Angel Reads

25 Oct

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

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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.

05 Oct

Book Review: Strong by Kylie Scott | Blog Tour

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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.

01 Oct

Series Review: Modern Love by Piper Rayne

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I’ve recently picked up this series and today I thought I would share my thoughts on it. I hadn’t read anything from Piper Rayne before this and now I cannot wait to read more. The Modern Love series by authors Piper Rayne follows 3 friends as they try and navigate love, life and finding their place. Charmed by the Bartender, Hooked by the Boxer and Mad about the Banker are the three books in this series.

Charmed by the Bartender (Modern Love #1) by Piper Rayne

Pages: 268
Publish date: January 30, 2017
Publisher: –
ASIN: B01MSD3OFL
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Who knew sleeping with the enemy could be this fun?

Was the one night stand a good idea?

Well, no. Probably not in retrospect.

In my defense I had just moved back into my grandparent’s house, I’d lost my dream job, and a guy on Tinder had stood me up. It was like life had suddenly stamped ‘LOSER’ on my forehead.

So when the guy behind the bar started giving me THE look… you know, the one that promised I’d be screaming his name into the wee hours of the morning? When that guy also has the perfect amount of scruff on his chiseled chin, biceps bulging out of his t-shirt, and a cocky grin you knew he’d earned in the sack… when he gives you that look, you don’t bother to figure out what your six degrees of separation are. You jump on that horse and ride it!

Pun fully and completely intended. And accurate by the way.

I fully admit to feeling sorry for myself and acting impulsively, but by the time I’d figured out WHO the bartender was, I was already falling for him.

Charmed by the Bartender:

Charmed by the Bartender follows Whitney as she tries to navigate her dating life. When her Tinder date stands her up, she wants to give up. But then she spots the guy standing behind the bar. A few drinks and let’s just say that she doesn’t remember much of the night before. But when she figures out who the guy really is – let’s just say she wants to stay as far away from him.

Whitney was an interesting protagonist. There was a lot of self-doubts and I could totally relate to it throughout the novel. She was also a really interesting character to read about and delve into you. One of my favourite things about Charmed by the Bartender was Whitney’s character arc, which I think worked really well.

It took me a while to really like Cole, but as the novel went on the reader is able to see a very sensitive side to him. A former manwhore, Cole wants to start getting his life together. And Whitney sure does take him by surprise. By the end of Charmed by the Bartender, I really enjoyed Cole as a character and love interest. The reader is able to see there is more to Cole then the front that he has, and Whitney is able to break it down.

Whitney decides that she wants nothing to do with Cole – they do have quite a past. But when Cole’s brother and Whitney’s best friend need some help with their wedding. They both can’t say no. As Charmed by the Bartender goes on Cole is able to break down Whitney’s walls and the hesitation that she has. While Charmed by the Bartender did include insta-lust, the romance was nice and slow and I really enjoyed that.

Overall, Charmed by the Bartender by Piper Rayne isn’t just a fun rom-com. It explores the notion of family, love and strong friendships. I loved the chemistry between Whitney and Cole and how the romance was a great build up. The humor was great, the friendship trio was fantastic and I just enjoyed reading Charmed by the Bartender.

Hooked by the Boxer (Modern Love #2) by Piper Rayne

Pages: 264
Publish date: March 1, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B01MSC1E0E
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

What does a girl do after she discovers her fiancé is a cheating bastard?

In my case, I performed the ritual implosion of all scorned women. I drowned my sorrows in cases of white wine, wallowed in gallons of ice cream, and ignited a bonfire to burn away every damn remnant of his existence. Six months later, the only result was a permanent impression of my ass on the couch.

Adventure Dating my friends dared.
A new and exciting opportunity they said.

I thought they were crazy, but I’m not one to back down from a challenge, so I signed up for the entire four-week deal.

That’s where I saw HIM. Lucas Cummings. He isn’t the classic rich boy I usually end up with. The one whose idea of working up a sweat is waiting for his margarita to be served beachside. Nope. He’s a rough and tough bad boy that all fathers warn their daughters about. You know the type. Cocky swagger, chiseled jaw—the ‘V’.

SOLD, I said to myself, until I discovered he was so much more than just a BOXER.

Left Hook.
Right to the heart.

Hooked by the Boxer:

Talia’s world came crashing down when it was revealed that her fiancé was cheating on her. She thought she had it all, but it’s been six months and she can’t get over it. After eating enough Ben and Jerry’s for a lifetime, her BFF’s think it’s time for her to start dating. But when that doesn’t go exactly to plan they sign her up for adventure dating – and it’s there that she meets Lucus again.

Talia was an interesting protagonist. And overall, I didn’t mind her. There were parts throughout the novel that did really get me regarding Talia, but the reader is able to understand why. Talia went through a pretty bad break up. She is angry, hurt and wants to move on. But she is finding that pretty hard to do. As Hooked by the Boxer goes on the reader is able to see Talia grow and not only find herself, but someone who can be by her side.

I wasn’t a massive fan of Lucus and I can’t really pinpoint why he just rubbed me the wrong way. I loved that he was a boxer – you know me and my sports romances – but personality wise, I just didn’t like him. Throughout Hooked by the Boxer, the reader is able to see different sides to Lucus and for the most part, he seemed like a dick to me.

In saying that, I really did enjoy the romance of Hooked by the Boxer. While Lucus wasn’t my favourite, the way that he cared for Talia was nice. I liked seeing them fall slowly for each other and yes go through some up’s and downs. The reader is able to see that Lucus will stand up for Talia, but also she can stand up for herself.

Overall, I didn’t love Hooked by the Boxer. I really enjoyed the romance and friendships aspects of this one. While I wasn’t a massive fan of the protagonist. In saying that, I still really enjoyed it and left me hanging for more.

Mad About the Banker (Modern Love #3) by Piper Rayne

Pages: 332
Publish date: April 5, 2017
Publisher: –
ASIN: B06X1H3HHF
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Who knew my brother’s friend could be Mr. Right, and not just Mr. Right Now?

My brother refused to introduce me, so I blame him. If he’d just caved, and introduced me to Jasper, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I mean, really, what’s the big deal? I’m not interested in the guy’s looks.

Oh no, I want his cold hard cash. (Be honest, you were expecting that other four letter ‘c’ word weren’t you?)

Now, before you go getting all judgy, I’m not a gold digger. I have a legitimate business opportunity for Jasper to invest in. The problem is that my stick-up-his-ass brother is embarrassed that his twin sister invents kick ass sex toys. His problem, not mine.

So, I took matters into my own hands. Defeat isn’t a word in Lennon Hart’s dictionary.

Using my stealthy P.I. moves, I narrowed my search to a time and place where I knew I could find him. It was completely innocent. A chance meeting that would give me the opportunity to pitch my business.

It wasn’t until I sat down across from the gorgeous panty soaking man in front of me, that I realized I wanted so much more than just his money. I could very well want his heart if I wasn’t careful.

Apparently my P.I. skills aren’t as stellar as I thought because Jasper had his own secret — and it changed EVERYTHING.

Mad About the Banker:

The third book in the series follows Lennon as she tries to expand her business, and when her brother refuses to introduce his friend to her, Lennon takes this into her own hands. But Jasper isn’t what she expects and now she might need to choose between her dream business and the person that might be the man of her dreams.

I adored Lennon in Mad About the Banker. The reader is immediately able to fall into her and just go with it. As the novel goes on the reader is also able to see Lennon grow a whole lot and that was fantastic. One of my favourite things about Lennon was that she wasn’t ashamed. She loves who she is, and what she wants to do.

Jasper, I think he also might be my favourite out of the three love interest in the series. The reader is able to see how much he cares not only for Lennon but for his son. And that made my heart melt. I liked how invested he was in Lennon and who she wants to be. There were parts that he acted like a 14-year-old, but he sure did redeem himself.

The romance in Mad About the Banker was adorable. I just loved it. Lennon is outgoing and outspoken, while Jasper is more reserved. But together they are able to bring out sides of each other that shine. Lennon is not able to build a fantastic relationship with Jasper, but also his son.

Overall, Mad About the Banker by Piper Rayne is my favourite of the three. It’s fun, emotional, with sass and romance. Lennon and Jasper are just fantastic characters that made my heart pour with love. This book has so manty things that I love and made my heart so full.

And that is it! Wow. On the most part, the Modern Love series by Piper Rayne is a great read. There are many ups and down. But if you are looking for a fun, rom-com read then this is for you. Have you read these books by Piper Rayne? What did you think? Are you planning on reading it? Let’s Chat!