Angel Reads

28 Aug

Book Review: The Chase by Elle Kennedy

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The Chase by Elle Kennedy

Pages: 377
Publish date: August 6th, 2018
Publisher: Self-Published
ASIN: B07G6M9HDV
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU

Everyone says opposites attract. And they must be right because there’s no logical reason why I’m so drawn to Colin Fitzgerald. I don’t usually go for tattoo-covered, video-gaming, hockey-playing nerd-jocks who think I’m flighty and superficial. His narrow view of me is the first strike against him. It doesn’t help that he’s buddy-buddy with my brother.

And that his best friend has a crush on me.

And that I just moved in with them.

Oh, did I not mention we’re roommates?

I suppose it doesn’t matter. Fitzy has made it clear he’s not interested in me, even though the sparks between us are liable to burn our house down. I’m not the kind of girl who chases after a man, though, and I’m not about to start. I’ve got my hands full dealing with a new school, a sleazy professor, and an uncertain future. So if my sexy brooding roomie wises up and realizes what he’s missing?

He knows where to find me.

The Chase:

I received an e-arc of The Chase by Elle Kennedy from the author in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

Elle Kennedy’s Off-Campus series is one of my favourite NA sport-romances ever. So when I heard she was writing a spin-off series, I couldn’t hold my excitement. The Chase is the first book in the Briar U series follows new and old characters that we have seen before. Set in the same school, the same hockey team and the intense, steamy romances. Overall I really enjoyed The Chase, it’s not my favourite Elle Kennedy book out there, but I still really loved it.

The Chase follows Summer Di Laurentis as she begins her first semester at a new school. And a new school means new friends, new classes and a chance to start over. Things are bound to get out of control when Summer unexpectedly movies in with hockey boys. And one of them happens to be Fitzy, someone who Summer has had a crush on for quite some time. Fitzy knows that liking Summer is wrong, and he tries to keep this distance, but that just never works. When Fitzy and Summer break down their walls things have just started to get interesting.

For the most part, I really enjoyed Summer as a protagonist in The Chase. She wasn’t the typical characters that you see in an NA per say. She wasn’t this really smart characters and she was the classic college girl and I think I really enjoyed that. From the start, Summer doesn’t hide too much from the reader. We know that she likes to party, struggles in school and needs a little bit of extra help. But as the novel goes on we really get to see a side of Summer that I loved – her vulnerability.

It seeps in through the novel, but I just really enjoyed her exploring herself and why she struggles in school. Summer has ADHD and it really affects her schooling and does make her vulnerable. But it is also something that makes her strong and pushing her to be the best she can. I also loved that those around her; mainly her friends and family and trying to help her and support her.

If you have read Elle’s Off-Campus series then you would already know about Fitzy. But the reader gets to know him a whole lot more in The Chase. I was already intrigued by Fitzy when reading the previous novels, this tattooed, video-gaming ice hockey player. The reader gets to know more about Fitzy throughout the novel and while I didn’t exactly love him, I really enjoyed him as a love interest for Summer. Throughout the novel, Fitzy’s insecurities are brought to the forefront. I did feel at times that Fitzy’s character arc in The Chase fell short and just didn’t go anywhere at times. I did love that he was unapologetically so into video games and art.

The romance in The Chase was cute, and I loved seeing Summer and Fitzy together. However, I did feel that things could have gone differently. I hated the love triangle aspect of the novel and wish it wasn’t there. There was enough going on around these two that it wasn’t necessary for the plot, I think. I adored the way that Fitzy wanted to help Summer study and be the best she can. It was great seeing a young male really think about learning disabilities, understand and want to help. And I adored that Summer believed in Fitzy and his capabilities even when he didn’t. It was great seeing that they would both knock down everything in each other’s paths so they can do well.

Friendship was a massive theme in The Chase and I really liked the way it was handled at times. Summer and Brenna are perfect together and I cannot wait to see their friendship grow. It was also a great way to tie into the previous books. I did feel there was a strain on Fitzy and his friendships with teammates after the love triangle debacle – hence another reason why I wish it wasn’t included. The appearance of characters from the Off-Campus series also made for some great laughs, smiles and gave the reader some insight on what has happened.

The plot of The Chase was up and down for me. There were a lot of things that came out of the blue and created this line in the book that just took me away. It explored the boundaries that teachers in college break and not for good reasons and when women speak up – not many people listen. This is such an important topic, and it was rushed in the book which means that things came out of nowhere and did have no consequences. However, other than that the plot moved pretty smoothly for me.

Overall, I enjoyed The Chase. It was a great sports romance read that you all know I love. 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.

Have you read an Elle Kennedy book? Are you planning to pick this one up? Have you read it yet? Let’s Chat!

20 Aug

Book Review: Bright We Burn by Kiersten White

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Bright We Burn by Kiersten White

Pages: 400
Publish date: July 5th, 2018
Publisher: Corgi Childrens
ISBN: 9780552573764
Purchase: Book Depository – Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – QBD

Haunted by the sacrifices he made in Constantinople, Radu is called back to the new capital. Mehmed is building an empire, becoming the sultan his people need. But Mehmed has a secret: as emperor, he is more powerful than ever . . . and desperately lonely. Does this mean Radu can finally have more with Mehmed . . . and would he even want it?

Lada’s rule of absolute justice has created a Wallachia free of crime. But Lada won’t rest until everyone knows that her country’s borders are inviolable. Determined to send a message of defiance, she has the bodies of Mehmed’s peace envoy delivered to him, leaving Radu and Mehmed with no choice. If Lada is allowed to continue, only death will prosper. They must go to war against the girl prince.

But Mehmed knows that he loves her. He understands her. She must lose to him so he can keep her safe. Radu alone fears that they are underestimating his sister’s indomitable will. Only by destroying everything that came before–including her relationships–can Lada truly build the country she wants.

Claim the throne. Demand the crown. Rule the world.

Bright We Burn:

This has to be one of my favourite series of all time. I love everything about it. It’s intense, brutal and keeps you on edge the whole time. Both Lada and Radu go against the norms of protagonists in YA and that just takes this trilogy to a whole different level.

After the events of Now I Rise, Lada is leading at Wallachia and will stop at nothing to make it crime free. She won’t stop until everyone knows that she is now ruling and it’s her land. Back in Constantinople, Mehmed is now ruling as Sultan and Ruda is called back to be with him. But Ruda is not only dealing with the downfall of Constantinople but the sacrifices that he had to make. When Lada sends back some of Mehmed’s men, dead, Mehmed knows he has to deal with her and who better than sending her own brother. Lada has spent years fighting for what she believes in and she won’t be easily stopped.

I don’t think I will ever stop talking about this trilogy. It’s just so fantastic, I can’t even begin to explain. I wasn’t sure what to expect going into Bright We Burn. I know how things went down in history, but I wasn’t so sure how things would go in this book. death, destruction, and sacrifices I was prepared for, tearing me apart I was not.

Lada is such an interesting protagonist. The female version of Vlad the Impaler, she has no mercy and will stop at nothing to show that her gender doesn’t matter. Throughout the previous two books, we slowly get to see how horrific Lada could be, but everything went up ten notches in Bright We Burn. Lada is fierce and strong from the start, but as the novel goes on we do get to see that she is vulnerable and a lot of that comes down to both Mehmed and Ruda. They are both her downfall. While she isn’t fazed by killing, she lacks experience in other areas and that really shone through in Bright We Burn. I am just so fascinated by Lada as a character overall. Lada’s unique, brutal and is perfectly written.

There are a lot of things that happen in Bright We Burn involving Lada and it really made from an interesting book. I don’t want to spoil too much, but I think that Kiersten White’s characterisation and arc of Lada is so balance and just works so damn well.

Ruda, my sugar plum. He is just too precious that I can’t control it. Ruda has grown a lot from And I Darken, he has not only learned a lot of about himself, but also those that he loves. I think that Ruda gets to really shine in Bright We Burn. He not only gets to lead in a way but also gets to know himself a little more. In saying that, as much as a love Ruda, his blind love and devotion for Mehmed, is his downfall. He will do anything for him because Ruda believes that there is a small chance that Mehmed might love him too. And while we get to see things in the previous two books, it really takes a turn in Bright We Burn.

There is one scene between Ruda and Lada that broke my heart. She is one tough person, but I could feel all the pain she was going through because of Ruda and his loyally to Mehmed and not his blood.

Mehmed, all I can say is that I hate him. I don’t think I have disliked a character so much in a book that I love. He is deceiving, manipulative and just wants and needs to get his way. He’s like a small child, that throws a tantrum when their parents don’t buy them a toy. He can’t make up his mind and wants everything and anything, no matter who he hurts in the process.

Bright We Burn is fantastic. There were things that happened that just blew me the hell away. I didn’t know what to think or what to do. I kept second guessing everything that happened and didn’t know who to trust. Lada and Ruda have a lot of family struggles in Bright We Burn and it really did hurt me. One of Lada’s plot lines, gosh it was done so well and made me burst with excitement. I loved the way that Bright We Burn flowed. There were some seriously intense moments where your heart would be jumping. But then there were these beautiful moments that made me want to cry. In saying all this, there was also a lot of death in Bright We Burn and some really did hurt. Here is a photo of what I was like at the end of the book…

I just finished Bright We Burn. Holy F-. @kierstenwhite you are brilliant, but you killed me. It hurt so much that this happened… pic.twitter.com/m0kpIhGLAj

— Angel 😇 (@angel_reads) July 24, 2018

Overall, if you haven’t picked up this trilogy please do. Bright We Burn by Kiersten White is intense, brutal and keeps you on the edge of your seat. This book left me a mess but in the best possible way. This gender twist, historical fiction explores family, finding yourself and war. It explores new life, being strong and finding your place. Lada and Radu and some of the most intriguing, captivating and alluring protagonist I have ever read and they will never leave me. It’s about war and betrayal, oh all the betrayal and will leave you gobsmacked right at the end. This books is dark, don’t forget that Lada is the female Vlad the Impaler. There is so much more to say, but this fierce and brutal novel is waiting for you.

Don’t forget to check out my reviews on And I Darken and Now I Rise. But I must warn you, that I love these two books, just as much.

14 Aug

Book Review: Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby

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Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tayna Eby

Pages: 451
Publish date: August 14, 2018
Publisher: Tuxbury Publishing LLC
ASIN: B07D9X3HW9
Purchase: Amazon UK – Amazon US – Amazon AU – iBooks

Liam

The moment Sadie Matthews walks through the daycare center door, I feel my world tilt in her direction. Again. I fell for her when I was fourteen, and I’m still not over her. Problem: she still thinks of me as a teen she used to babysit. But I’ve learned a few things about pleasing a woman in the last fifteen years. I can’t wait to show her how good it could be. I need to move quickly before I lose her again. This is more than a game to me, but I still plan to win.

Sadie

I’ve just survived the worst year of my life. As a single mom of twin toddlers, I don’t have time for a man. I barely have time to finish a thought. Who knew that Liam McAllister would grow up to be so devastating? He’s everything my husband was not: tall, built, and willing to have a tea party with my girls.

I can’t possibly get involved with him. He’s too young for me. Too handsome. But he’s so persuasive…

Boy Toy:

I received an e-arc of Boy Toy from the authors in exchange for an honest review. This has in no way influenced my thoughts and feelings about the book.

I didn’t know how I was feeling before I started reading Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby. I hadn’t been a massive fan of the previous two book in this series; Man Hands and Man Card. I enjoyed them, but I didn’t particularly love them. But as soon as I started reading Boy Toy, a lot of things changed.

Boy Toy by Sarina Bowen and Tanya Eby follows recently divorced mother of twin daughters Sadie as she tries to re-navigate her life as a single woman. So it’s a surprise when she drops her kids off at daycare and sees someone she used to babysit. And he definitely isn’t a boy anymore. Liam hasn’t seen Sadie in nearly fifteen years, and when he sees her walk, it’s like he is teen again and his crush has risen straight to the surface. Sadie doesn’t think she is ready to jump into a new relationship and Liam isn’t going to be around forever, but hey who says you can’t have fun.

Boy Toy was a massive surprise for me. As I said before I wasn’t a massive fan of this duo’s previous books in this series. And I am not sure what it was exactly, but I was able to connect with the protagonist a lot better in this one. Sadie and Luke were both very raw characters and so in turn so was the romance. It was still sexy, but there was this innocence about it, like first love or falling in love for the first.

I really enjoyed Sadie as a protagonist in Boy Toy. She was witty and charming and I loved seeing her try new things again. After a really heartbreaking and somewhat loveless marriage, it was really nice to see Sadie, not only fall for someone again but also love herself. Throughout the previous two novels we really get to see Sadie at some of her worse and in Boy Toy, we finally see her at her best. I adored the interactions with her daughters and from the get-go, the reader is able to see that she will do anything for them.

Liam, ah what an amazing human being this man is. From the start the reader is able to see Liam interest in Sadie, he doesn’t really hide it well and gosh it made up for a few laughs. I also adored his Liam’s want and need to care for the kids at the daycare. Especially Sadie’s little girls. Liam’s kindness, love, and thoughtfulness shines throughout the whole book and adds depth to an already interesting character. He would do anything for Sadie and her girls and gosh that just hit me right in the heart.

I loved seeing how nervous both Sadie and Liam were going forward, but also how much they wanted to. Sadie’s previous marriage really took a toll on her self-esteem and throughout Boy Toy, Liam is able to break down the walls and make Sadie love herself again. I think that was such an important part of their relationship and really stood out to be. Sadie also has time, believing that she has failed as a mother. And Liam is able to show that Sadie is totally the opposite and excels at what she does and her love for her twins beats nothing.

Overall, Boy Toy was such a fun, entertaining read. This rom-com has it all, romance, laughs, and best of all family. I just fell in love with the characters and their lives and couldn’t put the book down for a second. Boy Toy explores the notion of second chances, loving yourself and being a family. It’s about sacrifice and learning to take what life throws at you. If you are looking for a fun, entertaining but also heart pulling read, then this one is for you.