Review: Happily Ever Habits by Staci Hart

Happily Ever Habits by Staci Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I enjoyed this. It was nice to see them starting to have families and how their lives are doing. I would have liked to see which kids end up hooking up with the other kids, though ;) Because you know that will probably happen!

View all my reviews

Review: Last Call by Staci Hart

Last Call by Staci Hart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Rose and Patrick... I really wanted to like their story because they have been making eyes at each other since book 1. But sadly this book fell short with me. I appreciated that Rose wanted to start dating again and meet someone, but deep down she always had feelings for Patrick. She just didn't want to admit them because her hurt her. And I have to give props for Patrick - he did what she told him to do and you have to appreciate that a little bit. But I am glad that he finally made a move when he realized she liked him back just as much.

But when he denied her at the end? Yeah, that was messed up. And I realized that both of these characters are messed up, but as Lily said, "Ninety percent of your problems would be solved if you would just talk about it". That is the truest statement I've heard in my entire life, and what I usually say in EVERY book review I write. Because communication is key in a relationship - and a friendship.

I'm glad everything worked out in the end, and I'm intrigued on the short novella where it has everyone's happily ever after :)

View all my reviews

Review: Chaser by Staci Hart

Chaser by Staci Hart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Maggie and Cooper's story was great. I definitely enjoyed it more than book 1 in this series and it was great to see their relationship grow more and more. I really enjoyed both of these characters and the amount that they grew from page 1 to the end was amazing.

There was still the issue of communication between the two characters, but I also appreciated the fact that they needed to deal with their pasts to move in with their futures.

I'm excited about book 3 and hopefully it will be the best one in the series!

View all my reviews

Review: With a Twist by Staci Hart

With a Twist by Staci Hart
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Since I'm not much into dancing - and especially ballet - Lily's side of the story was a bit blah for me. And West is a bit boring, if I must admit, so this book was just okay for me. I also skipped through the parts with Blane and Lily because I just didn't want to deal with their drama when I knew the real couple was going to be Lily and West. I am intrigued about the other characters because it seems like it could be more excitement between them. I just really hated having to read about West and Lily being with other people before they confessed their true feelings for one another.

But now I've made it past book #1, so hopefully the others will be better!

View all my reviews

Review: Exquisite Betrayal by A.M. Hargrove

Exquisite Betrayal by A.M. Hargrove
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

I so wanted to like this book, but I couldn't even finish it sadly. I love the cover, I love the summary, but dear God, the characters were just terrible.

R. T. Is insecure and awkward, which you wouldn't think considering he's a romance author.

And Fallon is just a mess. Always stumbling, falling, tripping. I mean I get that some people ate like that, but it was over the top for her.

So I'm truly bummed, but I just couldn't continue this train wreck of a book. I'm sure other readers will enjoy it though!

View all my reviews

Review: Make Me by Amanda Heath

Make Me by Amanda Heath
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Another great book that I unexpectedly loved! Paisley is my all time favorite character. She's been handed a shitty life but that doesn't change her character of finding the good in the bad. The way she changed Channing and how she wormed her way into everyone's life was amazing.

Also the sexual tension between her and Channing was unbelievable. I can't believe they refrained from jumping each other's bones until they did so I give then props for that.

I am so glad I got a chance to read this book and I may just be tempted to read the rest of the series to see how these rich, preppy boys fall for their own true love.

View all my reviews

Review: Emmie and the Tudor King by Natalie Murray

Emmie and the Tudor King by Natalie Murray
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So... I'm all about time travel novels and even historical fiction, but this book? It was just "meh" for me. I'm not a history person so the British risks don't really mean much to me. What I found too much with this novel is the characters.

Emmie it's so indecisive. She has good intentions but man is she somewhat annoying. And no way would her lies get her out of trouble - in her time and the past!

And Nick was just a character. I really had no strong feelings for him. The other characters also didn't really interest me - I was just trying to keep track of who was who mostly.

I think this could have been a good book but it fell short for me. I did ser that the author may be writing another book to this one? I may or may not pick it up when it gets released. We'll see if I'm not as annoyed with Emmie when that time comes.

View all my reviews

Review: Fair Game by Monica Murphy

Fair Game by Monica Murphy
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I am pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed this book! At the beginning, I got some of the same vibes as "Beautiful Disaster" by Jamie McGuire, but then it got its own originality.

Jade is bad ass. She may only be a freshman compared to Shep's junior in college, but she knows her own mind and she's not afraid to say it. And she definitely tells it how it is to Shep!

And Shep had met his match with Jade. He doesn't understand at first that he's a goner, but he soon realizes that no one could ever top Jade.

