**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Extraordinary October is a young adult fantasy/paranormal romance by author Diana Wagman. I had a lot of fun with this one. It was not without some faults, but overall it was a good read. I don't get to read too many books featuring trolls, so I liked the combination of trolls and Fairies in Extraordinary October. I also loved that the main character's name was October. I thought that was very unique, even if she doesn't like it as much as I did. (plus, I love the month of October.)

October is the daughter of a troll princess and a fairy prince, making her a very important ruler in both worlds. However, she doesn't know about any of this. The trolls and the fairies don't get along very well so there is a big fight over October, though maybe not in the way you are imagining. What I liked most about Extraordinary October is that the book did not take any of the paths I thought it would. I expected that both sides would be fighting to get October to choose them and they would all be trying to woo her, but without giving too much away, that could not be further from the truth. Sure, each side sends a guy over to try and sway her but every character in Extraordinary October has their own personal motivations. It made for a very interesting read.

And now for some of the issues I had with the book. While I liked October a lot, and I kind of liked both of the guys are different points, I didn't really love either of them. They each had their own issues and I felt them both to be a bit shallow and selfish. I did end up liking one more than the other, but I am not going to tell you which one. (unless you have read the book, then I would love to discuss it with you.) But an even bigger issue than the guy dilemma was the pacing of the story. It starts out very mysterious, and I understood why. In fact, I was totally loving this story at the start. I thought it was all setting up to be a super cool read, and I had it on track to be a 5 star book. But then the plot started unfolding and the book went from merely mysterious to overly confusing with large plot holes. It was very hard for me to follow because I felt like some key details were missing. It eventually was all sorted out, and I got the information I needed, but the middle of the book was a bit rough for me. Stick with Extraordinary October though, because the end gets a lot better. And overall, I did enjoy this one.

Bottom line: If you like paranormal creatures and a good mysterious adventure, Extraordinary October might be a great read for you. I had some plot and structural issues in the middle of the story. They worked themselves out for the most part and this book did get better towards the end. Overall, this was a fun story. I enjoyed Extraordinary October.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Tonic is a new adult romantic comedy by Staci Hart. I would put this one more in the vein of a contemporary romance because it takes some time for the comedy part of the romantic comedy to gear up. But either way, I loved Tonic. I was in the mood for a really great romance and it totally hit the spot. I have been wanting to read another Staci Hart book for a while now, because I knew that I would really enjoy it and I was right. She is right up there with Penny Reid and Meg Cabot as my romance go to authors.

I loved the perspective that Tonic took. I am a reality tv show junky and Tonic is about a tattoo shop that is getting it's own reality show. But the story itself is told in dual narrative between Annika and Joel. Joel is the shop owner and Annika is a tv show producer. That is the interesting perspective I am talking about. I think it was a spot on portrayal of the way reality TV works. I loved seeing the producers talk about moving and manipulating the characters to create an atmosphere for drama. Watching them plan out the episodes of the season was super fascinating to me. I have no idea how accurate this is or isn't but it felt pretty accurate to me.

Of course, the reality show, even though it s front and center plot wise, felt secondary to the character development and relationship blossoming between Annika and Joel. I just loved the dichotomy between the two of them. With Annika's ice queen exterior and Joel's dogged determination they were a fiery pair. I think you all know by now that I am a sucker for some URST bickering, and these two had that in spades. But Joel really steps up when he needs to. he is caring and kind and his focus is sexy. I loved him. I really liked Annika too but I don't know how anyone can compete with Joel. (can you tell I have major goo goo eyes for him.) There is just something good about him.

Bottom line: Whether you are more of a Romantic Comedy fan or more of a dramatic contemporary romance fan, Tonic will be a great book for you. Read it even if you can't stand reality TV. Trust me. Joel and Annika will win you over. They won me over right from the very start. Their fire and ice dynamic made for a read that I could not put down and I did not want to end. Staci Hart is quickly becoming an Auto-buy author for me. I love her romances.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Renegade Dragon is the fourth book in the Dragon Heat series by Lolita Lopez. The Dragon Heat series is an adult paranormal romance series. This was the first book I have read from this series, and I think that might have been a mistake. I wasn't lost of anything, and I do believe that each of the books can be read as a standalone, however; I think I would have enjoyed the story more if I was not new to the world.

I liked the idea of Nike protecting a special apple tree, but again I am not sure if this is a new addition to the series or if this tree and the apples played a role in previous stories. It seemed to be very very important but I couldn't tell what the background was. I really liked Niko, even though he was a little overbearing at time. Act first explain later, which would have really gotten on my nerves. Nike and Eris are sucked into a very quickly progressing whirlwind romance. I enjoyed reading about it but it was all a little rushed for me. Maybe it was the short length of the book, which ended up feeling like a novella or maybe it was because I didn't have much invested in the characters, I'm not sure.

Overall, I liked Renegade Dragon but I didn't love it. I think fans of the series will find Renegade Dragon to be a good installment, but I would not recommend starting with this book. Start with book one and read this series in order. It is what I wish I had done.If you are looking for a quick shifter romance, this might hit the spot for you. I prefer full length novels, which I have found are hard to find in the shifter arena. If you know of a good full length dragon novel, please let me know in the comments. I would love to check it out!

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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The Right Kind of Guy is part of the What Happens in Vegas series by Kerri-Leigh Grady. This is book 17 in the series. I read book 16 (Hot on His Heels) and to be honest I didn't love it. But each of the books are written by different authors and the only common denominator between them is that they all take place in Vegas, so i thought what the heck. Let's give this one a try. And I am glad I did. The summary sounded amusing, and it was. I liked this one more than the last book in the series, but it was only a pretty good read. It didn't make me leap for joy, but I did enjoy it.

The Right Kind of Guy initially intrigued me because it takes place in a romance writer's convention and the main character is a decently popular romance author, who doesn't believe in real life sweep your off your feet romances. I knew right then and there I had to meet Kelsey F**ing Spencer. (that is how one of her fans kept referring to her as.) And I loved Kelsey. I found her to be a breath of fresh air. I can totally see why Aaron was instantly amused by her. I am not sure I got why he was practically stalking her from the moment he met her, but I do get why he liked her.

The Right Kind of Guy is a very quick read that is perfect for a lighthearted afternoon of frivolous fun. It is not a serious read, but it is very cute. The plot is not terribly likely to happen, but just go with it and have fun. This book will have you smiling for sure. It is the first book I have read from author Kerri-Leigh Grady and I really like her writing style. It is very conversational and she clearly enjoyed witty characters. I enjoyed The Right Kind of Guy.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Hades is the first book in the new adult paranormal romance series, called the Modern Descendants, by author Elda Lore. Elda Lore is the alter ego of author L.B. Dunbar, and she writes mythology based romances. Which happen to be a personal favorite of mine. I really enjoyed Hades, and I can't wait to see what Elda Lore has in store for us next. I love all greek and roman mythology, but if I had to pick one story as my favorite, especially if we are talking about a story that can be turned into a romance, Hades and Persephone take the cake for me, hands down. I just love everything that comes along with their story. I love the underworld, I love the dynamics between the two of them, and I love that there are a million different characterizations each of the characters can take. Hades does a great job at both staying true to the legends but making everything feel modern and fresh, with a big twist.

What I loved most of all about Hades, is that this is about the next generation Hades, the son of the Hades we more commonly know. And he is destined to commit the same sins of his father, namely kidnap a modern Persephone and take her to the underworld. Cool idea, right? I really thought so. I'm not going to give away too much more than that because sometimes I feel like with mythology based stories, the writer is at a disadvantage because the reader may be very familiar with the classic tales, so it might take away some elements of surprise. Elda Lore was still able to very much surprise me, which I greatly appreciated. I was so impressed with Hades.

