Book Reviews Archives - Page 31 of 114

Book Review: Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Jul 28, 2019

Romanov by Nadine Brandes

Pages: 337
Publish date: May 7th 2019
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 9780785217244
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

The history books say I died.

They don’t know the half of it.

Anastasia “Nastya” Romanov was given a single mission: to smuggle an ancient spell into her suitcase on her way to exile in Siberia. It might be her family’s only salvation. But the leader of the Bolshevik army is after them, and he’s hunted Romanov before.

Nastya’s only chances of saving herself and her family are to either release the spell and deal with the consequences, or enlist help from Zash, the handsome soldier who doesn’t act like the average Bolshevik. Nastya has only dabbled in magic, but it doesn’t frighten her half as much as her growing attraction to Zash. She likes him. She thinks he might even like her.

That is until she’s on one side of a firing squad . . . and he’s on the other.

Romanov:

Romanov by Nadine Brandes has been on my radar even before it was released. I’m a massive history buff and I’ve been looking for a new historical fiction read for some time. So I managed to pick up a copy while I was in the US and I’m so glad that I did. I don’t know too much about the Romanov family history, I’ve only watched and read a couple of things, but after reading Romanov I so want to find out more.

Romanov by Nadine Brandes follows Anastasia as the last of her family falls apart. With her family now in exile in Siberia, Nastya knows that she has to protect the only thing that can maybe save her family. But it’s a dangerous journey, and the leader of the Bolshevik army knows what he’s looking for. But now Nastya needs to decide if she would release the spell or enlist in the help from Zash. He doesn’t act like the normal Bolshevik soldier but can she trust him?

I really enjoyed the concept of Romanov. The thought that Anastasia didn’t die along with the rest of her family has always been really interesting to me. And Nadine Brandes really plays with that in Romanov. I think why I liked it so much, was because it reminded me of And I Darken by Kiersten White. In that while based on true events and people, they put their own twist on it.

Erwan Hesry

Nastya was a really interesting protagonist, while I did have a hard time trying to connect with her. But that didn’t really change my reading experience. Nastya came off as a younger protagonist as well as “innocent.” However, that is what also made her really interesting. She knew that she was her families last chance and she would do anything to keep them safe. I really enjoyed Nastya’s character development throughout Romanov. The reader is able to see her grow and take charge of everything around her.

The notion of family was a massive theme throughout Romanov and it was fantastically executed. There really isn’t a happy ending here. We as readers already know that most if not all of Nastya’s family were going to die before the book finishes, so that made the relationship she had with her a little more heartbreaking. In saying that, I loved getting to know the family through Nastya’s eyes. Even though this family goes through hell and back, they stick together, they love each other and Nastya will stop at nothing to keep them safe and healthy.

Ryan Hafey

The relationship with Zash was very heartbreaking and it really tore me apart. They are both on totally opposite sides in this war. And his isn’t just a soldier. He is one of the people keeping her family prisoner. But Nastya sees something different in him and she puts off her faith in him. It was really interesting seeing the interaction between Nastya and Zash, two very different people, on two very different sides. The reader is able to see them both struggle with who they are.

There were times throughout Romanov that I really struggle to read, especially towards the end. I knew what was going to happen, but gosh it still broke me when it did.

I really enjoyed the magic aspect of Romanov. It was tied so effortlessly throughout the book that it neither overtook or was hidden in the background. Magic blended so nicely into both the time of the novel, as well as things that happened in real life. Magic was a really interesting element to the book and loved finding out things here and there.

Photo by Francesco Paggiaro from Pexels

Overall, I really enjoyed Romanov by Nadine Brandes. It was a great twist on historical fiction. With magic, romance and the fight for family on the backdrop of war, Romanov is a fantastic read. Nastya is such an interesting protagonist that really captures the reader from the start. She is captivating in her innocence and her persistence to do the right thing for both her family and herself.

Have you read Romanov by Nadine Brande? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? What are some of your favourite historical fictions with a twist? Let’s Chat!

Series Review: Wind Dragons MC by Chantal Fernando | Part 2

Jul 20, 2019

A couple of weeks ago I shared part 1 of my review of the Wind Dragons MC series, and now it’s time for part 2. As I said in that review, this isn’t my favourite romance, but it’s a fun, addicting series that I couldn’t put down. It’s full of high stakes, high tension and romance that is full of heat and love. Check out my part one reviews now.

Dirty Ride (Wind Dragons MC #3.5) by Chantal Fernando

Pages: 102
Publish date: February 8th 2016
Publisher: Pocket Star
ASIN: B015WNZ60S
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Even by Wind Dragon Motorcycle Club standards, Irish was always a bit of a dark horse. Not one to confide his secrets, such as where he got that mysterious scar across his neck, he’s quick with his fists and even quicker to jump to the defense of his MC. But is he nimble enough to handle the woman he never saw coming? Or will she leave him with a matching scar across his heart?

Dirty Ride:

I really enjoyed getting to know Irish in the other books and I love that he finally got his story. Ardan ‘Irish’ is such a charm. He is hella protective, but he is also very sweet. It’s that strange combination of being a sweet alpha male. I don’t really know how it works, but it does.

Tina is running, She is running from her past, from her present and even from her future. But then she has a run in with Irish and everything changes. Tina was a great female protagonist, probably one of my favourites from this series.

There is a lot of drama in this one though. Not so much between Tina and Irish, but between Irish, Tina and her ex. Sometimes these books take it over the edge for me, and this one was close – very close.

In saying all that, I liked this novella. I loved seeing Irish fall in love and taken to his knees. The romance was both cute and sexy and a great little filler for this series,

Rake’s Redemption (Wind Dragons MC #4) by Chantal Fernando

Pages: 336
Publish date: June 28th 2016
Publisher: Gallery Books
ISBN: 9781501139550
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Rake is known for being up for anything, in and out of the bedroom. He’s wild, he’s deadly, yet quick with a joke or a stolen kiss. Known as the player of the WDMC, he loves women, the more the merrier. However, behind his womanizing façade, Rake hides the pain of losing his first love, Bailey. He hasn’t loved anyone since and doesn’t think he ever will.

Seven years after their split, Rake and Bailey run into each other at the MC’s favourite club. Old wounds resurface, secrets are spilled…and passionate feelings are awakened. But they’ve each done things to hurt the other, hurt them too badly to get over it—haven’t they? Only when Bailey’s connection to Rake puts her in danger from another Club member does he realize that there’s nothing he won’t do to protect her—and claim her as his once again.

Rake’s Redemption:

Rake is a really interesting character, but he isn’t a protagonist that I would normally gravitate towards. However, I still enjoyed getting to know him in a different way through Rake’s Redemption. Rake is a womanizer without a doubt so, at times, it was really hard to like him. He also said and did some things throughout the novel that really didn’t sit right with me. I do think that he is my less favourite male protagonist so far in the series.

However, I really enjoyed Bailey as a character. She was fun and sassy, but also tired and I say tried to stay out of trouble. She liked to push Rake and that was really fun to watch. But the tension and everything that went down between them caused a lot of strain. Like most things, if they only talked at the time, they would have most likely still been together.

What I did love about Rake’s Redemption was the notion of second chance romance. It’s one of my favourite romance tropes and I enjoy the way that Chantal dealt with it here. While at times it was hard to read, when everything was finally out, both Rake and Bailey could be themselves.

Overall, Rake’s Redemption was okay. It’s not my favourite out of this by far, but it was still a good read that moved not only the characters along but the series as well.

Wild Ride (Wind Dragons MC #4.5)

Pages: 96
Publish date: July 11th, 2016
Publisher: Pocket Star
ASIN: B017RNBS12
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

As rival club president Talon has to decide what’s more dangerous: facing down the WDMC, or losing his heart to a woman under their protection.

Talon has a complicated relationship with the Wind Dragons Motorcycle Club. He’s the president of their rival club, the Wild Men, but he’s also related to one of their members—who hates him. He could handle that, but he’s also got problems in his own club; someone is leaking information and disrupting their business, but Talon can’t find the mole. So the last thing he needs is even more complication in the form of a beautiful single mother who’s bolder than half the bikers on his squad. But he can’t take his eyes—or his hands—off her…

Tia’s always been a little reckless, up for a good time wherever she found it, but she’s also a great mom to her young son. So even though she thinks Talon is basically sex on a stick, when she realizes she wants to be more to him than just a club groupie, she has to take things a bit slow. Plus, a momentary attraction, no matter how smoking hot, isn’t worth risking her son’s happiness in any way. Is there any chance that Talon might be up for a more permanent arrangement? Or has Tia leapt before looking once again?

Wild Ride:

I loved Wild Ride so much. It was a fun, quick read that gives the reader insight into Talon, someone who has always caught my interest. This one follows Talon as he tries to navigate this club falling apart and his interest in Tia, who he knows he should stay away from.

I’m always interested in knowing more about the ‘villain’ and antagonist characters and the reader really gets to see many sides of Talon in this one. We’ve seen Talon many times throughout the series so far, but in this one where we get to see Talon from not only his eyes but also Tia’s.

Tia was such a fun character, she knows that she is attracted to Talon and she doesn’t hide it. But she also knows that she has to take this slow with him. I love seeing Tia interact with her son. Seriously she is such a great mom and she will do anything for him.

Overall, Wild Ride was great. I do wish that it was a full novel, but other than that I had a great time reading it. The chemistry between Talon and Tia was spot on and it was just great to read.

And that is it for this post! Have you read the Wind Dragons MC series? What did you think of it? Let’s Chat!

Book Review: Superfan by Sarina Bowen

Jun 30, 2019

Superfan (Brooklyn #3) by Sarina Bowen

Pages: 312
Publish date: June 25th 2019
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
ISBN: 9781942444763
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Sometimes lady luck shakes your hand, and sometimes she smacks your face. Sometimes she does both on the same day.

Three years ago I met the most amazing girl in the world. We were both down on our luck. Then I got that call—the one that tells you to get your buns on a plane to go meet your destiny.

But the girl was left behind. I didn’t have her phone number, and she didn’t know my real name.

While I became a professional hockey player, she became a superstar, with platinum records and legions of fans. And a slick, music producer boyfriend who treated her badly.

But fate wasn’t done with us yet. When Delilah turns up at a hockey game, I can’t resist making contact. The internet swoons when I ask her out on a date.

She might not remember me. But her jerkface ex does. He’ll do anything to keep us apart.

Good thing athletes never give up. This time I’m playing for keeps.

Book name:

I received an earc of Superfan by Sarina Bowne from the author in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I’m a massive Sarina Bowen fan. So much so that I’ve read all but one of her books, and that’s just because I haven’t gotten around to it. Then I saw that it was about Silas and couldn’t keep my excitement down. But then I heard it involved a celebrity and I wasn’t so sure. However, I can say that I did really enjoy Superfan. And while it isn’t my favourite Sarina Bowen book, I did love reading about Silas.

Superfan follows Silas as one ice hockey seasons comes to an end and another one begins. Three years ago, he thought he meet a girl that would change his life – and she did. But he has to leave. Now he is a professional hockey play and she is a celebrity rocking the charts. When Silas and Delilah have a fiery interaction over social media everything from their past comes back. And let’s just say Delilah still might be the girl of Silas dreams.

BRUNO CERVERA

I didn’t know what to expect going into Superfan, Sarina Bowen had done many ‘celebrity’ romances – but she had done a few. However, I felt that Superfan was different. Delilah was very much an established celebrity in the series and the reader knew how much Silas loved her as an artist. But what we didn’t know was that it went much deeper than that. We didn’t know that he knew her before she becomes a hit. I also find celebrity romance novels a hit or miss for me – sometimes I love them, and then sometimes I just can’t feel it. And after reading Superfan, I’m still not sure how I feel.

I loved Silas – I mean I loved him even before he has his own book. One of the things that made me fall more in love with him – was getting to know his story. I loved finding out who Silas was. Before he was like the awesome – but he really shone in this one. The reader is able to finally understand why he loved Diliah so much throughout Superfan. And gosh was it interesting. I loved the banter that Silas has with basically everyone. He is one of those characters that I was able to easily connect with. And that to me makes a book immediately so much easier to read. I also really enjoyed Silas character arc, throughout the story not only is he, building as a character but also growing as a person.

Arthur Edelman

Delilah was a really interesting character in Superfan. Like Silas, we know even little about her, the reader just knows her as his famous singer that Silas loves. But as the novel goes on the reader gets to Deliah for her and not for the celebrity that she is. Delilah story is pretty harsh and there were times that I just couldn’t get on board with her character. I am not even sure what it was, I just felt a lack of connection. I liked Delilah don’t get me wrong, but there was something keeping me from loving her. In saying that I think Sarina did a fantastic job in Delilah’s character arc. The reader is really able to see her grow throughout the novel and really find who she is.

While I loved Silas and liked Deliah, there was something with the romance that didn’t click for me. I just felt like there lacked a spark. I really enjoyed seeing the start of Silas and Delilah, the flashbacks to before. To people that were both lost and found each other in such strange times of their lives. One of the things with the romance in the current time that didn’t mesh with me was that I felt that it moved fast, without moving fast. I’m sorry if that doesn’t make sense, but the book is set over a good deal of time. But I didn’t feel that we got to see enough of Silas and Delilah in that time frame.

Elizabeth Tsung

One of the things I love about Sarina Bowen is her writing. It’s so easy to fall into her books. I just start reading and keep on going till I finish. She has such easy writing to read. And not in the sense of ‘simple’ words or ‘lack of substance.’ But in the sense that the books just flow. There isn’t a time where I need to step back and really think about anything, the characters, plot and everything in between do all the talking. And she does that again in Superfan.

We get to see some very familiar faces throughout the whole of Superfan. And gosh did I love seeing the gang again. There were so many times that I just smiled because I loved everything that was going on around Silas and Delilah. I don’t want to talk too much about why we see nearly everyone again – but yes! It’s something that the readers have been waiting for so long. And gosh was it great. I do wish that there was more connection between Delilah and the other females from previous novels, I just wanted to see an awesome girl gang of strong women.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Superfan by Sarina Bowen. And while it isn’t my favourite Sarina Bowne book out there, I really enjoyed getting to know both Silas and Delilah. I felt that were fantastic characters, I do wish that I felt more of a spark between them. In saying that I loved watching Silas fall in love – I’ve loved seeing him in other books and now it was his time to shine. He alone just put a smile on my face. If you love celebrity romance – then this is for you. It’s fun, intense and still has that classic Sarina Bowen romance that just works so well for her.

Have you read Superfan by Sarina Bowen? What did you think of it? Have you read any of the Brooklyn Bruisers series? Are you planning to? Let’s Chat!