Review: The Good Girls’ Guide to Bad Boys, by Katie Hart

Part of a series? No.

Category: New Adult.

Genre: Contemporary with some romance and suspense.

Publisher: Carina.

Pages: 304

Blurb:

There’s nothing better than a bad boy…

When feisty break dancer Andrea left for university, she thought she was ready to step into the real world. But she wasn’t prepared for meeting her new neighbour, Hunter.

Arrogant, dangerous and a bit too sexy, Hunter’s everything Andrea knows she should resist…and can’t.

But when she gets swept up into Hunter’s dark, mysterious family, it seems that falling for a seductive rebel might not be all it’s cracked up to be. Is this good girl really ready to take on a bad boy?

Wattpad sensation Katie Hart is the queen of bad boys! Her debut, The Good Girl’s Guide to Bad Boys, is perfect for fans of Kirsty Moseley.

 

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REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

I’ve never heard of this author before and apparently this story was very popular on Wattpad. While I can see why many readers enjoyed this novel, I can’t help but be disappointed.

As any readers I hate writing negative reviews, but I really didn’t enjoy this book for many reasons.

I can see that the author has the talent to write even though I do think it needs to mature some. There are some dialogues that aren’t flowing that well, some descriptions break the rhythm, but I’m sure the author will mature very soon in her writing.

The things that truly bothered me while reading this book and that made me consider not finishing it is the lack of maturity of the characters. Granted, they’re still young since Andy is just starting college, but honestly the lack of emotions, lack of depth is quite maddening. If only it was a silly, funny and light story with some chick lit vibes it would have been alright, but this story is supposed to be darker even though the characters add a comic relief now and then.

I couldn’t understand the characters, even the secondary ones. In my opinion the characterizations are not complete, not polished. In the end, I couldn’t relate to the characters, couldn’t follow their thought process and I couldn’t feel for them.

Also, the plot itself is very much all over the place. Seriously. There are contradictory things happening, some stuff are not understandable because not introduced or dealt properly. Moreover, the author doesn’t spend enough time on the issues and the consequences to better feel for the characters and actually connect with them.

In turn, I couldn’t buy for one second in Hunter and Andy’s attraction and love. Some convos made me smile, I’m not going to lie, but overall I focused on what was not working instead of what was working.

If I’m being honest, there’s not one good thing I can find about the plot. That’s not very usual for me. I’m pretty sure most readers will not feel the same way, so don’t mind me.

In the end, I think I’m not the right reader for this book. Maybe I’m getting too old, maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to read this novel.

Too bad because there are many elements present in this book to make a fabulous story. The execution is lacking for me, unfortunately.

RATING:

1.5 to 

Review: I Want It That Way, by Ann Aguirre

Part of a series? Yes.

Cliffhanger? No.

Category: New Adult.

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Harlequin HQN

Pages: 352

Blurb:

Nadia Conrad has big dreams, and she’s determined to make them come true—for her parents’ sake as well as her own. But between maintaining her college scholarship and working at the local day care to support herself, she barely has time to think, let alone date. Then she moves into a new apartment and meets the taciturn yet irresistible guy in 1B….

Daniel Tyler has grown up too fast. Becoming a single dad at twenty turned his life upside down—and brought him heartache he can’t risk again. Now, as he raises his four-year-old son while balancing a full-time construction management job and night classes, a social life is out of the question. The last thing he wants is for four noisy students to move into the apartment upstairs. But one night, Nadia’s and Ty’s paths cross, and soon they can’t stay away from each other.

The timing is all wrong—but love happens when it happens. And you can’t know what you truly need until you stand to lose it.

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

It’s the first time I’ve read a book written by Ann Aguire, but I’m pretty sure it’ll not be the last! This first installment in the 2B Trilogy won me over.

Nadia and Ty are characters I loved reading about and Nadia’s POV is very well-written even if I think a few things are a little bit too slow and too much descriptive, but I get the contemplative parts and they fit very well the mood of the story when things were getting tough between her and Ty.

It’s not often that I read so grown-up NA Contemporary Romance novels and that’s probably why I enjoyed this one so much. The romance isn’t easy, the characters are responsible and not just driven by their hormones and lust. No, it’s much more than that.

