Ember Dante
This is the second book I've read by E.M. Shue, and I really enjoy that she writes strong heroines. The story line was promising, but in the end I felt things were tied up too neatly, almost in “Scooby Do” fashion (i.e., clearly telling the reader, “this happened, then this happened...oh, and then a few years later, this happened.”) That's not a bad thing, per se, but apparently it's just not my cup of tea (or perhaps, I've become a very critical reader). Sometimes I prefer things not to be tied up in a neat bow. I also thought there was a little too much back and forth, wishy-washy thinking by both the hero and heroine.
I've been so behind on my reading and I finally got around to this little gem. I'm glad I did! There were a couple times I wanted to slap the main characters and say, “Oh, come on now!! Say it! Say it!” All-in-all a sweet love story with a few dark twists and turns that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next.
I'll definitely never look at cupcakes the same way. ;)
I loved the banter between Violet and Milo...their scenes definitely kept the story moving. There were a few times I caught myself rushing through everything else just to get back to them. Overall a great read, though I wanted to smack each of them for their stubbornness.
I love a good MC romance, and Thunder hits all the right notes. Absolutely adored Thunder and Andy together and I can't wait to read more about the Desert Phantoms!
I loved everything about this story–Rush's tough guy persona and his penchant for disco (I mean, who doesn't love disco??), Tatum's sassy attitude and quirky personality, and the tongue-in-cheek Runaway Bride references. It's always fun watching a tough guy find his soulmate, and when Rush finally realized it–WOW. The man fell hard. The author did an amazing job of bringing them to life and weaving all the threads of Tatum's backstory together. It was also fun to see Mark and Charlie's antics included.
I had been anxiously awaiting this book, and I was not disappointed! The Sins of Luther was brilliantly written and deliciously dark and twisty. My only complaint is that the author left us with a cliffhanger and now I want MORE! I can't wait to see where Luther takes us next!
I loved the way Kimberly tied in the beginning of this book with its predecessor, Tattooed Dots, and then took it on its own incredible journey. Avery and Nicole are both VERY stubborn, but I think that's what makes their story so remarkable as they deal with the hand Life deals them. I'm not ashamed to say I cried a few tears along the way—it was that powerful!
Blake Montgomery is one of those characters that can drive you nuts...which is what he did when I first met him in the Club 24 series. I knew right away there was more to the bad boy than what we were shown, and this brief look into his past proved that was true.
I can't wait to read his series and find out what he's up to now!!
I'm always a sucker for celebrity love stories where the jaded player doesn't want a relationship, and then unexpectedly meets the right woman. Well, add to that the super-steamy atmosphere of Sensation, you have a WINNER! The characters' chemistry was off-the-charts and I devoured this book...though I will say, I want more Walker and Ayla!
The story and emotion in this gem completely blew me away. It didn't take long to fall in love with the characters and by the time I reached the final page, I felt as though we were old friends. There are highs and lows, but through it all Easton, Brooke, Nicole, and Avery step up to the plate and support each other. It's one of the best stories of love and friendship I've read in a long, long while.
First let me say that I've never been into MM, but ... WOW! I loved getting another dose of Vaughn, and his chemistry with Slate was hot, hot, hot!! There were a few obstacles along the way, but seeing them fall further and further in love while they worked through them pulled me in and wouldn't let me go! After reading Sensation Fantasies 2, I had said I wanted more of Walker and Ayla, but now I want more of Vaughn and Slate!!
Overall, I enjoyed the concept of this book, as well as the fact that it featured a strong, kick ass female lead–without diminishing the strength of the male characters. I find this to be increasingly rare in books and movies (especially movies), where the only way the story teller can create a strong woman is to make the men look like bumbling jackasses. That was not the case in this book, so BRAVO!
My only negatives were that the story felt a bit choppy at times, and the endearments were a bit overused, IMO. That could have just been ME, simply because I'm not a big “term of endearment” gal. I'm usually happy with a “babe” or “baby” sprinkled here and there. Again, that's probably just my preference and not a direct reflection of the book or author's talent.
This was a brilliant crossover between Kimberly's Sensation Fantasies and K. Bromberg's Everyday Heroes worlds. I loved reading Ward and Keira's backstory and seeing how they got their HEA. Kimberly did an amazing job incorporating her characters into Sunnyville. A wonderful, wonderful read!!
I had never heard of micro poetry before reading this book, but what a joy it was to read! It is a challenging medium for the author and Chris nails it. I was amazed at the different topics included. Each poem is a brief but fascinating story in its own right. The entire spectrum of human emotion can be found within its pages, and it is a true joy to be led through that spectrum by such a skilled author. Some of the entries had me laughing out loud, while others were very thought provoking. From start to finish, it is clear that Chris has a real gift for storytelling, whichever medium he uses.
I read this book in one sitting–DEVOURED the pages–literally on the edge of my seat the entire time, dying to see where Kimberly was taking me. Just when I think she can't top the previous book, she proves me wrong. I thought Brad was my favorite member of “The Fallen,” but now I think that title belongs to Nick.There's something so satisfying about watching a die-hard never-quitting-the-game bad boy turn into a lovesick man willing to do anything to get (and keep) the girl. I felt everything–Ashleigh's rage and frustration with her sister and family; her hatred of her slimy ex; her trepidation in hiring an escort for a wedding. Then later, the fear that Nick and Ashleigh both experienced, and the uncertainty of what would happen. Oh, I trusted we would get our HEA, but I was DYING. The only thing I didn't like? It ended. I wanted MORE of Nick and Ashleigh. This will definitely have a permanent place on my re-read shelf.
Merged review:
I read this book in one sitting–DEVOURED the pages–literally on the edge of my seat the entire time, dying to see where Kimberly was taking me. Just when I think she can't top the previous book, she proves me wrong. I thought Brad was my favorite member of “The Fallen,” but now I think that title belongs to Nick.There's something so satisfying about watching a die-hard never-quitting-the-game bad boy turn into a lovesick man willing to do anything to get (and keep) the girl. I felt everything–Ashleigh's rage and frustration with her sister and family; her hatred of her slimy ex; her trepidation in hiring an escort for a wedding. Then later, the fear that Nick and Ashleigh both experienced, and the uncertainty of what would happen. Oh, I trusted we would get our HEA, but I was DYING. The only thing I didn't like? It ended. I wanted MORE of Nick and Ashleigh. This will definitely have a permanent place on my re-read shelf.
“Inspirations” was the first book by Chris that I have had the pleasure to read. He includes brief introductions to several of his poems to give the reader insight to his subject. Some are written with the intent to merely entertain while others have a deeper meaning meant to “inspire” the reader. The short stories give us a brief taste of his talent with prose, making us yearn for just a bit more. The commentaries are snippets of his life—also included in his memoir, “I am Nobody”—that leave you with a better understanding of Chris, the person.
I loved so much about this book, I'm not sure where to begin this review. I've always preferred Grimm's fairy tales over the more sedate, watered-down fantasies most of us have grown up with. This retelling of Rapunzel was dark and twisty, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I finished it one sitting! She did such a great job with the characters, some I hated (Frank Sr, Madam) and others I adored (Zell, Frankie). I caught myself smiling many, many times over Zell's innocence, and even chuckled during her interactions with Frankie (that may have been my twisted sense of humor). The only thing I didn't like was that it ended...I found myself wanting MORE, MORE, MORE!! I wanted to stay wrapped in Zell and Frankie's world a bit longer and felt like I was saying goodbye to my closest friends when the ride came to an end. I suppose I'll just have to re-read it. ;)
I wish I could give it ten stars, but I suppose five will have to do.
Merged review:
I loved so much about this book, I'm not sure where to begin this review. I've always preferred Grimm's fairy tales over the more sedate, watered-down fantasies most of us have grown up with. This retelling of Rapunzel was dark and twisty, and kept me on the edge of my seat. I finished it one sitting! She did such a great job with the characters, some I hated (Frank Sr, Madam) and others I adored (Zell, Frankie). I caught myself smiling many, many times over Zell's innocence, and even chuckled during her interactions with Frankie (that may have been my twisted sense of humor). The only thing I didn't like was that it ended...I found myself wanting MORE, MORE, MORE!! I wanted to stay wrapped in Zell and Frankie's world a bit longer and felt like I was saying goodbye to my closest friends when the ride came to an end. I suppose I'll just have to re-read it. ;)
I wish I could give it ten stars, but I suppose five will have to do.
This was such an incredible ending to Brooke and Easton's story. Brooke's continuing health troubles cause quite a bit of strain, but Easton is the perfect rock and is by her side the entire time. There is a fair amount of comic relief sprinkled throughout, which I appreciated given the seriousness of Brooke's situation. Once again, I had to keep the tissues nearby while reading. Even as intense as this entire series is, I know it won't be long and I'll need to pay another visit to my old friends.
I've read this entire series, and Bradley is BY FAR my favorite leading man!! I love watching a tough guy fall...
And, without giving anything away, I would like to add that Cassie's brother is a POS. I have relatives like him, and I've seen what they do to a family–people they supposedly love. As Kimberly infers, blood is not always thicker than water. Sometimes the family we choose is stronger than the one we are born into.
I cannot recommend this book enough...and if you haven't read this series...
What are you waiting for??
Merged review:
I've read this entire series, and Bradley is BY FAR my favorite leading man!! I love watching a tough guy fall...
And, without giving anything away, I would like to add that Cassie's brother is a POS. I have relatives like him, and I've seen what they do to a family–people they supposedly love. As Kimberly infers, blood is not always thicker than water. Sometimes the family we choose is stronger than the one we are born into.
I cannot recommend this book enough...and if you haven't read this series...
What are you waiting for??
What can I say? I absolutely love the characters Kimberly creates! This book hit me hard. I didn't know what to expect, and without giving anything away, I DID NOT expect the earth-shattering revelation Kimberly delivered. Easton, Brooke, Avery, and Nicole feel like old friends now, and I'm sure I'll have to revisit them often.
Chris has a very lyrical style of writing that truly engages the reader. Throughout this book, he opens his heart to us and gives us a view into the different stages of his life—from childhood to adolescence to adulthood—and all the trials he experienced during that journey. Many of us will have no trouble identifying with his many adventures, joys, and even sorrows. To say I enjoyed reading “I am Nobody” would be an understatement. It made me laugh and it made me cry...many times in the space of a few paragraphs. It would be impossible to read this book and not feel touched by the depth of emotion behind the prose. I think we can expect many great things from Chris in the future.
This book took me completely by surprise. It was INTENSE. Just when I thought I knew where the author was going...BAM!
It wasn't just intense...it was twisted...and surprising. My only criticism would be that the ending felt a bit too quick and convenient. It didn't dull my enjoyment of the book, but it did feel a bit rushed. Otherwise, it was an AMAZING read. You should give it a go!!
Loved Galen's story!
I'll admit, I was upset at first when I thought Galen wouldn't get his chance to become a member of The Fallen, but was over the moon when I heard Kimberly was giving him his own HEA!
I was fortunate to read an advance copy of this book, and I loved every minute of it. I got a little frustrated with Galen and Mila when they had the attitude, “oh, well, haven't heard from him/her, so I guess it's over...” but I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED how they found their way back to each other.
This book will definitely be on my “must read again” shelf!