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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**NA ReviewMy ThoughtsPlease Note: this is the second book in a series, that should be read in order.
If you are new to the Wingmen Inc. series, first check out my review of book one- The Matchmaker's Playbook HERE
The Matchmaker's Replacement is the second book in a new adult contemporary romance series, called Wingmen Inc., by Rachel Van Dyken. As the title and series name suggests, the series centers around two college friends that have a side business where they set up women with their crushes. I read, and enjoyed The Matchmaker's Playbook, and while technically speaking the stories can be read as standalones, because the two friends are very integral in each others stories, and in their business, I feel like I got much more out of the story having read Ian's story first. Ian is present throughout The Matchmaker's Replacement and it was kind of cool to see how he is now with Blake, knowing how he was before. That will be even more interesting with Lex.
I used to think Ian was the main guy at Wingmen Inc., and maybe that did used to be true, but now that he is with Blake everything seems to be falling to Lex's shoulders. So much so, even though he completely detests Gabi (longgg backstory on that one.) he is willing to reluctantly bring her on board to open their market to helping guys land their girls as well. Lex is brilliant, but can be a total jerk face. I mean in, I felt his callousness oozing off the pages. I know it was a front to keep his distance from Gabi, but oh my goodness was he ever convincing. Which for me, made it all the more satisfying when he started to check in on Gabi more and look out for her more. It was really cute. There is just something about Lex that makes you want to go Awh. Sure, he is a gruff guy that will insult you to your face. (and he doesn't hold any punches- he goes right for what will hurt you the most.) However, seeing that soft marshmallow-y center gets me every time.
As you have probably already guessed The Matchmaker's Replacement is Lex and Gabi's story. Gabi has always been off limits to Lex because she grew up as Ian's best friend. In an attempt to stay away from her, Lex has always been a grade A jerk towards her. I predicted after finishing book one that I might enjoy book 2 even more than the first, and I was totally right. I think I connected with Lex more than I did Ian. I really liked Ian and Blake, but I love Gabi and Lex. And I love all the nerdy goodness for Lex. He calls himself a villain, an anti-hero and he calls his bedroom the inner sanctum. Come on! How can you not love him?
Bottom line: If you are a fan of match making romantic comedies, and you liked the movie Hitch (though they do make fun of the movie hitch in this one)- The Matchmaker's Revenge, and will be a big hit for you. The writing is really solid, the characters are great, and the plot is very entertaining. Not to mention the romance is top notch. Overall, it was a really good book. I liked this book even more than the first one!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
If you are new to the Wingmen Inc. series, first check out my review of book one- The Matchmaker's Playbook HERE
The Matchmaker's Replacement is the second book in a new adult contemporary romance series, called Wingmen Inc., by Rachel Van Dyken. As the title and series name suggests, the series centers around two college friends that have a side business where they set up women with their crushes. I read, and enjoyed The Matchmaker's Playbook, and while technically speaking the stories can be read as standalones, because the two friends are very integral in each others stories, and in their business, I feel like I got much more out of the story having read Ian's story first. Ian is present throughout The Matchmaker's Replacement and it was kind of cool to see how he is now with Blake, knowing how he was before. That will be even more interesting with Lex.
I used to think Ian was the main guy at Wingmen Inc., and maybe that did used to be true, but now that he is with Blake everything seems to be falling to Lex's shoulders. So much so, even though he completely detests Gabi (longgg backstory on that one.) he is willing to reluctantly bring her on board to open their market to helping guys land their girls as well. Lex is brilliant, but can be a total jerk face. I mean in, I felt his callousness oozing off the pages. I know it was a front to keep his distance from Gabi, but oh my goodness was he ever convincing. Which for me, made it all the more satisfying when he started to check in on Gabi more and look out for her more. It was really cute. There is just something about Lex that makes you want to go Awh. Sure, he is a gruff guy that will insult you to your face. (and he doesn't hold any punches- he goes right for what will hurt you the most.) However, seeing that soft marshmallow-y center gets me every time.
As you have probably already guessed The Matchmaker's Replacement is Lex and Gabi's story. Gabi has always been off limits to Lex because she grew up as Ian's best friend. In an attempt to stay away from her, Lex has always been a grade A jerk towards her. I predicted after finishing book one that I might enjoy book 2 even more than the first, and I was totally right. I think I connected with Lex more than I did Ian. I really liked Ian and Blake, but I love Gabi and Lex. And I love all the nerdy goodness for Lex. He calls himself a villain, an anti-hero and he calls his bedroom the inner sanctum. Come on! How can you not love him?
Bottom line: If you are a fan of match making romantic comedies, and you liked the movie Hitch (though they do make fun of the movie hitch in this one)- The Matchmaker's Revenge, and will be a big hit for you. The writing is really solid, the characters are great, and the plot is very entertaining. Not to mention the romance is top notch. Overall, it was a really good book. I liked this book even more than the first one!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Hot on His Heels is the 16th book in the What Happens in Vegas series by Margo Bond Collins. Hot on His Heels is an adult contemporary romance from the entangled Lovestruck line. And I have to say, the two main characters Sadie and Jake, did seem very lovestruck throughout the story. But unfortunately, I also have to say that I didn't love Hot on His Heels as much as I wanted to. It is a quick read, and I can see a lot of people really enjoying the spicy-sweetness of the story but it didn't mesh with me and my personality.
Hot on His Heels is an interesting concept. Jake is a very famous romance editor, but because his brother is an ultra conservative politician and doesn't want to smear his public image Jake has decided to hide behind a female persona. Sadie is a literature professor that is beautiful but has no idea and who is working on an academic piece that she thinks is bound to get a whole new generation to love an accept romance and erotica as a valid literary genre. (I was actually pretty interested in her thesis, but we don't get to delve too deep into that. But it seems like a cool idea.) Anyways Sadie is convinced that if she can get an interview with her favorite editor, her writing will be complete. Insert Jake as said female editor, and you get the idea. Could be a very cute concept. But it fell apart pretty immediately for me.
Jake is instantly taken with Sadie, but I never really felt his connection deep down. Especially since he found out that she was person harassing him for so long. But regardless, that wasn't my main issue with the story. I thought Sadie and Jake were cute together, but the characters and the writing were too political for my tastes. First you have the ultra conservative big bad wolf of a brother that made Jake believe (self imposed belief, I might add) that he had to hide everything about himself. The there were anti-men comments hidden behind a veil of feminism. (This is the one that really bugs me. Having feminist beliefs and being a feminist does not mean that you are anti-man, and you have to use the word man as an insult. But I digress.) I felt like the characters beliefs and the writing were very polarizing, and to be honest they rubbed me the wrong way. I understand that will not be the case with all readers, and like I stated earlier, I think many readers will enjoy Sadie and Jake's story. Sadly, I am not one of them. Hot on His Heels didn't work for me.
But don't just take my word for it
Hot on His Heels is the 16th book in the What Happens in Vegas series by Margo Bond Collins. Hot on His Heels is an adult contemporary romance from the entangled Lovestruck line. And I have to say, the two main characters Sadie and Jake, did seem very lovestruck throughout the story. But unfortunately, I also have to say that I didn't love Hot on His Heels as much as I wanted to. It is a quick read, and I can see a lot of people really enjoying the spicy-sweetness of the story but it didn't mesh with me and my personality.Hot on His Heels is an interesting concept. Jake is a very famous romance editor, but because his brother is an ultra conservative politician and doesn't want to smear his public image Jake has decided to hide behind a female persona. Sadie is a literature professor that is beautiful but has no idea and who is working on an academic piece that she thinks is bound to get a whole new generation to love an accept romance and erotica as a valid literary genre. (I was actually pretty interested in her thesis, but we don't get to delve too deep into that. But it seems like a cool idea.) Anyways Sadie is convinced that if she can get an interview with her favorite editor, her writing will be complete. Insert Jake as said female editor, and you get the idea. Could be a very cute concept. But it fell apart pretty immediately for me.
Jake is instantly taken with Sadie, but I never really felt his connection deep down. Especially since he found out that she was person harassing him for so long. But regardless, that wasn't my main issue with the story. I thought Sadie and Jake were cute together, but the characters and the writing were too political for my tastes. First you have the ultra conservative big bad wolf of a brother that made Jake believe (self imposed belief, I might add) that he had to hide everything about himself. The there were anti-men comments hidden behind a veil of feminism. (This is the one that really bugs me. Having feminist beliefs and being a feminist does not mean that you are anti-man, and you have to use the word man as an insult. But I digress.) I felt like the characters beliefs and the writing were very polarizing, and to be honest they rubbed me the wrong way. I understand that will not be the case with all readers, and like I stated earlier, I think many readers will enjoy Sadie and Jake's story. Sadly, I am not one of them. Hot on His Heels didn't work for me.
But don't just take my word for it
Check out these reviews from bloggers that LOVED Hot on His Heels
Marcy from Keeper Bookshelf gave it 4 stars (review here)
Musings of Mandy gave it 4 stars (Review here)This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**The Gun Runner is the first book in the adult romantic suspense series, called Mafia Made by author Scott Hildreth. This is the first book of Scott's that I have had the pleasure of reading, and I have to say that The Gun Runner lived up to its' expectation. Based on the summary, I was expecting something fast paced with high intensity and lots of sexy. It was all of those things. Fans of suspense and Mafia themed books will really enjoy The Gun Runner.
It isn't often that I get the chance to read books by male authors, and I have found that I particularly enjoy romantic suspense or mystery books written from a male perspective, because I love the high action, high intensity that they can bring. Scott Hildreth does a great job with the pacing and anticipation building in The Gun Runner. I was immediately sucked into Tripp's company, and everything that goes with Gray market (I didn't even know there was a gray market) weapons dealings.
The Gun Runner is told in dual narrative between Tripp and Terra. Tripp is hardcore. Seriously hardcore. It took me a little bit to warm up to him. He is so brash and so blunt that he is like a shock to the system. And I think Terra would agree with that. Tripp is the alphas' alpha. Tripp and Terra are explosive together. Even their names match- I love the whole T and double letter thing they both have going. But you want to know what I loved most of all about The Gun Runner? It wasn't the awesome action or the intense scenes, though both of those were great. It wasn't even the sizzling chemistry between Tripp and Terra. Though I readly loved the intensity Tripp has when he has his attention turned to something he wants- and what he wants is Terra. No, what I loved the most about the Gun Runner is that Tripp and Terra's story is going to continue in book two! This is a true series, not a series of interconnected standalones. I didn't even realize until I was finished reading The Gun Runner, but I have really been craving a series that follows the same characters throughout the books. I'm not ready to say good bye to Tripp and Terra yet. If you like true Alpha guys and intense chemistry and even more intense action, The Gun Runner and the Mafia Made series is a great one for you to check out.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
It isn't often that I get the chance to read books by male authors, and I have found that I particularly enjoy romantic suspense or mystery books written from a male perspective, because I love the high action, high intensity that they can bring. Scott Hildreth does a great job with the pacing and anticipation building in The Gun Runner. I was immediately sucked into Tripp's company, and everything that goes with Gray market (I didn't even know there was a gray market) weapons dealings.
The Gun Runner is told in dual narrative between Tripp and Terra. Tripp is hardcore. Seriously hardcore. It took me a little bit to warm up to him. He is so brash and so blunt that he is like a shock to the system. And I think Terra would agree with that. Tripp is the alphas' alpha. Tripp and Terra are explosive together. Even their names match- I love the whole T and double letter thing they both have going. But you want to know what I loved most of all about The Gun Runner? It wasn't the awesome action or the intense scenes, though both of those were great. It wasn't even the sizzling chemistry between Tripp and Terra. Though I readly loved the intensity Tripp has when he has his attention turned to something he wants- and what he wants is Terra. No, what I loved the most about the Gun Runner is that Tripp and Terra's story is going to continue in book two! This is a true series, not a series of interconnected standalones. I didn't even realize until I was finished reading The Gun Runner, but I have really been craving a series that follows the same characters throughout the books. I'm not ready to say good bye to Tripp and Terra yet. If you like true Alpha guys and intense chemistry and even more intense action, The Gun Runner and the Mafia Made series is a great one for you to check out.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Shadow Bloodlines is the first book in the young adult series by the same name by author Andrea R. Cooper. This is my first book by Andrea and I have to say, I am impressed with her ability to create an engaging world that felt fresh to me, even though I have read the concept dozens of times in young adult novels. I liked her take on shifters, and I loved that this book features a gargoyle. (I am not going to lie- that was at least 70% of the reason that I picked this book up. It is a creature that fascinates me and I don't get to read a lot about.) Shadow Bloodlines is a series that I want to continue.
The set up for Shadow Bloodlines in one that I am sure we have all read about before- teenage girl has a secret about her past and her families past concealed from her from birth, and once she finds out about it, she is set off on a whirlwind adventure. But don't let that deter you, if done right, this is a trope that I really enjoy. And Shadow Bloodlines is done right. I was immediately sucked into Beth and Amar's story. Beth comes from a shifter family, but unlike other books I have read- her shifter father is no where in the picture. Normally when the parents are hiding a secret from their kid, they go out of their way to be overly protective all the time- not completely absent from their lives. It was an interesting twist on the story. The biggest twist of all comes from the way the shifters are depicted. In the Shadow Bloodlines universe, present day shifters can no longer actually shift into their chosen animal. That power has eroded over time, but instead they are left with abilities, traits and powers unique to their shifter animal. That was a very cool take on the shifter idea for me.
As for the other aspects of Shadow Bloodlines, like the characters, pacing, and plot development, I was equally impressed. There are no over the top perfect characters- both Beth and Amar felt like real people- flaws and all. The plot held my attention all the way through and I am very excited to see what is going to come next. Amar was exactly the way I like my gargoyles too- stoic and protective. I do want some more romance in the second book though. (I don't see that as being a problem though! ;) )
Bottom line: If you like paranormal books that have all the elements of a classic paranormal that you love, with new and interesting twists thrown in, the Shadow Bloodlines series is a great one for you. It has romance, adventure, mystery, and some seriously awesome bad guys. (I didn't even talk about the bad guys because I think they are only going to get cooler in the second book, and I figured I talk about them in my next review.) I need book 2 in my life right now.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Shadow Bloodlines is the first book in the young adult series by the same name by author Andrea R. Cooper. This is my first book by Andrea and I have to say, I am impressed with her ability to create an engaging world that felt fresh to me, even though I have read the concept dozens of times in young adult novels. I liked her take on shifters, and I loved that this book features a gargoyle. (I am not going to lie- that was at least 70% of the reason that I picked this book up. It is a creature that fascinates me and I don't get to read a lot about.) Shadow Bloodlines is a series that I want to continue.
The set up for Shadow Bloodlines in one that I am sure we have all read about before- teenage girl has a secret about her past and her families past concealed from her from birth, and once she finds out about it, she is set off on a whirlwind adventure. But don't let that deter you, if done right, this is a trope that I really enjoy. And Shadow Bloodlines is done right. I was immediately sucked into Beth and Amar's story. Beth comes from a shifter family, but unlike other books I have read- her shifter father is no where in the picture. Normally when the parents are hiding a secret from their kid, they go out of their way to be overly protective all the time- not completely absent from their lives. It was an interesting twist on the story. The biggest twist of all comes from the way the shifters are depicted. In the Shadow Bloodlines universe, present day shifters can no longer actually shift into their chosen animal. That power has eroded over time, but instead they are left with abilities, traits and powers unique to their shifter animal. That was a very cool take on the shifter idea for me.
As for the other aspects of Shadow Bloodlines, like the characters, pacing, and plot development, I was equally impressed. There are no over the top perfect characters- both Beth and Amar felt like real people- flaws and all. The plot held my attention all the way through and I am very excited to see what is going to come next. Amar was exactly the way I like my gargoyles too- stoic and protective. I do want some more romance in the second book though. (I don't see that as being a problem though! ;) )
Bottom line: If you like paranormal books that have all the elements of a classic paranormal that you love, with new and interesting twists thrown in, the Shadow Bloodlines series is a great one for you. It has romance, adventure, mystery, and some seriously awesome bad guys. (I didn't even talk about the bad guys because I think they are only going to get cooler in the second book, and I figured I talk about them in my next review.) I need book 2 in my life right now.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
I have loved the Imperfect Love trilogy by Kendall Ryan from start to finish. It is the perfect summer series, and in fact it is one of my favorites of the year! It is a fun, flirty and more than a little sexy read. Noah and Olivia are the kind of couple that you just know in your heart of hearts are meant for each other. Now that is not to say that they are great towards each other. They aren't, and they have so many road blocks, I am sure they will have some whiplash and neck injuries from all of this up and down they are going through. But it is all worth it in the end.
Hitched Volume three picks up shortly after Hitched Volume one leaves off, which is to say it starts off in a cluster shank. Volume two left off at an awful spot, so I was cringing just starting book three. I will say that I think volume three was my least favorite in bunch, but I think most of that has to do with the fact that now is the time that Noah and Olivia really have to buckle down, get to business, and face the really hard stuff. One of the things that I have always appreciated about the Imperfect Love series, and volume three is no different, is that Kendall Ryan takes the time to highlight and develop not only the in private/at home relationship with Olivia and Noah, but also their at work relationship. They are each such dedicated workers that I really enjoyed watching them interact in a professional setting. (it also made for some, let's just say interesting scenes.)
Bottom line: Hitched and the Imperfect Love series gets under your skin. You can't help but love the characters, and root for them. Mrs. Ryan has really turns up the heat with Noah and Olivia, and I loved it! Sure, they can be infuriating, but there is just something about them that has me smiling, has me rooting for them and has me absolutely desperate for more. I am addicted to these two. I love Kendall Ryan's writing. She writes banter and flirty fun so well. The Imperfect Love series is a top read of 2016 for me. I think everyone should check it out. But be warned, don't start volume one unless you have some time on your hands because you are immediately going to want books 2 and 3.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
I have loved the Imperfect Love trilogy by Kendall Ryan from start to finish. It is the perfect summer series, and in fact it is one of my favorites of the year! It is a fun, flirty and more than a little sexy read. Noah and Olivia are the kind of couple that you just know in your heart of hearts are meant for each other. Now that is not to say that they are great towards each other. They aren't, and they have so many road blocks, I am sure they will have some whiplash and neck injuries from all of this up and down they are going through. But it is all worth it in the end.
Hitched Volume three picks up shortly after Hitched Volume one leaves off, which is to say it starts off in a cluster shank. Volume two left off at an awful spot, so I was cringing just starting book three. I will say that I think volume three was my least favorite in bunch, but I think most of that has to do with the fact that now is the time that Noah and Olivia really have to buckle down, get to business, and face the really hard stuff. One of the things that I have always appreciated about the Imperfect Love series, and volume three is no different, is that Kendall Ryan takes the time to highlight and develop not only the in private/at home relationship with Olivia and Noah, but also their at work relationship. They are each such dedicated workers that I really enjoyed watching them interact in a professional setting. (it also made for some, let's just say interesting scenes.)
Bottom line: Hitched and the Imperfect Love series gets under your skin. You can't help but love the characters, and root for them. Mrs. Ryan has really turns up the heat with Noah and Olivia, and I loved it! Sure, they can be infuriating, but there is just something about them that has me smiling, has me rooting for them and has me absolutely desperate for more. I am addicted to these two. I love Kendall Ryan's writing. She writes banter and flirty fun so well. The Imperfect Love series is a top read of 2016 for me. I think everyone should check it out. But be warned, don't start volume one unless you have some time on your hands because you are immediately going to want books 2 and 3.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Must Love Wieners is the first in a new series , called Rescue Dog Romance by Casey Griffin. I am a huge dachshund lover, so I couldn't possibly turn down this book. (I have three dachshunds at home- a Black and Tan named Harry, A red long haired name Ron and our newest addition to the clan, a little puppy (who just turned one a few days ago!) named Albus Severus. So that should tell you that I love Harry Potter and I love Wiener dogs!) I was initially thinking it would be something along the lines of Must Love Dogs, but with Dachshunds. I was kind of right, but also kind of wrong. I didn't anticipate the mystery element surrounding Must Love Wieners.
The mystery in this book was a little slow going, but once it got started man oh man did it pick up in intensity fast! I really enjoyed the msytery/stalker/arsonist that all come to play in this story. It was much more high stakes than I originally anticipated. The romance was good as well, and I really liked both of the characters. Aiden initially seems pretty perfect, but Piper took a little bit to grow on me. I really liked her, and I completely felt awful for her because she does seem to have the worst luck in the world. Her life seems like a series of unfortunate events all tied together very closely. But she is just so stubborn!! I just wanted her to get over herself a little bit and accept help from people that so clearly cared about her. But her love for dogs more than made up for her stubborn streak. And at least she chose the right dog breed- she is certainly like a dachshund. They are stubborn to a fault too. I loved seeing Piper's little made up conversations with the dogs. It was hilarious because I have found myself imagining a look from one of my pups means the same thing as some of Colin's looks. They are too funny.
Overall, this book took me by surprise. I thought that I would enjoy it, but I didn't know in quite what way I would enjoy it. I wasn't sure if it would be campy or not. Turns out, it's not. The mystery is surprisingly great and the romance is sweet. I can't wait to see what the dachshund rescue center has in store for us next. Each of the books in the series will feature a different couple, but I am kind of hoping that we get to see a little more of Piper and Aiden because I feel like their story just kind of stopped. We solved the mystery and then bam- we were at the end f the book. I want a little more from them. But overall, this book was better than I expected! And if you are a dachshund lover, you will love Colin!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Must Love Wieners is the first in a new series , called Rescue Dog Romance by Casey Griffin. I am a huge dachshund lover, so I couldn't possibly turn down this book. (I have three dachshunds at home- a Black and Tan named Harry, A red long haired name Ron and our newest addition to the clan, a little puppy (who just turned one a few days ago!) named Albus Severus. So that should tell you that I love Harry Potter and I love Wiener dogs!) I was initially thinking it would be something along the lines of Must Love Dogs, but with Dachshunds. I was kind of right, but also kind of wrong. I didn't anticipate the mystery element surrounding Must Love Wieners.
The mystery in this book was a little slow going, but once it got started man oh man did it pick up in intensity fast! I really enjoyed the msytery/stalker/arsonist that all come to play in this story. It was much more high stakes than I originally anticipated. The romance was good as well, and I really liked both of the characters. Aiden initially seems pretty perfect, but Piper took a little bit to grow on me. I really liked her, and I completely felt awful for her because she does seem to have the worst luck in the world. Her life seems like a series of unfortunate events all tied together very closely. But she is just so stubborn!! I just wanted her to get over herself a little bit and accept help from people that so clearly cared about her. But her love for dogs more than made up for her stubborn streak. And at least she chose the right dog breed- she is certainly like a dachshund. They are stubborn to a fault too. I loved seeing Piper's little made up conversations with the dogs. It was hilarious because I have found myself imagining a look from one of my pups means the same thing as some of Colin's looks. They are too funny.
Overall, this book took me by surprise. I thought that I would enjoy it, but I didn't know in quite what way I would enjoy it. I wasn't sure if it would be campy or not. Turns out, it's not. The mystery is surprisingly great and the romance is sweet. I can't wait to see what the dachshund rescue center has in store for us next. Each of the books in the series will feature a different couple, but I am kind of hoping that we get to see a little more of Piper and Aiden because I feel like their story just kind of stopped. We solved the mystery and then bam- we were at the end f the book. I want a little more from them. But overall, this book was better than I expected! And if you are a dachshund lover, you will love Colin!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**No Kissing Allowed is a new adult contemporary romance by Melissa West. I have read a couple of Melissa's other books and I have to say this one was not my favorite. Don't get me wrong, I liked it. But I just didn't love it. No Kissing Allowed is a fun, quick and flirty new adult romance. And I liked it for that purpose. But I had some snags with some of the characters. But much like the book overall, I didn't dislike any of the characters per se, I just didn't love the main character Cameron as much as I wanted to.
Cameron is a driven, impulsive and incredibly stubborn young lady. I loved how driven she was and that she went after what she wanted at work, but her impulsiveness led to foot in mouth disorder so many times throughout the story. I get it. She wants to be able to say whatever she wants to say, whenever she wants to say it. No one should oppress her or make her bite her tongue. #AmIRight? But maybe the line should be drawn just before you are talking back to your boss in the middle of a meeting on your first day at work. Moments like those just had Cameron grating on my nerves just a little bit. She struck me as the kind of person where while sweet, and compassionate (and she was! I loved her sweet and caring side)she was also the type of person that held their ideals on their sleeve. And that doesn't bother me, but when they feign to be open minded but really think everyone who disagrees with them is wrong...that kind of does. I know, you must think I hate Cameron by this point...and I really don't. I liked her and I really enjoyed the very bumpy but always fun romance between her and Aiden. It was just these little details in Cameron's personality held me back from falling in love with the story.
