Book Reviews Archives - Page 46 of 114

Book Review: Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen | Blog Tour

Jun 1, 2018

Speakeasy by Sarian Bowen

Pages: 452
Publish date: May 29, 2018
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
ASIN: B07CHZGT6C
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Sometimes you fall for Mr. Right. And sometimes for Mr. Right Now…
May
Did you hear the one about the girl who walks into a bar and catches her live-in lover kissing someone else? No? You’re the only one in town who missed it.
Luckily Alec is there to wrap me up in strong arms and carry me out the door before things get too ugly. And that’s not all Alec is good at. Our unexpected chemistry makes him the perfect rebound guy.

Alec
I should know better than to hook up with my rival’s little sister, but the fiery look in May’s eyes really turns my crank. She needs cheering up, and I’m just the guy for the job.It’s not like I’ll fall in love. Not even after a string of scorching hot trysts, and the realization that we’re good at the same things: wild nights and familial disappointment. I don’t do love, never have, never will. So this is the perfect arrangement, for both of us.
Nobody would approve, but nobody has to know…

Speakeasy:

I received an e-arc of Speakeasy by Sarina Bowne in exchange for an honest review. This has no influence my thoughts and feelings on the book.

If you know me for a while, you know I love Sarina Bowen, I’ve read all but 1 of her books now and I just love reading them. The romance just hits me in the right places and the ‘Truth North’ series has to be one of my favourite romance series I’ve read. So when I heard about Speakeasy and it was going to be about May, hell I was excited.

Speakeasy follows May as she tries to get a grip on life. After she finds out that her girlfriend is cheating on her, she thinks everything is over. And lucky Alec is there to save her before things get messy. Alec doesn’t want anything to do with the Shipley family, however when he sees May is trouble he can’t help but intervene. But for a man that doesn’t do love, it’s new territory when he starts to spend more time with May and things might just change.

May has been one of my favourite characters in the ‘True North’ series and while I loved seeing her from other character’s point of view, it was really nice getting inside of her head and really understanding her. May has been through a lot, losing her father, falling for her best friend, realising she is an alcoholic and coming to terms with and coming out as Bi. We see all that through the rest of the series, but here in Speakeasy we see her fall and come back together. The reader is able to see how she really is going with everything. How in reality she is breaking inside and needs to let it all out.

May is an interesting character and you can see throughout the novel. The reader can see that she hasn’t really gotten over everything that has happened in her life. But the reader is able to slowly she comes out of her shell. And while she is sometimes the life of the party, she gets to find herself in this book.

Alec, ah what can I say about him. We have met him briefly before Speakeasy, we haven’t really got to meet him. And like May it was really interesting to see him as the protagonist rather than someone on the side. Alec is grumpy and very closed off. He doesn’t really believe in love and relationships and you can see that throughout the novel. He holds this wall around him that he doesn’t want anyone to break through. Nevertheless, the reader is able to see throughout Speakeasy that these walls start to crumble. At first, Alec doesn’t know what to do, but something or someone grabs hold.

I really enjoyed Alec and May together and while they may not be my favourite couple in the series, I liked reading their story. May and Alec are two very different people, but they seem to come together in Speakeasy and really find one another. Alec has trouble really getting to know May, because of her last name and while that was super annoying. May has a lot of trouble trusting the right people, but Alec changes things and that was great to see. They do go through their rough patches – I am not lying there and hell both of them were frustrating at times, however, I did like how it all came together.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading Speakeasy by Sarina Bowen. And while it wasn’t my favourite in the series, it still has a special place for me. May and Alec were adorable and I loved seeing them break down each other’s walls. Things got a little crazy at times, but it’s a romance novel, so why not. Speakeasy explores the notion of what it is to be family, how someone can change your life forever and letting go is sometimes the best thing to do.

Book Review: Marked by Drew Elyse | Blog Tour

May 21, 2018

Marked by Drew Elyse

Pages: 263
Publish date: May 15, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07D3HW6R4
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – Amazon CA

“MOVING ON” IS JUST ABOUT ACTING THE PART.

