Rarely have I read a book as raw and amazing as this one. Punk 57 was quite possibly one of the best books that I have read this year. Such we5 Stars!
Rarely have I read a book as raw and amazing as this one. Punk 57 was quite possibly one of the best books that I have read this year. Such well-constructed storyline. Such real characters that are flawed yet redeemable. Such unique plot twist. It's packed full of everything. HATS OFF, PENELOPE DOUGLAS!
"Do you notice that, too? How all of us just want to get through life as quickly and easily as possible? And even though we know that without risk there's no reward, we're still so scared to chance it?"
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The story is all about childhood pen pals Misha Lare and Ryen Trevarrow. They've been writing letters for each other since grade school and for about seven years, they've never seen each others' faces. They promised not to search each other's name on social media to keep their identity a mystery and to keep their meaningful friendship as it is. But one unexpected night at his band's party, Misha wasn't able to resist the temptation of looking at Ryen's Facebook account after he accidentally saw her picture online. That's when he knew that Ryen was actually there at the party's venue.
I'd be honest. This book was HOT. Like RATED PG HOT. And I'm warning you, Ryen and Misha's smoking chemistry and their steamy scenes will possibly burn your e-reader. lol. And since it's written by THE PENELOPE DOUGLAS, it'll be impossible to stop reading.
Steamy scenes aside, this book resonated a powerful message. I loved how it tackled a very important issue which is bullying that happens in every school. The anti-bullying theme here was quite different compared to Douglas's previous book Bully because in this book, the storyline was centered around the issue and most of the events happened at school. It presented a look at what kids go through every day. It was honest and terrifying and it served as an eye-opening view of what these kids' lives are like.
One of the things that I also loved about this book was Ryen's character which came as a huge surprise for me. She was not easy to like especially in the first few chapters, but I totally understood her. She's a famous student at her school. A beautiful and sexy cheerleader. But underneath it all, she's insecure. She's worried about losing her place and losing her friends. She's afraid to be alone. Afraid to be bullied. And that's what made me appreciate her character. For me, she was real.
Same goes for Misha. I loved that both of these characters shared the same passion for words, the same desire for attention and love. Not to mention the same rebellious trait which was quite entertaining. And as I've mentioned, these characters were redeemable ones.
"We're rebels with a reason."
And you know what especially blew me away? The PLOT TWIST. Yes, that twist was a shocker and totally unpredictable!
It will surely take me a lot of time to get over this book. It was simply amazing. A new favorite of mine. :)
"We're all ugly, Ryen. The only difference is, some hide it and some wear it."
Rarely have I read a book as raw and amazing as this one. Punk 57 was quite possibly one of the best books that I have read this year. Such well-constructed storyline. Such real characters that are flawed yet redeemable. Such unique plot twist. It's packed full of everything. HATS OFF, PENELOPE DOUGLAS!
"Do you notice that, too? How all of us just want to get through life as quickly and easily as possible? And even though we know that without risk there's no reward, we're still so scared to chance it?"
[image]
The story is all about childhood pen pals Misha Lare and Ryen Trevarrow. They've been writing letters for each other since grade school and for about seven years, they've never seen each others' faces. They promised not to search each other's name on social media to keep their identity a mystery and to keep their meaningful friendship as it is. But one unexpected night at his band's party, Misha wasn't able to resist the temptation of looking at Ryen's Facebook account after he accidentally saw her picture online. That's when he knew that Ryen was actually there at the party's venue.
I'd be honest. This book was HOT. Like RATED PG HOT. And I'm warning you, Ryen and Misha's smoking chemistry and their steamy scenes will possibly burn your e-reader. lol. And since it's written by THE PENELOPE DOUGLAS, it'll be impossible to stop reading.
Steamy scenes aside, this book resonated a powerful message. I loved how it tackled a very important issue which is bullying that happens in every school. The anti-bullying theme here was quite different compared to Douglas's previous book Bully because in this book, the storyline was centered around the issue and most of the events happened at school. It presented a look at what kids go through every day. It was honest and terrifying and it served as an eye-opening view of what these kids' lives are like.
One of the things that I also loved about this book was Ryen's character which came as a huge surprise for me. She was not easy to like especially in the first few chapters, but I totally understood her. She's a famous student at her school. A beautiful and sexy cheerleader. But underneath it all, she's insecure. She's worried about losing her place and losing her friends. She's afraid to be alone. Afraid to be bullied. And that's what made me appreciate her character. For me, she was real.
Same goes for Misha. I loved that both of these characters shared the same passion for words, the same desire for attention and love. Not to mention the same rebellious trait which was quite entertaining. And as I've mentioned, these characters were redeemable ones.
"We're rebels with a reason."
And you know what especially blew me away? The PLOT TWIST. Yes, that twist was a shocker and totally unpredictable!
It will surely take me a lot of time to get over this book. It was simply amazing. A new favorite of mine. :)
"We're all ugly, Ryen. The only difference is, some hide it and some wear it."
“Because when you finally accept that you found the one, it's terrifying that you might lose them and then there'd never be another.”
2.5 Stars
“Because when you finally accept that you found the one, it's terrifying that you might lose them and then there'd never be another.”
I wish I could say "I love this book!" like what the majority of the reviews says. But sad to say, that's not the case.
The book tells us the story of Heathcliff Rushmore a.k.a Rush and Gia Mirabelli, two characters who are so opposite with each other in a lot of ways. Gia is a struggling romance author who went to the Hamptons to work on finishing her novel. One night she helped a friend perform bartending duties, unknowingly being watched by Rush who she thought was just an ordinary customer but actually, the owner of the bar. After such an awkward first meeting, they gradually developed feelings to each other.
