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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**My ThoughtsSheesh! This book is all that the title promises and more. Too Hot to Handles is the first book in the Romancing the Clarksons series by Tessa Bailey. Too Hot to Handle is an adult contemporary romance that I more than enjoyed. I just love all of Tessa Bailey's works. (I am practically still fanning myself now!) But if you are thinking this is like every other contemporary romance, you are so very wrong. Tessa Bailey managed to really surprise me with Too Hot to Handle and I can't tell you how much I loved that! This is a book you will want to read!
What I liked the most about this book and this series is the concept. I love a series of interconnected standalone novels, each focusing on a different character. There are tons of books which follow this pattern and it is a big winner for me. Even better if they are books that center around a family or group of siblings. I think that is very interesting and adds another layer of complexity and familiarity between the novels. This series centers around the four Clarkson siblings, but the interesting thing (in my opinion) is the set up. The four Clarkson siblings have not always gotten along, but when they find the journal from their mother, who was the glue of the family, they all head out on a cross-country road trip to fulfill some of her wishes. I love a road trip book, and I love a good, or dysfunctional, family dynamic. So when I found out where this book was headed I was super pumped.
The siblings break down in a little town, which is where the frist sibling- Rita finds Jasper. Too Hot to Handle didn't feel predictable to me. There are a bunch of elements woven into this story and I honestly didn't always know how things were going to turn out. This was not a permanent stopping location for the siblings, so was a romance really going to last? This unpredictability of the story made it feel exciting and new while I was reading it. I loved getting to know each of the siblings, and I really really loved the romance between jasper and Rita. Rita is all over the place. Her relationship with her mother was a bit different from that of her siblings and she always felt a bit in her mom's shadow. Then throw in the siblings differing relationships with each other, lots of hijinks and fun situations and a very hot romance, and you have one heck of a good time. I loved Too Hot to Handle and I can't wait for the rest of the Clarksons' stories.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
What I liked the most about this book and this series is the concept. I love a series of interconnected standalone novels, each focusing on a different character. There are tons of books which follow this pattern and it is a big winner for me. Even better if they are books that center around a family or group of siblings. I think that is very interesting and adds another layer of complexity and familiarity between the novels. This series centers around the four Clarkson siblings, but the interesting thing (in my opinion) is the set up. The four Clarkson siblings have not always gotten along, but when they find the journal from their mother, who was the glue of the family, they all head out on a cross-country road trip to fulfill some of her wishes. I love a road trip book, and I love a good, or dysfunctional, family dynamic. So when I found out where this book was headed I was super pumped.
The siblings break down in a little town, which is where the frist sibling- Rita finds Jasper. Too Hot to Handle didn't feel predictable to me. There are a bunch of elements woven into this story and I honestly didn't always know how things were going to turn out. This was not a permanent stopping location for the siblings, so was a romance really going to last? This unpredictability of the story made it feel exciting and new while I was reading it. I loved getting to know each of the siblings, and I really really loved the romance between jasper and Rita. Rita is all over the place. Her relationship with her mother was a bit different from that of her siblings and she always felt a bit in her mom's shadow. Then throw in the siblings differing relationships with each other, lots of hijinks and fun situations and a very hot romance, and you have one heck of a good time. I loved Too Hot to Handle and I can't wait for the rest of the Clarksons' stories.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Accidentally on Purpose is the third book in the adult contemporary romance, Heartbreaker Bay series by Jill Shalvis. Each of the books can be read as standalones, but they do follow different couples in a group of friends. I have heard amazing things about the second book in the series, The Trouble with Mistletoe, and it is on my TBR for the next holiday season. I really loved Accidentally on Purpose. I think it might be my first 5 star contemporary romance of the year.
Accidentally on Purpose is told in dual narrative between Archer and Elle. I freakin' loved Archer and Elle. If someone came up to me and said Michelle, what would be a great combination for a romance. I would say, I love bantering, I love a couple who keeps one another on their toes, and I love a long play romance with some good guy jealousy. Archer and Elle had all of that in spades. Theirs is a story that I already want to revisit. Elle's background added a whole other layer of complexity to their story, but watching them dance around one another was so much fun! Archer was so not subtle at all when he sabotaged all of Elle's dates. It cracked me up. And Elle is not someone that I would want to piss off. She is fierce.
