Icon Tag: Challenge

ARC Review: The Simple Wild – K.A. Tucker

ARC Review: The Simple Wild – K.A. Tucker

The Simple Wild is a strong story, with characters who desperately need to make amends, and to move forward instead of looking backwards. Story: The Simple Wild starts with a day Calla thinks is the worst day of her life – losing her job, going back home to her mom and step-dad. Then, going out, seeing her boyfriend all cozy with another woman. Only, this wasn’t the worst day – that was yet to come. Because Calla’s mom didn’t enjoy living in the Alaskan wilderness, Calla grew up without a father. And as The Simple Wild unfolded, it was clear that the feeling of being abandoned and not important was very strong for Calla. Her father even stopped calling her […]

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ARC Review: Deep Cover – Scarlett Cole

ARC Review: Deep Cover – Scarlett Cole

Deep Cover was fantastic, the balance between a budding romantic relationship and a dark, dangerous case filled with suspense made my night very short. Story: Deep Cover kept me at the edge of my seat, because this story had some dangerous thugs from past books, and they appeared to be out fo blood. Big time! A joint case between my favorite undercover private contractors and the FBI worked really well. And I loved that Cabe and Amy met before they started working together. It made it difficult for them to conceal the sparks between them. There was a lot going on in Deep Cover, and the title is perfect for the story. Amy had to go undercover, and she had […]

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Review: Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi

Review: Children of Blood and Bone – Tomi Adeyemi

Children of Blood and Bone is a complex fantasy novel, in which one people fight their way to win magic back in order to stay alive. There is a corrupt and vicious king, a credulous young prince, a very strong young woman, and a lot of action. Story: Children of Blood and Bone managed to tell a compelling story, build a complex world, and include magic that was quite different from other stories I’ve read. There was a dictatorial king, and he would kill the smallest flutter of magic he could find – to keep his people safe, or so he said. Zélie was learning to fight, to survive, to keep the former magic users – dîviners – safe. And […]

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Review: Bad At Love – Karina Halle

Review: Bad At Love – Karina Halle

Welcome to my buddy-read review for Bad At Love that I read with my bloggerwife, Brandee @ BookwormBrandee 🙂 Hi wifey! I’m so happy we buddy read Bad at Love – you know, Karina Halle seems to be our go-to author for these. 😉 Okay, let’s chat! 1) What did you think of Laz’s serial monogamy? I found it very interesting that he dated for periods of time but always had a girl to move to immediately – and that it was easy because he never got close to a girl or let them get close to him. It said a lot about his feelings on relationships even though he felt he was doing a good thing. I thought that […]

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Review: The Chateau – Tiffany Reisz

Review: The Chateau – Tiffany Reisz

The Chateau was wickedly delicious and deliciously wicked. I loved this glimpse into Kingsley’s past, how he was already both a giver and a receiver of pain.. Story: Reisz always mesmerizes me with her storytelling, and I was immediately immersed in The Chateau with Kingsley. In this story, I got to know Kingsley better, and I loved seeing him as a young man. How he lived with the aftermath of his relationship with Søren. What he actually did for the hidden branch of the French government. And how he got entangled with a community where women were boss. In the Chateau, Kingsley wasn’t only a government agent, he was also a player. And he played rather well if the girl […]

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Review: Rainy Day Friends – Jill Shalvis

Review: Rainy Day Friends – Jill Shalvis

Rainy Day Friends was a very emotional read. I cried so hard! But I also laughed and swooned very hard! Story: Lanie had really been through hell and back before Rainy Day Friends even started. She felt like nothing in her life was right anymore, which is one of the reasons why she took a temporary job at a winery away from her LA home. As soon as she arrives, she’s taken in by a huge, noisy family who run the winery together. And she feels utterly out of place. Even if everyone there tries to help her feel welcome. Lanie doesn’t want her employers to know just what it is she’s running away from, and Rainy Day Friends definitely […]

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Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes – C.G. Drews

Review: A Thousand Perfect Notes – C.G. Drews

A Thousand Perfect Notes is such a dark tale, where, at the beginning, there seems to be no hope. Then August enters Beck’s life and shows him that there is more. And wanting more can be dangerous… Story: While there is definitely a lot of darkness in A Thousand Perfect Notes – especially for Beck – there is also music, love, tenderness, and a tiny slice of hope. Because of health problems, Beck’s mother had to stop playing the piano. And so, she put all of her own hopes and dreams on her son. She fled the continent and installed her little family of tree – plus an extravagant piano – at the opposite side of the world. Because Beck’s […]

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Review: Good Girl – Jana Aston

Review: Good Girl – Jana Aston

Good Girl was delightful! Aston did well – she even made me love her virgin heroine (which is truly a feat, I usually don’t enjoy virgin heroines in my romances). And there was so much humor, and all the feels. Where do I even start with Good Girl? It was so much fun! But it was also very, very hot. Lydia is not your typical romance heroine, that’s for sure. She’s a little naïve. A lot fun. Very organized. A great friend. And she works hard. She really want’s to get rid of her pesky virginity though. In fact, that’s been the case for quite a while. She just hasn’t really felt like ripping her clothes off for anyone so […]

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Review: The Good Luck Sister – Jill Shalvis

Review: The Good Luck Sister – Jill Shalvis

The Good Luck Sister is yet another feel-good romance from Shalvis! I really enjoyed getting to know Tilly and Dylan better! Story: The Good Luck Sister is short, but sweet. It’s set several years after Lost and Found Sisters, and it shows Tilly all grown up. But still confused about life. And still sharing her wisdom at the beginning of the chapters. I loved that while Tilly was now an adult, there were traits of her character she still had from her teens. She is not one to forgive easily, and if she feels like she’s been faulted, she’s stoic. The Good Luck Sister showed that she is capable of letting the past go, though. But not without the other […]

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Review: Marek – Sawyer Bennett

Review: Marek – Sawyer Bennett

Marek was a really good second-chance-at-love story, and I really enjoyed getting to know the background for his and Gracen’s break-up. Story: I have to say that in the beginning of the story, Marek acted like a jerk. There really is no other word for it – and while I could totally understand his anger and hurt, he did not try to make things better. Gracen was a real trooper, though, and did her best to take Marek’s anger in stride. And I really enjoyed how present Lilly was to the storyline. It’s not easy to have a hot romance while also including a young child! As Gracen and Marek got to know each other again, it was obvious they […]

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