I would never say as much to the people I love, but it’s the truth. They want to see me doing better. They want to see me living for more than just my son. So I let them. Every day is about putting on a face, pretending to get over the loss of my husband. And every day is a lie.

UNTIL MOVING ON IS A TEMPTATION THAT CAN’T BE DENIED.

I’m not about to claim I’m a genius unless we’re talking with a tattoo gun or woman in my hands, but I’m smart enough to know the beauty serving up my cupcake fix is off limits. Really, I know. Too bad the lure of putting a real smile on Kate’s face is so strong. When she visits Sailor’s Grave Tattoo Parlor, I can’t help but want to leave my mark.

Marked:

I received Marked by Drew Elyse for review from Inkslinger PR as part of a blog tour in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I really didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Marked, I hadn’t even heard about it until I read the synopsis and I was totally intrigued. A tattoo artist falls for a single mother. Did I tell you there is also a motorcycle club involved? I didn’t know there was a whole series before this one, but I never felt out of place or lost, this was Kate’s and Liam’s story.

Marked follows Kate as she tries to move past the death of her husband and father of her child. It’s been a couple of years since her husband’s death, but Kate still doesn’t know what to do with her life. She knows that she has to move on, but she doesn’t know how. She is swept up in the grief and trying to raise her son that it’s taking a toll. Liam has liked Kate for some time, he goes to work to see her and is swept up in her beauty. But he knows that she is not ready, that she needs time. But when Kate goes into his tattoo parlour for a piece, well he doesn’t just want to leave a mark on her skin.

I really enjoyed Kate as a character. She’s full of grief but strives to be the best mother that she can be. She is struggling but trying to push through her life. I loved her voice and I enjoyed that it was raw and very real. The reader is able to see that is trying to find a place in the world without her husband, even though it’s been a couple of years. And when she gets to know Liam, sparks fly.

Liam was beautiful. He was caring and just warmed my heart, plus he is a tattoo artist. Liam has been through his own bout of grief and really understands Kate. He sees that she is struggling and just wants to help. Liam understands that he can’t be with Kate at first, so he just wants to be her friend. I really enjoyed that aspect of him.

One of the things that I really loved about Marked was how Liam and Kate connected, it was so clever. Getting a tattoo isn’t something that is comfortable. You are in pain, you are sitting/laying for a long time, and there is someone sticking a needle into your sick for hours on end. It’s an intimate moment and I loved how Drew Elyse explores that in the book. Also, I really wish I could see the tattoo. I enjoyed that they use this tattoo as a connection to one another and the start of their friendship.

Another thing that is done so well is Liam’s relationship with Kate’s son. This little boy has just his father and still doesn’t understand what is really going on. But Liam takes him under his wing and gosh it was great to see. I loved that Liam shared his love for drawing and the arts with him. And broke the stereotype that boys can’t like art.

Marked explores what it means to be family and gosh it was done so beautifully. Kate has such a supportive family with her brother-in-law and his wife, plus the motorcycle club and it was done so great. The reader is able to see how scared Kate is about moving on, but they are there for her and gosh it melted my heart. Now Liam’s family, oh lord they were amazing. His mum is so caring and just adds something really nice. Plus his brother – the way that Liam talks about him again melts my heart.

Overall, Marked by Drew Elyse is a very emotional read. It explores grief, family and moving on. It’s about finding yourself when you thought you lost everything. Kate and Liam were so great together. I loved that their relationship started off slow and move into something more. It was great seeing such supportive families and friendship circles around them both. I cannot wait to read more in this series. If you are looking for a beautiful read that will both melt and tear out your heart, then Marked is for you.

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: Lie To Me by Natasha Preston | Blog Tour

May 1, 2018

Lie To Me by Natasha Preston

Pages: 369
Publish date: April 23rd, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07BFG78TW
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

At nineteen, Savannah Dean escaped her family, leaving behind a note and the people who caused her so much pain.

Now, she lives on her own and keeps to herself.

At nineteen, Kent Lawson’s girlfriend betrayed him, leaving him behind with a broken heart and a whole lot of mistrust in women.

Now, he lives on his own and shares himself with nearly every pretty thing that walks by but only for one night.

When Savannah and Kent meet, they can’t stand each other.

Kent knows she’s hiding something, and he despises liars.

And Savannah has nothing but secrets.

Lie To Me:

I received a free e-arc of Lie To Me by Natasha Preston for this blog tour in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I didn’t know what to expect when I picked upLie To Me. I read the synopsis and was really intrigued, but I hadn’t heard much about it in the romance sphere. But as soon as I started reading I was so intrigued. There were parts that weren’t my favourite, but overall I thought that Lie To Me was a worthwhile read.

Lie To Me follows Savannah and Kent, two very different people that are thrown together and sparks fly. Savannah is lying to everyone around her and Kent, well he hates liers. You know things are about to get rough.

When Savannah was nineteen she left everything that she knew behind. She needed a new start and didn’t want a bar of her past. She left without a note and without a proper goodbye – and she doesn’t regret it in any way. There was just to much pain.

Kent’s girlfriend betrayed him in too many ways to count. It left him not only a broken heart but with broken trust and now it takes a lot to even get close to Kent. His closed himself off to a lot of people, especially women.

And when Savannah and Kent meet, it isn’t love-at-first-sight. They are at each other and it was fantastic to see. There are so many romance novels when they just look at each other and bam – we are in love. But Lie To Me isn’t that at all. Yes, they find each other attractive, but both Kent and Savannah have walls so thick that they don’t let anyone in.

Savannah was a pretty easy protagonist to get along with. I was really able to connect with her and understand her – even before I knew her story. She was just likeable and her voice flowed off the page. It was hard at times seeing Savannah suffer not only with her life now but her loneliness. I just wanted to give her a big hug. I can’t imagine going somewhere that you know no one and trying to live a normal but happy life.

Kent, on the other hand, was harder to like. Some of the things that he said, didn’t really sit well with me. He was an asshole a lot of the book. But as the novel went on and his story came to light, I understood why. It’s rare that you see a male character show emotions about past relationships. And that was really nice to see.

The romance while very bumpy at times was on the fast-paced side in Lie To Me. Normally I’m not a massive fan of fast-paced romances, but it seemed to fit the book as a whole and that was really helpful. Kent and Savannah have both had a lot of hurt in their lives and it was great seeing them come together and mend each other – without even realising it.

I adored Kent’s family. You could tell from the get-go that they all cared, loved and respected one another. The banter between Kent and his sister and Savannah’s boss was spot on. And his mother! Ah, she was just so cute. The reader is able to tell that she cares for her children and will do anything for them. But isn’t afraid to tease them and play around. Although Savannah was uncomfortable at first in their environment it was nice seeing her let loose and cherish the love that this family gives.

The plot of Lie To Me was really intriguing and I understand that not everyone will love it, but I did. There were times when I thought I knew what Savannah was hiding and I was like 15% right. But there was so much more and gosh it was fantastic. It did get a little crazy and full on at the end. And I wasn’t a massive fan of it, but the plot was engaging otherwise.

Natasha Preston’s writing in Lie To Me was really well done. Savannah’s voice was spot on and from the first page, I was really able to connect with her. I loved that she was able to combine good family life and bad. While also keeping to the story and have it overtake it.

Overall, Lie To Me by Natasha Preston was a great read. The romance was adorable and although fast-paced it was also slow burning. It explores the notion of new beginnings and starts. How someone can change their life for the better but still feel lonely in this world. Lie To Me explores new relationships, family, and friendships. It’s about forgiveness, heartache, and heartbreak. If you love romance that is intense but beautiful at the same time – this one is for you.

UK native Natasha Preston grew up in small villages and towns. She discovered her love of writing when she stumbled across an amateur writing site and uploaded her first story and hasn’t looked back since.

She enjoys writing contemporary romance, gritty Young Adult thrillers and, of course, the occasional serial killer.

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