Review Wednesday: Wallbanger by Alice Clayton

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


Title: Wallbanger (Cocktail #1)
Author: Alice Clayton
1st Date of Publication: November 12, 2012
ISBN: 9781623420024
# of Pages: 384
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description: 
The first night after Caroline moves into her fantastic new San Francisco apartment, she realizes she's gaining an intimate knowledge of her new neighbor's nocturnal adventures. Thanks to paper-thin walls and the guy's athletic prowess, she can hear not just his bed banging against the wall but the ecstatic response of what seems (as loud night after loud night goes by) like an endless parade of women. And since Caroline is currently on a self-imposed dating hiatus, and her neighbor is clearly lethally attractive to women, she finds her fantasies keep her awake even longer than the noise. So when the wallbanging threatens to literally bounce her out of bed, Caroline, clad in sexual frustration and a pink baby-doll nightie, confronts Simon Parker, her heard-but-never-seen neighbor. The tension between them is as thick as the walls are thin, and the results just as mixed. Suddenly, Caroline is finding she may have discovered a whole new definition of neighborly...

In a delicious mix of silly and steamy, Alice Clayton dishes out a hot and hilarious tale of exasperation at first sight...

Setting: San Fransisco, California in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st Person- Caroline Reynolds 

Goodreads Rating: 4.10

My Rating: 4.25


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: It seems very scandalous. It seems to matcj the title very 
View on the Title: I know that there is an alcoholic drink called a wallbanger, but maybe it is a play on words with the sex.

Pros:

• The main characters are pretty interesting together. They complement each other.
• Caroline Reynolds is a hardworking interior desinger who is great at her job. She loves to bake in her free time while she listens to her neighbor's good-tasted music. She has had a lot of bad luck with seual partners that she decided to go on an indefinite sexual hiatus.
• Simon Parker is Caroline Reynold's neighbor and he isn't the typical neighbor. He has a very different seual life than the average man, but he hasa good taste in musc and an excellent photographer who gets to travel the world. He has a past that causes him to live this certain lifestyle.
• Together Caroline and Simon are hilarious as they try to play matchmaker with their friends. The entire encounter is exciting and captivating.
• This novel is extremely funny alomst as much as it is sexy. It continues to make you laugh. From the baking jokes to the harem jokes, this novel will make you laugh so hard.

Cons:

• The only thing I wish is that there was more depth to Simon and the other supporting characters. But, this is a series so there should be more characterization.

Critics' Reviews:

"Pure escapism...with a funny cast, snappy dialogue, and plenty of hot and sexy scenes.... Readers of Rachel Gibson and Helen Fielding will enjoy Clayton" -Booklist

Alice Clayton's Website:
http://aliceclayton.com/

Other Recommendations:

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

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: Slave to Love by Julie A. Richman

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

Title: Slave to Love

Author: Julie A. Richman
1st Date of Publication: January 14, 2016

ISBN: 9781942215325
# of Pages: 284

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
There are risks to mixing business with pleasure...

IF A MAN HAS AN AFFAIR AT WORK, HE'S A STUD.

He was a royal prick.
The night we met, he ignored me.
Then Mr. Big Shot CEO grabbed my ass in a business meeting.
My boss just loaned me out to this guy.
Now, we’re working on a major project together.
And our chemistry is dangerous.
Combustible.
If I allow it to ignite, I’ll risk losing that promotion.
Worse, what if I lose myself in him?


IF A WOMAN HAS AN AFFAIR AT WORK, SHE'S A SLUT.

From the moment I saw her I knew she was trouble.
It was the combination of her fresh face, smart mouth and nipples that seemed to know my name.
This woman could satisfy my needs both in the boardroom and the bedroom.
But there was more to it than that.
I wanted her.
Really wanted her.
And I was in the position to change the course of her life.
But I’ve got secrets, secrets that could destroy her.
And either make her mine or drive her away forever.


Setting: Austin, Texas
Point of View: 1st person- Sierra Stone and Hale Lunstrom

Goodreads Rating: 4.03

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: He is a very handsome, sexy man. He reminds me a little bit of Adam Levine without all the tattoos.
View on Title: Who is a "Slave to Love?" Is the term a good thing or a bad thing?

Pros:

• This is not your typical love story. It shows many real world problems with love and life.
• The first issue it truly shows is women's difficulty to have respect and rise up in a business world or in their own career. They have to work three times as hard to keep their positions.
• It shows the double standard between men and women when it comes to dating in the work force. A man is basically high-fived for sleeping with a woman, but it's the opposite for the woman herself.If a woman has a relationship with someone above her, it marks her as selling her body just to get ahead when really that's not the case.
• The main characters are both really strong and have depth.
• Sierra Stone is a 33 year old woman who is fighting for a new promotion that she deserves more than anybody. She is smart when it comes to managing/leading her own team and knows how to handle a man in business conversations while looking great. She refuses relationships because she is afraid it will mess with her work, which means children are far away from her own thoughts.
• Hale Lundstrom is a 37 year old business CEO and marine veteran who has a past that he tries to bury. He is attractive and likes to test his limits even with Sierra. He wants to settle down and maybe have a family one day, but it never seems to fall in place.
• The banter between Sierra and Hale is humorous yet heartbreaking as they work side-by-side for an important week of events. Their characterization continues to become more fruitful as they become closer in their work friendship.
• There is a lot of sexual tension through the book, but there is little to no resolve for the majority of the book.
• I particularly liked Sierra's mermaid necklace, which symbolized a lot of who she is.

Cons:

• The only real issue I had with it was that the middle seemed to drag. Nothing really was happening. I just kept hoping something would happen.

Julie A. Richman's Website:
http://juliearichman.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: My Skylar by Penelope Ward

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

Title: My Skylar

Author: Penelope Ward
1st Date of Publication: June 2, 2014

ISBN: 9781499764529
# of Pages: 312

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Language and Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Skylar was my best friend, but I secretly pined for her. One thing after another kept us apart, and I’ve spent the last decade in fear of losing her forever.

First, it was the cancer, but she survived only to face the unthinkable at my hands. Because of me, she left town. For years, I thought I’d never see her again.

But now she’s back…and living with him.

I don’t deserve her after everything I’ve put her through, but I can’t live without her. This is my last chance, because she’s about to make the biggest mistake of her life. I can see it her eyes: she doesn’t love him. She still loves me...which is why I have to stop her before it’s too late.

Setting: Several locations on the east coast of the United
Point of View: 1st person- Mitch and Skylar

Goodreads Rating: 4.36

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: It looks like a beach read. Why is the woman topless? What are the man's tattoo supposed to mean? Why does the cover show a somber tone?
View on Title: It seems a bit possessive. Why is the woman his?

Pros:

• This is definitely a beach read. I really enjoyed it and I got it free, which made it even better.
• This book had every possible sad story plot twist in it. All I will say is that it starts out with kids with divorced parents and then cancer, I won't spoil the rest of it. It made the book more interesting. Ward really knew how to make each scenario flow throughout the book.
• The character I found really interesting was Charisma. I kind of hate her, but she is a genius.
• The character development is done very well where it made the characters feel real. You can feel the raw emotions of both Mitch and Skylar. You can understand the motives of both characters and it makes you sympathize with them.

Cons:

• I felt that the sad story plot twists became a little much once the Mitch and Skylar meet. It's a double edged sword, but the stakes were high for the both of them. It gave the notion that love can overcome anything, which is hard to believe.
• Charisma was also a double edged sword. I really hated her and thought she was unnecessary.
• Skylar's indecision really bothered me because that caused most of the problems when it came to her relationship with Mitch.

Penelope Ward's Website:
http://www.penelopewardauthor.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Fifty Shades of Gray by E.L. James
Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Review Wednesday: Wrong by Jana Aston

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

Title: Wrong (Wrong #1)

Author: Jana Aston
1st Date of Publication: October 15, 2015

ISBN: 9781518729379
# of Pages: 276

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
I have a history of picking the wrong guy. Gay? Player? Momma’s boy? Check, check and check.

Now I can’t stop fantasizing about one of the customers at the coffee shop I work at between classes. It’s just a harmless crush, right? It’s not like I ever see this guy outside of the coffee shop. It’s not like I’m going to see him while attempting to get birth control at the student clinic. While wearing a paper gown. While sitting on an exam table. Because he’s the doctor. Shoot. Me.

But what if, for once, the man I’ve had the dirtiest, most scandalous fantasies about turned out to be everything but wrong?

Setting: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st person- Sophie Tisdale

Goodreads Rating: 3.95

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The man looks very handsome and intriguing. Why is only half of him shown?
View on Title: What is wrong? Why is it wrong? Does the wrong thing happen?

Pros:

• The main characters are fairly well-rounded.
• Sophie Tisdale is a student who works at a coffee shop and is a corporate accounting major at the University of Pennsylvania. She does not want to burden her grandparents with an unplanned pregnancy since she was a product of one. Little is said about her mother and her father is unknown. It makes the reader wonder what happened to both parents. I love Sophie's sassy attitude and her drive for life.
• Luke Miller seems to be very put together and extremely intelligent. He is very confident and is not at all what the reader would think he is. He is very mysterious and attractive, which Sophie likes. I love how controlling but protective Luke can be sometimes. He reminded me a little bit like Christian Grey from Fifty Shades of Grey.
• The name of the coffee shop, Grind Me, is really funny to me because it's foreshadowing and a clever way to call a coffee shop.
• The irony of the entire situation is really funny to me. Sophie thinks that Luke is out of her league partly because she's a student, but he turns out to be a volunteer gynecologist for the college students. I know it sounds a little creepy, but Luke really means well.
• It really hones in on the issue of teenage/college unplanned pregnancies and how it can really change a woman's future. It deeply encourages birth control of different types, the pill, condom, and even abstinence. I love how Sophie is always so worried about the effects of being intimate and tries to be diligent (for the most part) not to become pregnant.

Cons:

• The entire situation seems a little bit too coincidental that it does not seem realistic. On the other hand, my life seemed too coincidental but I still got my happy ending. Maybe these things happen by chance.
• Some of the characters were underdeveloped, such as Sophie's coworker Everly and Sophie's roommate Jean. I soon found out that there is a companion novel for Everly called Right.
• The only thing I really wished for was Luke's point of view. His point of view is seen in the epilogue.

Jana Aston's Website:
http://www.janaaston.com/

Other Recommendations:

My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Sinful Intent by Chelle Bliss

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Ladies Man by Katy Evan
Fighting to Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Review Wednesday: Fighting to Breathe by Aurora Rose Reynolds

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

Title: Fighting to Breathe (Shooting Stars #1)

Author: Aurora Rose Reynolds
1st Date of Publication: June 19, 2015

ISBN: 9781514394632
# of Pages: 202

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
Lea Lamb and Austin Wolf were young when they fell in love. They never imagined the future could hold anything other than together-forever.

When Lea’s father dies in a tragic fishing accident, she's crushed under the weight of her grief and catches a glimpse of another type of future, one she knows she's not strong enough to face.

Austin is angry. For the past fifteen years, he's believed the woman he loved with every ounce of his soul left him without so much as a backwards glance.

When Lea unexpectedly returns to their hometown, all the years of heartache inside Austin bubbles to the surface and presents itself as blinding rage.

Faced with the truth about the past, a newly discovered secret, these former lovers will learn that if they want to have any chance at the future they’d given up on all those years ago, they will have to rescue one another from drowning in pain so debilitating it will leave them both fighting to breath.

Warning this book is intended for mature audiences and may contain triggers for some.

Setting: Cordova, Alaska in the 21st century
Point of View: 1st person- Lea Lamb and Austin Wolf

Goodreads Rating: 4.08

My Rating: 4.15

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Cover

View on the Cover: It looks like the girl is drowning. Why is she drowning? Is she literally drowning or drowning in a figurative sense?
View on Title: Why is someone fighting to breath? Are they sick or are they going to die?

Pros:

• It is not your typical love story. It's about second chances and not to throw away an opportunity or disregard a person simply because she or he left. It encourages the readers to seek the truth than believe what is being said or perceived while following the gut.
• I really enjoyed that the story had two different perspectives through the two main characters. I really liked how the perspectives didn't alternate in a consistent pattern, which made it more interesting.
• The secondary characters were a great edition and allowed the book to become three dimensional.
• The setting was new for me. I have never read a book that was set in Alaska so there were some aspects that I read that seemed to be different culturally.

Cons:

• The beginning seemed really slow and then it suddenly felt like everything was rushed. I was ready for something to crash and burn and then suddenly everyone act like nothing happened.
• I believe that Austin's reaction after Lea's mom confesses to him. It didn't seem very realistic because it was as if a flip was switched and he didn't even think about it.
• The cancer story involved seemed very cliché. I understand that it helped the plot, but I'm getting tired of the cancer bombs these authors continue to use in their plots.

Aurora Rose Reynolds's Website:
http://www.aurorarosereynolds.com/

Other Recommendations:

My Skylar by Penelope Ward

Sinful Intent by Chelle Bliss

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
Ladies Man by Katy Evan

Review Wednesday: Sinful Intent by Chelle Bliss

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

Title: Sinful Intent (ALFA Private Investigations #1)

Author: Chelle Bliss
1st Date of Publication: July 14, 2015

ISBN: 9781682305119
# of Pages: 300

Genre: New Adult

Age Rating: 17+ (Sexual Content and Language)

Buy on Amazon 

Book Description:
Never cross the line. That had always been my rule. But that was before Race True.

The moment I saw her, I wanted her. But there was a problem. She wasn’t just another pretty face—no, she was my first client at ALFA PI. My take-what-I-want attitude shouldn't include her, but how the hell can I be expected to keep my hands off?

The danger that followed her had my protective instincts in overdrive. And as the clock ticked down, the choice was laid out before me: save her career or risk everything and have her in my bed. Could I put aside my wants for her needs? Or would my selfishness destroy everything in the process?

Warning: If you can't handle a dirty-mouthed bad boy or a tough woman with an attitude, this might not be the book for you.

Setting: Florida
Point of View: 1st person- Moran DeLuca and Race True

Goodreads Rating: 4.13

My Rating: 4.25

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The cover looks very steamy and scandalous. It's pretty obvious that the girl in the photo knows what she is doing and the male seems to be really good at catching her attention.
View on Title: The title sounds very sexy and makes it sound scandalous.

Pros:

• I really liked how the book is split between Morgan and Race's points of view. The reader is able to truly understand each of their emotions and motives when dealing with each other.
• This book has detectives rather than cops, which I believe makes the book hotter because the detectives aren't afraid to get their hands dirty despite the law.
• I really enjoyed seeing the racecar world through Race.
• Morgan's character is perfect for his role. He's a bad boy who became an army veteran to straighten his life out, but he's still a bad boy at heart. He is a very motivated and committed person despite having a trouble maker personality.
• Race's character is very bossy and does not let people push her around. She sets her territory and is not afraid to tell people to back off.
• The plot twist at the end was not completely expected. It's hard to explain without spoiling the book. It made the book more interesting and worth the read.
• There is a true sense of family through mostly Morgan. He's been on his own for awhile until he moves to Florida where his entire family gets together for Sunday dinners. Race on the other hand shows a sense of loneliness which has always caused her to push others away.

Cons:

• The names of the two main characters seemed like Chelle Bliss couldn't think of the names for them. Race is named after racing which she has been associated all life. I understand the sentiment of it, but she probably got picked on a lot as a kid. For Morgan's name, I know it's a boy's name but I don't hear it often enough to make it sound normal.
• I felt a lack of the secondary characters. I understand that the situation was urgent and meant for only the two characters to deal with in that short period of time.

Critics' Reviews
"I didn't think I could possibly like this new series as much as I liked Men of Inked... Chelle has worked her magic and proved me wrong." -- Literature Litehouse
"God do I love it when Chelle Bliss puts the pen to paper, or the fingers to the keyboard. She creates an epic tale each and every time!" -- Sexy Book Reviews
"It's an interactive experience that will cause you to smile, frown, laugh, gasp, giggle, and blush." - Rosarita Reader

Chelle Belle's Website:
http://chellebliss.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire
My Skylar Penelope Ward

Review Wednesday: A Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin

Title: A Game of Thrones (A Song of Fire and Ice #1)

Author: George R.R. Martin
1st Date of Publication: August 6, 1996

ISBN: 9780553103540
# of Pages: 694

Genre: Adult Fantasy

Age Rating: 17+

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Summers span decades. Winter can last a lifetime. And the struggle for the Iron Throne has begun.

As Warden of the north, Lord Eddard Stark counts it a curse when King Robert bestows on him the office of the Hand. His honour weighs him down at court where a true man does what he will, not what he must ...and a dead enemy is a thing of beauty.

The old gods have no power in the south, Stark's family is split and there is treachery at court. Worse, the vengeance-mad heir of the deposed Dragon King has grown to maturity in exile in the Free Cities. He claims the Iron Throne.

Setting: Medieval era, Westeros
Point of View: 3rd person- Many characters

Goodreads Rating: 4.44

My Rating: 4.75

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The sword's handle looks really cool with its intricate design and the blue background sets a somber or cold tone.
View on Title: Who doesn't like to play games? Or being royal? It made me think of a game of wits.

Pros:

• It's a whole new world. It is a more modern version of Lord of the Rings without the elves and hobbits, but there are dragons.
• This book is full of knights, kings, and dragons. It makes the story more interesting as it develops and the characters cross paths.
• I liked how it didn't show the world as glorified, which made it more believable.
• There is a lot of character development and the reader can understand the motives of a character because there is several different chapters dedicated to different characters.
• There is a very distinguishable line between good and evil for many characters but there are others that seem to see actions and morals as bendable.
• There is not a clear line of power and politics because those who may be in political power may not actually have power at all.

Cons:

• There are so many characters with odd names that it's a little difficult to keep track of everyone in the beginning.
• It's in third person, which I'm not a fan of, but it is necessary for the story.

Critics' Reviews
"The major fantasy of the decade . . . compulsively readable."—Denver Post
"We have been invited to a grand feast and pageant: George R.R. Martin has unveiled for us an intensely realized, romantic but realistic world."—Chicago Sun-Times
"A Best Book of 1996: Martin makes a triumphant return to high fantasy . . . [with] superbly developed characters, accomplished prose, and sheer bloodymindedness."—Publishers Weekly
"A splendid saga . . . . Inventive and intricately plotted."—BookPage

George R.R. Martin's Website:
http://www.georgerrmartin.com/

Other Recommendations:

Lord of the Rings by J.R.R Tolkien
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Review Wednesday: Fifty Shades Darker by E.L. James

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

*DO NOT READ THIS REVIEW UNTIL YOU HAVE READ FIFTY SHADES OF GREY. THERE MAY BE SOME SPOILER. If you want to read this series, read my review about Fifty Shades of Grey by clicking on the link: Review: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades Darker (Fifty Shades #2)
Author: E.L. James
1st Date of Publication: September 16, 2011
ISBN: 9781612130583
# of Pages: 532
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance, Erotica Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:

Daunted by the singular sexual tastes and dark secrets of the beautiful, tormented young entrepreneur Christian Grey, Anastasia Steele has broken off their relationship to start a new career with a Seattle publishing house.

But desire for Christian still dominates her every waking thought, and when he proposes a new arrangement, Anastasia cannot resist. They rekindle their searing sensual affair, and Anastasia learns more about the harrowing past of her damaged, driven, and demanding Fifty Shades.

While Christian wrestles with his inner demons, Anastasia must confront her anger and envy of the women who came before her and make the most important decision of her life.

Erotic, sparkling and suspenseful, Fifty Shades Darker is the irresistibly addictive second part of the Fifty Shades trilogy.

Setting: Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington

Point of View: 1st Person- Anastasia "Ana" Steele

Goodreads Rating: 3.88

My Rating: 3.90


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Title
View on the Cover: I really liked how the embellished mask looked like. When I first saw this, I thought maybe either Ana or Christian might be wearing a mask figuratively and/or literally.
View on the Title: Does the book get darker or do you find a darker history about another character(s)?

Pros:

• This book was a quick read and kept me captivated as it took me another three days to finish this book.
• I really enjoyed the character development with Christian. The reader gets to learn a tiny bit more of why he is so messed up and such a control freak along with his unusual form of enjoyment. But, you still do not get to know enough of the story to understand his character.
• I like how Ana becomes more ballsy when it comes to wanting things or impressing Christian. Where she lacks in having freedom, she makes up for in audacity to keep Christian at her fingertips.

Cons:

• I knew Ana was going to go back to Christian because he is just that interesting. I felt that her character weakens throughout the novel because she barely fights him about being overprotective. I feel that she becomes less herself in this book.
• What bothered me the most about Christian was that he is a complete blockhead when it comes to Ana staying with him. He keeps pleading to her not to leave and she continues to reassure him that she will not. It bothers me that this is such a common occurrence in this book.

Critics' Reviews:

"In a class by itself."  —Entertainment Weekly

 E.L. James's Website:

http://www.eljamesauthor.com/

Other Recommendations:

 Clipped Wings by Helena Hunting
Beautiful Oblivion by Jamie McGuire

Review Wednesday: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

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

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey
Author: E.L. James
1st Date of Publication: May 25, 2011
ISBN: 9781612130286
# of Pages: 512
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance, Erotica Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant, and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realize she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana’s quiet beauty, wit, and independent spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too—but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey’s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success—his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family—Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring, passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey’s secrets and explores her own dark desires.

Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever.

Setting: Portland, Oregon and Seattle, Washington

Point of View: 1st Person- Anastasia "Ana" Steele

Goodreads Rating: 3.68

My Rating: 3.75


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Title
View on the Cover: Why a tie and why so detailed?
View on the Title: Why is the word grey spelled this way rather than gray?

Pros:

•  It is not your typical mother's sort of romance story, which is the reason why I started reading this book.
• I could not put this book down because it keeps you hooked and wanting to read more. The book is over 500 pages and I finished it in 3 days when I had to work all 3 days with each a 10 hour shift, That's crazy in my opinion and I read a lot.
• The characters are pretty good and seemed consistent throughout the book.
• Ana is pretty great. She is smart and very sassy, but very innocent. She really grows in this book as she learns more about Christian Grey. Plus, she's an English major which makes her more lovable in my eyes.
• Christian is a bit different and hard to like at first because he is so detached from the world, which is what his character truly portrays.
• I really liked the ending and it would have been even a great stand alone book despite a cliffhanger for the next book.

Cons:

•  I felt that the writing was a bit too simplistic, and I felt like some parts were lesser intelligent than young adult books. There could have easily been more depth with each character.
• It seemed to be a little cliche as Ana becomes a damsel in distress in her recklessness, which forces Christian to come save the day and be very controlling.

Critics' Reviews:

"In a class by itself." —Entertainment Weekly

 E.L. James's Website:

http://www.eljamesauthor.com/

Other Recommendations:

 Easy by Tammara Webber
Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Review Wednesday: The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

Title: The Sea of Tranquility

Author: Katja Millay
1st Date of Publication: September 5, 2012

ISBN: 9781476730943
# of Pages: 434

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary

Age Rating: 15+ (Language, Mild Violence, Mild Sexual Content)

Buy on Amazon

Book Description:
Former piano prodigy Nastya Kashnikov wants two things: to get through high school without anyone learning about her past and to make the boy who took everything from her—her identity, her spirit, her will to live—pay.

Josh Bennett’s story is no secret: every person he loves has been taken from his life until, at seventeen years old, there is no one left. Now all he wants is be left alone and people allow it because when your name is synonymous with death, everyone tends to give you your space.

Everyone except Nastya, the mysterious new girl at school who starts showing up and won’t go away until she’s insinuated herself into every aspect of his life. But the more he gets to know her, the more of an enigma she becomes. As their relationship intensifies and the unanswered questions begin to pile up, he starts to wonder if he will ever learn the secrets she’s been hiding—or if he even wants to.

The Sea of Tranquility is a rich, intense, and brilliantly imagined story about a lonely boy, an emotionally fragile girl, and the miracle of second chances.

Point of View: 1st person- Nastya Kashnikov, Josh Bennett

Goodreads Rating: 4.37

My Rating: 4.50

 

Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both

View on the Cover: The spilled ice cream bowl seemed very interesting to me. It made me wonder if it was about summer and why it was spilled over and melting in a little stream of ice cream.
View on Title: I know that there is a place named Sea of Tranquility where Apollo 11 landed on the moon. I also love the ocean and the idea of peace so I thought it would be a pretty good read.

Pros:

• I love how this book explores both the female and male protagonists. Both characters are obviously lonely and in pain from their pasts, but the way they notice each other screams that they both need each other to heal from their pain.
• Nastya is a very cryptic character and the complete opposite of Josh. She keeps to herself most of the time except when she's with Josh where she actually opens up little by little and talks. I love her obsession with names since I like to know what people's names mean to see if it fits that person. In my opinion, I think her name obsession is a replacement for her skill in music, which she lost from her past.
• Josh is a very sensitive character but he has no secrets to hide. He is obviously afraid to allow himself to get close enough to someone so he makes himself isolated from everyone else. His obsession for carpentry is interesting and adds a lot to the story.
• Their romance together is not your typical love story. Even though they obviously are very interested in each other, they don't invest in it until a long while after the book has already started. You see the friendship and the partnership first before the real emotions and physical affection is seen.

Cons:

• There is not much I did not like about this book. It is one of my favorites and it's fairly unique to many of the books I have read. I think the part that I liked the least was Nastya's attitude and reaction to some things that she pushed herself away from. I felt that it was a little unnecessary, but I guess it has a purpose.

Critics' Reviews:
"Alternating first-person narratives allow Millay to delve into the minds of both of her main characters, and she keeps readers on the edge of their seats...Populated with perfectly realized teen characters–not a stereotype in sight–this is the ideal crossover novel." -School Library Journal
“The Sea of Tranquility reminded me that books aren't just entertaining; they're more than that. This was more than that. It caused me to feel, invaded my thoughts, my heart...it became a part of me.” -Tough Critic

Katja Millay's Website:
https://www.goodreads.com/KatjaMillay

Other Recommendations:

Easy by Tammara Webber
First Comes Love by Katie Kacvinsky

Review Wednesday: Beautiful Redemption by Jamie McGuire

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

Title: Beautiful Redemption (The Maddox Brothers #2)
Author: Jamie McGuire
1st Date of Publication: January 27, 2015
ISBN: 1502541858
# of Pages: 260
Genre: New Adult, Adult Romance
Age Rating: 17+ (Language, Violence, Sexual content)

Buy it on Amazon

Book Description:
 If A Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever. But what if he didn't love you, first? 

No-nonsense Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI. Deciding she is married only to her job, she breaks off her engagement and transfers from Chicago to the field office in San Diego. She loves her desk. She is committed to her laptop. She dreams of promotions and shaking hands with the director after cracking an impossible case. 

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Maddox is arrogant, unforgiving, and ruthless. He is tasked with putting away some of the world’s toughest criminals, and he is one of the best the Bureau has to offer. Though, as many lives as he’s saved, there is one that is beyond his reach. Younger brother Travis is faced with prison time for his involvement in a basement fire that killed dozens of college students, and the media want a conviction. Travis’s only savior is his unusual tie to the mob. In a deal that will spare his brother, Thomas has agreed to recruit Travis into the FBI. 

Liis is stubborn, defiant, and yet somehow softens Thomas’s rough edges, making her the perfect agent to accompany him to the ceremony. Posing as a couple, they must travel to Travis & Abby’s beach vow renewal and give him the news, but when the pretending ends, she finds herself wondering if they were pretending at all. 


In the second installment of the Maddox Brothers books, experience firsthand the mysterious world of the elusive Thomas Maddox, and how good love can be when you’re not the first, but the last.

Setting: San Diego, California

Point of View: 1st Person- Liis Lindy

Goodreads Rating: 4.16

My Rating: 4.5


Part of the Book that Caught My Attention: Both title and cover
View on the Cover: The simplistic beauty of it is great!
View on the Title: It felt like a humbler title because I questioned whether a character was beautiful and didn't know it, and I was wondering who needed the redemption.

Pros:

• First, I love how all the characters from the previous books are woven together so that you still get to see them and how they are doing. I also love that the new characters in the next two books are briefly discussed, which I am excited to read the final two books.
• I found this installment more mature than Travis and Abbey's and Trent and Cami's relationships. This is most likely because both Liis and Thomas are older and seem to have more at stake.
• I love Liis's character. She is very strong and knows what she wants in life. She is kick ass in the way she does not let Thomas, the big bully of his team, bring her down. She continuously puts him in his place.
• I also love Thomas's character. He has obviously gone through so much as both a child and an adult. I found it so amazing how strong he was as a child even though he had to raise his brothers, especially toddler Travis. He also has so much strength when it comes with watching his brother, Trent, with his ex girlfriend, Cami, especially when he witnesses the proposal.
• I love most of the other agents. Val is pretty awesome. Her honesty is so blunt and her lie radar is on point. She would be my best friend if she was a real person in my life. I like Marks character although I wished there was more of him. He seems like he is a great friend and voice of reason to Thomas.

Cons:

• The friendship and relationship between Liis and Thomas is sometimes really frustrating. I think it's mostly because of Liis. I feel that she does not understand that watching someone who walked out on your life for someone of the same blood is heart wrenching, which is what Thomas goes through.
• What bothers me most about Thomas is not even part of the present story, but the reason behind all the frustration. He went after Cami even though he knew she always belonged to her brother.
• I did not like Sawyer at all. I felt that he was unnecessary and all I wanted to do was kick him where it counts (if you know what I mean). He is such an asshole and I wish he was not even in the story.

Critics' Reviews:

"A fast-paced and sexually tense journey of two scarred soul mates. Add in a Maddox brother and the world of the FBI? Unputdownable." -Penelope Ward (best selling author, Stepbrother Dearest)

"Getting to know a Maddox boy is always thrilling and Thomas is no exception. Beautiful Redemption is about the pain of heartbreak, the intensity of new love, sacrifices for family and learning that sometimes the best life is the one you didn't plan" -Mia Sheridan (best selling author, Archer's Voice) 

Jamie McGuire's Website:

http://www.jamiemcguire.com/

Other Recommendations:

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire

Perfect Chemistry by Simon Elkeles

Easy by Tammara Webber