Just as much as I loved Archer and Elle, I also loved the whole group of friends. They all knew something was up with Archer. It was pretty obvious, so watching their reactions to the whole back and forth dance was pretty funny too. It made me want to read the rest of the books in the Heartbreakers Bay series. I couldn't get enough of this book. I stayed up late into the night to finish it.
Bottom line: if you like awesome romances with couples that can keep each other on their toes, this book is a no brainer for you. you need to read it. I need more Jill Shalvis in my life because Accidentally on Purpose was a home run for me. It was equal parts playful and sexy, and totally riveting from start to finish. I loved Archer and Elle.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Accidentally on Purpose is told in dual narrative between Archer and Elle. I freakin' loved Archer and Elle. If someone came up to me and said Michelle, what would be a great combination for a romance. I would say, I love bantering, I love a couple who keeps one another on their toes, and I love a long play romance with some good guy jealousy. Archer and Elle had all of that in spades. Theirs is a story that I already want to revisit. Elle's background added a whole other layer of complexity to their story, but watching them dance around one another was so much fun! Archer was so not subtle at all when he sabotaged all of Elle's dates. It cracked me up. And Elle is not someone that I would want to piss off. She is fierce.
Just as much as I loved Archer and Elle, I also loved the whole group of friends. They all knew something was up with Archer. It was pretty obvious, so watching their reactions to the whole back and forth dance was pretty funny too. It made me want to read the rest of the books in the Heartbreakers Bay series. I couldn't get enough of this book. I stayed up late into the night to finish it.
Bottom line: if you like awesome romances with couples that can keep each other on their toes, this book is a no brainer for you. you need to read it. I need more Jill Shalvis in my life because Accidentally on Purpose was a home run for me. It was equal parts playful and sexy, and totally riveting from start to finish. I loved Archer and Elle.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Frost is the first book in the young adult paranormal series, Midnight Ice series by author Kaitlyn Davis. The Midnight Ice series is a spin off series from her very popular, Midnight Fire series. I never read Midnight fire, but it has gotten tons and tons of rave reviews over the past few years. The series can each be read separately, but the books in each of the series do need to be read in order. They are all set in the same world and they do have some character crossover.
Frost is a story about Pandora, who is a titan turned vampire. But not a titan like you are probably thinking. What intrigued me most about Frost was how mysterious the whole set up of the story was. It has been ages since I have read a vampire story, but this one felt different right from the start. There are all sorts of protectors- people who protect humans from vampires. But they are not the tradiaonal hunters. There are conduits and trackers, and it was all very unique. It took me some time to be able to sort everything out. I'm not sure if more of the backstory is described in the other series or not, but there were a lot of new characters and types of creatures in this book that I had to make sense of. For instance, I wasn't quite sure what the titans were. I know they were also a form of protector, but they were different somehow too. It was all really cool. Mysterious but cool.
And then there was the romance. Jax is Pandora's old love interest, but like everyone else in her past she is deeply hurt and betrayed by them. Another big mystery of the story. I was dying to know what caused Pandora to run away and become a vampire in the first place. Not to mention she is pretty cool, herself. She can become in visible and she is a bada** vampire thief. Heck yea! I don't want to give away too much more of the story because part of the fun of this book was unpacking the mysteries. I still have plenty of questions that need to be answered in the next book, but let's suffice it to say I am intrigued. Frost started out a bit confusing, but stick with it because it gets a lot better once the story gains momentum. Frost was a good start to what looks to be an interesting series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Frost is a story about Pandora, who is a titan turned vampire. But not a titan like you are probably thinking. What intrigued me most about Frost was how mysterious the whole set up of the story was. It has been ages since I have read a vampire story, but this one felt different right from the start. There are all sorts of protectors- people who protect humans from vampires. But they are not the tradiaonal hunters. There are conduits and trackers, and it was all very unique. It took me some time to be able to sort everything out. I'm not sure if more of the backstory is described in the other series or not, but there were a lot of new characters and types of creatures in this book that I had to make sense of. For instance, I wasn't quite sure what the titans were. I know they were also a form of protector, but they were different somehow too. It was all really cool. Mysterious but cool.
And then there was the romance. Jax is Pandora's old love interest, but like everyone else in her past she is deeply hurt and betrayed by them. Another big mystery of the story. I was dying to know what caused Pandora to run away and become a vampire in the first place. Not to mention she is pretty cool, herself. She can become in visible and she is a bada** vampire thief. Heck yea! I don't want to give away too much more of the story because part of the fun of this book was unpacking the mysteries. I still have plenty of questions that need to be answered in the next book, but let's suffice it to say I am intrigued. Frost started out a bit confusing, but stick with it because it gets a lot better once the story gains momentum. Frost was a good start to what looks to be an interesting series.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Gold Rush is a standalone young adult ice skating romance set in the same world as Jennifer's Edge series and Ice series. I have read, and the loved the entire Ice series, which is Josh and Courtney's story. I still have not read the edge series, which is the story of Liza's dad, but I am so going to. I loved the Ice series to pieces, and Gold Rush gave me all the same great feels. I love the feel good romance that Jennifer Comeaux is so excellent at delivering. This was a great book for new and old fans of Jennifer's work.
Gold Rush is Liza's story, a two time world champion ice skater. Liza has been so focused on skating her whole life that she has missed out on all the boy, and dating, aspects of growing up. In fact, she has never even been on a date at 19, much less anything else with a guy. And then along comes Braden. I loved Liza and Braden from the very first moment I saw them together at the slushie stand. Their story is a real feel good romance. Sure, there are roadblocks and hurdles, and lots of skating. (and falls) but in the end it is so satisfying. That is what I love most about Jennifer's stories. They are all so satisfying.
Gold Rush is so many things wrapped up in one book. It is an awesome ice skating story. liza seriously kicks butt on ice. It is also a great friendship as well as a romance. I loved Braden. Him and Liza clearly like each other but Liza gets cold feet pretty early on. She is a people pleaser like I am, so I totally understood how her parents pressure and expectations caused her to put the brakes on. But Braden takes it all in stride, and it made me love him even more. The result makes Gold Rush an awesome instant chemistry but slow burn friendship to romance. My favorite kind.
Bottom line: If you have read one of Jennifer's ice skating romances before, you will love rejoining this world to get to know a new couple. Gold Rush is an awesome addition to her other equally awesome books. And if you are new to Jennifer's stories, you need to read Gold Rush! It is a feel good ice skating romance, with great character, plenty of tense, and cute moments, awesome skating and a really satisfying story. I love all of Jennifer's books. Gold Rush was an excellent read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Gold Rush is a standalone young adult ice skating romance set in the same world as Jennifer's Edge series and Ice series. I have read, and the loved the entire Ice series, which is Josh and Courtney's story. I still have not read the edge series, which is the story of Liza's dad, but I am so going to. I loved the Ice series to pieces, and Gold Rush gave me all the same great feels. I love the feel good romance that Jennifer Comeaux is so excellent at delivering. This was a great book for new and old fans of Jennifer's work.
Gold Rush is Liza's story, a two time world champion ice skater. Liza has been so focused on skating her whole life that she has missed out on all the boy, and dating, aspects of growing up. In fact, she has never even been on a date at 19, much less anything else with a guy. And then along comes Braden. I loved Liza and Braden from the very first moment I saw them together at the slushie stand. Their story is a real feel good romance. Sure, there are roadblocks and hurdles, and lots of skating. (and falls) but in the end it is so satisfying. That is what I love most about Jennifer's stories. They are all so satisfying.
Gold Rush is so many things wrapped up in one book. It is an awesome ice skating story. liza seriously kicks butt on ice. It is also a great friendship as well as a romance. I loved Braden. Him and Liza clearly like each other but Liza gets cold feet pretty early on. She is a people pleaser like I am, so I totally understood how her parents pressure and expectations caused her to put the brakes on. But Braden takes it all in stride, and it made me love him even more. The result makes Gold Rush an awesome instant chemistry but slow burn friendship to romance. My favorite kind.
