A.O. Chika's Blog, page 15

Book Review: Girls With Guns by Michelle Grubb, Carsen Taite, Ali Vali

Title:


Girls With Guns






Series:


Luca Bennett Bounty Hunter





Author:



Michelle Grubb, Carsen Taite, Ali Vali






Genre:


Romance, Crime, Mystery, Suspense





Publisher:


Bold Strokes Books





Release Date:


April 12, 2016





Format:


.mobi





Pages:


240





Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

Bow and Arrow by Carsen Taite (4 stars)

This was the first story in the Girls with Guns book. The story was good; the prose was flawless, the premise was okay, and the characters were decent. It had some wry humor that made me smiling, and most importantly the ending was gold. There is nothing as romantic as tying a bowtie made from your dog's leash to a criminal who hurt and tortured your girlfriend.

Plot: Luca a bounty hunter had been looking for Perez, an ex-cop who killed her partner, tortured Luca and her girlfriend Jess(Also a cop). In the pursuit of Perez she had to let loose a flea (another criminal who name isn't worth the effort of typing), even though the bounty on him would have brought in a lot of money.

Her pursuit of Perez has her keeping secrets from Jess and which puts a bit of strain on their relationship as well as makes Luca panic as she Jess is angry at her.

The Mexican mafia and Cris (know-it-all, and the only person who is actually excited at being part of a jury in a case that runs deeper than they know) complicate things but Luca is determined to find Perez and make her pay.

Character: To be honest, I wasn't that much into Luca. She has great instincts, she smart and women with guns usually work for me but this time not so much.

While there was nothing wrong with her character I wish I could care more about her, I wish I could connect with her. I mean, her character had both internal and external conflicts bit I just couldn't connect with her.

I'm not a big fan of dogs but I absolutely love her dog Cash.

 

Hammersmith by Michelle Grubb (5 Stars)

Dear God, this was my favorite, it was beautiful, the suspense was killing me, I hung on to every word, looking for clues as to who the suicide bomber was. I was so invested in the story and the characters, it was like falling down the rabbit whole - once I started I couldn't stop.

Plot: Bel was trained on how to spot a suicide bomber in a public place and how to alert her command center so as to minimize the risk. She knows all the signs a suicide bomber exhibits even though she doesn't get why someone would want to kill themselves and others, even though she isn't particularly fond of using her gun.

Her composure goes to hell when she wrongly assumes someone to be a suicide bomber and it turned out not to be, her day gets even worse when her girlfriend she knows nothing about is suspected to be the suicide bomber. It doesn't help that Esther's last message was  'I'll be waiting for you in heaven' talk about fucked up!

Character: Bel was a well-rounded character, I could feel her fear, I could feel her nervousness. She knew all the traits of a suicide bomber but when her girlfriend started exhibiting though traits all her senses went out the door.

I could feel her despair and denial when she got the call confirming Esther as the suicide bomber. Oh God, I was so intrigued by her, even more so when she doubted everything even in the face of evidence.

Talk about a three-dimensional character!

 

Hell Fire by Ali Vali (2.5 stars)

I've never read any of Ali Vali's book but I hope they are not all like this. There were so many characters that I got confused, I mean who is Finley, is she Riley?

Abigail's marriage confused the hell outta me, I mean considering what I read I cannot in good conscience call it a marriage. also who leaves seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars in cash lying around!????

The plot was nice and so was the premise, but the execution was a mess and the numerous characters made it hard to follow the book much less enjoy it.

Abigail and Finley's eventual relationship seemed rushed to me and to be honest I didn't feel anything other than person A trying to help person B as their world slowly shatters.

I'm going to give this book four stars because of Hammersmith! Damn that story was amazing!

SYNOPSIS:

Girls with Guns is three stories by three talented crime writers—Carsen Taite, Ali Vali, and Michelle Grubb—each packing her own special brand of heat.

In Hammersmith by Michelle Grubb: Officer Belinda Riley knew the signs of a suicide bomber, but this time she was blind to the obvious. This time she didn’t want to believe what was right in front of her eyes.

In Bow and Arrow by Carsen Taite: Bounty hunter Luca Bennett has always lived on the edge of the law, but now she’s living with a cop and doing her darnedest to stay out of trouble. When an old enemy resurfaces, will the shady ways of Luca’s past come back to haunt her?

In Hell Fire by Ali Vali: Dr. Abigail Eaton stumbles into a massacre, but once someone tries to kill her it seems like no accident. While hunting for the perpetrators of a sex trafficking empire, Agent Riley Abbott saves Abigail from a professional hit and discovers the young mother might be the key to more than just her case. Riley takes Abigail and her family to what she thinks is safer ground, and runs right into the arms of reputed mob boss Cain Casey.

The post Book Review: Girls With Guns by Michelle Grubb, Carsen Taite, Ali Vali appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Poetry: From My Heart- Apathy

Title:


Apathy






Series:


From My Heart





Author:



A.O. Chika






Genre:


Poetry

Close your eyes, count to ten

Taste the air, scream out loud

There are voices in my head

And a parade in my chest.

I’ll smile through it, I’m a star

The world is a stage

But the spotlight isn’t on me

I’m not shallow enough for them

People want heroes and strong men

Those that are tough and vulnerable yet impenetrable

They want people who are human

The voices in my head are laughing at me

I met a boy and I loved him so

He broke my heart and I broke his face

The blank stare on my face still haunts me

But not as much as the lack of surprise on his face

There are monsters in my head

They used to keep me company, but now I just want solitude

There are demons in my chest

I begged them to take away the hurt, but now I wish I could feel

I always thought teenagers were childish when they wished to be normal

They understand what’s like to have an itch you can’t feel but know it’s there

Maybe they don’t, but they know a lot about wearing masks and faking it

They know what’s like to carve a smile on your face while dying inside

Apathy is the third poem in the From My Heart Poetry Collection.

Feel free to send a prompt for my next poem.

Comments, feedback, and critique are also appreciated.

Please like or Comment on my poems on Goodreads and Wattpad You can also follow me on Bloglovin and Tumblr

The post Poetry: From My Heart- Apathy appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Risk Aware by Amelia C. Gormley

Title:


Risk Aware








Author:



Amelia C. Gormley






Genre:


Romance, Erotica





Publisher:


Riptide Publishing





Release Date:


May 9, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

You know that class in school that you're fairly decent at but you wouldn't read extra... Until the hot substitute teacher came in and all of a sudden you have this endless zeal to learn.

This book was the hot substitute teacher. It was fun learning a lot about BDSM and Haemophilia.

I'm not very comfortable reading erotica, more like I never really understand it, Maybe it's an asexuality thing. But I'm a big fan of BDSM books even though they seemed to be packed with endless sex scenes that have me wondering wtf is going on. The point is, I'm a junkie for learning new stuff and boy did this book deliver.

I love the way the book showed me news things, without making it too 'teachy' i loved the fact that despite Geoff's medical condition he still had his own emotional conflicts. Nothing makes me happier than a character with internal and external conflicts. I'm also happy that Robin wasn't perfect either. He had his own baggage, he wasn't some white knight... okay in a way he is but at least he also has his own crap load of issues.

The characters were well defined and they both grew as the story progressed. their chemistry was easy to see, their emotions and anger were also easy to believe. I was emotionally invested in watching Geoff grow. That baby needed a hug and a stern talking to!

The storyline was beautiful, as was the concept and premise. lemme just add that I love Jace!

If you're looking for a BDSM book with amazing erotic scenes, truckload of conflicts, UST the size of Mars and one very sexy supportive best friend then this is for you!

SYNOPSIS:

Tattoo artist Geoff Gilchrest is convinced his life is some sort of cosmic joke. Why else would a hemophiliac also be a masochist? He’s given himself more than one elbow bleed since puberty just doing what guys do when alone and bored, so forget about whips and chains. How many partners would contemplate playing with someone even a mild flogging could kill?

