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Review: Black Dagger Brotherhood Series

6/28/2017

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Dark Lover
​by J.R. Ward

Synopsis

The only purebred vampire left on the planet and the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who killed his parents centuries ago. But when his most trusted fighter is killed—orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate—Wrath must put down his dagger and usher the beautiful female into another world.


Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn’t there before, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes to her at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of the Brotherhood and blood frighten her. Yet his touch ignites a dawning new hunger—one that threatens to consume them both...

Review

I am a sucker for series books. I am a sucker for vampires. So, of course, J.R. Ward's The Black Dagger Brotherhood series was just the thing for me. I don't like to give away spoilers, but I do like to give enough information so that you, the reader, will be encouraged to read the book in question. So, here it goes. 

Dark Lover is the first book in Brotherhood series, and it concerns Beth who is your average woman who happens to come in contact with the neighborhood master (purebred) vampire, Wrath. There is a whole...background to these books so hopefully I do it justice without telling you everything (that's part of the fun!). 


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Okay, so - what I love about this series so far (I have only read the first three books in the series) is that each book is about a different vampire in the Brotherhood. The first book Dark Lover is about Wrath, the head of the Brotherhood and the only purebred vampire left, and Beth, the human woman he ends up falling in love with. The second book Lover Eternal is about Rhage, the member with the, um, biggest appetite. It's also about Mary, the human woman who also happens to be used to being on her own, and has no interest in looking for love. The third book Lover Awakened is about Zsadist, the most terrifying member of the Brotherhood, and the fellow vampire, Bella.

As far as I understand, the series continues this way. As someone who absolutely loves learning about characters, their backgrounds, fears, loves, etc., I LOVED this arrangement. I've heard people give Ward flack for the names of each member, and I was also surprised at how simple each name came to be. However, Ward does not skimp on each member's backgrounds. They are often horrible and excruciatingly sad. What's lovely, however, is how the women of these stories also have their backgrounds that helped shaped them, and their joining is one of two individuals. This isn't one where the female disappears and it's all about the male. I appreciated that.

There is a lot of information about the Brotherhood, and characters from previous books show up (another major plus!) in later stories. It was easy for me to keep up with the characters, and personal stories because I grew to love each of these vampires and the women who help them. Well, as much as one can love a fictional vampire. Ha.

Also, just learned that Lover Awakened is, at least in some ways, based on Beauty and the Beast (Bella, anyone?) - and I love Beauty and the Beast :D

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Review: The Billionaire's Virgin

2/21/2017

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The Billionaire's Virgin
A Billionaire Fairytale
​by Jackie Ashenden

Synopsis
Dark, tortured, and intimidating, these dominant billionaires will steal their innocent heroines' breath away. Overwhelmed by their desire to control their world, they push their heroines to explore their deepest desires. But even the most unworldly of heroines can unlock these billionaires' secrets.


Xavier De Santis: Disgraced. Ruinous. Playboy. 

The headlines are always shouting about Xavier’s various excesses, and he’s everything they say he is. But now he’s gone too far, and the black sheep of the De Santis family has been ordered to clean up his image. Volunteering at a homeless shelter, he sees a bright light amidst all the bleakness. An angel whose luminous face and tragic beauty call to him in ways he can’t explain. 
​
Mia: Vulnerable. Homeless. Virgin. 

When the shelter Mia calls home closes, she is left with nowhere to go - nowhere except for the luxurious, glorious palace of a home that Xavier De Santis has invited her to stay. This too-handsome billionaire is dark, dangerous - and also too good to be true. But surely Mia can indulge in her fantasies and escape the drudges of her daily life for just one night?


As one night turns into two, Mia knows that eventually, the magic will end and she will have to return to her life of hardship. She can't keep the beautiful clothes. She can't keep the soft bed. And most of all, she can't keep the hard, handsome, brutal man who makes her crave his touch with every breath she takes. Mia doesn't belong in his world. But as Xavier tempts his rags-to-riches heroine with exquisite pleasure and heady desire, Mia doesn't stand a chance but to surrender completely to him.

Review

Caution - this may be a bit spoilery.

I'm at a little bit of a loss for this story, readers. On the one hand, I enjoyed Ashenden's writing, and felt she was able to adapt a fairy tale into modern times while also giving a voice to a population we don't get to hear about often, the homeless. On the other hand, as much as I appreciated that Xavier was supportive of Mia, I didn't enjoy the whole "virgin" aspect of the situation. 

In so many stories, especially romance, The Virgin is this almost-holy being that is innocent, untouchable, and therefore still able to be saved. I found this a difficult contrast with what we had been shown already - Mia as a homeless young woman who had made decisions she thought best for herself. That is something to be appreciated, and I felt the introduction of her being a virgin made everything trickle down to that. It seemed that all of a sudden it didn't matter that Mia was a fighter, and a survivor - no, it mattered that she had never been sexually touched and oh, isn't that special. 


I truly commend the author for introducing a new population to her readers. It is definitely the first time I see it in romance fiction. But I want romance authors (all authors, really) to remember is that we are shaped by our experiences, the good and the bad, and I don't mind my heroines having a background. I don't mind them knowing what they like or don't like. Don't get me wrong, I do love a good virgin trope. But when you're already doing something special (and yes, I think introducing the homeless population as ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE with WANTS, NEEDS, ETC. is special) , just go for it.
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Review: Daring the Bad Boy

8/23/2016

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Daring the Bad Boy
Endless Summer novel
by Monica Murphy

Synopsis

Annie McFarland is sick of being a shy nobody. A session at summer camp seems like the perfect opportunity to reinvent herself—gain some confidence, kiss a boy, be whoever she wants to be. A few days in, she’s already set her sights on über-hottie Kyle. Too bad her fear of water keeps her away from the lake, where Kyle is always hanging out. 

Jacob Fazio is at Camp Pine Ridge after one too many screw-ups. Junior counseling seems like punishment enough, but the rigid no-fraternizing-with-campers rules harsh his chill. When a night of Truth or Dare gets him roped into teaching Annie how to swim, she begs him to also teach her how to snag Kyle. 
​

Late-night swim sessions turn into late-night kissing sessions…but there’s more on the line than just their hearts. If they get caught, Jake’s headed straight to juvie, but Annie’s more than ready to dare him to reveal the truth.

Review

If you, like me, are a fan of easy, fun, and cute reads - look no further. This book is Young Adult, so there are some steamy parts, but way different than the romance books I usually review on here. It's been awhile since I've read YA actually, so I was a bit worried about getting back on that wagon. I shouldn't have feared it, however, Daring the Bad Boy was truly an engrossing read. 

Annie is the shy, somewhat nerdy girl who is off at camp and tired of being who she is...the good girl. She's trying to get the camp jock to notice her, but to no avail. Jake is a boy going through some hard times since losing his mother. Those hard times cause him to be shipped to camp to be a counselor as community service. Once Jake is there, it's Annie who grabs his attention - but getting involved with a camper is totally against the rules. Miscommunication and misunderstandings ensue. 

I'm not going to say what happens because that is part of the fun! It was such a great read and it's also my first Monica Murphy and I can truly say that I'm looking forward to reading more from her!
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Embrace Blast! Check these books out!

5/15/2016

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The Rule Book by Jennifer Blackwood
 
Starr Media Second-Assistant Survival Guide
 
1. Don't call your hot boss the antichrist to his face.
2. Don't stare at hot boss's, um, package or his full sleeve of tattoos. (No. Really. Stop!)
3. Don't get on the malicious first assistant's bad side.
4. Don't forget to memorize the 300-page employee manual.
5. If you value your cashmere, steer clear of boss’s dog.
6. Boss’s dimples are lust-inducing. Do. Not. Give. In.
7. “The elevator ate your clothes” is not a valid excuse for showing up to important meetings half dressed
8. Don't break seven of the rules within the first week of employment if you, ya know, are in dire need of money to support your sick mom.
9. Whatever you do, don’t fall for the boss. See rule eight about sick mom.
10. Never forget the rules.
 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29478744-the-rule-book
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rule-Book-Breakers-ebook/dp/B01E3PZRSM
Barnes&Noble:http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-rule-book-jennifer-blackwood/1123650344
Entangled: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/the-rule-book/

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Jennifer Blackwood
 
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Rush by Shae Ross
 
College Quarterback Preston Rush is living the dream. He’s leading his team to the National Championship and days away from earning a ‘first round draft pick’ label. When he meets Little Bo Peep at a Halloween party, he thinks he’s scored big. Instead, he wakes up in a jail cell with the corseted beauty. Because of him, she’s in trouble and when he discovers her true identity, he realizes, his nightmare is just beginning.
 
The always shooting-for-perfection Priscilla Winslow can’t believe her good deed has cost her a soccer career. Even though she knows it isn’t Preston’s fault, she can’t forgive him for the disaster that is her life. She just wishes her damn body would get the message. Every time she sees him, it’s all she can do not to kiss him.
 
When everything crashes down around him, Preston will have to decide if doing the right thing is worth losing it all.
 
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/29847172-rush
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Rush-Shae-Ross-ebook/dp/B01EFJQBRM
Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/rush-shae-ross/1123671890
Entangled: http://www.entangledpublishing.com/Rush

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Shae Ross
 
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Review: Dreamfever

4/29/2016

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​Dreamfever
Fever Series Book 4
by Karen Marie Moning

Synopsis

MacKayla Lane lies naked on the cold stone floor of a church, at the mercy of the Fae master she once swore to kill. Far from home, unable to control her sexual hungers, MacKayla is now fully under the Lord Master’s spell.…In New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning’s stunning novel, the walls between human and Fae worlds have come crashing down. And as Mac fights for survival on Dublin’s battle-scarred streets, she will embark on the darkest adventure of her life.

He has stolen her past, but MacKayla will never allow her sister’s murderer to take her future. Yet even the uniquely gifted sidhe-seer is no match for the Lord Master, who has unleashed an insatiable sexual craving that consumes Mac’s every thought—and thrusts her into the seductive realm of two very dangerous men, both of whom she desires but dares not trust. 

As the enigmatic Jericho Barrons and the sensual Fae prince V’lane vie for her body and soul, as cryptic entries from her sister’s diary mysteriously appear and the power of the Dark Book weaves its annihilating path through the city, Mac’s greatest enemy delivers a final challenge.…

It’s an invitation Mac cannot refuse, one that sends her racing home to Georgia, where an even darker threat awaits. With her parents missing and the lives of her loved ones under siege, Mac is about to come face-to-face with a soul-shattering truth—about herself and her sister, about Jericho Barrons…and about the world she thought she knew. 

BONUS: This edition includes and excerpt from Karen Marie Moning's Shadowfever.


Review

Ugh. Break my heart. 

You know that when a book breaks your heart - you have something. 

BUT I must tell you - this is filled with spoilers. You've been warned. 

Don't confuse intensity of emotion with quality of emotion, baby. - Mac's dad

I did not do a review on the third book (Faefever) because it seriously broke me. Mac goes through one of the most traumatic experiences anyone can go through - and entwining that with fae magic did not dull it one bit. Mac was basically raped by 4 fae princes (well, the fourth is yet to be determined) and was made pri-ya. It really scarred me as much as a piece of fiction could. 

So you can understand why it took me FOREVER to pick up book 4. I was honestly contemplating not picking it up. What convinced me was a note to the reader by Moning at the end of Faefever that basically said, "Hey - remember what I said at the beginning - Mac made it through this." So, I kept on. And I'm really glad that I did. 


There were so many feelings surrounding this part of the story. We finally get some insight into Barrons and follow Mac into the deeper areas of her personality and being. We understand, along with Mac, just how emotionally and physically strong she is. 

Don't lose yourself in anger, Mac. It's gasoline. - Ryodan

I really appreciate how far Mac has come as a character - Moning has really made these characters, specifically the characters of Barrons and Mac, into such complex characters. And I truly love these characters. *heavy sigh*

​And then the second traumatic thing, so far, in this series happened at the end of book 4. And that dear readers, I will not divulge. 

​There was another Moning note to the reader though - which I appreciated. 
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