Double Digits by Annabel Monaghan

Source: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Digit and John are back for a second book and in way over their heads.

To say eighteen-year-old Farrah Higgins—or Digit—is good at math is a laughable understatement. She’s been cracking codes since childhood, and is finally at home with “her people” at MIT in Cambridge. Her talents are so off the charts that her laptop is under surveillance by both the CIA and an ecoterrorist named Jonas Furnis. So when she thoughtlessly hacks into the Department of Defense’s database, she lands in serious hot water inside and outside the law. Readers will be sad to turn the last page of this suspenseful, sassy, super smart thriller, the sequel to A Girl Named Digit

Ok I'm annoyed.

I am annoyed because I LOVED A Girl Named Digit. I loved it so much that as soon as I finished reading it, I immediately started Double Digits (the sequel).

I don't even want to rant because I'm still a fan of Annabel Monaghan. But this sequel disappointed me, solely because of the creation of a love triangle (and we all know how much I hate love triangles) that really didn't need to be there. Also sure, Digit started to get annoyed by all the people making decisions for her, which I understand, but to be honest she wasn't really making good decisions by herself. So her complaining just got tiring.

Ok this is a bit spoilerish so you've been warned.

I completely understand why John said that they should cool it for a while. And the fact that she took that as breaking up and then shut off contact from him for 6 freaking weeks was just a great big ball of frustration. And then if that wasn't enough, to then go and even ENTERTAIN the thought of having feelings for Bass made me go like WTH!!! I couldn't believe it! It totally cheapened Book 1 and whatever connection John and Digit developed there. Like how can you claim to love John so much and he's waiting for you to get your fill of school, trying not to distract you and you're almost kissing some other guy that you've known for how long?

I'm not here for that ish at. all.

All of the action stuff was great and all but I'm super annoyed that they made John out to be some kinda bad guy in this.

Especially at the end when she wouldn't take his hand. He's not trying to hold you back Dig, don't make it out like he is.

Anyway, I'm kinda sad, this could've been epic but it wasn't.

Note: 3 stars. Maybe 3.5. Clean.

A Girl Named Digit by Annabel Monaghan

Source: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Farrah "Digit" Higgins may be going to MIT in the fall, but this L.A. high school genius has left her geek self behind in another school district so she can blend in with the popular crowd at Santa Monica High and actually enjoy her senior year. But when Farrah, the daughter of a UCLA math professor, unknowingly cracks a terrorist group's number sequence, her laid-back senior year gets a lot more interesting. Soon she is personally investigating the case, on the run from terrorists, and faking her own kidnapping-- all while trying to convince a young, hot FBI agent to take her seriously. So much for blending in . ..

Hey Guys,

So this is another book that has been on my to read list for ages, and I finally sat down yesterday to read it. Thank God I did. Within like a chapter I knew I had found a favourite. The same feelings of joy and excitement and a renewed faith in ya rushed through me as when I read Scarlet or Dairy Queen for the first time. And those feelings never left me. I freaking loved this book.

Thoughts:

First- I've been reading a lot of spy-ish based stuff and this was done so freaking well. Like no complaints. No feeling the mystery was too convoluted, no confusion, no what the heck is happening right now, none of those feelings of frustration. I able to completely go along with the ride without complaint.

Second- I really appreciate how much time was devoted to completely building up Digit's character before ish hit the fan. It was the perfect amount. Not too much that it felt like the story was moving too slowly, but not too little.

Third- Sure you read a lot of books where the main character has some kinda special ability but at no point did I feel like I was reading some kinda cliche.

Fourth- Yes to all things John.

This was just a really refreshing read. It wasn't like anything I'd read before, no regurgitations of common storylines or characters, it was just all around awesomeness.

Note: 4.25 stars. Clean

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Source: Goodreads

Synopsis:

To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before is the story of Lara Jean, who has never openly admitted her crushes, but instead wrote each boy a letter about how she felt, sealed it, and hid it in a box under her bed. But one day Lara Jean discovers that somehow her secret box of letters has been mailed, causing all her crushes from her past to confront her about the letters: her first kiss, the boy from summer camp, even her sister's ex-boyfriend, Josh. As she learns to deal with her past loves face to face, Lara Jean discovers that something good may come out of these letters after all.

Hey Guys,

So I've had TATBILB on my to-read list for a while now so since I've gotten back into a YA-mood I decided to give it a shot.

My thoughts:

First- I liked the back story of Lara Jean. Half Korean, dead mother, middle child of three sisters, single dad, all off that. It made for an interesting inner dialogue and also, I dunno, it just didn't feel like I was reading any other ya book, or she was just a regurgitation of another ya character. Even though the dead parent thing has been played way out in ya she didn't use it as an excuse for bad behaviour and shutting out the world or any other type of woe-is-me bleakness that is rampant in a lot of ya lit. 

Second- I liked that I didn't know which guy I was rooting for. And it wasn't a major love triangle. I hate love triangles. Seriously, if I'd heard that there was even the slightest of love triangles in this, I wouldn't have read it. My hatred for all things love triangle runs that deep. Side note you would not believe the amount of times I typed traingle and then had to retype.

Third- Lara Jean is insane. So many times while reading I thought, she is crazy. It's been a few days now since I read the book so I can't give you any direct examples but yeah. 

Fourth- I liked the book but at no point was I completely wowed. It was well written and enjoyable but not mind blowing.

Note: 3.75 stars. Clean.

Cross My Heart and Hope To Spy and Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover by Ally Carter

Source: Goodreads

Source: Goodreads

Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy Synopsis:

Cammie Morgan is back, and it's clear that her life hasn't calmed down since the events of I'd Tell You I Love You, But Then I'd Have to Kill You. At first, giddy anticipation is in the air. Gallagher Academy, Cammie's elite spy school, is hosting a visit from a covert training center for boys. Soon after the boys' arrival, though, everything goes dangerously awry when a series of security breaches are discovered at the academy. Worse yet, teenage agent-in-training Cammie is being blamed for the penetration. With the school's top-secret status at risk, the Gallagher Girls have to work quickly to save their beloved school.

