Tag: New Adult (Page 30 of 47)

BOOK REVIEW – Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3) by K. B. Ritchie

August 18, 2015 / Anna

Fuel the Fire (Calloway Sisters #3)
by Becca Ritchie, Krista Ritchie
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Protect your family. At all costs.

It’d take the impossible to hurt Connor Cobalt, even for a moment.

Protect your family. At all costs.

At twenty-six, his narcissistic tendencies have made room for the people he loves.

Protect your family. At all costs.

And he loves Rose. But when his love is threatened, when his greatest dreams with her are compromised — what is the cost then?

Protect your family. At all costs.

Love will guide his choices.
For the first time in his life.

“Nowadays people know the price of everything and the value of nothing.” – The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde

While I was gathering my thoughts about Fuel the Fire, I drew the conclusion that I needed to find a way to prevent me from rambling and adding a millions quotes. Yes, that happens with this kind of books. Favorites. You know, Connor said something that I found beautiful : that he was attracted by people‘s thoughts, by people‘s fire without never restraining himself in gender boxes, under a label. As I was reading the last page, smiling, I realized that what he said about people is also true when dealing with books.

A great book must make me think, feel, change my world during a few hours, and sometimes, it lingers. Considering how full of tropes the NA genre is, I repeatedly stated how rarely I found enjoyment reading it. It remains true. However, I don’t want to say that Fuel the Fire is a great New-Adult book.

No. It’s an incredible book. Period.

But before I start fangirling, as promised, here’s my bingo.

Now you can take everything in this bingo and multiply my emotions by 1000. I loved this book from start to finish, including its flaws (some repetitions of sayings, a tendency to drag at some point, several mistakes that should have been edited). So many passages made my heart beat in anticipation that I can’t hold a grudge. Except… except when revenge is involved, apparently : I let escape an evil little laugh that my boyfriend found *almost* scary (you’ll know when).

My heart is full. I am so proud of Connor and Rose that it’s getting ridiculous, but I don’t even care. They’re my perfect match.

Ps. After Hothouse Flower I didn’t think that I would read Ryke and Daisy’s next book, but I have to admit that I really enjoyed the dynamics between Ryke and the other characters here (especially Connor), so I might change my mind. Okay, I changed my mind.

BOOK REVIEW – Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2) by K. B. Ritchie

August 17, 2015 / Anna

Hothouse Flower (Calloway Sisters #2)
by Becca Ritchie, Krista Ritchie
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
yke Meadows, meet Daisy Calloway ... she’s all grown up.

Twenty-five-year-old Ryke Meadows knows he’s hard to love. With a billion-dollar inheritance, a track-star resume, and an alpha-male personality—he redefines the term likable asshole. But he’s not living to make friends. Or enemies. He just wants to free climb three of the toughest mountains in Yosemite without drama or interruption.

And then he receives a distressed call from a girl in Paris—a girl that he has never been allowed to have.

Daisy Calloway is eighteen. Finally. With her newfound independence, she can say goodbye to her overbearing mother and continue her modeling career. Next stop, Paris. Fashion Week begins with a bang, and Daisy uncovers the ugly reality of the industry. She wants to prove to her family that she can live on her own, but when everything spirals out of control, she turns to Ryke to keep her secrets.

As Daisy struggles to make sense of this new world and her freedom, she pushes the limits and fearlessly rides the edge. Ryke knows there’s deep hurt beneath every impulsive action. He must keep up with Daisy, and if he lets her go, her favorite motto—“live as if you’ll die today”—may just come true.

Trigger Warning : I chose to write this review as Ryke’s, therefore there will be a lot of cursing. Sorry about that.

➊ The romance

Ryke and Daisy’s story started as a fucking surprise for me : I didn’t expect to like them that fucking much, but during the first 50% I can’t deny that I spent a great time. The sexual tension between them was fucking off the charts and I couldn’t ship them more. I loved that they were friends and cared about each other so much, loved their complicity and their flirting. After Kiss the Sky I wasn’t sure that I would like these characters, but frankly? They grew on me, even if Daisy stays a little too dependent for my liking, and Rose & Connor stay my favorite by far, even in this one.

Connor,

And then when Ryke and Daisy finally had sex, Fuck. That was fucking hot. Okay, I forgive them the “I’m the only one to give you orgasms” line that was a little ridiculous.

➋ The drama

Well this being said, excuse me but the obstacles to their relationship were fucking dumb in my opinion.

It fucking killed me to see the drama stretch and stretch and stretch around Lo’s possible reaction and I wanted to punch him in the face each time he would make them feel bad only because they were drawn to each other. Just grow a fucking brain and stop being selfish. Now, Ryke annoyed me as well with his “I don’t give a shit what people think” attitude. Look, I don’t like to justify my actions to others either, but sometimes you have to realize that people aren’t in your fucking head to know what you think. Ugh. Talk about useless drama.

➌ The French

It’s starting to fucking spoil my enjoyment because I can’t help but cringe when I read them talking in French. I’m sorry, but asking a native speaker to check is not that hard. No French in his right mind would say something like : “Je serais génial, mais je sais ce qui me fait toujours obstacle”. It just doesn’t make any fucking sense. You don’t use génial to express how you’re feeling. Never.

In a word : More generic NA material than Kiss the Sky (yes, that would mean more stupid angst, more stereotypical leads and unrealistic scenes), but what I fucking loved in the first still owns the show : friendship, family and no girl hate.

Now, if you would excuse me, I’m going to wash my mouth and come back to Connor and Rose’s schemes in Fuel the Fire.

Ps. If you found the fuckings in this review annoying to read, I’m not sure that you will stand Ryke’s POV. Just sayin’.

BOOK REVIEW – Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3) by Karina Halle

August 15, 2015 / Jen / 0 Comments

Bold Tricks (The Artists Trilogy #3)
by Karina Halle
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Raised by con artists, Ellie Watt has a lot of crazy childhood memories-but none crazier than being scarred with acid by the demented crime boss Travis Raines. Now Ellie is a full-grown woman who lives for revenge, and Travis is a full-blown drug lord who kills for pleasure. The sadistic bastard has kidnapped her good friend Gus as well as her mother, whom he's been holding as prized possessions in his heavily guarded lair. And Ellie has only one chance in hell of getting them out alive-using two dangerous men who love her to death . . .

One is Camden McQueen, a talented tattoo artist who's made a permanent mark on Ellie's heart. The other is Javier Bernal, her fiery ex-lover who's busted more than a few heads in his time. From the crime-ridden streets of Mexico City to the predatory jungles of Honduras, this unlikely trio forms an uneasy alliance in the deadliest game of all-a gun-blazing battle to the finish that will pit enemy against enemy and lover against lover. And Ellie must choose the right man to trust . . . or die.

Review:

*Spoilers for Shooting Scars #2*

Bold Tricks was the perfect way to close this stunning trilogy! The angst kept me on the edge of my seat, the love made my heart swoon, and the dark, twisted storyline quickened my heartbeat and at times filled my veins with dread. This book was so good. So insanely freaking good!

…there was something so goddamn sexy about seeing Camden handle a gun, the shiny metal against his big arms and wide chest, muscle against muscle. With the blood smeared on his face, dripping down onto the tats that teased at his neck , he was 100 percent man. I just wished he was 100 percent mine.

We jump right into the story were Shooting Scars left off. Ellie, Camden and Javier have barely escaped from Travis’ house and they know it is a matter of time before they are found. They are on the run for their lives, together. And they will need to work together to keep Javier’s sister safe and to rescue Gus and Ellie’s mother. What follows is an action packed, intense ride that was completely unpredictable at times. It was impossible to put this book down.

“You own my heart. Please let me have yours.”

This book was only told from Ellie’s voice. And while I was sad that I didn’t get to be in Camden’s head, it made a lot of sense. We needed to feel as though we were in Ellie’s shoes. Because her heart and soul had been ripped apart. She desperately wanted to be back together with Camden, but she betrayed him in the worst sense. Ellie tried to make Camden see the light, but with Javier there it was impossible. Javier’s presence was slammed in Camden’s face every second of every torturous day. The anger, jealousy, betrayal and lust from all of them was beyond palpable. I loved it!

“What happened to your glasses?” I asked him.
He bit his lip, his eyes darting to the car. “They fell off somewhere. Probably when I fell. I can’t remember. That whole thing was… a blur.”
“Can you still see?”
He smiled, all beautiful white teeth, full lips, and dimples. “I’m nearsighted. Which means I’ll be a lousy shot until I get a new pair or some contacts. But at least I can see you clearly. The things up close. The things that matter.”

Ellie was one of those characters where it was easy to vacillate from liking to hating her. Her actions and thoughts could be entirely messed up, but I still wanted the best for her. Maybe it’s because I felt her suffering and remorse towards Camden. I felt her desperate need for him to forgive her. Or maybe it’s because finally in this book Ellie became a total bad-ass! She knew who she wanted to be and where she wanted to stand. She finally figured out all of her shit. She even had me laughing at her in scenes that were entirely inappropriate for laughing, like when she stole a weapon from someone, but gah, I was so ecstatic that she became the person I thought she deserved to be!

This was no longer a matter of good or bad.
This was all gray.
Hazy, fuzzy gray.
I squeezed the trigger.
The chamber clicked.
Loudly.
Empty.

I can’t end this without talking about Camden. I loved how dark he continued to be in this book. A sexy, glasses wearing tatted up guy who would do anything to keep you safe, to do what is right, even if it meant not blinking an eye to kill someone? UH, YES PLEASE! I was so sad to say goodbye to him and Ellie (sooo not mentioning Javier here besides this part haha). This whole series was utterly addicting, crazy, and entirely messed up but so, so, so good! It’s unlike anything I have ever read before and I plan to devour many more of Karina Halle’s books!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Sins & Needles #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Shooting Scars #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Bold Tricks #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea

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BOOK REVIEW – Kiss the Sky (Calloway Sisters #1) by Krista & Becca Ritchie

August 15, 2015 / Anna

Kiss the Sky (Calloway Sisters #1)
by Becca Ritchie, Krista Ritchie
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
Virgin. Sex addict. Daredevil. Alcoholic. Smartass … Jackass. Her five friends are about to be filmed. Reality TV, be prepared.

Rose Calloway thought she had everything under control. At twenty-three, she’s a Princeton graduate, an Academic Bowl champion, a fashion designer and the daughter of a Fortune 500 mogul. But with a sex addict as a sister and roommate, nothing comes easy.

After accepting help from a producer, Rose agrees to have her life filmed for a reality television show. The Hollywood exec is her last chance to revive her struggling fashion line, and boundaries begin to blur as she’s forced to make nice with a man who always has his way.

Twenty-four-year-old Connor Cobalt is a guy who bulldozes weak men. He’s confident, smart-as-hell and lives with his equally ambitious girlfriend, Rose Calloway. Connor has to find a way to protect Rose without ruining the show. Or else the producer will get what Connor has always wanted—Rose’s virginity.

My rules :
FUCK : I liked it but –
MARRY : This is why I’m melting on the floor
KILL : Are you really asking me what it means?

I barely ever read NA anymore but HOLY COW I’ve just been slapped in the face :

☑ BROMANCE. Lo, Ryke and Connor put a huge smile on my face each time they argued or tried to catch a rat (yes, that’s a thing) or answered questions during their interviews.

☑ FAMILY. Sisters power for the win. That’s all.

☑ Flawed and realistic characters I LOVED following.

☑ Ice Queen Powaaaaaaa (sorry for being that enthusiastic. Just, I love Rose, even if she grits on my nerves sometimes. But hey, that’s what love is about right?) She’s relatable to me in a way heroines rarely are : I want it all, like her, and I have no fucking problem to express it. Ps. Just try to attack my privacy and you’ll see what happens. Just sayin’. I can’t express how many times she would say/think something and I would wholeheartedly agree with her. You go girl. You show them.

“So bring it on, motherfuckers. Try to hurt me. Because I won’t let you.”

☑ Connor is the perfectly flawed hero for me.

“We haven’t formally met,” I say, holding out my hand. “I’m Connor Cobalt. The guy whose girlfriend you want to fuck. And just so you understand, the odds don’t look good for you.”

BUT SERIOUSLY! YES! I NEED CAPS! HOT. SMARTASS. DRIVEN. CLEVER. ARROGANT. LOYAL. PROTECTIVE. RESPECTFUL. GAAAAH he is PERFECTION.

☑ Rose and Connor’s complicity, games, EVERYTHING. It brought so much reality into their relationship.

☑ Frankly, I thought that I would be annoyed by the reality show aspects but actually I enjoyed a lot how the fucked-up lies were handled. Also, these interviews? I WANT MORE. *giggles like a moron*

☑ No slut-shaming but THE EXACT OPPOSITE. Considering that the heroine is a virgin, yes, that’s pretty amazing.

☑ Hot sex scenes : a little rough but always respectful.

ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

✘ Just, I’m sorry Connor, really, but *whispers* your French isn’t quite right. I know many readers fantasized about him talking French and if I can’t grasp the appeal of it (obviously), I can imagine (I guess – well, really, I can’t, but I’m a nice person. Sometimes).

However some mistakes rubbed me the wrong way and spoiled my enjoyment a little bit :

✘ “Je suis passionné de toi “: Huh-Oh. This one enters the “not making any sense” category. Nobody would say that ever. So much that I can’t even find a substitute. “Tu me passionnes”, maybe?

✘ Repeated use of “Vous” to translate “You” when he talks to Rose : look, in French “You” can be translated into 2 words : “Tu” if you’re talking to one person you know or a child, and “Vous” if 1)You’re talking to several persons or 2)You’re talking to one person you don’t know/you have to show respect to like a policeman, your Boss, well, every adult you don’t personally know, really (I’m a “Vous” whore and I can’t say “Tu” to anyone except my friends, my boyfriend and my family). So, the fact that Connor uses “Vous” when talking with Rose is just plain weird.

So, yeah, it’s not fair, me being French and all, but the French addition is only… cheesy to me. Now you can hate me.

✘ If the characters won me, the book lacks a rhythm, a tension. Look, I’m okay with that to a certain extent : Kiss the Sky offers us slices of life and that’s what makes it realistic and enjoyable. However, I can’t deny that the story dragged during the second half and there was a moment I stopped reading to ask myself what exactly was the point. Am I turning cynical towards romance? It’s a possibility to consider.

✘ The jumps in the time confused me. Like, really. I found myself reading the wedding countdown and trying to calculate how many time passed between the different scenes. I know, silly, but sometimes the next chapter would take place immediately after the last one, and sometimes weeks would have passed, and can you please be coherent one minute because I’m lost right now?

✘ I was really looking forward to seeing Scott HURT. A lot. For a long, loooong time.

Final thought : READ THIS BOOK

In the end every one of these characters leave its mark on me, and my heart is purring, satisfied, full of laughs and love. I can’t wait to see more of them. This is the best feel, right?

Ps. I do know that I perverted the FUCK. MARRY. KILL game and that it doesn’t completely work. Frankly? I just don’t care. It cracked me up 😛

Ps.2 I didn’t read the Addicted series because I don’t do over drama but it didn’t prevent me for loving this one.

BOOK REVIEW – Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2) by Karina Halle

August 4, 2015 / Jen / 2 Comments

Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2)
by Karina Halle
Purchase on: Amazon, iBooks
Add to: Goodreads

Synopsis:
A Dangerous Kind of Love . . .
When Ellie Watt offered herself to her thuggish former lover Javier to save Camden's life, she never imagined the twisted game Javier had planned for her. Trapped by him and his entourage of killers, Ellie is forced to commit a dangerous, heinous crime-or Javier will kill Camden. Now ex-con artist Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game . . . before it destroys her and the only man she ever loved.
Camden McQueen can't forget Ellie Watt. Seeking revenge and pursued by the authorities for a crime he didn't commit, the talented tattoo artist does things he never thought himself capable of to save Ellie. As Camden straddles the line between love and retribution, he vows to do everything in his power to get her back. But if Camden unleashes his dark side, will Ellie still love him?

Review:

*Spoilers for Sins and Needles*

I was the angel of death, walking arm in arm with Lucifer. – Ellie

Oh my gosh, oh my gosh, oh my gosh. Wait, let me take a deep breath because that was amazing! Shooting Scars was a phenomenal second installment that was even more dark and twisted than the first! Not only was I glued to the pages, but I loved that I could never truly guess all that would eventually unfold. Ellie, Camden and Javier could be such wild cards at times, and I loved that about them. Their emotions, motives and persona’s always kept me on the tip of my toes. Just like the storyline!

Even at her very worst, she made me want to be a better man. To be good enough for the both of us. – Camden

Elie has sacrificed herself for Camden’s happiness. She has agreed to go away with Javier and his entourage of killers, so Camden can have his family back. But what she doesn’t realize, is what is in store for her. Ellie is going to be forced to commit a horrific crime, and if she doesn’t comply then Camden will be killed. Now for a girl that I found myself struggling with liking from time to time, she had this amazing ability to pull vasts amount of sympathy from me. Because in this story, she goes above and beyond what I consider forgivable. My ability to like or even root for her was obliterated. Or so I thought. But somehow she managed to swing back around to my good side. Again. Ugh, I don’t even know how it happened. Maybe it’s the sympathy or the way she is manipulated and brainwashed to think that she is truly bad?! I don’t know. But somehow by that last page I liked her again. Ellie constantly messed with my head!

All I knew is what I felt. And that the woman I loved, had always loved, had sacrificed herself for me. There was no getting past that. She’d embedded herself in my skin, like a tattoo I could never give myself. – Camden

Do you want to know what my favorite thing about this book was? That we got to alternate between being in Ellie and Camden’s head. Listening to Camden’s thoughts…..sigh, I was ecstatic to be there. But at the same point, we truly got to know him inside and out. And ohhhhh Camden, how dark can one person turn?! The things that he thinks and the things that he does, well at times it was horrifying. There’s this one part where uhhhhhh I never thought of something turning out that way and my stomach twisted again and again. *shudders* I was terrified that Camden was teetering on the edge of becoming someone evil. Someone like to Javier. And if you read my ON EVERY STREET review, you’ll know how much I despise that man. But I’m holding out hope for Camden, just like he holds out hope for Ellie. Because Camden is sweet, faithful, has so much love in his heart, and always tries his hardest to do what’s right! I’m rooting for him all the way!

“Sometimes I’d do anything to be good.” – Ellie

Shooting Scars encompassed love, revenge, torture, hope and despair while keeping me on the edge of my seat. While I wish there wasn’t so much time spent between Ellie and Javier, because I loathe that man, I get why it had to happen. The conflict and struggles it created was paramount to this story. BUT that ending?!?! Must start the third and final book now!

Reading Order & Links: Amazon (click on covers), iBooks (click on titles) & Book Depository (click on book #)
Sins & Needles #1 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Shooting Scars #2 Reviews: Jen Chelsea	Bold Tricks #3 Reviews: Jen Chelsea