Angel Reads

14 Nov

Book Review: Fireworks by Sarina Bowen

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Fireworks (True North #6) by Sarina Bowen

Pages: 343
Publish date: November 13, 2018
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing, LLC
ISBN: B07H22C3YL
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Skye Copeland is on paid leave from her broadcasting job after accidentally drawing a pecker on the traffic map.

Let that sink in. Like it’s her fault the traffic pattern that day created a perfect schlong?

Skye isn’t laughing. She needs this job. And that’s the only reason she’s agreed to chase down a story in her least favorite place—that hell on earth known as Vermont.

A quick trip. In and out. Much like – never mind. Skye can sneak into the town that once tried to break her, get the story and get back into the good graces of her producer. Easy peasy.

Except things go sideways even as she sets foot over the county line. Her step-sister is on the run from a violent drug dealer. And the cop on the case is none other than Benito Rossi, the man who broke her teenage heart.

His dark brown eyes still tear her apart. And even as she steels herself to finally tell him off after twelve years, the old fireworks are still there.

Things are about to go boom.

Fireworks:

I received an e-arc of Fireworks by Sarina Bowen from the author for review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

If you’ve been here a while, then you know that I love Sarina Bowen books, so when I heard she was writing another True North novel, I nearly screamed. And then when I heard it was about Benito I nearly jumped out of my seat. I love learning more about the Rossi and Shipley family, and Fireworks really added another depth to these family in Vermont.

Fireworks follows protagonist Skye Copeland as she arrives back in Vermont, a place where she never thought she would step back in to. She left this town for a reason, but after an incident at work, she wants to hide away for a little while. But this town doesn’t just hide secrets, but also Benito Rossi. The one person who she gave her heart too and he broke it. She thought she would be in and out, no one would know that she’s there, but things don’t go to plan and boy are we in for a ride.

I really enjoyed Fireworks, it had the classic Sarina Bowen romance, with a little mystery intertwined. And while I didn’t love it as much as her previous books in the ‘True North,’ series, it was still engaging and addicting as much as her other books.

I’m still not sure how I feel about Skye, for the most part, I really liked her. I loved getting to know, getting to know her story. And gosh some of the things that happened to her broke my little heart. And while saying all this I wanted Skye to be a little more vulnerable. She was so closed off because of her child and teenhood, that it really played with who she was. And who she let in.

As Fireworks goes on, Skye’s wall so breaks down and the reader is able to see a different side of her. I loved that Skye was hella strong. She had been through so much, but she pushed and pushed and go to where she is in the book. In saying that I hated her work situation. I hated the way that she was treated and wished she had left. But then I also understand why she didn’t.

And while I thought I would love Benito, I didn’t. I did like him, but his possessive nature at times wasn’t my favourite. Okay, not possessive, but too worried about Skye’s safety that it felt suffocating. Other than that I really enjoyed Ben. I liked that he liked his job, that he would do anything for his family. He was sweet and caring and just made my heart happy. And while he was protective, he was also supportive and that just made me smile.

I really did enjoy the romance in Fireworks. It’s a second chance romance that just squeezes my hearts to bits. It’s got that classic Sarina Bowne, tension and anticipation, and the romance blows me away. Ben and Skye were so cute together and they just feel right back into each other. I adored that we got to see the flashbacks of how they were like together before and I thought it created a great sense of their relationship up until now. The reader is able to see Ben and Skye fall back in love with one another but is also able to see what is keeping them apart.

What one of my most favourite parts of this book, is the flashbacks. I think it added just another layer to this novel. The reader is able to see Ben and Skye falling in love with each other twice and it was great. The flashbacks, however, are very hard to read. She went through a lot as a teen, things that NO one should ever go through. But I understand why Sarina Bowen also included those scenes. Because I know that I was able to understand Skye a whole lot better.

The notion of family is a big theme in Fireworks, much like her other books. Ben is not only apart of the Rossi family, but also the Shipley family and together they are a force. I loved seeing characters from previous books interacting with one another. Family is so important to me, so seeing that in books, just makes me happy and I can connect with characters a whole lot more. Nevertheless, we also see bad family relationships throughout Fireworks, but I think it worked in favor of the novel.

Overall, I really enjoyed Fireworks by Sarina Bowen. It explores second chances, family and trusting in yourself. It has a little mystery, a little love and lots of lots of Sarina Bowen charm. Ben and Skye test each other, but in the end, they both know they love one another. Fireworks is a great addition to the True North series and I for one cannot wait for more.

Have you read Fireworks by Sarina Bowen? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? What is your favourite romance trope? Let’s Chat!

11 Nov

Book Review: One Small Thing by Erin Watt

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One Small Thing by Erin Watt

Pages: 384
Publish date: June 28, 2018
Publisher: HQ Young Adult
ISBN: 9781848457430
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Beth’s life hasn’t been the same since her sister died. Her parents try to lock her down, believing they can keep her safe by monitoring her every move. When Beth sneaks out to a party one night and meets the new guy in town, Chase, she’s thrilled to make a secret friend. It seems a small thing, just for her.

Only Beth doesn’t know how big her secret really is…

Fresh out of juvie and determined to start his life over, Chase has demons to face and much to atone for, including his part in the night Beth’s sister died. Beth, who has more reason than anyone to despise him, is willing to give him a second chance. A forbidden romance is the last thing either of them planned for senior year, but the more time they spend together, the deeper their feelings get.

Now Beth has a choice to make—follow the rules, or risk tearing everything apart…again.

One Small Thing:

I received an arc copy of One Small Thing by Erin Watt from Harlequin Teen Australia in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I have been many ups and downs with Erin Watt books. There are some that I really enjoyed and some that I struggled to even read. But I thought I should give this one a go, and while I didn’t love it, I also didn’t hate it. There were aspects of One Small Thing that I thought was down really well and others, I really didn’t like. I really enjoyed When It’s Real, but then didn’t love the Paper Princess series.

One Small Thing follows protagonist Beth as she begins her senior year. She wanted to have the time of her life, she wanted to be herself. But things haven’t been the same since her sister died. So when Beth sneaks out one night for a party, she never expected to meet Chase. But Chase isn’t who he seems. He has his own secrets that will haunt him forever. Now there is secret romance brewing, Beth must make a chose that would tear everything apart.

It’s been a couple of days since I read One Small Thing, and I am still not sure how I feel about Beth. For the most part, I really enjoyed her. Beth had been through a lot. Her sister has died, her parents are interesting and she always felt like she was in the shadows.

Throughout the novel, Beth tries to stand up for herself not only to her parents but also her friendship group. And this doesn’t always go to plan. There were times throughout the novel that Beth was called selfish, and I don’t believe that she was. Sure she isn’t the best person ever, but I felt that the things she was doing, weren’t even that bad. In saying that I felt that Beth let other people thoughts on her get in the way of who she truly was. As the novel goes she does learn to fight these thoughts. But it took over a lot of the book as well.

Chase, another protagonist that I am not too sure how I feel about. We don’t know too much about him when he is first introduced. And then when the reader does find out who he is, let’s just say it hard to like him. But as One Small Thing, the reader is able to see a different side of him and as the mystery goes on we start to feel more sympathy with him. Chase made a horrible mistake, one that he can never take back. And the reader really sees him struggling throughout the novel. There were times where Chase said and did things that I didn’t agree with making it harder to like him.

The romance in One Small Thing is very complicated and my favourite thing about the novel. Their first meeting isn’t planned and things move pretty quickly. Then they meet again and everything changes. Things are intense between Beth and Chase, once they realise who each other is and that makes everything more complicated. The reader is able to understand why Chase wants to stay away. He is not only dealing with his own demons, but also of those around him. But doesn’t want to let him go that easily and holds on to him the best that she can.

In saying that Beth also hides Chase from the ones that she loves, for good reasons I might add. But that does put a strain between the two. The romance was fast paced at times, but I liked what Erin Watt did with the romance. It was slowed down by the focus on why they couldn’t be together.

I wasn’t a massive fan of Beth’s parents throughout One Small Thing. At first, I understood why they did feel protective over her, but then some of the things that they did. One of the main reason why I didn’t like Beth’s parents were when they held her back. They weren’t going to let her attend the schools she wanted to, or have the jobs that she loved. They were holding her back from the things that grounded her, that she held onto. And instead gave her more reason to ‘rebel’ or dislike them. I also didn’t like we really didn’t get any conclusion on the relationship with Beth and her parents. There was a little hint in the last couple of chapters, but I felt that it was brushed over, especially with how rocky their relationship was during One Small Thing.

The notion of friends is also a big part of One Small Thing by Erin Watt. And Beth has crap friends. I basically didn’t like any of them and thought that they only cared about themselves and no one else. There was a lot of bullying involved in One Small Thing that really rubbed me the wrong way and frustrated me to no end. There were a few incidents throughout the book that made me love not being back in High School, teenages can just be horrible.

One Small Thing is very fast paced and things move very quickly not only between characters, but also the timeline. In saying that it was hard to keep up and work out where they were in the year at times. I always wanted to know what was going to happen next. And the intensity of the novel was high at times because of the fast-paced storyline. However, I did guess a lot of plot points that do happen, but that doesn’t make the story any less enjoyable.

Overall, One Small Thing by Erin Watt is a good read. It was fun at times but is also very emotional. One Small Thing explores the notions of forgiving, coming of age and family. It delves deep into the lives of teens that shows both the horrors and breathtaking moments of becoming an adult. I do wish that there was more depth to the lead characters of Beth and Chase. Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading their story. There are many ups and downs to this novel and if you want a quick read that is a little different then this is for you.

Have you read One Small Thing by Erin Watt? What did you think of it? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read anything else by Erin Watt? Let’s Chat!

06 Nov

It Was a Romance Kind of Month | October Wrap Up

Posted by angelreads Monthly Wrap Up 2 Comments

October was a great reading month for me. I finished university at the start of the month, so I did have a little more free time on my hands. I was on a little reading slump recently, but having more time to read made it easier. All my reading in October was all romance, I always find when I’m feeling down or don’t feel like reading, then a romance book is the way to go. I wrote a post a while ago where I talked about reading more romance novels and I think that October showed that. So today I thought I would share my reads for October.

Power Play (Blades Hockey #0.5) by Maria Luis: The first book in October that I picked up on a whim. It came up in my Book Bub email and I was feeling like more ice hockey. It was okay. I didn’t love it, but I didn’t hate it. It’s only 188 pages so everything moves very quickly, especially the romance but both protagonists are enjoyable | 3 Stars

Sin Bin (Blades Hockey #2) by Maria Luis: This one was fun. While again I didn’t love it. I liked the concept and the plot of it. The fact that there was massive history between Zoe and Andre and that just added so much to the book. The banter was great, the romance was good and I had fun reading it | 3.5 Stars

Hat Trick (Blades Hockey #3) by Maria Luis: One of my favourite in this series, it was emotional, heartbreaking and full on. This second change romance of sorts hits you all in the right spots. Gwen isn’t the most likable character, but as the series and novel goes on we get to know what’s happened to her. I think this is the most emotional book in the series, but it was always heartwarming | 4 Stars

Body Check (Blades Hockey #4) by Maria Luis: This second chance romance stepped right on my heart. But it also had me laughing like crazy. While the concept of this one was a little out there, it was fun reading. I love second chance romances, and this one was right up there. The protagonists were married, but then parted ways, throughout the novel, they find themselves coming back together.

Delicate Ink (Montgomery Ink #1) by Carrie Ann Ryan: Another series that I picked up on a whim, but I wanted to give more tattoo related book a try. I didn’t love this one, but I still enjoyed it. The romance was interesting, the plot was intriguing and I loved the Montgomery family. This romance was steamy, hot but also fast-paced.

Tempting Boundaries (Montgomery Ink #2) by Carrie Ann Ryan: A best friends sisters/brothers best friend romance – yes, please. I liked this one way more. The romance melted my heart and just made me smile. I liked that both protagonists was nervous about being with each other, but also couldn’t stay away. There was also a lot more drama in this one, but I can’t say that I wasn’t entertained.

Harder than Words (Montgomery Ink #3) by Carrie Ann Ryan: This second chance romance with a twist. Luc never told Megan how he felt before he left town, but now he’s back and Megan lift is up in shambles. I adored this one so much. Luc with Megan’s kids tore me shreds and I loved it so much. Luc and Megan have so much history and it made for an emotional ride | 4 Stars

Inked (Sailor’s Grave #2) by Drew Elyse: This was one of my most anticipated reads of October. I adored Jess in the previous books, so I loved knowing more about her life in Inked. The romance was intense, the plot took me by surprise and I loved seeing characters pop up. I also adored that Jess was a tattoed woman and proud. You can check out my full review now | 4 Stars

Written in Ink (Montgomery Ink #4) by Carrie Ann Ryan: I loved this one for a different reason. I adored that Griffin Montgomery was a writer. It’s rare that I see male authors in a novel, but it worked so well. At times Griffin was intimidating and sometimes he was wrong. But I also love that Autumn brought out parts in him that made me smile.

Forever Ink (Montgomery Ink #1.5) by Carrie Ann Ryan: I read this one a little backward, but I really wanted to know more about Callie and her man. It’s a quick romance that is intense that explores expectations, family drama and loving someone that at first doesn’t seem right | 3. 5 Stars

The Charlotte Chronicles (Jackson Boys #1) by Jen Frederick: I have a lot of hate and love for this book. I adored parts of it, and really hate others. It’s a book that took me on a journey that is for sure. I wasn’t a massive fan of Nate, but I also wasn’t a fan of Charlotte. In saying that I still enjoyed reading their journey | 3 Stars.

Hidden Ink (Montgomery Ink #4.5) by Carrie Ann Ryan: I’ve been intrigued by Hailey and Sloane when I started to read this series, and I’m so glad that they have their own book. It was great getting to know them both more and know their story. This novella just made me smile so much | 4 stars

Ink Enduring (Montgomery Ink #5) by Carrie Ann Ryan: This one was probably the one that I least liked. I knew to go in what it was going to entail. But the romance just wasn’t for me. I did love seeing them all together and I thought it both worked and was written well. In saying that the Montgomery family really shone again in this one. I loved how accepting they were, just made it so good | 3 Stars

Adoring Ink (Montgomery Ink #6.5) by Carrie Ann Ryan: Holly is another side character that always caught my eye, so it was nice getting a novella for her. I loved that Brody could bring out a side in Holly that she tried to hide. They both have pretty horrible childhoods and together they are able to really took about it and lean on each other | 4 Stars.

Love, Honor, and Ink (Montgomery Ink #6.6) by Carrie Ann Ryan: While I did like this book, I do think that I could have gone without reading it. It was a nice romance don’t get me wrong, but I really didn’t need to read about rich people hating each other.

Inked Expressions (Montgomery Ink #7) by Carrie Ann Ryan: This one made me cry, smile and cry some more. I loved the idea of family of learning in this one. Everlyn and Storm have known each other for a long time, but after the death of Everlyn’s husband, they drift apart. When heartache and worry bring them back together, secrets begin to rise and boy it gets interesting | 4 Stars

Fireworks (True North #6) by Sarina Bowen: Another one of my most anticipated books of October, I couldn’t wait to delve into this one. While I didn’t love it as much as the others in this series, I fell in love with this second chance romance. | 4 Stars

Inked Memories (Montgomery Ink #8) by Carrie Ann Ryan: The last in the Montgomery Ink series and the last of the brothers to fall in love. This one was fun and like the others in this series full of romance. Wes and Jillian are very similar and together they are like fire. It was really fun seeing them fall for each other | 3.5 stars

Royally Yours (Royally #4) by Emma Chase: It’s addicting, intriguing and compelling. It explores what it’s like to rule a country as a woman and the hardships that follow. The romance in Royally Yours is addicting, beautiful and full of chemistry. If you are looking for a royal romance, then this is for you. You can check out my full review now | 4.5 Stars

Fallen Ink (Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs #1) by Carrie Ann Ryan: After reading the Montgomery Ink series, I wanted to read more into this world. This one was crazy good and while the thing that happened was crazy as well, I still really enjoyed it. I also loved knowing more of the Montgomery family | 4 Stars

Restless Ink (Montgomery Ink: Colorado Springs #2) by Carrie Ann Ryan: This one was really interesting. I didn’t know how to go into this, but Carrie Ann Ryan did it in a great job. Thea and Dimitri have known each other for a while, but it’s only now that their feelings are starting to come out. It was really nice, but also a lot of things happen that was a little crazy.

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And that is it! Ocotber was a big month for reading for me and it was great. It was all romance, but I think that I needed it to get out of my reading slump. What are the books that you read in October? Was any the same as me? Let’s Chat!