Mini Reviews

Sooo since I'm way behind on my review schedule, I figured I'd just lump two or three of them together and take out all of the gifts...which are about 50% of my reviews because I freaking love me some gifs, and just give you the nitty gritty of why I did or did not like a book.

First up:

Ruin by Rachel Van Dyke

I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness...until Wes Michals offered to be my light.

I didn't know that time wasn't my ally -- that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer--each moment as it came--but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it's the end, it's only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't--I wouldn't ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

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The blogger world was consumed with ugly crying when this book first came out. I was promised something angsty and emotionally gut wrenching, but what I got was a warm pile gooey love fest mixed in with Touched by an Angel. Literally, someone was touched by an Angel! I mean it was sad in a way, but the book's dedication tore me up more than the actual story did. I guess I'm either too fucked up in the head or too insensitive to really get the gist of the story, but I read it rather quickly and I'd recommend to someone else who is after the more touchy feely side of angst. If that's even possible?

Kiersten Rowe is your heroine in this book, and I will admit that I could relate to her in regards to her battle with depression and all consuming anxiety spells. I've been battling that myself, the past few years, and I think the author did a good job of showing that sometimes when people have issues like that, they just shut down. It's true. It happens. 

Wes is the Hero, and while he put up a good fight to be Type A--Alpha Male, by the end of the book he'd failed miserably. lol  I figured out his "secret" earlier on in the book, and I think this may have been part of the reason I didn't connect with this book. I had a feeling that this would end with a HEA, and it did. Which is not something that you see enough when dealing with the "secret" he has.

Over all this was a light read for me and I gave it three stars. If it had/has a sequel I probably want read it, but again I'm in the miniorty when it comes to this book because everyone and their mother has given it five stars on Goodreads!

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Now on to:

Wicked Games by Jill Myles

Abby Lewis never pictured herself on the survival game show, Endurance Island. She's just not the survival type. But when her boss offers her a spot on the show and the opportunity of a lifetime, she packs her bags and heads to the tropics to be a contestant. Once in the game, though, it's clear that Abby's in over her head.

No one's more competitive than sexy, delicious and arrogant Dean Woodall. Sure, he's clever, strong, good at challenges, and has a body that makes her mouth water. He also hates Abby just as much as she hates him. That's fine with her; she'll just ignore the jerk.

But the rules of Endurance Island are working against them. Abby and Dean are teamed up & alone on the beach. It's either work together, or go home. Stuck with no one's company but their own, they learn they might just make a good team after all. And Abby learns that with just a little bit of kindling, the flames of hate can quickly turn to flames of passion.

This book features enemies, lovers, enemies who become lovers, and lots and lots of tropical heat.

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This book was surprisingly GOOD!  I've never read anything dealing with characters in a Survivor-esq reality show setting, but my friend and I recently started a book club, and we stumbled upon Wicked Games via Amazon's Top 100 Freebies, and almost everyone in our group agreed that this book was a really good quick read.
Abby is an extremely likable character, and I enjoyed reading her take on what it was like being a contestant on a reality show, and subsequently beginning a relationship with one of the people that she is competing against for two million dollars! 
It also reaffirmed my decision to never go on to a reality show.
Nope.
Nuh huh.
Ain't happening. 

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Last but not least:

Unattainble by Madeline Sheehan

 Warning: This is not a virtuous and tender love story. It’s chaotic, ruthless, and tragic. This story takes love and kills its innocence, steals away the pure moments, and crushes the hearts of the broken. A story born in childhood, tying one girl to one boy, leads to a destructive path—that hurts more than it doesn’t, that shatters more than it heals—testing the love that binds the two through a lifetime. 

Tegen Matthews is the daughter of Dorothy Kelley, a club whore in the Hell’s Horsemen. A plain little girl, Tegen falls into the gritty world of the motorcycle club. When she meets a sweet, caring boy, she embraces the warmth and affection he shows her. Cage West is the son of the president of the Hell’s Horsemen. Tall and blond with deep brown eyes, as he grows up Cage realizes the power of his dimpled smile and smooth drawl. With one chance encounter, Tegen becomes forever tied to Cage. Following is a wayward journey that is filled with regrets, mistakes, and heartache, pulling at the threads that hold them together. Cage and Tegen fight hard but love harder, and in the end, what matters is where the journey takes one girl and one boy, who have been twined with one another since the beginning. This is Tegen and Cage’s story. 
Love doesn’t erase a broken heart, and it sure doesn’t change people. But no matter how old, how flimsy, how frayed the rope of love is, it keeps you tethered to the people you love.

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Honestly... I adored the first two books, but this book just didn't do it for me. Undeniable and Unbeautifully were one sitting reads for me, and it took me over a week to finish Unattainable. Dirty and Ellie is what kept my attention and made me finish it off. I almost wish that this book was "their" book instead of Cage's and Tegans' because I just didn't click with them as much as I did with Dirty and Ellie. 
If you're looking for a dark, foul read then this book will be right up your alley. IMO this was more violent that the first two, which is to expected when dealing with a biker gang, but I was surprised at some of the content and drama that is crammed into one book. I definitely plan on re-reading Unattainable in the next few months, and giving it another shot. I've been in a funk here lately and book series that I used to adore just aren't doing it for me anymore. 

College just made me it's Bitch.

Sigh.

I'm still here. I'm crossing my fingers after I get through the halfway point of this semester that I'll be able to tend to my blog better. What is it with college professors cramming a bunch of crap on you all at once when you reach the halfway point of the semester????

This shit is cutting into my reading time!!!

-B

Review: Real by Katy Evans

A fallen boxer.

A woman with a broken dream.
A competition…

He even makes me forget my name. One night was all it took, and I forgot everything and anything except the sexy fighter in the ring who sets my mind ablaze and my body on fire with wanting…

Remington Tate is the strongest, most confusing man I’ve ever met in my life.

He’s the star of the dangerous underground fighting circuit, and I’m drawn to him as I’ve never been drawn to anything in my life. I forget who I am, what I want, with just one look from him. When he’s near, I need to remind myself that I am strong–but he is stronger. And now it’s my job to keep his body working like a perfect machine, his taut muscles primed and ready to break the bones of his next opponents . . .

But the one he’s most threatening to, now, is me.

I want him. I want him without fear. Without reservations.

If only I knew for sure what it is that he wants from me?





Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Format: Paperback

Amazon: Here

B&N: Here

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Ok first off. This book (Real) is the biggest yet slowest cock tease I've ever read! Or would it be clit tease?

I spent the entire first half of the book just as frustrated as our main Heroine, Brooke, and when the magic finally happened....oh damn...it was worth it. 

ohhhh sooooo worth it.

Brooke Dumas has had her dream of being an Olympic medalist stolen away from her. 

With two ACL injuries in the bag, Brooke decides to pursue a career in sports rehabilitation and winds up getting a job offer from the 

delicious

delectable

alpha male to the millionth power

REMINGTON TATE 

 Oh Remy.

Remy Remy Remy

Our Hero is total man. A complicated, moody as hell man.

He's got a dark side that not many people can handle, but once you get into his head and really understand him...the man will blow you away. 

Remy communicates his feelings to Brooke by using music...

MUSIC

I will totally admit. I was skeptical of him in the beginning. There's heavy emphases on the color of his eyes and how they change through out the book and you know what they say...the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Remy has a secret.

And Brooke is the first person he openly admits it too because from the moment he saw her, he knew that she was

"his mate."

That's right, I said it, his mate.

GAH.

This book slowly worked me into a frenzy. 

It was torturous reading about how hot their connection was!

I literally fanned my self constantly during the first portion of the book.  

There's lots of biting.

 Licking. Lots of petting.

 The way Remy claims Brooke as his mate, is probably one of the hottest things I have ever read.

No joke.

I swooned.

And I swooned hard.

 *sigh*

Anyways, obviously there's going to be some drama, I mean this is New Adult fiction after all!

Remy is a fighter in an underground circuit after getting booting from the big leagues for fighting outside of the ring. 

He's good at what he does, and like most heroes, there's always going to be a villain who's trying to bring him down.

In this book, it's a vile, scorpion face tattooed  asshole. Scorpion first tries to get Remy kicked out of the ring by instigating a fight between Remy and his goons, but Brooke opens up a can of whoop ass and steers Remy out of a career ending scenario. 

Unfortunately that's just the first of many different run ins with the Scorpion. And when Brooke finds out that he has something that is near and dear to her heart...shit gets so much worse.

Remy's ups are up, and his downs are down.

So, so down. 

This is something Brooke has to learn to cope with and manage, while she falls in love with a man that has a disorder that she previously knew nothing about.

In the end she realizes that Remy is her REAL.

The man may have some demons, but he proves that he is willing to do anything, and I mean ANYthing for her.

I'm so stoked that there will be another two books in the Real, Raw, & Ripped series about Remy and Brooke.

Mine is the title of the next book, and from what I'm seeing, it's supposed to be out sometime in November.

I can't freaking wait!

-B

Teaser from Captivated By You by Silvia Day

Soooo....it took me almost ten minutes to get Silvia Day's site to load just to see the teaser for the next Crossfire novel: Captivated By You! 

I literally kept getting the Bad Service 503 Error thing every time I refreshed the page lol

Apparently people take their Gideon Cross fix VERY seriously! 

And I can totally see why...

;)

-B

Movie Trailer Review: Vampire Academy

Yeah, yeah

I know most of the world has already seen this trailer at least once, but it was released when I was on vacation and I'm just now getting around to watching it.

Truth be told I was afraid.

I love Richelle Mead's world and I heart Rose Hathaway something fierce, but

I also know that nine times out of ten, when a book is turned in to a movie...it's going to suck ass.

But I tried to keep an open mind as I opened up the trailer in youtube, as well as opening up a word document, so I could type out my thoughts as I viewed the trailer. 

First thoughts:

What is this Mean Girls paranormal style?

Nice job on the fangs.

Ohh I love that accent.

Blood is family. Blood is pain. Blood is death. *chills*

Well hellloo Christian.

Niccccccccce! 

Second run through:

Ehhhh I don’t know about Dimitri….

Is this a soap opera?

I saw like .5 secs of a Strigoi.

This does not look good.

Five minutes later, I still don't think this movie is going to be good. Granted, this is just the trailer...but man...I am not feeling it at all. 

Although they did cast the perfect girl to portray Lissa! She looks exactly like "My Lissa" that I envisioned while reading the series. Rose is alright, but Dimika is the one I'm really iffy about. Granted IDGAF who they cast to play the parts...that trailer just didn't do him any favors. Esp when it shows him in what looks to be black granny panties. >.>

This movie is supposed to hit the theaters on Valentines Day next year, so hopefully we'll get at least one more teaser trailer...maybe two...before then and it'll make me look at the movie in a different light. 

-B

Review: The Soul Mate by Madeline Sheehan

Trinity had an ordinary life. That is, until she barely escaped a worldwide apocalyptic plague that took her loved ones from her and transformed most of humanity into flesh-eating monsters.

Gerik, her savior, a six-foot-four-inch Scandinavian Gypsy, takes her back to his magically protected Gypsy camp where she discovers a whole new way of life that she never knew existed – as well as a whole new set of problems.

Gerik has power over her that she cannot begin to understand, and she is convinced he is using his magic on her. Through her journey of trying to understand her feelings and this new magic-filled life she’s been brought into, she begins an unlikely friendship that grows into having potential to be something more.

While the remaining humans are fighting for their survival, Trinity is fighting a battle of her very own – the right to choose her own destiny.
Is Gerik’s hold on her too strong? Or can new love set her free?

Rating: ✮✮✮✮✮

Format: eBook

Amazon: Here

B&N: Here

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What can I say….other than: Holy fucking shit.

I’ve had this book on my kindle since MARCH. I kept telling myself that I would eventually get around to reading it, but the devil known as Amazon 1-click, buried it underneath all of the other shit that I thought that I HAD TO READ RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND, and here we are now.

In fucking September!

I’m ashamed to admit that it took a book discussion on the Wild Pussy facebook group, to get me to read this book. I wanted to participate, so naturally I busted out my ecopy of The Soul Mate, and planned it out to where I had four days to slowly read my through it and still be able to participate in the book discussion on Sept. 5.

Well…

I read it in one sitting.

Four glorious hours of gut wrenching, heart palpitating, angst fest galore was what I suffered through while reading this book.

Bow down to the Queen B aka Madeline Sheehan because this woman can do NO wrong!

I’m a HUGE fan of her Undeniable series, but I’m an even bigger fan of this series.

Who knew, I fucking loved gypsies?!

I sure as hell didn’t until the very.first.fucking.chapter.

Swear to God, I was like: “This bitch has did it again; I’m going to be ruined after reading this.”

And I was…or I should say I am, but I’m fixing to start book 2 of the Holy Trinity series, so my next fix is imminent.

Now what can I say about this book.

I loved the Greek mythology.

I love the Romani.

I loved Gerik.

 I’m still rooting for Gerik, even though he’s kind of fucked up looking now and has some serious emo issues. I suspect he’ll be listening to Jimmy Eat World and wearing his hair over one of his eyes…er horns?

And then there's Xan...

Xan is just over all kickass. He’s funny. He’s intense. And surprisingly he’s deep. I can honestly say that I want the Holy Trinity to be Gerik in the front and Xan in the back. That’s how much I like BOTH of these bastards.

Now on to our heroine: Trinity.

I was just as confused and upset as she was while reading the story from her view point. I hurt for her when Gerik betrayed her. I cheered for her when she found solace with Xan.

 I will openly admit that there were times that I thought she was acting a bit immature, but the truth is, she was kept in the dark about a lot of things, so home girl was allowed to have a few temper tantrums in between life altering events. 

By the end of this novel I was damn proud of our Heroine. She grew up a lot during the first book and I can't wait to see how she handles her newly gifted "powers" in the next book.

So with that said...I'm stoked for book 2 in the Holy Trinity series: My Soul to Take

and...

I totally want to be a gypsy in my next life.

Yup.

-B