Review: The Fine Print by Lauren Asher (Dreamland billionaires #1)

The Fine Print by Lauren Asher
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is my first Lauren Asher book. The Fine Print and dreamland billionaire series is set in a pseudo like setting of a disneyworld empire in Orlando. I don’t want to give the plot away but the stakes are high in terms of whose gonna manage the dreamland name and parks. But much more than that you have a story centered around two broken characters that have to fight past trauma, a guarded heart and the pursuit of love over money.

The main characters are Rowan and Zahra in the 1st series of the dreamland billionaires. First off, I think it’s great that the author chose a interracial couple and gave each character a rich and in depth background. While Zahra is the more empathetic, kind and humanitarian type of heroine… Rowan is the more stoic handsome rich boy who struggles with identity and self acceptance. And boy do they complement each other well because they are opposites.

The winning factor in this book is that the protagonists, while seemingly broken, help each other out to balance what’s lacking in each other in order to achieve fulfillment and self realization. So, ultimately, this is a story of healing, with many steamy scenes in the mix. Also, if you like the sunshine and grumpy trope, with a shorter girl and very tall sexy male lead trope, this is the book for you. The story is also told in both of their point of views and the writing is very fluid and easy to get into. 5 out of 5 rating for me.



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Review: Hard Trigger by S.L. Hannah

Hard Trigger: A Rogue Romance by S L Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

First of all, I have to say that this book was such a surprise and completely explosive. There is an underlying raw energy throughout the story that refuses to be ignored.

The writing! I seriously don't understand how Hannah does it, but her writing just sucks you in. It is so easy to get lost in her stories. There isn't any rereading of the first paragraph, due to awkwardness. You are automatically pulled in from the first sentence with effortless writing that is straight to the point, but sophisticated. I also love that this book is not lengthy at all but manages to take on a lot of complex themes, from revenge to corrupt business practices, to murder plots and the most difficult, yet universal sentiment of all, which is love. To be specific, romantic love.

Now moving on to the characters. Victoria, the female lead, and Diego, the male lead in this story, are incredibly strong and unapologetic characters. Victoria is like a young female James Bond who will stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She had a mysterious air to her. I like that she was interested in aviation and that she was a woman who did not deny herself any romantic passion. She had a layered background in terms of her nationality and family life. And Diego, Victoria's love interest, just oozed power and intelligence and had an insatiable passion for Victoria, making them the perfect match.

What makes this book special is that Victoria, the main character in this book, is not the typical heroine with a heart of gold. She does things that are shocking and that to some might even seem unforgivable, but still manages to make the reader root for her success. And despite some of the untraditional things she does compared to most female leads, she doesn't wallow in self pity or remorse or waits to be rescued. She goes for what she wants with an unwavering determination.

Besides the characters, I love the international settings that this book takes place in. The reader literally feels like they are on a risky ride around the world that has constant action and danger lurking around the corner. Victoria is originally from South Africa, while Diego, her love interest, came from a prominent family in Mexico. Together they make a very fiery and complicated and passionate couple. And if you add a certain underlying rivalry between their families, you have a really strong and intricate dynamic between them.

Any reader of Hannah can tell you, that as an author she doesn't shy away from taboo or strong topics. This book is intense from start to finish and the romance is fire! The energy is raw and sensous and insatiable between Victoria and Diego. So, I feel like this book is for anyone who likes an intense and untraditional romance.

The background and subplots in this book were like a mix of the series, Queen of the South/Reina del Sur and James Bond with a mix of Mr and Mrs Smith energy. I honestly felt like I could imagine everything I was reading as a film in my head.

Huge Kudos to Hannah, who really did her research in terms of the countries and nationalities that were mentioned. The hint of Spanish phrases in the book was a really nice touch. And as a Latina myself, I felt an authenticity to the characters and places and situations I was reading.

If you are not faint of heart and want to dive into a little danger and a passionate story, this book is perfect for you. I'd recommend it to people who like action films, strong female characters, and intense and complex romances like that of J.A. Redmerski's 'In the Company of Killers' to name an example.

My Rating: 4.5 out of 5.



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Review: Roomies by Christina Lauren

Roomies by Christina Lauren
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Roomies is an incredibly easy book to get into. The writing is good, it's engaging and very modern. You almost feel like this book is an on going conversation you are having with a friend about events in your life. It is relatable and realistic.

The main character, Holland, is a struggling writer who develops a crush on a busker. She grows a lot within the book, it takes her a lot to realize what she needs to do in life and whom she loves but she slowly gets there. The male lead in this book, Calvin, is a busker/musician, struggling to hit it big in NYC despite having immense talent.

This book is basically a story of a marriage of convenience where the main characters go from strangers, to friends, to lovers. There's a lot of highs and lows in their journey but they manage to fall in love.

The aspects of this book that I loved the most is that it was an NA contemporary romance where the female lead had a strong presence of family in her life. She wasn't isolated and figuring things out alone, her uncle and his husband were strong and supportive figures in her life with a lot of dimension to them.

I also liked that there wasn't Insta love in this book where the main characters just had this irresistible pull to each other out of the blue. Because Insta love is a cheap way to write a romance and a bit unrealistic.

I felt that this book ran on the theme of having to learn to be brutally honest with yourself in order to find your happiness. Also to not let anyone put you second place in your life and to be the protagonist of your own life journey and not let others influence you.

And last but not least, I liked that this book touched on having toxic friendships. Where you think the person is nice, but you realize that they're not, that they're envious and not truly as supportiveas they should be. And the need to cut that off.

The only reason this book doesn't get a perfect rating is that there were times where instead of being endeared to Holland's struggle to find her identity, you get annoyed because shes pushing it in the naiveté department. Also, at times where the language between both characters should have been more romantic, they chose to make it more crass for the sake of making the book realistic and modern.

The other thing that I didn't like were some dream sequences that were awkwardly written in to add steam to the story but actually felt like they were happening and like the tension between the characters was broken into before it needed to be broken into. not a fan.

but overall, this is a good book. I liked it.

I give it a 3.5/5 rating.





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Anti Stepbrother by Tijan

Anti-Stepbrother by Tijan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I havent read a good New Adult book in ages. Most people turn to this genre because YA books limit the way authors can write mature situations. BUT sometimes authors take advantage of this and take it too far with the sex scenes in the sense that they use them for shock value and ignore the character and emotional development needed for a balanced book.

But WE have a winner here. Because Summer and Caden are a reflection of their age. College students. They have steam and chemistry but there is depth. No Insta love here. There is a lot of development here because I went from being skeptical about Summer to "You go, girl!" With her realness. And Caden, Caden!!! He was sexy, strong and mysterious but had a really sweet nature underneath and a lot of emotional turmoil.

So did Summer. She starts off with thinking she likes someone else to a slow development of friends to lovers with Caden. And that's what I loved. At the beginning you had no idea where things were heading but slowly you see this connection growing between Summer and Caden!

Loved the secondary characters. I need books about Cadens brothers please! And Tijan surprised me with some backstories. Shes my new autobuy author.

5/5





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Review: The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski

The Edge of Never by J.A. Redmerski
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I like the style of writing in this book. It is very contemporary in the sense that the references to pop culture are very current and clever. I like how the author often described a character and in the same breath compared them to a famous actor. It really brought a lot of the characters to life.

The highlight of this book for me is the first half of it. Camryn, the female lead, had a really unique voice in the first half of this book. She wanted to break free from the monotony of life and look for something more. She quits her jobs, buys a ticket on a bus to nowhere, no real destination and it was one of the coolest decisions I've seen a character make because it was brave. People tend to get tied down by life, daily life responsibilities, but this girl follows her gut and makes a run for it, a run towards freedom.

Camryn meets this very cool and gorgeous looking guy on the bus and the rest is history. Andrew, the male lead of the story, also doesn't want to be tied to societal conventions and finds himself intrigued by Camryn on this bus alone, which for a young woman can be dangerous with all the creepers out there nowadays.

Camryn and Andrew eventually find themselves on a road trip together, going from city to city with nothing but what they have in their pockets. What's cool about Andrew is that he also had really cool views in life. He essentially didn't want to live by anyone's rules and do what makes him happy.

Overall, this book would've been a perfect read if it wasnt for the second half of the book. Andrew comes in the story and for someone who wants to break free, Camryn surely becomes a bit submissive and cliche as a girl. Andrew definitely takes authority in this book and Camryn loses the powerful voice she had in the first half. Almost doesnt seem like the same girl. You see glimpses of it, but it doesnt follow through with what she wanted in the first half of the book.