The plot is probably slow if you’re expecting some epic story, but I think it’s perfect for the characters and for the tone of the book. The author depicts life, real life, while using fiction and a pure love to do so. As you can see, I’m currently gushing. 😉

But that doesn’t mean I don’t think some things couldn’t have been improved! The last few chapters before the ending could have been more showing rather than telling. I get the author’s intention and it’s fairly well-done because I could feel Nadia’s pain, but I would have loved to see it more somehow. I don’t want to spoil you so I can’t exactly explain further.

To be honest, I think that’s the only thing negative I can write right now. I love the secondary characters, I love the dynamic between Nadia’s roommates, I love the author’s writing, I love Ty’s son and what he brings to the story, I love the struggles any students would feel shown…

In fact, I’m looking forward to reading the next installments because I’m dying to see Lauren’s story with Nadia’s brother, but also Max’s story in the last installment. I hope to enjoy these other two books as much as this first installment. 🙂

This book is different from what you can find in NA contemporary romance novels and for me it’s a good thing. The book isn’t all about lust even though there are a couple of hot scenes, the book isn’t all about broken characters, but about young men and women trying to be adults and dealing with questions and fears regarding their future while not overlooking their responsibilities. This story rings true.

If you’re looking for something hot and full of angst with a fast paced plot, then this book is probably not for you. But if you’re looking for a novel that is truthful and sweet, then this one could be for you.

What do you think if Ty? I’m quite taken by him and his son is rather cute.

 

RATING:

4.5 to 

Review: Caught Looking, by Meghan Quinn

Part of a series? Yes.

Cliffhanger? Not really, but it’s obvious the story continues.

Category: Adult.

Genre: Contemporary Romance.

Self-published.

Pages: 365.

Blurb: 

**NEW EDITION**
(This book has been freshly formatted and edited 8/10/2014)

“What a fantastic concept for a book, think soap opera, without the dramatic stares before commercials.”

“SHIT hits the fan, betrayal comes in the biggest of forms, new friendships bloom, love finds its way back, and grief sneaks up on us like the devil in disguise!”

Things are starting to heat up in Atlanta, or at least in Jane’s celibate life of two years. On the two year anniversary of her nasty split between her and her ex, Jane’s friends, Molly – class “A” filthy mouth – and Albert – flamboyant dresser extraordinaire – decide it’s high time Jane drops the conservative persona, let loose and start to have some fun once again.

Brady Matthews, Atlanta Braves first baseman and well known through the media as Atlanta’s gigolo, thought he was just taking his new teammate, Michael Banks, out on the town. Little did he know Michael’s friend from college, Jane, was going to show up at their table and turn his world upside down.

When Brady meets Jane, he is instantly attracted to Jane’s innocence and inner sex kitten but the last thing she wants is to be thrown into another relationship with such a publicly known man-whore especially after her heart was broken so devastatingly. Brady makes it his mission to win Jane over and make her see him as the man he actually is, not the way the media perceives him. But it is not that simple. Wedding plans, spring training, ex’s, old college friends, the paparazzi and gossip magazines seem to keep getting in the way of Brady’s goal to earn Jane’s heart.

Caught Looking goes through the love lives of Jane, Brady and their group of friends fighting the hardships of cheating, trusting, losing love and trying to find it once again. In one of America’s hottest cities, the gang heats up the sheets while their lives entangle together causing heartache, suffering through loss and finding love….hopefully.

 

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REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

This first installment in the Hot-Lanta series has me wondering what I think about it and what I can possibly write to express my reading experience. As weird as it sounds, I don’t know. Not really that is.

On the one hand, I really didn’t like it. I’m not a fan of multiple POVs in books. More than 2 and I’m annoyed because I can’t actually get fully invested in all characters. Here, there are more than 2 POVs and while it’s well-done, I’m far from a fan. For more than half of the book I wondered every couple of pages if I would finish reading this book or not. (But I did finish it obviously).

On the other hand, I enjoyed a little bit more the last part of the book. I wouldn’t go as far as writing that I had a really good time, but I wasn’t antagonizing the book and the characters as much anymore. In fact, I think I started reading much faster then.