Rebel Heir was such a promising book. The blurb itself is an indication. But you can't really judge a book by its premise, because while reading it I found a lot of questionable things that may not be a problem to most of the readers but for me, is.
Number 1, Gia. I found her a bit intrusive from the very beginning. It's a bit annoying when she asks personal questions to Rush when they've just started seeing each other. Questions about his family, about his childhood, his life in general. And..! She doesn't even stop until Rush gives her an answer. For me it's unnerving! Especially when she also insists to go inside Rush's mansion without being invited. Girl, are you for real?
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Number 2, Gia. Again. She was so needy it makes me want to pull my hair out in annoyance. Not to mention the fact that she has been pushing herself to Rush, to the point of seducing him. It was such a desperate move. I just cannot.
Number 3, the sudden change of plot. For some, it may be a surprise. For me, it was all too much. I get that the authors really wanted to ace a unique plot twist, something to blow up our minds. But I just didn't really appreciate the turn of events in this book.
So what makes it a 2.5 Stars and not 1 or 2 stars?
Rush. He's the only thing I liked about this book. His character was well-thought out-- a bad boy personality with a heart of gold it makes my heart melt. I loved how honest he was with Gia from the very beginning, letting her know that he's not a relationship type of guy. He was not setting up expectations. I also loved how his character developed here.
The book ended up with a cliffhanger. Normally I should be thrilled to continue and read the next book, but I don't have the interest anymore to find out what happens next. I have this feeling it's gonna be toxic and I honestly I don't have the strength for that.
November, a girl who grew up in New York, moved to Tennessee when she was fed-up with h1 Star
I'm sorry but I was disappointed.
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Where do I begin?
November, a girl who grew up in New York, moved to Tennessee when she was fed-up with her abusive single mom and was randomly attacked by a stranger. In her new home she finally reunited with her long-lost father. Eventually, she started working for his club, not as a stripper but as an office worker. There, she met the hottest guy on the planet-- Asher James Mayson, who has siblings that are equally hot. Asher is not only irresistible but he has also a bad-boy personality which made her totally smitten. He's also rich as he owns a security company. And then... they fell in love. Then things start to get crazy as November's attacker followed her and made her life miserable.
So, there was insta-love here. And I hated it because it's super duper insta-love! When Asher called her "baby" on their first date I was like, WTH?
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And then he's got all-protective Alpha and jealous even if they're still new and that's it. I was so annoyed. His approach was manipulative. He treated November as if she doesn't have the right to decide and the right to refuse. What. The. Actual. Fuck.
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And then he kidnapped her (like literally!) because he's "interested". Seriously? And not only that. He even took her phone and keys so she can't get away from him. What a creep!
"I'm not ready to have you out of my sight."
"Why?"
"Because I'm interested."
"I'm sure." I roll my eyes. "So if you're interested, then why not ask me out like a normal guy instead of basically kidnapping me?"
"Why, if I asked you out, you would have blown me off and avoided me. This way, you don't have a choice. I have your keys and your phone."
"You have my phone?" I screech, opening my bag to see if he's telling the truth. "How did you get my phone? Oh my God, you're insane. I'm driving down a dark road with an insane person who kidnapped me."
And don't even get me started on the cheese and the predictable plot twist.
Thanks for the lots of patience I was able to finish it, but not without me rolling my eyes at least 20 times. *sigh
If you are a die-hard fan of sports romance, you are bound to adore yet another great book from the Rusk University series. All Broke Down is 4 Stars!
If you are a die-hard fan of sports romance, you are bound to adore yet another great book from the Rusk University series. All Broke Down is a sweet and angst-driven college romance book that heavily explores family drama, told by both main characters Silas Moore and Dylan Brenner.
Silas is the running back of Rusk University's football team. When his friend Levi was expelled from the school and the football team, he felt like everything is crumbling down and his horrible past seems to come back. One night he got involved in a bar fight with Levi which led him to jail. At the holding cell, he met the blonde rich girl Dylan who also happened to be arrested because of her involvement with a student activism that caused a conflict.
I didn't initially warm up to the story at first because of the insta-love (sort of insta-attraction) thing that happened but then as the story went on, I realized that Silas and Dylan's relationship was more than just instant. Their friends-with-benefits "deal" actually made me look forward to seeing them leveling their relationship up and be together as a couple.
The book had a good dash of sweet romance and oh my... there were loads of steamy scenes too which was something that I didn't expect (The first book All Lined Up wasn't this hot, you know). I found Silas and Dylan's chemistry really undeniable from start to finish.
I just had a little issue with Silas. He was really such a jerk at times. I wanted to see some effort on his part when it comes to making Dylan feel a little bit special but I thought Dylan was the only one who worked too hard here.
I loved the ending but I wasn't really that fully satisfied because of some unresolved conflicts. Nevertheless, I enjoyed the story as a whole. All Broke Down kept me on my toes and had me all up my feels, enough for me to overlook my issues. I loved most of Dylan and Silas's interactions and Cora Carmack's beautiful writing once again sucked me in, so this was an overall winner for me.
Tillie Cole is a new-to-me author. I have heard a lot of great things about her books and A Thousand Boy Kisses is one of them. The cover is 3.5 Stars
Tillie Cole is a new-to-me author. I have heard a lot of great things about her books and A Thousand Boy Kisses is one of them. The cover is so beautiful as well as the title. I must say though that I wasn't prepared for its intensity and heaviness. The moment I started it, I knew it would be a challenging book to read because of its melancholy tone. It sure was. The story was more poignant than I've expected.
"Maybe we're like a cherry blossom, Rune. Like shooting stars. Maybe we loved too much too young and burned so bright that we had to fade out."
Rune Erik Kristiansen and Poppy Litchfield have been best of friends since they were kids. Their friendship started when Rune and his family left their roots in Norway and started their lives in the U.S. He didn't want to live in the new country where it required him to speak English and adapt to the culture, but when he met the beautiful and bubbly child Poppy, his feelings changed. The two of them grew up and somehow developed a much deeper relationship as the year went by. Poppy, whose grandmother passed away, grew up with a goal in life to collect a thousand boy kisses. It's an idea left by her grandma to her. Each time she gets a kiss from her special boy, the details should be written in a pink heart and be placed in a jar. The boy kisses, of course, were given by Rune.
"It's okay to laugh. It's okay to smile. It's okay to feel happy. Or what's the point in life?"
This book is a real heartbreaker. It actually reminded me of those books I've read in the past that made me cry a river (I won't mention any title because it would be a spoiler). I was able to connect with the story. However, I failed to appreciate it even more because of its predictability. I knew exactly what's about to come even before the 'twist' in the early part of the book happened. I wasn't surprised when Poppy finally revealed why she went away and didn't communicate with Rune anymore.
Also, lots and lots of cheese were thrown everywhere. I couldn't even count the number of sappy dialogues and scenes. For me, they are a little bit exaggerated. Not to mention how their conversations slowly became repetitive each chapter.
Despite the flaws I've mentioned, the ending somehow moved me. I was blown away by the things that happened. Of course I knew at the back of my mind that their story would end that way, but still, I wasn't prepared for it. There was still a small part of me that longed for a different ending. A twist, perhaps. A Thousand Boy Kisses, as a whole, was a highly emotional YA love story. It's a book that touches the soul and makes you realize a lot of things in life. If you love heavy, angsty, and heartbreaking books, then this book is the one that you should devour. Just prepare lots and lots of tissues. You will really need them.
So I've heard a lot of great things about Heidi McLaughlin and her previous rock star series and I admit that I really wanted to delve into th1.5 Star
So I've heard a lot of great things about Heidi McLaughlin and her previous rock star series and I admit that I really wanted to delve into those books prior to reading this. This is my first Heidi McLaughlin read. Sad to say, I was disappointed.
While Blow has an interesting premise about a rock star falling for an ordinary woman who helps him get over his drug addiction, this book was ruined by a lot of things. For once, both the male lead and the heroine were not likable enough for me to feel fascinated with their story.
There was an absolute insta-loveinsta-lust. All throughout the book all Bodhi McKnight and Kimberly Gordon ever did was lust after each other. I didn't really think that what they felt for each other was love at all. There were also scenes that kind of made me cringe. Tell you what, I am not against over-the-top sensual scenes but when (view spoiler)[Bodhi masturbated and came in front of Kim, wtf that was just so gross! (hide spoiler)].
I also wasn't sold on how Bodhi's drug addiction quickly faded. Drug addiction has never been an easy condition to be dealt with and to be easily treated. It may take more than 30 days for a person to completely be sober without thinking about going back to it and without experiencing some undesired symptoms all throughout the recovery process. So no, I wasn't convinced.
And oh, did I tell you that there was cheating involved here? Not that it was done willingly, but still, it was cheating. Ugh.
As a whole, I did not like this book. Things were just too unbelievable and unrealistic for me that I found myself having a hard time resisting the urge to groan in frustration.
(An ARC was provided to me by Loveswept Publishing and NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)
I honestly didn't think I would love Jimmy Ferris because he was such a douche in the previ4.5 Stars!
"God damn mother-f*cking rock stars."
I honestly didn't think I would love Jimmy Ferris because he was such a douche in the previous books. But my oh my. This book totally changed my opinion and feelings for him.
James Dylan "Jimmy" Ferris, Stage Dive's lead singer, is a difficult man to understand. He comes full of baggage. Spoiled, vain, and sensitive, the way he manages his issues changed when Lena Morrissey came into his life as his personal live-in assistant. Lena is a different girl. She doesn't put up with Jimmy's crap, thus they were like a cat and a dog who are always at clash with each other. But because they seriously have this strange connection between them and a chemistry that is so apparent, Lena slowly became infatuated with him. However, relationship is not in Jimmy's vocabulary so she has to hide her feelings.
"Whatever he might be, Jimmy Ferris was special and complicated, beautiful and beastly, all rolled into one."
I loved how their relationship had no insta-love. The build-up was done so well and it was packed with sexual tension and frustration. lol. I especially loved their banters and those parts where Jimmy tried so hard to control his jealousy each time Lena is with another guy. You can expect to find a push and pull kind of romance here which I found really entertaining. All throughout the book, all I was ever hoping for was for them to say those magic words and finally be together as a couple.
I guess what truly made this book stand out was the way Jimmy's character was fleshed out and how his family issues were highlighted. I finally understood why he's acting like a jerk. It's because of this book that I realized he's more than just a tortured hero. He's a man who's also capable to care for someone as good as Lena. Another thing that made me appreciate this book was Lena's patience to Jimmy and her acceptance to his issues. It was quite remarkable. I just wished this book highlighted Jimmy's performance on stage. I would have loved to see him singing on stage together with his bandmates. Also, I wished the resolution to their conflict wasn't that rushed.
All in all, Lead was a knock-my-socks-off kind of book. There was certainly A LOT to love about it. Definitely one of the entertaining and wonderfully written sequels ever!
"Love came in all sorts of shapes and size, but if it wasn't based upon doing what was right for the one you loved, then what was it worth, really?"
Anatomy of a Player is much better compared to the first book of the series. However, it took me a while to warm up to the story.
The book foll3 Stars
Anatomy of a Player is much better compared to the first book of the series. However, it took me a while to warm up to the story.
The book follows journalism student Whitney Porter and ice hockey player Hudson Decker. After getting Whitney's heart broken by her cheating ex, she swore to never fall in love again with guys-- most especially athletes. When she met hockey star Hudson though, her plans to avoid athletes failed. It's difficult to resist a sexy, tatted, and packed-with-abs guy who knows how to treat her right. When she knew she's about to fall for him, that's the time when conflict began. Dating him is not an option because she's also secretly working for an article that may destroy Hudson's hockey life.
The writing once again especially awed me. It was good! There was also an angst here which made me like it. However, Whitney turned me off. She was weak for a character. And she didn't fail to annoy me most of the time. For once, she was so full of drama and the way she treated Hudson at the first few chapters was immature.
While I loved that there were also conflicts, I found the story packed with too many issues and problems and that's just so frustrating.
1. Hudson has mommy issues. 2. Hudson is having academic problems. 3. Hudson has a bet with his teammates that he can get Whitney to sleep with him. 4. Whitney has relationship issues. 5. Whitney is secretly writing an article that may hurt Hudson.
Yep, too many issues.
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As a whole, The Anatomy of a Player was just okay. It could have been a lovable NA romance book if there weren't too many issues that ruined my enjoyment.
"What do you do when the thing you want most suddenly feels like it's beyond your fingertips?"
5 stars will never be enough for this book.
I
"What do you do when the thing you want most suddenly feels like it's beyond your fingertips?"
5 stars will never be enough for this book.
I still can't believe how this series ended in such a beautiful, satisfying, and all-consuming fashion. This is absolutely one of the riveting series-enders I've read so far-- one that will stay glued in my mind forever.
In this second and final book of Sempre duology, Carmine and Haven's life totally changed. Both of them were forced to separate and go in opposite directions because of the deal Carmine made with Salvatore in the previous book. Carmine is now a full-pledged member of the Mafia while Haven is basically free and is pursuing a normal college life in New York. With the absence of each other, their hearts didn't seem to grow fonder and despite the things that happened, both of them weren't able to forget their love.
I cannot think of better words that will do the book justice. Everything messed up my emotions. First off, I loved J.M. Darhower's writing. As always. It just didn't get old. This author manages to leave such an overwhelming impact to her readers because of her raw and brilliant way of writing. The dialogues shared by the characters were so intimately sensitive that I found myself falling in love and feeling their sadness and pain.
"He was surrounded by violence and death, the ugliness eating away at him, but then on the other side, there was her. She was peace and hope, and pure beauty. She was the good that he hoped would overpower the bad."
Sempre: Redemption didn't particularly prepare me with its much darker approach. I thought Sempre has a mild touch of darkness and graphic violence scenes but in this book, I can say that J.M. Darhower gave it all when it comes to the intensity of its dark theme. Some daring actions were thrown in and even the major character Corrado Moretti (who was so much badass-er) was given an opportunity to stand out.
Haven and Carmine's character was also nicely developed here. I loved their strength and their faith. What basically made them admirable was how they didn't give in to possible new relationships when they were no longer together. It took a lot of chapters for me to endure their sacrifice but in the end, I was glad because what happened to them was exactly what I wished to transpire in the book.
Yes, this book was hard to read at times because of its emotionally-draining scenes which were dragged on an interlude of heartaches and even tragedies, but it was so worth it. This book was so heartfelt and it wasn't just about two characters in a forbidden love but it was also more about how these Mafia people value their devotion to their family. Given the length of the book which is about 500+ pages, I wasn't intimated. It's because no matter how tough this book was and even if there were sad and terrifying moments that occurred, the ending turned out to be a perfection it made me wept both sad and happy tears. I will never forget this series. It will remain in my heart, SEMPRE.
"Everyone falls sometimes, son, even me, but the trick is to get right back up. They’ll always target the ones who appear vulnerable, so you need to be strong. Fake it until you make it."
Friends is a Sempre novella. It's about what happened to our boy Carmine DeMarco before he met Haven Antonelli. I loved how we get to see a glimpse of Friends is a Sempre novella. It's about what happened to our boy Carmine DeMarco before he met Haven Antonelli. I loved how we get to see a glimpse of his friendship with Nicholas here and the reason why they fell apart. This novella pulled on a few heartstrings. A bit heavy but it sure was worth reading. My heart ached for both boys since obviously these two are f*cked up in more ways than one and they came from families who have complicated issues.
Once again I was awed by J.M. Darhower's writing style. It made me miss reading Sempre. I have yet to read Sempre Redemption and I'm so excited on what's about to happen to Carmine and the rest of the gang.
P.S. You can read this novella after reading Sempre. :)
I knew I'm in for a ride when I started this book because the first one turned my world upside 5 Stars!!!
That ending. What the flying f*ck was that???
I knew I'm in for a ride when I started this book because the first one turned my world upside down. I was right. Sugar Rush evolved on a new level. It's darker, a lot more gripping, and intense!
As Sela Halstead and Beck North's relationship progressed and their quest to seek revenge and destroy JT started, things become trickier. Family ties and the Sugar Bowl business get in the way for Beck to achieve his goal so they dived into a more concrete yet risky plan with the help of their trusted investigator. But things are not as easy as they thought. More revelations keep coming out that hinder their plans. Even their dream of a happily ever after is almost impossible if they don't do it right.
This sequel was brought out very well. I loved Sela and Beck's character development and how they became at ease with each other and even gave their complete trust to one another. Sela opened up to Beck and told him about that part of her past that continue to give her a lot of reason to get back to JT. And after all the things she revealed, Beck was there to protect her.
Alright... so once again Sela made a stupid decision here which kind of pissed me off but I was still surprised that her stupidity was actually the thing that created a boomerang in this sequel. I did get nervous and I freaked out in every chapter.. especially the last few ones.
If you haven't started this book yet, you better do so. Unless you're not into dark romantic reads and deadly cliffhangers, then stay away from it. But if you love this kind of theme, this series is going to satisfy you. I've never been so happier to try Sawyer Bennett's book. She is so worth it. Her writing style is superb and something that I wasn't perhaps expecting.
Sugar Rush, all in all, is one amazing sequel. It had my mind spinning and my emotions on a ride, something I cannot imagine of feeling. I need the third book to come out now!
I'm incredibly impressed. And I'm in shock that I have not read a Sawyer Bennett book. Clearly I was missing out because this bo5 Stars!!!
What a book!
I'm incredibly impressed. And I'm in shock that I have not read a Sawyer Bennett book. Clearly I was missing out because this book is written so well. It left me on the edge and kept me on my toes.
I wasn't expecting what I got when I started Sugar Daddy. I knew it was a dark read and yet I was stunned by all the surprising elements that I found here.
Sugar Daddy follows the main character Sela Halstead. She was 16 years old when she was drugged and gang-raped by the men she could not identify. All she could remember when it comes to the people responsible for the rape was a guy who has a phoenix tattoo on his body. All throughout the years after she recovered, she bowed to herself that she would take revenge and destroy that guy. One day she learned that the guy was Jonathon Townsend, the owner of the dating app sensation known as Sugar Bowl. Seeing a great opportunity for her plan, she took the risk of getting involved with his business by pretending to be a sugar baby. But there is a huge conflict and that is Beck North, Jonathon's co-founder of Sugar Bowl who happened to make his way through her heart.
What specifically made me feel drawn to the book was the pacing. Sugar Daddy is a quick and fast moving read and it was so hard for me to put it down. There was an intensity in its plot that made it all the more gripping and edgy.
And for someone like me who easily gets attached to the characters with enough depth, it wasn't that difficult for me to be enthralled by both the male and female leads. I loved Sela's character. I knew she lacked a little bit of development in her character and she has some flaws... like lying to Beck all the time in order to keep her secrets and plans hidden, but despite her imperfections, she felt real to me and I totally connected with her. She was't anything annoying and I loved her strength and how she was able to overcome her traumatic experience. Beck, on the other hand, quickly wormed his way under my skin. I loved that he always gives his everything to the woman he loves and even though he didn't say the three magic words to Sela, his actions tell everything a woman needs to know. To put it simply, he is a perfect male lead. Not to mention hot.
There were of course, a lot of steamy scenes thrown here and there and by steamy I mean really, really HOT. Those scenes were delivered so nicely that you can't help but swoon and root for the two characters to be together until the very end. Another thing that I loved most about this book was the conflict which had a great impact to me. It was so nerve-racking!
If you read the synopsis of this book, you will have an impression that it's dark and yes, it was truly dark but not to the extreme. I could say that the book very much focuses more on the romance rather than its dark theme.
All in all, it was a spectacular contemporary read. The romance was all-consuming and too good to be true and the author's writing style was a win. I'm happy to say that Sawyer Bennett made it successfully to my new favorite authors in this genre. I will surely read the sequels of this series as well as her previous and upcoming books!
Note: This book ends with a cliffy. Prepare the second book before you start this one if you don't want to freak yourself out. :)
"To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."
Rhys clinked his glass against mine. "To the stars who listen— and the dreams
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"To the people who look at the stars and wish, Rhys."
Rhys clinked his glass against mine. "To the stars who listen— and the dreams that are answered."
1,000,000 Stars!!!
First of all, can we take a moment to glorify the perfection that is Rhysand?
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No doubt, A Court of Mist and Fury tops my favorite sequels this year. It basically owned me, took my heart, broke it into a million pieces, and mend it all back together. Sarah J. Maas sure doesn't stop giving me goosebumps. I've just realized that there are so many reasons why I need to stick to her works and never let go, because she does it better. Always.
Notable things to expect in ACOMAF:
> remarkable plot > character development > new setting > new characters > romantic development > series of revelations > sizzling romantic scenes > deep, tear-jerking dialogues > plot twist
and of course--
> Rhysand and lots and lots of Rhysand
These things are more than reason enough for me to rate this 5++++ stars. There was just too much goodness that happened in this book. So much improvement, especially when it comes to Feyre's character. I loved how she handled and basically maneuvered all the rough situations here, how she listened not only to her heart but to her mind as well, and how she was able to use her critical thinking in the end. I've just witnessed a new Feyre and with that, I was more than happy.
I guess it's already quite obvious and it's fair to say that this book is about Rhysand, isn't it? Yep. Where is Tamlin? What is Tamlin?
He's gone. Figuratively. And this isn't a spoiler. Tamlin (in ACOTAR) was non-existent here. He basically changed-- or so I thought. I admit that it was so hard for me to accept his character changes because I rooted for him in the first book. I kept asking, why? Why did the author change his character? It was when I reached the near-end part of the book when I finally realized that he didn't really change. I just saw the REAL him. He was in my opinion, a good character. It's just that... He's weak and his love for Feyre and the need to protect her was all-consuming, to the point where he became so manipulative and territorial.
That's why in the end, my vote goes to Rhysand. I've known his character in the first book as someone who's cocky and literal bad boy, but I didn't know anything about him, really. In this book, I saw him as a well-developed, wholly different character. I didn't know that behind his pretty face and sexy grin lies dark secrets full of pain which made me feel for him.
"He thinks he'll be remembered as the villain in the story. But I forgot to tell him that the villain is usually the person who locks up the maiden and throws away the key. He was the one who let me out."
The best thing about this sequel apart from the character and romantic development was also the setting. The Night Court was so beautiful it's too much! I loved how the place was described in a vivid and captivating way. I found myself really dreamy just by imagining those beautiful stars and sunsets *sigh.
This is what I imagine The Night Court to look like:
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I had a lot of favorite scenes here, too. Like the Starfall festival scene, the Court of of Nightmares smexy and full-of-sexual-tension scenes, and the scene when Feyre said:
"You love me? Then eat. "
Did I say that I also love it every time Rhysand calls her, "Feyre darling?" ;)
In addition to my favorite scenes, the new characters also rocked! Amren, Cassian, Mor, and Azriel for the win!!! I like the Inner Circle and their bad-assery and I need more of them soon, in the third book.
I actually have a lot more to say, but they're going to be really spoilery so I am just going to leave it here:
FEYSAND IS LIFE.
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If you haven't read this sequel yet, do it already. If you haven't started this series yet, do yourself a favor and read it. BEST ONGOING SERIES EVER. . :)
"Then I learned your name. Hearing you say it... It was like an answer to a question I'd been asking for five hundred years."
(Note: I would like to say thank you to my dear friend, Allie who gave me a physical copy of this book. You are such a wonderful person with a generous heart. Best of all, you are a sweet soul! <3)
I've been warned, but I didn't listen and now I'm royally ruined and in dire need of the third book. Hats off to these amazing authors Elle Kennedy and Jen Frederick A.K.A. Erin Watt for this brilliant sequel!
I cannot properly formulate a thought, but this sequel was done in a very classy fashion and I absolutely loved it!
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Broken Prince begins when Reed Royal searched for Ella Harper after she left the Royal mansion. It took the Royal family two weeks to get her back. When their girl was finally home thanks to Callum Royal's endless connections, things started to become more interesting, or rather, more twisted, in the Royal house. This time, Brooke (the witch in Paper Princess), is the one in control because she has the upper hand. She manipulated Reed through her stupid blackmail scheme. Meanwhile, Ella's love-hate feelings toward Reed and her growing affection to the Royal family also confused her. Secrets and revelations soon came out bit by bit which made Ella's stay in the mansion all the more dramatic.
"She wants me to know it's over, but we both know it's not."
I just loved how intoxicating this sequel was for me. There was absolutely nothing that I disliked. The plot was very impressive and the pacing was fast it kept me gripped from start to finish. It was also enriched with character development. In Paper Princess, Reed was so hesitant to fight for Ella and show her how he felt, but in this book, he gave it all. I loved how he fight those bullies at Astor Park just to prove a point to never mess with 'his girl'. HIS GIRL.
"From before we even met, she was mine and I was hers. I fought it too long, but I'm giving in now. I'm all in now."
And as usual, Ella was badass. This girl doesn't stop impressing me with her ability to dodge those stupid remarks from Jordan and the rest of the people in bully town. Favorite scene: Ella vs. Jordan match.
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And those TWISTS. Omg there were twists and juicy parts thrown in this book! How could these authors do such surprises like the ones they cooked here?
"My instincts had screamed at me that she was trouble. My instincts were wrong. She wasn't trouble. I was. Still am."
The romance, on the other hand, was very enticing. Reed and Ella continue to swoon me with their chemistry and cheesy dialogues. There was certainly a romantic development here which really pleases me. And my, don't even get me started on those kissing and make-out scenes.
All in all, Broken Prince was the best sequel. So well-written. I loved the way those twists surprised me and the overall goodness of the book. Now if you haven't read this sequel yet, take this warning. Prepare for a cliffhanger that will ruin you!
"Nothing's really changed between us. We're still sparring, still circling each other like well-matched opponents, but we're there, in the ring, together. And that's all that matters."
"Brody Easton, the man who'd entered my life like a storm, had turned out to be my calm. How was that for irony?"
3.5 Stars
What
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"Brody Easton, the man who'd entered my life like a storm, had turned out to be my calm. How was that for irony?"
3.5 Stars
What can I say? This book was a guilty-pleasure read yet at the same time it was overloaded with angst and so much more.
The Baller tells the story of Delilah Maddox, a football sportscaster of World Media Broadcasting and Brody Easton, quarterback of New York Steel. These two met when Delilah interviewed Brody at the locker room live after the game and Brody teased her by dropping his towel and showing her his 'big rock'. Since that day, Brody didn't stop chasing her. They eventually dated and got to know each other. Their relationship seemed perfect at some point but like any high-profile relationships, it's not all rainbows and butterflies always. They both carry emotional baggage and Brody can't seem to get past his history with his first love named Willow while Delilah still hasn't moved on from her boyfriend who already passed away.
I think it's fair to say that this book surprised me in a good and bad way. Good, because it started off with a nice flow. It was light-hearted and sexy with lots and lots of humor in it. Brody was so funny even though he was an arrogant ass and so full of himself. He was still swoon-worthy (but who doesn't love hunky sports men?). All throughout the first half of the book, I was also grinning from ear to ear because I thought the storyline and its tone was simply the one that I was looking for in a sports romance book. I loved their sexy banters and the sexual tension and frustration all rolled into one.
Now on to the bad side. I hated how everything turned out in the second half of the book, mainly because of the unexpected random POV of that certain character.
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What in the world just happened??? Why on earth did the author include that certain character in the story? It was so annoying and completely unnecessary!
While I'm also a fan of angsty novels, I thought the level of angst and drama in this book was over-the-top. I wished the book just focused on Brody and Delilah's love story and not on the secondary ones because this book is THEIR story after all, isn't it?
With everything being said, the book still captured me. It kept me gripped and it managed to make me stick my head in it until the very last page. It was, as a whole, a whirlwind of emotions kind of book. Not what I have expected but still, a good sports romance.
(I buddyread this book with my sweet friend Allie.)
"You are a only a magnet for mishap, Miss Mitchell, while I am a magnet for sin."
4 I Burn for You Stars!
There are three things
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"You are a only a magnet for mishap, Miss Mitchell, while I am a magnet for sin."
4 I Burn for You Stars!
There are three things I loved the most about this book:
Gabriel Emerson
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Gabriel Emerson
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and GABRIEL EMERSON
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Gabriel Emerson aside, I loved all the things about this book. I was pulled in the moment I started reading it because of Sylvain Reynard's unique and captivating writing. The storyline, although you can call it cliché, is usually the kind of story that holds my interest. Forbidden student-teacher love? Right up my alley!
Gabriel's Inferno is written as a 3rd person POV. It follows the enigmatic Gabriel Owen Emerson, a Dante specialist and professor at the University of Toronto. As a professor, he is not allowed to get romantically involved with any of his students, but when he met the innocent, vulnerable and somewhat familiar graduate student Julia Mitchell, he wasn't able to resist the physical and even emotional attraction that he felt for her.
I'll be honest with you. There was a slow build-up of the plot and the romantic development here, but I thought it was a good thing. I love stories that begin with enough prelude before getting into intimacies. Julia and Gabriel's romantic development gave me goosebumps. The fact that they started their relationship as platonic.... it was sweet and breathtaking.
I especially adored the classical sound tracks that were mentioned in this book. I am a fan of Andrea Bocelli and his song Sogno was featured here, so it automatically made me swoon. The dialogues in this book were also charming. I cannot properly formulate a thought on how I enjoyed the way Julia and Gabriel had deep conversations and how they connected Dante's The Divine Comedy to their own story (Although I honestly don't have the knowledge about The Divine Comedy lol). When it comes to my favorite scene, it happened in Chapter 15. Man, that was some fiery exchange of dialogues.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way the story climbed as a whole. It was slow burn but so worth it. I am so excited to delve into the next book!
Holy crap. This was some sick and f*cked up book, but it was so good and unpred
"We all played parts that we're ashamed of."
4.5 Dark Stars!
Holy crap. This was some sick and f*cked up book, but it was so good and unpredictable that I just want to shout and give this author a one helluvah standing ovation.
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First things first, this book is not for everyone. It's dark and literally twisted. It contains sexual assault and BDSM with a bit of dark taboo, so if these things don't sit well with you, then this book is not for you.
Sweet Jayne is a very complicated story. I don't even know where to begin with because the characters' lives are so messed up. Nadia Jayne is the heroine here. She's a young and beautiful woman who seems to attract every asshole she meets. When her mom married the rich business tycoon Donovan Jayne, her life basically turned in a completely different direction. It became worse when she met a new friend named Kasey who was kidnapped right before eyes. For years, Kasey hasn't been found and Nadia's guilt continued to nag her which led her to push through the investigation and seek the help of the authority with the assistance of her step-dad. That's the time when she met Logan, the Chief of Police in their town who later on played a significant role in her life. Another man soon approached Nadia's life-- Kasper, a.k.a. Ghost who's sole purpose was to hurt her in order to avenge her lost sister, Kasey.
I didn't regret my abrupt decision to read this book. This was not even on my tbr until last week when I've read my friend Candace's review which intrigued me and pushed me to dive into it. The story was unlike any other dark books I've read. Each of the characters were flawed in a f*cked up way but they're very interesting to read about. I loved getting into their minds, no matter how corrupted they seemed to be.
The plot was certainly the best! I loved how every chapter made me feel very excited to know what's going to happen next. The mystery was certainly there and it kept getting edgier page by page. There were tons of action scenes and cringe-worthy moments, too, which gave me the right amount of thrill.
Sweet Jane, overall, was a total page-turner. Certainly one of the best dark books I've read in my life! I highly recommend this book to fans of Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski, Captive in the Dark by C.J. Roberts, and Bang by E.K. Blair.
A Young Adult vampire book, Transition opens up when Nichole Roberts celebrated her eighteenth birthday and was turned into a vampire wh[image]
2 Stars
A Young Adult vampire book, Transition opens up when Nichole Roberts celebrated her eighteenth birthday and was turned into a vampire when her boyfriend Nate Blackwoodtransitioned her. All throughout her relationship with Nate, she didn't know that he was a vampire. Not until his bad side suddenly showed up and she realized that he's not at all the perfect boyfriend that she thought he was. It was too late when she decided to end their relationship though, because she already became a creature of the night.
I really tried to like this book but I felt underwhelmed in most parts. The plot was a little bit cliché to me. I've read this kind of vampire story before so maybe that's the reason why it felt unoriginal to me.
I believe this book will not be so bad at all if it also wasn't because of the female lead. Nichole kind of ruined it. I was fairly unimpressed with her bratty attitude. She was unnerving, whiny, and difficult to like. The moment she said these things, I knew she and I wouldn't get along...
"Casey and I aren't the most popular girls in school but we are likeable and easy to get along with so that gives us a substantial amount of popularity."
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Another problem that I encountered was Nichole's over-the-top and perfect character. Literally perfect. She grew up in a rich and loving family, has a tall frame and beautiful face, has a boyfriend who's also tall, good-looking, and wealthy (he even gave her a jewelry with real diamonds in them on her birthday), and even her boyfriend's friends are perfect. She has many admirers and everybody in school loves her. In short, everything was unrealistic.
I also had an issue when it comes to the characters' dialogues which sounded awkward. At times it even appeared repetitive. The world-building and the descriptions of actions were also vague and it was difficult for me to imagine what I was reading.
I give this book 2 stars though because of the interesting things that started to appear in the final chapters. The ending, which was a cliffhanger, was also strongly delivered. It gave the readers a glimpse of the exciting things that will happen in the next book.
(Thank you to the author Paige Walker for sending me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.)
"Love was so pale compared to his internal volcano of feelings, but until someone came up with a new word for what this was, he guessed love w
"Love was so pale compared to his internal volcano of feelings, but until someone came up with a new word for what this was, he guessed love would just have to do."
4 Crying Stars!
Without a doubt, this is one of the best and well-delivered finales in a romantic duology. My tears were proof of that.
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I Won't Break is the second and final book of A Broken Love Story series. The story picks up where My Lea left off. Just like the first book, there was a third person POV narration, but this time, it goes back and forth between past and present. I won't be giving anything away by describing the things that happened here since it will be a spoiler, but the storyline and the series of events were so emotional and heart-wrenching. There was enough angst to keep me glued to the pages all night.
Both Lea and Andrew were amazing in this sequel. There was certainly a remarkable character development. For one thing, I noticed that their chemistry was growing stronger scene by scene. I just wished that I could change one scene, though. The part where Andrew flew to Jakarta after that particular event that changed their lives. For me it was a cowardly move, but anyways, I think that scene was the one that brought out the beauty of this finale so I couldn't really complain. :)
"You're my monster and I love you."
There was this particular scene with Andrew's dad that also touched me and broke my heart. That conversation was a game-changer and I think it was one of the huge reasons why Andrew became man enough to face his monsters. E. Mellyberry, therefore, is a talented storyteller. She has a way with words that could provide her readers a good emotional experience. She can make you cry in one scene and make you swoon in the next. I believe she deserves much more recognition. As a whole, I Won't Break was a poignant and heartwarming sequel. It gave a kind of conclusion that I won’t soon forget.
"Because when you finally find the one against all odds, you give him your best and let the magic of the world carry the rest."
(A copy of this book was provided by the author E. Mellyberry in exchange for an honest review.)
"And that's where love finds you... in the tragedies."
3 Stars
Whoa, Colleen Hoover just showed us her dark side! Too Late was so different
"And that's where love finds you... in the tragedies."
3 Stars
Whoa, Colleen Hoover just showed us her dark side! Too Late was so different compared to her previous works because this book contains some graphic sex scenes, use of drugs, and domestic abuse. Once again I was awed by Colleen's writing and I'm happy that she was able to come up with something new, but I honestly can't say that I loved everything in this book. Although there were parts that blew me away, there were things that unfortunately didn't hit the mark for me.
The book is told from three POVs. It's a story about college girl Sloan who has been enduring an abusive relationship with her boyfriend Asa. Now let me tell you that Asa is a sick fuck. He's a selfish asshole and a drug dealer who treats Sloan like she's a possession and cheats on her and fucks around with other girls behind her back. Sloan is well-aware of Asa's drug involvements but she cannot get away from him because she owes him a lot financially. When she met Carter though, she felt an instant connection with him. But how can she be attracted to him when he is, after all, one of Asa's constituents?
First, I love dark books so it was so easy for me to get sucked into this story. Plus, CoHo's beautiful writing is a bonus! I especially loved that she offered intensity in every chapter. There was also an angst which is my weakness in a New Adult book.
The romance, by the way, was definitely there, but it wasn't as overwhelming as I expected it to be. The thing that made it kind of off, I guess, was the insta-love. After Carter and Sloan met for the first time, they already decided that they're in love.
Right. And it didn't sit well with me.
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I also didn't see the chemistry between Sloan and Carter. There was certainly none.
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Aaaand don't even get me started on Sloan!
Ughhh...
MINOR SPOILER in this paragraph:
Given her freedom to freely get in and out of Asa's house, she could easily leave him behind, report him to the cops or whatever but why did she has to need Carter to save her? She can do it herself. I don't understand why for once, she can't stand on her own and just let somebody save her ass. What also irked me most was how she can never say NO to Asa whenever he needs a quick f*ck. I get it that she's helpless and compromised but like I said, she had all the chances to get out of the abusive relationship.
Wish she did this to Asa.
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The action scenes in the last few chapters were badass though and I have to give it to CoHo. It was so intense my level of adrenaline was on top! All in all, it was an enjoyable dark read but I wasn't totally charmed. Still, it's a must if you're an avid CoHo fan.
"You're all I see, Sloan. Beyond the job, beyond the right and wrong. You're all I see."
NOTE : This book may not be suitable for minor readers.