It's Virgil F*ckin' Flowers - how could I not love it?!?! I'm more than a bit heartbroken to hear that this is most likely the last Virgil Flowers fulIt's Virgil F*ckin' Flowers - how could I not love it?!?! I'm more than a bit heartbroken to hear that this is most likely the last Virgil Flowers full novel (but I also hear that Virgil will play bigger roles in the coming Prey books - guess it's time to catch up on that series...) But it's been a great ride these last eleven years or so since I first came across Dark of the Moon at my then boyfriend's house (we've been married ten years now.) So few other book heroes have stayed so interesting to me for so long, and I don't really forsee his place in my heart changing (even if he belongs to Frankie now.)
I made the mistake of reading a number of other reviews before I finished the book, and while they didn't spoil the book for me, they did probably influence the rest of the book for me - at least made me look at it in a bit of a different light. So while I will agree that this one is more mystery than the normal thriller style of the VFF series, that didn't change my opinion or enjoyment at all. There were still plenty of tense moments and the added intrigue fell into the positive side for me. I have to disagree with those that found the humor lacking ad I really didn't notice a decrease there - Virgil continued to be the smartass rebel I have always adored.
I suppose this could be read as a standalone, but I highly recommend absolutely every book in the series. With that in mind, it still gets my very highest recommendations - there's just something about "that f-ing Flowers" that I find completely irresistible....more
I feel bad because I was supposed to get an ARC of this one, and real life hit with a vengeance making it so that I didn't realize that I hadn't actuaI feel bad because I was supposed to get an ARC of this one, and real life hit with a vengeance making it so that I didn't realize that I hadn't actually received it until my preorder came in. So, I apologize sincerely to Ms Kay that I didn't get this review up sooner.
I became acquainted with the author when she was hosting the first author event I ever attended, and in the chat group prior to it I found out that she had written a rockstar romance series. If you haven't read Saving Grace, Saving Dawson and Saving Colton, I highly recommend them (as well as Wishing in the Dark and High Stakes with KB Bennett) but, before I digress too far, I'm the first to admit that MC is not one of my preferred subgenres. However I adore Colbie's writing style so much that I was more than willing to take a chance in that realm with her leading the way. My other hesitation was that this is the 9th book in the series. I had won the ARC by guessing who her cover model was before the cover reveal, and I had already placed a preorder for the book because the blurb had completely sucked me in. To be completely honest, I know I have at least one other book in this series on my Kindle, but I haven't been sure about committing to the full series. I should have known better than to hesitate with this author, but the upside to my endless TBR is that I can tell you without a doubt that this can be read as a standalone. Don't get me wrong, I will be going back soon to read all of the books leading up to this one, and I am sure some of the characters that piqued my interest will become clearer when I do, but Tink and Jorga's story is complete without that knowledge.
Tink (and I loved the story of how the nickname came to be) is the boy from the wrong side of the tracks with a heart of gold. Okay, he's the kid of a single mom from a trailer on the wrong side of the tracks, and he truly is the bad boy, except when it comes to Jorga; the girl he had adored since middle school but didn't think he was good enough for. Jorga had been his best friend's girl back then, though that wasn't a pretty story. What both go through alone in the years since high school is heartbreakingly ugly. There are trigger warnings at the beginning of the book, so beware of that if you are bothered by this sort of thing. It can be brutal to read at times, but absolutely necessary to the plot, and understanding how the characters became who they are to wind up back in each other's orbit.
Their love story is beautiful through their brokenness. That is what you will remember long after you have moved on to other books - they were able to pick up all their broken pieces and find that they could come together for a perfect fit. It isn't a quick or easy road to get to an HEA, but it will keep you on turning pages and feeling all the feels. Sometimes the sweetest stories can come from the darkest of places, and that is what makes this book an epic romance. Regardless of how you feel about bikers and the club lifestyle (and you will see that in this one if you are as devoted to MC as I am to rockstar) the message goes beyond any categorization you might want to give it. The heart and soul of this book is the romance and I am glad that I read it (in one sitting - I could not put it down) and can wholeheartedly give it a 5 star review. If you are looking for a "meet cute" "romcom" with the drama no deeper than a little misunderstanding, this isn't the book for you. Highly recommended for anyone who doesn't mind the darkest hours before the dawn....more
Sunniva has done it again. Not that I would ever doubt her comedic genius, but few authors can make me laugh the way she does, or simply bring all theSunniva has done it again. Not that I would ever doubt her comedic genius, but few authors can make me laugh the way she does, or simply bring all the feels.
