Book Reviews Archives - Page 41 of 114

Book Review: Inked by Drew Elyse | Blog Tour

Oct 29, 2018

Inked (Sailor’s Grave #2) by Drew Elyse

Pages: 238
Publish date: October 16, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07JGFCV36
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

INSTANT ATTRACTION IS A POWERFUL THING.

Six months of dancing around each other led to one explosive night
and two weeks without a word.

Only then did I learn the truth:
The man I’d wanted since he walked into Sailor’s Grave Tattoo Parlor
was actually an undercover cop.

And the worst part is, I don’t even know his real name.

BUT WHAT IF ATTRACTION ISN’T ENOUGH?

For over eight months I held back. Except for that one night when I couldn’t fight it anymore.
I’d wanted her from the beginning, but I should have kept waiting until my secrets weren’t between us.

Now, I have the ultimate challenge before me: convince the inked goddess of a receptionist to at least let me keep her safe, even if she won’t give me another chance.

Inked:

I received a copy e-arc of Inked by Drew Elyse from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I was so excited to pick up Inked by Drew Elyse, I loved all the previous books that I read in this world and was really excited to read more about Jess. The readers first meet Jess in the Savage Disciples MC series, but then we get to know more about her in Marked.

Jess the receptionist at Sailor Grave’s tattoo is trying to get on with her life, but then when she has a one night stand, with the guy she has been checking out for months. And then he disappeared. When Jess later finds out that has been an undercover cop for the last 6 months, she doesn’t know how to feel. But when their worlds collide again, they can’t stay away from each other. But is staying close to one another too dangerous?

I loved Jess in the previous books and I really wanted to know more about her. In the previous books, the audience is able to see that something is wrong with Jess, but we just don’t know what. But throughout Inked Jess’s walls are broken down and the reader is able to really get to know her. I really enjoy Jess, I like that she is fierce, strong and stands up for herself. But she was also able to show her emotions. One of my favourite things about Jess was her confidence, but it didn’t make her cocky or self-absorbed.

Braden doesn’t like hiding things from Jess, but he can’t help but fall for her. Braden was an interesting character and I couldn’t help but fall for him as well. He has a very strong personality, and he won’t give up easily. I also felt sorry for him at times. But he also takes his job seriously, and that does play a part in the book. And then when Jess is put into danger, he will stop at nothing to protect her.

The romance in Inked was great. Though it’s been a couple of months since Jess and Barden have seen each other, it can very easily be seen that they still have feelings for one another. But Jess isn’t easily influenced and isn’t happy that he not only lie to her but hasn’t spoken to her in months. As Inked goes on the reader is able to see that the walls Jess has put up break down and that has a lot to do with Braden.

The plot for Inked is very intense, but it was something that I was expecting. I’ve really enjoyed Drew Elyse books before. But this series has really stood out to me. While there are some crazy things that happen in Inked, it isn’t unrealistic and really added to the world. I also liked that the while the book is fast paced, it isn’t rushed. So everything in the novel can shine. In saying that there are a few things that do make the story predictable.

Something that I didn’t really like was that we didn’t get to see the start of Jess and Braden. We didn’t get to see them meet or anything like that, and I would have liked. I think it would have added more depth to the book and make it much easier for the reason to connect with both Jess and Barden.

Overall, Inked is an intriguing, suspenseful story that keeps the reader hooked from the start. The romance between Jess and Braden is full of chemistry and adds so much to the book. I loved how much the MC had a part in this one and I adored that they cared so much about Jess, she is family. Inked explores the notion of falling in love, hurt and learning to trust others. If you love an intense plot, addicting romance, and a great world. If you are looking for a new romance read, then his is for you.

Have you read Inked by Drew Elyse? What did you think of it? Have you read anything else by her? Let’s Chat!

About The Author

Drew Elyse spends her days trying to convince the world that she is, in fact, a Disney Princess, and her nights writing tear-jerking and sexy romance novels.

When she isn’t writing, she can usually be found analyzing every line of a book, binge-watching shows on Netflix, doing strange vocal warm-ups before singing in a variety of musical styles, or screaming at the TV during Chicago Blackhawks games.

A graduate of Loyola University Chicago, she still lives outside Chicago, IL, where she was born and raised, with her boyfriend and her fur babies Lola and Duncan.

Book Review: Betting On Him by Kelly Collins | Blog Tour

Oct 25, 2018

Betting On Him by Kelly Collins

Pages: 268
Publish date: October 15, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07GFHHY8X
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

He’s a gangster going straight. She’s a waitress going bankrupt. Will their gamble on a marriage of convenience pay off in true love?

Alex Wilde desperately wants to be free of the family’s mob business. But when his infamous father is murdered, the family attorney makes a suggestion he can’t ignore: find a bride before the funeral or they’ll force a wedding with a nice Russian gangster girl. When he meets a feisty cocktail waitress, he thinks he’s found his way out.

Faye Tandy is desperately in debt and hard-pressed to find help. Alex’s offer of a phony marriage for a ton of cash couldn’t come at a better time and she’s happy to help him exit the criminal world. The fact that he’s tall, dark, and handsome is an attractive bonus. But when she discovers the Russians have a contract out on her head, she wonders if divorced and bankrupt would be a better choice than rich and dead…

As Faye’s fake feelings for Alex turn real, she’s terrified her trip to the altar might be her last. Will Alex and Faye’s throw of the dice succeed or will they lose the lawless game of love?

