Wild Like the Wind

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Wild Like the Wind by Kristen Ashley

4 stars! 

“Today, I woke up a loser. But I’m gonna end the night a winner.” 

Hound has loved Keely for years, but she’s the widow of one of his Chaos brothers and off limits. Over 18 years he was there for her, until an argument between them made him run away and Keely pursues him. Embarking on a physical relationship, there are a lot of issues that are between them…

^^^Okay so not my best synopsis, but I tried. What I can say was I was really surprised I enjoyed this one as much as I did, no offense to Ashley but her newer books can be a hit or a miss for me. But from the beginning I was absorbed into the story and couldn’t put my phone down (kindle app). This book reminded me of why I fell in love with Ashley’s books to begin with.

If you’re on the fence give this book a chance! It’s really good!

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The Woman in the Window

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The Woman in the Window by AJ Finn

4 stars! 

“You can hear someone’s secrets and their fears and their wants, but remember that these exist alongside other people’s secrets and fears, people living in the same room.” 

OMG I READ SOMETHING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE AND IT WASN’T AWFUL!!!

I have to be honest, I would have never picked this book up on my own. I work at the library that has like seven billion book clubs (just kidding it’s more like 5, but still) and this was selected for the mystery book club. Wanting to get more involved I read it…. and really enjoyed it!!

The Woman in the Window is about an agoraphobic doctor who watches her neighbors from her windows. One day she see’s something she shouldn’t have, and everything goes spiraling out of control. And that’s all I am gonna say about the plot, any more is too much.

“No family, happy or unhappy, is quite like any other. Tolstoy was chock-fullo’shit. Remember that.” 

This book was very much a modern day take on Rear Window and other old suspense films. So much so in fact the main character talks about them a lot (which made me glad my mother is obsessed with movies from the 30’s and 40’s because I actually understood a lot of the references). It was interesting to read a book from the perspective of an unreliable character, there are twists you see coming and others you don’t because of it.

I picked up this book apprehensive of the size, being almost 450 pages, but I found it read really fast and the other has a great writing style with the ability to suck you into the story. I would read 100+ pages in a sitting and would be shocked they flew by so fast and that I was so invested in the story.

I think this is a book a lot of people would really like. It’s not super original but it works because as I said, it’s more of a modern day Hitchcock story.

“The world is a beautiful place,” she insists, and she’s serious; her gaze is even, her voice level. Her eyes catch mine, hold them. “Don’t forget that.” She reclines, mashing her cigarette into the hollow of the bowl. “And don’t miss it.” 

Blue-Eyed Devil

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Blue-Eyed Devil by Lisa Kleypas

4 stars! 

“I no longer believed in the idea of soul mates, or love at first sight. But I was beginning to believe that a very few times in your life, if you were lucky, you might meet someone who was exactly right for you. Not because he was perfect, or because you were, but because your combined flaws were arranged in a way that allowed two separate beings to hinge together.” 

Blue Eyed Devil is the story of Haven, a young woman from a very wealthy oil family. Coming out of a bad marriage Haven has attracted the attention of Hardy, a rival of the family. But there may be more to Hardy than meets the eye, but Haven isn’t sure if she’s ready to handle a man like him.

It’s funny because everyone told me after I read Sugar Daddy that I would love this book more and well…. I didn’t. Don’t get me wrong it was fantastic, but it’s almost like how everyone else LOVES Devil in Winter and while I enjoyed that one too, it doesn’t live up to the hype. Maybe it’s just me and my picky ass reading tastes? This book was very rushed at the end and everything just fell together with minimal conflict (even tho there was a crapton of buildup to it).

What I loved was Haven as a heroine. Beat down she had a hard time of it, but she overcame and did her best to live her life on her own terms. I love Kleypas’ writing style which makes it so effortless to fall into her world and read about her characters. And I even really enjoyed the sex scenes, normally I skip those in my romances. I can see why others loved this book and I really liked it, hence 4 stars.

“One of the blessings human beings take for granted is the ability to remember pain without re-feeling it. The pain of the physical wounds is long gone …and the other kind of hurt, the damage done to our spirits, has been healed. We are careful with those scarred places in each other.” 

Fight or Flight

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Fight or Flight by Samantha Young

4.5 stars 

“My physical appearance was just a small fraction of who I was. I was more than a pretty bauble to hang on the tree of a man’s world.” 

After a horrible trip to her childhood home, Ava just wants to get the heck out of Arizona and back to her apartment in Boston. Her attempts at everything in the airport from first class upgrades to meals to the coffee cart are thwarted by a rude Scotsman…. who happens to be her seatmate on her flight. Their hatred for each other soon turns into a night neither of them will ever forget.