Both if their parents are assholes. Jade's isn't too bad, but the crap her mom pulled on her about the summer? Total crap. I think I might have disowned my parents. And let's not even touch the subject of Sheps parents...

I'm so glad I read this book and it may be one that I will revisit in the future for a re-read!

View all my reviews

Review: Micah by Jo Raven

Micah by Jo Raven
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a decent novel. Short and fast read, a lot of events progressed in this book, and I didn't hate the main characters. I still think that all relationships would be bettered if everyone would talk to each other, because in this book, a lot of problems would have been solved if both characters and told the other one their secrets. But oh well, things worked out in the end.

I am proud of Ev standing up to her parents and going out on her own. Just because her parents don't want her to grow up doesn't mean she's not a grown-up and she was brave for taking that first step to independence. Blake is an ass. Micah is so sweet and tortured, but Ev will help him with time.

View all my reviews

Review: Mr. Insatiable by Serenity Woods

Mr. Insatiable by Serenity Woods
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So there was a cover change and the new one? Makes it look like a YA book instead of the rated R book. Just a heads up.

I enjoyed this book. Enya and Kit have amazing chemistry and from the moment they went beyond friends, it was game over. They were destined to be more and the trip to China couldn't have come at a better time.

I wish they would have talked to each other a little more because they could have avoided some tough decisions, but I think that made their final acts so much more meaningful.

I'm glad I got a chance to read this book!

View all my reviews

Review: Shadowborn Academy: Year One by G. Bailey

Shadowborn Academy: Year One by G. Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from the author. This is my honest review.

G. Bailey is fast becoming a favorite author of mine, so I was EXTREMELY excited when I got a free early copy of this novel!! And I loved it! Corvina is a great leading character. She's really conflicted, has a lot of issues to get through, but overall, she's a strong-willed character who is fiercely loyal to her close knit group of friends.

Throughout this entire novel, I got a lot of Harry Potter vibes. Enough to keep my attention, but not so much that it turned me off of the story because it felt like a copy-cat.

There wasn't too much of the reverse harem storyline in this first novel, but I feel like that might get a jump start in the novels to come. I do have to say that my favorite of the bunch is definitely Pitch. He's been by her side since the beginning and their relationship is just going to get started I feel like.

This book ends on a soft cliff-hanger. The readers are going to want more automatically, but it's not a "I'm going to die if I don't get it now" ending either.

I'm very very excited I got the chance to read this novel and I can't wait for the next one already!

View all my reviews

Review: Beauty and the Billionaire by Beverly Evans

Beauty and the Billionaire by Beverly Evans
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This was a short and fast novel. A lot of events happened super quick and if I was the girl I would not have made the same choices as Winter did. But this novel kept my attention and was entertaining enough to have me finish it so that's always a plus. Glad I got this for free and I got a chance to read it.

View all my reviews

Review: Nothing But Trouble by Ashley Bostock

Nothing But Trouble by Ashley Bostock
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

This book had a strong start and I was really into the storyline, but toward the middle and the end it just lost a lot of the things I was enjoying and made this book only okay for me. I'm glad I got a chance to read it, but it won't be something I go back to in the future.

View all my reviews

Review: Writing a Wrong by Tiffany King

Writing a Wrong by Tiffany King
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So, I was excited to read this book and get more of Alec and Nicole. But they were too unsettled in this book - after being with each other for awhile - than they were when they first met. I completely understand about how distance does NOT make the heart grow fonder, but actually causes more issues in some relationships, so I do understand where they are coming from. The issue I had with this book is that the characters did not talk to each other. If you are going to have a long-distance relationship, TALKING is the most important thing. Don't jump to conclusions, don't make excuses for not finding time to call, don't make any decisions without first asking questions. Those are rules you must follow to have a dramaless relationship.

So how Nicole responded to certain news? Yeah, really ticked me off. I actually almost stopped reading at that point, but I continued to see what would happen. After that, though, I was pretty much done with these characters who can't communicate. Which is ironic because Nicole is an author...

I'm glad I got a chance to read this series, but it is one where I will not re-read in the future.

View all my reviews

Review: The Write Stuff by Tiffany King

The Write Stuff by Tiffany King
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is every reader, writer and lover of books dream. Being able to fall for a cover model is probably something that every reader who goes to book talks and author events with the cover model in tow has dreamed about. And I know this is a dream for all indie authors to become a bestselling author and fall in love all at once.

I really enjoyed this book. Alec was a bit frustrating at times, saying one thing but doing the complete opposite. And I was a bit annoyed with Nicole at the beginning because she was always obsessing about being a virgin, but once that passed, she is a version of any author/reader I think. She's insecure, shy, awkward. She's easy to relate to.

I'm excited and interested to see what book #2 is about!