Gallery owner Robin Brady knows he can deliver what Geoff needs: to be taken to the edge of danger but never beyond. But Robin came to Saugatuck to get away from the leather scene and heal from a betrayal by his former sub, so he’s not sure he should get involved with Geoff. His ambivalence isn’t helped by the fact that Geoff’s unwillingness to communicate about his well-being hits Robin in some very raw places.

Geoff’s hemophilia isn’t the obstacle he thinks it is. Instead, a lack of trust—on both their parts—is what could end them before they have a chance to begin.

The post Book Review: Risk Aware by Amelia C. Gormley appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: The Faerie Godmother’s Apprentice Wore Green by Nicky Kyle

Title:


The Faerie Godmother's Apprentice Wore Green








Author:



Nicky Kyle






Genre:


Fantasy





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


March 23, 2016





Format:


.mobi







Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

It's a nice and unique spin on a popular fairy tale. You know the one where a princess was locked in a tower and the bravest Prince would have to fight for her.

I like how Nicky Kyle thought 'what if the princess was asexual and didn't want true love's kiss but instead said Hell nah! I'm busting out of this joint, summoned a dragon and rather than have the dragon fight the Princes and discover which one is the one  she rode on the damn thing and escaped!

I loved this book, I love the pretty prose and the fact that imagined Dragons are very unrealistic I mean, when we imagine dragons we don't really take into account how the damn thing is able to lift itself and fly.

Seriously, this book is awesome read it!

SYNOPSIS:

The village of Styesville has a dragon problem, and is in sore need of a knight in shining armor to solve it for them. Instead, they get a strange traveler in a ragged cloak they barely even notice at first. Worse still, it soon becomes clear the problem setting fire to their village isn’t as simple as a dragon…

The post Book Review: The Faerie Godmother’s Apprentice Wore Green by Nicky Kyle appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Living Right by Laila Ibrahim

Title:


Living Right








Author:



Laila Ibrahim








Publisher:


Flaming Chalice Press





Release Date:


April 15, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

WOW, this book is just wow! It just made number two on my favorite book list, second only to Nora Sakavic's ALL FOR THE GAME series.

PLOT: The story shows the journey of Jenn, a devoted Christian, firmly against homosexuality, even to the point of running her son's life and putting him in a gay camp. She kept trying to cure him, using God as an excuse. The pastor didn’t help either and to be honest most of the thing she said even his prayers were borderline offensive.

At some point, I wanted to bind Jenn and the pastor, tie them to a pile of stones, and offer them as a burnt sacrifice unto God. Seriously, almost everything that left their lips was insulting to the LGBT community.

I'm a Christian, but damn I've never actually taken things to that level. Do people really believe that being gay means you've been sexually traumatized at childhood, or that you lack a strong fatherly figure?

Thumbs up to the author for creating a book that made me laugh, cry scream and beg for it to just end, all the while flipping to the next page hoping for Josh's misery to end. At some point, I felt suicide was better than the crap Josh was subjected to thanks to his mother.

The concept of this book is by no means new, but it’s explored in a way unlike any other, the emotional conflicts, the suspense, the tension was all too real and the book dragged me out of my world and into the book, where I got to see every scene acted out in front of me. it was disconcerting and captivating.

I have a short attention span, and this book is by no means short, yet I couldn’t put it down!

CHARACTER: The main characters in the book as far as I’m concerned are Jenn and Josh.

Josh is a teenager who isn’t sure of his sexuality, and suspects he might be gay, knowing that his parents wouldn’t be comfortable with his ‘lifestyle’ (It’s called a lifestyle so many times in this book), he attempts suicide.

The interesting thing is that Josh knows who he is; he knows he’s gay and has known that for almost a decade, he’s made peace with it to some degree but he doesn’t want to give up his faith in Christ, nor does he want to disappoint his family. Unsure of what to do and tired of constantly fighting with his fate and disappointing his parents he attempts suicide.

The book is written from Jenn's perspective and we get to see what it’s like to be a 'devoted Christian' mother who has to deal with a homosexual son. We get to follow Jenn on the journey of acceptance and understanding.

