2016/07/30

In A House Made of Bones and Teeth (The Lovegrove Legacy #3)

In A House Made of Bones and Teeth (The Lovegrove Legacy #3)In A House Made of Bones and Teeth Summary:
London is under attack.

Can Emma, Gretchen, Penelope find their way back to each other in order to defeat the Seven Sisters once and for all?

In A House Made of Bones and Teeth Review:
I just looked at the excerpt so this review is going to be REALLY short!

The excerpt itself is incredibly short and that's saying something because the book itself is a novel, therefore very short. The excerpt was cute. There was tons of action for such a small section but we are left on a cliffhanger so that's bad. I'm sad that Godric is dead! I have a knack for finding a favorite character that ends up dying. It was really nice to revisit these old characters, and honestly it's been so long since Whisper the Dead so I kind of forgot some of the characters. Thankfully, this was a great way to recap on what has happened.

I'm kinda angry that Harvey didn't get to finish her series because it is really good and deserved to be finished. On the other hand, I understand that this is a competitive business, I just wish she got to finish her story first. Anyways, really great book, five star rating, and I hope to finish the rest of the book soon!

Told ya this was going to be short :)

Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners #2)

Lady Sophia's Lover (Bow Street Runners, #2)Lady Sophia's Lover Summary:

Why is Lady Sophia looking for a lover?
And could she seduce the most marriageable man in London?

Lady Sophia Sydney would do anything to ensnare the unattainable Sir Ross Cannon. Her goal: to ruin his reputation and cause a scandal that would be the talk of all London. So she insinuates herself into his life by gaining his trust and living in his house.

Every morning, her lush presence tempts him beyond all reason . . . the way she bends over the table to serve him the meals she has prepared . . . the way her hands oh, so gently—yet sensuously—brush against him. Every night, she promises with her eyes—and her body—that the hours before dawn could be spent in unbridled passion instead of restless sleep—if only he'd let her share his bed.

She knows he is falling more in love with her each day. But she never counted on falling in love with him. And she never dreamed he might very respectably ask for her hand in marriage.

Lady Sophia's Lover Review:
Thank you Lisa Kleypas for writing a better book in the Bow Street Runners series! This book focuses on Sir Ross, the controlled (emotionally) man who runs the Bow Street Runners, and Sophia, who is out to get revenge for her dead brother.

I did love this book, but there were still problems with it. So before I talk about all of that, I’m going to get out all the bad stuff. First, Sophia’s plan is stupid. Knowing that Ross is celibate in the memory of his wife and has iron control of his emotions, most women would not be able to seduce. Thankfully for the plot, Sophia is the one girl that can seduce him and she does from the minute she enters the interview. She could have gotten into the Runner’s building and worked there to get access to the files she needed. The seducing seemed additional just to fit in with the sexiness of HR.

The second problem is that Sophia lost most of her fire by the end of the novel. She started off really passionate because she wanted revenge but as soon as she started her relationship she became almost docile. The example below is not the best example because I get why she didn’t talk back, but it irked me that she didn’t say that he would have done the same thing if the positions were reversed. I didn’t expect her to yell, but she could have at least said something instead of just agreeing.

“'Right now, I want to discuss your actions this evening. And you’re going to explain how you could have taken such a risk when you know how I feel about your safety!’”
Sophia shrank backward against the pillows as he proceeded to deliver a blistering lecture that would have caused anyone else to wither. However, she knew that his ire was born of his love for her, and so she received every word with humble agreement.”

Most of her weakness, docility, little bit stupidness (that’s not proper grammar or spelling) came after she joined the relationship, which really brought the enjoyment down.

The last problem came from the number of sex scenes. It was everywhere! And that used it so often instead of talking.

“For a thousand different reasons.” Deliberately she rubbed her breasts against his chest. “Let me show you how much I love you. How I need you in every way.” This is after Ross yells at her for putting her at risk.

“Let me,” she whispered. Standing, she brushed her fingertips over the matted curls on his chest. Her fingers delved lightly into the black hair, sifted through it, stroked the hot skin beneath." This is after Ross learns Sophia’s secret and is angry because she lied again.

I would do more, but I think you get the point and there would be spoilers!

Other than that, the book was really good! The characters were different then any other series, the plot was interesting and the romance (for most of the book) was well developed.