View all my reviews

Review: Snow & Mistletoe: A Cabin Christmas Romance by Rie Anders

Snow & Mistletoe: A Cabin Christmas Romance by Rie Anders
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

So I'm definitely in the minority when it comes to my star rating, but I just couldn't connect with the female main character. She was a bit superficial and quite annoying at the beginning of the novel and it really didn't get any better from there. Also, I hate that she called her old roommate out of the blue and then BAM, Shaye just let's her go to her cabin for a week after YEARS of not talking. And it's even worse because Cat called her when she was drunk and has no idea what message she left her. That just screams unappreciative and such a fake friend that I had a bad taste in my mouth ever since that.

I'm glad other readers are loving this book, but it just wasn't for me.

View all my reviews

Review: Garrett by Sawyer Bennett

Garrett by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm glad I had a chance to read Garrett's novel in this series, though I think I will also love Alex a little bit more since he was the first character we were introduced to. I'm glad we got a chance to see Garrett in the first novel, because the reader can really understand how much Garrett changes when he meets Olivia. And I'm honestly surprised when he falls so fast for her with how many women he's been with, but I guess that shows that when you find the one, you know instantly.

Olivia is one tough chick. I can't imagine going through what she did and not being an emotional wreck. So I admire her attitude toward everything during this novel. I also love how she school Garrett and made him work for some things, but then she was shy and timid with other things. That, to me, is a real person because we all have our insecurities.

I'm glad I got a chance to read these first two books in the series. I'm not sure if I will get the next ones, (since there are SO MANY BOOKS IN THIS SERIES!), but if any of them go on sale for a day or whatnot, I might snatch them up :)

View all my reviews

Review: Alex by Sawyer Bennett

Alex by Sawyer Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For a girl (me) who's never watched, played or really seen hockey, I sure do read a lot of fiction sport novels about hockey players! And like all of the other novels I've read, I really enjoyed this one as well!

I like how Alex is talked about as being a prick, but we really don't see it since he just meets Sutton and instantly falls under her spell. He's never mean to her. Sure, he has his moments a few times, but nothing that would make him be the MVP in my opinion.

I love that both of these characters have had a similar past because that means they can talk to one another and understand what the person means. So many times in a relationship, if one person doesn't understand based on experience, there seems to be more arguments than not because they sympathize too much, say they understand and really don't, etc. But for Sutton and Alex, they really do get where each other is coming from, and they are able to help one another because of that experience.

Sutton is amazing. She doesn't take any of Alex's shit at the beginning and she slowly pecks away at his anger and makes him be a human again, really. The way they act around each other is great and definitely has a lot of sexual tension between the two of them.

I'm glad I got a chance to read this, and I have book #2 all ready on my kindle, so I'm about to dive into Garrett's novel! This should be fun :)

View all my reviews

Review: By the Book: A Novel of Prose and Cons by Amanda Sellet

By the Book: A Novel of Prose and Cons by Amanda Sellet
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

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

I was extremely excited to get this novel early because I loved the cover and the synopsis from the moment I saw it. And for the most part I enjoyed this novel.

Mary is a bit judgmental in this novel. She thinks she's trying to avoid a certain type of guy, but she's really judging them before getting to know them. After 10 minutes in their company, she has everything figured out and has put then in their character category.

I'm all about comparing guys in real life to fictional characters I love but I wouldn't go to the extreme that Mary did it.

I also have to say that I'm glad Mary found some great new friends after getting kicked to the curb by an old friend. I went through something very eerily similar in high school (it even happened at lunchtime in the cafeteria) do I know how terrible it feels and how hard it is to make new friends.

And as much as I love to read, I wasn't able to really connect to many of the references in this novel because I don't read classic literature. I'm not sure if anyone else will be put off from this like I was, but it is something to note for future readers.

I did enjoy this novel, though, and I predict many readers are going to love this novel. I'm glad i got a chance to read this eARC novel!

View all my reviews

Review: Boys South of the Mason Dixon by Abbi Glines

Boys South of the Mason Dixon by Abbi Glines
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Ugh I hate giving 1 star reviews. Especially for authors that I used to love. I have one more book on my kindle of Abbi's that I haven't read which I will probably suffer through, but honestly? I'm going to have to quit Abbi Glines's novels from now on.

This book is like all of the other novels Glines has written. Troubled boy, weak, naive girl, major secret that wasn't true, pinning after one another, love triangle. Anything her other books have, this book has as well.

All of the characters were really not likable. The guys were really dicks to any female on the page except for their mom. Dixie is so emotional and makes rash decisions that contradict what she JUST said she wouldn't do.

I'm really sad that I can't handle these books anymore because I really loved her previous books. But these characters are getting worse and worse and frankly they are just pissing me off a lot.

I'm sure many readers will disagree with me, but sadly this is the realization I discovered today.

View all my reviews

Review: Rewind by Lila Alexander

Rewind by Lila Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an okay book. I really dislike it when characters won't communicate with one another and it completely changes their lives. Not talking or explaining anything for 12 years is just too much. That is selfishness right there, ladies and gentleman. I would hope that if Katie was in a happy relationship instead of a dull, about to expire one, she would have ignored Jake, but honestly, I think she would have dropped anyone to be with Jake again, even if it was 12 years later.

This was an interesting duology but it won't be something that I re-read again.

View all my reviews

Review: Broken by Lila Alexander

Broken by Lila Alexander
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Katie has a really bad time at her new school and I couldn't imagine going through what she did. Those classmates were nasty and mean and sadly that's probably how some high schools are like.

I'm glad she met Jake, but it was kind of a sketchy way to meet. Once we got to know him he wasn't too bad.

Things progressed seriously fast between these two - almost too fast to be healthy. I'm curious what book 2 will bring.

View all my reviews

Review: Dethroning Crown by Lila Felix

Dethroning Crown by Lila Felix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The best thing about this book was that both main characters went through complete character development stages and really grew as a person by the end of the novel. Lyra was able to finally let go of the past (for the most part) and actually start living again without being in constant fear. And Crown was finally a decent human who was nice and didn't act like he was a god. I feel for both of the characters because they had a really bad past that molded them into the adults they were at the beginning of this novel.

But with the help of each other being in their lives and influencing one another, they were able to move past the crazy way they grew up and start living like normal people.

Overall I enjoyed this book, but I don't think I could re-read Crown's attitude again. It was a lot to handle during this novel.

View all my reviews

Review: A Bride for a Billionaire by Lauren Hawkeye

A Bride for a Billionaire by Lauren Hawkeye
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I wasn't expecting to like this book as much as I do! Riley is spunky! She's a fighter. I loved the way she stayed true to herself no matter how tempting Mateo's offer was at the beginning. And even though it said that Mateo was "dark", I didn't really see that too much in this book. He was definitely a good guy in this book, no matter what temptations he's had in the past. And the way he was with Riley was amazing - very swoonworthy!

Emilia is something else - and I can't believe that Mateo couldn't guess what happened to her to make her the way that she was.

I'm very glad I got around to reading this book and I may just have to look into the other books in this series soon!

View all my reviews

Review: Wildest Dreams by Lucy Smoke

Wildest Dreams by Lucy Smoke
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was a short, exciting, and entertaining novel. I'm glad I found it on Amazon and decided to chance it by reading it.

I honestly couldn't imagine going to another country for a brand new job and not freak out a little bit. But Jen jumped at the chance and in the end it was the right decision for her in this stage of her life. Preston, Jay and Wren are great characters, though we really didn't get a chance to get to know any of the 4 because this was such a short novel. I honestly think I'd rather have Wren over the rest, but if you can have all 3, why pick, right?

The whole history with Preston and Jen was a bit annoying after reading the same statement over and over again (in a short novel, too), so that's why I'm put off from them.

I also enjoyed the part about helping to stop the poachers and the scene with Preston and Leo? So heartwarming.

View all my reviews

Review: Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White

Let Me List the Ways by Sarah White
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I received this free eARC novel from Edelweiss. This is my honest review.

Mackenzie and Nolan's friendship is amazing. I don't know if I've ever had a close enough friend like these two were to call my own. Then again, I didn't have a neighbor who is my age, so that could be a factor.

The amount of attention that Nolan pays to Mackenzie is like a hawkeye. He knows exactly what she needs and when she needs it. And the fact that he can help her with her medicine? I'm surprised these two didn't figure out they loved each other a long time ago, to be honest. And it seems like Mackenzie relies heavily on Nolan to make sure she gets the medicine or sugar that she needs, so I'm very concerned about them going off to different colleges. Mackenzie is going to have to really be on her dosages without Nolan there to watch out for her.

I loved that Mackenzie has diabetes I. Not saying I love that she is sick, but that she isn't a typical girl that is being written about in every other book. This is a serious medical condition which makes Mackenzie have to be more grown up and more mature than other YA girls that are being starred in novels today.

I did grow frustrated with both of these characters when they wouldn't just TELL the other person how they feel. The looks, the touches, the awkward silences where they wanted to say something and then decided not to. They could have enjoyed a lot more time together as a couple rather than avoiding their true feelings. But they are teenagers and they don't know better. At least they got around to it eventually.

I'm glad I got a chance to read this eARC novel and I'll be on the lookout for more books by this author!

View all my reviews