Author: Jen (Page 32 of 209)

I ♥ Paranormal, Dystopian, Romance, YA, NA & some Fantasy and Science Fiction. I ♥ not being able to knock that darn smirk off my face, crying my eyes out or feeling every emotion under the sun with characters. I ♥ cheesecake, wakeboarding, snowboarding, being a mommy & wife, dancing, singing and being a beach bum addict!
Find me on: Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren

July 6, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

The True Love Experiment by Christina Lauren
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Felicity “Fizzy” Chen is lost. Sure, she’s got an incredible career as a beloved romance novelist with a slew of bestsellers under her belt, but when she’s asked to give a commencement address, it hits her: she hasn’t been practicing what she’s preached.

Fizzy hasn’t ever really been in love. Lust? Definitely. But that swoon-worthy, can’t-stop-thinking-about-him, all-encompassing feeling? Nope. Nothing. What happens when the optimism she’s spent her career encouraging in readers starts to feel like a lie?

Connor Prince, documentary filmmaker and single father, loves his work but when his profit-minded boss orders him to create a reality TV show, putting his job on the line, Connor is out of his element. Desperate to find his romantic lead, a chance run-in with an exasperated Fizzy offers Connor the perfect solution. What if he could show the queen of romance herself falling head-over-heels for all the world to see? Fizzy gives him a hard pass—unless he agrees to her list of demands. When he says yes, and production on The True Love Experiment begins, Connor wonders if that perfect match will ever be in the cue cards for him, too.

Review:

With a fun and flirty vibe, The True Love Experiment was so easy to devour! This story took place one year after The Soulmate Equation, and I definitely recommend reading that book first! There were so many easter eggs for feelings! This time around, a company was using the dating technology within a tv show. And watchers got to determine who would progress to the next level. Connor was in charge of the show and I loved that he knew he needed Fizzy to be the leading lady. So when Fizzy, an author, threw out that the males had to be tropey oh my heart exploded. I couldn’t wait to see how it all unfolded!

The world seems intent on beating us down, and I don’t remember the last time I was genuinely happy.

Fizzy was so different then I perceived her in The Soulmate Equation. She came across as bubbly, happy and fun in the previous book and in listening to her thoughts in this story she was cynical, jaded and could be harsh on men. She was stuck in a writing block, didn’t know if true love was for her and hadn’t had sex in a year. My heart hurt for her. But I struggled connecting with her at first. She could be so harsh and was quick to judge Connor without blinking an eye. She had no problems assuming and painting others as a villain. I was so thankful when I got to page 58 because then I finally saw the Fizzy I had fallen in love with! She started to mess with Connor and I loved that her playful ways were coming out! And I love that her friends were horrified when they learned that her first impression of him was soooo wrong *cheers for Connor!*. While Fizzy wasn’t one my favorite Christina Lauren character, I was so happy to see that she grew in leaps and bounds. And I loved her by the end of this story!

You’re going to be setting her up with other men. The reminder crashes into the forefront of my thoughts, and I blink away.

I loved Conor within those first few pages. I loved that he would agree to her outlandish terms! I loved how he had such an open and honest relationship with his ex, the mother of his daughter. That warmed my heart how he could confide and talk to her. She was such an amazing best friend for him. And I loved how they co-parented their daughter. Connor was sexy, good hearted, kind and loyal. The company Connor worked for was making a major pivot from socially conscious programming to reality television. And Connor was in charge. I was happy to know that he wasn’t aware of who Fizzy’s true match was, so I kept trying to guess as the pages unfolded. But at the same point, I was wondering how Connor would match up with her since there was a definite spark between them. And as Connor was in the background during the shoots, Fizzy couldn’t ignore him. She was pulled to him, as strongly as he was pulled to her!

I know what love looks like— and I’ve written it so many times— but I’ve never felt it myself.

I loved watching Connor and Fizzy form a true friendship as the story progressed. It was so effortless, once they got past their beginning hiccups. And we got to alternate this story between the two of them! Yet Fizzy wanted more. And I loved seeing how Connor wasn’t capable of compartmentalizing his feelings like Fizzy. He knew he couldn’t get his heart invested. So with Connor being the voice of reason, I wondered how long that would last haha. Because lines were crossed. And they both made not the best life decisions. Especially with contracts dictating behavior ack. So while their times were hot, they were also a recipe for disaster. And I kept waiting for it all to blow up in their faces. I loved them together, but it left a bad taste in my mouth that she wasn’t being in good faith for the show.

“This is a plot twist I should have expected,” I grumble.

So while I had so much fun devouring this story, I still had my hiccups. I struggled with Fizzy’s behavior at times, I didn’t like an aspect of Connor’s past, and their struggle later in the book just showed me that they could both be dumb at times *shrugs*. But things have a way of working out the way it should, and I loved the ending of this story! If you’re looking for a beach read and don’t have some of my issues, then this book is definitely will be it!

The sneakiest of thoughts escapes, unguarded: As great as these Heroes are, none are him.

BOOK REVIEW: A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash #5) by Jennifer L Armentrout

July 4, 2023 / Jen / 6 Comments

A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash #5)
by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Only his memories can save her…

A great primal power has risen. The Queen of Flesh and Fire has become the Primal of Blood and Bone—the true Primal of Life and Death. And the battle Casteel, Poppy, and their allies have been fighting has only just begun. Gods are awakening across Iliseeum and the mortal realm, readying for the war to come.

But when Poppy falls into stasis, Cas faces the very real possibility that the dire, unexpected consequences of what she is becoming could take her away from him. Cas is given some advice, though—something he plans to cling to as he waits to see her beautiful eyes open once more: Talk to her.

And so, he does. He reminds Poppy how their journey began, revealing things about himself that only Kieran knows in the process. But it’s anybody’s guess what she’ll wake to or exactly how much of the realm and Cas will have changed when she does.

#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout revisits Poppy and Casteel’s epic love story in the next installment of the Blood and Ash series. But this time, Hawke gets to tell the tale.

Review:

A Soul of Ash and Blood wove an enchanting tale between the past and the present. It was a phenomenal addition to the From Blood and Ash Series! I thought I was prepared for this story, I was so wrong. New light was shone on scenes we thought we knew, things arose that left us with burning questions, and those final pages cumulated into a heart stopping ending! Cas’ story will capture your heart! A Soul of Ash and Blood was intoxicating, gritty, smile inducing and absolutely impossible to put down!

What he’d said was something I’d already learned the hard way, but his words…
They felt like a warning.
An omen of things to come.

The story started out in the present and within those first few pages my heart was already in my chest. I shouldn’t have been surprised that it was emotionally intense, or that I cried within that first chapter. Because while some of those tears were happy, there were others filled with sadness and scared of the unknown. Something wasn’t right with Poppy. Cas and Kieran knew it, and Nektas seemed to possessive knowledge that I wanted to pry out of his brain. That draken could be so blunt, but he cracked me up time and again! So as Poppy went into stasis, Cas took us back to before he met Poppy. I loved how JLA skillfully immersed us in a world we already loved, but through Cas’ eyes it was unique, addictive and so much more than I ever could have hoped and dreamed! As we alternated between the past and the present, this book turned out to be EVERYTHING I didn’t realize I needed!

Kieran shook his head as he turned his stare to the moon. “A Maiden with a wolven-bone dagger and, at the very least, no fear when it comes to using it?” One side of his lips tipped up. “Why do I have a feeling we may have underestimated her?”
I let out a short, low laugh. “Because I think we did.”

Cas took us back to before he met Poppy and was a guard. I loved his moments with Vikter, oh how I have missed him. Their interactions were phenomenal! But most of all I loved getting to hear Cas’ preconceived notions about Poppy, even as he got clues of who the Maiden truly was from others around him. And when he got to meet her in person, his reactions were all consuming and I always had to know how he would handle the next moment they were together! I could not stop smiling, I could not stop my shouts and screams of happiness, and it was impossible not to laugh at the most inappropriate things. Seeing violence through Cas’ eyes, well it was hard not to think how he thought haha. His anger and vengeance were electrifying and it seemed to bubble under the surface at times. I loved when things would get violent and each time I fell even harder for him. One thing that hurt so much though, was getting to see deeper into who Cas was. His past. The horrors. And how it haunted him in the present. It literally ripped me apart and I felt like I was drowning at times. I know Poppy said in FBAA what she had felt from him, but I didn’t realize how much it truly consumed him.

“I know you want to do something irresponsible and reckless, but you can’t kill him,” he said. There was no greeting. No need to ask questions. He knew why I was here.
“I’m not going to kill him,” I replied. “I’m only going to murder him.”
Kieran sidestepped, blocking me. “That’s the same thing.”
“No, it’s not. Killing someone implies it could’ve been an accident. What I’m about to do will be completely intentional.”

Getting to hear Cas’ explanations for the whys he did something was absolutely phenomenal! His dark, humorous thoughts were addictive! And watching him do things I had no clue he was doing, ohhhhhh be prepared to be surprised again and again by this story! But one of my favorite things was seeing Poppy through Cas’ eyes. How she affected him. How she seeped into his thoughts. And how his progression of thoughts towards her changed. It was consuming and will fill your heart with joy! You know how in FBAA we got to learn the world right along with Poppy? I felt that all over again with Cas. Yes he has knowledge for what is truly going on, but he was in the dark for other things. And watching as light was shown on certain aspects to Cas, it blew my mind. We got to see so many different sides of Cas. How he could be his own worst enemy. How he could be someone’s savior. How he could be their demise. And most of all, how he was able to enchant Poppy’s heart and soul.

Their blood was on my hands.
And as fucked-up as it sounded, I could live with that. I had to. But what was hard to swallow? That I’d caused her pain.

As the story unfolded, we got to see lots of fan favorite moments from FBAA, and scenes that weren’t in FBAA too. But some of those scenes that are our favorites, oh we were none the wiser. So when Cas filled in certain things, wow. You think you know something, but you truly don’t! And seeing how he felt through each of those times, fans of this series are going to be clinging onto his every word and thought! We also got to see Kieran through Cas’ eyes and watching Kieran handle certain situations was epic and shocking. There are no other words! And Emil. Oh poor Emil. I laughed so hard in a certain situation with him that I should probably feel guilty about, but I don’t haha. And while I went from desperately wanting to stay in the past, there came a point in the story where the present had us hanging onto every word and moment. And those final pages?! Hold on because it is heart pounding and left us desperately wanting that next book!

I wanted to be a good man who would walk away from what he knew he wasn’t worthy or deserving of. The kind Kieran believed I was. The type I had been raised to be. But I wasn’t a good man.
I was just hers.

A Soul of Ash and Blood will have you falling in love with Cas, Poppy, and this series all over again. Plus the steam in this book through Cas’ eyes *fans face*, it was scorching hot! I’m so grateful we got this story! And now I’ll be counting down till that next book releases!

Spoiler Quotes:
View Spoiler »

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

Reading Order & Links:

Amazon (click on covers) & iBooks (click on titles)

From Blood and Ash (Blood and Ash Series) #1 Review: Jen	A Kingdom of Flesh and Fire (Blood and Ash Series) #2 Review: Jen	The Crown of Gilded Bones (Blood and Ash Series) #3 Review: Jen
A Shadow in the Ember Ash (Flesh and Fire Series) #1 Review: Jen	The War of Two Queens (Blood and Ash Series) #4 Review: Jen	A Light in the Flame (Flesh and Fire Series ) #2 Review: Jen
A Soul of Ash and Blood (Blood and Ash Series) #5 Review: Jen	A Fire in the Flesh (Flesh and Fire Series) #3 Review: Jen	Visions of Flesh and Blood (Blood and Ash Series) #5.5 Review: Jen

BOOK REVIEW: Ruling Destiny (Stolen Beauty #2) by Alyson Noel

June 13, 2023 / Jen / 2 Comments

Ruling Destiny (Stolen Beauty #2)
by Alyson Noel
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
The second I stepped through the doors of Gray Wolf Academy, my world disintegrated. Here, time is malleable. It can be manipulated, shifted. Changed. And for those of us who Trip—or travel through time—the possibilities are infinite and perilous.

Now my life is caught in the secrets of everyone around me. Arthur, the eccentric billionaire who rules this school. Killian, who could be the only honest person here…or the biggest liar. And Braxton, magnetic, gorgeous, and unfathomable. The only thing I trust about him is our electric connection.

Whether we’re Tripping through Renaissance Italy or thieving from a ball in Regency England, my life’s become a web of lies and strange truths. And beneath the surface is an elaborate puzzle, filled with cryptic symbols and priceless treasures scattered across history—all somehow connected to my strange ability to see through time.

But Arthur has a dangerously ambitious agenda. And if what my dad taught me is true, I’m not just a threat to everyone at Gray Wolf.

…I’m a threat to time itself.

The Stealing Infinity series is best enjoyed in order.
Reading Order:
Book #1 Stealing Infinity
Book #2 Ruling Destiny

Review:

All of us at Gray Wolf— including Braxton, and certainly me— we are all liars here.

Ruling Destiny was a fast paced romantasy with a love triangle that will keep you on your toes! With so many answers swirling within the pages, I loved how that ending left us desperately needing that next book now! And with short chapters, it was easy to keep entertained, and always needing to know what happened next.

“So, which is it?” I snap. “Are you angry or worried?”
Killian loosens his grip. “Can’t I be both?” His voice is thick in a way that has me averting my gaze. “If something were to happen to you—”
“Arthur would never forgive you. I know.” I grind out the words.
“No, Shiv,” Killian says, looking at me in a way I’d rather not see. “It’s me who’d never forgive myself.”

The two love interests Killian and Braxton left me constantly guessing. Was Killian truly bad or just acting paranoid around Baxton because he couldn’t trust him? Or where we supposed to think that Braxton was the one we shouldn’t trust? Both of these men kept us and Natasha in the dark. Over what truly happened in their pasts and other aspects about them too. The things we learned, oh my goodness! I almost felt like it was Shatter Me all over again. I always chose the right person in love triangles, except for that series. BUT I’m still holding out hope and doubling down, which may go epically wrong haha. I’m hoping a certain someone will redeem themselves. Because Natasha and that one, oh my heart. They are the WHOLE story for me! The emotions he created within her, even if she wanted to deny them. I feel everything when they were together. So I’m keeping my fingers crossed for that final book. That things will flip around, because I love him so much *cries*! Yes there was so much more going on then the romance, but for me that was everything.

Without hesitation, Killian presses a hand to his heart and, in a solemn voice, says, “I swear to you, Shiv. I swear on the moon to every last word.”

Natasha did such a fabulous job of growing within these pages. While at times I thought she might be naïve, looking back she definitely wasn’t. She used her instincts beautifully. It was hard not to be impressed with her. Although her bravery definitely scared me a few times. And as her world expanded, I loved learning more about those that surrounded her. And her world. Ohhhhhh what we learned, it was mind boggling. I didn’t even think about those certain aspects. I was completely interested in learning more. So with drama, romance and stealing pieces from the past while trying to put clues together, this book was a magical ride!

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Forbidden Hearts (Whitlock Family #1) by Corinne Michaels

June 11, 2023 / Jen / 1 Comment

Forbidden Hearts (Whitlock Family #1)
by Corinne Michaels
Purchase on: Amazon

Synopsis:
First rule of being a nanny? Don’t fall for the single dad, even if he is smoking hot.

But that’s exactly what happens when grumpy small-town sheriff Asher Whitlock reluctantly hires me to take care of his daughter for the summer. Neither of us is thrilled with the arrangement, but he’s desperate for help, and I need the money for grad school this fall.

All we need to do is keep our distance and remain professional . . . turns out, that’s easier said than done.

Instead of focusing on my future, all I see is the strong jawline, crystal-blue eyes, and rock-hard body right in front of me. We try to resist each other, but we end up crossing every line until I’m in his bed.

I tell myself it’s just this once.

Okay, twice.

All right, every night.

But it’s got to end–he’s fourteen years older than me, with a kid and a stressful job. Have I mentioned my dad is his boss? Then there’s the past I’m trying to forget. Secrets aren’t easy to keep and mine are getting too big to hide.

Walking away is never simple but when I do, I can’t look back.

Even if it means leaving behind the man I was never meant to love.

Review:

We can have this, even if only for a little while.”

Forbidden Hearts was a heartwarming, small town romance. With the grumpy sunshine, age gap, and nanny boss tropes, I was so excited to dive into this story. Olivia was hired to be a nanny for Asher’s daughter, which gave her a second chance. Asher was a sheriff who worked for her dad and years ago there was a mishap when Olivia was babysitting Phoebe. She was now able to prove that she had grown up, and would do right by his daughter. Plus there was a lot going on in Olivia’s personal life. So I was cheering for her to get what felt like a fresh start. She had a lot to figure out in her life for where she was going to go from there.

I hoped they’d get along, but the intention was never for Phoebe to seep into our lives, filling the cracks we didn’t know existed.
But that’s what she’s doing.

At the beginning of the story, I enjoyed the tension between Asher and Phoebe. They butted heads and didn’t get along at all. It was impossible not to smile and laugh with the banter between the two of them. Especially since they were both attracted to each other and the chemistry was done so fabulously. The only thing they seemed to have in common was to care for Asher’s daughter, Phoebe. So I cheered when we got to watch Olivia defend Phoebe. My heart burst with her love and compassion towards his little girl. But as the story went on, I lost that connection to both Asher and Olivia. The story wrapped up with a beautiful HEA, so here’s hoping if you pick this one you keep that connection every step of the way.

*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book, provided by the author. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*

BOOK REVIEW: Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren

May 23, 2023 / Jen / 6 Comments

Twice in a Blue Moon by Christina Lauren
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Sam Brandis was Tate Jones’s first: Her first love. Her first everything. Including her first heartbreak.

During a whirlwind two-week vacation abroad, Sam and Tate fell for each other in only the way that first loves do: sharing all of their hopes, dreams, and deepest secrets along the way. Sam was the first, and only, person that Tate—the long-lost daughter of one of the world’s biggest film stars—ever revealed her identity to. So when it became clear her trust was misplaced, her world shattered for good.

Fourteen years later, Tate, now an up-and-coming actress, only thinks about her first love every once in a blue moon. When she steps onto the set of her first big break, he’s the last person she expects to see. Yet here Sam is, the same charming, confident man she knew, but even more alluring than she remembered. Forced to confront the man who betrayed her, Tate must ask herself if it’s possible to do the wrong thing for the right reason… and whether “once in a lifetime” can come around twice.

Review:

Twice in a Blue Moon was an enchanting tale of second chances. With beautiful scenery, characters that were easy to love and a story-line that was hard to put down, this story was so much fun! The only thing it was missing was either an epilogue or a few more chapters. Things moved pretty fast towards the end of this story, and I desperately needed to have more. That’s the only thing that prevented this from being 5 Stars.

Sam kissed me one more time and then hesitated. His cheeks flushed just before he admitted, “I think I’m falling in love with you. Is that crazy?”
Biting my lips was the only way to hold in my elated scream. Finally, I managed, “No. It isn’t crazy. Because, me too.”

Tate met Sam when they were both vacationing in Europe with their grandparents. I loved Sam and his grandpa right away! They were warm, kind and they felt like people you had known your whole life. I loved watching how Tate and Sam easily formed their friendship. They bonded over their similarities, like not being able to do things in life that were their passion. And it wasn’t long before they would confess everything to each other. And when there were touches, kisses and watching what felt like first love unfold, it was butterfly inducing! Their moments together in London felt magical. And I was excited for what could be when they got back to the states, even though there was so much distance between them. The first 100 plus pages of this story, I fell in love with them. Only to have the rug pulled beneath Tate and the readers’ feet. She was betrayed, and her life would never be the same.

It was only two weeks of my life, a long time ago, but I loved him. I remember the feeling; it’s still the only time I’ve ever felt it.

Tate was the daughter of one of the most famous actors and her identity had been given away. Her life had been a whirlwind since she got back from London. Now she was an actress, and was to be the star of a movie that was supposed to skyrocket her career even further. The script was beautiful, the role was life changing and there was something about the storyline that spoke to her. Yet when Tate arrived on set in Northern California, north of where she grew up, Sam was there. All of her feelings rushed back to her. Consuming her. And threatened the potential for her to nail this job. It was impossible not to be nervous with Sam and Tate around each other again. I didn’t know where they could go. But I was secretly hoping they could fix what destroyed them in the past. Or at least get answers so Tate could move on.

Charlie steps in front of me, blocking my view. I am so busted. “Why are we staring at Satan?”
“I wasn’t.”
“You were. Are you feeling nice things, Tate Jones?”
“I wasn’t— I just…” I lean to the side to peek again. “Is he crying?”
She doesn’t even turn around. “We don’t care if it cries. We aren’t even sure it has feelings, remember?”
“I remember,” I say dutifully, straightening and grinning at her.

I loved Tate! She could be so black and white, and harsh. But it made sense, her whole life had been taken away from her. She wasn’t able to hide anymore. So I got her anger and hurt towards Sam. I got her nerves over whether this would affect her ability to work. She never seemed to have solid footing. Especially with Sam back in the picture. And Sam? Well, I had already fallen in love with him when he was 21. And as an adult, I desperately wanted to watch him redeem himself. For there to be such a solid answer for why he did what he did. Or that we put the clues together wrong. So anytime he was around Sam, it was hard to ignore the electricity between them. What they had built in a few weeks couldn’t be ignored all of these years later. So I struggled with my feelings right along with Tate.

I shove him once and he stumbles back, landing against the side of the truck. My hands come to the front of his shirt, pulling the cotton into my fists, and I want to tear it off, dig my hands into the skin underneath and pull his heart free.

The other characters filled in the story perfectly. Tate’s dad, sigh. Even though I didn’t like him, it got to the point where it was impossible to separate my feelings from Tate. When she wanted to find that connection with her dad, I wanted that for her too. Probably my favorite side character was Charlie, her best friend. I adored her! Ohhh and Nick her co-worker and main lead in the movie. He helped Tate so much, he was impossible not to love! I wish he got his own story. And the setting felt like its own character. I grew up not that far from where parts of this story took place. So hearing about Guerneville, where I went to camp and drove through countless times, to The Coddingtown Mall I would frequent with friends and my mom, to even the area the movie was north of Point Arena, wow that one knocked the wind out of me because that area holds such a special place from my late teens to early 20s. So this story was so vivid! I felt like I was walking back through those locations and it made my heart so happy!

“Can you believe me, though?” he asks quietly. “That the worst thing I ever did was for the best reason I ever had?”

I loved how we not only got first love in a NA setting, but an Adult second chance romance too. It was very similar in that vein to Love and Other Words, which is one of my favorite books by them! So if you’re wanting a romance story that will make you fall in love. Have characters that are so easy to click with. And a storyline that makes it so easy to binge, definitely add this one to your tbr. Just make sure you’re okay with not getting a peak into the future, because that was my only hang-up!