Lies by Kylie Scott

Lies by Kylie Scott
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The premise was fantastic, and it started out great! I really enjoyed the witty banter, and the comedy paired with action-adventure. Somehow it seemed to lose luster as the story went on, though, so I definitely liked the first half the best, and then my interested faded just a bit in the second half.

Also, there were a ton of side characters that weren't very well developed. The story would have been more interesting and had a better emotional impact if we had gotten a better feel for those side characters, since they were important to the plot. But overall, it was a fun and different read, which I appreciated.

The narrator was excellent, but everyone always loves Andi Arndt. So no surprises there.

View all my reviews

Lies by Kylie Scott

Lies by Kylie Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This book was so much more than I was expecting. I was hooked pretty fast and didn’t see this book turning out the way it did. However I was very pleased with it!!

Kylie is being one of my favorite authors and I’m finding that I need her boos ASAP after they come out.

View all my reviews

Captivated By The Captain by Amanda Mariel

Captivated By The Captain by Amanda Mariel
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

The writing, plot, character development, and overall storytelling elements are all weak. But hey, pirates. Although, the pirates really are not that exciting or pirate-y, unfortunately.

Overall, this was a swing and a miss for me. I hoped for a gem, but it really fell flat. It's basically emotionless, and none of the characters have any depth. For being such a short book, I couldn't wait for it to end already. Something about it feels way to clinical, and there's just not enough believable adventure and excitement.

Also, this should technically be labeled historical romance, though it didn't feel like there was very much that was historically accurate with this one.

The one thing that I did like was the narrator for the audiobook (James Young).

View all my reviews

Too Late to Say Goodbye: A True Story of Murder and Betrayal by Ann Rule

Too Late to Say Goodbye: A True Story of Murder and Betrayal by Ann Rule
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is a sad book, from the first few chapters I was hooked and needed to know more. Those poor little boys, all of the stuff they had to see over the past few years before the murder of their mother. I can't but help and wonder that if this would have happened later if things would have worked out different for this family. I just can't but help think if they could have reviewed the first murder more than the second would not have happened. Also would her family now take her warning signs a little more serious.

View all my reviews

If You Really Loved Me by Ann Rule

If You Really Loved Me by Ann Rule
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is full of "what" moments. It just amazes me that some people are able to talk some people to do whatever they want and they don't see anything wrong with it. I also enjoyed all the back story that was included in this book because that helps for me to get a better understanding of what made that person the way that they are.

View all my reviews

How to Date a Douchebag Series by Sara Ney

    

How to Date a Douchebag Series by Sara Ney

Book 1: The Studying Hours

Book 2: The Failing Hours

Book 3: The Learning Hours

Book 4: The Coaching Hours

Book 5: The Lying Hours 

So I had to re-read this series because I wanted to read "The Lying Hours" and I felt like it would be better to re-read the first four book first. Also I love this author, so I get hooked on her books. I loved this series. Some of the guys are not douchebag's but that's okay. I would not want to hear their stories just because of that. This series does a good job of telling you about some side characters which help draw you into the next book. I am now waiting for the next book to come out. I hope this author just keeps going with this series. 

View all my reviews

The Truth As He Knows It by A.M. Arthur

The Truth As He Knows It by A.M. Arthur
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

The writing on this story is a bit rough around the edges, so much so that I frequently mixed the two men up in the beginning. However, I continued onward, as I enjoyed the two overall and wanted to see how it panned out.

The story and writing style weren't enough to convince me to read onward in the series. However, there are some nice, emotional moments in this book that made it worth seeing it through to the end. This has a glimmer. I just wanted it to develop into a full out shine, but it doesn't quite get there.

Honestly, I just read the book last week, and I couldn't remember what it was even about without looking it back up. Even then, I still don't remember how it ends. So it's not a story that's going to really stick with you or give you anything to think about, but it was a decent, mindless sort of read for when you want to try something new but don't have any huge expectations.

The Legends of Regia Series

Forbidden Forest by Tenaya Jayne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I really am intrigued by this world, though I do think the overall storytelling and plotting could be stronger. I'm going to continue onward and remain hopeful that this is one of those series that improves with each new book, because there are some things I like here.

I do kind of feel like this has the whole kitchen sink thrown in, which is both fun but also sometimes just overwhelming based on how many different characters, backgrounds, and rules for the world we are supposed to keep track of. I do appreciate the effort to just throw a bit of everything that fantasy and paranormal readers enjoy into one book, but sometimes it was just a bit too much, which made the world building feel weaker, instead of stronger.

---

Forest Fire by Tenaya Jayne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I wanted to love this, but it felt messy in a bad way. I'm going to give book 3 a try, but if I don't love it, I think I am done with this series. The world and concept are interesting to me, but this just isn't as well-written and well-plotted as I need to stay intrigued. Also, I wanted the character development to grow each book, as well as the world building, and I don't think there was nearly enough of either to suit me.

---

Verdant (The Legends Of Regia, #3 by Tenaya Jayne
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This is sad and whimsical. I really wanted a stronger story, but I think it was hard to pull off the depth that I wanted from this in so few pages. That left it falling just a bit flat, when it should have been really emotional.

View all my reviews

The Night Realm by Annette Marie

The Night Realm by Annette Marie
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I liked the premise, overall concept for the world, and the cover. The actually story just fell short of what I wanted and hoped for. I think the storyline could be stronger, as well as the writing. There just needed to be some more real conflict and less melodrama.

I don't dislike this, but I also don't love it enough to move onward in the series. I could have used some stronger character development and a better developed, more believable plot. Also, there's just not as much originality in this as I hoped for, based on the premise.

The audiobook narration by Melissa Moran and Greg Tremblay was solid. I really enjoyed Melissa Moran who is clear, easy to understand, and provides just the right amount of emotion.

Irin Chronicles Series by Elizabeth Hunter

The Scribe by Elizabeth Hunter
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was an addictive story, set in fascinating world. The premise is A+. I like everything about the paranormal mystery of this read. Overall, it's a bit light on the romance side (no big deal), with often a fade to black before anything too sexy occurs, but the true buy in on this story is the deep world building and the character development.

The audiobook is narrated by Zachary Webber, who is welcome to read to me any day. He has a very low tone, so it did take me just a bit to adjust. However, once I got use to his reading, I really started to enjoy it, as it seems to match the mood of the story so well.

---

The Singer by Elizabeth Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I both enjoyed this one and found it frustrating to read, as what I wanted the most from this story was something I didn't get until almost the end of the book. It was interesting seeing the world grow in new directions, but the storyline and plot didn't feel quite as solid as the previous book. It does a bit more meandering, when you just sort of want everything to come together and move forward.

---

The Secret by Elizabeth Hunter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked the overall value of where the two main characters started and ended, but I was occasionally confused. It just felt like this storyline was the roughest so far, even though a lot seems to have occurred. Something about it didn't always feel as cohesive and easy to follow as I wanted, though I still love the world and characters. It just somehow gave me a bit less than I wanted in most instances, which wasn't as satisfactory this time around.

Overall, it's still a good series and book, but since I can't get my hands on book 4 right now, I've decided this is a reasonable stopping point.

View all my reviews

The Protector by Elin Peer

The Protector by Elin Peer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This book is set 400 years in the future, so the first part of the book explains what the new world is like. At first I enjoyed it, but it seemed to carry on a little longer than I would have liked. So this made it hard for me to stay focused and interested in the book. Around half way through the book, I began to become more interested. I am very curious to see how this series goes forward.

This book was narrated by Noelle Bridges and John Masterson, they did a great job. I felt like John did a great job of getting the tone of voice you would expect out of a strong norther.


View all my reviews

Clashing Color Series by Elin Peer

Black by Elin Peer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I started this book like:

Than I felt like:

To this:

Than the story goes on more and I began to be like:

The story line begins to change and I feel like:

This is book one in the clashing color series and I don’t know that if it was not for some friends suggested that I read this that I would have kept going. When this book first started out I found myself being like what did they talk to me into and how will this all work out.

Black “Darcia” has had an awful life and starts to make one bad decision after another. That leads her to find herself in HOT water. She tries to reach out to her estranged father for help, but he doesn't want anything to do with her. But her father’s step brother ends up coming to her save her and offers up a strange way to help her. This is when the book starts to take a strange turn of events that lead me to feel all of the above. As the story goes on further it starts to get better and the strange stuff doesn’t seem so strange anymore.

Gabriel is a war hero that returned home from duty, when he overhears his stepbrother’s phone conversation and decides that he will step up and help out Black since her father will not. I enjoyed Gabriel and all the help that he was willing to offer to someone that he didn't even know. Even if that help was a little weird and different at times.

This book will take you on a wonderful adventure, with flawed people, emotional roller coaster of feelings.

This book was narrated by Noelle Bridges and John Masterson, they did a great job.

View all my reviews

Violet by Elin Peer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After book one I really didn’t know what to expect from Elin Peer. However this book goes in a completely different direction. Violet’s and Jake have completely different views on the world. I really enjoyed Violet her ability to look at the world in a whole different way.

I really enjoyed how the author was able to basically come up with a completely different romance book than the first one. A lot of time when you read a series in romance all books are pretty much the same with just a small different plot twists. It was nice to see this be something completely different and still be able to pull me in just as much as the first book.

This book was narrated by Noelle Bridges and John Masterson, they did a great job.


View all my reviews


Green by Elin Peer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was excited for this book after seeing how Violet ended. You start to get a feel for Melody from the last book. I was also very interested to learn more about Christian as well. I enjoyed the playful banter that this couple had and the difference they need to work through. This author just keeps getting better and better.

This book was narrated by Noelle Bridges and John Masterson, they did a great job.


View all my reviews


Blue by Elin Peer
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Oh my I think that Faith was my favorite female lead so far… she just seemed to always live in her twin’s shadow but yet she is the most caring and kind person. Logan comes off as a grumpy old man at the beginning of the book, but he comes around the more he opens up to Faith. The more this story goes on the more I begin to like both characters.

This book was narrated by Noelle Bridges and John Masterson, they did a great job.


View all my reviews

Climbing With Mollie by William Finnegan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I receive this as a free Audible original and dove right in, since I find climbing interesting. This is an interesting perspective on climbing, for someone who doesn’t climb.

However, what really grabbed me with this story is that I would do about anything to have had a father that loved me in the way Finnegan loves Mollie. She is one lucky girl. You can hear it in every sentence, how much he is in awe of and respects his own daughter. He has zero problem admitting that she is strong and smart in ways that maybe he isn't. There’s just something really beautiful about that, and so I’m happy I read this one.

This is narrated by the author, who does a good job with the reading.

View all my reviews

OhellNo Series by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff

Smart Tass by Mimi Jean Pamfiloff
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Tassie and Hunter have known each other since they were little. They both had a crush on each other for years, but both saw their relationship as something completely different than what it actually was. Throughout this whole book I found myself going back and forth from think that Hunter was an awful guy than that he was a great guy. Once they both stop and think about the past you start to see that they are both good people just had a misunderstanding of how they really felt.

Narrated by Lauren Sweet and she did a great job.


View all my reviews

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Watching some of these characters, who were supposedly nice and decent people, behave so poorly and stupidly and unkindly sort of really pissed me off, and yet at the same time, I just couldn't look away from it.

The start of this book is really rocky and poorly written, so I almost DNF'd this several times in the beginning. There's tons of really poor writing behaviors like lots of tedious telling and backstory, introducing characters poorly and so many characters at once that it is impossible to keep anyone straight, etc. However, if you just hang in there for a bit, the writing becomes significantly better, and I think why I enjoyed this so much is that the writing is extremely emotional. This will put all your emotions through the wringer. Twice. In every chapter.

At the end of the day, if I knew these people in real life, I would think them very selfish and be pretty disappointed in them. But I don't, which means I could just enjoy the benefits of their indiscretions without having to feel too poorly about who they hurt in the process.

---

Effortless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This was an exhausting read that went nowhere but in circles. It could have been about 1/4 this long. I almost quit the series here, because this book was largely pointless. However, I decided to continue on and give book 3 a try.

I really like the emotional storytelling. I just wish this had an actual plot or point.

Honestly, having finished the series, you could probably skip this book, go straight on to book 3 and be just fine. You won't miss that much.

---

Reckless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a major improvement over book 2 and probably the best of the 3 so far, though I'm glad it is the end of these two and their story, as I think the whole series was about 2 or 3 times as long as it really needed to be.

That being said, I'm absolutely picking up book 4, because GRIFFIN. Honestly, I wish every book in this series had been about a different set of characters. That would have been more interesting and made the series stronger, as well as helped develop side characters.

---

Untamed by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

OMG GRIFFIN. This book is by far the best in the series. It just has so much voice. I was obsessed. Now, I am extremely happy I got over my grumpiness near the start of the series and continued onward, or I would have never read this beauty.

For anyone who hasn't read the series, I'm totally onboard with you just reading book 4 as a stand alone. Technically, you shouldn't do that. There are things that it helps to know leading up to that point, but if you start the series and get sick of the 2Ks, then just skip to the end and read this one. It's fantastic.

I enjoyed watching the long spiral downward, and the way Griffin finally picked himself back up, got his shit together, and started to grow up.

View all my reviews

Hard Ball by Heather Stone

Hard Ball by Heather Stone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Mackenzie and Cole have been friends forever. Cole is starting off by being a player and cheating on his girlfriend. Mackenzie starts dating someone else. Than they both realize that might want more than friends. This was just a short little romance book.

This book is narrated by Jeremy York and Brooke Bloomingdale, I love both of these narrators.


View all my reviews

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram

Serial Hottie by Kelly Oram
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

On some level, character behaviors in this story are absolutely unsafe and not at all social acceptable. The problem is, that's part of the premise of the story, which is why I now feel bad that those behaviors made me so uncomfortable, as it was how the concept came to be.

If that sounds confusing and convoluted, then now you have a better understanding of my mediocre rating, because my feelings about this are all sorts of mixed up. Some parts of it are good. Others are just absolutely unacceptable and maybe sending some scary messages to women about how they should expect to be treated by the men they love.

Long story short, it was interesting, just not always enjoyable and rewarding.

View all my reviews

Ten Night Stand by Mickey Miller

Ten Night Stand by Mickey Miller
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book starts out with Krista being a dazzle in distress and quickly turns to a hot one night stand. Damien and Krista are holding secrets from each other. Krista got a crazy ex that just can’t seem to let her go. Once the secrets start coming out you realize that they both have made mistakes. I don’t like the ending to this book, I don’t want to give away any spoilers but I will just say that Krista isn’t very smart with the ending to this book. I mean it all works out but she just didn’t act very smart.

This book is narrated by Lee Samuels and Carmen Vine. I enjoyed both of these narrators.


View all my reviews

Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland by Melinda DuChamp

Fifty Shades of Alice in Wonderland by Melinda DuChamp
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, this was filthy, and completely unexpected, and surprisingly literary and clever, which is apparently how I like my erotica. Go figure. It both turned me on and amused the hell out of me.

View all my reviews

Hot Mess by J.H. Croix

Hot Mess by J.H. Croix
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

You knew a little bout their story because of what Susannah saves about it during “Slow Burn”. Starting off this book gave away two many spoilers to what would happen in the story and I didn’t like that. I felt like Ward comes off to strong and over the top. I didn’t like this couple near as much as the other. Ward just seems to pushy at times and Susannah seems to overreact a lot.

This book is narrated by Brooke Bloomingdale and Lance Greenfield. They did a great job.


View all my reviews

The Girl the Sea Gave Back: A Novel by Adrienne Young

The Girl the Sea Gave Back: A Novel by Adrienne Young
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I’m sad. I wanted so much more than this, as I loved SKY IN THE DEEP, but I could never really connect to the characters. Everything felt choppy, and the world building that existed tended to be confusing. It has a gorgeous ending, but most of the rest of the story I was bored or confused and couldn’t emotionally connect to anything. The prose is also beautiful, but unfortunately that just doesn’t result in a well told story.

The audiobook narration is good, by Caitlin Kelly and Dan Bittner.  There's something a bit magical or ethereal feeling in the voice of Kelly that really adds to the female perspective in this story.

View all my reviews

Ninth House (Alex Stern, #1)

Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am wallowing in despair, because if you asked me who should be the Queen of my world, Leigh Bardugo would be on the short list, no doubt. But this has been the most frustrating Saturday ever, trying to force myself through this book. If it had been written by anyone else, I would have chosen to DNF early on, but I kept hanging on to try to find more redeeming qualities. I thought maybe it would reach a point where it all came together and became awesome.

Unfortunately, this was a really difficult story for me to get engaged and stay engaged with. The characters are many and all underdeveloped, in my opinion. The storyline is tedious and convoluted, made worse by the length of the book. I spent several hours trying to convince myself that I’m the problem, but I really don’t think it was just me. All I wanted was to spend the whole day relaxing and reading an awesome book, so I brought the right attitude to the moment just didn’t somehow, in a surprise twist, manage to pick the right book.

So long story short, even though this had some moments that were really interesting, and I could see glimpses of talent and world building and complex and interesting characters, overall, it was not a win for me. Had this not been written by Bardugo, I probably would have DNFed in the first ¼ of the story, saved myself most of a Saturday, and awarded this only 1 star. The 2nd star here is for the moments of amazing writing and storytelling that do exist, even though they tend to be too few and far between for me.

I do strongly recommend Bardugo’s other books, to anyone who is new to this author. Definitely don’t start with this one, since it seems to be pretty polarizing, and it’s hard saying which side you will fall towards. I came in with some pretty high expectations, but I am truly shocked that this didn't meet hardly any of them.

The audio narration for this story is good, very clear and mildly emotional. It's enough to add some depth to the reading but not distract.

View all my reviews

Burn So Bad by J.H. Croix

Burn So Bad by J.H. Croix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After meeting Lucy in the first book and knowing that she is very closed off, made me even more excited to read her book to know what made her the way she is. Once you get a better understanding of her past, she starts to make more sense and why she is so closed off from people. All I can say about Levi is aww.. he just didn’t give up that she would give into him. He doesn’t come off pushing or anything, he comes off sweet and patient waiting for her.

This book is narrated by Lee Samuels and Kathryn, they both do a great job. Their voice just fit together. Also I enjoy how the author has different voices for each book.


View all my reviews

Hashtag Serices by Cambria Hebert

#Nerd

by Cambria Hebert

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This has a bit of a One Tree Hill vibe that I enjoyed. But I’m a big sucker for the nerdy girl gets the hot guy trope.

---

#Hater by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

What a disappointing book 2. It completely fails to offer anything new, Including a solid story structure. Since I generally liked the characters in book one, it shouldn’t have been so difficult to keep my attention.

Unfortunately, this story is a lot of unnecessary melodrama that both starts and ends on a cliffhanger...but not the kind of cliffhanger that comes after some resolution. Don’t expect any resolution or growth for that matter. It’s just the same stuff over and over again, and I’m over it and stopping the series here.

And I’m bummed, because I liked these characters. Having more time with them should have been a good thing, but it was mostly meh.

View all my reviews

Slow Burn by J.H. Croix

Slow Burn by J.H. Croix
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was excited for Masie’s book. You get to know her a little in the first book. Masie carries bad bandage when it comes to guys because of how her dad treated her when she was growing up. Masie doesn’t really know what a good relationship. Beck, is a hot and caring guy.

This book is narrated by Savannah Richards and Christian Rummel. I enjoyed both of them and they did a great job together. Christian did an amazing job and may have helped pull me towards him.


View all my reviews

GearShark Series by Cambria Hebert

#Junkie by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I adore Trent and Drew, and this story has lots of heart. The only thing I don't like is the chopped off cliff-hanger ending that provides no resolution. It makes this feel like an incomplete story, which basically, it is. I guess there's a second thing that I don't like, and that's some of the stereotypes in this story. I could do without those, as well. Otherwise, it's a good read.

The narration is by Luke Itzvic and Guy Locke, both who do a great job.

---

#Rev by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the second half of Drew and Trent's story, and while I like it fine, I wish these first 2 books had been combined to create one better story. I don't think it all needed to be drug out for so long, especially considering that some things still weren't addressed very well. I think if this had been edited down to the heart of their story, then it could have easily been one book, which would have made it stronger overall.

Despite that, I still read and mostly enjoyed this story. There are some things I wish would have been handled better, but Drew and Trent are both so lovable that it pushed me to look past gaps in the storytelling. It's all pretty predictable, in terms of how things occur, so for needing 2 books to tell their story, I guess I just wished for something more.

This is a 3.5 for me, so I've rounded up to 4 stars.

---

#Swag by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are a lot of elements that I really loved with this story, including two outcasts coming together. It gave us an opportunity to see the softer sides of both. I also thought it was interesting that this addressed a lot of gender and sexism issues, though I do wish the female lead would have handled a few things differently along the way. Despite that, I really enjoyed this story. Things get heated quickly, and there's plenty of clashing.

---

#Blur by Cambria Hebert
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My favorite in the series so far. Lots of depth and emotional range, with two fantastic main characters.