Sophia was an interesting character. For the beginning part of the story, I felt that she was leading the plot. She was the reason the two met and she kinda controlled how she wanted the relationship to go. She has come from a very hard life. Taken out of the aristocracy and left to be a servant, she has owned up to her life to improve her conditions. She does not complain or act like a damsel. She is actually, a very strong role model because she does not rely on any man to get her out of the situation. Also, in the revenge plot, Sophia was an incredibly interesting character. Kleypas did an amazing job of fleshing out her character, motivates and thoughts. She not only became believable and relatable but a character to root behind. Another great thing is that she isn’t afraid of her sexuality. She uses it to capture Cannon (Sir Ross) and leads their relationship with it including into their relationship (as shown above). Watching her fall in love was by far the best part of the novel and the more interesting part in this relationship. It more interesting than Cannon falling in love. With her portrayal in the relationship, she wasn’t really someone to root behind. She was still a great heroine especially compared to Vivien, but she doesn’t hold up to the Wallflowers or Hathaway women.

If nothing else, just read three quarters of this book because that part is a five star read.

“There would not be a next time, Ross had vowed silently, annoyed beyond bearing to see someone else enjoying his meal. From then on, lunch in his office became a sacred ritual, and no one dared to interfere.
Sophia’s influence soon extended to more personal details of his life.”

Sir Ross, on the other hand, was pretty consistent from the previous and throughout the rest of the book. This is the first Kleypas hero that hasn’t slept with a multitude of women. It was an incredibly nice change of pace and reinforced that he wasn’t an alpha male. Of course he had his moments after they knew each other better, especially when the first looked at their new house, but he wasn’t domineering. He wore his heart on his sleeve, was trustworthy, never made Sophia feel inferior or anyone else for that matter. Cannon literally sacrificed his life so that he can improve someone else’s. He is the typical good guy that women want in their lives, and from the very beginning there is no doubt of his character. You know you married a good guy when he is willing to sacrifice part of himself so that he can save Sophia (I don’t mean in the typical sense).

The plot was really engaging, but more most of the story I think it was overshadowed by the romance. Overall, the book was a 4.5 read. Compared to the other book it should have been a five star, but the lack of fire in Sophia and the sometimes weird plot left something unfulfilled. It wasn’t a huge thing about this story and I enjoyed it for the most part. Can’t wait to read the next book!

2016/07/29

Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners #1)

Someone to Watch Over Me (Bow Street Runners, #1)Someone to Watch Over Me Summary:
Grant Morgan is one of London's most eligible and unattainable bachelors. He's also a powerful member of the Bow Street Runners, and when he's called to the waterfront late one night to investigate a drowning victim, Grant is stunned to recognize the face of Vivien Rose Duvall, a well-known woman of the night. He's even more startled when he realizes that she's alive. With no one to care for her, Grant carries Vivien to his home and revives her, only to learn that she is suffering from amnesia.

Vivien hesitantly accepts her handsome rescuer's claim that she is his mistress, despite her misgivings about her true identity. Nevertheless, she can't deny the marks on her throat that prove her near-drowning in the Thames was not an accident, and now she must trust the man who claims her as his paramour, for her life is in danger. As Grant searches for Vivien's attacker, the two find themselves falling in love, all the while struggling to stay one step ahead of the evil forces that will stop at nothing to see Vivien dead.

Someone to Watch Over Me Review:

This book wasn’t terrible but it is the first Lisa Kleypas story that didn’t draw me for almost 80% of the story. The story started off with an interesting idea and with a revenge plot that seemed to be interesting. It was a typical plot but Kleypas has managed to provoke emotion no matter what it was about. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work because the heroine is too docile while the hero is too domineering and revengeful. The saving grace came from the end when everything was tied up with a neat bow.

“What are you doing here?”
“You took too long,” he muttered with a scowl.
That statement brought a surprised laugh from her. “We agreed I would stay here a week.”
“It’s been a week.”
“It’s been precisely two and a half days,” she informed him.
“It seemed like a bloody year.”


There may be some spoilers below, so you have been warned.

As I said above, Grant is really vengeful. The only reason he wants to get revenge is because of some hurt pride. Vivien (the courtesan) was rejected by Grant, in turn she let out a rumor that she rejected him. Fast forward a couple months, everything is basically forgotten but Grant it still angry that someone got the better of him. So he decides that while she is healing from a near death injury (I consider it near death, because she did almost die) is going to seduce her…and that’s it. He seems nonredeemable but look at Harry from Tempt Me in Twilight or Sebastian from Devil in Winter, both nonredeemable until they were redeemed (a little redundant I know).

