Review: Undaunted by Ronnie Douglas

Publish Date: September 15, 2015

Trade Paperback {p.352}

Genre: New Adult

Series: Knights in Black Leather #1

Source: Publisher

Aubrey Evans, Zion

Being fearless has never looked so good...

Aubrey Evans needs to get her life back on track after her father is indicted for embezzlement. All she has to do to hightail it out of small-town Tennessee is save up money for college tuition and steer clear of hard-muscled boys on motorcycles. Yet there's no ignoring someone like Zion. A knight in black leather, Zion looks like every bad idea she's been told to avoid, but she can't resist him. Whenever she's in trouble, he's there. Appealing as his rough exterior may be, it's the protective, principled man beneath who tempts her like crazy.

Zion knows Aubrey doesn't intend to stick around. She claims to want only friendship, but he senses there's a naughty girl hiding on the inside—one whose intense desires match his own. For now, he'll be patient and play by her rules. But he knows it's just a matter of time before he weakens her resolve.

As they join forces to figure out who's behind a local crime spree, it's clear that the danger goes deeper than Aubrey guessed. And when she needs someone tall, dark, and undaunted to keep her safe, Zion intends to be there—now and always.

Overall I really enjoyed this book. With that, I must say at times however, I did not like Aubrey. Who in their right mind does some of the things she did within the first couple of pages of the book with complete strangers. I almost gave up on this book with just that behavior alone. She definitely lost points with me with that behavior from that point on. I often wondered why Zion even bothered.

Zion I liked. His story or struggle with the MC is what kept me involved with the story. His chemistry with Aubrey was lacking in my opinion, and often felt forced for the sake of the story. I didn't buy what they were selling with "romance" between these two.

Zion's relationship with the MC president was also a head-scratcher. Yet another element to the story I could have done without. These guys are suppose to be all about brotherhood and having each other's back, but that whole situation with Zion and the MC was a complete and total mess. That was no kind of brotherhood in my opinion toward Zion from the MC or the other members surrounding the worst kept secret. Ellen and Dash, Aubrey's BFF and Zion's cousin, now that relationship seemed promising.

In My Mailbox {176}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Half Price Books

Believe by Erin McCarthy

Melting the Ice by Jaci Burton

Mona Lisa Craving by Sunny

One Sweet Ride by Jaci Burton

Shatter by Erin McCarthy

Sweet by Erin McCarthy

The Training by Tara Sue Me

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

 

Books via Publisher

The Duke and the Dark Desires by Miranda Neville

Echo by Pam Munoz Ryan

Falling for Jillian by Kristen Proby

One Wish by Robyn Carr

In My Mailbox {175}

In My Mailbox (IMM) is a weekly meme. Every week I'll post what books I've received either by mailbox/library/store.

I'll try to post an entry of IMM every Sunday that I receive books by mail/library/store of that week.

Books via Better World Books

The All You Can Dream Buffet by Barbara O'Neal

Catari Heat by Kyla Logan

The Darkest Craving by Gena Showalter

Forever and a Day by Jill Shalvis

The Garden of Happy Endings by Barbara O'Neal

Lush by Lauren Dane

Sweet Dreams by Kristen Ashley

Ten Tiny Breaths by K.A. Tucker

 

Books via Book Outlet

Chose the Wrong Guy, Gave Him the Wrong Finger by Beth Harbison
How to Love by Katie Cotugno
Let the Sky Fall by Shannon Messenger
Split Second by Kasie West
This Song Will Save Your Life by Leila Sales
Twisted by K.A. Robinson
Uninvited by Sophie Jordan

Review: Chained by Night by Larissa Ione

Publish Date: September 30, 2014

Mass Market Paperback {p.}

Genre: Paranormal

Series: MoonBound Clan Vampire #2

Source: Publisher

Aylin, Hunter

THE FUTURE OF HIS TRIBE Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction—or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation.To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader’s daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans.

THE LOVER OF HIS SOUL But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress’s identical twin sister?

 

It took me some time to get into this story, and when I did, it seemed to drag on in parts a bit unnecessarily. With that said, I still enjoyed the majority of the book. I really liked the interaction between Aylin and Hunter. All her live she'd been below everyone else in the pecking order, but when she was with Hunter you would never know it. She spoke her mind with Hunter, without fear of reprimand.

The chemistry between the two of them pretty much began at first sight of each other. Even with that being the case, I never felt that their chemistry was forced. Hunter was a great leader for the clan in the aspect that everyone was equal, no one person was better than the other because of issues beyond their control. 

I am interested to see how the clan progresses, especially Nicole and Riker and Myne. Outside of Aylin and Hunter, they were the ones I became most invested in. Sam was also an interesting character. He was not at all what I was expecting. The overall series seems promising, but it's not one that I'll be impatiently waiting for.

Jagged by Kristen Ashley ~ Launch Day Blitz

An old flame rekindled...
Zara Cinders always knew Ham Reece was the one, but he wasn't interested in settling down. When she found someone who was, Ham walked out of her life. Three years later, Zara's lost her business, her marriage, and she's barely getting by in a tiny apartment on the wrong side of the tracks. As soon as Ham hears about Zara's plight, he's on her doorstep offering her a lifeline. Now, it will take every ounce of will power she possesses to resist all that he offers.

Ham was always a traveling man, never one to settle down in one town, with one woman, for more time than absolutely necessary. But Ham's faced his own demons, and he's learned a lot. About himself, and about the life he knows he's meant to live. So when he hears that Zara's having a rough time, he wants to be the one to help. In fact, he wants to do more than that for Zara. A lot more. But first, he must prove to Zara that he's a changed man.

Buy Links:

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“You’ve been waiting for me to come to you?”

“Babe, you’re my Zara, my cookie, so fuck yeah, I’ve been bidin’ my time, givin’ you space to sort your head out, but waitin’ to get you back, as in”—his hand slid up to cup my jaw and his face dipped closer—“back.”

Was he serious? Two months…no seven, if you counted when he came back after hatchet man got to him, I’d been in misery and he’d been waiting to get me back?

I felt my eyes narrow.

“Last night, you rolled off me and didn’t say a word about a chat before you went to the bathroom,” I reminded him.

“Zara, what we shared, so good, so hot, so close, us bein’ back to us, didn’t feel I needed to say a word,” he replied.

Was he for real? “Back to us” and he didn’t feel he needed to say a word?

“Well, you did,” I stated.

“I see that now,” he returned.

Okay, then, time for a different subject.

“You said you didn’t want my body,” I accused.

“I lied, Zara. Fuck, when have I ever not wanted in there?” he asked, a question that had one answer, that being never. But he didn’t give me the chance to give that answer, he kept talking. “I would have said anything to get you out of that shithole, get you safe, and get you with me.”
“You lied?” I asked.

“I lied,” Ham answered.

“Lied?” My voice was getting higher.

“Asked and answered, darlin’,” he clipped.

“So you thought it was a good idea to lie,” I noted unhappily.

“Babe, I came to you, we almost instantly got up in each other’s shit. You had a lot you were dealin’ with and one of those things didn’t need to be me. You weren’t lettin’ anyone do anything for you. You needed time to deal. I wanted you with me. I did what I had to do to give you that and make that happen for me.”

My head gave a jerk as what he said tardily hit me.

“You wanted me with you?”

He was beginning to look impatient.

“You’ve known me years. I ever go back?” he asked.

“Go back to what?”

“Go back anywhere.”

“Ham—”
“I don’t go back,” he declared.

“I don’t get—”

“Now I’m back in Gnaw Bone, back at The Dog, babe, why do you think that is?”
I didn’t speak. I was back to staring.

Because I knew why I wanted that to be.

I just rarely got what I wanted.

Then Graham Reece finally gave me what I wanted.

“Because you’re here.”

“Holy shit,” I whispered.

He stopped looking impatient, his eyes warmed, his face went soft, and his lips twitched.

But, “Yeah,” was all he said.

About the author:

Kristen Ashley grew up in Brownsburg, Indiana, and has lived in Denver, Colorado, and the West Country of England. Thus she has been blessed to have friends and family around the globe. Her posse is loopy (to say the least) but loopy is good when you want to write. Kristen was raised in a house with a large and multigenerational family. They lived on a very small farm in a small town in the heartland, and Kristen grew up listening to the strains of Glenn Miller, The Everly Brothers, REO Speedwagon, and Whitesnake. Needless to say, growing up in a house full of music and love was a good way to grow up.  And as she keeps growing up, it keeps getting better.

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Review: In Your Dreams by Kristan Higgins

Publish Date: September 30, 2014

Mass Market Paperback {p.469}

Genre: Contemporary

Series: Blue Heron #4

Source: Publisher

Emmaline Neal, Jack Holland
 

Emmaline Neal needs a date. Just a date—someone to help her get through her ex-fiancé's wedding without losing her mind. But pickings are slim in Manningsport, New York, population 715. In fact, there's really only one option: local heartthrob Jack Holland. Everyone loves Jack, and he won't get the wrong idea…. After all, Jack Holland would never actually be interested in a woman like Em. Especially not with his beautiful ex-wife creeping around, angling to reunite ever since he rescued a group of teens and became a local hero.

But when the wedding festivities take an unexpectedly passionate turn, Em figures it was just one crazy night. Jack is too gorgeous, too popular, to ever end up with her. So why is she the one he can talk to about his deep, dark feelings? If Em is going to get her dream man, she'll have to start by believing in him...

Another great read to add to my favorites list! I absolutely adored Emmaline. Her parents, not so much. Emmaline was one of those characters you just immediately connect with. Her struggles and emotions became your struggles and emotions. I just wanted all the success and happiness for her and detriment to all those who wronged her.

Jack on the other hand, we had our moments. At times I got extremely frustrated with Jack. I know he's known as the town's hero and greatest guy around, but when it came to his interaction with his ex-wife Hadley, I truly wanted him to grow a pair and tell her to kick bricks. He was just to nice for his own good. And most of the time it was to his own detriment.

Again I just loved Jack's family. They never seem to disappoint when it comes to keeping me entertained. Especially Goggy and Pru. This has turned into one fine series that I hope will be continuing.