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Book Review: Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett | Blog Tour

Jun 8, 2018

Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett

Pages: 421
Publish date: June 1, 2018
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
ISBN: 9781471161063
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Ever since last year’s homecoming dance, best-friends-turned-worst-enemies Zorie and Lennon have made an art of avoiding each other. It doesn’t hurt that their families are the modern-day version of the Montagues and Capulets. But when a group camping trip goes south, Zorie and Lennon find themselves stranded in the wilderness. Alone. Together.

Zorie and Lennon have no choice but to try to make their way to safety. But as the two travel deeper into the rugged Californian countryside, secrets, and hidden feelings surface. Soon it’s not simply a matter of enduring each other’s company, but taming their growing feelings for each other.

Starry Eyes:

I received a copy of Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett from Simon and Schuster for free in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Last year when I read Alex, Approximately, I fell in love with the characters, humour and the writing. So when I heard that Jenn Bennet was bringing out another novel, I knew I needed it and I was not disappointed. Starry Eyes is a beautiful novel that explores friendship, love and defying the odds.

Starry Eyes follows teens Zorie and Lennon as they try and navigate their last years of school, but best friends that have now turned enemies didn’t expect to be spending their break together on a camping trip. When things go south and they have to stick together, everything is brought out into the open. But it doesn’t help that Zorie’s father hating everything to do with Lennon is just the start of it. And Lennon didn’t turn up to homecoming.

Zorie was a really interesting character, from the start of Starry Eyes the reader is able to see that she is still quite hurt from what happened between her and Lennon. But as the novel goes on we get to see her really open to both her feelings and the past. What Jenn Bennet does best is create honest and likable characters protagonist and that is what Zorie is. She is not perfect, but that is what makes her so interesting. Zorie didn’t just find out the truth in Starry Eyes, but also found herself. She found the strength to stand up for herself and those that she loves even if it broke her heart to do so.

Lennon was a very interesting character as well. At first, it was hard to love him, simply because of how Zorie saw him, but as the novel went on and everything came out into the open, gosh he was great. Lennon has been through a lot. And the way that he dealt with it was too pull away. I loved Lennon’s presence that he gave the book, it just gave this whole lift to the book, I can’t even explain.

Miscommunication and secrets were what torn Zorie and Lennon apart. But as the novel went on and those all came out, both of them were able to see the best in one another again and that was fantastic to see. Jenn Bennet is a genius at adorable, slow burn romances and even though the romance in Starry Eyes was over a short period of time, Zorie and Lennon had been friends for years. This wasn’t just hate-to-lovers, but friends to loves and gosh it was just the best thing in the world. Zorie and Lennon were adorable together, you could tell that they both still very much liked each other. Zorie and Lennon hadn’t really talked since homecoming. But this camping trip and eventually them being stuck together really got them both really letting everything go. And that was great to see.

Family and friendship is a big theme in Starry Eyes and what Jenn Bennett does, is explore the good and bad of both. Zorie’s family isn’t that crash hot. At the start of the novel, she finds out something. And this is tearing her apart and it was really hard on her. There were so many things going on in her life, she really didn’t need it at all. It broke my heart when Zories was trying to figure what to do with all the information and finding out others knew before her. Zorie also had some pretty horrible friends, I understand that everyone has something going on in their lives, but gosh did it escalate in Starry Eyes. Lennon’s family is just great, I adored both his mums and they just seemed like great parents that really understood their son.

Overall, I loved Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett. It explores what it means to love, have family and friends. It’s a coming of age novel that really grabs you from the start with its honesty and reliability. Zorie and Lennon were such great protagonists that made the story that much better. Plus they were stuck in the middle of the wildness with only each other for company, things are bound to get heated. Starry Eyes is for everyone that wants to be taken away with honest and flawed characters and romance that will warm your heart.

Jenn Bennett is an award-winning author of young adult contemporary romance books, including Alex, Approximately; Night Owls; and Starry Eyes. She also writes romance and urban fantasy for adults. Her books have garnered multiple starred reviews, won the Romance Writers of America’s prestigious RITA® Award, and been included on Publishers Weekly Best Books annual list. She lives near Atlanta with one husband and two dogs.

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Have you read Starry Eyes by Jenn Bennett? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it soon? Have you read any of her other books? Let’s Chat! Also, don’t forget to check out the rest of the blog tour.

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.