Where was the tender stranger who had taken care of her last night and this morning? She found it hard to believe that this was the man who had held and comforted her, rubbed salve on her bruises, and tucked her in bed as a parent would a beloved child. Now he seemed forbidding and utterly unapproachable. He was angry with her but she didn't know why. The realization made her feel more lost and confused than before, if that was possible. He was all she had--she couldn't bear for him to be cold to her. This is after she is fished out of the water with amnesia. Really acted like a total dick.

It took Sebastian and Harry about halfway through the book before you started to believe that they were different. As I was reading this book we moved swiftly past the halfway part, then past 60%, 70% and at 80% he does a complete reversal. We do seem him fall in love before this, but he accepts this mostly from her nearly dying (that’s a cliché) and the fact that she is not Vivian, she’s Victoria. Now he can pursue her in peace, without the constant reminder that she has had sex with other men. We do see him turn into a gentle man, which was great, but we needed to see more of that to believe in their love.

Vivien (she’s actually Victoria but for review purposes I’m leaving her called Vivien) on the other hand had almost no fire in her. The beginning made sense. She has just woken from a near death experience with amnesia. Discovering who she is surrounded by a man who keeps calling you a slut tends to leave you very weak. This brings me to a side point. Both Vivien and Grant look at prostitutes as if they are disgusting. Not just prostitutes, but any women who does not stay honorable to one man. It is not a bad to thing to sleep with more than one man nor is it a bad thing to be a prostitute. It does not allow for the treatment that Grant gave to Vivien.

And that view does not change very significantly by the end of the story.

Vivien's calmness evaporated as she was filled with a sense of utter betrayal. "You were the one solid thing in the world, the one person I could trust...and you've lied from the very beginning."
"Only about our supposed affair."
"Only?" she repeated, angry that he was trying to minimize his actions. "What if I had indeed been the real Vivien, and I were every bit as promiscuous and self-absorbed and unlikable as you expected? That doesn't excuse your behavior at all."


You would think after this, she would become all hot-headed and make him earn his love. Of course, she backs down after he kisses her. Anyways, the romance was there for the last 20% of the novel. It was sweet and showed the emotion that was lacking from the rest of the novel. The one thing I can say is that Kleypas always evokes some sort of emotion. It was not always the right type when it came to Someone to Watch Over Me, but it still made you feel strongly about the novel.

Overall, this is sub par book of three stars. The reason I bumped it up a star is because of two things. First, Sir Ross. He is the first man I have met in this story that didn’t turn out to be a womanizer. Instead he helps people with no ulterior motivation. He has created this “Empire” for the full benefit of others and he is still in love with his wife. His book is next and I can’t wait to read that! The second reason is the Bow Street Runners themselves. I got a history lesson that was incredibly interesting. It is not in the book, but the book led me to continue reading about them online.

2016/07/27

To Have and To Hold (The Wedding Belles #1)

To Have and to Hold (The Wedding Belles, #1)To Have and To Hold Summary:
Discovering her fiance is an international con man just moments before they exchange vows devastates celebrity wedding planner Brooke Baldwin's business—and breaks her heart. Now a pariah in Los Angeles, she seeks a fresh start in New York City and thinks she’s found it with her first bridal client, a sweet—if slightly spoiled—hotel heiress. Then she meets the uptight businessman who’s holding the purse strings.

Seth Tyler wishes he could write a blank check and be done with his sister Maya's fancy-pants wedding. Unfortunately, micromanaging the event is his only chance at proving Maya’s fiance is a liar. Standing directly in his way is the stunning blonde wedding planner whose practiced smiles and sassy comebacks both irritate and arouse him. He needs Brooke’s help. But can he persuade a wedding planner on a comeback mission to unplan a wedding? And more importantly, how will he convince her that the wedding she should be planning... is theirs?


To Have and To Hold Review: 


This book captivated me from the beginning. With Seth’s sarcastic internal thoughts, how could it not!

"Seth blink. It wasn't? Six months seemed like a hell of along time to him, but then he wasn't the one who'd been marrying off the family dog when he was. What did he know?"

Lauren Layne is an author I have been wishing to read because of her Stilettos and Oxford series. Looking at titles, I was ecstatic to see To Have and To Hold in Netgalley and thought it was a great way to see how Layne writes. I also looked at the reviews of others and was a little disheartened because there were a lot of review lower than three stars. I still read the book with an open mind and it turned out to be an amazing read. It wasn’t an instant success as there were small problems, but I didn’t agree with popular opinion that it wasn’t a good first book. Another good thing to note is that this is the first book in a series which means that it is going to be a bit rough as the offer discovers how to write the series.