My college years were more than half a lifetime ago now, but Ms. Dee quickly takes me back there in this second book in this quirky series. I won't share any spoilers, but I was glad to find out that this book starred my favorite Dude as introduced in the first #LovePranks book. As with any Sunniva Dee book/series, you wouldn't have to have read the first book to enjoy this one fully - they can all easily be read as standalones - but why not treat yourself to all the fun? She is one of the most consistently great authors I have had the joy to come across, no matter what genre she is dipping into. You truly can't go wrong....more
I fell in love with the Just An Illusion series shortly before the second book came out and it continues to be one of my most recommended and most cheI fell in love with the Just An Illusion series shortly before the second book came out and it continues to be one of my most recommended and most cherished series. Encore simply reinforced everything that has come before it. I guess I should point out that this book is not a standalone, you really need to start with Just An Illusion Side A and work your way up from there. Invest in a case of tissues. I am not a crier, but Encore saw more shed. Maybe not as much as some books in the series, and perhaps a few more than others, but all worth every single tear. That is a testament to Ms. Kelly's amazing skill. I read voraciously, but few books find me emotionally invested, and even fewer series continue to have that kind of effect. It's a bit bittersweet to know that this is the end of the focus on Mel, Noah and Sawyer, but I have heard that books of other characters introduced in this series are upcoming. I will be first in line.
To focus on Encore itself, this is the second book of the Sawyer duet. The first three books were written from Mel's POV, so while there is overlap in events, it is not the same story. I will not include any spoilers, but I will say that it goes beyond where Mel's memoirs ended. The bonus epilogue may be one of the greatest things I have read all year. If you have followed the BAD saga from Day 1, you've probably already in picked this one up, but on the off chance you haven't, don't miss it. If you are new to the author, start at the beginning and read in order. In any case, this is simply a must read series....more
5 Dining With Death Stars for In the Veil of Shadows
I will admit it, I am falling hard for this series. These new twists to ancient tales are fascinat5 Dining With Death Stars for In the Veil of Shadows
I will admit it, I am falling hard for this series. These new twists to ancient tales are fascinating and consuming. In the Veil of Shadows belongs to Thanatos, Death, and Gaea, Warrior Princess. Props to supporting cast members such as Hades and Persephone, Ares and Artemis, drama bringers Zeus and Styx and a wide range of gods, goddesses, other assorted immortals and mortals as well.
Gaea is such a unique heroine, put in a very unique situation by Styx's boredom. At times she is a sympathetic h, at others completely reviling. Just as you truly has you feeling pity for her situation she does something, completely fitting of her warrior upbringing to infuriate. I actually have a certain fondness for this kind of heroine, and she certainly is fierce.
Thanatos, though....hmm....Death certainly has never been more attractive. He is definitely the star of this book for me. His protectiveness, his confusion, his compassion, betrayal and vengence are all beautifully written.
Mythology has never been so entertaining! I can't wait for the next book in this series and it gets my highest recommendations....more
Hades and Persephone - what a couple, and what endless interpretations of their story abound. I have read many. I have liked many. I have even loved aHades and Persephone - what a couple, and what endless interpretations of their story abound. I have read many. I have liked many. I have even loved a few. But In the Veil of Chaos brings it all to new levels.
There have been very few variations in which I have found both Hades and Persephone to be sympathetic characters - Chaos does this very well. The supporting cast of characters are fantastic - especially Cerberus and the other hellhounds. I don't want to go into many details as this is one to beautifully unwrap on your own.
I'm looking forward to the rest of this series much more than I initially thought I might be. This gets my highest recommendations!...more
Wow! I have always loved this author's books, but I dare say Autumn of Fear is going to be my #1 Psychological Thriller for 2018.
If you are familiar wWow! I have always loved this author's books, but I dare say Autumn of Fear is going to be my #1 Psychological Thriller for 2018.