Jenn as a person is annoying, gullible, forceful, and so FUCKING STUPID! I want to punch her in the face. And the fact that she kept listening to Pastor Jerry (I hope I got his name wrong, he doesn’t deserve his name spelt correctly). She listened to every word he said, even to the point of reading a damned pamphlet that said Josh had identity crisis because the first letter of his name is the same as hers. WHAT UTTER BULLSHIT.

It hurt me that Jenn alienated Josh from his family, she tried to ruin his life even without knowing it, God it hurt me to read the counselling scene with Pastor Jerry (I hope I got it wrong again), I wish I could snatch him from them and console him.

Okay, this is obviously something I'm passionate about and I’m never going to run out of things to say about this topic, so back to the book.

This book is amazing; the plot, the characters, the setting very part of this book is so vivid and emotionally charged. It just grips you and pulls you into a world where only the story exists. It’s amazing!

SYNOPSIS:

Penn Henderson is proud of the church-centered life she’s created for her family. She prays each morning, attends worship every Sunday, and confidently takes up the struggle to defend traditional marriage when she learns marriage licenses are be-ing issued to gays and lesbians in nearby San Francisco. But the certainty that she is living right falters after her teenage son, Josh, swallows a bottle of sleeping pills. Her fear deepens when she discovers that Josh struggles with same-sex attraction. If she’s living right, how can Josh be gay?

Desperate for a cure, Jenn and her husband send Josh to a Christian conversion therapy camp recommended by their trusted pastor. Jenn is unwavering in her faith that Josh can be transformed by the grace of God. But as the story unfolds, her husband, son, and daughters seem to be questioning her deepest values, threatening irreparable damage to the tight-knit Henderson family.

The post Book Review: Living Right by Laila Ibrahim appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Life in a Nowhere Town by Hanna Dare

Title:


Life in a Nowhere Town






Series:


Sing Out





Author:



Hanna Dare






Genre:


Romance





Publisher:


Hanna Dare





Release Date:


January 27, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

I'm not the biggest YA fan but I’ll admit this book was nice. Also 'fiery crotch' made me snicker a few times.

PLOT: 

The plot wasn’t complicated, it was rather simple - a small town boy auditions for a singing competition, fully assured that he isn’t going to get a call back much less win, while dealing with that ,he has to deal with this thing going on with Derek -the school bully.

I’m not complaining about the sex scene, but to be honest I feel like a perv whenever I read a YA sex scene.

I love/hate Connor's relationship with his father even though I understand that he's still grieving for his late wife and is trying very hard to seem strong and unaffected. I don’t think Conor’s dad meant to be distant, it’s just that they do this thing where they don’t talk about stuff and Conor’s dad just assumes everything is fine.

Conor and Derek’s growing relationship was another subplot. The thing is Conor and Derek are not in love, to be honest, it's a bit difficult to explain what they have going on, but it has the potential to turn into something more.

Derek started off as that cliché high school jerk we see in every YA novel and movie, and to be honest when I saw him I rolled my eyes. But it was interesting how he brought his own baggage and how he was kinda supportive of Conor (he also smashed Conor's guitar so maybe that’s a bit of a stretch)

OMG, can someone please hug Derek!

I really liked Connor's friendship with Megan and Ali, their interactions were fun to read, a bit weird but good weird (IDK if that makes sense)

The prose wasn't very smooth, neither was the transition. I'm not really in tuned with YA books but the chemistry between Conor and Derek wasn't... aargh how do I say this? I felt like Derek was the only option the story could provide Conor with. In a real world, the 'romance' between them resembles a 'friends with benefits' agreement. However, the story was enjoyable despite all that.

SYNOPSIS:

First kiss, first heartbreak, first love, first time… but not necessarily in that order.

The hit reality show, Singing Sensation, promises to make its winners big stars – but all Conor Gillis wants is to get out of his small town. It’s not the sort of place where a quiet, eighteen-year-old who loves the Beatles and playing guitar can expect to fit in.

Conor’s also pretty sure he’s the only gay person in town.

Well, except for one other person…

Derek Folsom is the kind of bad influence parents warn you about. He’s tough, rough, and always looking for a fight. He’s the last person anyone would suspect of being gay, infact he’s likely to punch anyone who does suspect it. So why is he suddenly so interested in Conor?

