I read and fell in love with book one of this trilogy when it first came out and couldn't wait to get my hands on a sequel. Maybe it's just not my yea I read and fell in love with book one of this trilogy when it first came out and couldn't wait to get my hands on a sequel. Maybe it's just not my year for sequels but 'Hottest Mess' was a big time let down. What made me fall in love with book one was the plot which was completely LOST in this installment. And when I say 'lost' I mean lost in all the finger fucking. That's all this book was: sex, sex and more sex. Again, I am NOT a prude and mostly read and review erotica and I get the whole 'sex sells' thing in the publishing world but there IS such a thing as "TOO MUCH SEX and not enough substance" and this book is the prime example. I know I am in the minority but I feel like there was no need for this book.
I am really bummed about this because J. Kenner is a fantastic author whose writing I really enjoy. I will finish the trilogy simply because I need to know whodunnit! Crossing fingers for more story and less fucking.
**ARC received from the publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
I LOVED 'First Touch' (first book in this duet) so much that it was a tie for book of the year for me in 2015. So 'Last K I'll try and make this short.
I LOVED 'First Touch' (first book in this duet) so much that it was a tie for book of the year for me in 2015. So 'Last Kiss' quickly became my most anticipated read of 2016. To say I was left feeling underwhelmed would be an understatement.
When I got my hands on an advanced copy of 'Last Kiss' I literally dropped everything because I wanted to find out what happens. So many seeds were planted in book one re: plot. So many players were introduced that had so much promise. Well, if you throw all that out the window, you'll get 'Last Kiss' - a very well written yet very predictable story that revolves around a heroine who did a complete 180 from the awesome female lead that she was in book one. The sad thing is, till about 52% in the book, I was actually enjoying it enough to rate it 4 stars but then the story took a nosedive and never recovered. It really is a shame. THIS BOOK HAD SO MUCH POTENTIAL! If I had to shell out $9.99 to read this, I would have been PISSED.
In a nutshell ...
What I liked about this book:
The writing.
What I didn't like about this book:
Everything else.
Cheers!
*** ARC received from the author as well as via NetGalley/publisher in exchange for an honest review....more
I have a question: why do some authors feel the need to ruin a good thinOK, here we go ... *cracking knuckles*
Where is mental bleach when you need it?
I have a question: why do some authors feel the need to ruin a good thing?? Is everything about the money at the end of the day?? Reading this after the first two books in the series felt as if someone just ran a perfectly good race only to do a belly flop right before the finish line ... WTF??? This was just sad. Really, really sad.
2 stars and that's way too generous.
Overall, it was ... I don't know what the hell this was. Something I'd like to forget, that's for fucking sure.
I was so excited to read this because, let's face it, who wouldn't want more Caleb in their life, right?? But after having gotten through only half of the book, I started feeling this:
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Basically, there was really no need for this book. It could have been an actual epilogue at the end of "Seduced in the Dark". I don't think I learned anything I haven't already known about Caleb (or Livvie for that matter) after having read this.
Saying "quit while you're ahead" comes to mind after having read this. It's not that this was bad but it wasn't great either compared to the first two books in the series, especially "Seduced in the Dark". I know it's not fair to judge this as a "book" since this was meant to be an epilogue but, in my opinion, this was way too long to be an epilogue (150 + pages ... really??). Call it novella/Dark Duet 2.5 but this wasn't an "epilogue" per se ... Too much irrelevant info for it to be an epilogue, if that makes sense.
Was it nice to finally see Caleb & Livvie get their HEA? Yes.
Was I curious how they'd get on with their day to day lives outside the circumstances that brought them together? Maybe.
Did I want to see Caleb playing with a fucking PS3 (or whatever the hell it was)?? NO!
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What I enjoyed about this book the most is that it was from Caleb's POV. However, I do wish the whole book was narrated by him as it was done in an epilogue of Epilogue. It would have been nice to just have him tell the story about the time leading up to their reunion and what happened after without having to endure some of the [really painful] conversations. I don't think I rolled my eyes this much since ... ever!
The part that I didn't really care for is the fact that Livvie came across at times as a true teen. Not that she isn't entitled but still. I liked her more in the first two books because of her maturity despite her age.
Masterpiece it certainly isn't but if you are a fan of the series, you will definitely enjoy this conclusion (?).
As for me ... I am still
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Cheers!
P.S. Really looking forward to Agent Reed's story....more
It pains me to do this because this was one of the most anticipated releases of 2013 for me but this wa 2** ~ I F*CKING LOATHE ALLY NIGHTINGALE ~ STARS
It pains me to do this because this was one of the most anticipated releases of 2013 for me but this was 2 stars read (at best!) & the worst book of the series [for me].
2 stars as per GR = it was OK. The only reason this book was even OK [for me] is Ren.
It's not that this was bad but just so ... anticlimactic (for the lack of a better word).
There really isn't a need for my review below because this book can be summarized by the following quote from Shirleen:
"Everyone's hooked up, you were the last, and you were boring"
You said it, Shirleen! Now, in true Rock Chick fahions, give me five, girl!
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When I said there isn't a need for my review, I was only kidding sooooo ...
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I want to begin by saying that I've been a fan of Rock Chick series yet I've never been a fan of the actual Rock Chicks (except for Stella but even she had her moments).
Having said that, I didn't expect to go into this book and all of a sudden fall in love with Ally but I didn't expect to hate her as much as I did either.
This was THE FIRST AND ONLY time [while reading a book by Kristen] I skimmed (and in some cases skipped altogether) almost half the book, most sex scenes & pretty much most of the epilogue and even had thoughts of not finishing the book altogether. I know this series is about Rock Chicks but there was simply WAY TOO MUCH Ally in this and not enough Ren. Ally and all her crazy as a side dish in all of the previous books was just fine with me. Ally and all her crazy as a main course? No thanks.
Some of the reasons why this book didn't work for me:
1. Ally and her need to play cops and robbers. I think some things are better left to people who know what they are doing and who are naturally cool (think Creed's Sylvie).
2. Ally saying "Yo!" as a greeting.
Yo, Ally! I've got a message for you ... here it is:
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3. Ally and her inability to compromise yet expecting everyone around her to do so.
4. Ally sticking her nose in everyone else's business and thinking she knows better.
Basically, this is Ally in a nutshell:
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5."RIGHTEOUS" ... if I NEVER see this word in print ever again it will be too soon!
The guy is PERFECT in every way. To say he could have done MUCH better than Ally would be a colossal understatement.
Let's face it, most of us don't read Kristen Ashley's books because of her heroines ... She never disappoints when it comes to her alphas though! This book was no exception. Ren = ABSOLUTE PERFECTION!
Best part of this book:
Stay tuned. We're gonna follow Mace and Stella to Los Angeles. 'Cause you can get up to all kinds of crazy there.
I am just praying Ally won't be a part of that crazy in ANY capacity.
Cheers!
** This book ispired me to create a special shelf called "big time let down" ... ...more
I was so bummed when I got turned down for an ARC of this book but now I see it as September 12, 2013
Gave it another go but still DNF, this time @ 40%
I was so bummed when I got turned down for an ARC of this book but now I see it as an omen of some sort - in the last few months, every book I was turned down for, ended up being mediocre at best.
I am a HUGE fan of Olivia's Sinners on Tour series but this book just didn't do it for me. At all. And I LOVE Eric's character. I can't believe I am going to say this but this book had way too much sex and almost no story at all. Female lead did NOTHING for me. I couldn't connect with her on any level. Her obsessing over Trey was just plain weird and, if I was Eric, I would have just told her where to go (as in "fuck herself") instead of pining for her. I guess the fact that it's not his style and that he is so sweet and kind is the reason he is one of my favorite Sinners.
Super excited about Olivia's Exodus End series! Counting weeks till it's release 'cause counting days would feel excruciating! Bring on Dare!!!
August 8, 2013
It saddens me to do this but I have to pause @ 33% ... this is not working for me at this time. I will be back to finish this later though.
and that same feeling continued all the way to the end and that pretty much sums up this book [for me].
It pains me to give this book 3 stars because I wanted to really like it . The first book in this series was excellent and one of my favorite reads of 2012! Then I felt a little less love for book 2 (maybe because it took 9 months for it to come out and I completely forgot what the hell was happening) but it was still pretty good. This one fell completely flat for me :(
I know the title of this book is "Revealing Us" but, quite frankly, if this is Chris' true persona revealed then I don't want him! What happened to Chris who used to fuck against the windows of his condo and have pissing contests with men like Mark???? Where did he go???????? I want him back. I don't want some sissy guy who is attracted to needy women like Sara!
And speaking of Sara, I don't think she could have gotten any more annoying. I don't remember her being this bad in the previous books but, man or man, was she ever intolerable in this one. Enough with your daddy issues, woman!
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Fuuuuuck ... either go into therapy or shut the fuck up! Honestly!
I wish the story focused more on finding Ella, drama with Amber (who I was rooting for the entire book to no avail!), Tristan and less on Sara texting Chris at the most inappropriate times only to tell him something as stupid as how she dislikes French cuisine.
Anticlimactic is probably the best way to describe this finale.
I can't wait to read the spin off (?) series. I have a feeling it will be a bit more action packed vs this book.
And in conclusion I want to say that I am a HUGE fan of Lisa's and, just because this book didn't quite knock my socks off, I am still looking forward to more of her work in the future :)
~IreneOust~
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