Review: Want You by Jen Frederick

Want You by Jen Frederick
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from the author. This is my honest review.
Release Date: July 1, 2018

When 12 year old Leka found 5 year old Bitsy in an alleyway, he didn't realize that his life was about to change. Trying to bug a cops walkie-talkie, Leka was afraid that Bitsy would give him away and things would go south. But Bitsy was as still as a statue, quiet as a mouse, and Leka took her "home" with him to care for her.

Because Leka now has someone else to take care of, he decided he needed to do...harder...work at his "job". It was hard, but Leka now has someone that is relying on him to bring in food, clothes, and to find a real place to live - not squatting in an empty apartment.

And he wants the best for Bitsy. She is going to go to school, get good grades, and stay completely out of the business that Leka is in.

For the most part, things are going well. But when Bitsy is 14, an incident happened that makes Leka panic and send her far, far away. Bitsy was furious, but when she graduated, she decided she needs to take things in her own hands and make her own future.

But when Bitsy comes back, what she thought she knew about Leka's job wasn't all of the information, and she finds herself in another terrible situation. Leka's life and job are on the line, and he will do whatever it takes to protect the one person he has ever cared for to make sure she will always be protected.

Wow... Someone said if you loved the Royal series by Erin Watt, you would love this book, but I'm not too sure about that... This book is so much darker and has higher trigger subjects than the Royal series, in my opinion.

This is a dark world, full of people you cannot trust, work that is terrible and dirty and illegal and desperate. The "kids" in this novel are not your typical kids, but ones who have been through awful situations and they are just trying to survive one day at a time. What Leka had to do to keep him and Bitsy safe was just sickening in some ways.

But the fact that Leka 1. took Bitsy in and 2. cared for her instantly is so admiring. I mean, He. Is. 12. Years. Old. 12!!!! And he took the responsibility for another human being and the pressure he must have felt.... Just wow.

Bitsy broke my heart when we met her. She was 5 and had so many things done to her already. Her mother called her Nuisance and had a whole line of guys coming to the place, not caring what happened to her daughter. And when Leka took her in, she was always wanting to be the perfect girl, not making him angry in case he kicked her out or left her.

And then the whole situation when they are older and the reason Leka sent Bitsy away? Just terrible.

This novel really makes a person appreciate their life when stories like this are told, because they are true in today's world, and many don't understand how things could be so different from what they grew up with.

I did like this book, but I don't think it will be for every reader because of the trigger subjects. I am very glad I got to read this, though! And I'm curious if there will be another book following the epilogue... 0_0?


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Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I loved this so much! Review to come closer to release date!

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Review: Moonlight And Midtown by Christina Bauer

Moonlight And Midtown by Christina Bauer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this free ARC from NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Bry and Elle are on a mission. But as usual, their mission is a bit risky...and dangerous. But that has never stopped these two in the past, so it's no different now.

When things get a bit hairy, though, Bry has to see if she has the ability to get herself out of her situation.

This was a great novella! It gave me just enough of Bry's story that made me want more! But it also satisfied my hunger for this series. I cannot wait for the next book to come, so I can devour that one as well!

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Review: A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness

A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I read this book because I want to watch the movie, but wanted to experience the book first. I'm so mad that it took me to them making a movie before I finally read this book, because it was so wonderful. So real. So heartbreaking and raw and amazing!

Connor knows that his mother is very sick. He can't do anything about it and it's making him feel vulnerable and useless. He knows things are really bad when both his grandmother and his father come to see his mom and Connor. But his mom is going to get better and everything will go back to normal after that. Connor just knows it.

Every night, at 12:07am, Connor has a visit from a Monster. This Monster wants to tell him 3 stories, if Connor will then tell him his 1 nightmare. At first he was resistant, because, really, what would he want to know about those 3 stories. But the Monster is persistent and they go through with their deal. But the deeper Connor gets involved with this Monster, the more he regrets it.

