ARC received for an honest review

I have been impatiently waiting for the day Gareth Harris part 1 would turn up on my kindle, however now that it has, I don't want it to be here, as it is the beginning of the end of the Harris Brother series, and I don't want it to end, ever!

Gareth has been a bit of an enigma throughout the series, kind of waiting in the background for his time - and his time has come!

If you have read the previous Harris Brothers books, you know a bit about Gareth, and you have met the lovely Sloan quickly. I knew I was going to like their story, but oh my Gareth, did Amy Daws turn the heat up on this one or what!

There is so much we didn't know about Gareth, and I am not going to lie, Ms Daws had me in tears at times, ugly snotty crying.

I thought Sloan was downright amazing, and couldn't get enough of her.

And then there something that came completely out of left field, but boy oh boy did I love it. It just made the story so much more.

I loved seeing more of the Harris boys and their lovely ladies, seeing the family come together and grow. I was also surprised about my feelings for one of the Harris family that I haven't had before.

Though Ms Daws, I do feel that there was a dearth of My Hayden in this story and it needs to be remedied in part 2 - please!

Smart and sexy, I was not able to put Surrender down once I started. It had me hooked right from the first word to that cliffhanger (though thankfully we only have a couple of weeks to go for Dominate).

Gimme gimme gimme, I don't wanna wait!

       

Copy received from publisher for an honest review

I am in a bit of a political book mood lately, and I was attracted to Deceit as it is set in the federal parliament of Australia.

Written by a former politician, and using issues that are current in the Australian political environment, you do have to wonder how many of these kind of things do happen every day.

Corruption, lies, betrayal. There are very few characters that the reader can trust in this story. Shady dealings, backroom deals, blackmail. Gah, I had such a visceral reaction to this book, knowing that in part these things are going on without the punters knowing.

I adored Gordon O'Brien. Straight as an arrow amongst those who are only in things for themselves, I couldn't help but cheer him on as he was like a dog with a bone, searching out the truth.

Will he win out? Well, for that you are going to have to read for yourself.

This is the first book in The Democracy Series however it can be read as a standalone and there is no cliffhanger.

I look forward to seeing where this series takes us.

I listened to the Audible of A King Undone.

Hmm, what can I say about this one but booo I was disappointed in this installment, which is a shame as I was completely enthralled with the book A Gentleman Revealed, which has overlapping characters.

A King Undone just ended up feeling a like a whole lot of nothing. It is nearly 10 hours of build up and little bang. Now, don't get me wrong, I love a slow burn but wow this was sloooooow.

And the narrator - oh gees. He told the story well, however the accent for Julian - well, Pepe LePew comes to mind when it comes to it!

I am invested in Arend and Julian's story, so I will be diving right in to The King Awakened - I just hope that all the waiting waiting waiting with them is done

ARC received for an honest review

This has previously been released under the pen name Nealy Wagner but I never read before.

Sarina Bowen has quickly become a must read author for me. Whether it is in partnership with Elle Kennedy or or her solo releases, I have adored everything I have read to date.

I didn't know what to expect with Goodbye Paradise, but from the first word to the last I was hooked.

Caleb and Josh's story is endearing, loving, heartbreaking. I fell in love with them as soon as I started reading, I couldn't help it. They have so much to learn to find their way in the big bad world, and my heart broke at times as they discovered the world and themselves.

There were some sad times, so bad times, but most of all there were happy times .. and happy times too!

Ms Bowen has given us a beautiful story, heartwarming love story, and I can't wait to see where the series takes us next.

I have been going through my first kindle and starting to read some books that I have had forever.

I know I have had this book for at least 5 years, as that is the last time I put any books on that device.

Mandy and Damien find love when they least expect it, when neither is looking for it, and see past each others flaws.

Mandy and her friends give off a bit of a a Sex and The City vibe at times to me.

The Pregnancy is a cute, sweet, drama free story, and was just what I needed after a run of darker and more emotional stories. It didn't have much substance, but at times what we need is a bit of a fluff story - and this was perfect for that.

I listened to the audio of A King Awakened straight after finishing A King Undone.

I liked A King Awakened much more than A King Undone -there was a lot more happening in this second book than the first.

I like the progression in Arend and Julian's relationship, and I cheered when Arend finally declared his love.

So many machinations against our king and his lovely concubine. I didn't think Arend was going to do the right thing for a long time, so again I was most pleased when he decided to fight for his love.

And we did get the happy ending - in more ways than one - in A King Awakened.

I loved getting to see my Alistair from before his story in A Gentleman Revealed. I loved seeing his gruff side, and seeing hit tender side when hit comes to his 'brother'.

Now, onto the narration. It was the same narrator as A King Undone, so I have to say.. WTH happened? Julian went from sounding like Pepe le Pew in the first book to a bad Count from Sesame Street in this one. I nearly had to give up listening and go on to just read this book as it got just ridiculous to listen to.

These m/m historicals by Cooper Davis have become my new obsession, and I am impatiently awaiting for the next Avenleigh book.

ARC received via Netgalley for an honest review

I feel that the people of Cottonbloom have become like extended family to me over the past couple of years, and it was like coming home diving into Set The Night On Fire.

I have been impatiently waiting for Mack and Ella's story since the previous book, and Ms Trentham has not disappointed.

I knew from the previous book that there was going to be sparks between our lovelies - just wasn't 100% sure if they would be sexual or hateful (note: we got a bit of both FYI!) They have more in common with each other than they think they do, and watching it all play out was a lot of fun.

I loved Ella's feistyness, Mack's broodiness and gruffness. I adored the rest of the Abbott boys and their ladies.

There is more to Set The Night on Fire than just Mack's love life. There is love, loss, family dramas, forgiveness.

I fell into this book, and read it in one afternoon, and I just want more!

I can't wait to see what Ms Trentham brings us next.

ARC received for an honest review

It seems like forever since I read Decker's Wood and been waiting for Bradley's Whistle.

But the wait is over my friends - and the wait was well worth it!

Bradley Emerson - Emerson to everyone but his nearest and dearest - is Decker Steele's - the Decker from Decker's Wood - best friend and after having his heart shredded by the porn star he thought he loved, Leah, he has been getting his whistle wet when and where he wants.

"This man would no longer dream about porn stars; even the porn on my computer sat in an untouched folder that I practically hissed at it every time I booted the damn thing up.

This whistle was not whistling for porn stars ever again, nuh-uh, no way."

When Wiska James, along with Casey and Lionel (we met them in Decker's Wood) land on his doorstep in London, things get interesting


I adored Wiska from the minute she showed up on the page! Really, there is nothing not to adore. She is sweet, funny, a bit klutzy (like me!) and just the kind of girl any woman would want as a friend, and any guy would be lucky to have. I just wanted to know more about her, to bitch slap the people who hurt her, to hug it all out.


Bradley falls instantly in lust with Wiska - who wouldn't I ask you?? But as their story progressed, it was a joy to read along as they tripped and fell in love with each other. I LOVED that it was not an insta-love kind of relationship - I get the insta-lust, but am not a fan of insta-love relationships. He struggles with what is in his head and what is in his heart, and I just wanted to tell him to just do it!

"Come on, womb whistle. You really need to back the fuck off. I can't walk around the goddamn hospital with you trying to break out of your package."

There was no filter between Wiska's mouth and brain at times. She came out with some very random questions and theories at times!

And then there is Casey - I love him and all his crazy! I would love nothing more than a Fancy Dress Friday with him and Lionel. He is zany and weird, protective and loving. The kind of friend we all need in our lives. As nutso as he is, he and Lionel are the calm in the storm for both Wiska and Bradley -

Bradley's Whistle is amazing. I could not put it down once I started, and even though I only finished it last night, I am already impatiently waiting the next in the series, Leah's Who-Ha!

Gutted. Absolutely gutted. That is the only way to feel after finishing Harley and Rose.

This right here is what Ms Jenner has done to me with Harley and Rose

How do I pick up the decimated pieces of my heart to write this review?


Harley and Rose was so much more than I expected. I knew I was in for a heck of a ride - it is a Carmen Jenner book after all - but wowsers this was one emotional rollercoaster.

From the minute I started reading this book, I was so full of emotions. At times I couldn't tell you if I loved or loathed our main man Harley. He was wonderful, then he would act like a dick, then he would do/say something to make my heart yearn for him again.

Rose - oh Rose. You beautiful, amazing, wonderful woman.

I laughed, I cried, I may have screamed at my Kindle, cursed at Ms Jenner and screamed out as I was reading this book.

Now with puffy eyes and blotchy skin (word of warning - do not read in public or at work!) I have to tell you just one thing.

Buy this book.

Page by page, chapter by chapter, Ms Jenner destroyed me. Yet I couldn't help but turn each page, knowing that she was going do to it over and over again.

And I loved it.

I have read all of Ms Jenner's works to date, and this is my new favourite.

5 stars are not enough for Harley and Rose

ARC received for an honest review

Woohoo another Vi Keeland novel has hit my kindle! Happy dance!

Helloooooo sexy cover (well, except for that arm just dangling there). I am a sucker for a suit so this cover was a draw for me.

I liked The Naked Truth, it was sweet and cute. However for me, it was lacking the oomph that previous Vi Keeland books have had for me.

Maybe is it just me, but this time it took me a long time to get into the swing of the story, and longer to feel the connection between Grayson and Layla. I can't put my finger on exactly what it was though.

I did like Grayson and his whole bad boy in a suit but isn't really a bad guy vibe. It takes us a while to get the whole background on Gray and Layla, and this is told in both present and past tense.

Now,if you have read any Vi books or any of her co-authored books, you will know that there is this "thing" that always happens in the books. And me personally, I am always reading, thinking "when is the thing going to happen?" And yep, there was the "thing". Though this time it was a little different from previous books.

I did feel that The Naked Truth did get better as the story progressed, and I did end up reading it in one evening.

The Naked Truth is a cute and drama-llama free read. Now I am waiting to see what Ms Keeland brings us next.