REVIEW: The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen

The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen (The Coincidence #2)
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: July 30, 2013
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

The dark secret Kayden has kept hidden for years is finally out. Worse, he's facing charges for battery. The only way to clear his name is for Callie to speak up-something he'll never ask her to do. Instead, he'll do whatever he must to protect her . . . even if it means letting go of the only girl he's ever loved.

Callie knows Kayden is going back to his dark place and desperately wants to save him. But that means facing her greatest fear and admitting her own painful secrets aloud. The thought of breaking her silence terrifies her-but not as much as the thought of losing Kayden forever.

Deep in her heart, Callie knows the time has come for her and Kayden to forget the pain of the past. With the help of her friends Seth and Luke she makes a plan to show Kayden the life they could have. But can she convince him they can make a fresh start together-or is she already too late?

My Review

Breaking down The Redemption of Callie and Kayden by Jessica Sorensen...



The Beginning


Redemption picks up where Coincidence left off with Callie worried and reeling and Kayden broken and almost at rock bottom. 



Callie


I’m probably most proud of her for being brave and strong for not just herself, but for Kayden as well. True to her word, Callie never judged Kayden, but supported him and helped him. She tried to be a strong person so she was able to save herself and save him. She mustered up all the courage she had and put herself out there and I was so amazed by her resilience. Callie wasn’t that quiet, meek, scared girl in Coincidence. She really steps up and out and speaks up. 



Kayden


I was aching for him because of what he did, what he went through and how he felt. It was his turn to finally be helped and saved and while it took him a few push and pull moments, Kayden followed through. He had a hard time and he struggled with his inner demons and continued to believe he wasn’t good enough. I was rooting for him to also have the courage to speak up, to help himself and move forward. With Callie’s help, he sees the potential in himself and his ability to just allow someone to understand him and be there for him. And even after everything Kayden has been through, he has always been a good person despite it all.



Friendship


As before, Redemption really celebrates friendship. Callie, Seth, Luke and Kayden have become each other’s little family. They hold no judgement towards each other, they respect the boundaries while still pushing the lines to move forward. They are there for each other without the need to share every little thing. It’s a friendship based on understanding, care and concern. They all share in their dark and especially in their light. I love that these four have made a path towards an even stronger bond with one another. 



The message


Sorensen really boasts the importance of friendship, love, and overcoming the fear of what the truth can bring and trusting that someone will listen and believe. She shows the real struggle and pain one can go through after traumatic events, how it is possible to heal and be loved, and that a happy ending small or big is within reach. 



All in all, I am happy where Callie and Kayden are right now, but I would not mind following their story even further. 



REVIEW: One Night of Sin by Elle Kennedy

One Night of Sin by Elle Kennedy
Publisher: Entangled Brazen
Publication Date: August 4, 2014
Source: Netgalley*
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Sometimes it’s good to be bad…

When it comes to sex, good girl Skyler Thompson always plays it safe, choosing stable and sedate over wild and thrilling. She doesn’t do one-night-stands, but one look at sinfully sexy Gage Holt and she’s willing to reconsider. He makes her want to be bad for once in her life, and she’s prepared to take what she wants.

Danger follows former MMA fighter Gage Holt like a shadow. Despite his successes as part owner of Sin, an exclusive nightclub in Boston, Gage can’t risk getting involved with a woman, especially one as sweet as Skyler. Still, he can’t resist a taste—and it’s so damn good he has to see her again.

As addicted as he is to her, Gage knows there’s no future for him and Skyler—not with his past lurking in the dark corners of an MMA cage. But Skylar’s tougher than she looks, and she’s ready to fight for her man.

My Review

One Night of Sin by Elle Kennedy was one tantalizing, arousing, and hypnotic Brazen novel I simply could not get enough of. I loved everything from the tenacity of the characters, to the sensually heated sexy times and to the fling to relationship trope. 


Skylar was such a charming character. She was a perpetual good girl who decided to finally do something wild and crazy and out of the box. She was sarcastic, humorous and just a joy to get to know. What I loved most about Skylar was how she wormed her way into Gage’s life and heart. She joked around, she cared, she was concerned about his well being and she just oozed confidence in herself as a woman and as a person. 



Gage was a brooding, ominous, self efficient and self reliant kind of character. He was convinced that he couldn’t make an emotional connection with someone or even show affection they needed. While he was convinced of that, he showed that he was capable of more than that. He was sweet, sexy, and loving in so many ways. His only fault was not being able to rely on someone else, but he worked on that. He was a fighter, but he was a guy who was dependable and reliable, a guy who had heart even though he didn’t believe so. I loved him for being just an awesome guy all around despite his internal issues. 

Skylar and Gage’s interactions went from one night stand, to a fling, to a relationship that heated up every single time they were together. It was definitely electric fan and ice water needed worthy. They heated up the office in Gage’s night club, his bedroom, Skylar’s bedroom and even dark alleyways. Just their make out sessions alone were enough to be throughly seductive. Kennedy sure knows how to write them!



What I was really impressed with was how she subtly allowed these two to indulge in things they never thought they would ever do. It was refreshing to see Skylar be impulsive and Gage be affectionate. Skylar was the light to Gage’s darkness and she allowed her warmth and inviting nature into his troubled life and brought real happiness. I just loved how these two connected in and out of the bedroom.



All in all, I was so so so infatuated by this whole book and even more so with Kennedy’s writing. I’m ready to devour her next book for sure!


*Thanks to Entangled Brazen for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review

This does not effect my opinion of the book

REVIEW: Love Lost and Found by Michele de Winton

Love Lost and Found by Michele de Winton (Love on Deck #2)
Publisher: Entangled Indulgence
Publication Date: September 9, 2013
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Felicity Williams can't remember the last five years thanks to an accident that wiped out her memory. She fled her old life in hopes of starting fresh and found refuge working on a cruise ship. But her past is coming for her…

Rick McCarthy awakens after a climbing accident to discover that his business partner and fiancée has quit her job and disappeared. He’s trying to accept that she’s run out on him, but now he needs her signature to close a deal that could literally be life or death. He’ll go to any extreme to get what he needs…even if that means becoming someone else to win her back.

But a little lie becomes a large mess when they’re stranded on a deserted island together, and old misunderstandings might ruin their chance at new love… 

My Review

Reasons why I enjoyed Love Lost and Found by Michele de Winton-



Reason number 1: Amnesia plot line 


I was very interested in this book because of this angle; the fact that one character had amnesia. It’s a tough subject and sometimes not done very well, but I thought de Winton did a great job of explaining this part and integrating it into the love story. It was very realistic and not far fetched in the least. I loved that it wasn’t the main focus of the story but a piece of it that really tied things together. 



Reason number 2: Felicity Williams


The woman was spunky, witty and had fire in her eyes that never seemed to burn out. She worried that she wouldn’t be able to remember the last 5 years ever because of her amnesia, but she somehow managed to keep the brightness in her day. She was hilarious and warm despite that her old self was described as cold and unreachable. I definitely adored this Felicity. I never really knew what to expect of her and that was why she was such a great character.



Reason number 3: Rick McCarthy


I understood his need to find Felicity and I loved that he ended up being surprised as well. I liked Rick because he was strong, determined and charming. Sure, his intentions weren’t really the best in the beginning, but he came to realize some things and he sure stepped up his game. I thought he was sexy and kind of endearing too. 



Reason number 4: Second chance romance


I dig the whole giving love a second chance, but I really really loved this one between Felicity and Rick. They really got a chance to know one another and fall in love for real this time. They were able to see the other as they should have before the accident hit and in a way it was a blessing disguised as a tragedy. What I love was how deep they got, how they shared their secrets and how they were willing to make sacrifices for one another. It was truly like starting over for them and it was a wonderful thing. 


Overall, Love Lost and Found had humor, sexy scenes and sweet moments all wrapped up into a cute, fun and quick read. 

REVIEW: Dark Paradise by Angie Sandro

Dark Paradise by Angie Sandro (Dark Paradise #1)
Publisher: Forever Yours
Publication Date: July 1, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 3.5-4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

DARK LEGACY

Mala LaCroix has spent her whole life trying to escape her destiny. As the last in a long line of "witch women," she rejects the notion of spirits and hoodoo and instead does her best to blend in. But when she finds a dead body floating in the bayou behind her house, Mala taps into powers she never knew she had. She's haunted by visions of the dead girl, demanding justice and vengeance.

DEADLY SECRETS

Landry Prince has always had a crush on Mala, but when Mala discovers his sister, murdered and marked in some sort of Satanic ritual, he wonders if all the rumors about the LaCroix family are true. Yet after Mala uses her connection to the spirit world to identify his sister's killer, he starts to form his own bond to her . . . a very physical one. As they move closer to each other and closer to the truth, Mala and Landry must risk everything—their families, their love, and even their lives.

My Review

What I Liked



Dual POVs between Mala and Landry


Although there was more of Mala, Landry doesn’t falter behind her. Mala was really cool and so easy to like. I enjoyed the fact that she was obviously a fighter, but also kindhearted as well. She was witty and smart and really into solving crimes. She just had this spunky attitude that really drew me to her. Landry was kind of dark and brooding, but also sweet too. He really cared about his family, but sometimes judgements from them and others got the best of him. When he was clearly thinking, he was very protective and loving. I cannot deny that I fell for him along the way. 



Witches, hoodoo, ghosts and spirits!


The paranormal elements of this book was definitely a favorite. It was the star of the book and got better and better along the way. The witchy powers in Mala’s family was explained thoroughly and while Mala wasn’t quite a believer, she was given the chance to respect and embrace it. The ghost haunting and visions were the mot creepiest and really gave me the heebie jeebies at how descriptive these parts were. There was blood, dead bodies, enraged spirits, dark magic, and possession. All of this kept me going and had me riveted. 



Suspense and secrets and crime


There was a ton of suspense and moments where you might flinch or anticipate what was to come. I enjoyed Mala and Landry trying to uncover the truth about Lainey’s death even though most of the time they were getting themselves into a whole lot of trouble. When the secrets and cover up started coming out, it was unbelievable to me (and I mean this in a good way). I suspected a lot of characters but always had doubts and was shocked to find out the absolute truth. It was disgusting and appalling and god, I just wanted to break something or someone. It was awesome.



What I didn’t like



The romance


There is no love triangle I am telling you this now so you could all let out a breath or two. It was quite obvious that there will be a little something something between our two MCs and I was not feeling it. I liked their banter, their playful flirtations and sure, because I like kissing, their make out scenes were spicy. It should have stayed like this for now. I was not feeling their budding romance because Landry was just all over the place and the trust between the two was sketchy. So for me to really feel and believe they were in love despite the hatred and mistakes made..I don’t know.



The pacing and length


This is probably my main reason for my rating. The beginning really dragged on for me and when that happens, it becomes an effort to read. It did get better, but by the time I hit the half way point I had felt like I should have been done with the book already. This honestly is just a “feeling” that I could not push away. I was compelled to read the book because of all the things I mentioned above, but this part pulled me down.



Overall, I did like Dark Paradise. It was suspenseful, morbid, and amusing. I will definitely be reading the second book because I’m curious to see what happens with Mala next!



*Thanks to Forever Yours for sending a copy for review purposes in exchange for an honest review.

This does not affect my view of this book.

REVIEW: Take Me On by Katie McGarry

Take Me On by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #4)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means.

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her-fighting for her-is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

My Review

Take Me On has come extremely close to topping Pushing the Limits for me. There was just something powerful and heart wrenching when it came to Haley and West’s story that nearly gave me as much emotion that I got from Noah and Echo. Katie McGarry just continues to dominate with her fantastic stories!

The Characters


West was impulsive, prideful, and had a temper that needed to be reined in. He had a strained relationship with his father and felt immense guilt for Rachel’s accident. Haley was strong, fierce, and self-sacrificing. She too felt extreme guilt for her family and bottled up many problems and emotions that she needed help with.What I loved about these two were how opposite they were of each other on the outside, but so alike in the inside. Haley wasn’t as privileged as West was, but both seem to carry the weight of the world, both love their families to death, and both would do anything to protect them. I ached for Haley because of all the things her family lost, her living arrangement, the horror she went through and the fear that continued to haunt her. I loved West for being so protective, for wanting to help Haley, for realizing how lucky he was and how much he needed to change and be a man.

The Romance


This book really does deal with the touch stuff and personal issues. It wasn’t always happy go lucky times between West and Haley. They had to keep working at it. What I loved about what McGarry did with their relationship was allowed them to do stuff not for the other person, but for themselves alone. There was give and take and there wasn’t a clear set happy ending. The future was still unknown and I liked that for Haley and West because their journey to each other wasn’t easy at all. I also really enjoyed the training that went with West and Haley’s story. I liked how fighting became their symbol, but in a good way. Fighting was what kind of broke them individually, but it also fixed them and led them to one another. It was nice to see how the training and the kickboxing played a significant role in their relationship. 

The Plot, Conflict and Setting


The book takes place in a “not so good” neighborhood. There’s drugs, drug dealers, drug users, people getting jumped, fighting, etc. It wasn’t picture perfect and it suited how difficult it was for Haley and West to be together. The book mostly centered on fighting, especially between Haley’s family and of her ex boyfriend’s family and gym. It also focused on using the sport of fighting for the good versus the bad. There was definitely some heavy stuff well worth mentioning such as homelessness, verbal abuse, physical abuse, and dysfunctional families. But opposite that, McGarry celebrated familial love and the depth in which such bonds reach and also the love felt between West and Haley. There were also plenty of surprises and revelations that should rock the boat and keep readers totally mind boggled.

All in all, I thought Take Me On was wonderfully written. McGarry really brought forth the intensity and whirlwind moments full of heartbreak of different varieties. She left a message to never give up and to push through the demons bringing you down. She displayed the importance of family and the ability to discover what makes you truly happy.


*Thanks to Harlequin Teen for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Winning the Boss's Heart by Hayson Manning

Winning the Boss's Heart by Hayson Manning
Publisher: Entangled Indulgence
Publication Date: September 9, 2013
Rating: 4/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Mason Christian has twelve weeks to flip something old into something new for his Japanese client, and then he’s getting the hell out of Footsteps Bay, New Zealand. Not even his temporary cook and secretary—the feisty, luscious Billie McLeod—will deter him. There’s no denying she makes him feel alive. More alive than he’s felt in three years...

Billie has one dream: save enough money to go to college. That’s why she’s agreed to work for hard ass, all-business-no-pleasure Mason Christian—a man who has every intention of destroying through "modernization" the town’s most cherished historical home. But before she can say see ya, she realizes she’s signed the dotted line and is contractually bound for eighty-four days.  Working with male perfection every day is awesome with a capital A—as long as they can stick to a hands-off policy that gets harder every day...

My Review

I didn’t think I would absolutely, positively dig this book so much as I do! What Hayson Manning created in Winning the Boss’s Heart was such a gem. I was so swept away by the characters and the quickness of the book and just the homey feel that was weaved in. 


I thought I wouldn’t like Mason at all because he was just so demanding and cold and closed off. He even had the audacity to call his assistants by numbers instead of their names and expects them to work long ass hours. I kind of wanted to hit him upside his head and ask him what his deal was. But oh, the pain that he showed and the bottled up guilt softened my heart for him and I completely get why he was the way he was. After such a tragic loss and how he continued to blame himself, I could see why he thought the perfection he once had was all he ever would have. He totally drowned himself in work and became so walled in. I wanted to open his eyes and his heart and just make him see that there was so much out there. 

And I think Billie does the job. Here was this quirky woman who had big dreams of going back to culinary school, who had a strange but cute dog, who never stopped talking, who made every area like it was well lived in, and someone who totally challenge Mason. And that is why I loved Billie from the very start. She had more character and personality for her and Mason and everyone around. She was silly and sometimes spoke without her brain and mouth communicating and she wasn’t afraid to just banter right off with Mason. Billie was a person with so much energy and life, she was the light that Mason so desperately needed. 

These two were always at each other’s throats, but I loved them because they were exactly what the other needed. It was obvious from the start that their professional relationship would be different because of Billie’s extraordinary personality. She got under his skin and he had no choice but to let her in. Those little glimpses of him feeling something for her were the best parts for me. I especially loved the easy banter between them though most the time Mason would get angry or frustrated it was still so entertaining and made me laugh out loud. I was surprised by the amount of humor, the affection and even the hurt that both characters had or felt. For me, it was the characters that gave this book that comfort easy to read feeling and I’m so glad I picked it up!

REVIEW: Crash into You by Katie McGarry

Crash into You by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #3)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: November 26, 2013
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane. 

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life—that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

My Review

Oh Crash into You, I have been waiting for you the moment Isaiah showed up in Pushing the Limits and even more so when he was so torn up in Dare You To. And while I can’t say you were my most favorite of the bunch, you surely did not disappoint in being absolutely fabulous. Katie McGarry continued to amaze me with her incredible characters and soul touching story lines.

It’s only fair to start with Isaiah.


I knew I would love this boy that very first encounter and now, I’m head over heels completely crazy gaga in love with him. He was mister tough guy with tattoos and piercings and someone you don’t mess with, but deep inside he’s this super loyal and dependable guy. I was so heart broken for him in the previous book, I was glad he had his own story now. There was just so much more to him than what meets the eye. Though he thought he didn’t deserve love or that he couldn’t possibly be good enough for love, he was. He wasn’t lacking in kindness, tenderness, concern and devotion for every single person he cared about. 

Sweet sweet Rachel.

I liked Rachel, I really did. It sucked that she struggled with panic attacks and how she was overlooked by her family. I understood her need to make her mother and her whole family happy. She was strong because she held up for so long, but weak because she didn’t speak up when she should have. However, Rachel was super cool because she was down to earth, loved cars just as much as Isaiah, and she was also loyal as hell. When she finally broke out of that shell of hers, I was damn impressed.

Isaiah and Rachel sitting in a tree...

I think the reason why this book was not my favorite of the three so far was because of how easily Isaiah and Rachel got together. It felt sudden to me, but it got better along the way because they were both starting to get under each other’s skin and starting to feel things. They were trying to overcome a bunch of obstacles that were attempting to keep them apart. And I loved that Isaiah learned to let Rachel in and to let go of the control he needed and Rachel was able to be herself around him and allow her to realize that she was indeed strong and brave. While they were not my favorite in the beginning, they were just lovely by the end.

Cars, drag racing, fundraisers, and threats!

I loooooved that this book was all about cars, which brought Isaiah and Rachel together in first place, even though I know jack about cars. Can’t say I wasn’t confused by the terminology and gadgets and gizmos, but it was pretty awesome. I even loved all the drag racing and I appreciated the danger that became the conflict of the novel. And I adore McGarry for bringing the gang together in order to help Isaiah and Rachel in need. That’s one the main reasons I love her books because they have a family aspect in them between people who are not blood related, but close enough to become the real deal. As of her previous books, there’s a good amount of laughs, tension, make out sessions and family drama to keep you hooked.

REVIEW: The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke

The Pirate's Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke (The Assassin's Curse #2)
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

After setting out to break the curse that binds them together, the pirate Ananna and the assassin Naji find themselves stranded on an enchanted island in the north with nothing but a sword, their wits, and the secret to breaking the curse: complete three impossible tasks. With the help of their friend Marjani and a rather unusual ally, Ananna and Naji make their way south again, seeking what seems to be beyond their reach.

Unfortunately, Naji has enemies from the shadowy world known as the Mists, and Ananna must still face the repercussions of going up against the Pirate Confederation. Together, Naji and Ananna must break the curse, escape their enemies — and come to terms with their growing romantic attraction.

My Review

I fell in love with Cassandra Rose Clarke’s The Assassin’s Curse because of the originality and the creativity of the novel that had so much adventure. She gave me exactly what I wanted from the first book and brought it back into the second with even more action, danger, and even better... some romance!



This book picks up where The Assassin’s Curse left right off with Ananna and Naji stranded on the Isles of the Sky. From there the adventurous tale of these two trying to break the curse begins. Like its predecessor, The Pirate’s Wish takes my favorite duo to many places. Why I fell in love with this duology was clear from the world building alone. Clarke brought in such detail and vibrancy in both books, but so much more in this one. Much of the setting is described so clearly from the unpredictable Isles of the Sky to the beautiful nature in the Island of the Sun, to the rich city of Jokja. Even more so, I appreciated the way in which sailing across the vast sea was described and all the fights that ensued when it came to battling another ship and taking it.

The journey for Ananna and Naji to completing the three tasks was indeed epic and made way for new characters to join in. We get royal manticores, a former noble Empire soldier, a Queen of Jokja, and even talking fish and sharks from an underwater palace. All these character played a role or helped in someway. Marjani, though a recurring character, felt like a new one because so much was revealed about her. She was by far my favorite of them all, well beside the manticore.


I’ve always loved Naji and Ananna because they were so different. They just worked so well together despite their rocky alliance in the beginning. Especially with Ananna’s stubbornness to stay clear of danger and Naji‘s anger and harsh demeanor, these two clash more than once but it created an entertaining and endearing banter more than anything. I liked how Ananna was a lot more assertive in being able to protect herself. Although I did find her to be a little more insecure, she was still that awesome outgoing pirate I loved. Naji was still reserved and brooding, but I adored him because he protected and cared for Ananna even when she didn’t see it. Plus Naji could conjure up some blood magic to kick some serious ass. What’s even better between these two was how Clarke gave me the romance that I was hoping for. She gave me attraction in the first book, but gave me a foundation, substance and kindling romance that held much more depth in this one. It wasn’t legendary or monumental in any shape or form, but it was the perfect amount of affection that really snared my heart. 

Definitely a lot goes on plot wise, but it’s not difficult to read at all. There’s a mixture of revenge, doubt and near death experiences to grab attention. And why I continued to love this book despite the crazy pacing and roller coaster completion of tasks was because it was always unpredictable. I never knew what to expect from the characters or even with the magic that surrounded this book completely. There wasn’t a shortage of pirates, assassins, monsters, and spells. Naji and Ananna go through so much. Tears shed, blood is lost, and life tips in the balance because there was always a threat for them at every corner and I absolutely loved that. 




Overall, The Pirate’s Wish by Cassandra Rose Clarke reminded me why I fell in love with the world she created in The Assassin’s Curse in the first place. She gave me a fit ending and conclusion for my favorite pirate and assassin that still have me thoroughly enchanted.

Check out my review for the first book that started it all - The Assassin's Curse.

REVIEW: The Warrior by Victoria Scott

The Warrior by Victoria Scott
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Publication Date: May 6, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

War between heaven and hell is coming, but Dante Walker makes it look damn good.

Dante’s girlfriend, Charlie, is fated to save the world. And Aspen, the girl who feels like a sister, is an ordained soldier. In order to help both fulfill their destiny and win the war, Dante must complete liberator training at the Hive, rescue Aspen from hell, and uncover a message hidden on an ancient scroll.

Dante is built for battle, but even he can’t handle the nightmares where spiders crawl from Aspen’s eyes, or the look on Charlie’s face that foretells of devastation. To make matters worse, the enemy seizes every opportunity to break inside the Hive and cripple the liberators. But the day of reckoning is fast approaching, and to stand victorious, Dante will have to embrace something inside himself he never has before—faith.

My Review

The Warrior by Victoria Scott was an exceptional end to a trilogy that introduced me to the one and only Dante Walker. In this epic finale, Scott doesn’t hesitate to raise the stakes in every level and form. Again, she entertained me, captivated me, and had me on the edge of my seat for the most part. 

Like I said previously in my review for The Liberator, I appreciate Scott for keeping Dante true to his character. He really has come full circle, even more so in The Warrior. He was still self conscious about his Liberator role, but Dante was so determined to help with the impending war, to protect Charlie and save Aspen from hell. I really thought I saw an even more deeper side to Dante in this book. True to his form, he was still arrogant, but my favorite parts of him were his doubts, his fears, and the guilt he felt even for the enemy. Dante learns a lot about himself, he pushes himself to be stronger and better, and he opens himself up to friendship and opens his eyes to the Big Guy. Dante was not perfect as much as he wishes to be and he made plenty of mistakes, but he continued to redeem himself, he continued to keep on trying and he made sure that he was giving his all every single time. 

I loved how plenty of new characters showed up and helped shaped Dante in this last book. Granted not all of them were truly on the good side, I did like the good I saw in them. My favorite quirky new character had to be Oswald. He was fun and smart and his role in the book was awesome. And speaking of characters, although it pains me to see some that I grew to love meet their end, I was glad that Scott wasn't afraid to kill certain characters. It was upsetting and heart breaking, but she gave their deaths meaning. She never once cut corners or did it just to give the book dramatics. Those deaths were legitimate and was given a close. I was also surprised by the amount of betrayal in the book, how certain characters turned from the Liberator side. It’s funny how love and war are tricky and dirty and desperate and Scott totally managed to rock my belief in those particular characters.

The amount of action and fighting in The Warrior was immense compared to book one and two. The strategies, the killing, the battles, the weapons were all exciting and shocking and probably the best parts of the book. Scott gave me exactly what I was looking for when it came to wars and epic battles and she did not disappoint in that last showdown between Dante and Rector. She built up the anticipation, she gave the thrill, she put in the drama, and the harsh reality that many will fall. 

Overall, I really love The Warrior. It was a fine piece of work to end Dante’s story. Scott was well rounded in this one and I’m completely content with how everything wrapped up so nicely. There is only one Dante Walker and Victoria Scott made sure we would never forget that. 

*Thanks to Entangled Teen for sending a copy for review purposes

More Reviews on Dante Walker:

The Collector by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #1)
The LIberator by Victoria Scott (Dante Walker #2)

REVIEW: The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu

The Truth about Alice by Jennifer Mathieu
Publisher: Roaring Book Press
Publication Date: June 3, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Everyone has a lot to say about Alice Franklin, and it’s stopped mattering whether it’s true. The rumors started at a party when Alice supposedly had sex with two guys in one night. When school starts everyone almost forgets about Alice until one of those guys, super-popular Brandon, dies in a car wreck that was allegedly all Alice’s fault. Now the only friend she has is a boy who may be the only other person who knows the truth, but is too afraid to admit it. Told from the perspectives of popular girl Elaine, football star Josh, former outcast Kelsie, and shy genius Kurt, we see how everyone has a motive to bring – and keep – Alice down.

My Review

The Truth about Alice shows an important moral about not being so quick to judge and gives us insight in how rumors and lies can be taken too far. It also shows the importance in kindness, friendship and forgiveness. 


The unique thing about The Truth about Alice is not knowing who Alice was or what the truth was directly from her. We get to know Alice through the eyes of other students in her high school who knew her on a friendship or acquaintance basis. The book was split between four perspectives: popular girl Elaine, former outcast and best friend to the book’s namesake, Kelsie, football star Josh, and last but not least, shy genius Kurt. All had a role to play in Alice’s downfall and at least one person stuck by her side. 

I thought too many perspectives would get confusing or even tiresome, but I actually thought it was a wise and clever idea. I got to see how these characters saw Alice and what they really thought of her. Jennifer Mathieu did an excellent job of making sure each character had a distinct voice so we can set them apart from one another. All four characters had different personalities and opinions and I loved that I didn’t have to know whose head I was in. 

I’m going to start with my least favorite character: Kelsie. To be quite honest, I loathe her. She was the worst best friend or even friend ever. It was obvious she was jealous of Alice’s popularity and experience, but she completely abandoned Alice because of one little tiny insignificant lie. Kelsie abandoned Alice, whether those rumors were true or not, to keep her social status. To make sure her popularity was still in tack. The more I was in her head, the more I disliked her with every page. She was disgusting. I just thought Kelsie was extremely selfish. 

Josh and Elaine were kind of mildly the same in how they both felt slight guilty about Alice, but they were still obviously pretty bad. Elaine was the lesser of two evils. She was the typical popular girl, conceited, and so full of herself. She wasn’t a bad person per se, but she sure didn’t set a good example either. I say she’s the lesser of the two evils even though she instigated and didn’t do anything to debunk the rumors, she still redeemed herself in the end because she looked at the bigger picture. Josh on the other hand, was almost as bad as Kelsie. He wasn’t horrible or even a bad guy. He was a good friend towards Brandon and even had some nice memories about Alice, but his selfishness reared its ugly head. And I believe Josh may have been a catalyst to the night of the party and other things. He felt sorry for Alice and he certainly felt guilt, but he did nothing about it and that’s where my disappointment stayed.

Kurt was the best character. He had his own selfish reasons for helping Alice, but he was nice to Alice even when she wasn’t pleasant. He was cute and awkward and shy and I liked that he got out of his shell to approach her. He took his chances and he saw something in Alice that no one else saw. And out of the four, he had the strongest, clearest and most intelligent voice. I adored him. 

I cannot say whether the rumors of Alice were true, you’ll just have to read for yourself. I just love that Mathieu created an original book like this. She kept me riveted and slowly trickled down the information about Alice and what really happened through every single chapter in the eyes of each character. It was great build up. She didn’t give a happy ending, she just gave a realistic, believable one. Mathieu made Alice imperfect allowing the reader to form our own opinions about her and to judge her too while reading along. But in the end, Mathieu leaves an important message about not believing everything you hear and not being so quick to judge a person despite past faults. 



REVIEW: Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Obsession by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Entangled Publishing Covet
Publication Date: May 31, 2013
Source: Publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.

Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.

Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.

Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

Holy hot Arum! Jennifer L. Armentrout had me all hot and bothered for Hunter in Obsession like you wouldn’t believe. She really steps it up with every novel she creates and this novel is no exception to the great work she has already put out that I’ve had the pleasure to read. 

Obsession follows two characters: normal human, Serena and bad boy Arum, Hunter. These two come together under the worst of circumstances for both of them. Serena witnesses her best friend’s murder by a Luxen and is needed protection ordered by the DoD with the reluctant help of Hunter. Although Serena was grieving for her friend, she was a strong character. Even with all the craziness of aliens on Earth, she seemed to try to wrap her mind around all of it as best she could. I liked her because she looked weak and timid, but she had some serious feistiness in her. She wasn’t too afraid to fight back physically or verbally. Hunter had a bad attitude and didn’t give a crap about anything. I swear he was pissed off 80% of the time. He was definitely worst than Daemon when it came to opening his mouth. He was cocky and infuriating and commanding and demanding but he was so freaking irresistible. It was really awesome that Serena was able to dish the sarcasm and anger right back at Hunter. He makes her rebel right back and she sort of entertains him to no extent. 

JLA does an amazing job with her writing in this book. It was very easy going and not hard to follow at all. She differentiates Hunter and Serena’s voice tremendously. She gives both characters personality and edge. And what I really loved was way she allowed both of them to grow and change like well developed characters should be. She made Hunter’s character believable because she didn't change that he was an Arum, that he was bad though not completely. She allowed Hunter to care and love Serena in a realistic way in his actions and self control. And it goes the same for Serena because she learned to trust and believe in Hunter even when it was very hard to. What was truly impressive with Obsession was how JLA was able to show the gray area between good and bad for both Luxen and Arum. The lines got extremely blurred here and saying that one side was good and the other bad was not true or clear at all and I was more than ok with that. 

There was plenty of action and fighting between Arum and Luxen that I found  all the running and chasing to be riveting and exciting. It was super cool to visualize the way they fight and how they use their powers. I love the darkness from Hunter, how he could be so scary and relentless while being so absolutely breathtaking all at once. And speaking of action, the scenes between Serena and Hunter, and their building sexual tension hit way past the boiling point of burning hot. I’m going to admit that their scenes were a turn on. Yep, I went there! JLA can surely write one outstanding steamy sexy scenes. *fans self*


I really could go on and on about why I loved this book to pieces and bits. I really enjoyed how Hunter and Serena started of not really liking each other all that much and ending up caring about each other to the point that they were protecting each other with all they had. I was especially swayed by Hunter because he was so adamant in the beginning, but because Serena pushed her way into his life, she became his everything. 

Because of all that and so much more, Obsession was top notch and had me engrossed ‘til the very last word. 

*Thanks to Entangled for sending a copy in an exchange for an honest review

Favorite Quotes

"You have a feisty little attitude, don't you?"
"You're about to get a feisty little foot up your ass."

"I can't get off? Oh, I most definitely can get off."

'To feast? Fuck that. I wanted to devour her.'

'It was almost cute, I thought, except I didn't do cute. But I wanted to do her.'

"Hunter...what are you doing?"
"What I want. And I want you."

'She was my light, my warmth, and I wasn't ready to let her go.'

"Is there really anything such as a good Luxen?"
"Is there really such a thing as a good Arum?"

REVIEW: Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich

Feel the Rush by Kelsie Leverich (Hard Feelings #2)
Publisher: InterMix
Publication Date: August 20, 2013
Source: Publisher*
Rating: 4.5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

The New York Times bestselling author of The Valentine’s Arrangement continues her sizzling series with a new novel of a plan that goes awry—in the arms of a soldier…

Picking the wrong men is a talent Meagan Mitchell has perfected. She’s sweet, confident, beautiful—and single. With her thirtieth birthday sneaking up on her, she needs a new plan. No more Mr. Wrongs or Mr. Bads, it’s time to find Mr. Safe…

Army Captain, Reed Porter, lives for the thrill—he’s an Airborne Jumpmaster with a rush addiction. He’s sexy and playful, and he quickly tempts Meagan with his rich Southern drawl and sinful looks. But slowing down and settling down are not in his agenda, making him exactly the type of man Meagan wants to avoid…

As their undeniable attraction heats up, Meagan has to decide if she’s willing to risk everything on a chance at love with a reckless charmer. Is she brave enough to bet her future—and her heart—on Mr. Thrill? Or will Reed finally learn that the feeling of a safe landing is just as addicting as the rush of the fall?

My thoughts, feelings, and reactions

The first book in the Hard Feelings series made me a Kelsie Leverich fan. With this second book, I am completely hooked and addicted to this series for sure. There was just something so compelling about Feel the Rush that I couldn’t put the book down. I have so many good things to say about this book.



Meagan


She was this sexy confident woman who was just so comfortable in her skin. She had a fun side that was not afraid to come out. And what I liked most about her was how she didn’t let anyone intimidate her. Meagan could be comfortable around girls and guys, she could be playful and teasing, but she was absolutely caring too. While Meagan was all sass, she had worries and fears to ground her.



Reed


Now he was the opposite of the Mr. Safe Meagan was looking for in a man to settle with. He was the walking, talking, definition of thrill. Reed was an adventurous and adrenaline loving type of person. At times he was too cocky and smooth, but he rivaled this with the concern and care he had for his soldiers. He wasn’t the type to slow down and though he had a lot to prove, he cared about Meagan and it showed immensely. I also have to mention that he had a sexy mouth in and out of bed, but you didn’t hear it from me. 



Their Romance


The attraction and sexual tension between Meagan and Reed was strong from the start. However, I liked that they “tried” to be friends and hang out together because it gave them a different bond and allowed them to grow. They were pretty mature about it even under the the confusing circumstances. I liked that even when they did step over the friendship boundaries, they were never cruel and still remained respectful. But sweet baby biscuits, did they have some explosive chemistry! They really couldn’t heat up anymore than they did.



Supporting Cast


I have to mention them because they were amazing. They were just funny and super cool. While Reed and Meagan were entertaining all on their own, their friends brought in the banter, the humor, and true fun side of the book. It’s very rare when such characters stand out and these do. They don’t overshadow the main characters, but enhance them. Even better, they all made an impression.



The Plot


I thought it was very well developed because there was background on both the main characters. Their romance heats up every single time and there was enough conflict and angst to keep any reader going. What really made this book was the roller coaster relationship (and I mean this in a good way), the sadness and heartbreak included, and most especially, the shocking twists I never suspected or imagined. Leverich totally sold me there.

All in all, I adored this book so much and I can't wait to get my hands on another book in this series.

*Received a copy of this book by the publisher in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel

The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: April 29, 2014
Source: Negalley*
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Some sixteen-year-olds babysit for extra cash. Some work at the Gap. Becca Williamson breaks up couples. 



After watching her sister get left at the altar, Becca knows the true damage that comes when people utter the dreaded L-word. For just $100 via paypal, she can trick and manipulate any couple into smithereens. With relationship zombies overrunning her school, and treating single girls like second class citizens, business is unfortunately booming. Even her best friend Val has resorted to outright lies to snag a boyfriend.

One night, she receives a mysterious offer to break up the homecoming king and queen, the one zombie couple to rule them all: Steve and Huxley. They are a JFK and Jackie O in training, masters of sweeping faux-mantic gestures, but if Becca can split them up, then school will be safe again for singletons. To succeed, she'll have to plan her most elaborate scheme to date and wiggle her way back into her former BFF Huxley’s life – not to mention start a few rumors, sabotage some cell phones, break into a car, and fend off the inappropriate feelings she’s having about Val’s new boyfriend. All while avoiding a past victim out to expose her true identity.

No one said being the Break-Up Artist was easy.

My Review

I can describe The Break-Up Artist by Philip Siegel as a clever, odd and very funny. The book had a very charming and endearing quality because of the main character, Becca and because of the young love that surrounded the book. 



What I do like about this novel is that we get to know Becca and see her in action. She had a very strong, personable voice and had this sarcasm and wit that was very entertaining. The way she breaks up couples is explicitly explained from the initial contact, to the planning and to the step by step take down. Becca wasn’t exactly a “good” character, but she certainly wasn’t bad or evil either. She of course, had good intentions, but was just a little misguided. Her reasonings and justifications were very hard to wrap my mind around, but I could see where she was coming from especially with what she saw around her. Despite Becca’s shortcomings, she does grow as a character. She develops a stronger bond with her sister and mother through the schemes. Becca especially learns the value of true friendship and what love should be. 

Being the break up artist was not all it was cracked up to be for Becca. It seemed like a sweet deal and it felt like she was helping those hiring her and the single people of Ashland, but ultimately it was manipulation and deceit on Becca’s part. She learned the hard way, but the upside was being able to see how wrong she was. Becca was starting to feel and see Huxley in a new light, she realized the difference between liking someone for the excitement vs the real thing, and how love can be seen in different ways. By the end of the book, Becca wasn’t cynical anymore. 



I have to say that Becca was pretty smart and sly for her business. All the diabolical planning she did with her sister was super entertaining. Some of the schemes make you go “whaaaaat” but it somehow worked though. Because of Becca’s sarcasm with her bitterness and clever comebacks, it does make way for more than a few chuckles here and there. I did love Huxley and Steve's relationship because it was the perfect example of high school love that could potentially grow into more later on. I only found Becca’s best friend to be the one downfall of this book because of her behavior. I didn’t like how she was obsessed with wanting and needing a boyfriend for the sake of having one and then ditched Becca when she did. I also found the exaggeration about girls only caring about having boyfriends and looking down on those who are single really extreme. Some parts of the book were over the top and slightly unrealistic, but I really liked The Break-Up Artist. 


Overall, this novel was creative and enjoyable. It was very reminiscent to Mean Girls, but focused on relationships and friendship. Great book all around. 

*Thanks to Harlequin Teen for providing a copy in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Dare You To by Katie McGarry

Dare You To by Katie McGarry (Pushing the Limits #2)
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication Date: May 28, 2013
Source: Netgalley*
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

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...

My Review

Katie McGarry gave me another amazing hit with Dare You To. I’m banging my head against the fall for taking so long to pick up and read this book because it blew me away. There was more humor, darkness and sexiness and I love how different yet familiar this book was to me.

Like PTL, Dare You To has dual perspectives split between two main characters, Ryan and Beth. I got a glimpse of Beth in the previous book, but I didn’t fully understand or begin to like her until I got to know her. Beth was described in the book as rough around the edges and I completely agree. Beth showed this front of being tough, didn't care what you think type of bad attitude. But deep down, she was broken and missing the girl who she once was. She showed this vulnerability and softness I failed to see in PTL. Ryan was new altogether and he had me from the moment he described his love for baseball. On the outside his family seemed picture perfect, but they were falling a part from within. Ryan struggled with this, a family secret he still harbored, and his own independence from his father on his own life. Ryan had this endearing arrogance, hated to lose and loved dares, but what I loved most about him was his respect for people and for women. 

I say that Dare You To was darker because of Beth’s past and the life she continued to live and her inability to break free from a mother who obviously did not care about her. I loved the topics covered here because Beth dealt with real life issues: abuse, drugs, trust, moving, love and so much more. I appreciated McGarry giving Beth a new start even though she had a hard time accepting it. Beth really showed her fears of trust and love when it came to family, friends and romance and it really broke my heart to see how much she tried to deal with it all. I loved seeing someone from her past come back and finally take care and love her the way she deserved. Their relationship and how much he impacted her life touched my heart. Their interactions were my favorite because it was rough, it was tender, but it was also humorous. 

Ryan’s part of the story was just as prominent as Beth. He definitely changed and grew throughout the book. He had realizations about his future with baseball and he even found something he loved and excelled in besides the sport. With the help of a teacher and Beth, but mostly Ryan’s way of not backing down from a competition, he ended up standing up for himself and making his own decisions no matter what his parents or other people thought. Ryan was a great character because he had the best of intentions, he was always as respectful as can be, and he saw through Beth and gave her the benefit of the doubt despite her past. 

Beth and Ryan’s relationship was rough in the beginning because of the trust issues and the dares, but it blossomed beautifully. There was attraction which both characters tried to fight off, but their dare lead up to something more. To see both of their walls slowly crumbly down does wonders for their romantic development because I got to see and feel how they were affected by the each other. I loved how hard it was for them to open up, but once they did they still had to keep trying to work things out. It wasn’t perfect or easy. When one wanted to give up, the other kept on going and this helped make their relationship stronger, the trust to build up more solidly and easier for them to finally show how they truly felt. Together, Ryan and Beth were better.



Overall, Katie McGarry allowed me to fall for Beth and Ryan just as strongly as I did for Echo and Noah in PTL. Dare You To does not fail to evoke emotion and keep you engaged. 

*Copy provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: If Only by A.J. Pine

If Only by A.J. Pine
Publisher: Entangled Embrace
Publication Date: March 24, 2014
Source: Netgalley
Rating: 4/5
Get it: Amazon | B&N

Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend—which means it's been forever since she, well, you know. But now she’s off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect, no-strings-attached match. He’s fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh. So why can’t she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together outside the train’s loo, kisses Jordan like she’s never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn)…oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen. But E. M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine’s Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she’s willing to go for the right guy.

3 reasons why I enjoyed If Only by A.J. Pine



Main character Jordan-


I must admit that there is nothing that extraordinary when it comes to Jordan, but I liked her because she had the courage to spend her year of school in Scotland without knowing anyone there. She stepped out of her comfort zone and she was determined to be a new Jordan, to reinvent herself. She ended up finding really good friends and going after love. She wasn’t perfect by any stretch and made some bad choices, but she learned from them rather than dwelling on them.



Love triangle Griffin vs. Noah-


I love both these boys, maybe one more than the other. Griffin was the sweetest, most flirtatious, fun guy. He showed Jordan that he wasn’t the man-whore she first thought him to be. There was so much potential and a connection I was rooting for from the very start. Griffin cared for Jordan so much, he was willing to try and I adored him for being so down to earth. Noah was just like Jordan because they had so much in common from the beginning. He was different altogether because he was sort of cute and shy and just lovely. I didn’t feel their connection as much as I did with Griffin, but I loved how passionate Noah and Jordan were for the same things. 



Romance development-


I have to admit that I was turned off by Jordan’s reaction in the very beginning because it felt unrealistic. However, the romance between these two characters span months. There was some serious intense whiplash type of ups and downs which drove me crazy, but I liked it because it kept me on my toes. There was a lot of tension, angst and jealousy that really kept me entertained. I also liked that though there was a third party issue, there wasn’t any cheating going on. 



My one issue with the whole book was the lack of setting. I knew If Only was set in Scotland, but I didn’t get much of the culture. I wanted more of Scotland since it was the place that changed and shaped Jordan, but it was brushed over for the romance. It wasn’t bad, but it was something I wished was more touched upon. 



Other than that, If Only was a great love story set internationally. 


*Thanks to Entangled for sending a copy in exchange for an honest review

REVIEW: Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn

Masquerade by Nyrae Dawn (Games #3)
Publisher: Forever
Publication Date: January 7, 2013
Source: Netgalley via publisher
Rating: 5/5 stars
Get it: Amazon | B&N

A biker. A tattoo artist. A love to last a lifetime.

Maddox Cross has always had to be tough. When his father went to jail for murder, the teenager took care of his sister and mother. Now on his own and working security at a night club, Maddox wants to become a tattoo artist-a dream that comes closer to reality when he falls for the hottest, most tatted woman he's ever seen. She's wild and beautiful, and Maddox will do anything to be with her.

Bee Malone came to town to open up her new tattoo parlor, Masquerade. Since being kidnapped as a young girl, Bee has had trouble getting close to anyone. But when she meets Maddox, she sees that under his hard biker's body is the sensitive soul of an artist. What starts out as a sizzling one-night stand soon becomes so much more.

Bee wants Maddox to join her tattoo business, but letting him into her life means revealing all her most intimate secrets. And as the past begins to intertwine with her present, Bee fears their love may not be as permanent as their ink . . . 

My thoughts, feeling, and reactions

I swear each book that Nyrae Dawn comes out with just gets better and better. Masquerade has to be the best yet! Masquerade was just gripping, so emotional, and absolutely heart wrenching. 



Let me talk about Bee
.

I loved her for many many reasons. This girl was downright tough and outspoken. She was determined to live her life the way she wanted to and be exactly who she wanted to be. And while she seemed like this hard, brave girl she was not without pain and guilt. She struggled with wanting to be someone for herself, but also the daughter she thought that her parents loved and deserved. The guilt she felt at being torn in two, how she was just so closed off and didn’t know how to love made me want to just love her even more. I admired her strength and all the ways she endured even if it took her sometime to get where she needed to be. 



Now Maddox.


He was this hard-shelled, angry and guilt-ridden man that refused to forgive himself and let people in. Not matter what he said, I thought he was a good brother for Laney. It was so heartbreaking to see how much misplaced guilt he had on his shoulders for what happened in the past. And to see him finally break down all those walls and let go all the hurt was beautiful and freeing. Even though Maddox could be a complete jerk, the things he wanted in life for himself, for his sister and for Bee made him extraordinary. He may have been wrapped up in that guilt, but had an amazing heart through and through. And I have to mention Maddox was extremely sexy!



More than one glimpse.


I have to bow down and possibly tackle hug Nyrae for including Laney, Adrian, Colt, and Cheyenne into this one. They weren’t the stars in the book, but to see how they were and where they were going made me want to ball my eyes out in happiness. I was thrilled each time they were mentioned and I was even more taken by how these four wormed their way into Maddox and Bee’s life. 



The full story.


While all three books in the Games series have been about overcoming obstacles, opening up to loving someone, and dealing with broken people who thought they couldn’t be fixed, Masquerade kicks it up a notch. I thought out of all the books, this one stood out because of Maddox and Bee’s story, how they didn’t even realize they needed each other and how they just ended up loving one another when they thought they never could. I think Masquerade stood out from the rest, especially because of Bee. She was so different from Cheyenne and Laney, yet she was just as lost as they were. I just thought her story touched me even more so. Maddox and Bee’s love unfolded beautifully and to see them finally admit their feelings made me wish I was actually there to witness it in person.



Overall, Masquerade was stunning. The ending was perfect, the whole book was memorable, and the characters were just heartwarming. It’s one of those books that will rock your world and give you every feel possible. 

*Thanks to Forever for sending a copy for review. 

I was not compensated for my opinion.