I really thought I would fall for this book and the characters. The premise sounded good and I heard great things about this novel so I was eager to read it. Maybe that’s why I’m so disappointed. I was probably waiting for too much and for something completely different.

The characters while distracting and fun at times, are still pretty clichés and for adults acted very immature for my taste. That bothers me because in a way I think the author didn’t go deep enough when it comes to the characterization or even regarding the emotions. Not until the very end in one scene at least.

Most of the time I found the characters acting like teens and while it could be endearing sometimes, here it was just maddening for me. It’s probably just me because I know many readers don’t feel the same at all. I’m the odd one out here.

The plot itself is very common and some scenes were too repetitive for my taste. The whole thing with Michael was going around and around and even Jane’s internal musings were going back to stating the same thing in the exact same sentence several times. Since I was reading the book quickly I picked it right away and since this book didn’t win me over I couldn’t look past it, as ridiculous as it is.

Though, I like Brady’s soft side and Molly made me laugh sometimes. I guess there’s always that.
Albert while great is the kind of character I see way too much in books these days.

Honestly, I think this book has everything to make of something wonderful, but it fell short for me. The twists with Laney and George weren’t well-introduced and not that greatly exploited, the hang-ups Jane felt were overcome in a weird way that didn’t make me feel for her.

I can see the potential, I can see why so many readers love this book and I can see the author’s talent and that’s why I’m rating this book 3 to 3.5 stars, but I didn’t have a good time as I was expecting it. If there’s one sentence I should write now that I’m finished, it would be this:

While I don’t like the multiple POVs and the plot didn’t blow my mind, it’s a sweet story with funny and outright silly moments between friends and lovers.

What do you think of Brady? Luke? Michael?

 

RATING:

 to 3.5.

Review: Unstoppable, by Melody Grace

Part of a series? Yes.

Cliffhanger? No.

Category: New Adult.

Genre: Contemporary Romance.

Self-published.

Pages: 218

Blurb:

A secret scar…

Tegan Callahan has sworn off bad boys for good. Growing up on tour with her rock star brother, she knows first-hand the damage they can do. She’s looking for a nice, safe, stable guy – until a chance encounter with a devastatingly sexy stranger makes her question everything she thought she wanted.

A troubled soul…

Ryland James arrives in Beachwood Bay on the run from his mistakes. He knows he’s the last thing Tegan needs, but somehow, he can’t stay away. There’s something about her fierce beauty that draws him in – and makes him vow to protect her, whatever the cost.

A passionate destiny…

Their bond is undeniable; the stakes, higher than ever. But the past won’t stay gone forever, and soon, Ryland must make the ultimate choice: will he risk everything he treasures in the world, or keep Tegan safe – and sacrifice her love forever?

*This book contains adult situations and explicit content. 17+*

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

 

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

While this book is the fifth in the Beachwood Bay series, it can be read as a standalone. I haven’t read any of the other books yet, but I didn’t have any issues as I think the author made an amazing job at introducing characters.

I really enjoyed reading this book. It flows well, the characters are enticing and the plot while common works well. I do think some things don’t work as perfectly as they could have, but the good far outweigh the “bad’’.

Let me get started on what I really enjoyed in this book.

The characters. I love the characters and not just the main characters in this book. I also love the little glimpses of Tegan’s brothers and I absolutely adore Ryland’s sister. They all bring something to the story, a real atmosphere that makes it more wholesome in a way.

I love Tegan and Ryland’s past, their issues and hangups. I often love and fell for broken characters because I love “seeing’’ how they overcome everything, how they push through and build a real life. Tegan and Ryland do this in this book. They overcome their past, put it at rest to better focus on their future.

I also love the author’s writing style. It’s not often that I think the dialogues flow effortlessly, that the descriptions serve a purpose to better enhance the emotions. I can only praise the author.

Now you’re probably wondering what I don’t love. There are a few things and you’re probably going to think I’m being contradictory. I will try to explain as best why I’m not rating this book even higher than I already am.

While I love the characters, I think the main characters could have been even more fleshed out, not with descriptions, but with their emotions. We first see Tegan very broken, but I think she lets her past go almost too easily in this book. I know she’s already on her way to getting better, but still. Sometimes I felt off about it because I would have loved to see more doubts, even if Ryland overwhelmed her. I think there the characterization is a little bit weak. Just slightly.
Ryland is amazing, but I would have loved to see more of his struggles regarding his mother. There, I think the plot is lacking something. Maybe a hundred more pages would have been for the best because there are lots of possibilities that could have been even more explored. For example, the ending is too rushed in my opinion, almost too easy.

The plot while simple enough and classic in a way, is a little slow at times while sometimes things are pretty rushed. More build up, more time spend on the issues would have been perfect.

But I’m being very picky here. You know, when you really enjoyed a book, you tend to want even more to make it as perfect as possible according to your opinion. I could have been head over heels, but I’m still pretty enamored with this book still. 😉

I will read the other books in this series. Definitely.

What do you think of Ryland? Who is your favorite book boyfriend in this series?

 

RATING:

Review: Charming the Outback, by Leesa Bow

Part of a series? Yes, but it can be read as a standalone.

Cliffhanger? No.

Category: It’s qualified as a New Adult book, but I think it can be qualified as an Adult novel.

Genre: Contemporary with Romance.

Publisher: Destiny Romance.

Pages: 276

Blurb:

When jaded city girl Maddy McIntyre packs up and leaves Adelaide for a new job in the country, it’s not only a chance at a fresh start. Six months ago, the first guy she’d ever loved shattered her heart before moving home to Broken Hill. Deep down inside, Maddy is hoping that living in the same town will give her an opportunity to prove to Luke that she’s one temptation he can’t resist.

But when she arrives in Broken Hill, Luke White is not the same guy she knew in the city. And it soon seems very clear that he doesn’t want her there. Although Maddy settles in quickly, excelling at work and partying with her new friends, she can’t understand why Luke is remaining so distant. Particularly when all her instincts are telling her that they’re meant to be together – and that he feels the same burning attraction.

As Maddy learns more about Luke’s family and background, she begins to understand that his mixed messages are caused by balancing what’s expected of him with what he really wants. Maddy gave Luke her heart long ago and, despite their differences, she knows she’ll only ever be happy with her hot country boy. But how can she convince him that she’s the risk he needs to take?

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

When I heard about this book, the blurb made me want to read it. I was expecting a sweet romance, something set in a small town and I was sure I would immediately connect with the characters. Unfortunately, it took me a long time to feel something for Maddy and Luke, and even then it was only half what I was expecting to feel.

I’m going to start with what I enjoyed. I like that the story takes place in Australia. It’s a nice change and while some lingo threw me off at first, I enjoyed this little glimpse into the Australian country. Mind you, I would have loved to see even more of the small town, feel more that difference between Maddy’s city life and the new life she’s trying to build now in the country.

I love some of the secondary characters, for example I’m very much intrigued and taken by Zane. His story should be quite great, or at least that’s how I feel right now. The other friends such as Kristen, Steele, Max and the others make an interesting group and I would have loved to see more details of their dynamic. I think the author should have went all out to show us how tight knit they are and it would have better anchored the small town vibe.

I enjoy the idea of the struggle between Luke, the country boy/man and Maddy, the city girl/woman. That’s always a nice thing and it’s obvious what type of struggles and twists it can bring in a story, but I think it’s not enough explored. It’s told to us, it’s supposedly shown, but unfortunately I couldn’t feel for Maddy. I never connected and I never truly understood Luke as I should have. In fact, for a long time I antagonized him, even when he was supposedly sweet, even when he was right.

It’s not often that I really don’t connect with characters and I can’t explain it. Maybe it’s because the romance isn’t very believable in a way. I can get their attachment, I get the attraction and lingering lust between them, but I never felt their love, never felt their pain, fears and hurt. So, yes I never fully connected with the main characters and I didn’t have as much a good time reading this book as I was expecting. I didn’t feel.

But, maybe it’s because I had other expectations.

The writing style itself is pretty good for this type of story, but I do think that the first few chapters are weak and the dialogues don’t flow all that well. Also, it’s probably because Luke’s introduction is not exactly that great. I don’t mind when the male character comes across as a jerk at first, but here I couldn’t understand his motivations, even later on. Not even now, to be honest. I lack empathy I guess.