Don't Judge a Girl by Her Cover Synopsis:

When Cammie "The Chameleon" Morgan visits her roommate Macey in Boston, she thinks she's in for an exciting end to her summer break. After all, she's there to watch Macey's father accept the nomination for vice president of the United States. But when you go to the world's best school (for spies), "exciting" and "deadly" are never far apart. Cammie and Macey soon find themselves trapped in a kidnappers' plot, with only their espionage skills to save them.

As her junior year begins, Cammie can't shake the memory of what happened in Boston, and even the Gallagher Academy for Exceptional Young Women doesn't feel like the safe haven it once did. Shocking secrets and old flames seem to lurk around every one of the mansion's corners as Cammie and her friends struggle to answer the questions, Who is after Macey? And how can the Gallagher Girls keep her safe?

Soon Cammie is joining Bex and Liz as Macey's private security team on the campaign trail. The girls must use their spy training at every turn as the stakes are raised, and Cammie gets closer and closer to the shocking truth

So taking a break from Rereads, I decided to try out the Gallagher girls series. See the thing is I read the first installment of the series about five or six years ago and I loved it but I didn't continue with the second. At the time, it was the first time I'd read any kind of spy novel so that made it doubly exciting. So today I decided it was time to pick up where I left off.

Now I don't have a lot to say. I read both #2 and 3 in the series on the same day. And all in all it was a great read, I really like the main character and all of her friends. Their personalities and voices were all very thought out and developed and nobody did anything that made me label them too stupid to live (TSTL). So as was the case in both books, I was chugging along, reading, getting into the story, excited to see how the mysteries will resolve, ready to proclaim the book(s) a four star read. But then all of a sudden, at like 80-90% things just got stupid, or convoluted, or I was left thinking "why is this happening" or "what exactly is happening" and so both books ended with a feeling a disappointment. I mean I understand cliffhangers, and nonresolutions. I get why they're present in series'. But this wasn't disappointment due to a cliffhanger, this was just disappointment due to endings that don't really match the quality of the rest of the books.

In my opinion.

But I'd still recommend them, and I will (at some point) finish this series.

Note: 3.75 stars. The squeakiest of cleans.

Rereads: A Game Worth Watching by Samantha Gudger

Source: Goodreads

Hey!

I'm doing this thing where I'm re-reading a bunch of books that I've read and loved this year, but failed to review out of shear laziness. So here goes!

A Game Worth Watching was awesome. I really really enjoyed this book. The storyline itself is not original but it was executed so well that I didn't care. I was there right along with the protagonist Emma. I felt her fears, her hopelessness, her insecurities. I felt it all. And the thing is, my love of this book is purely a testament to Gudger's writing ability, because Emma's character has a couple of traits that I normally can't stand. She snaps at people that try to get close to her for one and she sees herself as completely worthless. But Gudger just did such a great job of providing an in depth look at her both her home situation and her inner dialogue/ thought process, that I was sympathetic. Sure I didn't always agree with her opinions or her actions but I was rooting for her. I was rooting for her to break free from the poison that she had internalised and when she did I actually fist-pumped and yelled "YESSS!!"

So to summarise, it completely drew me in.
Note: Squeaky clean, 4.25 stars

Interview with Tate and Luke

Welcome to the

Cowboys & Christmas

Blog Tour!

A kickoff of new holiday romances by Shanna Hatfield

and a fundraiser for the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund

An Interview with Two Heroes

Have you ever wondered what two men from two different centuries would discuss? Today, Shanna Hatfield brings together two of her popular heroes for an interesting interview. Luke Granger is a banker, rancher, and involved community member in The Christmas Bargain, a sweet Victorian romance taking place in 1893 in Hardman, Oregon. Tate Morgan is from the contemporary sweet romance The Christmas Cowboy. He’s a retired saddle bronc rider who calls his ranch near Kennewick, Washington home. Welcome to you both. Tell us a little about your home. Luke: I live in the small but bustling community of Hardman, Oregon in Eastern Oregon. We have several churches, a school, a newspaper office, skating rink and mercantile there. My wife, Filly, and I live in the house where I grew up on the edge of town. We raise cattle and a few horses. Tate: Kenzie, my wife, and I live on the ranch that my grandfather started back in the early 1900s. We’re about thirty miles from Kennewick, Washington. We primarily raise beef cattle, wheat, and hay.   What is your single most favorite modern convenience? Luke: Indoor plumbing. Filly frequently reminds me we are very fortunate to have indoor plumbing at our house. When the weather outside is cold and nasty, it sure comes in handy. Tate: I have to say I appreciate indoor plumbing too, but since that is something common that we all take for granted, I’d say my phone is my favorite convenience. (At Luke’s confused look, Tate grins and hands over his cell phone, giving him a brief explanation of how it works.) Luke: I can’t believe you can instantly speak to someone whenever you wish or look up any piece of information. This is like holding the world in your hand. Tate: Yeah, it is.   What’s your favorite thing about your home? Luke: (Smiles) Without a doubt, my wife is what makes it home. Filly is the best thing that ever happened to me. Tate: (Nods in agreement) Kenzie turned a quiet ol’ ranch house back into a home. She’s the best and first thing that comes to mind when I think about home.   Here are three fun questions... Coffee or tea? Tate: Most of the time coffee, except during the holiday season. Kenzie makes the best Christmas tea. Luke: (Glances at Luke with a curious expression) Filly makes Christmas tea, too. Is the tea your wife makes dark and spicy with just a hint of sweetness? Tate: Sure is! Maybe it’s an old recipe. Cats or dogs? Luke: Dogs. Tate: Definitely dogs. Sweet or savory? Luke and Tate: Sweet! Tate: Christmas treats are one of the best things about the holidays. Luke: I heartily agree. Tell us one thing you admire about your wife. Luke: It’s hard to choose just one. Filly is such a strong person. Her father imprisoned and abused her for more than a decade before I married her. She not only survived but also thrived. She’s witty, charming, lovely, and loving. (Takes a photograph from his pocket and shows it to Tate) Tate: (Grins at Luke). She’s beautiful. She reminds me of Kenzie with that twinkle in her eye and her height. Isn’t that unusual for your era? Luke: Yes, it is. She’s an unusually wonderful woman, though. Is Kenzie tall? Tate: Yep. (Pulls up a photo of Kenzie on his phone and hands it to Luke) Luke: She’s enchanting. Is that your son she’s holding?</ strong> Tate: (Nods) The thing I admire most about Kenzie is her drive. Once she decides on something, there is no stopping her. She’s funny and ten-times smarter than I ever hope to be, not to mention gorgeous and sweet. I don’t know what I did to deserve her, but I’m grateful every day for her love... (Smirks) and her cooking. Luke: (Chuckles) Thank you both for joining us. Any parting words for our readers?</ strong> Tate: If you enjoy historical fiction, sweet romances, or good westerns, I hope you’ll consider reading our stories in the Hardman Holidays and Rodeo Romance series. Luke: Be sure to check out The Christmas Calamity, releasing Nov. 13. My assistant Arlan really gets into the magic of the season with the arrival of a prestidigitator in town. Tate: I’ve never met a prestidigitator, although I’ve been around some great rodeo clowns. (The two men get to their feet.) Luke: If you aren’t in a hurry, do you mind if I look up a few things on that? (Gestures to Tate’s cell phone) Tate: (Hands Luke the phone) Go right ahead. By the way, I’d sure like to know how...    

Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund®

Now through Dec. 24, Shanna will donate 10 percent of the net proceeds from all her book sales to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period.  

Where to Find The Books

Start the Rodeo Romance Series with The Christmas Cowboy.

Kindle | Paperback | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple | Audible

Travel back to a different time with the historic Hardman Holiday Series,

beginning with The Christmas Bargain.

Kindle | Paperback

You’re Invited to PARTY!

You’re invited to join in the online Cowboys & Christmas Facebook Party Thursday, Nov. 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PST). Drop in anytime during those four hours to enter to win great prizes, chat with guest authors, and more! Here’s the link to the party: http://tinyurl.com/ cowboychristmasparty The third book in the Hardman Holidays sweet Victorian romance series releases that day! The Christmas Calamity takes readers back to Hardman just in time for the holiday season. Preorders are available now for just $1.99 on Kindle. You can reserve your copy here: http://amzn.com/B00OGOO994 In addition, the first book in the Hardman Holidays series, The Christmas Bargain, will be available free that day, as well!

Enter to Win Prizes!

To enter the drawing for an Amazon gift card, autographed books, chocolates, original western artwork, and more fun goodies, fill out this form. http://tinyurl.com/ cowboychristmasprizes

About Shanna Hatfield

A hopeless romantic with a bit of sarcasm thrown in for good measure, Shanna Hatfield is a best-selling author of sweet romantic fiction written with a healthy dose of humor. In addition to blogging and eating too much chocolate, she is completely smitten with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller. Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.” She is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, and Romance Writers of America. Find Shanna’s books at: Amazon | Amazon UK | Barnes & Noble | Smashwords | Apple Shanna loves to hear from readers! Follow her online: ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads | You Tube | Twitter

The Christmas Cowboy and The Christmas Bargain by Shanna Hatfield

Source: Amazon

Source: Amazon

The Christmas Cowboy Synopsis:

 Flying from city to city in her job as a busy corporate trainer for a successful direct sales company, Kenzie Beckett doesn’t have time for a man. And most certainly not for the handsome cowboy she keeps running into at the airport. Burned twice, she doesn’t trust anyone wearing boots and Wranglers, especially someone as charming and handsome as Tate Morgan.
Among the top saddle bronc riders in the rodeo circuit, easy-going Tate Morgan can handle the toughest horse out there, but trying to handle the beautiful Kenzie Beckett is a completely different story.
As the holiday season approaches, this Christmas Cowboy is going to need more than a little mistletoe to win her heart. 

The Christmas Bargain Synopsis: 

Luke Granger is about to get more than he bargained for…
As owner and manager of the Hardman bank, Luke Granger is a man of responsibility and integrity in the small 1890s Eastern Oregon town. When he calls in a long overdue loan, Luke reluctantly accepts a bargain in lieu of payment from the shiftless farmer who barters his daughter to settle his debt.
Philamena Booth is both mortified and relieved when her father sends her off with the banker as payment of his debt. Held captive on the farm by her father since the death of her mother more than a decade earlier, she is grateful to leave. If only it had been someone other than the handsome and charismatic Luke Granger riding in to rescue her. Ready to uphold her end of the bargain as Luke’s cook and housekeeper, she isn’t prepared to marry Luke as part of a crazy Christmas bargain.

Hey Guys,

So about a month ago I got an email from Shanna Hatfield asking if I'd be interested in reviewing some of her books for an upcoming blog tour. Now since she was already on my Goodreads to-read list I jumped at the chance! So here goes it, my thoughts on The Christmas Cowboy (TCC) and The Christmas Bargain (TCB).

Thoughts:

I was initially apprehensive about reading Christmas-themed novels because even though I absolutely LOVE Christmas, I am not a fan of Christmassy-ness. In fact, I'm altogether scrooge-like until enough Christmas spirit hits me LOL! But once I started reading The Christmas Cowboy (I read that one first), I was pleasantly surprised because it wasn't at all cheesy or over the top with Christmas cheer. I loved that the story wasn't based around Christmas, it just so happened that part of the story occurred at Christmas time. I thought that was a great approach to take. And it was the same with The Christmas Bargain. So these books definitely left me open to more Christmas-themed reads.