Bottom line: If you have read one of Jennifer's ice skating romances before, you will love rejoining this world to get to know a new couple. Gold Rush is an awesome addition to her other equally awesome books. And if you are new to Jennifer's stories, you need to read Gold Rush! It is a feel good ice skating romance, with great character, plenty of tense, and cute moments, awesome skating and a really satisfying story. I love all of Jennifer's books. Gold Rush was an excellent read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Sometimes there are books that are hard to put into words why you liked them so much. The main character wasn't necessarily likeable. Things didn't turn out exactly how you wanted them to. People you did like in the book got hurt. But still, you were just moved by the book, in a very profound way. One Last Song is one of those books. It is such a powerful voice and story. It is dark and unexpected. The main character is certainly not anyone that I would have thought I would have liked. And I am still not even 100% sure that I do like her. But I certainly feel for her, and I can sympathize with her. And that is enough with this story. Trust me, One Last Song will make you feel all kinds of emotions. As a side note, One Last Song is a standalone read.
The main character, Saylor is a girl that from the summary you will see swallows needles. In the book, you learn it is because she has Munchausen's Syndrome. Munchausen's Syndrome is not something that I was terribly familiar with prior to reading One Last Song. I knew the quick superficial idea of what it was, and that was it. But it made reading Saylor's story completely riveting to me. I loved how deeply the author, S.K. Falls goes into describing the disorder. And after reading this book, I hate to put it as simply as Saylor was swallowing needles for attention. That is how I would have described it when I started reading the book, but by the end of it, you know there is more to it than that. This is one of those books that you have to read it for yourself to discover its' magic.
There is a romance in One Last Song, but it was not what I have come to expect from my romances. Especially in the New Adult age group. I would say that the romance is secondary to the bigger issue of Saylor's character growth and personal journey in the story. And Saylor's character growth is very realistic. It is not linear, it is very up and down. She has so many setbacks, mostly because of her habitual lying. It shaped so many of her relationships, especially those with the people she met from the TIDD group, or the Terminal Illness Degenerative Diseases.
I am very used to books that make me feel warm squishy feelings. This is not one of those books. This will break your heart, make you feel frustrated, and will bring you down a path of ugly emotion. It is a dark and gritty story. But one that is oh so worth it. One Last Song took me so far out of my "reading comfort zone" and it surprised me in so many ways. S.K. Falls kind of blew me away with all the emotions she evoked in me while reading One Last Song. This was a book that I had no idea what I was signing up for, but one that I needed to read and experience. I loved it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Sometimes there are books that are hard to put into words why you liked them so much. The main character wasn't necessarily likeable. Things didn't turn out exactly how you wanted them to. People you did like in the book got hurt. But still, you were just moved by the book, in a very profound way. One Last Song is one of those books. It is such a powerful voice and story. It is dark and unexpected. The main character is certainly not anyone that I would have thought I would have liked. And I am still not even 100% sure that I do like her. But I certainly feel for her, and I can sympathize with her. And that is enough with this story. Trust me, One Last Song will make you feel all kinds of emotions. As a side note, One Last Song is a standalone read.
The main character, Saylor is a girl that from the summary you will see swallows needles. In the book, you learn it is because she has Munchausen's Syndrome. Munchausen's Syndrome is not something that I was terribly familiar with prior to reading One Last Song. I knew the quick superficial idea of what it was, and that was it. But it made reading Saylor's story completely riveting to me. I loved how deeply the author, S.K. Falls goes into describing the disorder. And after reading this book, I hate to put it as simply as Saylor was swallowing needles for attention. That is how I would have described it when I started reading the book, but by the end of it, you know there is more to it than that. This is one of those books that you have to read it for yourself to discover its' magic.
There is a romance in One Last Song, but it was not what I have come to expect from my romances. Especially in the New Adult age group. I would say that the romance is secondary to the bigger issue of Saylor's character growth and personal journey in the story. And Saylor's character growth is very realistic. It is not linear, it is very up and down. She has so many setbacks, mostly because of her habitual lying. It shaped so many of her relationships, especially those with the people she met from the TIDD group, or the Terminal Illness Degenerative Diseases.