By chance Caleb reenters her life when Ava had thought he was just a one night stand, and the two decide to explore their physical attraction even further…

“When you were infatuated with someone, you failed to see their imperfections. When it was more than a fixation, you still cared about them in spite of their flaws.” 

First off, Samantha Young is romance royalty. She delivered THE BEST ANGST in any romance novels, hands down. She’s also one of the few authors that I don’t skim sex scenes (yes I am weird and I do that most of the time). When I read a book by Young, I am enthralled from the very beginning, all the way to the last page at the end. I always say this too but I love how she manages to write characters from different countries and nails it every time, there are never cultural inaccuracies which blows my mind.

There are similarities in this book to On Dublin Street, a heroine with a messed up family past and a best friend who dies tragically (not a spoiler it’s in the beginning of both books). But the similarities end there. I loved Ava. She was such an incredible female character unlike many we see in this genre. She’s gorgeous but wants to be valued as more. She works hard but remembers to be kind. Caleb was an amazing alpha-hole, but was nice at the right points. I wish we had gotten more of his side of events but I still really loved him too.

I have two things to gripe about in this book, the first affected my rating the other did not. At the end of the book, what was done to Ava, there needed to be a lot more fucking groveling. I was actually appalled at the lack of groveling at the end considering Caleb’s words and actions. The second thing I have to gripe about, I friggin hate the cover of this book. I know it’s the newest rage in romance and we have The Hating Game to blame for it, but the cover of this book does not match the inside at all and I am looking forward to when (if) they change the cover in the future. I want to reiterate, the cover did not affect my rating.

“We’re all afraid of something, sweetheart. It’s up to us whether we stay and fight that fear… or whether we run and hide from it.” 

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All quotes came from an unedited copy and are subject to change in final review. 

Consumed

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Consumed by JR Ward

3 stars 

This is a book that started out very strong for me. I loved the prequel novellas and the beginning of the book was so compelling with the story. And then about halfway through it’s almost like it fell apart. Consumed is about firefighters Anne and Danny. Both of them feel an intense attraction to each other, but working on the same team nothing can come of it.

Like I said I felt the first half of the book was very good and I liked the characters and the story. The second half of the book I found boring and a tad bit ridiculous. I think this series has a lot of potential and the future installments will be really great so I’ll definitely be checking those out. Three stars because I enjoyed this book for the most part.

ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

The Great Alone

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The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

4.5 stars! 

“All this time, Dad had taught Leni how dangerous the outside world was. The truth was that the biggest danger of all was in her own home.” 

Thirteen year old Leni is used to moving around. Her father Ernt was a POW in Vietnam and when he came back from the war, he didn’t come back right. On a whim, he moves Leni and her mother up to Alaska in search of a simpler and better life.

But Alaska is more than they all bargained for, and as winter approaches it becomes clear they are not prepared. But as the days grow shorter, so does Ernt’s temper and Leni and her mother have more to fear than the dangers of Alaska.

“Love and fear. The most destructive forces on earth. Fear had turned her inside out, love had made her stupid.” 

Kristin Hannah is an author I’ve always been meaning to read and never got to before. I can now say I totally regret not picking up one of her books until now. The Great Alone captivated me from the first page and had me staying up late and sacrificing sleep to finish it.

It’s odd because thinking back on the book, I didn’t quite love or understand any of the characters. Except for maybe Large Marge because that woman was freaking awesome. But Leni who started out strong for me changed about 75% in. I think what really makes this book amazing is the story and the writing style. I felt like I was in Alaska with the rest of the characters and experiencing everything with them.

“It’s scary that people can just stop loving you, you know?”

Professor Feelgood

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Professor Feelgood by Leisa Rayven

4 stars! 

“ A soulmate is someone who sees all the parts you’re ashamed of, and loves you anyway.” 

Book editor Asha is looking for the next big thing in the publishing world. While doing research for her next book to publish, she gets an idea to approach an Instagram poet who anonymously posts online. Hoping he will be the next bestseller she messages him and after some convincing he agrees. After everything is finalized, she realizes her dream man is a giant jerk, and now she has to work with him one on one.

“How do you protect yourself from the person who was born with an all-access pass to your heart?” 

Leisa Rayven is a magical unicorn writer, everything she writes, I love. Professor Feelgood was a great next installment in the Masters of Love series (it can be read as a standalone) and I loved Asha and the Professor so so much. My favorite part about this book was the theme of looking inward and recognizing your mistakes. Also the power of perspective was an excellent theme of this book, one that doesn’t get covered a lot in romance.