I do love that Camryn and Andrew want to create their own life for themselves without caring what people think. They encounter everything: creepers, bars, illness, death, their own insecurities, you name it. On their road trip together they go through it all. They do have a tenderness to their love story, but it also gets really steamy. Like, be warned, the sex scenes are descriptive, nothing was held back. NOTHING. It got 50 shades of grey real quick in some moments. This book has it all.

There is a lot of surprises towards the end. Good and bad. But my only quirk was that I felt Camryn lost a bit of what made her a unique female lead, her strong voice and willfullness. Overall, this is a good start to this series, I do know there is a sequel. I do wonder how their story continues.

My rating: 4/5

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Review: Unforgettable (Forehead Kisses #5) by Abby Reynolds

Unforgettable by Abby Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Book 5 in the Forehead Kisses series was a really quick and good read. This book was the conclusion to the Scotty and Livia storyline. In Book 4 we learned that Livia was hiding a traumatic event in her past and that Scotty had fallen for her after years of just hooking up with random girls and essentially being a man whore. In Unforgettable we find them learning to trust one another and being truthful about their lives.

What was great in this book is that Livia who was really closed off from people finally tells the truth about what happened to her in her life that changed her. She opens up to Scotty, her boyfriend, and Ash, her brother. It felt like it helped them understand her and her closed off nature a lot better.

This book was intense in the sense it covers heavy topics. Especially that of abusing a person in the worst way. I don't want to say to not be spoilery, but this book had a powerful message, of how important it is to not let traumatic events define you and to rise above them to appreciate the little things in life that make it great.

Scotty and Livia did get really hot and heavy in this book. It gets steamy. But overall, what I love about this couple is how sweet and considerate they are of each others feelings.

I'm looking forward to reading Ash's story in book 6 and 7 in this series. He is a really good brother to Livia but he does act recklessly in his personal life. With that being said, I look forward to seeing him mature and trying to be a better man. He seems to think very badly of all people even though he parties and drinks a lot and sleeps around. I wonder what is lying underneath. And for those fans of the Vampire Academy and Bloodline series by Richelle Mead, Ash reminds me of a non supernatural Adrian Ivashkov.

Rating: 4/5

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Review: Unstoppable (Forehead Kisses #4) by Abby Reynolds

Unstoppable by Abby Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

By far, Unstoppable, book # 4 in the Forehead Kisses series has been my favorite.

The story centers on Scotty and Livia. Both are very layered characters. Scotty is a history major who wants to be a fighter. Livia is a painter who is very analytical. They have sworn off relationships until they meet one another. Together they are very sweet. Both are broken souls who need to learn how to trust.

Scotty is just the sweetest guy. I thought he was good from the first books in this series and how supportive he was with his cousin, Keira. But with Livia it's what he was, times ten. Scotty may look tough on the outside but his soul is pure good.

Livia seems to have had something very traumatic happen to her so she is closed off. Im guessing that in Book #5 we will get to learn in detail what that is. And see how she and Scotty finally learn to love and trust one another completely because they didnt end on the highest of notes in this book and that makes my heart ache because they are soooo amazing together.

Besides, Scotty and Livia, this book introduces us to Ash, Livia's brother, who will be the focus of the last two books in this series. I think there is more to him than a pretty boy rich guy who likes to sleep around. I think there is a very good heart underneath it all because he is a very good brother to Livia.

My rating: 4.5/5
This book was a quick read and ended on a huge cliffhanger. I need more!

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Review: Uncrushable (Forehead Kisses #3) by Abby Reynolds

Uncrushable by Abby Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

So, this was the last book focused on the Liam and Keira relationship. I felt like their conclusion was wrapped up really well. In book 1 and 2 I was a bit concerned about Keira's growth or lack there of. But in Book 3, she really redeemed herself and grew.

I think what really shines in this book is Liam's vulnerability. His physique, his career as a fighter and his personality can lead to a character that is just really tough, but on the contrary, he is not. Liam showed that even though he is physically strong and brave, that his heart is fragile and needed to rebuild itself and learn to trust again.

Keira grew leaps and bounds. She really became strong on her own - emotionally, mentally and physically. She really learned to not be so insecure and trust in her own strength as a person.

I look forward to reading this series, especially Scotty's story, Keira's cousin. He is really closed off and I can't wait to see what awaits for him in book 4 that is focused on him.

I was surprised by the ending, it was intense. Keira and Liam faced some tough situations and opponents to their happiness. And even though it was all crazy, it seemed realistic because what they went through are things that do happen to people and so frequently.

