Angel Reads

10 Sep

Book Review: Fighting For What’s His by Laura Kaye

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Fighting For What’s His by Laura Kaye

Pages: 242
Publish date: September 10th, 2018
Publisher: –
ASIN: B07CYT37YG
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – iBooks

Resisting her only makes him want her more…

Private investigator Billy Parrish is good at three things—fighting, investigating, and sex. MMA training with the other vets in the Warrior Fight Club keeps his war-borne demons at bay—mostly, and one night stands ensure no one gets too close. But then his best friend from the Army Rangers calls in a favor.

Shayna Curtis is new to town and full of hope for the future. With a new job starting, she’s grateful when her brother arranges a place for her to stay while she apartment hunts. But she never expected her roommate to be so brooding. Or so sexy.

Billy can’t wait for Shay to leave—because the longer she’s there, the more he wants her in his bed. To stay. He can’t have her—that much he knows. But when fight club stops taking off the edge, Billy lets down his guard…and starts fighting for what’s his.

Fighting For What’s His:

I received an e-arc of Fighting for What’s His by Laura Kaye from Inkslinger PR in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I’ve read quite a few Laura Kaye books now and most I have really enjoyed. They are easy reads that I can just quickly pick up and just relax. Fighting for What’s His was just the same. While it does deal with heavier issues, it’s still a quick, fun, romantic read.

Fighting for What’s His follows protagonist Shayna as she moves into her brothers best friends place as she finds her place in a new city. But her new roommate also happens to be someone who she has crushed on for quite some time. Billy still haunted by his past is trying to move on with his life. It’s all about fighting, investigating, and sex, but when Shayna moves in, he is taken off guard. Starting off with a bang Shay and Billy are in for a ride, and things are about to get heated.

I really enjoyed Shayna as a protagonist in Fighting for What’s His. She was really easy to get along with and I was able to fall into her voice nicely. From the start, the reader is able to see that. Shay has been through a lot and this is her time to get away and really take time for herself. I really enjoyed how passionate Shay was about her career and doing what she loves. I liked that Laura Kaye shows the struggles that she had to go through, but also the highs that made it all worthwhile. It was a nice contrast and added more depth to the novel.

Shay also makes a range of friends throughout Fighting for What’s His and that was so great to see. Normally in romance novels the female protagonist already has friends, but as she has moved to another town, she has to start all over.

Over the last couple of months, I’ve loved reading more and more romance books with military-related characters. I don’t know why I love it so much, but it just adds another layer to the novels and makes it that more interesting. Billy is an ex-ranger. Still trying to find his footing in the ‘normal’ world, he becomes a private investigator while also attending the Warrior Fight Club. And while he has all these things to distract him, the war still haunts him and does play around with his life. Throughout most of Fighting for What’s His, I really enjoyed Billy, but there were times where I just wanted to scream at him. He has poor communication skills that really affected his relationship with Shay.

The romance in Fighting for What’s His was okay. I didn’t actually love it that much. I think that Shay and Billy are a great couple and had heaps of chemistry. But I think the novel lacked to show the progress. There was a big part of the middle of the novel, where not much happened. It was like they had heaps of chemistry at the start and then they were saying they loved each other. The connecting part for me lacked depth and substance.

One of my favourite things about this series so far is how it deals with mental illness. PTSD plays a huge role with people that have fought in a battle and I really enjoy about Laura Kaye represents it. Both novels so far, explore mental health in different ways and on different levels. But it’s done in a way where romance doesn’t ‘fix’ the mental illness, but helps assist with striving to be in a better place. In Fighting for What’s His we get to see two different ways that mental health has effect people. Billy because of the horrors of the life he leads as an ex-ranger and then Shay with the guilt of her brother’s death.

The notion of family was a huge theme in Fighting for What’s His. Although not in the book much, I really enjoyed Shya’s relationship with her brother. The reader is able to tell from the start that Shay really cares about him and what he thinks of her. His opinions matter and that she wants to make him proud. I do wish that Laura Kaye did focus more on Shay’s realtionship with other members of her family, but it was only really spoken off.

Overall I enjoyed Fighting for What’s His. Is it my favourite book? No, not even close. But it was a really enjoyable read. The romance is firey and was fun to read. Shay and Billy are both great characters that were able to capture me from the start. Fighting for What’s His explores the notion of believing in yourself, letting go and letting people in. It’s a novel that explores family, friendship and mental health. If you are looking for a quick, but impactful romance read then this one is for you.

About Laura Kaye:

Laura is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of over thirty books in contemporary and erotic romance and romantic suspense, including the Blasphemy, Hard Ink, and Raven Riders series. Growing up, Laura’s large extended family believed in the supernatural, and family lore involving angels, ghosts, and evil-eye curses cemented in Laura a life-long fascination with storytelling and all things paranormal. Laura also writes historical fiction as the NYT bestselling author, Laura Kamoie. She lives in Maryland with her husband and two daughters and appreciates her view of the Chesapeake Bay every day.

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Have you read Fighting for What’s His by Laura Kaye? What did you think? Are you planning on reading it? Have you read anything else by Laura Kaye? Let’s Chat!

06 Sep

Cover Reveal: Inked by Drew Elyse | Sailor’s Grave #2

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Inked by Drew Elyse

Pages: –
Publish date: October 18, 2018
Publisher: –
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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 really enjoyed book one of this series earlier this year, so when I heard that there was going to be more books I couldn’t contain myself. Inked sounds so intriguing and I cannot wait till I can read it. Anywhere check out that cover!

I love the colours and the way that tattoos are woven throughout – just works so well with the themes of the book and the title.

You can check out my review of Marked, book one in the Sailor’s Grave series and you can be sure that I’ll be posting my review of this one when it’s out.

Have you read the first book yet? Are you planning on it? Are you going to read Inked? Have you read anything else from Drew Elyse? 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.

30 Aug

Books I Loved Reading In August | Discussion

Posted by angelreads Discussions, Monthly Wrap Up 1 Comment

It’s time for me to share the books that I read and loved in August. While I didn’t read a whole heap in August, I did read some really fantastic books. With a range of genre’s and readership, I managed to read 9 books this month. And after last months 21 books, I think I needed to have a slow month.

I was able to read books that have been on my TBR for some time as well as some newer arcs. Overall, I think it was a great month for me. Check out the books that I read in August and loved below and like always they are in no order.

The Chase (Briar U #1) by Elle Kennedy: When a new book from Elle Kenney comes out, you know I have to read it right away. The romance was adorable and I loved how slow burning it was. Fitzy and Summer are adorable together and sometimes even sexy which was a nice combination. The Chase explores trusting in yourself and learning to love who you are. It’s about friendship and family and creating something new. If you are looking for a slow-burn college romance then this one is for you. Full Review.

Until You’re Mine (Fighting For Her #1) by Cindi Madsen: I’ve read a couple of Cindi Madsen books over the last couple of years and they have been hit and miss for me. But when I got the second book in this series for review, I knew I needed to pick up the first. And I am so happy that I did. Until You’re Mine was just an intense but great read. I love sports romances and I’ve read a couple of boxing/MMA related books over the years. But this one stood out for me. I love the ‘forbidden romance’ trope so much and it works great here. The romance was adorable and steamy and just worked so well. I really enjoyed how both protagonists cared so deeply about one another, and their goals in life and everything just seemed to work great.

Until We’re More (Fighting For Her #2) by Cindi Madsen: If I thought I loved the first one, I am so happy I also read the second. Until We’re More is a ‘best friends to lovers’ romance that just tore me apart. This one tore me apart a whole lot more on so many different levels, but it was so beautiful at the same time. It’s all about denied feelings, breaking down walls and letting go. Throw in a little sport and gosh this book is for me.

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller: Whatever I am about to say about this book won’t be enough. The Song of Achilles has been on my TBR for quite some time now. I even brought it a couple of months ago from work, but I just never picked it up. I don’t even know why it has everything I love in it. But, gosh I am so glad that I did. This has to be one of my favourite books this year, maybe even one of my favourite books of all time. I just loved everything about it.

It’s a Greek mythology, a reimagining of sorts that looks at the lives of Achilles and Patroclus from when they were young boys to their fall at Troy. This book messed with my feeling and tore me to shreds. It was so beautifully written that everything I felt was times ten. I just loved so much about this book and I cannot wait to read more from Madeline Miller. I think I’ll write a full review of this one soon as well.

And those were my favourite reads in August! What did you read this month? What were the books that you loved? Are any the same as me? What do you plan to read in September? Let’s Chat!