Betting On Him :

I received an e-arc of Betting on Him by Kelly Collins in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I just picked this book on a whim. The plot sounded intriguing and I felt like picking up a book that was a little different to my normal read. And I am pretty glad that I did, while it’s not the best romance book out there, I still had so much fun reading it and just enjoyed it.

Betting On Him follows Faye Tandy as she tries to find her way out of debt, not get kicked out of her apartment and complete school. Family drama isn’t something that Alex Wilde wants to get caught up in. But it’s time for him to lead when his mob father is killed. Both Faye and Alex are intrigued by one another when they meet at the bar where she works. Then he makes an offer that she cannot resist. Faye is now in the criminal world of family war, death, and money.

Faye was a really fun protagonist. She wasn’t quiet and ‘innocent’ in a sense that a lot of other romance protagonist are. She could very easily stand up for herself and most of the time didn’t take shit from anyone. But then there are things that she is oblivious too and I really liked that contrast. Faye was also easy to get along with. Getting married to a person that she knows nothing about for money is a little bit out there. But gosh it makes for an interesting read.

Alex was an interesting male protagonist in Betting On Him. He is from a world that is all about revenge and death but is still able to mostly have a positive view about things. He wants to make his father’s business legit, but then he does some things that contradict that. It’s a little bit of a mess. Alex doesn’t believe in a lot of things and that really does play with who he is. For the most part, I did really enjoy Alex as a protagonist and as a love interest. But then there were times where I just hated him. Alex does a lot of things without thinking, and not only that, he lets his belief that love is bad, get in the way.

I really enjoyed the romance between Faye and Alex in Betting On Him. At times, things moved really fast, but then when I got to think about it, the book was set over a good time frame. Being in a fake marriage isn’t something I read a lot. But I really enjoyed Faye and Alex getting to know each other. From the start, the chemistry was there. But getting to know more about each other took time and I liked that.

I didn’t know what to expect from Betting On Him when I started reading, I knew that there were parts that I thought were going to be ridiculous. But Kelly Collins does it in a way that it works. Betting On Him is one of those books that you kind of just have to go with it. Things get a little crazy at times but it’s still a good read. There were things that happened, that made me laugh, but I would also read more in this series.

Overall, Betting On Him is a great read. It’s not the best romance novel out there, but I loved falling into this world of mob mosses and despection. Betting On Him explores Faye and Alex as they try and navigate their fake marriage into something that has more substance. There is revenge, exploitation, and suspense involved. It’s a great romance book to just pick up and have a good time reading.

About the Author

International bestselling author of more than thirty novels, Kelly Collins writes with the intention of keeping the love alive. Always a romantic, she blends real-life events with her vivid imagination to create characters and stories that lovers of contemporary romance, new adult, and romantic suspense will return to again and again.

Kelly lives in Colorado at the base of the Rocky Mountains with her husband of twenty-eight years, their two dogs, and a bird that hates her. She has three amazing children, whom she loves to pieces.

Book Review: Strong by Kylie Scott | Blog Tour

Oct 5, 2018

Strong (Stage Dive 4.5 by Kylie Scott

Pages: 210
Publish date: September 25th, 2018
Publisher: Evil Eye Concepts, Incorporated
ASIN: B0778GBK4F
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

When the girl of your dreams is kind of a nightmare.

As head of security to Stage Dive, one of the biggest rock bands in the world, Sam Knowles has plenty of experience dealing with trouble. But spoilt brat Martha Nicholson just might be the worst thing he’s ever encountered. The beautiful troublemaker claims to have reformed, but Sam knows better than to think with what’s in his pants. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to make his heart fall into line.

Martha’s had her sights on the seriously built bodyguard for years. Quiet and conservative, he’s not even remotely her type. So why the hell can’t she get him out of her mind? There’s more to her than the Louboutin wearing party-girl of previous years, however. Maybe it’s time to let him in on that fact and deal with this thing between them.

Strong:

I received an e-arc of Strong by Kylie Scott from InkSlinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the books.

Strong is set a few years after the final Stage Dive book and follows Martha as she is grappling with life and trying to find her place. Martha has come back home and things are tense to say the less. When readers last saw Martha she was starting to get her relationship back on track with her brother, but her life was still in upheaval. Martha has had her sights on Sam for years now, but now being back everything is coming out in the open.

I’ve never been a fan of Martha, I disliked her for a lot of the series and thought she needed a good wake up call. At the end of the series, I did warm a little more up to get, and it made me want to know more about her. But Martha is a very hard character to get along with. Throughout Strong, the reader is able to see Martha’s walls break down a little and find her place.

Sam, on the other hand, I loved since the moment he appeared. He was always there for everyone, whenever they needed him to be. And that really put a smile on my face. He not only cared about his job but the people as well. There were hints here and there regarding his feelings for Martha, and I liked that.

Because Strong is a novella, the romance does move fast. In saying that Martha and Sam have known each other for a very long time, and it was more about admitting they have feelings for one another. Sam is the only one that has any power of Martha if you can say that. She doesn’t want to believe it, but Sam breaks down her walls and sees her as a human, as a woman. The reader is able to see that Martha and Sam care for one another and they both deserve their happy endings.

Overall, Strong by Kylie Scott was a great novella. It was fantastic being in the Stage Dive world again and seeing all the characters that I love. Strong explores the notion of family and love. It explores letting go and letting yourself be seen by someone else. If you are a fan of the Stage Dive series and Kylie Scott’s other works, then you will love this.

About the Author

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today, best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie.