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**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**
Romanov is a new adult paranormal by Samaire Provost. It has been a while since I have read a paranormal featuring vampires, but I was in the mood for one, so I decided to check out Romanov. I have seen a few people indicate that they were unsure that vampires were being featuring in this story, so you have been warned. This novel is about vampires. It is a feuding families type story with lots of moving parts and lots of vampires. I liked this story. It felt mysterious and it was an atmospheric read, but overall it didn't blow me away. Don't get me wrong, it was good. But it was lacking something to push it up over the top in my book. But let me tell you what I did like and you can see if it would be a read you would enjoy.
If you are a fan of paranormals featuring vampires, then you will really like Samaire's take on these creatures of the night. I found them to be really interesting, especially with the animal element. I also really liked how many different characters there are in Romanov. The beginning of the book can feel a little scattered because we are jumping around meeting the different members of the different families and the various players in the story, but you fall into the author's groove after a while and everything becomes easier to understand.
My favorite two aspects of the book were the setting and the monster Samaire Provost created. The setting in manhattan was the perfect backdrop for creatures of the night and the monster was truly scary. With so many characters moving around the various plotlines, I didn't really know which direction the story was going to veer off into, which was pretty exciting for me. I liked the unknown of Romanov. It all added up to a very atmospheric read. One that I enjoyed, but didn't fall fully in love with. If you enjoy atmospheric reads with creepy monsters and feuding families, check out Romanov.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Romanov is a new adult paranormal by Samaire Provost. It has been a while since I have read a paranormal featuring vampires, but I was in the mood for one, so I decided to check out Romanov. I have seen a few people indicate that they were unsure that vampires were being featuring in this story, so you have been warned. This novel is about vampires. It is a feuding families type story with lots of moving parts and lots of vampires. I liked this story. It felt mysterious and it was an atmospheric read, but overall it didn't blow me away. Don't get me wrong, it was good. But it was lacking something to push it up over the top in my book. But let me tell you what I did like and you can see if it would be a read you would enjoy.
If you are a fan of paranormals featuring vampires, then you will really like Samaire's take on these creatures of the night. I found them to be really interesting, especially with the animal element. I also really liked how many different characters there are in Romanov. The beginning of the book can feel a little scattered because we are jumping around meeting the different members of the different families and the various players in the story, but you fall into the author's groove after a while and everything becomes easier to understand.
My favorite two aspects of the book were the setting and the monster Samaire Provost created. The setting in manhattan was the perfect backdrop for creatures of the night and the monster was truly scary. With so many characters moving around the various plotlines, I didn't really know which direction the story was going to veer off into, which was pretty exciting for me. I liked the unknown of Romanov. It all added up to a very atmospheric read. One that I enjoyed, but didn't fall fully in love with. If you enjoy atmospheric reads with creepy monsters and feuding families, check out Romanov.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Layover is a young adult contemporary novel by authors Amy Andelson & Emily Meyer. I love a great sibling story, which is exactly what I got with Layover. Layover follows three step-siblings- Amos, Flynn & Poppy. Layover felt refreshing and delightfully "not canned". I really enjoyed the emotional themes explored as well as the dynamic between the characters. There is a romance as well, but it didn't take over the story and best of all, it didn't take anything away for our three main characters and the other things they are going through.
Layover is told in the point of views of Poppy, Amos and Flynn. I really liked this multiple perspective format. It was great to see the rotating chapters because we got to delve deeper into what each of the siblings were going through. Let's start with Flynn. Flynn's mom has just passed away, so she goes to live with her father and step-mom, which is Amos and Poppy's mother. Then we have Amos, who escaped to boarding school to run away from his budding feelings for Flynn. Amos definetly had a certain brooding quality about him, so if you are a fan of that, Amos will be your guy! I actually really liked Amos. And finally, we have little Poppy, who is the youngest, and who suffers from severe anxiety. It is Poppy who finds out what her parents plan to tell the three of them in Bora Bora.
The story picks up with the siblings missing their flight, because they know bad news is waiting for them when they get to their parents. Instead they decide to go off on an adventure of sorts, just the three of them. I think I loved Poppy most of all. I thought her issues at school made her seem very relateable and I loved that her voice felt very age appropriate. I enjoyed Flynn and Amos' chapters as well, but there were times that Flynn got on my nerves a bit. Nothing big though.
For me the shining part of the book was just watching the three characters interact and be there for one another. I loved how both Flynn and Amos were there for Poppy. You can tell the three of them genuinely care about one another. Plus, the ending was excellent. I thought it was wrapped up perfectly. Totally satisfying. If you like books that are heavily character driven and focus on the relationships between the characters, Layover is a book I think you should check out. I liked this one. It was good quick read for me. Also, isn't the cover just fabulous?! I am completely in love with it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Layover is told in the point of views of Poppy, Amos and Flynn. I really liked this multiple perspective format. It was great to see the rotating chapters because we got to delve deeper into what each of the siblings were going through. Let's start with Flynn. Flynn's mom has just passed away, so she goes to live with her father and step-mom, which is Amos and Poppy's mother. Then we have Amos, who escaped to boarding school to run away from his budding feelings for Flynn. Amos definetly had a certain brooding quality about him, so if you are a fan of that, Amos will be your guy! I actually really liked Amos. And finally, we have little Poppy, who is the youngest, and who suffers from severe anxiety. It is Poppy who finds out what her parents plan to tell the three of them in Bora Bora.
The story picks up with the siblings missing their flight, because they know bad news is waiting for them when they get to their parents. Instead they decide to go off on an adventure of sorts, just the three of them. I think I loved Poppy most of all. I thought her issues at school made her seem very relateable and I loved that her voice felt very age appropriate. I enjoyed Flynn and Amos' chapters as well, but there were times that Flynn got on my nerves a bit. Nothing big though.
For me the shining part of the book was just watching the three characters interact and be there for one another. I loved how both Flynn and Amos were there for Poppy. You can tell the three of them genuinely care about one another. Plus, the ending was excellent. I thought it was wrapped up perfectly. Totally satisfying. If you like books that are heavily character driven and focus on the relationships between the characters, Layover is a book I think you should check out. I liked this one. It was good quick read for me. Also, isn't the cover just fabulous?! I am completely in love with it.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: http://bookbriefs.net**
Hidden Sins might have been my favorite Karice Bolton book yet! It is the first in the new adult suspense series, about Luke Fletcher. I have only read paranormal books by Karice Bolton before, which I have enjoyed but this romantic suspense kept me on the edge of my seat! I love that this series is about Luke. It is told in dual point of view between Luke and Hannah, but it seems like Luke is going to be the main character of the series. It is about time a guy gets his own series.
Hannah is on the run from her community. For a lot of the book we just know that she knows some secrets about her hometown, but we don't know what they are. Just that they are bad enough to make her want to pack up and leave everyone and everything she has ever known. Luke runs into Hannah in a starbucks in LA. Right away, I knew he was going to be a sweetheart. I loved how nice he was to Hannah without even really knowing her. Luke runs a private security firm, and I loved the detail that Karice Bolton went into about his job. I found it all fascinating.
The romance between Luke and Hannah was slow and built up over much of the book. Nothing was rushed and the romance was so well balanced with the mystery and action in the book. Neither one took center stage over the other. As far as the action goes, there is never a dull moment in Hidden Sins. There were many attempts on Hannah's life. I would have been downright terrified in her situation. I probably would have put my trust in Luke a little sooner than she did, but I do understand her hesitance. It has to be scary being in a new place, not knowing who you could trust.