Now onto the books themselves.

As I mentioned earlier, I read TCC first. And I enjoyed it. It gave off a very lazy afternoon vibe. You know? Like when you just kind of want to escape and have your heart warmed without having to put much effort in? That's what it was like. I got a very hallmark movie feel from it. (I love hallmark movies btw). It was very sweet and nice and there weren't any surprises. I liked that the characters had unique backgrounds that you don't see very often. Like for example, the hero's father was in his nineties! I appreciated little touches like that. I also liked how sure the hero was of his feelings for the heroine. Now on the other hand there were just a few things that I didn't like as much. For some reason I didn't connect to the heroine. I felt like her prejudice was a bit... juvenille? Or maybe irrational is a better word. I mean the source of said prejudice was explained to us but I just wasn't convinced that what she had experienced would realistically cause such an aversion to cowboys. Also while I loved their attraction and chemistry, it felt like each time they kissed or looked at each other, we were told that either Tate or Kenzie had to stop before things got out of hand. I felt like that statement would have been more effective if it was just mentioned a few times instead of every time. However, another thing that I appreciated was the amount of time that passed by over the course of their relationship. This wasn't like after a week they were in love, actual months and seasons passed by as things happened- that was refreshing.

While I just liked TCC I really enjoyed TCB. You should know that I'm a sucker for any type of marriage of convenience novel. Especially one that was so well executed. This type of story can get cheesy real quick but Shanna did a great job. I found myself grinning and laughing so much while reading this and at the end I was completely satisfied and thoroughly glad for the characters. It's funny because at the beginning I didn't know if I was gonna like the hero, he had a second where he seemed like he could be shallow. But he wasn't, he was awesome. I loved the supporting characters. I loved how their relationship unfolded and how they went from strangers to lovers in the purest sense. It was a great read. And while I put TCC down many times while reading, I read TCB beginning to end in one go. I should also say that while we were again told that the hero was practising restraint when they kissed, it wasn't every time, so it didn't bother me (bother is such a strong word but I can't think of anything weaker right now) like it did in TCC.

Ok I think that's it. TCC was ok but TCB was great!
Note: both are clean TCC gets 3 stars and TCB gets 4.

Stay tuned for an interview with Tate and Luke, the heroes of these novels, next!

Ice Angel by Elizabeth Hanbury

Synopsis:

 When mysterious young widow Lady Isabella Vane arrives in London, she is quickly christened the "Ice Angel" because of her reserved manner and ethereal beauty. While society wonders at the reasons for Lady Vane's demeanor and the secrets that lurk in her past, the Earl of Bramwell continues in his devil-may-care approach to life. Hal has no desire for serious relationships with women since his own bitter disappointment several years earlier. However, once their paths cross, Hal's interest is sparked and he becomes obsessed with discovering what lies beneath the ravishing Isabella's icy exterior. But can Isabella ever overcome her past to find love?

This will be quick. I liked this enough. I liked the premise, the two main characters had each been romantically hurt in the past, Isabella more than Hal. Even though I rolled my eyes at her initial prejudice against him, I got over that quickly enough and began to enjoy(ish) the story. However where this book fell short in my opinion was with the contrived 'drama'/obstacle that occurred. It was the same thing that I've seen time and time again and I could see it coming from 25 miles away. And to be honest I always feel cheated/disappointed when an authour goes for the formulaic instead of the original... Otherwise it was a pleasant if not spectacular or particularly imaginative read.

Note 3.25 Stars. Content: kisses, one wedding night scene where sex is described using abstract/poetic/flowery language as opposed to descriptive/graphic language. So the book is cleanish depending on your version of what clean is.

Neanderthal Seeks Human: A Smart Romance by Penny Reid

Source:Goodreads

My faith in contemporary romance has been renewed. I took a huge break from all things contemporary romance. For a month or so I have solely read historicals because I was completely over the mind numbing brainless drivel I'd been reading. Seriously, I almost gave up reading all together because I'd become so frustrated that every book seemed to be the same and the characters all fell in love in ten seconds within three words of speaking to each other. I felt like I was loosing my mind. Like maybe there were chapters missing to every book I read where the characters actually spoke to each, got to know each other, and were justified in their 'feelings'. So for the sake of my sanity, I took a break. But then I got equally frustrated at how hard it was to find a good historical romance that was clean, that I hadn't already read. I kept reading solid three star books and well, I don't like settling for good when I could have great, so again I began to feel book-frustrated.

Anyway, unto this book. I've had this on my Goodreads to-read list for like 3 months. However, the reviews were mixed as to whether or not it was clean and so I hesitated in reading. For some reason yesterday I decided to try it out and thank God I did! This was so freaking awesome. I can't even deal with the relief and satisfaction that I feel after reading this.

Thoughts:

The attraction and tension in this was so freaking delicious. Like, it was palpable, tangible, thick enough to bite. It. Was. Delicious. But this book was the full package because although the tension was delicious, so was the actual story. Like I've read so many books and combined with the fact that some authours are sort of just churning out the same story, I'm hardly ever surprised anymore. But Penny Reid didn't go with the formulaic, cookie cutter, this has worked before so I'll just repeat it story lines. It was original. Like I could never have seen who Jon cheated with coming. I was legit surprised. I loved that there were actual conversations in this book, where they legit talked lol. I loved Janie's stream of conciousness, and will we ever learn about the Japanese kids and eye contact?

I'm gonna wrap this up because I have part two waiting for me. But all in all this was awesome, it was obvious that time was spent with this, the angst is minimal, so is the drama, the characters are all reasonable. It was quirky without trying too hard. And my faith in the genre is restored.

Note: Clean: sex happens behind closed doors. Only kissing is described. 4.5 stars. I'm not sure if the other books in the series is clean, but I'll keep reading to find out.

