline in this book which is focused on the couple with some intriguing events on the side. But this story is really about Evan having to confront himself, his past and his emotional core. This is combined with some hot, hot scenes between Evan and Nia.

One other issue with the book is that it is an interracial romance (Evan is white and Nia is African-American). This isn’t a central part of the story and I was a bit disappointed by that because I think the story could have been deeper by discussing the complexity of interracial relationships. I love interracial romances and this one was good in many ways, but I think it could have gone deeper into the issues the two will face.

I really did enjoy this book. Evan is clueless in a cute way. Nia is strong and assertive and doesn’t defer to Evan even though he is her boss as the book begins. This book serves as a nice counterpoint to the 1980s boss and secretary books. Evan is a control freak, and Nia is definitely not a woman who is going to allow herself to be bullied by a man. There is an equality and balance between these characters that makes their interactions stimulating — especially as Evan explores his own sexual needs.

A good addition to the series and I look forward to reading more.

WORTH MENTIONING: There is a cameo from THEIR VIRGIN HOSTAGE.

CONNECTED BOOKS: MORE THAN CRAVE YOU is the fourth book in the More Than Words series. The romance here is self-contained and can be read as a standalone. There are recurring characters, however, and the familial relationship between them makes the books better when read in order.

STAR RATING: I give this book 4.5 stars.

NOTE: I received a copy of this book from the author in order to prepare a review. I was not required to write a review or to write a positive review. All opinions contained herein are my own.

 

four-half-stars

The Wedding From Hell, Part 3: Excerpt from Consumed

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The Wedding From Hell, Part 3: Excerpt from ConsumedExclusive Excerpt of Consumed (The Wedding From Hell, #3; Firefighters, #0.7) by J.R. Ward
Published by Gallery Books on August 28, 2018
Genres: Contemporary
Pages: 34
Goodreads
five-stars

This final “part” of the three part prequel to the novel CONSUMED is not really a part at all, but rather the first four chapters of CONSUMED.

This book picks up three weeks after the prequel story of the prior two parts. Of course, this book is merely the beginning of the novel and thus is incomplete in itself. That being said, the beginning of this book is powerful, action packed and suspenseful. It might even work better as a book after getting to know the characters in the prior story.

 

five-stars