But what saved No Kissing Allowed for me was Melissa West's writing. I love her easy and conversational style. It made reading this book feel good. I loved Aiden, and I loved the friendship between Cameron and her friends. I would love to see their stories next. I feel like I would like Lauren a lot more than I liked Cameron. Now let's talk romance! The romance between Aiden and Cameron is of the forbidden variety and while this doesn't always work for me, it did this time because there wasn't a huge age difference between Cameron and Aiden. I loved the romance. It was fun and sexy and downright addicting. But for a book whose title is No Kissing Allowed, there certainly is a lot of kissing going on. I didn't really get the title because it didn't tie into any of the rules that Aiden and Cameron laid out. But I get that it was a theme thing, so it didn't bug me, I was just surprised to find out there wasn't a no kissing rule when I started reading the book. If you are looking a quick and fun read, and you like forbidden romances, this might be a great one for you. And like I said, I do hope that Melissa West makes stories for Cameron's friends.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Cameron is a driven, impulsive and incredibly stubborn young lady. I loved how driven she was and that she went after what she wanted at work, but her impulsiveness led to foot in mouth disorder so many times throughout the story. I get it. She wants to be able to say whatever she wants to say, whenever she wants to say it. No one should oppress her or make her bite her tongue. #AmIRight? But maybe the line should be drawn just before you are talking back to your boss in the middle of a meeting on your first day at work. Moments like those just had Cameron grating on my nerves just a little bit. She struck me as the kind of person where while sweet, and compassionate (and she was! I loved her sweet and caring side)she was also the type of person that held their ideals on their sleeve. And that doesn't bother me, but when they feign to be open minded but really think everyone who disagrees with them is wrong...that kind of does. I know, you must think I hate Cameron by this point...and I really don't. I liked her and I really enjoyed the very bumpy but always fun romance between her and Aiden. It was just these little details in Cameron's personality held me back from falling in love with the story.
But what saved No Kissing Allowed for me was Melissa West's writing. I love her easy and conversational style. It made reading this book feel good. I loved Aiden, and I loved the friendship between Cameron and her friends. I would love to see their stories next. I feel like I would like Lauren a lot more than I liked Cameron. Now let's talk romance! The romance between Aiden and Cameron is of the forbidden variety and while this doesn't always work for me, it did this time because there wasn't a huge age difference between Cameron and Aiden. I loved the romance. It was fun and sexy and downright addicting. But for a book whose title is No Kissing Allowed, there certainly is a lot of kissing going on. I didn't really get the title because it didn't tie into any of the rules that Aiden and Cameron laid out. But I get that it was a theme thing, so it didn't bug me, I was just surprised to find out there wasn't a no kissing rule when I started reading the book. If you are looking a quick and fun read, and you like forbidden romances, this might be a great one for you. And like I said, I do hope that Melissa West makes stories for Cameron's friends.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably is the second book in the Sweet Love series by Kira Archer. The Sweet Love series is a series of standalone romantic comedies. I never read the first book, so I am not sure how much over lap there really is in the series, but Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably read as a standalone. I wasn't lost or confused at any point. I loved this book. It put a big smile on my face. I loved the dichotomy between crazy Gina and orderly Rick.
Gina blows into Rick's neatly organized life like a hurricane. She really is a force of nature, and it cracked me up watching Rick at first try to tame her, and finally just try to go with it. I felt like I could see his jaw ticking while he was dealing with her a few times. I loved it. Rick first meets Gina because he is called in to investigate a peeping tom, who turns out to be Gina. Who is hosting her own little stake out to try and catch her ex red-handed. I felt bad for poor Rick, because you can totally tell that he is a guy that is completely used to calling the shots and being able to hold his own, but he is so in over his head with Gina. As they got to know each other, Rick's personality started to relax and shine through. And man is he funny! I didn't think he would, but he ended up making me laugh just as much, if not more, than Gina!
Bottom line: I loved every second of this chaos collides with orderly romance. It made me laugh, it made me feel warm fuzzies and most importantly, it put a big smile on my face. Plus Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably really made me want a cupcake. If you are looking for a cute, sweet and tons of fun romance the Sweet Love series and Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably is a great read. Opposites attract at its' finest!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably is the second book in the Sweet Love series by Kira Archer. The Sweet Love series is a series of standalone romantic comedies. I never read the first book, so I am not sure how much over lap there really is in the series, but Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably read as a standalone. I wasn't lost or confused at any point. I loved this book. It put a big smile on my face. I loved the dichotomy between crazy Gina and orderly Rick.
Gina blows into Rick's neatly organized life like a hurricane. She really is a force of nature, and it cracked me up watching Rick at first try to tame her, and finally just try to go with it. I felt like I could see his jaw ticking while he was dealing with her a few times. I loved it. Rick first meets Gina because he is called in to investigate a peeping tom, who turns out to be Gina. Who is hosting her own little stake out to try and catch her ex red-handed. I felt bad for poor Rick, because you can totally tell that he is a guy that is completely used to calling the shots and being able to hold his own, but he is so in over his head with Gina. As they got to know each other, Rick's personality started to relax and shine through. And man is he funny! I didn't think he would, but he ended up making me laugh just as much, if not more, than Gina!