And not only is Connor dealing with his sick mother, annoying grandmother and father, and the pushy Monster, he is also being alienated at school. Everyone is either ignoring him and pretending he is invisible because they know about his mom and they feel sorry for him, or he is being bullied by 3 guys at school who won't leave him alone.

Everything comes crashing together at once and it is too much for Connor. He breaks. But hopefully he can get himself back together again before it's too late.

This is such an amazing novel. I loved how there were graphics involved in the story. It wasn't needed to imagine what was happening, but it gave off such a dark and gloomy feel that you need to have in order to really get the meaning and story behind this novel.

I'm so glad that I read this book and I will definitely be recommending it to other readers and possibly my book club when the movie is released and it's not so popular.

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Review: Going Rogue by Chantal Fernando

Going Rogue by Chantal Fernando
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Expected Release Date: Aug 6, 2018

Rogue is the hot, smoldering, pretty boy of the Cursed Ravens MC. He loves having a different woman every night, and he doesn't see that changing anytime in his future. Well, that was before he met Zoe, the nurse who is taking care of his mother.

Zoe has already been down the "dating a motorcycle club guy" in her past, and that did not work out well. At all. So when she realizes that her favorite client's son is the very attractive man who comes to her work on a motorcycle, she's in trouble. Because she can't stop thinking about him, even though she is trying her hardest to stay away. Zoe has a simple life. Dating a member of a motorcycle group is not simple. It's very dramatic and stressful.

Zoe has to figure out if she really wants that life, and what she will be giving up based on her decision.

Another good book in this series! It was nice to see Rogue fall for his mother's nurse and be a taken man. But for some reason, this book just wasn't as good as the other two for me. I think it was Zoe's character. She talked about being simple and boring, and then turn around and do something so out of character for her.

And then both Zoe and Rogue repeated themselves over and over in this book... I mean, I get a few times, but it happened too many times for my sanity. I just wanted to yell, "I KNOW!!" when they would say something.

Then when Rogue got mad at Zoe, I felt like it was too much and that he didn't listen to her and think of her side of the story. He just got mad, stormed off and didn't talk to her for days.

Oh, and Rogue not keeping Zoe in the loop during a lot of decisions he made? Yeah that didn't bode well with me either.

So overall, I enjoyed this book, but I had a few issues with the characters that made me not like it as much as the previous books.

However, I am excited to see who's book is next. I'm hoping that Zoe's sister, Vanessa will be a part of it, because she is a HOOT!!!

I'm so glad that I got to read this book and I can't wait to read more by Chantal Fernando.

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Review: Knuckle Down by Chantal Fernando

Knuckle Down by Chantal Fernando
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Release Date: July 9, 2018

Knuckles is one of the baddest guy in the Curse Ravens MC, but that is just his job title. Really, he's a softy with two girls that he takes care of. And when he loves someone dearly, he will protect them with his life.

When he sees Celina, he knows he has to have her. She's it for him, even though he knows next to nothing about her. So he inserts himself in her life day after day to try to wear her out.

Celina is excited to see the Cursed Ravens Motorcycle Club's place, because no one knows anything about them unless they are part of their inner circle. As a journalist, she can't help but be curious about them, so when her cousin Erin invites her over for her birthday part, she immediately says yes.

The second she sees Knuckles, she knows she is in trouble. The attraction is undeniable between them, but Celina avoids it as much as possible. She has had bad history with all of the men in her life, and getting involved with a guy in a motorcycle club is not exactly a shining recommendation for a better future with a guy. Even if he is stupidly hot and irresistible.

Eventually things heat up, but when Celina's career gets in the middle of the Cursed Ravens life, things might not be forgiven after all that is said and done...

I love this world that Chantal Fernando created. I loved the first book and I loved this one too! I think I may love this one a bit more, because I so do love Celina. She is so independent and strong and knows her own mind. She is tough and a fighter, so it was very entertaining to see her and Knuckles go at it a time or two when they butted heads with each other!