ETA: Unfortunately for me the rest of the series isn't clean :(

An Unexpected Gentleman by Alissa Johnson

Source: goodreads

Synopsis:

Adelaide Ward has but one goal- to obtain an offer of marriage from the respectable, if less-than-appealing, baron Sir Robert Maxwell before her family is ruined. But it's the devilishly handsome Connor Brice who captures her imagination- and a kiss in broad daylight- in front of a dozen members of the ton. Now Adelaide must decide if the charming scoundrel who stole away her reputation might still be trusted with her heart.
Connor Brice seeks a long overdue revenge on the baron. And what better way to launch his campaign than to steal the lovely Miss Ward for his own? A quick "compromising" and an even quicker wedding ought to do. But if Connor wants to establish any sort of domestic tranquility, he'll have to regain Adelaide's trust and choose what means more to him- his thirst for vengeance or his need for Adelaide.

You know I've read like 25 books since I last posted. Beginning to end. But they were all like solid three star books and so I wasn't moved to actually write about them. And I wasn't completely convinced that I was going to write about this one until the very end. I liked this book because it was different. The hero was a bit/ a lot of a douche. And he didn't apologise for it. And I'm not talking the normal douchey ness of rakes that are so common in historical romances. I mean, this dude could've been a villain. He was manipulative and self serving, but since he didn't ever act with the intention of harming the heroine, I didn't hate him. In fact, the reader is made to understand his reprehensible actions even though we don't agree with them.

I liked this book because I applaud Alissa Johnson for stepping outside of character norms. I found myself laughing quite a bit at several moments in this book. And am still left feeling a bit dazed/confused. Like, I know I shouldn't have liked the hero but I really did. In fact, I liked him so much that I'm going to read another Alissa Johnson book, right now.

Note: Contains sex between a married couple. The sex isn't overly descriptive, squint and you'd miss it. So like 98% clean. 3.5 stars. 

Indiscretion by Jude Morgan

Source: goodreads

Synopsis:

When your father is a man of expensive tastes and schemes but very little money, you soon learn to make do. So when Captain Fortune, a well-meaning but profligate ex-soldier in Regency England, tells his daughter Caroline that they are ruined, she automatically starts seeking employment as a governess. Her father, however, has far grander designs for Miss Fortune.…
Caro is to become the companion of Mrs. Catling, the rich, fierce widow of her father's old colonel. As Mrs. Catling amuses herself by tormenting her relatives and servants, Caro resolves to make the best of the situation, and soon her beauty and intelligence attract the attentions of male admirers.
Surrounded by people with an alarming readiness to reveal each other's confidences, Caroline is exasperated to find herself implicated in their indiscretions. But will Miss Fortune be able to avoid losing her reputation without losing her head? And will she find at least one good man amongst the genteel set who will take her side, and, indeed, her fancy?

 

Ok so this review will be a bit different. I tried to make a note of my thoughts throughout the book. Here goes!

Chapters 1 and 2:
I really like Caroline so far, I've gotten used to the tone and language. The scene has been set, looking forward to what comes next. Can't bring myself to dislike the dad but i'm happy she'll be free of him.

Chapters 3 and 4:
So is this the love interest? Really, his sister is called Georgiana? *sigh* I will forgive that Austen-ism as long as there are no more. Are the Danglers sincere in their friendship? Is Leabrook sincere in his attention? Why is the topic of falling in love mentioned so quickly? (I'm hoping this is not a regency instalove type thing, was hoping for more). So Sophia is neither a hag or an angel. Interesting.

Chapters 5 and 6:
Ah so that's it eh? Sophia is mood swings galore and Leabrook is a douche.

Chapter 7:
Wow, so things are not going at all as I thought they would, which is good because Sophia was becoming increasingly unbearable.

Chapter 8:
Well this is quite an interesting turn of events, and one that I am most amiable to.

Chapter 9:
 I am liking this new direction more and more.

Chapter 10:
Definitely liking Isabella.

Chapters 11 and 12:
Fanny is lovely. I'm really liking how all of these characters are being introduced gradually. To be honest I kind of saw this latest Leabrook drama coming.

Chapter 15:
Is Stephen changing his mind???

Chapter 18:
So the proverbial ish has hit the proverbial fan. Though my heart aches for Caro, I can't help but be happy that everything is finally out. Oh, and how annoying is Matthew?!

Chapter 20:
Definitely not surprised by Fanny. My heart warms anytime Stephen and Caro are in a scene together.

End:
And so it ends. The books as a whole was quite delightful, but I can't help but feel like the ending was rushed.

Notes: 3.75 stars. The squeakiest of Cleans

The Promise and The Vow by D.D. Chant

Source: goodreads

Source: goodreads

Synposis

The Promise: Dear Reader,
I wish to tell you a tale that began with a promise destined to change the lives of many.
When only a child, Lady Adele of Berron lost her family during a dreadful battle and was betrothed to a stranger.
Lord Rafe of Valrek, only a boy himself when the battle of Calis raged, grew to be a feared warrior and trusted advisor to his King. But sadness filled his past and Adele served only to remind him of all he had lost.
However the promise that bound these two together caused great anger to some.
What, Dear Reader, happened in those days of treachery and darkness? Incline your ear that I may whisper the secrets that you so desire to hear......

Lady Quill

The Vow: Dear Reader,

My next story begins with Velrek, where Lord Rafe and Lady Adele's arrival was cause for much celebration and rejoicing.
However Finan of Gournay, Rafe's foster brother and the captain of Valreks army, could not help a lingering feeling of worry.
Were Rafe and Adele truly safe from Lord Kyule's hate?
Adding to Finan's problems was the unsettling presence of Rafe's sister, Lady Esme. Used to keeping his distance from the woman of Valrek, Finan found that he could no longer escape as before.
As danger and treachery enveloped Valrek, Finan and Esme found themselves drawn together to fight the shadowy assailant that threatened the lives of those they loved.
What secrets would they unearth in their search for the enemy that taunted them?
Would they find that their stories were more closely linked than either of them ever knew?
Allow me please to answer these questions...

Lady Quill

Ok I'm going to be really quick here because I have another book downloaded onto my kindle, ready for me to devour. But I wanted to write about this series before getting into another. Ever since reading Scarlet, my appetite for all things historical and medieval has been re-whet and as such it felt right to take a much needed reprieve from contemporary and delve into the historical romance genre.

My thoughts.

I liked it. I really like the series. My feelings are a bit mixed though. The first book starts with a huge misunderstanding-type scenario that induced a major eye roll on my part. But that could just be because I'm so book jaded. But the reason I kept reading was because D.D. Chant made the book SO MUCH MORE than a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications that is the sum of so many romance books. The plot twists in this kept coming and Chant managed to keep me on my toes, which is no small feat I tell you. Just when you thought you knew where things were going, everything was turned on it's head, I loved it. And it wasn't in a "let's chuck every idea at this book to fill a page quota" way. It was just really great, thought out story telling. Also to begin with I sometimes felt a bit overwhelmed with all the characters and names but by the end I was completely used to, and rooting for everybody. I should say that I had to take like three five minute breaks while reading the first book because you really have to pay attention when reading this to appreciate, enjoy and understand everything that is going on.

Now onto the second book. By the end of the first, I was intrigued but not like bowled over. So I wasn't sure if I wanted to read the second book. However over the course of the morning after completing The Promise, I found myself wondering what was going to happen to the characters. When the wondering wouldn't leave I bought the second book and devoured it lol. I loved the second book. It was definitely stronger than the first (which was by no means weak) and was just all round awesome. The plot was awesome. The characters were awesome. I just thoroughly enjoyed the whole thing and await  the third book with bated breath!!

So while I loved the second book, I would not have loved it as much if I had not read the first. 

Note: Clean. 3.5 Stars for The Promise and 4 Stars for The Vow

Crossing the Ice by Jennifer Comeaux

Source: goodreads

Synopsis: Falling hard never felt so good.

Pair skaters Courtney and Mark have one shot left at their Olympic dream. They vow not to let anything get in their way, especially not Josh and Stephanie, the wealthy and talented brother and sister team.

The heart doesn’t always listen to reason, though...

The more time Courtney spends with sweet, shy Josh, the harder she falls for him. But they are on opposite sides of the competition, and their futures are headed in opposite directions. Will their friendship blossom into more or are their paths too different to cross?

This was such a satisfying read. You know what, because I've read all of her previous books, Jennifer Comeaux is on my list of go-to authours. That means that when I pick up one of her books, I know I won't be disappointed. That's because she never takes the easy route. And that was even more apparent in Crossing the Ice, I think she outdid herself with this one. There was no unneccessary angst, there was no unneccessary drama, there was no smut to hide the fact that there isn't much of a story. This was awesome. But when I meant that she outdid herself with this one I meant that this is the fourth book of hers that I've read. Usually when you've read so many books from an authour you can kind of anticipate the story. You know their writing habits, and sometimes no matter how much you like the authour it can feel like you're reading the same books but with different character names. 

But with Crossing the Ice, there was none of that, and it was refreshing. I LOVED Josh. Comeaux wrote the shy hero so well. He was shy, sure, but he knew what he wanted and went after it. I LOVED HIM. I loved him and Courtney. I loved their connection. Another thing you can count on with Comeaux is that the relationships in her books actually build and develop.

Oh another thing, I liked how even when there was conflict, we weren't given cookie cutter conflict. And even when I didn't agree with how characters reacted to particular conflicts I completely understood their points of view. There was nothing far fetched with this book, it was just all round awesomeness. An awesome story with awesome characters.

Note: Clean, 4.5 stars

P.S Oh and I love how Em and Sergei are incorporated into the story without it feeling like a rehash of any past Edge books.
PP.S I mentally jumped up and down at the ending!!!!
PPP.S Can you tell how happy I am with this book, it gives me hope for the NA Romance genre

Lady Thief by A.C. Gaughen

Source: goodreads

Synopsis:

Scarlet’s true identity has been revealed, but her future is uncertain. Her forced marriage to Lord Gisbourne threatens Robin and Scarlet’s love, and as the royal court descends upon Nottingham for the appointment of a new Sheriff, the people of Nottingham hope that Prince John will appoint their beloved Robin Hood. But Prince John has different plans for Nottingham that revolve around a fateful secret from Scarlet’s past even she isn’t yet aware of. Forced to participate at court alongside her ruthless husband, Scarlet must bide her time and act the part of a noblewoman—a worthy sacrifice if it means helping Robin’s cause and a chance at a future with the man she loves. With a fresh line of intrigue and as much passion as ever, the next chapter in Scarlet’s tale will have readers talking once again.

I will never forgive you A.C. Gaughen. I will never forgive you for hooking me on this series and then making me wait until May 2015 until the next installment. That is just cruel.

This book was awesome. Whereas Scarlet (Book 1) was mainly focused on the gang fighting for the people, Lady Thief was more focused on Scarlet fighting to be with Rob. And boy did she have to fight. I really admire her strength. I don't have much to say, I rarely do when it comes to series. Just that I loved it, I wasn't at all disappointed by this installment. I was completely caught up in the story and CANNOT wait for part three.

Note: Clean. 4 stars

Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Source: goodreads

Synopsis:  Many readers know the tale of Robin Hood, but they will be swept away by this new version full of action, secrets, and romance.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

I'm so freaking happy right now I can't even deal.

You know why I'm happy? Because since 'Crappy book day' two weeks ago, I still hadn't read a good book. Until now. I was getting so frustrated, I was reading mediocre after mediocre after mediocre, instalove, i'll-fix-you-cause-you're-so-broken, crap. Well crap is harsh. Except for those two books from crappy book day that will never be mentioned again. Anyway, the point is I had actually given up. That's the longest dry spell I've ever had. I even branched out of young adult, new adult and contemporary since those genres had been failing me so. I tried to find some really good historicals where the women weren't completely spineless and the men had some character, but I didn't have much luck there either.
I found myself at my wits end. I thought this is it. I'm never going to read a good book again (that fits my reading criteria).

But then, just when I'd given up all hope, I found Scarlet. This gem of a read. This book life line that drew me out of the instalove induced jaded darkness in which I had found myself drowning in. So I took a chance, I don't normally read retellings, or fantasy, but book beggars can hardly be book choosers right? I mean technically they can, but that's irrelevant. The little book voice in my head said try it, I did, and here I am screaming from the book rooftops: YESSSS!!!!!!!!!!!!

This is the reason why I kiss all of those mediocre book frogs. I do it to find a book prince, like this. I loved it! I loved it! It was just such a good story. I went in cautiously at first. I side eyed every blush because I was trying to protect my poor broken book heart, just in case it turned out to be another fail. But then Scarlet's voice was so clear and it was all so unpretentious and unpatronising... I was completely carried away. BTW, I freaking loved Scarlet, she was awesome. I just...I don't know what else to say. This was an actual story. And it was so awesomely told that I was there with all of the characters while it was happening!

A. C. Gaughen, you have made a fan out of me.

Note: Clean. 4 stars.

x

Crappy book day

I read two books today. Beginning to end. Two whole books. So why isn't this the first of two reviews? Well, both books sucked. The first was just ridled with unneccessary drama and shallowness that I had to take several breaks from out of frustration, and the second was just... I can't even begin to describe how much I hated the troupe of secondary characters. There was a whole village of them, not literally. And they were just terrible. They were the protagonists friends and I'm just shaking my head thinking about how terrible they were. Ugh. I just want to forget this book day. Let's pretend it never happened k?

So the reason you aren't getting two reviews is because I don't want to sit here and rag on somebody else's work you know? It just isn't me. I can go on a rant in my head about how crappy these books were and give a foot long list detailing how they failed in book life, but it's just not in me to put that on here. For other people to see. It's not in my nature to voice criticism that extensive.

Here's hoping for a better book day tomorrow

x

Secret Life by Bria Quinlan

Source: Goodreads

Synopsis:

Rachel Wells is a liar—big time. No one outside her family knows about the panic attacks or meds, the weekly therapy drive-bys or the “safe” outfit. If she could hide it all from her string of ex-boyfriends and her best friend Amy, then why should anything change? But, when the one guy as messed up as she is blackmails her into helping him, life goes from closely restrained to out of control.

Sometimes choosing between sanity and love is the craziest thing of all.

Can we just take a moment. Just one moment to bask in the freaking awesomeness that was this book. The unexpected depth, the smarts, the everything that this was. Wow. I'm in shock. Not the same shock that I wrote about a couple of days ago when things were happening in a book that I didn't understand. I'm in shock because this was so good. Not only was this so good but it was freaking quality. I want to cry with how happy I am. FINALLY. Finally an author doesn't treat me like I'm dumb. Finally an authour freaking lets you into the character's mind so you can feel their emotions and think their thoughts along with them. And actually understand why they feel the way they feel instead of just being told to understand them. FINALLY somebody has stopped manufacturing drama to carry a book along. Finally we don't get the hot girl miraculously fixing a man whore. Finally I don't get told how broken somebody is but actually shown. We get to live broken with them. But in an oh so real, and not at all patronising, manipulative way. Yes we get this. We get depth and layers and realness. We get characters that realise they are no good for each other and actually STEP AWAY!!!!!!! AND FREAKING HEAL ON THEIR OWN BEFORE COMING TOGETHER. I cannot deal with how happy I am that I read this. At first I thought it was going to be good but typical you know? But this book started and then just got better and better and better until at the end my cheeks hurt because I was smiling so much. I could say so much more. SO much more. But I wont.

In short: I loved it. 

Notes: Clean. Was gonna be 4 stars but the last third of the book kicked it up to 4.5. Also can we take a second to appreciate the awesomeness that was Rachel's mother and Ben!

Secret Girlfriend by Bria Quinlan

Source: Goodreads

Ok so I liked this. Duh! I think we all know by now that I don't really review the ones I don't like.
This morning I was trying to decide what my daily read was going to be. After spending 3 hours looking at my to-read list on Goodreads, I kid you not, I finally settled on about 6 titles that I had on hand. Now this was fairly towards the bottom of the list because it was a bit 'lighter' than what I thought I was going for today. However after starting three of the other books I got so frustrated by the shallowness of the other 'edgier' reads that I almost screamed. So I came to Secret Girlfriend and was pleasantly surprised. See the thing is sometimes I need a rest, I need a mental reset from all the abuse and brokenness and the gloom that is prevalent in YA and NA these days. And this provided that break.

See the thing is though, sometimes you go for a light read and often you get...cliche or superficial stories. But this had a depth and quality about it that I loved. Though I didn't always agree with the protagonist's decisions, they were still believable. And I found myself completely drawn into the story and investing in the characters. And really that's all I ever ask for in a book. Take me somewhere. And the better the writing, the less the cynical side of me is able to encroach on the escape.

So yeah, I didn't expect to like this as much as I did. But it's a good clean light read.

4 Stars.

Fighting For The Edge by Jennifer Comeaux

Source: goodreads

Ok I don't have much to say about this one. I really liked it, but I expected to seeing as I had read the first two books in the series. It's been like two years though. I didn't even know there was a third, and soon to be fourth, installment! It was great to see Emily and Sergei continue in their relationship and I loved Chris and Aubrey together. I loved that this was unnecessary-drama-free. Also I have a soft spot for Romances that involve sports.

So yeah, this is a good solid read. Definitely what I've come to expect from Comeaux.

Notes: 4 Stars, Clean.

PS. One criticism is after a while the switch from first to third person got a bit...tiresome? It seemed like it would've been better as dual first person, but whatevs. Wasn't a deal breaker.

PPS. The 2 1/2 installment isn't clean, so, yeah.

x

Perfectly Messy by Lizzy Charles

Ok, what the heck just happened?
Seriously. What. I'm so confused. But in a good way. I think?
So this is the sequel to Effortless With You which I read yesterday. So I read the first half of this last night and finished the rest this morning. So the first half went on like your normal sequel, it was great. I liked seeing Justin and Lucy's relationship together. They were facing hurdles, but nothing too unexpected. And then about half way through a drama happens that I didn't see coming but ok. That was fine, everybody's reactions to it were understandable. And then even Justin's ultimate reaction and resolution was expected as well. I'm trying to be as vague as possible here, so as to not give too much away...

But then, the last chapter of the book? The final resolution that wasn't and then the one that was? And then all the realness and messiness?? I'm here for all of that. I'm totally here for Lucy calling out Justin for his ish. Even though I didn't even know that that's what it was. I know i'm not making any sense here. It's cause I'm still a bit confused. But in a good way. This book is a whirlwind. It's real. I get so bored of everybody's emotions being so cookie cutter and perfect in YA. It's annoying. But this wasn't that.This was the characters having expectations and making mistakes that people have and make in real life. This was having ish blow up in your face like it does in real life. This was not setting people up for false expectations of what love is. This was indeed messy, but perfect at the same time.

So though I'm still kind of dazed from that last chapter, Lizzy Charles you have made a fan out of me. I'm here for all of this realness.

Breath of fresh air.

Notes: Clean. 4 stars

x

Effortless With You by Lizzy Charles

Source: Goodreads

Description:

School is out and Lucy is ready for the perfect summer: lazy days at the pool, invitations to the most exclusive parties, and romantic dates with her hot new boyfriend. That is, until she lands in trouble one too many times and her parents issue the ultimate punishment: a summer job. Suddenly, the summer can't end fast enough.

To make matters worse, the job is painting houses with Justin, the most popular, egotistical guy in school. Spending all summer with Justin might be other girls' dreams, but definitely not Lucy's. After all, Justin is cocky, annoying, and a jerk. So what if he's the most beautiful jerk Lucy's ever seen? Or that his grin makes her forget she’s mad at the world? Or that maybe, just maybe, there's more to Justin than Lucy realizes. Only one thing is certain: it won’t be the summer she wanted, but it might be exactly the one she needs

My thoughts?

I really liked this one. Again, I pretty much only write about the ones I really like lol. A few things set things set this book apart from a lot of other books with characters this age. First there was angst but it wasn't stupid, irrational, angst for the sake of angst. That type of angst really really annoys me. The angst in this book was the completely rational kind that often arises in teenage years when you feel completely grown up and want to make all of your own decisions but your parents are still your parents, and still want to, well- Parent. I feel like the author completely portrayed the frustrations and realisations that occur in times like that. It was refreshing.

I again loved that the heroine worked through things by herself, no fixing by the hero that is so popular in a lot of writing these days. She figured things out for herself. She started making conscious decisions to do and be better. And was able to overcome a lot of her insecurities and feelings of worthlessness.

Sexual Content: Some kissing, a few references to sex in conversations, an attempted sexual assault that doesn't go that far.

This one gets 4 stars from me

:)

Naturally, Charlie by S. L Scott

Source: goodreads

 Description:

 "Twenty-five year old Charlotte “Charlie” Barrow is caught between her old life and the one she is beginning to build when she crosses paths with a handsome stranger on the subway. Not looking for romance, she closes her heart off to the possibilities of love. With a knack for mishaps, Charlie maintains her sense of humor while befriending the kind stranger who seems to be there at all the right times.

New York freelance writer, Charlie Adams, is forging his own path beyond the expectations of the society circles of his childhood. Rejecting family money, and fast-lane friends, he is snubbed by his family as he follows his own compass to a life more extraordinary.

Through a coincidence of events, they come to rely on each other for comfort. This is the tale of two Charlies learning to trust again while fighting their fates to create their own destiny"

So despite being an avid, sometimes obsessive reading; I'm not used to discussing about how I feel about books. But i''m just going to jump right in despite my newness at this, because if I don't start now- I never will.

I really liked this book. I wouldn't be writing about it if I didn't. I really enjoyed the friendship between the Charlie's. Oh and that was different, the two leads having the same name. It made me pay extra attention to figure out who was talking. I enjoyed the storytelling, I enjoyed the writing. It was written in dual point of view which I normally enjoy. But this time I enjoyed it especially because each voice was distinct and I was able to connect to both characters individually.

The thing I liked the most about this though? The dialogue, the communication. There was no giant misunderstanding that dragged out for the majority of the book. The characters connected and then explored that connection. I appreciated that.

Now the things I didn't like. The only thing I didn't like was I felt the epilogue dragged on a tad bit. Which is something I didn't think I'd ever say. But I distinctly remember feeling it could've ended a page or two earlier that it did but that's neither here nor there really.

Sexual content?
Kisses, A descriptive make out scene that involves dry humping and a descriptive lead up to sex scene with the actually act boiling down to a few words. Can easily be ignored. So I'm going call this like 90% clean. But still clean enough that I'd read it. Wouldn't let my younger sister read it though ;)

Overall rating?

4 stars.

PS: Oh and I really appreciate that he didn't try to 'fix' her, I love that she worked through her issues herself
PPS: How cute were there Saturday movie dates?
PPPS: I LOVED how supportive they were of each other

Ok that's it, I think.

ETA: PPPPS: It looks like I won't be reading any more S. L Scott books, as all the others seem to have a lot of sexual content :(