Both main characters were interesting and drew you into their story. Seth and Brooke each had their own demons to face, yet the had some common ground. This made the story that much more captivating and fascinating to read as the two characters were almost a foil of each other. This was due to them having incredibly different ways of dealing with their issues. The two of them brought just enough angst and emotion to make the story real. And don’t get dissuaded by the cover or title. This story does not end in some sappy wedding but in a realistic conclusion for two people who have been hurt.

"'All the way, Mr. Tyler. I'm thinking I love you all the way.'"
Seth pushed her back onto the bed with a wicked, happy grin. "'Prove it.'"
And Brooke did. She definitely did."


Their love/hate relationship was nice to read about. I keep comparing it to the relationships from the Wallflowers or the Hathaways by Lisa Kleypas, and this kind of falls short. I understand that each couple will banter in different ways but some of their fights had a little too much angst. Yet most of their interactions were humour filled, sometimes showing very vulnerable side. That was done very well because it didn’t come as over the top.

Seth linked his fingers in hers. “Take me home, Baldwin.”
She laughed. “You know, for such a rich, savvy guy, you can be a total dork.”
“I like to think it reveals my vulnerable side.”
She glanced up at him suspiciously. “Do you have a vulnerable side?”
“I do. Her name is Brooke.”


Seth was a lonely, distant sweetheart. He won me over in an instant because of the love he had for his sister. It shone through in everything that she did and explained some of his not so good choices. I didn’t agree with his methods, but I understand why he did it. Also, it showed that he was willing to change to strengthen any connections.

“Anyways, I know I’m being controlling. I know that’s a problem of mind, and it will problem of mine, and it will probably always be a problem of mine, but I’m working on it. I swear that I am.”

Brooke was easier to connect with at first but her constant emotional issues dimmed my view of her. She went from being really tough to over the top or whiny (at times). She created so many problems over and over again, it took away from their development. Though, closer to the end she pulled through to fit for her love and to own her life. It was a great way to end of this book.

Maya and Grant were great to read about. They were a really cute couple and from the beginning you rooted for their success. And even after discovering what Seth did, Maya didn’t turn her back on him. She let him know how she felt but stayed open to his side. It was weird to see her react less than Brooke when the secret came out.

“She shook her head and stood. 'I know you love me, Seth. I know it’s why you did that. I know that. I’m not going to say I’m not a tiny bit pissed, but honestly...I want to say thank you. For caring, even if you do in a horribly invasive way.’”

I’m slowly liking the Just Romance genre. It has no action, and a very simplistic formula, the allure of a happy and every-day ending is a great read. Overall this is a four star read! I added another star for the excerpt because it was hilarious! So technically, this entire book is a five star read.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with this ARC in exchange for an honest review!

2016/07/26

Tiffany McDaniel Q&A!

The Summer That Melted Everything
Below is a Q&A I had with the debut author Tiffany Mcdaniel! Her debut novel is the Summer That Melted Everything. The review I did for that is already up as the previous post. I hope you enjoy what I have below and highly recommend that you read this book!

1. What prompted you to become an author?
Nothing really prompted me to become an author. Writing is the first thing I remember doing as a child outside of any external direction or influence. It’s just something inside me, as it is inside every author, that internal gear that drives us to put words on the page. I’ve always known I have to have story around me. Reading it, creating it, living with it. Writing is my bliss. It is my chaos. It is my perfect and imperfect everything. It is the thing that makes me. Without writing, I don’t exist.

2. How did you become an author?
How I became a published author was after an eleven year struggle to get published. I wrote my first novel when I was eighteen. I wouldn’t get a publishing contract until I was twenty-nine. The road to publication for me was full of heart-ache and fear I’d never be published. I was told I never would be. I was told The Summer that Melted Everything would never sell. I know I’m so fortunate to be in the position I am now, about to see my book on the shelf for the first time. I feel for those authors still on the publishing journey. To them I say never give up. You will be published one day. Believe it. That rocket ship to the stars is waiting on you. Never give up.

3. How did you come up with this idea?
The novel started first as a title. It was one of those Ohio summers that I felt like I was melting. I always start writing a new novel with two things. The title and the first line. These two things lead the rest of the story. I never outline or pre-plan, so the idea is never fully-formed when I began writing. As the author, I even surprise myself where the story goes.

4. Are the views of main characters in your story a representation of your views?
I always like to keep my views out of it, just because I think that could start to compete with the characters and their views. You can always find something of the author in what has been written, but for me my characters feel like real people of their own thoughts, feelings, and ideas.