Though I do have to say that I probably wouldn't be able to resist Knuckles as long as Celina did, because he is everything a girl wants into one package. And he is super persistent, and sweet and irresistible. So thumbs up to Celina!

I am so glad that I got a chance to read this eARC, and I am so glad we got Knuckles's novel. It was amazing, and I know that fans of this series will definitely love this continuation of the series!

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Review: Fight for You by Nina Crespo

Fight for You by Nina Crespo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.
Release Date: July 9, 2018

Delanie is living life at full speed with her work, so when she gets a work opportunity that has her working directly with Aiden, her lover turned betrayer from 7 years ago, she's not sure how this will pan out. But she does know that she doesn't want him to betray anyone else like he did to her and her father, so she is willing to make sure that she will keep him away from her clients property at any cost.

Aiden knows that he screwed up with Delanie 7 years ago and it has haunted him ever since. When this chance to talk to her and try to explain what happened comes, he takes it in a heartbeat.

At first, things are tense and awkward between the two of them, but the more they talk and understand the situation that happened, the more the realize that their fiery hot attraction toward one another has dissipated in 7 years.

But just when they think they might be able to move on from the past, does their past come back and repeat the cycle again. Maybe they just aren't meant to be in one anothers lives?

This was a cute, short novel. I didn't read the first book in the series, but I don't think it's necessary to in order to understand this book. Also, I truly don't understand either Aiden, nor Delanie's jobs, so that was a bit of me be in "la-la land" and skimming over some of that as well.

But I enjoyed the story of them getting to know one another again and finding out the true stories about what really happened to drive them away from each other. And then to see them have that connection still was great.

I'm pretty sure I won't read the first book about Aiden's brother, but I may look into what other books Nina Crespo has written to see if any of them spark my interest.

I'm very grateful that I was able to get this eARC and read Aiden and Delanie's story!

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Review: Driving Tempo by Raine Thomas

Driving Tempo by Raine Thomas
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I received this eARC novel from Red Coat Publishing. This is my honest review.

Lily and Archer have been through a lot during the tour of a life-time. Lily went from hating the media, to being the biggest news in the media. She was shy and hid from the camera to now knowing how to act just the right way and say the right things to make sure it is portrayed the way she wants to the public eye.

When Rosemary, her older sister, agrees to be her wedding planner and plan the wedding of the year in 2 months, Lily is relieved. She's glad that she has the professional help to get everything figured out, while she can also do the 5 other things in life she has to do.

Rosemary didn't know what hit her when she got knocked down before one of The Void's concerts. Turns out, it was Sage, the music mixer in the band. And once she really looked at him, Rosemary wasn't too upset being knocked down to the ground.

And it turns out that Rosemary and Sage have more than just their unique names in common. With insomnia both of their friends, they typically meet most nights and just talk about whatever the mood strikes them at the time.

Then Sage has an insane plan, and he wants Rosemary to help him. At first she agrees, but the more they get sucked into his plan, the more she realizes that this might break her heart when it is all said and done.

With Rosemary's potential broken heart, and Lily's stalker still at large, The Void is definitely on edge, both on tour, and at home when they are done.

This series is just getting better and better! I really adored Rosemary and Sage! Raine Thomas has a way of having multiple - I mean MULTIPLE - viewpoints in her novels, and yet the reader can easily keep up with the story lines and everyone's individual issues that are happening. While I still am not the biggest Lily and Archer fan (...sorry...) I have loved the other two bandmates stories and the women they have fallen in love with.

I also love the suspense of the stalker(s) in Lily's life. I am so curious to see who this person might be, and it is going to kill me to wait for the next book(s) to find out!

I am so, so, so hoping that the next book is about Xander and Aria. Those two already have a connection and I would love to see it bloom into something more!

Now I just have to wait patiently for it to come out... :(

I am so glad that I got a chance to read this book, and this series, and will definitely be looking at more books by Raine Thomas now!

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