On a side note, I have no idea if the kind of house that Hannah stayed in when she first got to LA actually exists or not, but it is an interesting concept. I think it is great how it gives people a chance to start over. Regardless of how things turned out for Hannah with it, the house idea had me thinking long after I finished the book. I am extremely interested in continuing this series. I am not quite sure where the next book, Buried Sins, is going to go, but I can't wait to find out. I know that it will feature Luke again, but I am really hoping that Hannah and Luke are the focus again. I really like the two of them together. I am also hoping that romance continues to be one of the focuses of the story just like the suspense. The combination worked really well for me.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Hidden Sins might have been my favorite Karice Bolton book yet! It is the first in the new adult suspense series, about Luke Fletcher. I have only read paranormal books by Karice Bolton before, which I have enjoyed but this romantic suspense kept me on the edge of my seat! I love that this series is about Luke. It is told in dual point of view between Luke and Hannah, but it seems like Luke is going to be the main character of the series. It is about time a guy gets his own series.
Hannah is on the run from her community. For a lot of the book we just know that she knows some secrets about her hometown, but we don't know what they are. Just that they are bad enough to make her want to pack up and leave everyone and everything she has ever known. Luke runs into Hannah in a starbucks in LA. Right away, I knew he was going to be a sweetheart. I loved how nice he was to Hannah without even really knowing her. Luke runs a private security firm, and I loved the detail that Karice Bolton went into about his job. I found it all fascinating.
The romance between Luke and Hannah was slow and built up over much of the book. Nothing was rushed and the romance was so well balanced with the mystery and action in the book. Neither one took center stage over the other. As far as the action goes, there is never a dull moment in Hidden Sins. There were many attempts on Hannah's life. I would have been downright terrified in her situation. I probably would have put my trust in Luke a little sooner than she did, but I do understand her hesitance. It has to be scary being in a new place, not knowing who you could trust.
On a side note, I have no idea if the kind of house that Hannah stayed in when she first got to LA actually exists or not, but it is an interesting concept. I think it is great how it gives people a chance to start over. Regardless of how things turned out for Hannah with it, the house idea had me thinking long after I finished the book. I am extremely interested in continuing this series. I am not quite sure where the next book, Buried Sins, is going to go, but I can't wait to find out. I know that it will feature Luke again, but I am really hoping that Hannah and Luke are the focus again. I really like the two of them together. I am also hoping that romance continues to be one of the focuses of the story just like the suspense. The combination worked really well for me.
This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Loved this! This book kept getting better and better as it went on. And it left me desperate for the next book!
Full review to come!
Full review to come!
**You can see this full review and more at Book Briefs: https://bookbriefs.net**Tap That is a standalone romantic comedy from authors Jen Blackwood and RC Boldt. This is the first book I have read by this author combo, though I have read individual books from both authors and I have really enjoyed them. Tap That is a book that takes place in a brewery and it is a good ole fashioned co-workers romance that was a whole lot of fun! I really enjoyed this book and I hope to see more from this author combo in the future.
Reid and Callie are both after a promotion at work. I really liked reading about their competition and eventually about their chemistry and romance. The work place setting and the characters sold this story for me. I loved the laid back brewery setting. But then you take that and pit it against the competition Reid and Callie face going after the same position. It all worked really well for me. Throw in some steamy times and some well placed humor and this book was a hit with me.
Tap That is a quick read that is brimming with chemistry, humor and lots of fun. It is a quick book that can easily be read in one short sitting. I think I knocked this book out in about 2 1/2 hours. I liked that it was a quick, satisfying read but by the end, I was enjoying myself so much that I wish their story would have gone on for a little longer. Overall, Tap That was a quick feel good read that I had a lot of fun with. Fans of romantic comedies will like this author combo. Whether you are a fan of either author or new to both of their works, Tap That is a great quick read to pick up. It's a great way to spend a few hours.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Reid and Callie are both after a promotion at work. I really liked reading about their competition and eventually about their chemistry and romance. The work place setting and the characters sold this story for me. I loved the laid back brewery setting. But then you take that and pit it against the competition Reid and Callie face going after the same position. It all worked really well for me. Throw in some steamy times and some well placed humor and this book was a hit with me.
