Title : Promised

Author : Jodi Ellen Malpas

Series : One Night, #1

Rating : 5 Stars

Blurb : Livy notices him the moment he walks into the coffee shop. He’s heart-stoppingly stunning, with a blue-eyed gaze so piercing she’s almost too distracted to take his order. When he walks out the door, she thinks she’ll never see him again. Then she finds the note he left on his napkin . . . signed M. All he wants is one night to worship her. No feelings, no commitment, nothing but pleasure. Every defense mechanism Livy has adopted during her solitary life is at risk of being obliterated by this confounding man. He’s obnoxious but well-mannered. He’s a gentleman but aloof. He’s passionate but emotionless. Yet the fascination is so powerful, Livy can’t deny him… or herself. M awakens something in Livy, something deep and addictive that she never knew existed — and that she fears only he can satisfy. But she senses that behind the fast cars, fancy suits, and posh apartment, he’s aching inside. To have him, body and soul, she’ll have to brave his dark secrets. Delving into his world and breaking down his defenses become her obsession – an obsession that could shatter her heart beyond repair..

Review : Jodi Ellen Malpas did it again. This may not fill Jesse’s shoes but this guy sure did bring his own. You have to love the Guys that this author is creating – each and every on of them !

Cliffhanger : (KLICK to find out) !!!

HEA? : Series still continues

Title:Debauched

Author :Jennifer Dawson

Series:Undone, #3

Release date:April 26th 2016

Rating : 5 Stars

One night in a moment of sheer madness I confessed my secrets to him. All my life I’ve been pretending. Pretending to be the woman I thought I should be instead of the woman I really am. I’ve been faking it and I am good. No one has ever guessed. Except him. He just looked at me and knew. Chad Fellows is not the man I want, but he’s fast becoming the man I need. One night in a moment of sheer madness I held her in my arms and let her cry. I did the right thing, letting her walk away, no matter how much she calls to the part of me that wants to rescue her. We are nothing alike, and she’s a mess of complications in a life I’m trying to keep simple. But then I touched her and made her tremble and now I can’t turn away. Ruby Stiles is not the woman I want, but she’s fast becoming the woman I need.

I think the last time I read such a believable transformation for a character in that genre of books was when I read the Liliana Batchelor series by Holly Blackstone (https://www.goodreads.com/series/103156-liliana-batchelor).

Debauched (Undone #3) by Jennifer Dawson was a surprising book. It was not my first by this author but I admit I did not read all of the books in this series. Which is no big deal as far as the understanding of the plotline of this book goes. It is only a personal loss because If you do not read the whole series you are missing out on great books.

I think if I say “ I could feel the story developing “ that might be a tricky sentence if I am -like in this case – talking about a romance featuring subjects of dominance and submission.

But it is also the truth – because the author really lets the reader feel the journey of what I would call “self discovery”

I liked that the story is told from both perspectives – so we get to hear both sides along the journey. For me that was a welcome change because thinking about it – I can not remember ever reading a novel in that genre from both view points.

We get to know Ruby with all her doubts and how she blossoms ( I avoid the word CHANGE and all cost) when she is together with chad. How she questions herself but also instinctively does what she is “expected” to do. It was actually kind of funny watching her growing understanding for the situation and yet trying to avoid giving the whole development a label.

Chad is such an interesting character. He is first introduced as the total visual contradiction of what he is supposed to present. But he also further develops during the story even if only in the eyes of Ruby. He is so dominant but not unreasonable – not like most of those dominant males you encounter lately in the book world. The reader gets to understand his thoughts and how his actions work out with Ruby.

But the reader also encounters moments of insecurity, struggle and (dare I say it) a kind of fear – when he realizes what is already obvious to the reader.

Great story – can not wait for the next book by this author

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Title:One Last Fling

Author :Leela Lou Dahlin

Series:N/A

Release date:March 21st 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

Blurb :

Event planner Daisy Maxwell has never been lucky at love, but her family’s financial issues convince her to toss her hat in the ring to be the Billionaire’s Bride. If all else fails, she figures she at least has a shot at planning the winner’s wedding. She never expects to meet a man—the wrong man—at the first event, a sexy chef who charms her and makes her believe there’s love at first bite.

Chef Ryder Blake has a problem…well, two. First, he’s met the most amazing woman at the best but worst time of his life. Daisy is a morsel of sexy and sweet all rolled into one dynamite package he’d love to sample. But his second issue is a little more complicated… He can’t tell Daisy—or anyone—he’s the secret billionaire seeking a bride before his thirtieth birthday or he’ll lose his inheritance. Daisy is definitely bride material, but he’s not sure he’ll survive the pressure, especially after she proposes one last fling before she plans to say “I do.”

Bringing a Fairytale into a contemporary format is not an easy feature. I think Leela Lou Dahlin did a great job with “One Last Fling”. If you ask me for the direct name of the fairytale – I would compare it to Cinderella – but not totally – more loosely.

Keeping the idea of the fairytale in mind – the reader should not expect it to be 100 serious when it comes to what is going on or how people react. Usually that would be a reason for me to give less stars. As you might know, when following my reviews I am contemporary MEANS contemporary girl so even a fairytale “prince” has to follow the rules.

But I admit that books like this have a wider range of motion with me because they touch the little girl in me that still wants to believe anything is possible.

Actually, this book was not far from the 5th star – It was the Blurb and End when the author lost it. The Blurb contains too much information – I would have liked it to go into the story without knowing that Ryder is the Billionaire (logically the reader will guess it at a certain point – hey fairytale and all – but I do not need to have it written before I start reading.

It would have done the story a bonus if the reader could have followed it a few chapters guessing – because there is a nice discussion where that would have fitted in perfectly for the reader to discover.

But it really was the end when the 5th star got lost … There was such a nice build up and all – a good pace and tension but only to rush the end. I am not sure how it should be different but it was too rushed. All this build up tension needed an emotional release and the one I got did not suffice the situation. (not going to detail because of spoilers)

This was a really intriguing Story with a well developed (even if complicated but still totally understandable) plot and the author put a lot of thought into explanations for the bizarre situation that Ryder was in.

It was all perfectly fitting to a contemporary fairytale and beautifully written.

It was so sweet that not even the bad guys are really bad like you would expect so If you are looking for a nice “sigh-romance” you came to the perfect book.

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Hurricane Kiss

Deborah Blumenthal

N/A

Release date : May 1, 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

For sixteen-year-old Jillian McKay, the threat of Hurricane Danielle means a long car ride with her neighbors–including River Daughtry, the former star quarterback of Harrison High. The guy who was headed to glory until suddenly he disappeared to a West Texas juvenile detention center. Once cocky and flirtatious, he’s now silent and angry. When their evacuation route is gridlocked, River is the first to recognize the danger they’re in. Together he and Jillian set out to seek shelter in their abandoned high school. As they wait out the storm, they confront the past and realize survival is about more than just staying alive–it’s about fighting for yourself.

Hurricane Kiss by Deborah Blumenthal was a huge surprise for me. I expected something along the lines of a YA sweet romance with a bad boy. What I found was a real deep view into the characters that only looked on the surface like a light romance. And I must admit there were many times during reading that I felt Jillian and River were more acting more as the grown ups than their actual parents. I actually totally forgot Jillian was only 16… and think the author could have made her 17 – 18 or 19 and River – well lets say I read books with 25 year old male leads that acted more childish than him.Totally liking the two leads of this story I have to say it was their parents where I drew a total blanc – they were like totally not developed – at least it felt like that to me – but that honestly did not matter that much. The author managed to carry the hole story just with this clever mixture of “flashbacks” that explain how certain things became the way they are now. Usually I dislike “Present & Past” chapter but the way this author implements them is just perfect. They are cleverly embedded inside the ongoing plot. This was my first book by this author and it was well written and good developed – I would love to read more books like that.

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Title:Jaq with a Q

Author :Jettie Woodruff

Series:N/A

Release date:May 3rd 2016

Rating : 4 Stars

Blurb :

Subject – Jaq with a Q

* Wrong Number * Looking for hit-man * Want’s to die * Lost * No desire to be found * Paranoid * Anxiety * Released from mental hospital * Panic attacks * Nobody would miss her * In the eye of the beholder

I am a very confused reviewer at this moment. I came across a book with the name “Jaq with a Q” by Jettie Woodruff and even though it was on short notice – I was so intrigued by the Blurb that I decided to request a review possibility for it.

The Blub, which actually honestly isn’t really one – captured my attention on so many levels that I would not even know where to start explaining myself.

And now after reading the book I am more confused than ever, because this story is so different from anything that I personally ever read that I have no idea how to rate it honestly.

It was not at all what I expected it to be – and I would be afraid, that if I tried to explain what I expected that involuntary would spoiler on the actual content.

I was captured by the characters in the same way that I was repelled by them. My moral compass was working overtime on so many levels that I was shaking my head thinking what am I reading here. But in the same moment I could have never stopped and not only because I wanted to know where the story would lead. I wanted to understand.

This book could be read as a standalone, because not even the cliffhanger at the end is a usual one. Because – yes there is a sort of cliffhanger but on the other hand you would survive if you decided to not read the next book. I actually wonder what the author has planned for the next book. You can guess the outline from the plot of this book.

And then there was this one moment when I thought – if Oliver is really doing THAT – no matter how logically he explains it – I will close this book and it will be a DNF. But it was like the author knew not to cross this invisible line. –intriguing-

And if it would be a physical book – I guess you would have found me sitting with the book in my hands staring at the cover and then flipping pages forward and backward. It would be my attempt to find out the moment when this story changed.

In the beginning it was a scientific experiment of a bored over intelligent weird stalker with OCD’s on so many levels. Then I was uncomfortable, as there was suddenly a sexual component, that felt wrong on so many levels, that I have not enough fingers to count them. But suddenly it turned into a love story of 2 bend but unbroken persons.

And I was asking myself and my moral compass if this is right or wrong and I still am not able to answer that question.

If I were just to state the facts in the way the blurb is written and count them – my conclusion would be that Oliver is taking advantage of Jaq on too many levels to count. But if I take a closer look I am suddenly not so sure anymore.

At what point does a romance really start – what does it look like when someone falls in love. Can there really only be the common way? Who is to decide what is appropriate and what not? Do I dare being the judge over this ?

I do not think so … So I will go with my guts on this one. I will give it 4 stars – not because I like the way this romance is developing – no far from it – it is a doubtful way in my eyes – but those 4 stars are for an intriguing plot that made my question my morals and give things a deeper consideration.

Just this morning I read a quote (it wasn’t mentioned who said it unfortunately) that somehow fits this situation

“…some diseases are not about what is wrong with someone –

they are about what happened to someone”

And I think I want to find out what will happen in the second book …

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Title:At the Brink

Author :Anna del Mar

Series:N/A

Release date:02 May 2016

Rating : 5 Stars

Blurb :

Lily:

I should never have agreed to it. A woman will do a lot to keep her husband happy. But when my husband sells me to the highest bidder—billionaire, former navy SEAL, pride of Boston’s business scene—I agree, not to keep him happy, but because it gives me the chance to finally escape. Escape my marriage, escape my debts, escape my life… Josh Lane demands a steep price: my pride and my morals. But the truth is, I’ve never felt anything like what I feel for him. He brings color into my gray world. And his insistence that I submit to his commands—his depraved, filthy, amazing commands—only feeds my craving to be taken by him. Again. And again. I should never have agreed to it, but I’m so glad I did.

Josh:

I don’t need to pay to keep women in my bed. Though my preferences may be unorthodox, I never leave a woman unsatisfied—far from it. Lily Boswell, though… Her innocence draws me, her secrets intrigue me. Having her is worth dealing with her cowardly scum of a husband. I want to release her passions and heal her wounds. On my terms. Because the blindfolds and restraints hide more than she could imagine. I must keep her safe from the people who would destroy me—and the demons that haunt my dreams.

Yeah I know … rules should never be broken but … sometimes .. I made it a rule to never read the opening chapters of new books at the end of a just finished one. I only read the Blurbs to see if the content piques my interest.

Because I know myself – I know that I get grumpy because those opening flycatcher chapters end right in the middle of something and leave you waiting for the book– well THANK YOU Anna del Mar… NOW I am grumpy … because I did not even finish my review for “At The Brink” and now I need to have “The Stranger” because I read its opening chapter.

Coming back to the problem at hand – my review for “at the Brink”. … and actually “breaking the rule” is a good opening also for that. The first chapters had me kind of frustrated. This book was not my first one by Ms. del Mar – so I knew that it had potential to be a good one, but you never know until you start.

So I struggled through the first chapters and there was only one thought on my mind. “Is she really going to pull of an “Indecent Proposal” kind of thing? But than as the story continued another thought occurred to me… She was NOT only going to use THAT card – no – she really pulled ALL the stops – and used every card there is.

At first I though “OH NO – don’t do that” because the way the plot developed reminded me of a potpourri of several other books…. But suddenly I got it … don’t ask me if my line of thought changed or if it was the story development but suddenly it kind of “clicked” and everything fell into place.

I was not only at “peace” with the story but also my opinion of this author was solidified.

Josh and Lily are such interesting characters – and their development takes place throughout the whole book. It is only on the last pages that their picture becomes complete for the readers. What a rare gift – to tell a story like this.

She has an amazing way of capturing the readers attention – with this book it felt like she used an overload of impressions from other stories to make a point in her own. It is really difficult to explain what I felt.

Especially now that there is not even a real blurb out on GR – so I am not sure how much info is too much …

One thing I have to say though …. Only after I finished I noticed the clever way that the author distracted from a certain fact that even Lily only realized at the very end.

Great job … this little twist along the way never even occurred to me. And I rarely say this as I usually hate Movie to Book adaptations – but I would love to see this “little” fact transferred to a movie – to see if this really works out.

Because in my family circle I have a comparing “fact” and I realized even as a small child quite early what was going on – so I can not quite figure out if it is really possible to NOT realize it… (yeah I know talking about riddles – sorry)

So after a confusing beginning with a lot of mixed feelings this book developed into something really capturing. I was hooked to the plot until the very end – and if it is now believable or not – I liked the way the end developed – it just gave the story this little extra that was missing in the beginning – this very personal touch of the author.

God – did I say I need the next book ? like in I REALLY NEED TO READ “The Stranger”?!

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