I love Rayven’s stories and her writing. If I could I would go all Kathy Bates on her and have her write me stories all day long, I just don’t want to break her legs haha.

“You’re the one thing in this world that helps me make sense.” 

ARC provided by the author in exchange for an honest review

Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating

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Josh and Hazel’s Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren

5 stars!! 

“The world seems full of men who are initially infatuated by our eccentricities, but who ultimately expect them to be temporary.” 

Josh and Hazel have known each other since college when she vomited on his shoes. Hazel was the wild child and Josh always liked her but thought she was a bit too much.

Now years later the two of them meet up again and become the best of friends. Knowing they are both undate-able for each other, they set out on a series of double dates each more unfortunate than the last. But they might be having more fun with each other than anyone else….

“When I meet someone I love, I become an octopus and wind my tentacles around their heart.” 

It took me until the end of chapter 1 to realize I had been smiling the entire time I had been reading. Throughout reading this book I would continue to find myself smiling and laughing out loud. Sometimes I was laughing so hard I had to put the book down before diving right back in. To say I loved this book is an understatement, and it came into my life exactly when I needed it.

Christina Lauren is an author duo who only get better with every new release. How is that even possible? Most authors tend to go downhill, get boring or deliver the same book with a new cover. Not these two!!! They’ve cemented themselves into a favorite author spot for me, and I know they are automatic one click authors.

Josh and Hazel are characters I loved equally, but for very different reasons. I loved Hazel’s bright inner light, her eccentricities, and how she was aware she was different from everyone else but was unwilling to change for anyone. I loved how Josh got Hazel and accepted her, never wanting to change her. He’s more a stoic type, but the kind that will quietly be beside you through everything.

This book is going into my best of the year list! I LOVED IT! It’s a special story and I really do hope reader’s everywhere will pick it up and enjoy it even half as much as I did.

“He doesn’t need me to change or pretend to be someone else. He’s my person. He’s my best friend.” 

ARC provided by the publisher via netgalley. All/any quotes in this review came from an advance unedited copy and may be subject to change in the final product. 

Magic Triumphs

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Magic Triumphs by Ilona Andrews

4.5 stars! 

In this epic final novel, Katie Lennart faces a huge threat and must rely on alliances with enemies in order for Atlanta to stand.

I really enjoyed this final novel in this series. It’s a really solid urban fantasy series with a heroine who is everything a strong female character should be. My absolute favorite part of this book was baby Conlan and all of his developments. It reminded me a lot of Jack Jack in The Incredibles 2 and added a nice touch of humor to a story that would normally be pretty grim.

The ending was amazing!!! I kept wondering how everything would play out, the last 20% of the book was so compelling and suspenseful. A lot of issues were resolved, some heartbreak was involved. I teared up frequently as I was reading. I find I’m also left with questions and hoping Julie gets a book. I also felt the lack of Ascansio in this final story and found I really missed his witty presence I had grown used to in the previous novels.

I think Ilona Andews have made a great place for themselves in the fantasy genre and I can only see good things coming from them in the future. I’ll need to read all their other series to fill the hole in my heart the Kate Daniels series has left.

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review 

Kiss an Angel

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Kiss an Angel by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

4.5 stars! 

My first SEP novel and it was oh soooo good!!!! Normally contemporary romance novels from the 90’s aren’t really my thing, but this was compared to The Unwanted Wife by Natasha Anders so I had to read it.

Kiss An Angel is the story of Daisy who gets roped into an arranged marriage to a man who seems to despise her. Alex works for a traveling circus and seems to find a lot of pleasure in assigning Daisy to tasks which would humiliate her. As time goes by, sparks fly between the two and they give in to their attraction. But Alex will never love anyone, and he makes it clear he will never love Daisy.

This book started out a bit rough for me, I almost threw in the towel and I pushed on. I’m so glad I did because after 20% or so I was unable to put down this book. Then 70% hit and it was angsty AF so of course I was vomiting happy rainbows out of my mouth. I’m such an angst whore, I swear. I really liked Daisy and Alex, I liked them even more together. Another highlight for me was the relationships developed with the circus animals because I am a giant softy for animals.

I cannot wait to discover more by SEP!

Love in the Afternoon

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Love in the Afternoon by Lisa Kleypas

4.5 stars! 

Gosh I just fell in love with this wonderful story!!! Beatrix is the Hathaway sister I wanted to read about the most, and her story was so wonderful! Exceeded my expectations. And I love a wounded hero.

If you haven’t been reading Lisa Kleypas, I honestly don’t know what you’re doing with your life.

The Chase

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The Chase by Elle Kennedy

3.5 stars 

I love Elle Kennedy and I have loved almost everything she’s ever written. When I heard she was coming out with a new book that she wrote alone I was beyond excited and when the arc landed on my kindle I dived in right away. I loved Summer as a main character, she had such spark and personality and such life. Kennedy’s writing style is also something I love because I could fall effortlessly into the story. Reading her books never feels like work and I love the world she’s built in the Off Campus universe.

What brought the rating down for me was Fitz. I literally wanted to smack him for 75% of the book! God, that man drove me crazy and not in a good way. I get that he had trouble expressing himself and his parents totally screwed him up, but I really hated how he constantly bashed Summer and called her drama all the time. She’s a human being with emotions dude, not a robot.

I think lots of readers will love this book and for the most part I did too. I will eagerly be waiting for Brenna’s story because she was one of my favorite things about this story and I think her book will be amazing.

An ARC was provided by the author in exchange for an honest review 

Magic Breaks

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Magic Breaks by Ilona Andrews

4.5 stars! 

“Fortune favors the brave,” I told her. It also kills the stupid, but I decided to keep that fact to myself.” 

Did I read a different book from everyone else? I thought this book was FANTASTIC! I felt the plot finally got moving in this one and choices were made that shape where the series is headed.

When Kate is left to watch over the Pack while Curran is gone, the wolves are accused of a murder and have 24 hours to hand over the killer or there will be war. A race against time for Kate and her people to find the murderer and to keep the pack safe.

“Quick, Derek, it’s your chance to shine,” Ascanio said.
Derek gave him a withering look.
“Desandra is a mother, Robert is married, Kate’s affianced, and I’m an old soul. You’re the closest thing to a virgin we’ve got. Get on with growing some flowing locks.” 

I think what I liked best about this book was the FEELS. Oh the FEELS! So many moments where I felt my heart go out to these characters and wanted to hug them. But there were also a lot of funny moments and I love the interactions with Desandra, Derek and Ascansio.

One of the better books in this series, I am rushing off to read the next one!!

“What the hell is this?” Desandra asked
“This is Cuddles. She’s a mammoth donkey.”
Derek grinned, leaning on the fence. “Do you have any self-respect left?”
“Nope.” 

Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

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Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by JK Rowling

5 stars! 

“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.” 

^^^This is what stuck with me the most during this reread.

My brain was feeling like it was beginning to melt so I knew I needed a reread. I haven’t read Goblet since the movie came out and that film was such a dumpster fire it turned me off the book for a looonnnggg time. And Goblet used to be my favorite! So I fell in love with it again.

Do I need to rehash the plot? I don’t think so. But I will list what I loved and had somewhat forgotten about: Winky, SPEW, Rita Skeeter’s secret, and Dobby. Also reading this book with fresh eyes after reading the last book made me see a few subtle hints at what was to come.

“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be.” 

Ravensong

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Ravensong (Green Creek #2) by TJ Klune

4.5 stars! 

SPOILER FREE REVIEW!! 

“The funny thing about hate is the razor-thin line that separates it from something else entirely.” 

This is the story of Gordo and Mark, characters we met and fell in love with in Wolfsong (the book before this one and yes, you need to read them in order). Gordo and Mark loved each other, but something happened and Gordo sent Mark away. Now years later, Gordo is again the witch of the wolf pack Mark is in, but the two of them cannot seem to work out the past. When a new threat comes to Green Creek they both race against time to save those they love.

“Here, in the dark, hearing him laugh reminded me of the way things once had been. And the way things could be…” 

Not going to lie, I was a little bit apprehensive about reading Ravensong. Don’t get me wrong, I was DYING to get my hands on it, but since I loved Wolfsong so much, I was worried my expectations were too high. I needn’t have worried, because they weren’t. I loved this story, I loved the characters. Reading this book felt like coming home again. I found myself smiling a lot throughout and tearing up at other parts. Klune is an excellent writer, bordering on brilliant in my book.

I’m not going to give away any spoilers, but I will say this had less angst than the first book (which personally I could have used some more, hence the 4.5 and not 5 stars) but angst allergic people will be happy. I also loved that TJ was able to progress the overall plot of this series and didn’t just dish us the same thing twice.

A beautiful love story, one I’ll never forget. And I hope there is more to come with this series (subtext, there better be more books in this series or else!).

“I have never seen a wolf love another as much as he loved you.” 

ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review