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bandherbooks's Reviews (3.65k)
A woman with Psy powers who believes she's losing her mind because she's starting to have emotions finds out she's not broken and that her race has hidden a terrible secret after she learns she's the mate of a were-panther.
I enjoyed the world building a lot and immediately felt immersed in this world of Psy and Changelings. I loved the steamy intensity of Sasha and Lucas's chemistry, even if I wanted to kick Lucas a bunch of times. Super alpha cat to the extreme.
The sheer amount of time Sasha's "night sky eyes" were referenced grew a bit tiresome for me (I listened to most of the story on audio) as did how much Lucas manhandled her.
As a newbie to paranormal, what was missing for me was the humor. Slave to Sensation is very serious, and while well done and totally readable, I personally crave some acknowledgment of how ridiculous suddenly being in bed with a giant ass panther would be (besides some giggles and petting). I wanted more bananas if that makes sense?
Sasha reminded me of Emma from A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1 of the IAD series by Kresley Cole) but I'm hoping that like that series I'll settle in to the world and characters as I read.
Definitely a good read, just not exactly my cup of tea. The audio narration was superb.
I enjoyed the world building a lot and immediately felt immersed in this world of Psy and Changelings. I loved the steamy intensity of Sasha and Lucas's chemistry, even if I wanted to kick Lucas a bunch of times. Super alpha cat to the extreme.
The sheer amount of time Sasha's "night sky eyes" were referenced grew a bit tiresome for me (I listened to most of the story on audio) as did how much Lucas manhandled her.
As a newbie to paranormal, what was missing for me was the humor. Slave to Sensation is very serious, and while well done and totally readable, I personally crave some acknowledgment of how ridiculous suddenly being in bed with a giant ass panther would be (besides some giggles and petting). I wanted more bananas if that makes sense?
Sasha reminded me of Emma from A Hunger Like No Other (Book 1 of the IAD series by Kresley Cole) but I'm hoping that like that series I'll settle in to the world and characters as I read.
Definitely a good read, just not exactly my cup of tea. The audio narration was superb.
Would you give a second chance to the man who broke your trust and your heart? 19 year old Tate fell for 21 year old Sam during her first trip to London. Growing up sheltered due to her parents' failed marriage, Tate is finally out experiencing the world and falling in love for the quiet man who becomes her travel companion along with her grandmother and his grandfather. But Sam destroys Tate's trust and world when he sells her secret to the tabloids, launching her life into a completely new trajectory and bringing her estranged movie star father back into it.
Cut to almost 15 years later and Tate is set to star in a movie with her father for the first time, a film absolutely perfect for her. But once she lands on set she realizes the screenwriter is no other than Sam, the boy who took her virginity and her heart that fateful London trip, now a man who she still feels something for.
As Tate acts out the role of a lifetime, can she find true love or trust with any of the men in her life?
I'm positive there will be many readers for this story, unfortunately this wasn't a story I connected with. Only being given Tate's POV of the story led this to feel more like women's fiction. Tate and Sam are rarely on page together, not enough for me to believe their HEA. Tate spent six days with Sam at 19 before he did something really bad, and he did NOT grovel close to enough for me to forgive him.
The romance arc didn't feel like the most important part of the story, it is more about Tate's journey accepting herself, her feelings, and realizing that sometimes you'll never have the relationship you want with a family member, no matter how hard you act in front of the cameras.
The rest is spoilers so please avoid if you don't want them.
Cut to almost 15 years later and Tate is set to star in a movie with her father for the first time, a film absolutely perfect for her. But once she lands on set she realizes the screenwriter is no other than Sam, the boy who took her virginity and her heart that fateful London trip, now a man who she still feels something for.
As Tate acts out the role of a lifetime, can she find true love or trust with any of the men in her life?
I'm positive there will be many readers for this story, unfortunately this wasn't a story I connected with. Only being given Tate's POV of the story led this to feel more like women's fiction. Tate and Sam are rarely on page together, not enough for me to believe their HEA. Tate spent six days with Sam at 19 before he did something really bad, and he did NOT grovel close to enough for me to forgive him.
The romance arc didn't feel like the most important part of the story, it is more about Tate's journey accepting herself, her feelings, and realizing that sometimes you'll never have the relationship you want with a family member, no matter how hard you act in front of the cameras.
The rest is spoilers so please avoid if you don't want them.