My rating: 4/5
This series does contain sexual content and violence. It also covers the topic of abuse, especially domestic and emotional abuse. My only problem with it is that it needs some serious editing. There are some grammatical errors that are too grave to ignore.

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Review: Unshakeable (Forehead Kisses #2) by Abby Reynolds

Unshakeable by Abby Reynolds
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So, this book wasn't as good as the first. I felt like UNBREAKABLE was more well rounded. Book 2 doesn't have the best plotline and there is a lot of grammatical errors that made me feel lost at times but I feel like this series still has potential.

In this book we find Liam and Keira, the main characters, in more of a relationship bliss until things spiral out of control again. Both characters have a lot of issues to conquer. Liam, I feel, is the character who has grown the most and it was interesting to get flashbacks of his life to understand his journey thus far. Keira on the other hand, I thought was growing a bit, but kinda settled back to her old ways towards the end which was difficult for me to swallow.

I do wonder what's in store for them in book 3.

My only issue with this book is that it got drowned too much in bedroom scenes while I was expecting a bit more to the plotline. Let's see how things pan out in book 3. I'm still invested enough that I want to see how Liam and Keira conquer the setbacks they had in this book.

My rating: 3/5

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Review: Unbreakable (Forehead Kisses #1) by Abby Reynolds

Unbreakable by Abby Reynolds
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I liked this book. It's easy to get into and a fast read.

This book is basically about two people who have a very painful past, who are very hurt, and trying to escape themselves. I feel like through a slowly developed relationship, they start to become whole again.

The main characters Liam and Keira are very sweet, but damaged people. My favorite character in this book is Liam. He is such a straight forward guy who is willing to face things head on and who grows a lot. The sweetest thing about him is how patient he is with Keira, who is distrustful of men due to her very troubled past. Keira was not my favorite female character, there is a lot of insecurity in her and immaturity but I definitely feel like she can grow in the series. Well, I hope that she does. I'm gonna give her the benefit of the doubt.

I think that Scotty, Keira's cousin, is an amazing character who I'm very curious about. His past is also troubled and im curious about the fact that he is very emotionally unavailable.

This is a good start for the series. Looking forward to book 2 in this series.


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Waiting on Wednesday (47): Again by Lisa Burstein

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Visit Breaking The Spine to see more entries!

This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

Again by Lisa Burstein

 Release Date: September 22nd 2014

 Format: Paperback

 Goodreads Summary:

How far would you go for a second chance?


Eleven years after flunking out of college, Kate has finally hit rock-bottom. Losing her job and boyfriend in one drunken night, she’s determined to fix her life by going back to the moment when she let partying and sex take over. And do things right this time. At twenty-nine, she heads back to freshman year of college, with a catch.

Pretending she's nineteen with a new roommate and full class schedule is easy. When she meets her shy, sexy and seven-years-younger RA, Carter, following her self-imposed sobriety and celibacy rules is proving to be anything but.

A senior enduring years of regret, Carter is more than ready to graduate. He’s anxious to move on from the party his freshman year where he witnessed his frat brothers about to commit a sexual assault. Instead of doing the right thing and stepping in, he looked the other way and left. His guilt has made for a lonely four years.

When he meets the new freshman on his floor, spunky and confident Kate, he wonders if his time as an outcast has finally come to an end.

Kate and Carter’s growing friendship and undeniable attraction make it harder to hide the demons from their respective pasts. But when their secrets are finally revealed, will their chance at starting over together still be there?

 Reasons I want to read & own this book: 

1. A 29 year old woman, pretending to be 19 years old to start over in college - Doesn't that sound interesting already? Why take the 10 years off your age when plenty of older twenty somethings are in college? Why start over? Why face the challenges of being 19 again? I'm curious about Kate's double life. Aren't you?

2. A relationship of an older woman with a younger man. Not that the age difference is huge, just 7 years, both in their twenties, but in the New Adult genre, it doesn't happen too much, so I'm wondering how the dynamic is gonna work.

3. How could I forget to state the obvious, a relationship is going to develop between two people who have a hidden past they want to forget, that seems to me, is going to resurface anyway. I wanna know how Kate and Carter will handle the baggage.

4. This book just sounds awesome and I love a college setting, the place where people are always trying to redefine themselves at no matter what age they come in at to study. Will Kate and Carter put the past behind them? I wanna know!

What do you guys think? :)