bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)

While it certainly defies many genre standards, I'm going to use Naked in Death to tick off my 2018 Book Riot Read Harder Challenge "A classic of genre fiction."

Set in a dark future, Lieutenant Eve Dallas is drawn into the investigation of a graphic and horrific murder of a beautiful sex worker who is also related to a family of powerful politicians. During the investigation she crosses paths with an enigmatic, brilliant, and supremely sexy billionaire who may also be a suspect.

Overall, I enjoyed Robb's take on a gritty, futuristic NYC where guns are "old fashioned" and hard to come by and other various technologies are used to help predict and solve crimes. I really liked Eve's prickly character, her dedication to her job and her craft, and hey, there's a cat hero!

That said, the overall mystery wasn't super deep and I found the initial love scenes between Rourke and Eve to be a bit troubling, especially from a 2018 standpoint. There is a lot of rape in this book and I just wished there wasn't a gray area for the two main characters at first. I'm hoping this won't be a recurring theme in this series.

Also, I was a bit annoyed that Eve was pretty easily swayed into using Rourke's rich-boy tools to get the job done. Money talks I guess.

Lt. Eve Dallas investigates the murders of several powerful and famous women while struggling with her growing feelings for Rourke who again may be a suspect.

Police procedurals aren't usually my thing, but the slightly futuristic setting and the romance elements brought me back. I was glad to see the relationship between Eve and Rourke wasn't as problematic as the first book, and the sexy times sprinkled throughout kept me going through the dry police interview portions of the story.

I love Eve's rough, basic "get the job done no time for luxuries" personality clashing with Rourke's desire to take care of her while still allowing her to be herself. Super cute and hot. The love scene with the accidental hidden video camera is especially sexy and funny (good to Rourke thrown off his game a bit).

Eve and Rourke are getting mawwwwied, and of course prickly Eve is nervous and hesitant about the whole endeavor. It doesn't help that her best friend Mavis and Mavis's new boyfriend and Eve's wedding dress designer are suspects in the murder of a famous model.

Plus Eve's repressed past is violently surfacing as she grows closer and more comfortable with Rourke.

I've been enjoying this series for quick reads that have just enough depth to keep me interested but don't require a ton of brain power.

Apparently there is not a universe where I can read about Luke Skywalker becoming one with the Force and not weep. Even while at work.

I always try to read the movie adaptation and I usually am pretty meh about them, but this one does a pretty great job of being the movie without being just like the movie. I still liked the movie better.

SPOILERS

Luke refers to Rey as "his niece" to the caretakers on Ach-To...? PLEASE LET THIS BE TRUE?!
The lightsaber Rey brings to Luke may not actually have been Luke's, or may have been his but was also a lot of others lightsaber?
I love movie Rose, I do not like book Rose.
I wish there was a bit more Holdo. She was just as glossed over here as in the movie. Boo.
I enjoyed reading Snoke's tiny bit and seeing a brief explanation of how the Emperor had planned for a downfall, which led to the creation of The First Order.
Luke and Leia know something. We don't know the something. What IS IT?!
Luke did not immediately start a new Jedi order because he was afraid, so completely contrary to the former canon (Legends). Only started training others because of Ben Solo.

I really need to stop reading books that make me cry while on lunch at work! I also wasn't expecting the tears from this super sweet story of two women who fall in love as young girls, are told they are abominations for their love, torn apart, but reconnect many years later as grandmothers.

I adored the bright and engaging illustrations but found the font to sometimes be just a *bit* too large. The dialog was also a little clunky and a little "tell-y" which is explained by the format of one of the character's telling someone her love story, but overall what a delight. Just have some tissues ready.

I don't like to say I read "guilty pleasure" books, because I don't really believe in the concept. Reading is reading and read what you like.

That said, this is a book I did feel guilty while reading. I felt a bit guilty for kind of being turned on by it (despite it being very very troubling). The story is basically a fuck-fest between a hot, sexy interior designer and a billionaire bad boy English Lord of indeterminate age, who, if he wasn't the hottest thing you ever met and so rich he could buy the moon, you would call the police on for his crazy, stalker, abusive behavior. He's controlling (no swearing, can't dress the way you want to, gets in fights, etc), he's kind of scary, he says he isn't a dominant which makes it worse (no rules for him thank you very much), and he may or may not be stealing the heroine's birth control pills. Someone definitely is.

There's slut-shaming, there's a scene with really unbelievable butt-sex, and there are so many repetitive lines and happenings that I felt like the author was using the "copy/paste" function to pad the book. The book is pretty damn large, so come one, cut out a few of the "watch your mouth" scenes. Also, he can swear like a sailor, but NOT FOR HER. I would understand this more if he did not like swearing? Just seems very weird.

From a plot standpoint, there is just a complete lack of communication between the two characters which leads to all of the drama and tension (boring), and a lack of character development. Also, there is a cliff-hanger. Blah.

So, I read it. It is a a good book for a wank, if that is what you're looking for. I also put the next book on hold because I'm a glutton for punishment and again, guilty pleasure.

Rourke convinces work-a-holic Eve to take an extended honeymoon and finally gets her off-planet. Alas, as the honeymoon draws closed, a suicide brings Eve right back into the office. When other well-connected people begin suspiciously dying by suicide but with a smile on their face, Eve and Rourke find out there may actually be a murderer on the loose, a murdered that can tap into your fantasies, fantasies that lead to death.

I think I enjoyed the mystery of this book the best so far in the series, and Rourke and Eve are so stupid hot together.

Trigger Warning Spoiler -

Spoiler

There is mind control in this book and there is a scene where Rourke is under control of the murder and rapes Eve. It is brushed off quickly and Eve assures Rourke it wasn't rape, which I find suspect. I don't think a survivor of sexual assault would have gotten over that so quickly. I wish that would have been handled differently because it tainted in otherwise fun book.

A juicy character-driven tale about the consequences of one secret on the lives of three women.

I really found the narration of this book captivating and adored the Australian accent. The secret is revealed about midway through the book, so the first part is the buildup of the three main characters followed by the consequences of the secret in the latter half. I liked that this wasn't a twisty "gotcha" book. You weren't meant to be kept guessing, you were meant to have all sorts of feelings about questions about what you would do, if you knew. Or didn't know.

I've watched Big Little Lies and I was worried this would be too similar, but it wasn't in the most important ways. I could definitely see this as a mini-series or movie, for sure.

I listened to this for my upcoming Book to Art Club, and we'll be crafting "exploded flowers" while discussing.

SPOILERS AHEAD.

Spoiler

I was SO glad the secret wasn't a sexual one, or a secret paternity. That's what I was thinking, and then I was like oh. Nope. So good. I think Cecilia was my favorite character. I connected most with her and really enjoyed her moral struggles once she figures out her husband John Paul's secret. Tho, girl, I totes would have read that letter immediately. I'm bad at not knowing things. I also almost puked when Rachel hits little Poppy Fitzpatrick with her car. I hit a kid once, totally on accident, and she lived too, but you never ever ever forget it. Terrible. I wanted to punch stupid Felicity in her stupid face, but also understood why Tess didn't. But I still wanted her too. I'm glad Tess got to have some sexy times with Colin. Go girl.

Well, I think my face is still on fire despite having finished this audio book a couple of days ago. I do believe Follow by Tessa Bailey is the sexiest book I've ever listened to in my entire life. *Fans self*

Theresa, aspiring film maker and protective sister, makes a deal with a devil to save her brother Nicky from a life of crime. Her job? Convince mob boss Silas's sexy son Will to return to New York.

After learning the father he barely knew is a criminal and that his beloved Great Dane Southpaw is dying all on the same day, Will ditched everything to take Southpaw and his Chevelle on the road trip of a lifetime.

When Will finds a topless Theresa in his hotel room, he is immediately suspicious something isn't quite right about the story she's telling him. But, both Theresa and Will find they are dangerously attracted to each other, secrets be damned.

Theresa refuses to sleep with Will, but agrees to join his adventure. Theresa needs to get him to NYC, Will wants Theresa to be his, and Theresa's starting to slowly but surely fall under his spell. But Theresa knows, the longer she lies to Will, the more likely it is she'll wreck not just him, but her when she turns him over to Silas.

The dance between these two is so utterly delicious. Phew. I hesitate to call this a slow-burn because there is a lot of sexy times, but you are made to wait a long time for many things and there are some quite creative intimate moments. Will and Theresa are into a certain type of role play which isn't necessarily for me, but hey whatever. I also appreciated Will being an absolute alpha, but also one who seeks consent, constantly. He is never gross like many other tortured alpha's I've read.

There is enough angst here to make you squirm, and the HEA is hard won, but this is an epic road trip I urge you to take on.

I did find some of the lines to be super cheesy and groan-inducing and the ultimate wrap up of the secrets being revealed is a bit hasty, but overall I'd definitely read this again.

No sugar required to help this delightful Mary Poppins inspired romance go down!

Carrot haired and freckled Mari "rhymes with Starry" Perkins, fresh out of the orphanage and deemed *just* okay enough to be a governess for a mill owner's brood, loses her first job after being a mere 15 minutes late on her first day in London.

Determined to find employment AND time to research the few clues to her family she has (a worn out wooden rabbit and a prayer book), Mari sneaks her way into the employ of Edgar Rochester, the Duke of Banksford, and his hellion nine-year old twins.

Edgar is flabbergasted and blown away by the witty and able governess but fears his attraction to her is completely unsuitable, especially since his alcoholic father was a notorious seducer of servants. Despite his misgivings, Mari's immediate success with his wayward children soon make her indispensable.

What ensues is a sweet romance as both Mari and Edgar fall for the other, despite class boundaries and old scars, and ending with a practically perfect in every way HEA.

I've been really enjoying Lenora Bell's romances, as they are a fun combination of swoon and comedy. This one had me laughing out loud multiple times and I loved the banter between Mari and Edgar.

The details with the steam engine being developed by Edgar were intriguing, and I loved how this was a Duke who did not bow to convention.

Two things I must also note - this may be the first time I've had a romance heroine "relieve herself" and clean up post-sex. A silly thing, but totally what actually happens.

ALSO - I cannot wait to read Edgar's sister India's book, "For the Duke's Eyes Only." Looks like it is going to be an excellent enemies to lovers tale and India is obviously modeled after Indiana Jones. Yes, please!