Spoiler
I also figured out *why* Sam did what he did right away, and it was shitty and she immediately forgives him which is her right, but. And then he ghosts on her when news breaks that HE was the one who spilled the beans all those years ago, and she again forgives her when she reads four emails he sent before the movie started filming. Eh. I wanted more. I just really miss the dual POV Christina Lauren stories that were more fun and romance specific. I wish them well on this journey as I think it is working for a lot of readers, just not me.
Do yourself a favor and listen to this on audio book. The narrators are AMAZING.
Graduate assistant Reese is astonished when she discovers Jason, a 28 year old Army Veteran taking her mother's class and challengers her every word, is the same person who writes the passionate, intelligent, and oh so sexy term paper she's fallen in love with.
Jason finds himself finding more and more reasons to spar with the princess who grew up so differently than him but who also seems to be the one woman he can truly be himself with.
Opposites attract in this delicious enemies to lovers tale that also features an amazing secondary cast of characters I'm dying to know more about. Please and thank you for a novella featuring the romance between Jason's Dad and Reese's mom!
CW for parental death (off page, in the past), grief, panic attacks, alcohol use
I'm hiding this detail about Jason behind a spoiler not because it is bad but because it was so good and it was so unexpected!
Graduate assistant Reese is astonished when she discovers Jason, a 28 year old Army Veteran taking her mother's class and challengers her every word, is the same person who writes the passionate, intelligent, and oh so sexy term paper she's fallen in love with.
Jason finds himself finding more and more reasons to spar with the princess who grew up so differently than him but who also seems to be the one woman he can truly be himself with.
Opposites attract in this delicious enemies to lovers tale that also features an amazing secondary cast of characters I'm dying to know more about. Please and thank you for a novella featuring the romance between Jason's Dad and Reese's mom!
CW for parental death (off page, in the past), grief, panic attacks, alcohol use
I'm hiding this detail about Jason behind a spoiler not because it is bad but because it was so good and it was so unexpected!
Spoiler
When Reese and Jason finally decide to have sex, Reese discovers Jason has a prosthetic leg! It is such a minor part of the story but so excellently handled and I loved this rep.
Nimona is awesome. And so is Ballister Blackweather (really the true hero of this tale). I also have a little soft spot for Sir Ambrosius Goldenloin, because damn that hair!
Basically, Nimona is blogger/graphic novelist Allie Brosch in a dinosaur costume BUT WHO CAN ACTUALLY SHAPESHIFT. YES, become ALL THE THINGS! Noelle Stevenson created a very awesome universe of medieval pageantry and magic combined with science and made it believable. It is also more than a little subversive, and I loved the dynamic between Nimona and her "boss" Ballister and the dynamic between Ballister and Goldenloin. Super fun, a must read.
Basically, Nimona is blogger/graphic novelist Allie Brosch in a dinosaur costume BUT WHO CAN ACTUALLY SHAPESHIFT. YES, become ALL THE THINGS! Noelle Stevenson created a very awesome universe of medieval pageantry and magic combined with science and made it believable. It is also more than a little subversive, and I loved the dynamic between Nimona and her "boss" Ballister and the dynamic between Ballister and Goldenloin. Super fun, a must read.
Eva, fresh from breaking off her business and personal relationship with a man who used her for her talent and left her in the dust when she started to shine, is out to win the commission for a large scale mural installation in a small town.
Eva's here for business ONLY, but when she discovers her hotel accommodations were lost to a computer glitch, the friendly woman who offers to let her stay on her family's ranch turns out to have a very sexy brother named Casey who might be the perfect distraction or the perfect heartbreak.
Despite leading a increasingly popular Country band, Casey is set on one thing only, keeping his family's ranch afloat. But Eva, with her platinum crop, tattoos, and forthrightness, is someone he can't just let pass by.
A hot fling turns into the opportunity for more, but can Casey or Eva trust the other or give themselves the chance to both have what they so clearly want?
Hot dog, consider me a Mayberry convert. I'm not typically one for cowboys, but if they are all as sensitive and sweet as Casey, sign me up!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
CW for parental death (off page), verbal abuse from an ex
Eva's here for business ONLY, but when she discovers her hotel accommodations were lost to a computer glitch, the friendly woman who offers to let her stay on her family's ranch turns out to have a very sexy brother named Casey who might be the perfect distraction or the perfect heartbreak.
Despite leading a increasingly popular Country band, Casey is set on one thing only, keeping his family's ranch afloat. But Eva, with her platinum crop, tattoos, and forthrightness, is someone he can't just let pass by.
