review: Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams

Stealing Harper by Molly McAdams

3 of 5 stars

review DRC thanks to Edelweiss

Chase Grayson has never been interested in having a relationship that lasts longer than it takes for him and his date to get dressed again. But then he stumbles into a gray-eyed girl whose innocence pours off her, and everything changes. From the minute Harper opens her mouth to let him know just how much he disgusts her, he's hooked.

But a princess deserves a Prince Charming who can make her dreams come true. Not a guy who can turn her life into a nightmare.

All good intentions go out the window when Harper starts to fall for the guy Chase has come to view as a brother. He wanted to protect her by keeping her away, but he can’t stand to see her with anyone else, and he’ll do anything to make her his. But when it comes down to Harper choosing between the two, will Chase have the strength to step back from the girl who has become his whole world if it means she’ll be happy?

Lines will be crossed. Friendships will be put to the test. And hearts will be shattered. (Thank you GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts -

My initial thought when I started this book - KIND OF HARD TO READ AFTER BAWLING MY EYES OUT ONLY YESTERDAY FROM READING TAKING CHANCES...JUST SAYIN' - MAYBE BRANDON'S STORY WOULD HAVE BEEN A BETTER IDEA...

Now that I'm done - I think Chase's story was interesting and important, BUT I think this should have been in the first book to begin with. I think it would have worked so much better intermingled with Harper's version of events and made the orginal story so much better. AND may be even a view from Brandon's side of the story...dunno.

review: Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

Taking Chances by Molly McAdams

4 of 5 stars

Eighteen year old Harper has grown up under her career Marine of a father's thumb. Ready to live life her own way and experience things she's only ever heard of from the jarheads in her father's unit; she's on her way to college at San Diego State University.

Thanks to her new roommate, Harper is introduced to a world of parties, gorgeous guys, family and emotions. Some she wasn't expecting yet, and others she never knew she was missing.

She finds herself being torn in two as she quickly falls in love with her boyfriend Brandon, and her roommate's brother Chase. Covered in tattoos, known for fighting in the Underground and ridiculously muscled...they're exactly what she was always warned to stay away from, but just what she needs. Despite their dangerous looks and histories, both adore and would do anything for Harper, including stepping back if it means she's happy.

Her first year away is turning out to be near perfect, but one weekend of giving in to heated passion will change everything. (Thanks GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts -

Another book I couldn't put down. I loved it and I hated it and I loved it - almost like Korean Drama (there's not always **usually** a HEA). I liked this on a lot. At times it kind of felt like another 'Beautiful' new adult romance I read recently, but it held it's own and definitely didn't turn out the way I wanted or expected (hence the Korean drama reference - watch one, they're great!!).

I think all of the characters worked really well in the story and were well developed. The story was faced paced, easy to read and absolutely captivating. Harper, Chase and Brandon were an intense/special love triangle that was just a heartbreak waiting for one or all of them. I laughed, got and and cried in this book. Their love was passionate and at times extremely lovely. Great work Molly McAdams.

review: Faking It by Cora Carmack

Faking It ~ Cora Carmack

4 of 5 stars

Courtesy of Edelweiss

Mackenzie “Max” Miller has a problem. Her parents have arrived in town for a surprise visit, and if they see her dyed hair, tattoos, and piercings, they just might disown her. Even worse, they’re expecting to meet a nice, wholesome boyfriend, not a guy named Mace who has a neck tattoo and plays in a band. All her lies are about to come crashing down around her, but then she meets Cade.

Cade moved to Philadelphia to act and to leave his problems behind in Texas. So far though, he’s kept the problems and had very little opportunity to take the stage. When Max approaches him in a coffee shop with a crazy request to pretend to be her boyfriend, he agrees to play the part. But when Cade plays the role a little too well, they’re forced to keep the ruse going. And the more they fake the relationship, the more real it begins to feel.

My Thoughts -

I think had there been tears, it would have made a 5/5. I really, really enjoyed this book. I read it all in one sitting. It was aewsome:)

Max was kinda bitchy and she knew it and so did everyone else. That was ok though, Cade dug it. All she really needed was a little self confidence and conviction when it came to guys and her family. Cade is about the coolest dude in the world. He was just perfect for Max.

These two had wicked good chemistry within the first 30 seconds that they'd met - they really had to. They complimented each other and worked so well together. I loved it.

The writing was fluid, easy to read and so fast paced. I couldn't put it down. I only read this book in the series and didn't even realize it was a series until after. I look forward to more from this author, fir sure:)

review: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

4 of 5 stars

Courtesy of NetGalley

Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."

"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....

"I dare you..."

If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....

Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.

But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all.... (summary thanks to GoodReads.com)

My Thoughts –

The story of Ryan and Beth was phenomenal.  I read this in one sitting.  I instantly could see these two kids and imagine their story so well.  Beth was so strong to live through what she did.  I wanted to slap her a few times, but overall a great character read about.  Ryan I think grew up so much throughout this story.   He was a cool guy and I absolutely loved him to death.  The story had gritty horribly tragic parts, laughable parts, serious parts and a few light sensual parts – makings of a great story!!  The little bottle of rain - so sweet...I loved it:)

review: Gameboard of the Gods by Richelle Mead

Gameboard of the Gods ~ Richelle Mead

3 of 5 stars

Courtesy of NetGalley

In a futuristic world nearly destroyed by religious extremists, Justin March lives in exile after failing in his job as an investigator of religious groups and supernatural claims. But Justin is given a second chance when Mae Koskinen comes to bring him back to the Republic of United North America (RUNA). Raised in an aristocratic caste, Mae is now a member of the military’s most elite and terrifying tier, a soldier with enhanced reflexes and skills.

When Justin and Mae are assigned to work together to solve a string of ritualistic murders, they soon realize that their discoveries have exposed them to terrible danger. As their investigation races forward, unknown enemies and powers greater than they can imagine are gathering in the shadows, ready to reclaim the world in which humans are merely game pieces on their board.

Gameboard of the Gods, the first installment of Richelle Mead’s Age of X series, will have all the elements that have made her YA Vampire Academy and Bloodlines series such megasuccesses: sexy, irresistible characters; romantic and mythological intrigue; and relentless action and suspense. (thanks to GoodReads.com for the summary)

My Thoughts –

OK – so this is a hard book for me to review. I’ve read the Vampire Academy, Dark Swan and Succubus series and loved them all. This is NOTHING like those books – at all. I love Mead’s writing, so please don’t be a hater after you read this. That said, on to the next part of my review.

I think for the first book in this series, the world building lacked quite a bit. I didn’t know if they were on Earth, another planet or a different dimension until well into the book. Maybe it said at the very beginning, but it was so boring I forgot. At first the story is so jumpy and disorganized, it took me almost 3 weeks to get into reading it. It took me a month to read – normally unheard of in my reading world. The last half of the book is written better and is more thought-provoking. I just really didn’t care for the main characters. I liked Tessa, Lucian Darling and Mae’s friends more than I liked Mae and Justin. I just couldn’t connect with them.

I liked the main idea behind the story. It’s unique and interesting, but I don’t’ think it was executed in the best way. I also believe it’s being marketed the wrong way – this should be nowhere the romance isle, at all. This just didn’t work for me, sorry.

cover reveal!! Once Upon a Darkness by Aria Kane + GIVEAWAY!!

Once Upon a Darkness by Aria Kane will be available from Entranced Publishing June 17!

Gretchen and her twin brother, Hank, were abandoned to a zombie horde when they were five years old. Intended to be a sacrifice by their zealot parents, they were instead rescued by The Company. Raised to become soldiers in the war against zombies, they now provide safe passage through danger zones, one contract at a time.

Clint's only skill is war, but he's weary of killing other men. When his contract with the Marines runs out, he takes a job on Gretchen's team, hoping that the search-and-rescue life will suit him better.

On Clint's second day, their four-man team is attacked, drugged, and taken to a prison full of frightened civilians. The only way in or out is by helicopter and, here, their enemies are human. One by one, the captives are culled from the holding area.  Rumors say the facility director uses the prisoners as experimental subjects for the testing of a zombie cure.

When Hank is taken, Clint and Gretchen must put aside their personal feelings and find a way out of the prison, surrounded by thousands of starving zombies, before Hank becomes just one more disposable guinea pig in the hands of a twisted mad woman.

Add Once Upon a Darkness on Goodreads!

About the Author

Aria Kane is a recovering mechanical engineer and romance writer. She lives in sunny Florida with a 60 lb mutt who thinks he's a Chihuahua. You can learn more about her at ariakane.com or on Twitter @aria_kane.

Giveaway

To celebrate the Once Upon a Darkness cover reveal, Aria is giving away a $20 giftcard and an ecopy of an Entranced book of the winner’s choice.

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review: Easy by Tammara Webber

Easy by Tammara Webber

 4 of 5 stars

Rescued by a stranger.

Haunted by a secret

Sometimes, love isn’t easy…

He watched her, but never knew her. Until thanks to a chance encounter, he became her savior…

The attraction between them was undeniable. Yet the past he’d worked so hard to overcome, and the future she’d put so much faith in, threatened to tear them apart.

Only together could they fight the pain and guilt, face the truth—and find the unexpected power of love.

A groundbreaking novel in the New Adult genre, Easy faces one girl's struggle to regain the trust she's lost, find the inner strength to fight back against an attacker, and accept the peace she finds in the arms of a secretive boy.

My Thoughts:

This was a good book. Simply put. It had a compelling romance story, a suspenseful conflict and a great ending. Both of the main are awesome. Jacqueline was stronger than she thought and lived though her break-up. Lucas was guarded and tough, but knew something was different about Jacqueline when he saw her. I enjoyed the convo's with 'the tutor' and understand why he did what he did. But love doesn't always follow the rules and restrictions sometimes set upon us – it flows and ebbs on its own. Sometimes there IS just no stopping it and that is what happens with these two.

I also this the serious parts of the book were written awesomely. They were realistic, intense and not to be taken lightly. Lucas was a great source of support for Jacqueline, but I really wanted to B-slap her for not reporting the first incident to begin with.

The main character were awesome, they had wicked hot chemistry and I just overall loved them!! Great story – I look forward to more from this author:)