I am very used to books that make me feel warm squishy feelings. This is not one of those books. This will break your heart, make you feel frustrated, and will bring you down a path of ugly emotion. It is a dark and gritty story. But one that is oh so worth it. One Last Song took me so far out of my "reading comfort zone" and it surprised me in so many ways. S.K. Falls kind of blew me away with all the emotions she evoked in me while reading One Last Song. This was a book that I had no idea what I was signing up for, but one that I needed to read and experience. I loved it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Ruthless is the second book in the playboys in love series by Gina Maxwell. The playboys in love series is an adult contemporary romance and each of the books can be read as standalones. I have not read any books by Gina but I had no problem following along in this one. I will say this, this book is very adult. Even more so than I was expecting. So know that when you go into it. I have read books on many of the various Entangled lines, but I have never read any from their "scorched" line. Now, I can say this book is as advertised...scorching hot. I ended up liking the story, but I didn't fall head over heels in love with it. It was a good read though.
The plotline of Ruthless was pretty unbelievable for me, but you just have to go with it and not think about it too much. The main character, Roman, is a very successful attorney and also a male stripper. Those two things do not compute in my head but maybe that is just me. But Roman does have some golden rules he lives by and one of them is to not mess around with friends of his friends. He has no problem sticking to this rule until....you guessed it, he meets the female main character of Ruthless. Addison and Roman are explosive together. That is for sure. Some things happened that I wasn't really expecting and I didn't really love, but they can be right up another person's alley. But throughout the writing was consistently good.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of super hot romances, Ruthless and the playboys in love series will be a great one for you to check out. The writing is excellent and the romance is scorching. Overall the book was good, but didn't blow me away. It was a decent read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
The plotline of Ruthless was pretty unbelievable for me, but you just have to go with it and not think about it too much. The main character, Roman, is a very successful attorney and also a male stripper. Those two things do not compute in my head but maybe that is just me. But Roman does have some golden rules he lives by and one of them is to not mess around with friends of his friends. He has no problem sticking to this rule until....you guessed it, he meets the female main character of Ruthless. Addison and Roman are explosive together. That is for sure. Some things happened that I wasn't really expecting and I didn't really love, but they can be right up another person's alley. But throughout the writing was consistently good.
Bottom line: If you are a fan of super hot romances, Ruthless and the playboys in love series will be a great one for you to check out. The writing is excellent and the romance is scorching. Overall the book was good, but didn't blow me away. It was a decent read.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Twisted: The Girl Who Uncovered Rumplestilskin's Name is a young adult fantasy re-imagining of the story of Rumplestilskin by Bonnie M. Hennessy. Twisted is Bonnie's debut novel and I have to say I loved it! I found it to be a delightful, and dark twisty tale of not only Rumplestilskin, but also of the young lady, Aoife.
This part of the summary is what initially got me interested in the story was, "This is not the tale of a damsel in distress, but a tenacious, young woman who solved a mystery so great that not even the enchanted man who spun straw into gold could figure it out." And let me tell you, Aoife was a fierce heroine. I really liked her. I do have to say, I initially thought that Rumplestilskin was going to be the love interest, and as I was reading, I even wanted him to be the love interest. But no, Rumplestilskin is not. There is a romance in Twisted, and it was pretty twisted, just like the rest of the story. And I found the romance to be quite good.
What I loved most about this book was that it turned everything I thought I knew about Rumplestilskin on its' head. This really was more of a re-imagining of his story, rather than a crafty re-telling. It was also pretty dark, so it is not a light and fluffy read. in fact, parts of this story made me downright sad. But I loved how dark and twisted it was. It was so unlike anything else I have been reading lately, and that in and of itself is pretty cool. Aoife goes through a lot in this book. At times you really feel the weight of everything she is dealing with and you feel awful for her, and at times you want to punch her, but overall I really enjoyed her character.
