Category: Review (Page 133 of 294)

BOOK REVIEW: Dangerous Hearts (A Stolen Melody Duet #1) by K.K. Allen

BOOK REVIEW: Dangerous Hearts (A Stolen Melody Duet #1) by K.K. AllenDangerous Hearts (A Stolen Melody Duet #1)
by K.K. Allen
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

His heart beats for the music. She's his favorite song.

Lyric Cassidy knows a thing or two about bad boy rock stars with raspy vocals. In fact, her heart was just played by one. So when she takes an assignment as road manager for the world famous rock star, Wolf, she's prepared to take him on, full suit of heart-armor intact.

Wolf is the sexy lead singer for the hottest rock band around with a line-up of guaranteed one night stands. Lyric Cassidy isn't one of them. That's fine with him. Women like Lyric come with fairytale expectations, so it should be easy to stay away. Too bad she's hot as sin with a fiery temper and a mouth that drives him wild.

She's also got something to hide. Something he discovers. Something he wants ...

Sharing a tour bus, neither of them are prepared for the miles of road ahead and the fierce attraction they feel toward one another--a dangerous combination.

Review:

Dangerous Hearts was an emotionally packed story that quickly grabbed a hold of my heart.  If you love rocker romances, then you’re in for a treat with this duology.  It was witty, fun and charming while also being sexy and seductive.  I devoured these books way too fast and I can’t wait to pick up another book by KK Allen.

Music is my everything. It’s the air I breathe. The beat I walk to. The blood in my veins. It’s what lulls me to sleep at night. What carries me through the storms of my life … like the one that just passed. – Lyric

Lyric Cassidy was the daughter of a pop goddess and a rock star.  After having her heart-broken by a bad boy rocker, Lyric was determined she wouldn’t fall for Wolf Chapman’s charms.  He was the lead singer of the world-famous band she was going to manage and go on tour with.  Not only was he another bad boy, but he was a serious player.  Sure he was beyond gorgeous and crazy talented, but his reputation had Lyric’s walls up high.  Her heart would not be broken again.

My hand shoots out and smacks his chest. He laughs, but catches my hand. “Don’t be an asshole. I was just starting to like you.”
“Really?” His brows shoot up and I immediately regret my statement. When I try to pull away he tugs me closer and wraps his hand around mine.
His nose runs a line from my ear down my neck, and then he presses his lips into the soft spot at its base. I try to ignore the shiver that ripples through me, laughing instead as I try to push him away.

I liked Lyric right from the start.  She was strong-willed, a hard worker, kind and amazingly talented.  Lyric wrote songs that were beautifully breathtaking and they spoke deep into my soul.  Yet that talent was just one of the many secrets that she kept hidden.  And she didn’t just guard her secrets, but her heart too.  After being hurt by people, I got why she was standoffish when she met Wolf.  She had already been there and didn’t want to go down that road again.  But Wolf was hard to ignore. And even harder to resist.

I want Lyric beneath me, wrapped around me, slipping and sliding with me until her moans turn to screams. I fucking want her. And I want her words, too. Her angry lyrics, her vulnerable confessions. I want it all. – Wolf

Wolf was cocky, seductive, charming and the world was his oyster.  One night stands, alcohol and music was what filled his life.  He didn’t date and he definitely didn’t fall in love.  But the more I got to see who he truly was, oh wow, I fell hard.  I absolutely loved Wolf.  He was caring, sweet, thoughtful and so much more than he portrayed to the world.  And I loved that he was brutally honest with us, we got to hear all of his thoughts.  But with Lyric in the picture now, his world was slowly going to start to change.

If anything can illuminate the darkness, it’s the feelings I have for this woman right here.
 
His words seep into my cracked exterior and soak my heart, turning it to mush.

Once the tour started, it was obvious that he wanted her and she wanted him.  And as they started to work together and get to know each other, a tentative friendship was formed.  But Lyric and Wolf had both been damaged from their pasts, so every step forward was touching to watch.  Their journey was extremely emotional, especially since they both had so much to learn.  But Lyric had more to learn and she frustrated me a few times.  We learn why she is the way she is in the next book and I was thankful that I got to understand her a lot better.

He leans in closer so I can feel his cheek just barely scrape mine. “I’m not who you want me to be.” His tone is gentle now, apologetic. “I’m not what you need.”
I reach out, gripping his waist as another tear falls.
With a stuttered breath, I take his words and accept them, pull away from his warmth, and walk away without looking back.
“I know,” I whisper.

So yes, I definitely recommend this duology!  There was friendship, romance, rock n roll, the excitement of the concerts and we got to see everything that happened backstage, on the bus and in the hotels eeps.  On top of all of that, this book had some of the most scorching hot scenes.  It was all so perfectly drawn out and beyond seductive *fans face*.  So definitely pick this one up if you adore romance and rocker stories, you don’t want to miss out!

BOOK REVIEW: Destined Hearts (A Stolen Melody Duet #2) by K.K. Allen

BOOK REVIEW: Destined Hearts (A Stolen Melody Duet #2) by K.K. AllenDestined Hearts (A Stolen Melody Duet #2)
by K.K. Allen
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Two wrongs don't mend hearts like ours.

Lyric Cassidy is off the tour, lost as to what her next career move will be, and certain that she'll never love again after Wolf. All because of a social media scandal that left her with no choice but to pack up and face the consequences. When she learns that the fate of her career is in her hands, she has a difficult decision to make. Step back on the tour bus with Wolf and deal with the mess she left behind, or end her contract early and lose her job at Perform Live?

Wolf's shattered heart finds no resolve in giving Lyric a chance to come back on tour. He can never be with her again. Not after she walked away. Conflicted with wants and needs, he struggles to remember who Wolf was before Lyric. That's what he needs to become again. Maybe then his heart will be safe. Or maybe there's no hope for the damaged.

But with stolen dreams, betrayals, and terrifying threats--no one's heart is safe. Not even the ones that may be destined to be together.

Review:
I’ve found my perfect song. And there will never be a sweeter melody than Lyric.

Destined Hearts was a fabulous follow-up to Dangerous Hearts.  Angst, true love, devotion and friendship flooded the pages and I kept my fingers crossed that Lyric and Wolf would get the HEA they deserved.  But while reading this duology, I realized that I had fallen in love with the way KK Allen uses her words.  How she uses them to tell a story and capture the characters thoughts and actions is emotionally powerful.  Her writing is captivating, enchanting and entirely addicting.  I definitely need to binge the rest of her books!  So looking back, here are a few of my favorite things about Dangerous Hearts……

Wolf’s palms rub up and down the top of my thighs as he looks at me darkly beneath hooded lids. “What the fuck are you doing, Lyric?” His voice is low and gravely, filled with hurt and desire. Such a dangerous combination. But isn’t that what we’ve always been together? Two dangerous hearts that happened to find solace in each other’s arms?

 

Figuring It Out:

Lyric and Wolf’s words hurt each other, and they sliced each others hearts open.  It was raw and this book was even more emotional than Dangerous Hearts.  Especially since we got to dive back into their lives and learn even more about who they were.  As we started to see the full picture of Lyric’s past, my heart broke for her.  It was obvious how much the past hindered her, and I loved watching her try to figure out how to help herself heal.  For her to be happy with her life, she had so much to work through.  From trusting Wolf, to dealing with her mother, to rekindling a relationship with her father, she had so much on her plate.  I was so proud of how hard Lyric worked and how far she came.  Especially with Wolf.

Fear and hope crash like waves inside my rib cage. Fear that he’ll awaken and push me away. Hope that he’ll eventually forgive me.

Side Characters That Mattered:

Thankfully Lyric had some amazing people in her life, like her best friend Terese.  I loved how Terese gave Lyric advice that was straight and to the point.  She desperately needed that in her life.  Since Terese was dating one of the band members, I was grateful that she there when everything kept crashing down.  I was also so grateful for Doug.  He was like family to Lyric and I loved how he looked out for her.  But my favorite of all was Lyric’s dad. I can’t say why, because of spoilers.  But he was an amazing and heartfelt human being.

God, I’ve missed this man. The way my body responds to him. The way he worships me with each touch.

Different Elements:

There were some scenes in Destined Hearts that was unlike anything we saw in Dangerous Hearts.  There was mystery, suspense and some intense action packed moments.  My heart beat faster and I was so terrified for what unfolded that I actually screamed out loud. So hold on tight because it was a wild and crazy ride!

“You have my everything for as long as you want it.”
“Forever, then. I want all of you. And I want you forever.”

Ohhh I also have to mention that one of my favorite things about this book was Wolf’s patience.  It was the most beautiful thing ever. He was truly a remarkable being, inside and out.  Plus, the romantic moments were again scorching hot.  KK Allen knows how to right a scene that is beyond seductive and erotic.  Sigh.  So yes, I definitely recommend this duology!  If you adore romance, rockers or stories that have a beautiful way of being told then definitely pick up A Stolen Melody Duet!  I’m so thankful I did!

BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY + REVIEW: To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY + REVIEW: To Best the Boys by Mary Weber

BLOG TOUR + GIVEAWAY + REVIEW: To Best the Boys by Mary WeberTo Best the Boys by Mary Weber
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Every year for the past fifty-four years, the residents of Pinsbury Port receive a mysterious letter inviting all eligible-aged boys to compete for an esteemed scholarship to the all-male Stemwick University. Every year, the poorer residents look to see that their names are on the list. The wealthier look to see how likely their sons are to survive. And Rhen Tellur opens it to see if she can derive which substances the ink and parchment are created from, using her father’s microscope.

In the province of Caldon, where women are trained in wifely duties and men are encouraged into collegiate education, sixteen-year-old Rhen Tellur wants nothing more than to become a scientist. As the poor of her seaside town fall prey to a deadly disease, she and her father work desperately to find a cure. But when her Mum succumbs to it as well? Rhen decides to take the future into her own hands—through the annual all-male scholarship competition.

With her cousin, Seleni, by her side, the girls don disguises and enter Mr. Holm’s labyrinth, to best the boys and claim the scholarship prize. Except not everyone’s ready for a girl who doesn’t know her place. And not everyone survives the maze.

Review:

What do you want?

I want my mum to live.
I want the right to earn an education.
I want to be the first female scientist.
I want to create my own happiness.
I want . . .

Okay this was a really interestingly good book. Like I almost don’t even know how to begin this review???? This is another case of me starting an ARC, being interrupted and reading a million other books, and then finally finishing it. Luckily, I finished the last 52% today all in one sitting so it’s still really resonating with me at this moment.

I think the biggest thing that stuck out to me was the writing. Weber is a new-to-me author so I really had had no idea what to expect. Sometimes though, you can tell right away whether or not you are going to like an author’s writing or not. With this book, I literally was entranced within the first paragraph. I can’t really put my finger on what it is about it but I can tell you right now that it was quality writing. I’m actually really happy I immediately thought of the word entranced to describe it. I think the same can be said about the actual story, too.

Like…..it was just so unique. There were times throughout the book where I found myself very interested in this world that Weber created because it all could feel very foreign at certain points but never in a way that made me feel disconnected. At times the language that was used and customs that were mentioned seemed to be a nod at almost a medieval, old fairy tale kind of place??? They all referred to each other and Miss and Mr and women were expected to just become mothers and wives but then Rhen and her father also worked on vaccines and she experimented on rats and dead bodies and there was a king and also an eccentric old man who no one had ever seen but hosted a game within a labyrinth and all these other things that kind of didn’t make sense together but also weirdly meshed and made sense and the same time. That was an incredibly long and convoluted sentence but that’s also how I felt reading this at times lol. BUT NOT IN A BAD WAY! That’s why it’s so hard to explain!

So basically I’m just going to stop trying so that you can pick this book up for yourself and be sucked into this new world and be entranced yourselves!

I will say this, though. I LOVED the characters. Rhen was so amazing and was a genius (while also having dyslexia and never letting it slow her down). She never tried to be anything other than who she was or tried to pretend like her interests (medicine and science and dead bodies) were any different to impress ANYONE. In fact, I loved that when she was truly happy she seemed to word vomit facts about the human body and it made me laugh and love her a little more every single time. Seleni and Beryll, too, were interesting and well fleshed out and I LOVED how Seleni always supported her cousin to the very end. And Lute. OH LUTE. BBF. Like from the very first time he was mentioned I knew I was going to love him and he never let me or Rhen down. Ugh what a dream boat. 

This, overall, is just purely a tale that warmed my freakin heart. I loved every single bit of Rhen and what she achieved over the course of this book (just all sorts of women empowerment in general). I loved that she didn’t have to sacrifice any bit of her happiness at the end, either. I was worried she might have to for a hot second. I also loved that note from Weber at the end explaining that certain characters were representative of people in her own life (Rhen having dyslexia and Lute’s brother having what seemed like autism to me). So while those things might seem different to other people who have dyslexia or know people with Down syndrome and autism, these specific characters and traits came from the people she knew and loved. I had an uncle with Down syndrome and he lived with my parents and me for the last four years of his life when I was in high school and community college. You don’t know what it’s like to be a caregiver to someone with those special needs unless you actually are one. Even with this challenges and specific quirks, I LOVED having him with us because it meant that I now have a better understanding and love for people with Down syndrome. I loved him more than almost anyone in my entire life so knowing Lute acted as caretaker for his mother and brother like that made me love him so much more than I already did. 

Gotta wrap things up before this gets too crazy long but I also kind of liked that this was a standalone? Or is it??? Seems like it is. I haven’t read a great fantasy standalone in who knows how long but everything was tied up perfectly in my opinion. I very much recommend! 

“You take this world and make it what it should be. And don’t let the beliefs of a backward system define you. You are the one who has to live with the future, baby girl. So you live it. You understand?” 

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Thomas Nelson through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

 

Giveaway:

✮ Enter to win 1 of 2 finished copies of To Best the Boys by Mary Weber (1 INTERNATIONAL winner & 1 US ONLY winner)

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

About Mary Weber:
Hi. I write books. I eat things. I kiss things. I believe in mermaids.
 
I’m also the author of the Storm Siren Trilogy, The Evaporation of Sofi Snow series, and the March 2019 release, To Best the Boys. When not working, I sing 80’s hairband songs to my three muggle children, and ogle my husband who looks strikingly like Wolverine. We live in California, which is perfect for stalking aging movie stars while wearing fanny packs and sweatpants.
 
For those who like to know such things (mainly my mom), Storm Siren was featured in the Scholastic Book Fair and my novels have been endorsed by such nice humans as Marissa Meyer, CJ Redwine, Shannon Messenger, and Jonathan Maberry (in fact, Marissa Meyer and I have a fun interview in the paperback of her book, CRESS). Also, Boba tea & sweatpants are life. {We can chat about life (in sweatpants over tea, obviously) in my Newsletter.

Website I Twitter I Instagram I Facebook I Pinterest I Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW: The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5) by Holly Black

BOOK REVIEW: The Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5) by Holly BlackThe Lost Sisters (The Folk of the Air #1.5)
by Holly Black
Purchase on: AmazoniBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Sometimes the difference between a love story and a horror story is where the ending comes . . .

While Jude fought for power in the Court of Elfhame against the cruel Prince Cardan, her sister Taryn began to fall in love with the trickster, Locke.

Half-apology and half-explanation, it turns out that Taryn has some secrets of her own to reveal.

The Lost Sisters is a companion e-novella to the New York Times bestselling novel The Cruel Prince by master writer Holly Black.

Let’s start with a love story.
Or maybe it’s another horror story. It seems like the difference is mostly in where the ending comes.

LOOK. We all know this girl is OBSESSED with her boy Cardan, her homegirl Jude, and this wonderful world of twists and turns, lies and betrayals. Is it really so shocking to know I loved this story, too? Even if it was about that-that-Ugh, That GIRL Tarryn? I did like Tarryn-frankly, I still do. Especially since I get what it’s like to be enraptured by a guy and all the stories he’s woven around you. I get that part-even sympathize.

Be bold, be bold, but not too bold.

HOWEVER. HOWEVERRRRR. I hate Locke-and I HATE something about WK to do with Tarryn. I know. I KNOW. That’s not fair to this story! But, alas, life is not fair and I didn’t get this review done before finishing WK, so SUE ME OKAY. I HAVE FEELINGS, OKAY.

Fairy tales have a moral: Stay on the path. Don’t trust wolves. Don’t steal things, not even things you think no normal person would care about. Share your food but don’t trust people who want to share their food with you; don’t eat their shiny red apples, nor their candy houses, nor any of it. Be nice, always nice, and polite to everyone: kings and beggars, witches and wounded bears. Don’t break a promise.

SO, I was debating giving this a 5 because…well, why not? I really enjoyed it. It kept me satiated while I waited to get back to the main show, Cardan and Jude. But what I WILL NOT and CANNOT forgive is what is in book three, and I have to say that this book only slightly helped her plight…in that sense. Before WK, I was kind of extremely sympathetic. Now I’m like…burn in Hell with Locke, B****.

Be good, but not too good. Be pretty, but not too pretty. Be honest, but not too honest. Maybe no one got lucky. Maybe it was too hard.

So. Yup. My feels are, once again, scattered across the wind and spread across faerie where my heart truly lies. Cardan <3

************

Annnndddd who’s finally ready to DEVOUR Wicked King tomorrow??

Guiltyyyy.

I’ll probably write a small review on this one…probably ha I don’t much care to read anything more on Locke, so eh

View all my reviews

BOOK REVIEW: Beautifully Damaged (Beautifully Damaged #1) by L.A. Fiore

BOOK REVIEW: Beautifully Damaged (Beautifully Damaged #1) by L.A. FioreBeautifully Damaged (Beautifully Damaged #1)
by L.A. Fiore
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Ember Walsh is a trusting soul with the quiet beauty of her late mother, who perished in a mysterious car crash when Ember was three. A little tomboyish from being raised by her father, Ember packs a punch when a stranger gets pushy with her in a bar, catching the steely blue eyes of a tall, gorgeous tattooed man—Trace Montgomery. Still damaged from her last disastrous relationship and warned off the bad boy by friends, Ember fights the smoldering heat that Trace sparks in her when he begins shadowing her like a dark angel.

Burdened by a lifetime of horror and heartbreak, amateur fighter Trace doesn’t want to want Ember. His deep self-loathing keeps him from having any meaningful relationships, but Ember is an itch he can’t scratch. The two push and pull, slowly crumbling their walls, seemingly brought together by fate, because the turmoil that haunts their pasts is interlinked in undeniable ways. But can these two fighters finally lay down their arms?

Review:

Beautifully Damaged pulled me in and then crashed and burned.  I haven’t had a 1 star rating in almost 3 years, but there was no denying how I felt about this book.  Even though this story held so much potential, the characters wore on me and I kept picking holes at the story.  When I found myself skimming the last quarter of the book, I knew I was done. So my top three issues were…

A doormat heroine

He really was fucked up, but I loved him. I loved him enough to stay.

From the very first chapter, we watched as Ember let her roommate walk all over her.  Her roommate said rude things to her, took her stuff and even ditched her.  All while Ember let her.  And when she allowed Trace to do the same thing, I was done with her.  I was so angry that she allowed herself to be a victim, again.  It was frustrating that she never said anything when her boyfriend would be gone for all hours of the night or when she would catch him flirting with other girls.  And there’s a scene where it looks like he’s having sex with another girl, ugh.  Just no.  Her lack of actions made me completely lose any and all respect I had for her.  Yes she punched a guy in the beginning of the story and another person way down the road but it wasn’t enough.  Not near enough because of all of the other moments I painfully had to sit there and watch her do nothing.

 

A jerk of a hero

“You actually believe I could feel any other way about you? You are my forever.”
“You’re not mine.”

If you follow my reviews, you know I always love the guys that start off as a douche bag and then turn into so much more .  But with Trace Montgomery, I finally found a jerk I didn’t like.  I tried my hardest to fall for him since he was thoughtful, caring and protective.  But in the end, I just hated him.  My first clue that I should have given up on him was when he was staring at Ember, while getting another girl off.  My second clue should have been when he purposely flirted with other girls when Ember was around.  My third clue should have been when he didn’t care that he was tearing Ember apart when he threatened to bring another girl back to where they both lived.  Ohhhh and he proceeded to warn Ember that the girl he was bringing back was a screamer.  What a great guy *rolls eyes*. And while there was a ton more clues, the final nail in the coffin was when he made it look like he was fucking another girl while Ember walked in on it.  Just NO.  Trace pushed too hard.  He pushed too far.  I didn’t care that his past made him the way he was.  He was cold and callous in my eyes.

 

WTFs

I discovered that a body could still function when the heart was reduced to nothing but ash.

I’m not even going to touch on the fact that we’re told Ember is shy yet she has no problem singing in public or punching a guy in the face, or the cooking thing, or her tattoo she got before she even slept with Trace, or his stalking, because all of that was absolutely ridiculous.   But the huge revelation at the end?  I’m sure that was supposed to make us happy, but all it did was make me livid.  The legal implications, the emotional scarring, the abandonment?  Not to mention the complications in the future, I just, wow.  Are you kidding me?  It was messed up on so many levels and it left the worst taste in my mouth.

Beautifully Damaged was definitely not for me and I wont be picking up another book by this author.  

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