Tap That is a quick read that is brimming with chemistry, humor and lots of fun. It is a quick book that can easily be read in one short sitting. I think I knocked this book out in about 2 1/2 hours. I liked that it was a quick, satisfying read but by the end, I was enjoying myself so much that I wish their story would have gone on for a little longer. Overall, Tap That was a quick feel good read that I had a lot of fun with. Fans of romantic comedies will like this author combo. Whether you are a fan of either author or new to both of their works, Tap That is a great quick read to pick up. It's a great way to spend a few hours.This review was originally posted on Book Briefs
Illuminae is the first book in the young adult series, The Illuminae Files #1 by author duo Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff. I think I am one of the last people in the world to finally jump on board and read Illuminae. Now that the paperback version of the book is coming out, and book 3 in the series is coming out later this year, I knew it was finally time to read book one. I have heard nothing but amazing things about the book, and I have heard the series being called different enough times, that I had to see for myself. And now I can confidently say…I am a huge Illuminae fan! This book is so awesome.
I know it has been said a lot, but the format of this series is like nothing else I have ever read. I absolutely loved it. It has to be super difficult to write and put together because I could tell how complicated and detailed the world is. I mean the scope of this series is just huge. The Illuminae files are the story of our two main characters Ezra and Kady. At the start of the book, the two of them had just broken up, and then their planet gets destroyed and they are caught up in a whirlwind escape, and then the adventure is just starting for them.
Illuminae took me a little bit of time to catch my bearings. It is very sci-fi so there are all kinds of foreign terms. Take that and add it to the fact that the book is not told in a traditional format. We are basically Erza and Kady, searching through things and reading redacted files, notes, clues and all kinds of things. It is so immersive and quite frankly, awesome. It is part novel, part be your own detective story. I completely love it. I became really, really absorbed in Illuminae. I was totally immersed in the world Jay and Amie created, and I was right along side the characters, overwhelmed, and confused at points and totally fascinated with the whole thing. Plus, the twists and turns are crazy! Crazy people!
Bottom line: The Illuminae Files is a book that you really have to experience for yourself. Gosh, this book was an incredible experience. I don’t remember anything like it. It really earns the title of unique and different. Not to mention, I am also loving the romance. More on this after I read the next book. I loved this book. It is always going to be a favorite of mine because I will never forget this book. Read Illuminae. Or re-read it to get ready for book 3. But if you are new to the series, like I was, now is the perfect time to grab a copy and start reading.
I know it has been said a lot, but the format of this series is like nothing else I have ever read. I absolutely loved it. It has to be super difficult to write and put together because I could tell how complicated and detailed the world is. I mean the scope of this series is just huge. The Illuminae files are the story of our two main characters Ezra and Kady. At the start of the book, the two of them had just broken up, and then their planet gets destroyed and they are caught up in a whirlwind escape, and then the adventure is just starting for them.
Illuminae took me a little bit of time to catch my bearings. It is very sci-fi so there are all kinds of foreign terms. Take that and add it to the fact that the book is not told in a traditional format. We are basically Erza and Kady, searching through things and reading redacted files, notes, clues and all kinds of things. It is so immersive and quite frankly, awesome. It is part novel, part be your own detective story. I completely love it. I became really, really absorbed in Illuminae. I was totally immersed in the world Jay and Amie created, and I was right along side the characters, overwhelmed, and confused at points and totally fascinated with the whole thing. Plus, the twists and turns are crazy! Crazy people!
Bottom line: The Illuminae Files is a book that you really have to experience for yourself. Gosh, this book was an incredible experience. I don’t remember anything like it. It really earns the title of unique and different. Not to mention, I am also loving the romance. More on this after I read the next book. I loved this book. It is always going to be a favorite of mine because I will never forget this book. Read Illuminae. Or re-read it to get ready for book 3. But if you are new to the series, like I was, now is the perfect time to grab a copy and start reading.