Bottom line: If you are a lover of dark stories that might not always get a happy ending.strong emphasis on might. I think this one is up for debate. I have seen people mark it both ways. Or if you are a lover of retellings and reimaginings, Twisted: The Girl Who Uncovered Rumplestilskin's Name is a great book for you to pick up. It is really twisted, as the name suggests and I think it will pleasantly surprise you in more ways than you think. I was super impressed with Bonnie's writing. I found this book to be well paced, and well thought out and really great. I can't wait to read more by this author. She is one to keep an eye on.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Twisted: The Girl Who Uncovered Rumplestilskin's Name is a young adult fantasy re-imagining of the story of Rumplestilskin by Bonnie M. Hennessy. Twisted is Bonnie's debut novel and I have to say I loved it! I found it to be a delightful, and dark twisty tale of not only Rumplestilskin, but also of the young lady, Aoife.
This part of the summary is what initially got me interested in the story was, "This is not the tale of a damsel in distress, but a tenacious, young woman who solved a mystery so great that not even the enchanted man who spun straw into gold could figure it out." And let me tell you, Aoife was a fierce heroine. I really liked her. I do have to say, I initially thought that Rumplestilskin was going to be the love interest, and as I was reading, I even wanted him to be the love interest. But no, Rumplestilskin is not. There is a romance in Twisted, and it was pretty twisted, just like the rest of the story. And I found the romance to be quite good.
What I loved most about this book was that it turned everything I thought I knew about Rumplestilskin on its' head. This really was more of a re-imagining of his story, rather than a crafty re-telling. It was also pretty dark, so it is not a light and fluffy read. in fact, parts of this story made me downright sad. But I loved how dark and twisted it was. It was so unlike anything else I have been reading lately, and that in and of itself is pretty cool. Aoife goes through a lot in this book. At times you really feel the weight of everything she is dealing with and you feel awful for her, and at times you want to punch her, but overall I really enjoyed her character.
Bottom line: If you are a lover of dark stories that might not always get a happy ending.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Royal Affair is the first book in the new adult contemporary romance, Royal Scandal series by author Parker Swift. I really enjoyed Royal Affair. It is the perfect valentines day read, or really a read for any day of the year. It has lots of romance, sexy times, witty banter and great characters. I can't wait for the next book in the Royal Scandal series, because this one sure did brighten my day.
At first, I has no idea what to make of Lydia and Dylan. I loved both of them, but they also each annoyed me in different ways. Lydia is a pretty independent person, and I really admired that about her. It takes guts to pack up and move to another country for an internship, especially one in the highly critical fashion world. But at the same time, she was the type of independent that views accepting help or nice things from other people as a weakness. Which I don't agree with, and it got to the point of annoying when she was constantly shutting down Dylan's courteous gestures. But Dylan on the other hand was more than a little overbearing. Each one of them took their personalities to the extreme. But oddly enough, they worked well together. I enjoyed reading about the two them...a lot.
While I have never read Fifty Shades of Grey, I have seen some people comparing the two books, and I can totally see that. Dylan is a dominating force in the story. If that is your kind of thing, you will absolutely love this book. It was just a bit too much in terms of their heightened personalities that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars and falling madly in love with it. But don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this story and I will definitely be continuing on in the series. Fans of dominant guys will really love Dylan. He is certainly swoonworthy and the romance did have it's sweet moments, which I loved. I also really liked the whole "royal" aspect to the story. It added another layer both to the plot and to the complexity of Dylan's character.
Bottom line: Royal Affair is a really great start to what looks to be a great romance series. if you are a fan of books featuring a hot romance, hot royals, and a dominant alpha male, the Royal Scandal series will be one you love. I can't wait for the next book.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Royal Affair is the first book in the new adult contemporary romance, Royal Scandal series by author Parker Swift. I really enjoyed Royal Affair. It is the perfect valentines day read, or really a read for any day of the year. It has lots of romance, sexy times, witty banter and great characters. I can't wait for the next book in the Royal Scandal series, because this one sure did brighten my day.
At first, I has no idea what to make of Lydia and Dylan. I loved both of them, but they also each annoyed me in different ways. Lydia is a pretty independent person, and I really admired that about her. It takes guts to pack up and move to another country for an internship, especially one in the highly critical fashion world. But at the same time, she was the type of independent that views accepting help or nice things from other people as a weakness. Which I don't agree with, and it got to the point of annoying when she was constantly shutting down Dylan's courteous gestures. But Dylan on the other hand was more than a little overbearing. Each one of them took their personalities to the extreme. But oddly enough, they worked well together. I enjoyed reading about the two them...a lot.