5. If you have to pick your favourite character, who would it be and why?
I love all of them, so I can’t pick my favorite, but I will say one of my favorite characters to write was Sal. He’s the one come to answer the invitation to the devil. He was so interesting to write because I was in essence writing dialogue for the fallen angel himself. I had to get a Lucifer twang and a Satan speak. It’s not often you get to do that.

6. What future books do you have planned?
I have eight completed novels, and am currently working on my ninth. The novel I’m hoping to follow The Summer that Melted Everything up with is When Lions Stood as Men. It’s about a Jewish brother and sister who escape Nazi Germany, cross the Atlantic, and end up in my land of Ohio. While here, they struggle to survive their guilt of escaping Germany so they create their own camp of judgment where they serve as both the guards and the inmates. It’s an unusual story of love and how guilt can imprison us until it feels like we can never escape.

7. What is your schedule for writing?
I don’t have a schedule for writing. It really does depend on life itself. Sometimes I write during the day. Sometimes I write during the night. I never aim for a specific word count or page number. I like to just allow the story to come on its own. I’ve said before it’s like turning on the porch light and waiting for the moths to come. It’s about being quiet enough to listen to the chatter of the moths, to translate that chatter, but never intrude upon it or force more of it.

8. What does your family think of your writing?
My mother, Betty, and my older sister, Jennifer, have read every draft of The Summer that Melted Everything from the beginning. In fact they’ve read everything I’ve ever written. They’re biased in their opinion because I’m their daughter and sister, but I like to think they would like my writing even if I wasn’t related to them.

9. If you have to pick a favorite book, which book would it be?
That’s hard because there are so many beautiful books out there. I will say I love Ray Bradbury’s Dandelion Wine. Anything written by Bradbury has stunning verse, and this is a story in which his talents as an author are truly showcased. The story itself is one I immediately fell in love with. I’ve re-read it several times. I want to be buried with this novel so I may carry it into the afterlife and find a nice spot on a cloud and read it all over again.

10. What was your motivation for writing this story?
I always say I’m inspired by the characters themselves. I’m inspired by them to tell their story as honestly as I can. To give them the best beginning, middle, and end as possible. I owe that to the characters. I owe it to the readers to write a story they can feel good about spending their time and hard-earned money on.

11. Is Sal really the devil?
I think this a question readers themselves will ask after reading the novel. I don’t want to give anything away, so I’ll just say the devil in The Summer that Melted Everything is not the stereotypical red-flesh, horned devil found in our nightmares. We have to open our eyes to see for ourselves who the true devils are among us.

12. What would you say to someone who would to live in Ohio? What is the best thing about it?

Well, I was born and raised in Ohio. In every way, my writing is shaped by the landscape I come from. I would be a completely different author if I had come from a different land. That’s true for every author. Our origins carve our verse in deep ways we will never truly know. I’d say for me the best thing about Ohio is that it is where my family and my memories are. It is the land that has molded me. I have risen with its hills and rolled with its waters. Perhaps in another life I stalked beneath the buckeye trees as a true native. Perhaps not. But I feel that connection to the land, as only someone who is born from it can. I’m not saying I’ll never leave Ohio. But even if I do, I will still have never left.

Thank you Tiffany McDaniel for doing this amazing interview! Remember to check out her new book The Summer That Melted Everything which is being released today. I highly recommend it to anyone!

The Summer That Melted Everything

The Summer That Melted EverythingThe Summer That Melted Everything Summary:
Fielding Bliss has never forgotten the summer of 1984: the year a heat wave scorched Breathed, Ohio. The year he became friends with the devil.

Sal seems to appear out of nowhere - a bruised and tattered thirteen-year-old boy claiming to be the devil himself answering an invitation. Fielding Bliss, the son of a local prosecutor, brings him home where he's welcomed into the Bliss family, assuming he's a runaway from a nearby farm town.

When word spreads that the devil has come to Breathed, not everyone is happy to welcome this self-proclaimed fallen angel. Murmurs follow him and tensions rise, along with the temperatures as an unbearable heat wave rolls into town right along with him. As strange accidents start to occur, riled by the feverish heat, some in the town start to believe that Sal is exactly who he claims to be. While the Bliss family wrestles with their own personal demons, a fanatic drives the town to the brink of a catastrophe that will change this sleepy Ohio backwater forever.

Below is the book trailer...



The Summer That Melted Everything Review:
Remind me to never again ignore or have bad views on a book with minimal writing. Yes, I know the book was just released today so it will have few reviews, but I usually stay away from books with few reviews because I'm not sure how good it will be. There sometimes is a lack of reviews so I can't properly gauge what the book is like. Yet this book shows that you have to give debut authors and not so popular books a chance. This book blew away all expectations and set up a new bar for books. This book tackles many socially popular topics and carefully weaves it in with the plot. The book is full of descriptive, emotion-evoking story telling and very well paced. I'm glad I read this book, as it's incredibly unique and a very enjoyable read!

This book took me a while to read. It was not because it wasn't good. As I said above, the story was unique, but it's because of the type of story this I had to take my time. The vivid descriptions and the characters brought me in. It reminded me of Jane Eyre in the way that brings in a lot of detail. Now don't go thinking this is like Jane Eyre. They are written complete different and are about two different things. Here is one of the descriptions that drew me in...

“The days … they’ve been blurring together.”
“Just hang a calendar on your wall.”
“The walls of hell are not like other walls. I tore a picture of the ocean out from a magazine and hung it on my wall once. An ocean is a good life place. Everyone always seems happy there. And for a moment, I was happy with my picture, but then the blue sky turned gray. The waves, once calm, took a turn to rage. Then came the screams. As I looked closer, I saw the screams came from men drowning in the water.”

The descriptions were very in-depth and could evoke power emotions and imagery. There were some times that this was too much. It would be Better if some descriptions could be kept shorter. For example,

"The raw strength of that very thing, revealing something of us. In the best hope, something like pretty honey drizzling from the crooks of our elbows while we apologize and say it was all play in the hills, and nothing has changed."

This quote drops provide a lot imagery. On top of that, the words flow very easily making it very easy to read. But, the description went on for too long. The previous sentence was quite enough of a description to convey the emotion and meaning.

Now back to the good stuff! I'm going to talk about the description again, but this time connecting it to the atmosphere. It helped to build a unique and weirdly beautiful world. The way the worlds made the chapters connected. It built the a dark and suspenseful world. Everything was constructed to create an excellent balance between the tension, prose, characters and plot.

“The days … they’ve been blurring together.”
“Just hang a calendar on your wall.”
“The walls of hell are not like other walls. I tore a picture of the ocean out from a magazine and hung it on my wall once. An ocean is a good life place. Everyone always seems happy there. And for a moment, I was happy with my picture, but then the blue sky turned gray. The waves, once calm, took a turn to rage. Then came the screams. As I looked closer, I saw the screams came from men drowning in the water.”


On top of that the plot was captivating from the moment the started. And how could it not, with an opening like this...

“Dear Mr. Devil, Sir Satan, Lord Lucifer, and all other crosses you bear,
I cordially invite you to Breathed, Ohio. Land of hills and hay bales, of sinners and forgivers.
May you come in peace.
With great faith,
Autopsy Bliss”


Yes, his name is Autopsy. Another unique name is Fielding, who is the main character. We know Autopsy who is the father, and then there is Grand, the brother, Stella, the mother and finally Sal, the demon. And what any entrance he makes!

“Are you sayin’ that you’re the devil?”
“It is not my first name, but it is one of them.” He reached down to scratch his thigh. It was then I noticed the denim was worn at the knees more than anywhere else. Over top the wear were layers of dirt, as if kneeling were all the time for him.
“You’re lyin’.” I searched his head for horns. “You’re just a boy.”
His fingers twitched. “I was once, if that counts.”


and

"You can imagine anything you want in the dark. You can imagine your father loves you, you can imagine your mother is not disappointed, you can imagine that you are...significant. That you mean somethin' to someone. That's all I ever wanted, Fielding. To matter. That is all I've ever wanted."

The characterization was perfect. It was just enough detail that we saw them as unique but left them mysterious as well. I like how there is still some things left unknown about these characters, especially Sal. It was also great to see the strong family relationships in Fielding’s family. There seems to be recurring theme in books where the main characters come from an abusive or dead family. It was nice to see that everyone was nice and taking care of each other. It felt like a real family and it was heart warming for someone to create such a beautiful and cohesive family.

A Summer That Melted Everything is great way to open up the floor for this amazing author and for important topics to get coverage! I would highly recommend this book to anyone because it is such a diverse and unique book. I will put out a warning though for trigger topics...













...abuse, domestic violence, homophobia, racism, suicide.



