A hot fling turns into the opportunity for more, but can Casey or Eva trust the other or give themselves the chance to both have what they so clearly want?
Hot dog, consider me a Mayberry convert. I'm not typically one for cowboys, but if they are all as sensitive and sweet as Casey, sign me up!
Thank you to Netgalley for the ARC!
CW for parental death (off page), verbal abuse from an ex
Well this was something. Highly readable yet skewed more closely to urban fantasy than romance for me personal tastes, especially with the many different viewpoints. I felt myself skimming to get back to Wrath and Beth's parts, which were fun if ridonkulous. The vampire "rules" Ward creates for this world are fascinating, especially the way you either are or are not a vampire (no change by biting), the breeding cycles, and the brotherhood itself. I have to admit I kept hearing Matrix style techno music in my head whenever one of these leather clad beast men showed up on the page.
An alternate title for this story could have been "Everybody wants to Fuck Beth." Beth was refreshingly normal for a PNR romance, she wasn't exceptional except for her outer beauty, but I also felt terrible for her. Sure you're an orphan because your Vampire dad want's to protect you, but he couldn't have found some nice people to take you and provide money for you? He's just going to have his manservant take secret photos of you for your whole life? Yikes.
Wrath's "blindness" also made no sense to me. He wasn't blind! He had a hard time seeing, but could constantly react to the way Beth looked. I didn't get the point of this plot device.
I also chucked a lot at some of the way Wrath phrased things, for a Vampire so huge and tough he sometimes had some great, kind of silly ways of saying things. I can't think of an example now but it did make me laugh.
I've been told this first book of the series is one of the weaker ones, so I may be interested in reading a few more.
CW for on page sexual assault, graphic violence, drug use, transphobia, etc. etc.
An alternate title for this story could have been "Everybody wants to Fuck Beth." Beth was refreshingly normal for a PNR romance, she wasn't exceptional except for her outer beauty, but I also felt terrible for her. Sure you're an orphan because your Vampire dad want's to protect you, but he couldn't have found some nice people to take you and provide money for you? He's just going to have his manservant take secret photos of you for your whole life? Yikes.
Wrath's "blindness" also made no sense to me. He wasn't blind! He had a hard time seeing, but could constantly react to the way Beth looked. I didn't get the point of this plot device.
I also chucked a lot at some of the way Wrath phrased things, for a Vampire so huge and tough he sometimes had some great, kind of silly ways of saying things. I can't think of an example now but it did make me laugh.
I've been told this first book of the series is one of the weaker ones, so I may be interested in reading a few more.
CW for on page sexual assault, graphic violence, drug use, transphobia, etc. etc.
I now know and love and understand what "PMB" stands for (pouty man bear)! What a great character.
All Duke Crawfod wants from life is to work hard and then relax hard, preferably with a grill out, a cold Budweiser, and a few minutes of uninterrupted Sports Center viewing. But living with your four recently divorced sisters, two newlyweds, and a three-year-old means Duke never really gets what he wants.
So, Duke isn't really looking for anything, but finds himself completely entranced by the new girl in town. Samantha Waverly is his boss's step-sister, a children's illustrator with the biggest, brownest doe eyes he's ever seen, that make him want to protect her, especially once he gets to see her sparkling personality in action. He also wants her, more than he's ever wanted anyone before.
But, there's no way in hell this tiny woman is going to want a dirty, scruffy, hairy, beer bellied-giant is there?
Samantha is such a fun heroine, and I loved her enthusiasm for life, her art, and for Duke. This story was a bit insta-love for me, but I didn't even really care. There is a ton of slamming against the wall sexy-times, and who doesn't love that?! Also, nice to see a hero who doesn't have a perfect six-pack. I sure don't!
Holy shit the audio book version of Duke is even better than print version Duke. Absolutely filthy and heart-warming all at the same time. Grunty, fucking hero at his finest.
All Duke Crawfod wants from life is to work hard and then relax hard, preferably with a grill out, a cold Budweiser, and a few minutes of uninterrupted Sports Center viewing. But living with your four recently divorced sisters, two newlyweds, and a three-year-old means Duke never really gets what he wants.
So, Duke isn't really looking for anything, but finds himself completely entranced by the new girl in town. Samantha Waverly is his boss's step-sister, a children's illustrator with the biggest, brownest doe eyes he's ever seen, that make him want to protect her, especially once he gets to see her sparkling personality in action. He also wants her, more than he's ever wanted anyone before.
But, there's no way in hell this tiny woman is going to want a dirty, scruffy, hairy, beer bellied-giant is there?
Samantha is such a fun heroine, and I loved her enthusiasm for life, her art, and for Duke. This story was a bit insta-love for me, but I didn't even really care. There is a ton of slamming against the wall sexy-times, and who doesn't love that?! Also, nice to see a hero who doesn't have a perfect six-pack. I sure don't!
Holy shit the audio book version of Duke is even better than print version Duke. Absolutely filthy and heart-warming all at the same time. Grunty, fucking hero at his finest.
Spoiler alert!
So I wasn't expecting that and this was okay, but not my favorite "spooky" romance novella./spoiler>
Spoiler
So, the hot salty sea Captain ghost who haunts Cassie Nolan's family pier and who's presence funds their livlihood does not come back to life. CASSIE DIES and then she falls in love with the ghost. She basically has no other choice because they are the only two ghosts!So I wasn't expecting that and this was okay, but not my favorite "spooky" romance novella./spoiler>
*Disclaimer* I only read Playing Games by Meg Maguire from this collection of Holiday novellas.
Carrie is determined to make it home in time to greet her brother at the train station when he arrives home from his latest tour of duty on Christmas day, but finds out her flight is grounded because of the inclement weather. Making matters more awkward, she finds out her high school nemesis was supposed to be on the same flight, and she's now sharing a rental car with him.
Daniel, no longer the cigarette smoking burnout who she secretly had a crush on, despite him being her high school boyfriend's best friend, is even more delicious but just as grumpy. But, a scary car ride and a stay in the honeymoon suite leads to some major truth telling and perhaps a Christmas miracle.
Super sexy, and a fun short read for the holidays. I love the "just one bed" trope and this one was done very well. I also love a good unrequired romance and Daniel's pining for Carrie is so yummy.
CW: parental neglect, drinking
Carrie is determined to make it home in time to greet her brother at the train station when he arrives home from his latest tour of duty on Christmas day, but finds out her flight is grounded because of the inclement weather. Making matters more awkward, she finds out her high school nemesis was supposed to be on the same flight, and she's now sharing a rental car with him.
Daniel, no longer the cigarette smoking burnout who she secretly had a crush on, despite him being her high school boyfriend's best friend, is even more delicious but just as grumpy. But, a scary car ride and a stay in the honeymoon suite leads to some major truth telling and perhaps a Christmas miracle.
Super sexy, and a fun short read for the holidays. I love the "just one bed" trope and this one was done very well. I also love a good unrequired romance and Daniel's pining for Carrie is so yummy.
CW: parental neglect, drinking
My god, this book. What a ride. I listened to this on audio (FANTASTIC narrators), and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire experience. I cannot even begin to say how compelling Kennedy Ryan is as a writer, as she turned every one of my preconceptions over what I typically don't like in romance on its head.
One thing you must know before going in, Banner, the heroine, is constantly talking about her weight, her diet, and her appearance. The first break between her and Jared was because of being called fat, being seen naked, being shamed. I felt overall the rep was well done, but it is A LOT. I was feeling in an okay place, but just be aware. I don't want anyone to be hurt.
There are many CW, see my spoiler at the bottom.
The TENSION. My god. The sheer heat between Banner and Jared about lit my hair on fire. I also wanted to rip my hair out of my head. My hair was in a lot of danger reading this story.
Beautifully flawed characters, compelling and realistic drama, settings, and wow. Just wow. BUT I don't think I can read or listen to another Kennedy Ryan book for a little while because I'm very overwhelmed. So good, but definitely an author I will enjoy slowly, for my own hair's health!
CW
One thing you must know before going in, Banner, the heroine, is constantly talking about her weight, her diet, and her appearance. The first break between her and Jared was because of being called fat, being seen naked, being shamed. I felt overall the rep was well done, but it is A LOT. I was feeling in an okay place, but just be aware. I don't want anyone to be hurt.
There are many CW, see my spoiler at the bottom.
The TENSION. My god. The sheer heat between Banner and Jared about lit my hair on fire. I also wanted to rip my hair out of my head. My hair was in a lot of danger reading this story.
Beautifully flawed characters, compelling and realistic drama, settings, and wow. Just wow. BUT I don't think I can read or listen to another Kennedy Ryan book for a little while because I'm very overwhelmed. So good, but definitely an author I will enjoy slowly, for my own hair's health!
CW