If you are familiar with her previous books, poor Abbie just never seems to get a break, but her strength is amazing. If you haven't read them, this could be read as a standalone, but having some background on the characters enhances it a bit.
Abbie is off to college, at Yale, with Ty continuing to be the protective best friend. A dedicated student in her sophomore year, a friend of Ty's is dedicated to getting her to date him. She needs to loosen up and have a little fun, right? Her roommate thinks she's silly not to be flattered when she starts getting expensive gifts and poetic notes from a secret admirer. And there's the shy guy in her study group that is taking an interest in her as well. Maybe it is time to date a little, especially since Ty has a girlfriend. After all she has been through, she definitely deserves to have some fun. Is her reluctance just paranoia? Heartbreak that Ty doesn't return the feelings she hides for him?
Then the anonymous gifts get a bit too personal, Spencer seems touchy about odd things, and she just doesn't know what to think about Justin, the guy from her study group. He seems sincere enough, but there is definitely something he has against Spencer, while claiming not to know him.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention all of this comes as flashbacks as the book starts with Abbie in the hospital, with no memory of how she wound up there. The details that are known are horrifying. The unknowns are life changing and life threatening.
No one writes a thriller quite like Glede Browne Kabongo. Though in retrospect there may be some foreshadowing that is easily overlooked at the time, the twists and turns will keep you guessing from the edge of your seat. The emotions are all there. Abbie is such a likeable heroine, and even with all she goes through, it is impossible to see her as a victim - her strength just shines through in all areas. It's also impossible not to empathize with her. She's not afraid to reveal her heart, at least to the reader, and it just endears me to her even more - making the horrors she faces even more intense, as well as her well deserved joys. Pride in the way she handles decisions no one should have to face. She's just amazing (and I typically am not the biggest fan of teenage girls.)
It's so hard to review a thriller without spoilers. There are so many details and situations I would love to discuss, and like any great thriller there are lingering questions, but there is no way I want to ruin any of the surprises. Obviously I could gush on and on, but I will wind this up by saying Ms. Browne Kabongo has raised the bar with this one. Absolutely my highest recommendations....more
I don't know that I can put together words to do this one justice. I just binge read the ARC in about 5 hours because it undeniably sucked me in - andI don't know that I can put together words to do this one justice. I just binge read the ARC in about 5 hours because it undeniably sucked me in - and I was such a willing victim!
I have liked Jesse as we have seen him in other NSB books, but I don't think I could have truly prepared for just how much I would love this book, or how many ways he could twist my heart. Beautifully done, once again, Ms. Santos!
A few spoiler free things I absolutely loved: 🎵 Luke, Casey, Callie, Holland and Wes make appearances. The Luke ones are particularly moving, but all are welcome additions and reminders of just how much I love every single book in this series. 🎵 The tie-ins and appearances from some of my most beloved Sunniva Dee characters (especially my Inga!) 🎵 The wonderful way the author tackles addiction, depression and mental health issues. No glamourization, but very real and very well handled.
I will admit that I get jaded toward rockstar romances now and then (not enough to stop reading them, but the excitement level doesn't tend to get anywhere as high as it used to...) and then a book like this comes on to my radar, and all the magic returns. I simply don't have words for how much I loved this one.
Casey remains my favorite book boyfriend from NSB, probably because I have spent my whole life with Lukes and Jesses, but Jesse absolutely stole my heart. His story is heart breaking and ultimately inspiring at the same time.
This *could* be read as a standalone easily, but all of the NSB books are so good you might as well grab them all. Highest recommendations. ...more
I am so pleased to have gotten an ARC of this one - feels like Ms. Martin has been teasing this one for years. 😉. Completely worth the wait.
Nowhere, KI am so pleased to have gotten an ARC of this one - feels like Ms. Martin has been teasing this one for years. 😉. Completely worth the wait.
Nowhere, Kansas is the setting for this book, and it feels so familiar to me that I can picture the diner and the park as if they were part of my childhood (of course, I did spend a lot of childhood summers about 90 miles from where the fictional town would be located.) "The Gray" is just ... fascinating. But also something that I could picture. Ms. Martin has always done a fantastic job of bringing you into the scene and that is a huge kudo in my opinion. It is crucial if you read like I do, making a movie in your mind as you go.
