Tag: Contemporary Romance (Page 74 of 97)

BOOK REVIEW – Behind the Scenes (Daylight Falls #1) by Dahlia Adler

April 24, 2015 / Anna

Behind the Scenes (Daylight Falls #1)
by Dahlia Adler
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
High school senior Ally Duncan's best friend may be the Vanessa Park - star of TV's hottest new teen drama - but Ally's not interested in following in her BFF's Hollywood footsteps. In fact, the only thing Ally’s ever really wanted is to go to Columbia and study abroad in Paris. But when her father's mounting medical bills threaten to stop her dream in its tracks, Ally nabs a position as Van's on-set assistant to get the cash she needs.

Spending the extra time with Van turns out to be fun, and getting to know her sexy co-star Liam is an added bonus. But when the actors’ publicist arranges for Van and Liam to “date” for the tabloids just after he and Ally share their first kiss, Ally will have to decide exactly what role she's capable of playing in their world of make believe. If she can't play by Hollywood's rules, she may lose her best friend, her dream future, and her first shot at love.

EXT. COUNTRY HOUSE – 04/22
In some one-horse town of French country, far later than the dusk, a woman’s shrill cry split the dark silence.

INT. COUNTRY HOUSE – 04/22
Four pairs of eyes ~~3 of whom are pets, and yes, that’s unnerving just the same~~ are staring at a strange creature who’s frantically clapping her hands.

ANNA, French Reviewer and Teacher, 30s and who isn’t a creature, thank you very much, stops squealing.

ANNA
(excited)
That was sooo good!

INDY, 6, cat, resumes toileting after throwing another WTF?! glance around him.

JOY, 7 months, boxer, ambles over to the couch and sits down in front of Anna.

ANNA
(louder)
I mean, this book was just so freaking cute! No, no, I’m not saying it was perfect but come on, look at me! LOOK AT ME!

(stands up and does an awkward little dance)
It made me so happy!

JOY
(staring)
…

The phone RINGS. Anna drops the e-reader she was still clutching to her heart ~~no comment, I know how lame it sounds~~ and searches under the blanket to answer the call —

*3259 rings later*

ANNA
Hey sorry I couldn’t find my fucking phone in time –

VOICE
(over phone)
Whatever but hey! What were you doing today? I tried to call you like, thousands times!

ANNA
Oh God you will not believe what I just read : a contemporary romance setting in (whisper) Hollywood.

VOICE
(incredulous)
You did not. I mean, you hate everything Hollywood related! You don’t even know most of the actors’ names in the movies you watch, and I don’t even talk about your stupid gossip magazines phobia!

ANNA
I know, and that’s exactly why I’m beyond enthusiastic right now. Hear me out : you know I crave for realistic and multi-layered characters and how much it’s difficult to find believable and adorable romances lately, yet how stunning as it is, this book offered me everything I was desperate to read. Don’t get fooled, I’m not saying that it’s perfect, it really isn’t, but even if the story isn’t free of cliché, I fucking adored it – (starts writing down). Look, let me tell you what I loved, okay?

VOICE
Okay, okay, it does seem amazing, but didn’t you just say that it wasn’t perfect?

ANNA
But that’s the beauty of it! Please don’t expect a perfect book, because you would be disappointed. Indeed there are cliché (for example : Ally doesn’t realize that she’s gorgeous, Liam is well, insanely hot, we come across a few overused sayings…). However, how could I complain when the writing was compelling, the dialogues funny and that I ended loving the characters as they’d be friends of mine? When it seems that I haven’t root for a couple that much for months? I couldn’t. I won’t.

▒ THE END ▒

PS : For once, after many books where French language was terrible, I was pleasantly surprised by the lack of grammar errors (except bonne nuit) and I wanted to throw a little thank you here, because that’s amazing.

Oh, and before I forget, of course,

BOOK REVIEW – Asa (Marked Men #6) by Jay Crownover

April 22, 2015 / Jen / 0 Comments

Asa (Marked Men #6)
by Jay Crownover
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Starting over in Denver with a whole new circle of friends and family, Asa Cross struggles with being the man he knows everyone wants him to be and the man he knows he really is. A leopard doesn’t it change its spots and Asa has always been a predator. He doesn’t want to hurt those who love and rely on him, especially one luscious arresting cop who suddenly seems to be interested in him for far more than his penchant for breaking the law. But letting go of old habits is hard, and it’s easy to hit bottom when it’s the place you know best.

Royal Hastings is quickly learning what the bottom looks like after a tragic situation at work threatens not only her career but her partner’s life. As a woman who has only ever had a few real friends she’s trying to muddle through her confusion and devastation all alone. Except she can’t stop thinking about the sexy southern bartender she locked up. Crushing on Asa is the last thing she needs but his allure is too strong to resist. His long criminal record can only hurt her already shaky career and chasing after a guy who has no respect for the law or himself can only end in heartbreak.

A longtime criminal and a cop together just seems so wrong . . . but for Asa and Royal, being wrong together is the only right choice to make.

Review:

That was the perfect ending to such a pleasurable series. Not only did we get to watch Asa’s incredible story unfold, but we also got snippets of all of the other characters that we love. As if that wasn’t enough, we were left with an amazing epilogue! Happy tears were falling down my face, and I honestly could not be more satisfied with the way this series ended!

To say that Asa had lived a hard life would be an understatement. Asa went to jail, played people, and did beyond horrific things that earned him that spot in the hospital bed back in Jet’s book. It took him almost dying and his sister giving him a second chance for him to see the light. He finally wanted to at least try and live his life on the law abiding side. Asa and Royal are in the same circle of friends, and there’s no denying their underlying current of chemistry. But Royal is a cop who has arrested Asa in the past. After a horrifying event went wrong on a call, Royal wants Asa. She doesn’t want to fight her feelings anymore, and Asa should be a sure thing right? But it’s not so simple, and the fun has just begun!

I was ecstatic to read our southern charmer’s story, because Asa had already won me over in the previous books! And honestly, he made me grin constantly. I didn’t care that he was a criminal. I didn’t care that he automatically wanted to do what was “wrong” and had to fight those daily urges. He was alluring, dark, charming, hot and I had already fallen right into his trap. And when the good sides of him peeked out, oh my goodness he was amazing! But at the same time, he made me want to fix him. He had a tainted view of himself from his past actions, and did not see himself as redeemable or that he deserved anything good in his life. Even if that good made him exceedingly happy. I think that’s one of the reasons he started to test Royal. And while it hurt my heart to watch it all unfold, I loved how Royal reacted!

Just like Asa, I loved Royal when we met her in some of the previous books. She was smart, straight forward, made me laugh, and I could not wait to see what she was going to say or do next. It warmed my heart that she pushed Asa to try and see himself differently. And I was rooting for her from page one, even while she struggled immensely with an action she watched unfold. While they were both wonderful separately, when Asa and Royal were together they were electric! Their level of sexual tension was through the roof hot! And when it finally proceeded down that avenue, I didn’t know if fanning myself was enough since you could literally feel their heat radiating off of the pages. Their chemistry of course led to one of my favorite scenes being about a shower and a cracked door. WOW, I’ve never read anything like that before! *claps out loud*

I am sad to say goodbye to these characters that I adore and love. But with the Saints of Denver coming next year, it looks like we might get a peak here and there of our beloved crew. But till then, it warmed my heart to see how much everyone has grown over time. That each one of our Marked Men got their own version of a happily ever after! It’s been a great journey, and I am so happy that I got to discover their world!

P.S. I love that Royal loved pop music and Britney Spears! I always get a song or two stuck in my head that reminds me of the storyline while reading a book. For Asa and Royal’s story it was Criminal and Toxic. And I literally screamed out loud when Jay Crownover had Toxic on Asa and Royal’s Playlist haha! Of course their playlist was my favorite of this series!

*ARC kindly provided by HarperCollins via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review*

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #) *Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.*
Rule #1 Reviews: Jen	Jet #2 Reviews: Jen	Rome #3 Reviews: Jen
Nash #4 Reviews: Jen	Rowdy #5 Reviews: Jen	Asa #6 Reviews: Jen

BOOK REVIEW – Rock Chick (Rock Chick #1) by Kristen Ashley

April 22, 2015 / Anna

Rock Chick (Rock Chick #1)
by Kristen Ashley
Purchase on: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Indy Savage, cop's daughter, rock chick and used bookstore owner, has been in love with Lee Nightingale, once bad boy, now the man behind Nightingale Investigations, since she was five years old. No matter what ingenious schemes Indy used to capture his attention, Lee never showed an interest and Indy finally gave up. Now Indy's employee, Rosie, has lost a bag of diamonds and bad guys are shooting at him. When Indy gets involved, Lee is forced to help. Complicating matters, Lee has decided he's interested, Indy's decided she's not. But she can't seem to keep Lee out of her life when she's repeatedly stun gunned, kidnapped and there are car bombs exploding (not to mention she's finding dead bodies).

Indy's best bet is to solve the mystery of the diamonds before Lee. Lee's challenge is to keep Indy alive and, at the same time, win back her heart.

Controlling asshole + TSTL heroine + plot nonsense + stereotypes everywhere = I’m calling bullshit.

For real, this book takes the crappy romance at a whole new level – I could be almost bewildered if I wasn’t so pissed. You know what? I read the full book and I don’t get it. I might write a full review when I calm down. Someday. In the meantime, I must introduce some facts to provide further information to explain my rating, because I do realize that I’m in a huge minority here.

Before I start, what you need to know is the fact that Indy knows Lee from her childhood and loved him almost always since, except for the 10 previous years. Why is it important? Why, because it’s used as the perfect excuse to explain that there isn’t ANY character development and/or relationship growth.

➊ Controlling asshole : Okay OKAY I get it, I get it. Here’s a handsome wild man, a tad mysterious, drop-dead sexy, who Indy loves since she’s 5, who carries a gun and is protective, who’s…

WHATEVER. I don’t care about all these wonderful qualities, because :

1) He is repeatedly violent in his moves : he pushes her, catches her wrist, “hook [her] around the back of the neck with enough force to send [her] slamming into him”. Wow, how romantic.

2) He wants to control every one of her actions, starting with their relationship : “This is happening between you and me,” he threatened.” Indeed Indy repeats several times that she is SCARED by him and his controlling behavior. What bothered me the most is the fact that the TSTL behavior of the heroine is used as an EXCUSE to explain Lee’s reactions and to make the reader believe that it’s okay. Nope. It’s not okay to handcuff your girlfriend at the bed because you don’t want her to go out. And it’s certainly not okay to FORBID your girlfriend to wear what she wants to wear. Oh, but don’t worry, Lee has an asshole as a friend who agrees with him.

“For what it’s worth, I’m with Lee. If you were my woman, there’s no fuckin’ way I’d let you out of the house wearin’ that.”

YOU DON’T SAY?!

3) He is a jealous prick. Now, a little jealousy can be great, but come on. Lee overreacts completely when Indy talks to another guy.

➋ TSTL heroine : basically, Indy is the stupid chick in scary movie. Yeah, you got it, the one we can’t help but yell at to STAY IN THE FUCKING HOUSE! To sum up, she is kidnapped 3 times, goes out every time someone tells her to stay hidden despite the really bad guys who constantly shot at her, decides to investigate while she obviously shouldn’t (plus, she gives her real name to every dubious person she meets : who does that??). I know some readers found her kick-ass. I’m sorry but this girl? She isn’t badass. No. When I think of her, here’s how I picture Indy :

What? She acts like she’s 16 while she’s 30.

Moreover, although in her inner monologues she complains about Lee’s controlling behavior, she always gave in. EVERY. FUCKING. TIME.

PS: I almost forgot to say that she is so fucking SPECIAL that she has 3 guys fighting for her. Yep. 3.

➌ Plot nonsense

You know what? I’m done.

BOOK REVIEW – Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover

April 20, 2015 / Jen / 0 Comments

Rowdy (Marked Men #5)
by Jay Crownover
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
After the only girl he ever loved told him that he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and set out to live up to his nickname. A good ol’ boy looking for good times and good friends, Rowdy refuses to take anything too seriously, especially when it comes to the opposite sex. Burned by love once, he isn’t going to let himself trust a woman again. But that’s before his new co-worker arrives, a ghost from the past who’s suddenly making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in a house with too many rules and too little fun—a world of unhappiness she couldn’t wait to forget. But one nice thing from childhood has stayed with her; the memory of the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been head over heels in love with her little sister.

Now, fate and an old friend have brought her and Rowdy together, and Salem is determined to show him that once upon a time he picked the wrong sister. A mission that is working perfectly—until the one person that ties them together appears, threatening to tear them apart for good.

Review:

Rowdy was not really a dominant character in the previous Marked Men’s books, in my eyes. He appeared here and there, but I never really had a good grasp on him and his whole story. Luckily we got to dive right into his history, and it wasn’t long before I knew him just as well as the others. But his story has a different element, which made it even more enjoyable. Two more stories become intertwined with his, and it made for a great addition. I don’t want to give them away, and they aren’t related to the other Marked Men characters, but be prepared to have fun as you watch all of the drama, feelings and events unfold!

Rowdy and I had ties that bound us together, it was just proving more difficult than I thought to unwind them and tie them back up into a pretty bow. – Salem

Just like all of the other Marked Men, Rowdy had a tough past. His mother was murdered, which forced him into the foster system. He eventually ended up with a family that lived next door to the Cruz sisters. They helped him find his way in life and gave him memories he could smile about. BUT they both ended up breaking him in the end. And now one of them is forcing her way back into his life. Salem has accepted a job at the new studio. She was not the sister that Rowdy dated, but she’s back to show him that he made the wrong choice. That it should have been her all along!

You were everything to me and then you were gone and I was lost all over again. – Rowdy

Rowdy has made a great life and “family” for himself. But now with Salem back in town, all of his old fears are materializing. He always felt as though he was never good enough for anyone to stick around. His mother ‘left’ him when she was murdered, Salem left him to escape her overprotective father when she turned 18, and Salem’s sister, Poppy, left him too. If he lets Salem back into his life, what’s not to say that she will leave him again? And while he’s come a long way, underneath it all he is still a broken little boy. He wouldn’t be able to handle being abandoned again.

I saw his eyes widen, watched them fill with recognition and trepidation. I couldn’t help but smile. Even though he looked less than thrilled to see me, everything about seeing him made me happy, and I knew, just knew I had made the right choice. – Salem

It’s impossible not to like Salem. She was sassy, strong and knew what she wanted in life, and that was Rowdy! But she’s insecure at the same time. Not only about the relationship that Rowdy had with her sister, but anytime life got too hard, she would pick up and run. Unfortunately, her mind ends up becoming her own worst enemy wondering if she could even compete with the past and her sister. But you know what? I got it! It made sense. I think that’s one of the things I loved the most about Rowdy and Salem’s story. They were so easy to understand. Their thoughts and actions were not only relatable but completely believable. And it made me love them that much more!

Salem and Rowdy’s journey was sweet! Watching them push each other out of their comfort zones was hot. And when they would re-live their history, their memories and stories were adorable. And through it all, all of the other Marked Men and the women we love are constantly thrown into the mix. Shaw’s news, while not surprising, had me elated, I loved watching Cora grill Salem, and seeing a huge event occur between Ayden and Asa was the icing on the cake. I can’t wait to see how all of their lives will be tied up in hopefully a pretty bow in Asa’s story, since it is the last in the series.

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #) *Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.*
Rule #1 Reviews: Jen	Jet #2 Reviews: Jen	Rome #3 Reviews: Jen
Nash #4 Reviews: Jen	Rowdy #5 Reviews: Jen	Asa #6 Reviews: Jen

BOOK REVIEW – Nash (Marked Men #4) by Jay Crownover

April 19, 2015 / Jen / 2 Comments

Nash (Marked Men #4)
by Jay Crownover
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Saint Ford has worked hard to achieve her childhood dream of becoming of nurse. Focused on her work and devoted to her patients, there’s no room for love. She doesn’t need a guy making waves in her calm, serene life—especially when he’s the unforgettable hottie who nearly destroyed her in high school. Dark, brooding Nash Donovan might not remember her or the terrible pain he caused. But he turned her world upside down . . . and now he’s trying to do it again.

Saint has no idea that Nash isn’t the cocky player he once was. Uncovering a devastating family secret has rocked his world, and now he’s struggling to figure out his future. He can’t be distracted by the pretty nurse he seems to meet everywhere. Still, he can’t ignore the sparks that fly between them—or how she seems so desperate to get away from him. But the funny, sweet, and drop-dead gorgeous Saint is far too amazing to give up on—especially since she’s the only thing in his life that seems to make sense.

When Nash discovers the truth about their past, he realizes he may have lost her heart before he could even fight for it. Now, Saint has to decide: is Nash worth risking herself for all over again?

Review:

It’ so easy to take pleasure in each of the Marked Men’s stories! They are fun and always have some grit to them. I don’t realize how attached I’ve become to the characters until their world falls apart beneath their feet. Here I am flipping through the pages, enjoying how the storyline is proceeding, and then BAM something happens that is so deep, so emotional, that it’s impossible not to cry or feel ripped apart. I do wish that I felt those stronger emotions throughout the rest of the book. But that doesn’t take away from the fact that I was so excited to read Nash’s story. But wow, I struggled connecting with Saint. She was just…well keep reading and you’ll see why she wasn’t my favorite.

She was beautiful, breathtaking, and she absolutely despised me. – Nash

Nash just learned that the man who truly loved and helped raise him has cancer, and it’s terminal. While dealing with Phil’s prognosis and his evil mother drama (she’s the devil btw, seriously) he is struggling to emotionally stay afloat. But through it all, Saint Ford keeps appearing in his life. Saint is not only a nurse at the hospital, but she went to high school with Nash. She was shy, chubby and had a huge crush on him. After having her heart and confidence ripped to shreds by Nash, can she really let him back in when he so desperately needs her?

“What’s right for me isn’t what’s right for you because I’m an actual human being with feelings and emotions, and you, Mom . . . you’re a goddamn monster.” – Nash

I’ve always loved Nash. Out of that crazy, dramatic group of friends, Nash was the good guy! He was the sexy, mellow, level-headed one. And being inside his head made me fall for him even harder. While I prefer bad boys, Nash and his tortured soul kept sucking me in! He was sexy, broken, hurt and jaded from his past because of his evil mother. But that didn’t affect what a beautiful person he became. Because Nash is patient, kind, loving, loyal and he MADE this book for me!

“I don’t know that you would like me once you got to know me, and the Nash I thought I knew . . .” She looked so lost all I wanted to do was give her a hug. “I hated him, but you . . . this Nash . . . all I do is want him.” – Saint

Saint isn’t the typical type of girl that I can connect with. She’s shy, quiet and struggles speaking her mind at times. And while I tried my hardest to give her a chance, she definitely tried my patience! I have a lot of leeway and understanding when it comes to characters having their hang ups and issues. We all make mistakes, I’ve seen a lot of crazy stuff over the years, and I know that I can be more forgiving than I probably should be with characters. But this girl just drove me insane at times! She would flip like a light switch and I just wanted to smack some sense into her. Especially during the couch part……that was just, wow….shocking, frustrating, maddening and CRAZY!!! Who in the world does that, really?!?! I’m still in shock! But of course there is a but! She questioned her own sanity, and I was so thankful that she wasn’t clueless to her actions. I liked how she made me laugh, how she cared for Nash and tried to have his best interests at heart. Unfortunately the positives did not outweigh her negatives.

“Why are you so certain I’m going to hurt you? That I’m going to fuck up and disappoint you?”
She gave me a lopsided smile and she worked her hands under the collar of my shirt so she could stroke the base of my neck.
“Because it’s bound to happen, but I really want to enjoy what we have before then.” – Saint

Nash’s story was adorable and frustrating. While I wish he would have had a different love interest, I still enjoyed his story. It was fun to watch another one of the guys find their way and sort out their past. I love this group of Marked Men. I love how these stories always involve their deep friendships! That we get to watch them help one other throughout each book! And that I get to continue to see Rule from time to time, gah I love him!! Now I’m off to read Rowdy’s story but I have to say that I LOVED the scenes that involved either Asa and Royal. They haven’t met yet, but they are both so intoxicating that I can’t wait for their story!!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #) *Each book can be read as a standalone, but best enjoyed in order.*
Rule #1 Reviews: Jen	Jet #2 Reviews: Jen	Rome #3 Reviews: Jen
Nash #4 Reviews: Jen	Rowdy #5 Reviews: Jen	Asa #6 Reviews: Jen