While I have never read Fifty Shades of Grey, I have seen some people comparing the two books, and I can totally see that. Dylan is a dominating force in the story. If that is your kind of thing, you will absolutely love this book. It was just a bit too much in terms of their heightened personalities that prevented me from giving this book 5 stars and falling madly in love with it. But don't get me wrong, I really enjoyed this story and I will definitely be continuing on in the series. Fans of dominant guys will really love Dylan. He is certainly swoonworthy and the romance did have it's sweet moments, which I loved. I also really liked the whole "royal" aspect to the story. It added another layer both to the plot and to the complexity of Dylan's character.
Bottom line: Royal Affair is a really great start to what looks to be a great romance series. if you are a fan of books featuring a hot romance, hot royals, and a dominant alpha male, the Royal Scandal series will be one you love. I can't wait for the next book.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Crazy Stupid Fauxmance is the third book in the Creative HeArts series, and the first book in the Mariely and Cabot trilogy by Shelleeroberts. I have still not read the first book in the series, which is the first book in the Sloane and Tru series, but I have read book 2- How Willa Got Her Groove Back, which was the first book in the Willa and Finn trilogy and I have to say, I freakin love the way this series is done. Let me try and break it down for you, because it can be kind of confusing. The Creative HeArts series is all set at the same performing arts high school in Texas. There will be 9 books in the series, and it will center around 3 different couples. Each of the couples will get their own trilogy, and each trilogy is written by a different author. But the books in the overall Creative HeArts series will rotate through each one of the three couples, so no two sequential books will be about the same two main characters.
Crazy Stupid Fauxmance is the third book in the series, meaning that we have cycled through each one of the main couples. Meaning book 4, will cycle back around to Sloane and Tru with the second book in their trilogy. Then Willa and Finn will be up again and finally Mariely and Cabot. Get it? I promise it is less confusing once you start reading the books. I really love that they are all set in the same universe and I love that none of their stories are neatly wrapped up at the end of book one. I loved Willa and Finn's story, and was happy to see them pop up throughout Crazy Stupid Fauxmance. I am loving even more the budding bromance between Cabot and Finn. (Maybe because they are my two favorite characters in the series.)
You all know I am sucker for a fake romance story and Mariely and Cabot are so darn cute together that I really enjoyed their tale. I still think Willa and Finn are my favorite overall, but it is a close call for sure. The books are all told in dual narrative and I love the nods that the authors throw to each other's romances. I didn't see too much Sloane or Tru in this book, which was ok with me because I haven't read their story yet. (but it is next up for me.) You can read the trilogies on their own, but I think this is such a unique concept for a series that it would be best to read them all in their intended order. I love the blending of different authors all playing in the same book world. It gives the readers a chance to really get to know the characters and the universe.
Bottom line: Crazy Stupid Fauxmance is a great book for lovers of the fake romance trope. And if you have not checked out the Creative HeArts series yet, I think you should. Fans of young adult contemporaries will really dig its unique concept and structure. I have been really loving it, and I hope to see more series like it in the future.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Crazy Stupid Fauxmance is the third book in the Creative HeArts series, and the first book in the Mariely and Cabot trilogy by Shelleeroberts. I have still not read the first book in the series, which is the first book in the Sloane and Tru series, but I have read book 2- How Willa Got Her Groove Back, which was the first book in the Willa and Finn trilogy and I have to say, I freakin love the way this series is done. Let me try and break it down for you, because it can be kind of confusing. The Creative HeArts series is all set at the same performing arts high school in Texas. There will be 9 books in the series, and it will center around 3 different couples. Each of the couples will get their own trilogy, and each trilogy is written by a different author. But the books in the overall Creative HeArts series will rotate through each one of the three couples, so no two sequential books will be about the same two main characters.
Crazy Stupid Fauxmance is the third book in the series, meaning that we have cycled through each one of the main couples. Meaning book 4, will cycle back around to Sloane and Tru with the second book in their trilogy. Then Willa and Finn will be up again and finally Mariely and Cabot. Get it? I promise it is less confusing once you start reading the books. I really love that they are all set in the same universe and I love that none of their stories are neatly wrapped up at the end of book one. I loved Willa and Finn's story, and was happy to see them pop up throughout Crazy Stupid Fauxmance. I am loving even more the budding bromance between Cabot and Finn. (Maybe because they are my two favorite characters in the series.)