Bottom line: I loved every second of this chaos collides with orderly romance. It made me laugh, it made me feel warm fuzzies and most importantly, it put a big smile on my face. Plus Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably really made me want a cupcake. If you are looking for a cute, sweet and tons of fun romance the Sweet Love series and Totally, Sweetly Irrevocably is a great read. Opposites attract at its' finest!
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
No Falling Allowed is a new adult contemporary romance by Melissa West. It is the second book in the No Kissing Allowed series. I liked the first book, No Kissing Allowed, but I didn’t love it as much as some of Melissa’s other books. The good news is, I liked No Falling Allowed a lot more than I liked the first book. No Falling Allowed is a fun, quick and flirty new adult romance. Each of the books in the series can be read as a standalone. I think fans of the first book would enjoy reading about Cameron and Aiden because they do pop up from time to time in this story, and we get to see what is next for them. However; if you are new to the series, you might want to consider reading No Falling Allowed first, because I really enjoyed this one a good bit more than No Kissing Allowed.
No Falling Allowed is Grace’s story. We met Grace in the first book, but we didn’t get to meet her sexy bartender match- Noah until this book. And I have to say- I really liked Noah. Him and Grace no doubt have chemistry between the two of them, and their dialogue cracked me up!
No Falling Allowed Teaser 2
No Falling Allowed is a book that just clicked for me. I loved the small town setting, and I loved that this was a new adult small town romance. I don’t read too many of those. And I am really loving bartenders at the moment. And Noah is a great one, let me tell you! And Grace is even better. Most of my issues with No Kissing Allowed centered around the main character, Cameron. I had no issues with Grace, and I think that is why I enjoyed reading her story more. Noah is the one that pulls some major butthead moves in this story. But there is still something about him. He has this magnetic personality. You can’t help but forgive him. Even though Noah annoyed me at times with his aloof attitude, what made him different from Cameron was that Noah seemed to real and nuanced, whereas Cameron just seemed annoying to me. Noah and Grace are fantastically developed and realistically flawed. It makes their romance even more satisfying.
Bottom line: I love Melissa’s easy and conversational writing style. It made reading this book feel good. If you are looking a quick and fun read, and you like small town “bad boy” romances new adult style, this might be a great one for you. And like I said, I do hope that Melissa West makes stories for the rest of Cameron’s friends from book one. I want to see Lauren next!
.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
No Falling Allowed is a new adult contemporary romance by Melissa West. It is the second book in the No Kissing Allowed series. I liked the first book, No Kissing Allowed, but I didn’t love it as much as some of Melissa’s other books. The good news is, I liked No Falling Allowed a lot more than I liked the first book. No Falling Allowed is a fun, quick and flirty new adult romance. Each of the books in the series can be read as a standalone. I think fans of the first book would enjoy reading about Cameron and Aiden because they do pop up from time to time in this story, and we get to see what is next for them. However; if you are new to the series, you might want to consider reading No Falling Allowed first, because I really enjoyed this one a good bit more than No Kissing Allowed.
No Falling Allowed is Grace’s story. We met Grace in the first book, but we didn’t get to meet her sexy bartender match- Noah until this book. And I have to say- I really liked Noah. Him and Grace no doubt have chemistry between the two of them, and their dialogue cracked me up!
No Falling Allowed Teaser 2
No Falling Allowed is a book that just clicked for me. I loved the small town setting, and I loved that this was a new adult small town romance. I don’t read too many of those. And I am really loving bartenders at the moment. And Noah is a great one, let me tell you! And Grace is even better. Most of my issues with No Kissing Allowed centered around the main character, Cameron. I had no issues with Grace, and I think that is why I enjoyed reading her story more. Noah is the one that pulls some major butthead moves in this story. But there is still something about him. He has this magnetic personality. You can’t help but forgive him. Even though Noah annoyed me at times with his aloof attitude, what made him different from Cameron was that Noah seemed to real and nuanced, whereas Cameron just seemed annoying to me. Noah and Grace are fantastically developed and realistically flawed. It makes their romance even more satisfying.
Bottom line: I love Melissa’s easy and conversational writing style. It made reading this book feel good. If you are looking a quick and fun read, and you like small town “bad boy” romances new adult style, this might be a great one for you. And like I said, I do hope that Melissa West makes stories for the rest of Cameron’s friends from book one. I want to see Lauren next!
.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs