Bal Khabra: Spiral

 

In the second book in a series, Bal Khabra show's how a fake date may just lead to something real:

This may be the second book in a series but I found that I was still able to follow the relationships and story. You do have a bit of intersection with the first couple in this series but not enough that you need to read the first book before this one.

I'm not sure if it is just me, but I seem to keep finding sports romances where the FMC is a ballerina and I don’t mind it. I love the juxtaposition of ballet to more “traditional” sports and for the MMC to acknowledge how hard ballet actually is.

I enjoyed  Khabra did not just have them jumping into a relationship and bed together right after they meet each other and Khabra takes the time for the relationship between Sage and Elias to grow.

Sage is such a determined character to the point that she will not accept any help for herself from her wealthy uncle, but if it something for her brother she has no problem. You can tell that Sage does not want to be in anyone's debt or have to rely on anyone else because of her past and it is a tragic one. This is a big thing that she needs to work on in this story and you get to watch her grow albeit slowly. I really loved that Sage would just speak what was on her mind, even when it was something dirty to try and set Elias off.

Elias was a good character but really not a memorable as Sage and really his backstory was not as interesting and I find it hard to believe his choices after one incident plus his inability to score goals should not be made into a big of a deal as it is. I mean he leads with assists and that is just as important. I do love how much Elias put Sage first and that it was okay for someone to take care of her for once. He really is a golden retriever. 

This book is very much about the characters and their relationship, but I wish there would have been more to the ballet drama as well as Elias' past as well. They are big parts of both of them and it felt like the surface is barely scratched with them especially with the ballet drama

Overall this is a cute and spicy (at times) read and I enjoyed it. I would read another one by Khabra and would continue on with the characters in this series.

Enjoy!!!!

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Kelley Armstrong: An Ordinary Sort of Evil

 

In the Fifth book in Kelley Armstrong's A Rip Through Time series, things are are getting ghostly:

This series has gotten the better and better with each book. I have loved the overall arc of the story and the relationship between the characters. You can tell that Armstrong has done some research of what was hot and popular with the wealthier class at that time and I always find it interesting when she incorporates them into her story. From the Mummy unwrapping a few books back to now the introduction of seances. It is also fun when she has actual historical figures making their appearance known and maybe that is why she chose this point in time.

I think the aspect of the seance was done really well. Mallory knows that they are fake, but even with them just starting to happen, it is not entirely clear how they are making all the noises or maybe there truly is a spirit contacting them from the other side. The introduction of this spirit and the way the plot unfolds is done really well. There are a few suspects along the way and Armstrong does a great job of keeping you guessing of who the murder is.

Now normally I am not the biggest fan of the miscommunication trope, though in this setting (and that of the previous book) it is fitting. Since Gray and Mallory are from different times, how things are interpreted are going to be different as well as you have Mallory trying to adapt to how things are done in the 1800 there is going to be some confusion and miscommunication along the way. I think it is cute as they bumble around their feelings for each other and very mush everyone else can see it but them. 

Am I the only one who thinks that Jack needs her own spin off novella or something like that? 

Once again Armstrong has written an interesting story by showing that one can weave together character development, atmosphere and an engaging plot. It are these aspects that have me coming back not only to this series but the other books and series that she writes.

Enjoy!!!

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Caroline Peckham & Susanne Valenti: Savage Fae

 

In the second book of the Ruthless Boy series, Elise needs to guard her heart as she maybe falling for a killer;

I really appreciated that Peckham and Valenti did not waste any time between book one and book two. I enjoy that we jump right back into the story, world and relationship and we don't need figure out if anything has happened between the books.

I appreciate that Elise knows what she wants out of her relationship life and she does not make it a secret to the men in this book. It is them that have more of a problem with it than her and you can't fault the way that she thinks based upon her past and what happened with her mom. I will say that it does seem that Elise, seems to forget why she is at the school for quite a bit of the book and honestly I do too sometimes, as that plot seems secondary until we get Gareth's POV. I love the glimpses of the school and people that Gareth interacts with and now Elise does too. I really want to know what changed in his and Cindy Lou’s relationship.

Ryder is still my favourite and I love his secret love of the Lion King and every time he brings it up around Leon, I found myself at least smiling if not laughing as well. And also who does not love the Lion King and the trauma it caused all of us as kids. 

Where this book struggles is really Elise trying to find out who murdered her brother and why. While we get a bit of insight, the majority of the book is about Elise getting closer to the guys around her and really treading the line with them, especially Ryder and Dante. I hope the next book in the series has more of the mystery aspect to it, as that plot point only seems like a tease right now.

I’m enjoying this series so far. I know when I am reading the books I’m Turing the pages as fast as I can to see where Peckham and Valenti are going to take the relationships, I just want a bit more from to murder plot.

Enjoy!!!!!

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Katherine Center: How to Walk Away

 

Katherine Center shows the resilience of one woman when the life as she knows it goes up in flames.

I have read almost all of Center's books and this one would be near the top of my list (my favourite is still Things You Save in a Fire). This book is not a romance book, yes it has a romance subplot but the main plot of this book is rediscovering yourself and healing from a tragedy. It is about finding a new strength and the will to carry on or how to walk away if you will.

You will like Maggie right from the first moment that you meet her. She is bubbly, happy and wanting to please everyone around her. Her strength is remarkable when everything happens to her from the accident itself and everything that follow after is truly amazing. Does she struggle? Yes, any person would, but I think it is a testament to Center that she does not shy away from the harder aspects.

I can’t help but love Ian more for the decisions that he makes in this book. You can tell how much he loves and wants to be with Maggie but he know he has to do it right.

Now was this book predictable, totally, but it is a testament to Center's ability to write a story and compelling characters that had me engrossed in the book and turning the pages. I also think that Center portrayed pretty accurate of how people react in the face of tragedy. People really show who they are and you really discover quickly who you want in your life.

Anyone else find the title ironic? If you have read the book you get it.

I really enjoyed this book and her showing how resilient a woman can be. Center is one of the authors that if she writes it I will read it.

Enjoy!!!!

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Ellis Hunter: Blood Bound

 

In the first in a new series and their debut novel Hunter has the ultimate clash of Witches vs Dragon Riders, to the death:

I won't lie I struggled with the first 50% of the book. I found it to be slow and I wasn't fully invested in the characters or story. However, after certain events that happen at that point I became fully invested in the characters and story. When I first started reading the book, I made three predictions around the 12% mark about where the story was going to go and what reveals Hunter was going to make along the way and I was right of two out of the three predictions. So there wasn't as many surprises along the way as I would have liked. This very much follows some of the typical Romantasy tropes out there (insta-love, fated mates, rivals to lovers, rebellion and more). Though I will say I did not expect where Hunter too the book at the end.

I appreciated the Dual POVs and loved the two magic systems that has been presented. The difference from the Dragon riders and the Witches is quite pronounced in the book, with the Dragon riders being on top. I loved that although Astrid is unable to wield magic she has found other ways to use it through her potions. I also loved the familiars (and that not all of them were cats) and Dragons and that Hunter allows the reader to know what is being communicated between them. I especially loved Bastet and his dry sense of humour.

One thing I wasn't the greatest fan of was everyone wanting to protect Astrid, like she was some delicate flower that need protection Constantly. No, she is actually a badass witch in her own right and I think people should have respected that more. Especially as she has basically been preparing to die her entire life, and the strength and pose she shows with that aspect is commendable. This also made me feel bad for Skylar as it always appears that she has no one in her corner.

Also it seemed like we were waiting for the dual FOREVER. Like Hunter found every possible thing to do before the actual dual and then we the dual gets here, well, it was a little lack luster in my opinion.

This was a good start to the series, but the more I think about it, the more I think that Hunter tried to do too much in the first book, that it came off at slow at the start and then had a complete 180 by the end of where they were going to take the story. I think the overall flow of the book was off. Now would i continue the series, yes. I did like where they eventually took the book and was able to get invested by the character and I want to see where they take it next.

Enjoy!!!

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H. M. Wolfe: Daggermouth

H. M. Wolfe show the lengths a rebellion will go in order to right the wrong that Society has become:

As soon as I found out about this book, I knew I needed to get my hands on it to read it. And wow what a book it is. This book had me hooked from the beginning and a choke hold for most of the book. Now does this book really add anything new to the dystopian genre? No, it is very much men are in control women must be subservient to them and there is always those on the outside that want to rebel against them all. This does not mean that I did not enjoy the book, but I have read quite a few Dystopian books and the themes are the same so this made the book predictable at times.

Wolfe had me caring about each of the characters in a different way in this book and if you like Multiple POV’s this book will be one you’ll enjoy. Shadera and Greyson get the most POV in the book which makes sense as they are very much the focus of this book. Shadera is such a badass in this book, she is full of some many crazy skills that make her a great assassin but holding her tongue is not one of them, which gets her in to trouble quite a bit. Greyson was who I actually thought he would be before reading the book, so his character was not a surprise to me as it may have been to other

I didn't feel the relationship between Shadera and Grey. She was too much woman for him. I mean I feel the hate that they for each other and what they think the other has cost them I just didn’t feel the attraction they are supposed to feel. This also has an alternative for Shadea and that is Jamison Vine and for me I’m Team Jamison Fucking Vine all day. Jamison knows who he is and is not ashamed of it, plus he is willing to do anything for Shadera.

I was thinking this book was a solid 4 star read till the end and that totally bumped it up to 4.5 with where Wolfe takes the story as well as leaving so many huge cliffhangers at the end. 

I think that this book lived up to the hype that it has been receiving. It is a true dystopia book, that is dark gritty and really grabs hold of you right at the beginning and not just the characters but the story and plot as well. I cannot wait to read the next book in this series.

Enjoy!!!!

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