Bottom line: Whether you are an old fan of the classic myths or whether you are new to them, the Modern Descendants series is going to be a great. I can already tell based on Hades. They are going to have the elements of the classic stories, but with a very new and modern take on the tale. I loved Hades and I can't wait to dive into the next one. Hades is very, very well done. I loved it.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Only You is the first book in a spin-off from Denise Grover Swank's New York Times bestselling Wedding Pact series (The Wedding Pact, The Player, The Gambler, The Valentine). Only You is also the first book in the Bachelor Brotherhood series. I have never read her Wedding Pact series but I have read lots of her paranormal romances (The Curse Keepers Series and the On the Other Side series and they were both five star reads for me. So I knew I had to give her contemporary romance a spin. And boy, am I glad I did. Only You is everything I look for in a romance. It was cute, sexy and a totally fun and sweet read.



Staying single romances are always a fun read for me. There is just something about finding that special someone when you least expect it, or even when you are warding it off that is always a winner in my book. It just seems so sweet and romantic, and I think we all know that I am a hopeless romantic. Not to mention Denise Grover Swank is an incredible writer, so the story telling is also very strong. I really enjoyed Only You. If you are looking for a quick, cute and fun read that has more than a little spice, check out Only You.



This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Lessons in Gravity is such a magical read. I really, really loved this one. In fact, I think it is one of my favorite reads of the year. Lessons in Gravity is a new adult contemporary romance between a famous rock climber ready to take on his biggest climb ever and a documentary filmmaker hopeful determined to be a success at her internship. I loved the setup of this story, and the only reason my review is not 7 paragraphs long is because there is a big spoiler in this story, and I am unaware of how to write about some of the details without broaching the subject and I am also unaware of how to not get overly gushy with everything I write. So I am going to keep this one brief, and give you the takeaway right now- you need to read this book.

I love Josh and April. But mostly Josh. Ok, that is not entirely fair because April is an excellent character. She is spunky and determined and I completely admire that about her. But it is darn hard to compete with Josh in my eyes. Even when he is being difficult and surely he is yummy. I couldn't get enough of him. In fact, the only thing better than Josh was Josh and April together.




Another thing I loved about Lessons in Gravity was the tone of excitement and adventure in the story. it made everything feel adrenaline filled, even the romance. Especially the romance. Reading this book made my heart race. And that is always a good thing. I can't say enough about how much I loved Lessons in Gravity. I think this is a must read book of 2016. Megan Westfield will excite you, thrill you and surprise you with Lessons in Gravity. Reviews won't do this one justice, you need to read it for yourself to see how magical it is.




This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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As soon as I read Beauty and the Mustache by Penny Reid, and I was introduced to the 6 Winston Brothers, I was hooked. I knew that I wanted to read their stories. And of course Penny answered. Penny Reid is incredible at listening to her fans and giving them exactly what they want. I love that about her. And what I love even more is her writing. No one writes romance like Penny Reid. Her books are always witty, gripping and so, so, much fun to read.

Truth or Beard is the first book in the Winston Brothers series. It features Duane, one of the two twins. I could not get enough of Duane and Jessica. I loved their back and forth bickering, almost as much as they seemed to love it. I really really want to see more of them, because as much as I absolutely loved this story, it didn't seem finished to me. I felt like the last 1/4th of the book was more focused on the other huge thing going down in the plotline (which, don't get me wrong, was pretty darn important) but I wanted to see more cabin scenes with Duane and Jess. I felt like there was all this build up with them, and I want more dammit! That was literally the only critical thing I can say about Truth or Beard- that I want more. And that is pretty awesome.

I loved Jessica and I loved Duane even more. I thought it was hilarious that Jessica had a crush on Duane's twin brother for her whole life. But I love that this was not a back and forth love triangle book at all. Penny Reid did a fantastic job with that. Once the book got going it was all Duane for Jess. I can't wait to see who is going to be the girl for Beau, but Jess and Duane were made for each other. Or as Duane would say, they are suited.

Penny Reid has a winning formula on her hands with this family. Each of the Winston boys has such a big personality. That paired with Penny's talent for blending kick ass romance with spot on humor and comedic timing is pure gold. I get excited when I see that one of Penny Reid books is coming up on my TBR pile because I just know that it is going to be something great. And she has not let me down yet. Penny, give me more Duane and then give me more Cletus because he is freakin' hilarious. He is so quite, but whenever he opens his mouth, he has me cracking up. I could not stop laughing during the sausage grilling scene at their family dinner.

If you have not yet experienced the magic that is a Penny Reid romance, this is the series you need to start with. You will fall head over heels for the Winston Boys! I will take a hot look from any of them.


This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Hooked on Love is the second book in the adult contemporary romance series, Cotton Creek by jennie Marts. I didn't even know this book was part of a series, and if it was part of a series that it was the second book in the series. Needless to say, I never read the first book but I was not lost in the slightest. Hooked on Love reads as a complete standalone and I would have no problem recommending it as the first book for readers. I really enjoyed Hooked on Love. Even though I am yearning for cooler weather to start rolling in, this book made me reminded me of summer time.

Hooked on Love is told in dual narrative between Sully (AKA Sullivan) and Avery. I loved the dual narrative story telling for this book. Getting into Sully's head was really the key to telling a great story in this case. Plus, he was just so darn cute. I love that he is this rugged outdoor fishing expert, but he also blushes more than any guy I have ever met. If that isn't the most adorable thing ever, I don't know what is. I loved watching Avery fluster the sullen and grumpy Sully. She made him laugh and smile, which is just what he needed. Plus, I totally agree with him- what I liked most about Avery was her ability to take things in stride and laugh at herself. That is easier said than done and she has a great sense of humor.

Hooked on Love was a very sweet romance. And that is what I was expecting it to be while I was reading it. And then we came to the Outdoor event/fair scene and I saw the chemistry between Avery and Sully and this book became a little more than a sweet romance. It was the first point in the story that I started to get overly excited about the two characters. From that point on I was totally hooked. (wink wink)

Bottom line: I loved the premise of the story. I loved the simple conversational style between Sully and Avery, I loved the sweetness of their connection but also the chemistry they developed. Hooked on Love is a romance that made me smile and feel good. It made my heart happy. I don't know too many fishing puns, but Hooked on Love is a book that will reel you in. (That is really the best I can do!)

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs

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Once a Gypsy is a paranormal fantasy romance and is the first book in the Irish Traveller series by Danica Winters. I loved that Once a Gypsy was set in Ireland. It was a beautiful backdrop for a really interesting book. I think the Irish Traveller series is going to be a good one. I can't wait to continue it with the next installment. There were a lot of unanswered questions with Once a Gypsy and a lot of plot lines that still need to be addressed and finished, but overall it was a very strong start to the series.

Once a Gypsy follows Helena and Graham, each of whom have their own special gifts. Even though Helena was initially reluctant, I was very happy that Graham was able to convince her to help him because when their paths intersected the journey got really interesting. There are so many mysteries packed into Once a Gypsy, and not all of them are neatly wrapped up and concluded by the end of this book. It was just enough to whet your appetite and leave you thirsty for more.

Helena starts out as a little shy. As her powers develop and she learns more about them and about herself her confidence does grow, but I am hoping there is even more character growth and development on her end in the next book. I want her to blossom even more. I really like her but she needs to believe in herself more. Graham does a good job helping her in that regard.Another interesting aspect of the story is the Traveller or Gypsy lifestyle. This is a big theme in the book. How can Helena compromise on her family traditions, or does she even want to? I loved all the background and details Danica Winters worked into the story about just what the lifestyle of a traveller means, because I only had a vague sense of the culture when I started the book.

I want to see more development for Helena in the next book and more romance. I am a little undecided on the romance in Once a Gypsy. There was enough other aspects of the story to keep me entertained but I would like to feel the romance more in the second book. (I'm not sure that makes total sense.) Overall, I liked the atmosphere and setting of Once a Gypsy, as well as the mysteries. I liked the characters but there is room for growth and improvement there. I am very interested in seeing where this series goes next.

This review was originally posted on Book Briefs