Just be warned that they are there. And also be prepared to see a stance on topics that you may not appreciate. This was a problem that I also encountered. It there nagging in the back of my head, but others may find issues with this. There are some times where a stance is taken to try and redeem the "demons". Not in the literal sense as that is not what this book about, but those people who are rude or insulting or any of those people who partake in the horrible things above. I didn't always appreciate this stance because a lot of people, for me, don't deserve this "redemption" or forgiveness. Yet it brings the point to not just judge a person by their actions, they could be hiding a lot of reasons or history that might change your perspective on them.

As you can see, this book can be controversial. But don't let that stop you from reading it.

Overall, this was a 4.5 star read!!It had a unique premise that attracts all types of readers. A Summer That Melted Everything is captivating from the moment you open it and takes time to fully grasp what it talks about. I highly recommend this book and hope that you will enjoy it just as much as me!

Thank you to the author for providing this ARC. Remember to look at the next post to see a Q&A with Tiffany McDaniels!!

2016/07/25

Wicked Pleasures: Part Two (Bound Hearts #9)

Wicked Pleasure: Part 2Wicked Pleasures: Part Two Summary:
Chase and Cam are tired of waiting for Jaci to admit that she craves the pleasure the two men can give her more than breath itself. But gossip and the tattered tales of juicy secrets fill the society she now moves within, and her scorching relationship with two men only adds fuel to the fire. But Jaci needs to give into the heat of Chase and Cam, and let the fire within her explode...

Wicked Pleasures: Part Two Review:
Warning: This is going to turn into a rant very quickly and I use sex (the word) a lot.

This book is slightly better than the first, and I emphasize slightly. Reading this book, I realize that my previous rating was too high and will change it to a two-star rating. This book was almost an exact copy of the last part with some more dialogue, sex and emotions. We do get to see a bit more development with their secrets, but it's so marginally it shouldn't even be considered. On top of that, both characters attempt to show their dominance in a "war" that is pathetic and looks like it's about two horny teenagers.

The author attempts to show some depth or characterization to Jaci and Cam. You can see the improvement from the last book because the characters are talking more and we do see their secrets. Unfortunately, we are still not progressing easily through the plot. It was a long read, for me, even though it is a short passage from Wicked Pleasures.

Jaci stayed pretty much the same. She continued to say that she was strong and would stand up for herself. It was repeated over and over like she was trying to make herself believe it. She proved she weak yet again. Every other chapter she would fall to her desires and fall back into Cam's arms. She has no back bone. This is an example. She tries to show that she can't be seduced, then two chapters later she is naked with them.

"'Trying' being the operative word not in the mood to be seduced".

then says...

"let's get wet and wild," she whispered. " Come on, Cam, play in the rain with me."

She definitely shows how to have some backbone when dealing with others. One could say that because she confronted/ pushed him, she's taking control, but she said she doesn't want to sleep with him. She feels hurt every time he doesn't cuddle with her after sex. Jaci knows that he won't do it yet willingly sleeps with him and then has the audacity to complain the he won't stay. Also, she obviously thinks she is a goddess because she wants to know Cam's secret yet won't tell him her secret. Clearly she doesn't realize that both parties have to trust each other for it to work. Her only redeeming quality her "plan" for the Roberts. I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little curious about it.

Cam still leaves me with a feeling of indifference. Like Jaci he wallowed in his past. He did have a bad past, I'm not saying it was easy and he's just being whiny about. It was serious and horrible but the description lacked emotion. It was just that. A description. As if that is adequate enough to descriptive what he went through. He knows what's wrong and instead of trying to heal himself he throws himself into bad situation after bad situation. And dares to complain about his hurt emotion, his remorse at leaving Jaci. By that time, we have come full circle to how Cam acted in the beginning. Knowing all of this, why did Chase never mention the option of going to therapy? At this point, Jaci can also guess what happened to him. Why did neither of them think to help instead of badgering him about what happened.

That brings me to my next point. Lora Leigh tries to show the emotional side of their relationship but fails miserably. The closest time she got to capturing the emotion was during the rain scene. It was sweet in the way she dragged him out of his comfort zone. As soon as we were getting somewhere, we see them having sex. There is too much physical stuff which pushes out anything emotional. Instead of talking and trying to understand the other person, they have sex. Also, the sex is redundant. It's the exact same scene copied three or four times with some changed up wording. That is why this part seems so similar to the Part One.

There were a couple things that saved this book. First, Chase. We don't get to see in his head too much. That means we see him care for his brother and Jaci, and none of it seems like whining or brooding. Next, were the "Club". I may not like what they do in there but I appreciate the protectiveness they have for each other. It is clearly evident in their interaction and Jaci is a fool to not trust them, especially if her best friend is a part of it. On top of that, two people she has known all her life, the Falladay Twins, Courtney's husband and others she trusts are part of it. It's astonishing how dense she can be at times. Finally, Courtney and Ian are a prize. They are both quick witted, funny and a joy to meet. I am thinking about reading their book to find out more about them.