You all know I am sucker for a fake romance story and Mariely and Cabot are so darn cute together that I really enjoyed their tale. I still think Willa and Finn are my favorite overall, but it is a close call for sure. The books are all told in dual narrative and I love the nods that the authors throw to each other's romances. I didn't see too much Sloane or Tru in this book, which was ok with me because I haven't read their story yet. (but it is next up for me.) You can read the trilogies on their own, but I think this is such a unique concept for a series that it would be best to read them all in their intended order. I love the blending of different authors all playing in the same book world. It gives the readers a chance to really get to know the characters and the universe.
Bottom line: Crazy Stupid Fauxmance is a great book for lovers of the fake romance trope. And if you have not checked out the Creative HeArts series yet, I think you should. Fans of young adult contemporaries will really dig its unique concept and structure. I have been really loving it, and I hope to see more series like it in the future.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**RIVETED by Jay Crownover is the third title in her Saints of Denver Series, which is a spinoff of her Marked Men Series. Riveted is a new adult contemporary romance. I have not read any of the books in either of these series, and even though each of the books can be read as standalones, i really regret not having read books 1 and 2 in the Saints of Denver Series. Because I already love these characters and I want to know their stories! Riveted had me completely riveted from the very first page. (Sorry, I couldn't resist) This book is seriously so good y'all!
Riveted is the story of Dixie Carmichael and Dash ‘Church’ Churchill. I loved the stark differences between Dixie and Church. Dixie is this eternal optimist. A total hopeless romantic that believes in the perfect fairy tale love story. I loved Dixie. You can't help but want her to get her happy ending. And Church is jaded. Very jaded. How can he not be from his past. For completely different reasons, you want Church to get his happy ending too. And the two of them together was all at once sweet, explosive and sexy. And totally addictive. I could not get enough of these two characters.
And not only them, but the whole crew of characters. I need the other books in this series, in the marked men series, and heck, from every other book Jay Crownover has ever written. I have been bitten by the jay bug and I have been bitten hard. Her words are powerful and addictive and I hung on every single sentence. And I don't say that lightly. She can write a seriously good book. The kind of good book, you know is not just a fluke. No she is the kind of writer that you just know, everything she writes will be gold. I need more. Now. More Dixie and Church. More Wheeler and Poppy, which I think is going to be the next book in the series. (maybe?) And just more Jay's books in general.
Bottom line: If you crave really emotional and powerful new adult contemporary romances, with broken characters and delicious chemistry, Riveted is the book for you. Jay Crownover's writing felt really powerful to me. This is a book that will stay with me long after I finished reading it. I loved Riveted.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Riveted is the story of Dixie Carmichael and Dash ‘Church’ Churchill. I loved the stark differences between Dixie and Church. Dixie is this eternal optimist. A total hopeless romantic that believes in the perfect fairy tale love story. I loved Dixie. You can't help but want her to get her happy ending. And Church is jaded. Very jaded. How can he not be from his past. For completely different reasons, you want Church to get his happy ending too. And the two of them together was all at once sweet, explosive and sexy. And totally addictive. I could not get enough of these two characters.
And not only them, but the whole crew of characters. I need the other books in this series, in the marked men series, and heck, from every other book Jay Crownover has ever written. I have been bitten by the jay bug and I have been bitten hard. Her words are powerful and addictive and I hung on every single sentence. And I don't say that lightly. She can write a seriously good book. The kind of good book, you know is not just a fluke. No she is the kind of writer that you just know, everything she writes will be gold. I need more. Now. More Dixie and Church. More Wheeler and Poppy, which I think is going to be the next book in the series. (maybe?) And just more Jay's books in general.
Bottom line: If you crave really emotional and powerful new adult contemporary romances, with broken characters and delicious chemistry, Riveted is the book for you. Jay Crownover's writing felt really powerful to me. This is a book that will stay with me long after I finished reading it. I loved Riveted.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs