Review Wednesday: Beautiful Sacrifice by Jamie McGuire

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*


Title: Beautiful Sacrifice (Maddox Brother #3)
Author: Jamie McGuire
1st Date of Publication: May 31, 2015
ISBN: 9781511847506
# of Pages: 270
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: 
Falyn Fairchild can walk away from anything. Having already left her car, her education, and even her parents, the daughter of the next governor of Colorado is back in her hometown, broke and waiting tables for the Bucksaw Café. After every shift, Falyn adds to her shoebox of cash, hoping to one day save enough to buy her a plane ticket to the only place she can find forgiveness: Eakins, Illinois.

The moment Taylor Maddox is seated in Falyn’s section at the Bucksaw, she knows he’s trouble. Taylor is charming, breaks promises, and gorgeous even when covered in filth—making him everything Falyn believes a hotshot firefighter to be. Falyn isn’t interested in becoming another statistic, and for a Maddox boy, a disinterested girl is the ultimate challenge.

Once Falyn learns where Taylor calls home, everything changes. In the end, Maddox persistence is met with Falyn’s talent for leaving, and for the first time, Taylor may be the one to get burned.

Setting: Colorado Springs, Colorado and Eakins, Illinois in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st Person- Falyn Fairchild

Goodreads Rating: 4.08

My Rating: 4.35


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: Why is the woman's hair on fire? Is she giving up her life?
View on the Title: Can a sacrifice really be beautiful when it's going to cause pain and suffering? What kind of suffering and sacrifice can be beautiful?

Pros:

• The main characters are a really interesting mix.
• Don't let Falyn Fairchild fool you. She is not very nice to men interested in her, but she is really great as a waitress. She is sweet, caring, and extremely hard working to the point where she refuses to take any short cuts for her personal mission, which is to go to Eakins, Illinois.
• Taylor Maddox is the perfect package. He's very attractive, successful, and a hotshot firefighter, or someone who fights extremely dangerous wildfires. He has his eyes set on Falyn and he is relentless in becoming closer to her. It's really endearing to read.
• This book really gets at your heartstrings. Falyn's past has more heartbreak in it than the other Maddox boys' women. Falyn's past truly speaks to why her current circumstances are so drastic from what they could be.
• The mystery compels you to read more. Why does she live a life of "rags" when she grew up in "riches?" Why does she hate her parents so much? Why is she cold toward men who are attracted to her? Why is she dead set on going to Eakins, Illinois?
• The secondary characters really add to the story. They provide a lot of depth to Falyn's character as she sometimes holds back information that is vital to know how the story will unfold.

Cons:

• It seemed like there lacked some depth in Taylor's character. If you don't love Maddox boys, then this series will seem slightly repetitive when it comes to the Maddox men.

Jamie McGuire's Website:

http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire
Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles
Easy by Tammara Webber

Review Wednesday: The Perfect Mistress by ReShonda Tate Billingsley

Title: The Perfect Mistress

Author: ReShonda Tate Billingsley
1st Date of Publication: July 5, 2016

ISBN: 9781476714974
# of Pages: 336

Genre: Adult Romance/Contemporary

Age Rating: 17+

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:

Lauren Robinson knows exactly what it takes to be the perfect mistress. She had a front-row seat when she tagged along with her father on all of his extramarital trysts. She loved “keeping Daddy’s special secrets,” but many family members, especially her mother, consider her an accomplice in helping break up their family.

Years later, Lauren’s mother, Joyce, whose health is failing, cannot let go of the bitterness caused by her husband’s philandering. She continues to blame Lauren, as does Lauren’s brother. Joyce can’t see past her anger and betrayal and has withheld her maternal affection from Lauren for most of her life. This emotional distance and Lauren’s early dating experiences lead her to date married men…

That is until Dr. Matthew King enters the scene. Now poised to become a college president, Matthew is a former beau that left Lauren brokenhearted. He tries to show Lauren that he’s a changed man since their college days. The two truly connect and their relationship quickly escalates.

When Matthew proposes marriage, Lauren happily accepts, but as their very public engagement makes the news, someone is intent on sabotaging their relationship. Someone who watched her own marriage destroyed by Lauren, and won’t be happy until she gives Lauren a taste of her own medicine. Can Lauren stop the cycle of destruction in time to salvage the only love she’s ever known?

Setting: Raleigh, NC, in 1989 and 2016
Point of View: 3rd person- Lauren Robinson

Goodreads Rating: 4.26

My Rating: 4.0

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Title

View on the Cover: The woman is pretty attractive. But, why is her lips shown more than anything else?
View on Title: It sounds scandalous. Can you really be the perfect mistress or is it all an illusion?

Pros:

• The premise behind the book is the sins of the father will affect the lives of their sons, or in this case daughters. Lauren becomes a victim of her father's lifestyle and then becomes her father as she becomes a woman.
• This novel represents a world that is slightly different than the norm. It's interesting because the kind of world that Lauren is in is more of a man's world, but she owns it and is extremely successful.
• Lauren is a very clever woman, and is often underestimated. There is a moment where she has to deflect a woman's rage and convince her that she isn't her husband's mistress, even though she really is. She also makes it a point to remember and remind all the husbands of their wives and anniversaries to keep the affair quiet.
• Matthew's character is the complete opposite of Lauren. He wants to be loyal and love only her, but because of Lauren's experience she has a hard time believing the love he has for her.
• A few societal issues are explored here. 
• The first issue is obviously cheating and basically prostitution. It's obvious that Vernon, Lauren's father, cheats on his wife and creates a strained relationship between the entire family.
• The second issue is miscarriage and cancer in that it often leads to depression in the family because loved ones are lost.
• The final issue is betrayal and misunderstanding of actions, which is seen through the strained relationship between Lauren and her mother, Joyce.

Cons:

• The novel seemed to be really slow. The disappointing thing about this is that the synopsis summarizes almost 80% of the book before it continues past that point.

ReShonda Tate Billingsley's Website:

http://www.reshondatatebillingsley.com/

Other Recommendations:

Ladies Man by Katy Evan
Wrong by Jana Aston
Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman

Review Wednesday: For You by Kristen Ashley

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: For You (The 'Burg #1)

Author: Kristen Ashley
1st Date of Publication: March 14, 2011

ISBN: 9780692323663
# of Pages: 534

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
Lieutenant Alexander Colton and February Owens were high school sweethearts. Everyone in their small town knew from the moment they met they were meant for each other. But something happened and Feb broke Colt’s heart then she turned wild and tragedy struck. Colt meted out revenge against the man who brought Feb low but even though Colt risked it all for her, Feb turned her back on him and left town.

Fifteen years later, Feb comes back to help run the family bar. But there’s so much water under the bridge separating her and Colt everyone knows they’ll never get back together.

Until someone starts hacking up people in Feb’s life. Colt is still Colt and Feb is still Feb so the town watches as Colt goes all out to find the murderer while trying to keep Feb safe.

As the bodies pile up, The Feds move in and a twisting, turning story unravels exposing a very sick man who has claimed numerous victims along the way, Feb and Colt battle their enduring attraction and the beautiful but lost history that weaves them together.



Setting: Brownsburg, Indiana
Point of View: 3rd person- February Owens and Alexander "Alex/Colt" Colton

Goodreads Rating: 4.19

My Rating: 4.5

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: I like the heart since it reminds me of a sort of high school sweethearts feel, except it doesn't have the initials of the lovers on it. It looks more like pointless vandalism without the initials.
View on Title: What is "for you"? Who is "you" and who is the one giving or doing something for the recipient? It's really vague nut it seems interesting enough to read.

Pros:

• The ages of the main characters were really different compared to the other new adult novels I have read, which I think made it more interesting. I liked the sense of maturity between the two characters. It really makes you think what is really important in life. Both main characters are in their early 40s rather than in their 20s or 30s like characters in the other new adult novels I have read in the past.
• I really enjoyed the 2 main characters, Feb and Colt. It's easy to tell that they both have a history together. Their history together started really good but something happened to them, and now they can barely look at each other.
• February Owens just want to go back to a normal life where she is only responsible for herself. She's been through a bad marriage and several toxic relationships after leaving Brownsburg for almost a decade. She is a strong character but her world is shaken when someone tries to do her the favor of killing all the people who she is associated with. She doesn't take any trouble from anyone especially since she is a bartender at her parents' bar.
• Alexander Colton is a rags to riches kind of man. Both his parents are alcohol and drug addicts and it seemed like he was headed into that route until he meant the Owens family. He's the lieutenant of the town and is extremely protective of Feb. He is also a  strong character as he doesn't stop to solve and catch the murderer
• The importance of family and why failed relationships occur are important in this book. Feb and Morrie's (Feb's brother) always make sure to put family first, even Colt, and that's apparent throughout the novel. Unfortunately, Morrie's marriage is gone because he chose work over family, and Feb is divorced to a man who would beat her and now living on her own.
• The mysteriousness of not only the murders but the reason of the failed relationship between Feb and Colt makes you want to keep reading.

Cons:

• There were a lot of secondary characters in the book that showed up and it was sometimes hard to keep track if they had shown up earlier in the book. This may have been intentional because when you're in a situation that is very stressful and dire like Feb's then it is normal to just breeze through and lose sight of certain characters.
• The book seemed a little long winded. I felt that the book didn't necessarily need to be as long as it was. The whole situation was very drawn out and there was lot of "white noise" where there was nothing really happening.
• The ending seemed too cliché and parts seemed a little unlikely to happen.

Kristen Ashley's Website:
http://www.kristenashley.net/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: Say You'll Stay by Corinne Michaels

*This is a book meant for adults due to some inappropriate content for people younger than 18.*

Title: Say You'll Stay

Author: Corinne Michaels
1st Date of Publication: June 19, 2016

ISBN: 9781682307533
# of Pages: 310

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
One word.
Stay.
It was all he had to do. Instead, he got on that bus and took my heart with him.
That was seventeen years ago.
I moved on. Marriage. Kids. White picket fence. Everything I ever wanted, but my husband betrayed me and I was left once again.
Alone, penniless, and with two boys, I had no choice but to return to Tennessee. He wasn't supposed to be there. I should've been safe. However, fate has a way of stepping in.
This time around, the tables are turned. It's my decision. Second chances do exist, but I don't know if we can repair what's already been broken...

Setting: Starts in Philadelphia, PA, but most of it is in Bell Buckle, TN
Point of View: 1st person- Presley Townsend Bensen and Zachary Hennington

Goodreads Rating: 4.15

My Rating: 4.45

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: That man is very attractive. He has a look that says, "Come over here and let me show you what I can do."
View on Title: It has a whiny connotation to it. It makes think that one of the main characters is clingy.

Pros:

• This is a stand-alone novel but it is also a companion novel since many of the characters in this novel will be in the other one, Say You Want Me.
• The story becomes heavy almost immediately into reading it. Usually, stories in this genre have a buildup to the amount of conflict and devastation before an event like the suicide in this novel starts.
• I love this story as a redemption novel where characters who were once very immature and previously made poor decisions become more mature and continue to grow when the novel takes place.
• This novel truly shows the impact people have on each other's lives, and it also shows the actions that someone would take to protect their loved ones.
• The main characters are pretty well-rounded and make the novel flow very easily. It didn't take long for me to finish it.
• Presley Bensen (nee Townsend) was always a simple girl with big dreams. She wants an old-school life of being a wife and mother, which I think is both her strength and downfall. She wanted that so bad that she never became independent on her own, even though she is a great mother. She lets the idea of love cloud her judgment in things and still continues to be dependent on everyone. It makes sense since she has a couple hundred thousand dollars of debt. Although she is very dependent and somewhat clingy, she knows who she is and where she came from.
• Zachary Hennington seems to barely be living his life. He dates someone who he doesn't love and knows it as soon as Presley shows up. I wish he kept his distance more and slowly got reacquainted with Presley. I do have to hand it to him because he is relentless and knows what he wants in his life. Plus, he is really good looking and great with kids.
• The secondary characters are the ones I feel like really make this book pop. My first favorite character Presley's long-time friend and sister-in-law, Angie. She is very spunky and lives life in her own tune, and Presley's complete opposite. Then there's Wyatt who is Zachary's little brother. He is hot and has a good sense of humor, but is always there for Presley and seems like the only one to be able to get her out of her depressing rut. I really empathize with him since he truly loves her, but she has always been Zach's girl.

Cons:

• I felt like there could have been two endings to this novel. Obviously, the first ending would be the one the author gave at the end of the novel. Although the ending was satisfying, the place where I thought the first ending should be would have been perfect. There was a conflict with no foreshadowing, backstory, or thoughts that happens right after where the ending I thought should have been enough. It felt like the author had to put that extra conflict in there just to put it in there. I don't want to give it away, but I thought it was unnecessary after Presley already had to deal with her late husband's suicide and the debt he gave her.
• Even though I understand the pain Presley has gone through in the events before the novel, she punishes almost everyone in the novel for it by not visiting her family and friends. I think that might be a little bit unrealistic because if she loved her family who has done nothing but loves her she would have been homesick and at least visit at least once or twice over two decades. The excuse Presley uses to stay away from her family in Bell Buckle is very immature and ridiculous.
• I felt that the grieving process was almost nonexistent as soon as Presley gets to Bell Buckle. I get that she's angry but she acts like her husband's suicide never happened.

Corinne Micheal's Website:
http://corinnemichaels.com/

Other Recommendations:

Wrong by Jane Aston
My Skylar Penelope Ward
For You by Kristen Ashley

Review Wednesday: It Runs At Night by L. Danny Perez

Title: It Runs At Night (The Water Boils #1)

Author: L. Danny Perez
1st Date of Publication: March 23, 2016

ISBN: 9781523850051
# of Pages: 98

Genre: Young Adult Short Story

Age Rating: 13 

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
After her brother Federico goes missing, Lolita embarks on a lonely journey through the valleys of Mexico to find him and earn her family’s forgiveness. Deep into the valley she loses her way and soon realizes that she is not alone. As day turns into night, Lolita becomes more certain of what she must do to stay alive and find her brother. Does she have what it takes to survive the darkness?


Point of View: 1st person- Carolina "Lolita"

Goodreads Rating: 4.00

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The color scheme of the book is interesting and shows that the books is about a dark matter. It shows that it is the girl's fault because she has her head fallen down as if she is regretting something.
View on Title: The title made me wonder what is the "It" that runs at night. It became very intriguing and I had to know.

Pros:

• I really enjoyed the writing style of this short story. It's very similar to the way I write when I write fictional pieces. The style of the writing is engaging and makes the book easy and it seems like it goes so fast when you read it.
• I love Lolita's character. She has a strong sense of responsibility which allows her to be brave. You're able to empathize with her, especially if you (the reader) have a younger sibling. You get in her head and understand her reactions to everything a lot better.
• I enjoyed the use of Spanish in both language and culture because I have some knowledge of both and understood the Spanish words used and the events that were mentioned.
• I also thought the use of the whispering voice was interesting and mysterious, which makes me wonder who or what is that voice.

Cons:

• I wish it was longer because it felt so short, but that's also because it's a short story. I knew what I signed up for, but by the end of it, it made me beg for more.
• The only thing that really bothered me is that everyone put the blame of Federico's absence on Lolita even though she is only a child herself. This is what forces/pushes her to go and save her brother.

L. Danny Perez's Website:

http://www.ldannyperez.com/

Other Recommendations:

Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia McCall