Andie
This is the second book I've read by Kat Cantrell and I am so glad I moved on to this one!
Keith left Cara on their wedding day, following a conversation they had, minutes before they were supposed to get married. Cara always dreamed about her perfect wedding and being married, so she believed it was a personal failure that her dream fell apart. Two years later, Keith is working as a resort consultant and he has to put together a bridal expo, so he hires Cara's company. Cara never saw it coming because her sister, Meredith (who is getting her own book, YAY!), doesn't tell her Keith was the one who hired them. So, now they have to work together on a romantic island.
[WARNING: possible minor spoilers]
I think the story started off a little shy but it just kept getting better and better. My first impression of Keith wasn't good. I thought that he was an arrogant rich boy, I mean his opinion on Cara, until they were stuck together in the elevator, got a little annoying. But then he kept surprising me with his thoughts and his interactions with Cara. Let me just say, Cara is probably one of the best female characters ever! I loved her, loved how she kept Keith on his toes and how she remained true to herself. it was funny how he didn't even know which way was up whenever she was around and I liked that Cara didn't fall for his smooth moves too soon. It was kind of perfect how they slowly let each other in.
I do love second chance love stories and Kat Cantrell definitely delivered a beautiful one. Can't wait to start reading Meredith's book.
I received a copy of this book for free, from the author, in exchange for an honest review.
Truly, Madly, Whiskey is Bear's story! I was really curious about him, I just can't resist a sexy tattooed biker boy and Bear didn't disappoint me!
Bear waited patiently during months for a chance with Crystal. He knows she's attracted to him but she keeps him at arm's length, so he's slowly giving her time to get used to have him in her life. He's taking his time, trying to be always present in her life, especially when she's spending time with their mutual friends (I loved True and Gemma's interactions and the way they were supporting Bear and Crystal and their relationship). In fact, they're practically on a relationship even though there's no make out sessions or sex. Yet. Bear is amazing, maybe a little bit too possessive sometimes (an alpha male of course!), he's the perfect combination between hot, sexy, sweet and caring. His devotion to Crystal, the way he treats her and how he puts her feelings first is absolutely heart warming.
Crystal is not exactly what she seems to be, she tries hard to come across as a tough woman, happy with her one night stands and rough bikers, but that's just a mask. Her past is heartbreaking and there's a very good reason for the way she behaves with everyone around her and with Bear particularly. I admired her bravery, especially when she seeks the help of her therapist again and when, shortly after, she finally has a meaningful conversation with Bear about how her past shaped her personality and her relationships.
Will Crystal be able to trust Bear and let him in her heart? You have to read their angsty, heart warming, sexy story to find out!
Melissa Foster has a way to tug our emotional strings and she does it again especially with Crystal's past, I mean when Crystal finally opens up with Bear... it's so heartbreaking and emotionally charged, it's fabulously written.
Truly, Madly, Whiskey is a beautiful, emotional read, a passionate romance with plenty of funny banter and a perfect book boyfriend. It can be read as a standalone but, in my opinion, you should definitely read Tru Blue first. Can't wait for the next books featuring Bear's siblings especially Dixie's!
I don't know what's going on but I'm super intrigued.
Can't read it fast enough to know more!
Books, Coffee & Passion
I didn't read any reviews because I didn't want to be influenced before writing this post and it will be a long one with spoilers! So, please stop reading if you didn't read ACOSF and you still want to read it.
A Court of Silver Flames was a rollercoaster. I was very entertained while reading Nesta and Cassian's story. These two were so hot together! After reading ACOFAS, we all knew their story would be a tough journey. Nesta wasn't making it easy for anyone, she isolated herself and she was lashing out repeatedly. I didn't expect a smooth journey. It wasn't. The mental health struggles that Nesta was going through in ACOSF, and before, were hard to read, which only means it was well done. As a reader, and loving Cassian like I already did, it was sometimes hard to not be annoyed with Nesta. She hurt Cassian repeatedly, she lashed at him again and again and sometimes I was annoyed at her because of that. It was also hard not to be annoyed when Nesta dismissed Feyre, Cassian and Rhy's traumas. I get that it was her own self loathing and the fact that she was spiraling, drowning in her own grief and depression talking. But it was even harder when she kept repeating the cycle. However, that's just the thing with mental health, it's different for everyone, it has lots of ups and downs, a good day and then three awful days and/or vice versa. Nesta was definitely stuck in a depressive, self destructive pattern. Her struggles with mental health, the messages to keep going, Amren telling Cassian to keep reaching out his hand, the mind-stilling technique, her growth and her healing were really well done. In my opinion SJM did great regarding the mental health rep.There were a lot of great moments in this book. I loved Nesta's found family: Emerie and Gwyn. These two were amazing characters, the way they bonded with Nesta, the way all three of them opened up to each other: PERFECTION. Valkyries, yeeees! I loved that aspect of the story and cheered when Gwyn finally cut the ribbon. I enjoyed their moments together and I hope we get more of their bond in the next books in the series. I also loved the House, the fact that Nesta wished for a friend and the House fulfilled her wish by becoming her friend was so good! The romance novels love was amazing too. The inner circle moments, even though Mor wasn't in much of the story, felt special. The Blood Rite had stunning, fierce scenes, particularly the scene where they share their fears and the traumas they went through, it was very emotional and so well written. Emerie carrying a sleeping, unwilling to leave Nesta alone, Gwyn to victory and Nesta holding the line was one of the most stunning impactful scenes that definitely stayed with me.I enjoyed the plot in this book too. The Trove and its history, the quest to find the made objects was enthralling. Nesta's scenes with the kelpie were amazing and it actually scared me when she was pulled underwater. Beron and the Autumn Court involvement with Briallyn kept me invested in the story and I kept second guessing if Eris was playing Rhys and Cassian and was involved in Briallyn's plans as well. There were some things that annoyed me: Rhys withholding from Feyre that she and the baby can die when she gives birth was awful and I hated that he did that; Nesta telling Feyre about that in anger was nasty; the dying not dying part that apparently is a recurring thing in ACOTAR's books annoyed me too. I enjoyed how Nesta ended up saving Feyre and telling her, finally!, she loved her but it could have been done differently. Especially considering that Nesta gave away all her power to save Feyre which is just repetitive again (because it's similar to what Amren did in ACOWAR). Additionally, that mating bond reaction... I think it was unnecessary and it only served the purpose of pushing Cassian off scene and snatching Nesta, Emerie and Gwyn together for the Blood Rite. However, my main issue with ACOSF is a issue that I've also had with ACOMAF and ACOWAR: everything was solved so easily. I enjoyed the prison visit but the fact that Lanthys was killed like that felt anticlimactic and the battle between Nesta and Briallyn went the same way, it was over in a blink of an eye.
Overall, I really enjoyed ACOSF. There were beautifully written scenes and it was very entertaining, with great banter, lots of steamy moments and powerful, emotional connections. I was captivated by the story, had trouble putting the book down and I absolutely love this addictive world. On the other hand, like I said there were things that annoyed me and the major one was how easily somethings were solved to the point it felt anticlimatic.
If you want to check my sidenotes and Azriel/Lucien/Gwynn/Elaine stuff, check my full thoughts (with spoilers too)here.
I'm officially obsessed with this series.
This is addictive! Probably the most addicting book I read in 2023. I wanted to keep reading this book every chance I got. Can't believe it took me this long to start the Red Rising series.
The twists and turns, the action scenes, the character work... it kept me on my toes and I LOVED it.
I loved this book so much! There's heartbreaking moments that made me sob, but Wyatt and Angie's story is so beautiful... Amazing love story.
This would be a 5 star if we had gotten more in Faerie and more of Gwyn and Diana.
I still really enjoyed this, I read the last half in one day. The Blackthorn family has my heart.
WHAT. THE. HELL. WAS. THAT. ENDING.
Logan is a bodyguard, he started working for the royal family very young and he was assigned to protect princess Olivia's sister: Ellie. Even though Ellie is beautiful, sassy and very young, they're actually close in age and despite their differences Logan is drawn to her but Ellie is also his job. Protecting the royal family is not only Logan's duty, it's is life and his honor. Logan is intense, brooding, sexy, has a heart of gold and his sense of honor is very strong, so will he give in to his feelings for Ellie?
Ellie is a sweet, innocent, young woman who happens to be Olivia's sister. Since Olivia fell in love with Nicholas, Ellie's life changed a lot. She's studying really hard in her senior year in high school while she tries to run her family bakery but now she's part of the royal family and that means protection 24/7. And she's realizing she doesn't mind that protection at all when it's provided by broody Logan... But will she be able to break Logan's restraint?
The story takes place over several years so Logan and Ellie's attraction increases as time goes by and the slow build up between them hooked me from the very first second. Their bond keeps growing and their relationship is genuine, refreshing and real as it evolves from friends to star crossed lovers.
Royally Endowed is an amazing slow burn story, brilliantly written with an epic prologue that kept me glued to my Kindle and a stunning epilogue, absolutely perfect for hopeless romantics like me!
(And there's a Walking Dead reference, totally loved it!)
Truman returned home after spending six years in jail for a crime he didn't commit. He's adjusting his life to normal when his brother calls him asking for his help, Tru can't ignore his own brother and he's dragged again to a world of addiction and horror to find his mother dead, his brother high as a kite and his two younger brothers living surrounded by crack and filth. His protective instincts kick in, because he can't allow history to repeat itself, and he takes responsibility for his younger brothers moving both of them home with him. Tru is suddenly a single parent struggling to fulfill the physical and emotional needs of a baby and a toddler and even though he's got a group of loyal friends that have his back, he knows his life will change forever, still he embraces his new responsibilities with an amazing selflessness and an overwhelming love for his siblings.
Gemma lived a shielded childhood, her parents were very rich and she was raised surrounded by nannies in a gilded cage. She had no freedom, her mother was always listing her flaws and she never felt loved while growing up. There was also a tragedy in her life that shaped her childhood and her relationship with her mother got even more distant. Gemma has her own shop, dedicated to children and their fantasies like dressing up as a princess or a fairy for a day. She approaches Tru when she sees him for the first time with his baby brother and his toddler sister buying too many diapers and formulas.
I loved, loved, loved Tru! His love for his siblings made me smile a lot and his feelings, hopes and worries kept tugging at my heart. I didn't quite connect so much to Gemma, she was a little pushy and some of her questions were a bit annoying especially when Tru was explaining his past (I think maybe I felt this way because I loved Truman so much!). The story's fast paced and even though it wasn't rushed, I think some of the conflicts should last a little longer exactly because of the story's darker tone (drug addiction, abandonment, single parenting).
Tru Blue is an emotional read, a little darker and grittier than Melissa's other books. Beautifully written, it's a story about hope, love, second chances, family, friendship and loyalty. If you love romance and you're looking for a new book boyfriend, I highly recommend it because you'll definitely fall in love with Tru.
Henry is a playboy. As the younger royal son, his life has been an endless party, wild and carefree until Nicholas, his older brother, gives up the throne for love. And now, Henry is the future King. He's drowning in responsibilities and he can't figure out how to come up for air. Everything in Henry's life has changed, everything will only get harder as his responsibilities get bigger and he can't seem to do anything right, especially in his grandmother's eyes, so he thinks about taking one step back and doing something fun, just to relax and to be himself. And Matched: Royal Edition, a new reality show, is perfect and exactly what he need, or what he thinks he needs.
Sarah is a shy bookworm, a sweet librarian that has a work project coming up and she's desperate to avoid it because she can't deal with public speaking. She has the perfect opportunity to skip it by accompanying her sister, Penelope, as Penelope's assistant in Matched.
Sarah is absolutely adorable. I loved her. EVERYTHING about her. Seriously, I have a girl crush! Even her virginity made sense (and I never thought I would write this sentence because I'm definitely not a fan of the virgin trope), every little detail about her fits so perfectly. I have to admit at first I was actually thinking: “Nooooo! She can't fall for this shallow boy.” But then I really fell for Henry. HARD. I didn't even see it coming. Seriously.
That's the Henry Effect.
Reading is power.
Books, Coffee & Passion
I didn't read the Grisha Trilogy before Six of Crows, mostly because I didn't knew I should have read it first and I regretted not reading it but I couldn't put Six of Crows down not even for a second so I didn't wait for the Grisha Trilogy to arrive (yes, I ordered it while I was 50 pages in SoC), so there were some parts about the Grisha universe that I found confusing which was entirely my fault. Anyway, I did eventually understand those details, probably by the 40%-50% mark.
Even though I struggled with some world details, I loved these characters! Their stories, their voices, their thoughts and needs and wants... EVERYTHING. At first I was a little worried about the multi POVs however every character had a very distinct voice and the change of perspectives just flowed seamless. Leigh Bardugo is a queen when it comes to writing a story with multi POVs, honestly I'm very impressed with how she managed to make every character stand out. I was hooked from the first POV!
Six of Crows is addictive, it got to the point that I had dreams about the plot, the characters and their world. The plot is unique with lots of secrets, corruption, chess moves, the characters are dark, captivating, complex and lovable, with rich backstories that will make you root for this crew of criminals. Six of Crows is an epic action-packed story with adventure, criminals, romance and magic. The hype is real! Highly recommended.
No mourners, no funerals.
Can't believe it took me 5 years to pick this book up. It's been on my GR TBR since 2016...
And now... after finishing it in a day, because I couldn't put it down, I'm kicking myself for not picking it up sooner.
I loved it! Both Aiden and Van are amazing characters and MZ has a very skilled way to making the readers fall in love with her characters. The story flows at a perfect pace (for a slow burn) and the writing is great.
This is the most delicious, entertaining, sweet slow burn romance EVER. I need to read more MZ's books, I've only read Dear Aaron and I really liked it.
3.5 stars
Super entertaining, really enjoyed it. Even though it was predictable, I was deeply immersed in the story and that's why I'm rounding this one up. Liked the writing and the characters... the banter was pretty good too and Thomas' antics around Audrey were really, really funny.
Really intrigued about the next book.
A cozy murder mystery, very entertaining with very manipulative and witty characters.
I enjoyed it a lot.
It was a captivating story with a few interesting twists and turns. I'll definitely read the next one!
Check out my reviews at Books, Coffee & Passion
I read most of Nico while I was spending time in the hospital and I wasn't exactly in a mood for a flirty, fluffy romance. I knew this was a Mafia Romance and it was exactly what I needed: intense, dark, sassy, steamy and challenging. I'm a fan of Sarah Castille and I've enjoyed her bikers but Nico is definitely in another league! He's the perfect alpha hero: intense, dark, strong, deliciously dangerous, sexy and charming.
The story got me hooked from the very start. Mia is a rebellious Mafia princess, she hates the fact she has to play the part of a perfect little princess in a Mafia family and she refuses to act how her father wants her to and how a Mafia woman should. She's strong, sassy, smart and she's her own person. She built her own business, she's a computer security expert who specializes in penetration testing and she's an independent, confident woman. I loved her and her punk rocker clothes!
Nico is a mobster's bastard, he's battling to gain the control of his family business but the fact that he isn't his father's legitimate son puts a target on his back, he's also focused in avenging his father's death and he is focused in building his empire. He met Mia ten years ago during a painful event and when their paths cross again, the chemistry between them is insanely hot, so Nico just can't resist even though their family history is all about hate and revenge.
I loved how Nico and Mia meet after 10 years and how perfect they are together, Nico really met his match and their passion is, absolutely, red hot off the charts! I also loved the secondary characters, especially Luca and Ben. Can't wait for Ben's story! Luca will be next and I'll definitely pre-order it.
Nico is well written, detailed, complex, it'll make you feel like you're a part of a Mafia family, with lots of action and suspense, some violence, lots of steamy (and public) scenes while you keep up with a fantastic plot. If you're looking for a dark, vivid, action packed, Mafia romance, I definitely recommend Nico.
Whoa, so much to unpack here.
There are a lot of important themes in this story.
The gothic vibes, the eerieness, the creepiness, the disturbing moments, all of it worked so well.
Unfortunately, the romance was my least favorite part. It felt underdeveloped.
I still enjoyed this one a lot!
FRTC
The art style is stunning and I'm obsessed with the color scheme. I'm super intrigued with the story, even though I'm still a little confused about what's going on. Can't wait to pick volume 2!
Books, Coffee & Passion
Ride Rough is the second book in the Raven Riders series and it's an amazing addition to this series.
Maverick is Raven Riders' VP, he's a protector, loyal to the bone and he's been in love with Alexa since they were teenagers. Unfortunately, their relationship took a bad turn because they couldn't deal with a huge loss so they broke up 5 years ago (if you want to know more, you just have to read it!). Letting Alexa go is not Maverick's only regret...
Alexa moved on from Maverick (or so she thinks), she tried really hard to forget him and now she is engaged to a perfect, wealthy, educated man who offers her the security and stability she craves for herself and her mother. But she's been trying to ignore her inner voice warnings, after all her wedding date is so close and she's sure her fiancé loves her...
I loved Maverick, he's a sweet, strong, hot biker who puts those he loves first and protects those who need protection (the club provides protection for victims of abusive relationships) no matter what. His loyalty to his brothers and the club is absolutely swooning, I loved their MC family moments and their unconditional love for each other. And the chemistry between Maverick and Alexa was electric! Even though, I do think Alexa was a little too quick in giving in to their chemistry. Actually, I have to say that at first I didn't exactly love Alexa, I had trouble understanding how could she break up with someone as special as Maverick. But Laura Kaye was brilliant with Alexa's background, I mean grieve can sometimes lead us to make stupid mistakes and as their story progressed I understood Alexa's need for financial stability and I warmed up to her. Besides, I admired her for getting out when she did and for finally standing up to Grant, her scumbag fiancé.
It's hard to read about an abusive relationship. Abusive relationships can include sexual, emotional and/or physical abuse, it's not only based on physical violence. Disrespect, intense jealousy, mistreatment, controlling behavior, etc are not ok and I admire the way Laura made that point by showing us Grant's erratic and escalating behavior. Of course, I wished Alexa didn't ignore her intuition and all the other signs but that wouldn't be very realistic.
Overall, Ride Rough has a little bit of everything: action, suspense, sweet and steamy romance and a hot group of bikers (lots of them still single!).
Ride Rough is my favorite so far in the Raven Riders series and I'm definitely in love with this MC! If you love a second chance romance, you can't miss this one. Can't wait for Cora and Slider's story!
3.5 stars
This one was a wild, whimsical ride. I wanted more from it. The vibes, the atmosphere, and the world were pretty interesting. The mystery surrounding Caraval was great.
However, there's a lot that isn't explained, which IMO is intentional, and there's not much character development. I was still immersed in this strange world anyway.
I'll continue with the series.
Accidentally on Purpose was on the top of my most anticipated book releases of 2017. I've been dying to get my hands on Elle and Archer's story! Jill teased us non stop with their interactions in the previous books and their chemistry promised a very hot collision.
Elle has a troubled pass, she doesn't trust easily, she builds walls around her and nothing gets under her skin... except Archer. She actually pushed herself to become a controlled, sophisticated, confident woman but she knows Archer sees right through her. She's very loyal to her friends and has a caring heart even though she doesn't share her lowest moments with them. I have to say I really loved her relationship with Spencer! If Archer wasn't in the picture, I would totally root for Spencer and Elle (and this almost sounds like incest... eeewww, but you get the picture).
Archer's been protecting Elle every step of the way since they met without taking any credit for it, he tries to stay away from her because he thinks he's not good enough and also because Elle acts like she hates him. He's a hot, selfless protective alpha hero, a bad-ass security expert and a control freak. So, when Elle sets a date with a guy who's not worthy of her... well Archer has to interfere...
Elle and Archer have history. Their past is entwined and both have their regrets, they never talk about it so they also have misconceived ideas concerning each other's feelings. They are two stubborn control freaks that just can't stop arguing when they should be tearing their walls down but they hate losing control so they just keep fighting temptation and butting heads.
Archer and Elle are absolutely fantastic together: their banter, the sexual tension, their loyalty, their battle for control, even the moments when they were just being stubborn, and when they finally give in to their chemistry... amazing! They're not just HOT, they are EXPLOSIVE together! Book boyfriend alert!
Accidentally on Purpose is a must read and definitely one of my top favorites of 2017. Can't wait for Spencer's story...