Conor’s pinning all his hopes on auditioning for a TV show. It’s his only chance to realize his dreams, and escape all of these confusing feelings. But will he be able to find his voice… and his true self?

The post Book Review: Life in a Nowhere Town by Hanna Dare appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Fitting In by Sandra Bard

Title:


Fitting In








Author:



Sandra Bard






Genre:


Romance





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


April 6, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

I've been putting off writing this review but only because I'm a lazy little shit. I'm going to break down this review into three parts: Plot, Character & Prose. Sit your asses down because this is going to be a long one.

PLOT: Declan gets transferred to Singapore after his relationship with a client becomes known, it’s not until later that I learnt that the client was actually a married man, I might be morally dubious sometimes but infidelity irks me. I could look past that, but not when it turns out to be the hook and punchline of the entire book.

There were no subplots; it was just one linear story, Declan transfers to Singapore after a relationship with a client- Declan meets Alvin a janitor at the gym-Declan and Alvin starts dating-Happily ever after ending. Ta-da!

I hoped both MC's would bring some emotional baggage; I hoped for some external conflicts but I didn’t get that. I'll talk about the 'internal conflicts' in the character part of this review.

The plot was weak, and too one-dimensional. It wasn’t particularly engaging or exciting to read.

There was no romantic or sexual attraction between the two men, I think the author tried, but there just wasn’t any chemistry between the two men. When they interacted, I didn’t see emotions all I saw were words. A romance book should have romance at the center, and the romance should at least keep me curious, there should be sparks dammit! I’ll settle for lust but even that wasn’t charged.

CHARACTER: For a grown ass man, Declan is ridiculously whiny, not on the outside but on the inside; he's a pushover, he sucks at Yoga (Okay that doesn’t really matter), what annoys me most about him is his half assed internal meltdown.

Really, if I was fifteen years older than my partner or prospective partner, my insecurities would be more obvious, it would show in the way I act, it would show in reluctance to stand next to them because I would think I would look like their parent or aunt/uncle  instead of their lover. It would cause some problems because I might be possessive (because I’m scared of losing then) or I might seem like I don’t care (because I think they should be with someone better, someone close to their age)

It would NOT be a weak, internal rambling with no action!

Alvin also annoyed me, because at first, he felt like a deep character; I wanted to know why he was always frowning and why he always seemed standoffish. And what did I get? I got a childish boy (he is 22yrs btw, but he's behaviors is utterly childish) who knew Declan was busy and older than him and obviously Declan has work to see too... Okay now I’m just complaining, but Alvin as a character had so much potential and yet it fell flat, his fatal flaw never got resolved, there was no character arc for him, he just remained emotionally distant.

At some point while reading the book, I thought Alvin's mother was abusive to him, and maybe it’s my fault since Alvin didn’t exactly have bruises or anything, but he seemed kind of timid and non-confrontational, also he kept avoiding his mother even to the point of crashing at Declan’s. Turns out, he was just angry with her. Dammit! The author could have used the tension between Alvin and his mother to create an emotionally charged conflict.

PROSE: The prose was light and fluid, it was easy to read, and interesting in its own way, but it really wasn’t enough to carry the story. At some point I could feel the author using the prose to create some emotional tension in the story, I wish I couldn’t sense it. But hey she tried, writing a book is hard work.

Summary: The book as a whole wasn’t emotionally compelling or gripping, the main problem wasn’t so much the plot but the characters. Characters = conflicts and if the characters are one dimensional and emotionless then the conflict will end up being weak.

SYNOPSIS:

Declan Reid is thirty-seven, well established in his job and next in line for a promotion. Then he’s transferred to Singapore after unwittingly sleep with a client, leaving him hurt and humiliated. Determined to prove to head office they made a mistake, he vows to keep his head down and work hard.

He hadn’t counted on Alvin, however: content with his job mopping floors, happy to remain in Singapore, and significantly younger than Declan. He’s the very last person Declan should be noticing, especially if he wants to get back on track with his ambitions, but the more he’s around Alvin the less appealing those ambitions begin to seem.

The post Book Review: Fitting In by Sandra Bard appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: The Pirate of Fathoms Deep by Megan Derr

Title:


The Pirate of Fathoms Deep






Series:


Tales of the High Court





Author:



Megan Derr






Genre:


Romance, Fantasy





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


July 13, 2016

REVIEW:

After reading the High King's Golden tongue, I needed a book on Lesto and I'm glad Megan Derr delivered. This book isn't as long or as angsty as the first book, rather its sweet and dare I say fluffy.

In the High King's Golden Tongue Lesto was portrayed as invulnerable, hard and serious, apart from those moments between him and Sarrica. I needed to see him vulnerable, unsure and madly in love and Dammit! Megan delivered just that.

While the focus remained solely on the developing relationship between Shemar and Lesto, the story also presented several mini story arcs tying into subplots that did not distract but rather added suspense to the romance.

Seriously it was beautiful watching the great high commander fall madly in love with a pirate from the lowest lands, its kinda like Cinderella except there's no glass slippers and Shemar can hit!

The attraction between the two was obvious, and I loved seeing them nervous and unsure of where they stood, giving their past and social standing.

Shemar kept mentioning his mother and to be honest I was hoping to see her but never the less it was a beautiful book!

SYNOPSIS:

High Commander Lesto Arseni is the most feared man in the Harken Empire. None but the High King dares risk his wrath—and a pirate who once punched him in the middle of the imperial pavilion. A pirate who later snuck away with Lesto to an empty room, touched him in ways far more memorable. And then immediately bolted like a man who’d gotten what he wanted.

Shemal just wants to live a normal life, leave his pirating days behind him and prove that he’s respectable now. The last thing he needs is the two idiots who show up wanting his help with the noble they’ve kidnapped—the very man Shemal had been hoping to prove himself to, the man he hasn’t forgotten since Shemal punched him a year and a half ago.

The post Book Review: The Pirate of Fathoms Deep by Megan Derr appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: The High King’s Golden Tongue by Megan Derr

Title:


The High King's Golden Tongue






Series:


Tales of the High Court





Author:



Megan Derr






Genre:


Romance, Fantasy





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


November 4, 2015









Source:


Publisher

REVIEW:

The story was a bit long at over 110k+ words and I felt it could be a bit shorter but despite the length, I couldn't stop reading. I was so engrossed in each page that I put everything else on hold to read the book without any interruptions.

PLOT:

As much as a love a good romance story, I love books with subplots almost as important as the romance and this book delivered. The story arcs were suspenseful, intriguing and perfectly intertwined with the romance that it wasn't until I was done reading the book that I realized there were several mini stories blended into the book without it being obvious. This gave the book suspense and made it unpredictable, as well as provided some distraction from the tension between Allen and Sarrica’s relationship.

CHARACTER: The book features beautifully amazing characters, each growing in their own way and learning to accept the love that was right in front of them if only they could get their act together and embrace it.

I love how in the beginning Sarrica only saw Allen as Cold and beautiful even though Allen wasn’t cold, he was just used to hiding his emotions. It was fun watching him lose composure a few times and I squealed with joy whenever someone managed to make him laugh or blush. Despite the perfection that Allen put as a front, in the inside he was loaded with insecurities and scars.

Sarrica hung on to Nyle despite his death; their marriage wasn't perfect even though Sarrica made it seem so, in fact, it was heading for doom had Nyle not died yet Sarrica refused to acknowledge it.

Before I continue I’ll like to add that I love Lesto and he’s so badass and like a grumpy cat! I can't wait to read the next book in the series to watch is fumbling attempts at love. I’m almost sure he’ll screw up somehow.

Back to the main couples, Sarrica and Allen relationship was complicated even though it could have been simple, Allen kept trying to prove himself and Sarrica, God bless his soul is terrible with words. I knew he didn't mean to come across as hostile to Allen but God, was he even trying?

The characters were amazingly crafted and each brought their own internal and external conflicts to the table, creating more subplots that never distracted the stories but rather made the story richer as well as made us understand and love the characters even more.

The prose was beautiful, simple and fluid despite the non-contemporary settings and speech patterns. Thumbs up to Megan Derr.

One more thing… Tara and Rene are adorable together and nothing can convince me otherwise!

SYNOPSIS:

Prince Allen has trained his entire life to follow in the footsteps of his illustrious mother, who has made their kingdom one of the wealthiest and most influential in the empire. For the past few years he has trained to become the new consort of the High King. The only thing no one prepared him for was the stubborn, arrogant High King himself, who declares Allen useless and throws him out of court.

High King Sarrica is ruling an empire at war, and that war will grow exponentially worse if his carefully laid plans do not come to fruition. He’s overwhelmed and needs help, as much as he hates to admit it, but it must be someone like his late consort: a soldier, someone who understands war, who is not unfamiliar with or afraid of the harsher elements of rule. What he doesn’t need is the delicate, pretty little politician foisted on him right as everything goes wrong.

Publisher note: this is a highly expanded, completely re-written version of the free short that was previously available under the same title.

The post Book Review: The High King’s Golden Tongue by Megan Derr appeared first on A.O. Chika.

Book Review: Fall by Michelle Chow

Title:


Fall








Author:



Michelle Chow






Genre:


Romance





Publisher:


Less Than Three Press





Release Date:


April 20, 2016









Source:


NetGallery

REVIEW:

I RECEIVED A FREE COPY FROM THE PUBLISHER IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW

I'll give this book three stars, but only because of Duke and Jeremy's friendship. To be honest, had no idea where this book was going until about 50% in, after that I could predict the story and I wished I couldn't... But not for the reason we both hope.

PLOT: Jeremy is a bobcat (ie he is slightly bigger than a house cat, even though this is mentioned enough times, I pictured Jeremy as a housecat the entire time, it made the book easier to enjoy) he gets into a fight with some wolf shifters where he breaks his legs and has to stay in cat form for a while, during that period falls in love with Sam.

Here's the problem: I had no clue the book was a romantic one much less that it was leading up to Sam and Jeremy's eventual relationship. Their relationship was so forced and impossible to believe or root for.

I honestly thought Jeremy and his longtime friend Duke were going to end up together.

Sam and Jeremy's relationship had no heat/chemistry/spark, it was so unbelievably flat! But Duke and Jeremy's friendship? that's the stuff of great romantic tales, those two had a friendship with enough chemistry to carry out a beautiful relationship. Even in cat form Duke and Jeremy's friendship didn't falter. Duke might be human but his interaction with Jeremy only made me root for them even more.

It was as though they could read each other's mind. Also, this line happened.

"Meow once for yes, and twice for no."

I felt like Jeremy was dating Sam because he was expected too. I mean is this a new trend? Just because a wolf shifter finds you suitable for a mate doesn't mean you should date them. Your feelings matter, and just because your brother is dating a wolf shifter and sees the 'chemistry'between you two doesn't mean you should date him.

CHARACTER: Sam as a character was so flat and impossible to connect to. I hoped the scene where he told Jeremy and Duke about his parents; especially his mother's death would show some softness and vulnerability to his character, I hoped the author would milk the emotional impact for all it's worth, but nope the scene felt flat and rushed. Sam's character was just so-so.

Another thing that pissed me off was the lack of obvious conflicts in the book, the story's concept wasn't completely original but it brought in a new spin on shifter romance, it physically hurt that a book with so much potential failed in execution.

However, one thing about the book had me flipping pages, completely engrossed - Duke and Jeremy's friendship. Duke is amazing and Jeremy's sass is adorable, even as a cat.

SYNOPSIS:

Jeremy’s always looked after his little brother, Callum, and it’s his responsibility to make sure he’s safe. When Callum wanders too far into the woods, and finds himself at the mercy of two wolf shifters, Jeremy’s forced to act quickly.

It’s not ideal waking up in a strange house, with two shifters that scare him more than he’ll admit, but it’s temporary. Or it should be, until Jeremy realises getting rid of the wolves is far easier said than done

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