But I do think this story is great for readers looking for a story not heavy on the romance, a story taking place in a small town, a story also about friendships. If you want something light and easy to read, then maybe this one is for you.

What do you think of Luke? Am I the only one not feeling anything for him?

 

RATING:

Review: Rock Addiction, by Nalini Singh

Part of a series? Yes.

Cliffhanger? No.

Category: Adult.

Genre: Contemporary Romance. (several sex scenes).

Self-published.

Pages: 356.

Blurb:

A bad boy wrapped in a sexy, muscled, grown-up package might be worth a little risk…

Molly Webster has always followed the rules. After an ugly scandal tore apart her childhood and made her the focus of the media’s harsh spotlight, she vowed to live an ordinary life. No fame. No impropriety. No pain. Then she meets Zachary Fox, a tattooed bad boy rocker with a voice like whiskey and sin, and a touch that could become an addiction.

A one-night stand with the hottest rock star on the planet, that’s all it was meant to be…

Fox promises scorching heat and dangerous pleasure, coaxing Molly to extend their one-night stand into a one-month fling. After that, he’ll be gone forever, his life never again intersecting with her own. Sex and sin and sensual indulgence, all with an expiration date. No ties, no regrets. Too late, Molly realizes it isn’t only her body that’s become addicted to Fox, but her heart…

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

Once in a while I’m left unsure when it comes to how to rate a book. It’s not often, but sometimes I have mixed feelings and it’s difficult to explain what didn’t work for me in a book. This one is one of those books.

I love reading rock star romance novels. I more often than not love these books, have fun reading the romance unfolding quite often between a rock god and a girl who is basically nobody. I mean, if done correctly it’s great.

But Rock Addiction isn’t the addiction I was expecting and the way the plot is built, the narration and even the writing didn’t blow my mind. I enjoyed some parts, had fun and loved reading about the band’s dynamic, but the “bad’’ is outweighing the good for me. But keep in mind that I did “enjoy” this book, just not to the point of wanting to read the next ones in the series or not to the point of remembering this book in a few months.

Since this book is the first one in a series, but can be read as a standalone because apparently the next ones will be focusing on the other band members, I think some things are not well-introduced in the plot. You can see some stories intertwining regarding the other band members, but in the end the lack of info regarding them while still supposedly teasing to read their stories later on is not something that worked on me. Actually it made me roll my eyes when I realized that it was used and done several times throughout the novel. At first I thought it was a misshap. I like it when in a series stories are intertwined somehow, but here since the plot itself isn’t that thrilling and nothing significant happens it bothered me. A lot.

I know it’s harsh to state that nothing really happens, but to a certain extent it’s true. Fox and Molly’s relationship was never really threatened, their romantic involvement evolved in such a way that in my opinion there’s not build up and it’s almost like insta-love. Even their insta-lust wasn’t all that convincing in my opinion.
Also, I don’t like it when several scenes are happening off page and merely mentioned in passing when it’s obvious that it’s rather important. The first example that comes to my mind it’s the meaning behind one of Fox’s tattoo. (Don’t worry, it’s not a spoiler).

Then there’s also the fact that I think that the characters’ background isn’t used that well. It’s fractured and I think Molly blurted things a little too easily. In the end, I think the emotional side of this story could have been a wonderful tool to use to bring that love story to epic proportion and in the end the emotion is not much present, sometimes even lacking to instead leave much more room to the lust between Fox and Molly, lust that didn’t pick my interest as I was expecting it to.

Also, sometimes some dialogues don’t strike me as natural. Mostly in the first half of the book. Is it because I needed to warm up some more to the characters? Maybe. I’m not sure.

In the end, maybe I’m disappointed because I had a lot of expectation for this book, but it’s not a Rock Romance I’m particularly fond of.

Though, I think Noah and Abe’s stories have some potential. Will I read these installments? Right now I’m really not sure, but nothing is set in stone. 😉

What do you think of Fox?

 

RATING:

2.5 to  (I hesitated rating it 2 stars).

Review: Knocked Out, by Ty Langston

 

Part of a series? No.

Category: Adult.

Genre: Supposedly Contemporary Romance, but I think it’s a Contemporary and not a romance.

Publisher: Solo Publishing.

Pages: 82.

Blurb:

Fresh out of Grad School, Hayley Monroe gets the chance of a lifetime when her boss gives her the opportunity to produce and host a reality series on finding MMA’s “Next Great Hope”.
Enter former MMA contender Evan Bates. His sudden re-appearance into the sport after a mysterious five year absence not only raises eyebrows, but also temps both in and out of the Octagon.
Can Hayley keep everything in check? Or will she be Knocked Out?

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

While I enjoy reading novellas, this one is a complete miss for me. I’m really sorry for writing a negative review, but I’m going to try and explain why I’m disappointed and why I’m rating this book so low.

First thing that got to me after reading a couple of pages it’s the writing style. The voice of the story is very passive. I like descriptions and narrative parts in books, but here it’s not helping the rhythm of the story and it doesn’t actually help the characterization. And before you ask, it’s not because the story is written in third person, but because there’s almost no real feelings exposed aside from the relationship between Evan and his daughter. Even that I couldn’t fully feel to be honest.

While this novel is written in third person, there’s two POVs, from Hayley and from Evan, but unfortunately I couldn’t feel/see the difference between the two. Everything is pretty flat in my opinion and the plot doesn’t help.

I was so into this story after I had a look at the blurb. It seemed pretty interesting and since I love MMA novels, I was sure that it would be a great read. In the end my enthusiasm died pretty fast.

Why? That’s the second thing that turned me off pretty fast. The plot.

While there is everything to build a wonderful story in the genre, nothing is fully used. Everything is just skimmed over without actually delving into and in the end it feels much more like a resumé of a novel and not like a tight plotted novella. That’s a shame and it actually makes me feel rather frustrated.

You have the whole “twist’’ with Evan’s ex-wife/mother of his daughter and yet nothing is explained and nothing actually happens. NOTHING!

You have a wonderful idea with a reality TV show about MMA fighters and yet we see NOTHING.

You have a “forbidden’’ attraction between Hayley, the host of the TV show, and Evan, the MMA fighter contestant, and we see basically NOTHING. There’s a sex scene coming from nowhere and that’s all. I don’t get it.

I still have no idea of who the characters are, what their fears are, what their dreams are or even what would have been the consequences if something wrong happened.

Since it’s a novella, I think it’s important to have a tight plot, a good idea of who the characters are without wasting pages and you need to see real voices to carry a novella and the story. I miss everything here.

The only thing I enjoyed a little it’s Evan interacting with his daughter.

I’m really sorry for this review, but I’m trying to explain how I feel after finishing this novella. I truly think this story could have been wonderful, but unfortunately it’s a miss for me.

 

RATING:

 

1.5 to 

Review: Uncivilized, by Sawyer Bennett

Part of a series? No.

Category: Erotica.

Genre: Contemporary romance.

Self-published.

Pages: 326

Blurb:

**Warning: This book is a wild, sexy beast of a read. 18+**

Putting a woman on her knees before me is what really makes my cock hard. I fuck with dominant force and absolute control. I demand complete surrender from my conquests.

Savage man, loner, warrior… I am dangerous at my core. I have lived amidst the untamed wild of the rainforest, in a society that reveres me and where every woman falls before me in subjugation.

Now I’ve been discovered. Forced to return to a world that I have forgotten about and to a culture that is only vaguely familiar to my senses.

Dr. Moira Reed is an anthropologist who has been hired to help me transition back into modern society. It’s her job to smooth away my rough edges… to teach me how to navigate properly through this new life of mine. She wants to tame me.

She’ll never win.

I am wild, free and raw, and the only thing I want from the beautiful Moira Reed is to fuck her into submission.

She wants it, I am certain.

I will give it to her soon.

Yes, very soon, I will become the teacher and she will become my student. And when I am finished showing her body pleasure like no other, she’ll know what it feels like to be claimed by an uncivilized man.

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

This standalone novel has been calling my name for a little while. After all, the premise is quite intriguing and I was eager to see how the author would have built her story and how the characters would be. In the end, I’m not disappointed!

Going in, I didn’t know what to expect other than an erotica story. I wasn’t sure if there would be a real characterization and not just sex scenes after sex scenes, I didn’t know if there would have been a real plot or not, etc. While I do think some things could have been more explored and not just the sex aspect of things, the author did an amazing job at creating appealing characters, a story that is both thrilling and interesting on an emotional level – to some extent of course – and with a writing style pretty much flawless.

The story isn’t showing an uncivilized man as much as I was expecting and maybe hoping for, but I think it’s smart how the author built Zach’s background and upbringing to better explain why it’s not as much a struggle for him to get back to the modern life as we thought it’d be.

Yet, the author shows how difficult it is for Zach to truly know where he’s coming from, where his true home is. It’s great that the author doesn’t brush off anything, but I do think it should have been even more exploited instead of showing so many sex scenes.

But don’t get me wrong! The sex scenes are part of the story and curiously they help characterizing Zach. It’s an erotica novel so it’s obvious that there are many sex scenes, but the author wrote them in such a way that it’s blending very well with the story without impacting too much the plot.

Though, I do think that the plot could have been a little more tight. I got bored half-way through the novel for a few chapters. Probably the repetition of the same fears and questions with Zach and Moira and the same sex pattern that wasn’t bringing much more at that point. I was waiting for something else to happen, something to kick start another phase in the story, something that would bring another obstacle in Zach and Moira’s relationship as much as Zach’s need to go back to where he’s coming from or stay a little while longer. At that point, I was stuck and wondered if there would actually be something else to the story or not. Fortunately, at one point things move along a little.

The thing is, the first half of the story both amused me and had me riveted. I was curious, I was enthralled by Zach’s POV and the writing style, while simple, completely won me over. I was truly invested in the story, so half-way through the book I had my expectations set very high and that’s probably why I got disappointed for a few chapters. Also, I think Moira’s POV wasn’t as interesting and/or entertaining as Zach’s.

But the last few chapters of the book won me over again even though I think the author rushed things a little too much for my taste. More build up would have been the cherry on the cake. But I’m being picky as I often am when I truly enjoyed a novel.

This book is a great addition to the erotica novels out there. There’s a real alpha-male, some very hot sex scenes and a characterization spot on. Sawyer Bennett is truly on my auto-buy list now.

 

RATING:

 to 4.5

Review: The Devil in Denim, by Melanie Scott

Part of a series? Yes.

Cliffhanger? No.

Category: Adult.

Genre: Contemporary “romance“ with a chick-lit vibe sometimes.

Publisher: St. Martin’s 

Pages: 352.

Blurb:

Life Just Threw Her A Curveball.

As the team-owner’s daughter, Maggie Jameson grew up in the New York Saints’ stadium—glove, cap, hot dogs, and all. Baseball’s in her blood, and she’s always dreamed of the day when she would lead the Saints to victory herself. That was before her dad had to sell the team to Alex Winters. The fast-talking, fiercely attractive businessman has a baseball pedigree that’s distinctly minor league. Maggie wants to hate him but his skills of seduction, however, are off the charts.

Will Love Be A Home Run?

Alex could never have imagined how much this team means to Maggie. He needs her to help show the players that they’re still a family…even if he and Maggie are at the verge of exchanging blows. But her fiery determination and gorgeous looks prove irresistible to Alex. And much as he wants to relegate their relationship to the playing field—and get the Saints back in the game—Alex just can’t help himself: What he wants to win most is Maggie’s heart…

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS.

 

REVIEW:

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

This book is the first one in The New York Saints series, but it can be read as a stand alone. If you’re a fan of baseball, maybe this series is for you, if you’re looking for an epic love story, I don’t think this one is going to match your expectations.

Maybe I’m in a book funk because I got bored with this book pretty fast. Around 20% in I started to feel uninterested and almost skipped a few descriptions/narration parts that are too long and not that useful in my opinion. Though, I kept on reading.

The first 20% were really fun and entertaining with a chick-lit vibe, but it’s not at all the tone I was expecting or even the kind of plot I was looking for going in. I wanted a real romance and in the end it’s part romance and part chick-lit. I’m not the right reader for that type of story.
Then my interest picked again around 75-80% in the story. As you can see, half of the novel bored me, but that doesn’t mean this book isn’t good. I think it’s more a matter of my taste rather than anything else.

The writing itself is great, but I think the inner musings and narration overrule the dialogues too much. At some point I had a hard time keeping my attention riveted to the story. Also, the “inner therapist’’ as Maggie calls her inner voice made me roll my eyes several times. Fortunately, it’s not used more than 5 or 6 times because I don’t see the use of it and really it doesn’t bring anything to Maggie’s voice or even the plot and dynamic of the story.

Maggie and Alex’s relationship was solely based on lust and while I can see a certain attachment between them growing at one point, I didn’t see the build up, didn’t see the struggle in Maggie and Alex regarding their work. It’s way too downplayed. And in the end, we don’t them together all that much.

Then, there’s the whole baseball thing. I was expecting to see more of the players and in the end there’s only Ollie, one of the player and Maggie’s ex and good friend. I think the “sub-plot’’ with Ollie isn’t used at all. There could have been a nice twist there…

Also, the whole main plot regarding Alex taking over the Saints is a little too all over the place. For a long while nothing much happens and then all of a sudden things are rushed and some things even happen “off pages”. That bothers me a lot if I’m being honest.

In the end, I’m disappointed and I think the plot isn’t thrilling enough to keep me interested.

Will I read the next installment? Maybe, maybe not. Right now I’m not sure.

What do you think of Alex?

 

RATING:

Review: Unintentional Virgin, by A.J. Bennett

 

Part of a series? No.

Category: New Adult, but can be read as an adult novel in my opinion.

Genre: Contemporary Romance.

Self-published.

Pages: 203

Blurb:

Karma Points is cursed. Cursed with a stupid name and the inability to lose her virginity. She’s on a mission to lose her virginity before she turns twenty if it’s the last thing she does.

One night, her good friend Eva brings her to an underground club where Karma meets a tattooed bouncer. He’s far from the clean-cut type she normally falls for, which makes her think this finally might be the night she crosses the threshold of womanhood.

Excited, she goes home with the bouncer named Jax and as always, her dreams crash down once again. Jax cannot believe she is willing to give away her virginity to a stranger she met at a club. As the only son with five sisters and a widowed mom, he can’t morally go through with it, even though he’s never been more tempted in his life.

Unwilling to let her walk away he strikes a deal. Karma has to spend three weeks dating him and then decide if she wants to have sex or walk away.

 

ADD IT TO GOODREADS

 

REVIEW:

 

I received this book via Netgalley for an honest review.

This standalone novel while very sweet to read leaves me only half satisfied. Somehow, I was expecting something deeper, characterizations more polished and a plot more thrilling.

I enjoyed reading this book. It’s the perfect read if you’re looking for a sweet story, something not very deep and if you want a somewhat fast paced novel. Though, I was expecting something sweet and even funny sometimes, I was also looking for something that would make me feel and unfortunately I didn’t feel much.

Somehow, the characters while interesting and great to follow, lack that characterization I need in books to truly and fully enjoy it. Let me explain as much as possible without giving away any spoiler.

Karma’s mother and the whole issue surrounding them both should have been more exploited. Other than a few run ins we don’t see much and what we see sounds so very fake that it made me cringe. I think the author doesn’t show us how Karma feels sometimes, as if there’s something holding back these emotions on paper to seep into me/us readers. Also, Karma’s father is a little too cliché for my taste, but his sweetness is great. Karma’s issues aren’t enough played out to seem true. Once again, it’s not enough detailed, shown.

With Jax, it’s the same. His emotions are pretty much on the surface. I would have loved it if the author would have dug deeper into his psyche. He’s a great character with enough sex appeal to keep me interested, but that doesn’t mean I’m not feeling disappointed that he’s not exploited fully.

Also, both characters don’t seem all that constant throughout the novel. I don’t mind when characters change their mind, but I need to understand it and to actually feel their emotions to tie me down to them.

Also, the plot itself is built in a way that makes it frustrating. We don’t see the whole three weeks they’re supposed to spend together, only pieces here and there to the point of losing me a little bit a few times when it comes to the timeline. That’s a little annoying.

The writing of the author is great and flows well. I like the dialogues.

This book is a nice story, but I’m afraid that I will not remember it down the road. The premise doesn’t keep all its promise. Of course, I’m pretty sure I’m one of the few feeling that way.

 

RATING: