Category: B reviews (Page 21 of 74)

Fall With Me by J. Lynn, narrated by Sophie Eastlake

January 29, 2017 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I’ve enjoyed this series and Sophie Eastlake is one of my favourite narrators. I picked up the audio on sale recently.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Jennifer L. Armentrout, New York Times bestselling author of the Wait for You series, delivers a new novel of first love, second chances, and scorching chemistry between an artistic bartender and the tough, sexy cop who’s determined to win her Roxy’s loved Reece Anders since she was fifteen, so when the straitlaced cop finally surrendered to a steamy encounter years later, Roxy hoped he’d fall for her, too. He didn’t. Or that’s what she’s always believed. But then Reece storms back into her life when the man who injured her childhood friend is out of prison and wanting to make amends—something Roxy cannot do.

The last thing she wants is to go there with Reece again, but he’s determined to prove to her that he’s exactly what she needs. Especially when a sick creep starts messing with her. But what’s more dangerous to Roxy—a psycho after her or the past that refuses to let go and allow her to open up her heart again?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I’ve actually had this audiobook in my TBL for ages but it hadn’t made it onto my iPod and I’d kind of forgotten about it. Silly me. Sophie Eastlake is one of my favourite narrators and I know I’m going to get a great listen when she’s on board. Plus, I’ve loved earlier books in the Wait For You series.

Fall With You is book four in the series – I’ve got book three – Stay With Me on my TBR but I skipped ahead to this one. It works just fine. There are mild spoilers for the earlier books but romance is largely about the journey rather than the destination so they didn’t bother me.

Driven to Distraction by Olivia Dade

January 20, 2017 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the author via NetGalley

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) IF THE BOOKMOBILE’S ROCKING . . .

Constance Chen is not the demure kind of librarian. Sure, her high-horsepower ride is Big Bertha the Bookmobile, but Con swears a blue streak, does her own home improvement, and wears steel-toed boots. She has a tight circle of friends, a demanding, beloved sprawl of a Chinese-American family, and a strict hookups-only policy when it comes to men. Her life is just how she wants it. Except for one maddeningly sexy footnote.

Sam Wolcott, her friend’s baby brother and the library’s IT star, has been throwing sparks with Con since he moved to town. To everybody else, he’s a thoughtful, sensitive sweetheart. To Con, he’s a cantankerous pedant, because if they don’t fight nonstop their clothes will spontaneously combust. Sam needs a commitment Con won’t—can’t—give. And neither of them will chance their hard-won bonds for pure lust.

Too bad Con and Sam have a whole week in a very tiny, very private space to sustain their dumb arguments. Alone. What happens in the Bookmobile might take their resistance right out of circulation . . .

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This book was a lovely surprise. Constance Chen (aka “Con”) is the type of heroine I don’t see a lot in the romance genre. She’s a tough, no-nonsense woman, who knows what she wants and isn’t afraid to go and get it. She is blunt, prickly, a little brash and not looking for a relationship. She’s also a devoted sister and daughter and friend. Her close friendship with Penny, one of the other librarians in Niceville has her hesitating to act on her attraction to Sam Wolcott. And Sam has similar concerns. He has only just reconnected with his half-sister (they had different fathers) and she is the only family (apart from an extremely absent and disinterested mother) he has. He won’t do anything to risk that. He fears that if he starts anything with Con and it goes south, Penny will choose Con over him and then he’ll be alone. And that – being alone, is his greatest fear. Continue reading

Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles

January 8, 2017 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I borrowed this book from my local library.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When Brittany Ellis walks into chemistry class on the first day of senior year, she has no clue that her carefully created “perfect” life is about to unravel before her eyes. She’s forced to be lab partners with Alex Fuentes, a gang member from the other side of town, and he is about to threaten everything she’s worked so hard for-her flawless reputation, her relationship with her boyfriend, and the secret that her home life is anything but perfect. Alex is a bad boy and he knows it. So when he makes a bet with his friends to lure Brittany into his life, he thinks nothing of it. But soon Alex realizes Brittany is a real person with real problems, and suddenly the bet he made in arrogance turns into something much more. In a passionate story about looking beneath the surface, Simone Elkeles breaks through the stereotypes and barriers that threaten to keep Brittany and Alex apart.

What worked for me (and what didn’t):

I’ve listened to (and enjoyed) Wild Cards (now retitled to Better Than Perfect) by Simone Elkeles and I know she has a reputation for writing great YA romance. So, I’ve had Perfect Chemistry on my radar for a while now but I’ve only just got around to actually reading it.

The story is told in the dual, alternating POV of Alex Fuentes and Brittany Ellis. They both go to the same Chicago high school. The story begins on day one of their senior year.

Brittany is from a wealthy family but her home life is not idyllic. Her father works a lot and is often away, her mother is obsessed with appearances and, apparently, perfection. Brittany’s sister, Shelley, was born with cerebral palsy and is quite disabled. She is confined to a wheelchair and is non-verbal. She can communicate through a computer keyboard which synthesises a voice for her and she does say a few words which are understandable to those familiar with her. She requires constant care but finding in-home helpers is difficult. Brittany’s parents consider sending Shelley away to a facility and Brittany sees this as a terrible option – one which punishes Shelley for being less than perfect and one which is done not for her (Shelley’s) well-being but for selfish reasons on the part of her parents. However, Brittany’s life looks, from the outside, as if it’s pretty perfect. She wears the right clothes, drives a fancy new sports car, is popular – including being the girlfriend of the star quarterback on the high school football team. She keeps her private life very private indeed – very few of her friends even know she has a sister, let alone anything else.

December Round Up

January 2, 2017 / Kaetrin

Monthly Mini Review

Dream of You by Jennifer L. Armentrout – B Dream of You is both part of the Wait For You series and the 1001 Dark Nights series (by multiple authors). Colton Anders is the elder brother of Reece Anders (hero in Fall With You) – both brothers are police officers; Colton is a detective and Reece is a patrolman. When Abby Erickson witnesses a brutal murder, Colton and his partner are assigned the case. Colton and Abby went to high school together. They weren’t exactly friends but they weren’t enemies either. Abby was dating Kevin, the man she married after graduation and they both moved away for college and then ended up in New York for work in publishing. Kevin was killed in a car accident four years before the book begins. After Abby was widowed, she moved back home to Philadelphia. She works as a freelance book editor and is only just starting to wake up and want to live for herself again. Even though she was with Kevin and completely loyal to him, Colton was gorgeous and she’d always had a secret crush on him.

Crazy For Her by Sandra Owens, narrated by Amy McFadden & Mikael Naramore

December 22, 2016 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I listened to Only Her (which I reviewed for AudioGals) recently and I really liked it. So I borrowed this one from my library.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When his best friend and fellow Navy SEAL, Evan Prescott, died in his arms on the battlefield, Logan Kincaid gave his word to watch over Evan’s widow. But for two years he kept his distance…torn between honoring his solemn vow and succumbing to his secret love for his fallen comrade’s wife. But when Dani Prescott desperately reaches out to Logan for the help only he can give, he rushes to her side—determined to fight for her safety as fiercely as he fights against his own buried desire.

Someone claiming to be her husband is stalking Dani and her infant daughter, making them virtually prisoners in their remote country home. Logan’s elite military training and high-risk security expertise have outmatched more dangerous enemies. But the real challenge will be the burning temptation that threatens to overcome Logan whenever Dani is near…especially when she reveals her own hidden passion.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Crazy for Her is book one in the K2 Team series. It starts with a prologue showing how Evan Prescott dies in action and eloquently describes the feelings Logan Kincaid, his SEAL team commander, feels about the loss of his best friend. Logan promises Evan he will look after Evan’s wife, Dani and the the baby on its way but then gets shot in the head and recovering from his injury gets in the way.
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The Wall of Winnipeg and Me by Mariana Zapata, narrated by Callie Dalton

December 17, 2016 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I really enjoyed Kulti so I queued this one up hoping for another winner. I got it – but I liked Kulti better.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Vanessa Mazur knows she’s doing the right thing. She shouldn’t feel bad for quitting. Being an assistant/housekeeper/fairy godmother to the top defensive end in the National Football Organization was always supposed to be temporary. She has plans and none of them include washing extra-large underwear longer than necessary.

But when Aiden Graves shows up at her door wanting her to come back, she’s beyond shocked.

For two years, the man known as The Wall of Winnipeg couldn’t find it in him to tell her good morning or congratulate her on her birthday. Now? He’s asking for the unthinkable.

What do you say to the man who is used to getting everything he wants?

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I was expecting this to be a workplace romance. But, you guys! It was a marriage of convenience story (which is even better in my book). Vanessa Mazur has worked for Aiden Graves as his personal assistant for two years. Her job includes answering his emails, posting on his social media, cooking his vegan meals. He’s terse, uncommunicative and opaque. She’s been saving so that she can pursue her work as a graphic designer. She has been doing graphic design after hours and has finally saved up a year’s salary so that she can launch her own business full time. She’s planning on leaving and even gives notice, but when she overhears Aiden’s shitty manager, Trevor, talking about her and notes that Aiden’s response to Trevor’s words are a big fat zilch, she throws in the towel and leaves immediately. Continue reading