Overall, this book is another two star read. It's not a very good book, but I am curious to see what happens in the end.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review!

Wicked Pleasures: Part One (Bound Hearts #9)

Wicked Pleasure: Part 1Wicked Pleasures: Part One Summary:
Jaci Wright has been running from the Falladay twins, Chase and Cam, for seven years. Fears of the desires they arouse in her, and the knowledge of the relationship they wanted with her, spurred her to run as far as she could from their strong, demanding embrace. But now life has come full circle...

Wicked Pleasures: Part One Review: 
I have not read any of the books before Wicked Pleasures but because it is an adult romance series you don't need to read the previous books to understand what is happening. And I'm not always comfortable reading books like this. I have read similar books from Maya Banks and this book was by far the worst in this genre for me. While Maya Banks' books made me uncomfortable with the sex scenes and enjoy the dialogue between characters, this book was wholly uncomfortable and irritating. I am alright with looking at and accepting different types of relationships if the characters can show me why there is love there. Sweet Persuasion is a great example of this. I do not like what Damon and Serena do in their bed, but their love is strong and and believable. They are still one of my favorite couples because of their connection, that is where this book falls flat. I understand this is the first part and there is still some time for the book to develop so I gave the book some leeway in my rating.

I have a lot of unflattering opinions on the characters, save for Chase who I thought was alright. The plot was weird and seemed short. The book wasn't terrible and I am curious to continue reading this book because it may develop into a better story.

Jaci was an inconsistency within herself. She pretended to be strong, instead was extremely emotional, constantly falling to her insecurities. I’ll talk about her character through the two parts we see her in now. First, as a twenty-one-year-old (I actually thought she was 16 at this point), and after the prologue.

Initially, I thought she was (excuse my language) a moron. She waited her whole life to be with Cam and did not once get to REALLY know him. She assumed a lot about him, and it would have taken a couple of seconds just to clarify the situation. After she realizes that both twins have to be with her during sex, she runs away instead of asking about the situation. One moment leads her to leave behind the town. This was the first instance where her emotions made her loose control of the situation. I would have understood her reaction better if she was 16 because of the irrational way she acted.

Throughout the rest of her life she has become a stronger character, that is easily seen, but she still lacks emotional control in situations. I can understand her blowing up to her boss with the questioning; being forced into a situation and constantly being judged for it can be taxing. What I didn’t appreciate is that she falls to her insecurities too many times in attempt to be strong. Even when we figure out what her secret is, it fails to explain why she is keeping it a secret even though we know she has a strong backing. We are repeatedly told that Ian, Cam and Chase will back her yet she does not tell them how to help her. The independence thing that Leigh was going for is not as powerful, a series like Kate Daniels is a great way to show female independence. Hopefully the reason for her remaining so secretive is explained later in the book.

Now let’s talk about Cam. I’m almost indifferent to him. Chase I like because he isn’t domineering, but amusing. Cam is incredibly domineering, a perfect example of an overbearing alpha male. He enters Jaci’s life without learning how to actually win her over and expects, seven years later, for her to fall at his feet. We get to see only one emotion from him which is anger, relating to his possessiveness of her. His demeanour is similar to Travis from Beautiful Disaster which is worrying because of his constant anger. We are expected to connect with him and his torturous past, yet he does not give us anything to go off of. Hopefully, this will get better and we will get to see his past.


Warning: Below I’m going to be talking about the sex and its problems for the book. 


The sex was unusual. Yes, I have read books with ménage before from Maya Banks and I think she does a better job of it. I’m not sure how it’s supposed to go but a person who has never had sex with two men shouldn’t be introduced to anal sex first. Shouldn’t you get her used to a male first then do everything after? Also what is a heated caress? If it’s spanking, why wouldn’t you just call it that? And the passion came off as to much. One minute their arguing and the next their having sex. Anyways, those were the main concerns with this part but fore I go I will do one last comment. Why is Chase always so dang amused? It’s irritating and endearing.  


Another Warning: this book contains ménage (m/f/m), anal sex…so far
 
Overall, this book is a 3 star rating. It had an interesting premise, but was written with poor characterization and plot development. Can’t wait to see what the other parts have in store, and if they can save Wicked Pleasures.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing this book in exchange for an honest review!