I don't want to spoil anything but the supernatural aspects are everything they should be. I am not a fan of paranormal, generally, but I have never minded it in Ms. Martin's books, and will admit that I love it in this one.
Thriller, mystery, police procedural, crime drama, paranormal, a bit of romance - Chrysalis has it all. Highly recommended!...more
This one has been a long time coming, but so worth the wait! I fell hard for Last Five Seconds (okay Clay/Jet specifically, but I have always wanted mThis one has been a long time coming, but so worth the wait! I fell hard for Last Five Seconds (okay Clay/Jet specifically, but I have always wanted more of him and his band) in Bullet, and on through Feverish and Boiling Point. I honestly don't think there has been a fictional band I have been so curious about, or wanted more of, so badly. That said, I am not sure what I was expecting from frontman Sam, but this definitely was not it - and that is a compliment.
Most of what I remember of Sam/Devil from the previously mentioned books, is that his girlfriend, Debbie was completely obnoxious. While that is proven early on in this book, being told from Sam's POV gives it now entirely different twist. And seeing as that is a catalyst for the rest of this wonderful story, I can appreciate how much her darkness reflects the light of things to come. But, thankfully, this book isn't about Debbie, but about the refreshing Grace Ward.
I will admit that the super sweet and innocent young girl isn't typically my favorite heroine, but Grace turns every thing I thought I would adore inside out and upside down. As the mother of a teenage daughter, I should probably hate this, but it is impossible to feel that way about such a beautiful story (not to mention that it would be completely hypocritical of me looking at my own teenage years, but I digress.) Leave your preconceived notions behind and just read this as it is written.
The biggest surprise to me is the feelings I still have, days after finishing it. I am still smiling. I still have feelings of hope and light that were an unexpected, but most welcome, side effect. I am struggling to remain spoiler free, as I want to gush on an on about this story. Ms. Jamison always has an uncanny ability to speak to me with her writing, and Scorched is certainly no exception to that. I guess the part I am struggling to explain is that most books that capture my emotions are on a very angsty level, and this is not that book. Oh, there is a fair amount of angst, don't get me wrong, but that is not the part that will stick with you. Honestly, with all that is going on in the world, we need more books like this that leave us feeling like there are still good and pure joys to be found, no matter how old and jaded we have become.
I think it is time to wrap this up and go start making chili and cinnamon rolls for dinner tonight. While Clay will remain my number one book boyfriend, I highly recommend you let Sam into the running for your BBF list. This could be read as a standalone, but you will understand the background better if you have read, at least, Feverish and Boiling Point. I highly recommend Bullet as well, because that's where the LFS story truly begins, and because it is one of the very best rockstar romance books ever written....more
How I am even supposed to start this review? I want it to be clean enough to be posted on sites that get angry when I let my freak/geek flag fly and uHow I am even supposed to start this review? I want it to be clean enough to be posted on sites that get angry when I let my freak/geek flag fly and used excited grown up words...like I do over every installment of this series. Cora Kenborn and KA Ware are the absolute masters of RomCom with these. There has not been a book yet in the Swamp Bottom series that has not had me laughing to the point of losing bodily fluids (tears....well, mostly. Yeah, laughing to tears, we'll stick with that.) Pink Lines and Panic is certainly no exception.
Since my kids have grounded me 3 times in the last 2 days for inappropriate behavior, and I am getting a bit of a complex about it, I will save all my favorite quotes for my blog post that will be up hopefully late tonight. If not, tomorrow morning for sure. As the title alludes to, someone is unexpectedly pregnant. Okay, not a spoiler....if you've been keeping up we this because it was the cliffhanger of Blue Lights and Boatmen. I'm not even touching the spoiler at the end of PL&P - it is the biggest one yet and I am already antsy waiting for the next one! It's going to be amazing! But back to the 5th installment of my favorite series.....the panic part is a bit more widespread. And hilarious. Always, always hysterical.
Along with the comedic gold, there are plenty of very swoons worthy romantic moments as well. Both Pope and Zep pull out some lines that could put Shakespeare to shame (okay, so, I don't often admit it, but I am not a big fan of the Bard, and certainly not of his brand of romance, but since most of the world thinks he's the gold standard....I'll use him.) Bravo to both boys for giving my Dubois girls worthy romantic words .... not to mention actions, but that usually gets me in trouble, so we will leave it as both of these blue collar guys are just amazing. And to the one whose blue collar hides his blue blood - I just gotta say I love his mom and sister. Especially his mom. She speaks Babs-inese...I love that.
I couldn’t review one of these books without mentioning Babs. She has become one of my all time favorite characters. I can't decide if I want a Babs of my own more, or if I just want you be Babs when I grow up. Either way, the Dubois matriarch is just simply awesome. She is quite often behind the hardest laughs (and leaking body fluids) when I read these. Her granddaughters each have inherited more of her personality than either would admit to, though, so they bring me hearty chuckles and guffaws as well. Must be something in the blood lines, because cousin BamBam entertains me well too.
Note to self, when this series ends entirely too soon, bug authors for a BamBam spinoff. And one of these wonderful ladies needs a "Dear Babs" advice column on their website. Just....a couple of further marketing ideas....yeah....Nothing to do with the fact that I can't stand the thought of letting go of these characters. But it already kind of bums me out that there are only three more novellas planned for this series. I was lucky to stumble into the release party for Front Porches and Funerals and was addicted before I even opened the first page after one clicking immediately. I have been a fan of Cora's for a while. Those of you reading this because you follow my reviews know that rockstar romance is my normal obsession. If you haven't read Cora's (that's Cora Kenborn so you don't have to scroll up) Lords of Lyre and you are a fan of the men behind the guitars and mics (and drums too, yes, drummers are an integral part of the band no matter what anyone else may tell you. And I am not even going to insert a drummer joke here to show you how serious I am.) then don't hesitate. They are awesome. But my point is that, though I loved those, I didn't realize just how witty she was.
So, if you haven't yet, pick up all 5, starting with Front Porches and Funerals, immediately. My very, very highest recommendations. You can check this site or my blog gorgeous reviews of the first four. I don't rave on and on like I do with these often, but I don't come across a series this incredible often either....more
For those familiar with my reviews, you will know that I am quite enamoured with RC Martin- since I lucked into the first novella of hers I read, her For those familiar with my reviews, you will know that I am quite enamoured with RC Martin- since I lucked into the first novella of hers I read, her books have challenged, enlightened and entertained me. All that being said, I knew this one would be heavy on the challenge part - but I didn't doubt that she would succeed. And she did. Your warning now, it is not easy to read in places - doubly hard for me as the hero's occupation is not one of my favorites- but she has pulled it off with class and style. Like real life, all is not always pretty or clean. It has its highs and lows, and questions of right and wrong, questions of morality, spirituality, and the power of love. It is romantic fiction - it takes all of the highs and lows to the extreme, but the talent Ms. Martin possesses allows us to follow our couple, first and foremost. Forgiveness is not asked - truly, it is not our place, in fiction or reality, to judge the actions of others - but the tale is told in a way that understanding that life is more often lived in shades of gray, no matter who you are. Life is messy ... and wouldn't it be boring if it wasn't? Foregoing what I think I might do or not do in the situation, the story is beautiful. Heartwrenching at times, incredibly romantic at many, reflective of questions that we may often think are black and white. If I had to sum up my reaction in two words (which we all know would be truly impossible for me) they would be extremely evocative. In theory this should easily be my least favorite book of Ms. Martin's, but I truly can't say that it is. It is such a pleasure to watch her grow with each new work. Yeah, black and white, I might not have picked this up as we all know my heroes tend to wield musical instruments, I am a happily married woman who doesn't condone a line crossed, and frankly the very, very steamy moments don't fall in line with my personal preferences. But theory and reality often differ because they are such seperate species. All the apples and oranges in the world at my feet, I would choose to read this one again. There is your bottom line; I truly enjoyed this trip outside my comfort zone. I am having a little more difficulty with my recommendations because I honestly understand why many readers will not want to push their boundaries, but I will say that if you are willing to, this is an excellent choice for doing so. The writing is excellent, the story unforgettable. ...more
5 Non Status Quo Stars for The Truth About Porn Star Boyfriends
The title sounds like one heck of a RomCom follie, and though it definitely has its co5 Non Status Quo Stars for The Truth About Porn Star Boyfriends
The title sounds like one heck of a RomCom follie, and though it definitely has its comedic moments, the story goes far deeper than your typical RomCom tropes.
Savannah...I could identify with her on more levels than I care to admit. She followed her mom to California, because someone needed to keep an eye on her. She is a young woman, just trying to keep it all together, working three jobs and living with several roommates, and dreading middle of the night phone calls from mom. One day a particularly um, drool worthy, customer has a meeting at her restaurant job, and a connection is made. He's a bit older than her, very good looking, charming and wealthy. He admits he is successful in his field and that he is an actor. He wants to spend some time getting to know her before he shows her some of his movies.
He showers he with flowers, poetry, attention, affection, and when he is able to calmly talk mom out of one of her impulsive 4 am decisions without tears or drama.....really, how much more perfect could he be? I don't want to go into spoiler territory, but the entire situation with her mother was a bit too familiar to me, and I may have loved Ciro most for the way he handled every aspect of The Mom Show, especially easing Savannah into the reality of her mom's situation.
Okay, I will admit that I am not the most conventional of women, and probably, okay, definitely old enough to be Savannah's mom, so my view on Ciro's career is going to be a bit different from most. I actually felt really bad for him. He was trying so hard to find someone to love him for Ciro, rather than his screen name and personality. Did he make some mistakes? Of course! He's human, and he's a guy. And he's spent most of his adult life living large in Hollywood. Not the best set up for realism, yet he sincerely seems to be pretty grounded.
Love, love, love this book! Sunniva Dee always brings such unique twists to her books and characters. I have quickly found her writing style to be absolutely irresistible, and it just keeps getting better and better! Highly recommended for adult audiences....more
I love Joy Eileen, and I would never dreamed of not reading any release of hers, let alone consider for a moment turning down an ARC. That said, whileI love Joy Eileen, and I would never dreamed of not reading any release of hers, let alone consider for a moment turning down an ARC. That said, while I love baseball, in the form of my Royals, I don't LOVE baseball the way I LOVE rockstars, if you know what I mean (and if not, well, you wouldn't be the first to have difficulty following my train of thought, especially in writing - which is why I review rather than write...the lengths of my digressions (not to mention the amazing lengths of run on sentences) would be longer than any story I attempted to tell.) And I digress...I absolutely love this book! Yes, it is oriented around baseball and softball, but it is so much more than that. The friendship between Kenna and Renee is completely heartwarming. Maybe because I have a BFF who is more family to me than anyone I am related to by blood or marriage, and she happened to be a teen mom, and I love my nieces by her like no one except my own kids. So I understood their relationship to a large extent.
And the posters covering my walls long after they should have been replaced by "real" art were rocks tars rather than baseball players, there is still a similarly I just "get." Renee's walls I know intimately. Kenna's social ineptitude and general awkwardness I can identify with much more than I am willing to admit to. But what brings it all together in a 5 ☆ fashion, is the incomparable voice of Ms. Joy Eileen. Her humor resonates with me every single time, as do all the other emotions she manages to drag out of my jaded, blackened, little heart. She just simply rocks, no matter what she is writing. (And, by the way, I absolutely loved - and *may* have squealed a bit - at the mention of the JackholeS. If you are not familiar with them, pick up Ms. Eileen's Faith trilogy (and hopefully more soon!) I think I mentioned I have a thing for rockstars- she writes awesome Ones!
But back to Balk- yes, I am enough of a baseball fan to understand the term as it applies to the sport, and a big enough vocabulary to appreciate the double entendre - highly recommend for romance fans in general, a must read for sports romance fans, and definitely in the single digits for my recommended "summer reads." Oh yeah, for Batman fans too. ;-) Seriously, a great read for adult audiences. Grab it absolutely as soon as it is available. ...more
I adore Joy Eileen's Jackholes series; I was lucky enough to stumble upon it shortly after the publication of the first book, and can't wait for more I adore Joy Eileen's Jackholes series; I was lucky enough to stumble upon it shortly after the publication of the first book, and can't wait for more of those boys, especially D. Then again, anyone who has read my reviews knows what an obsession I have with rockstars. I have had Transparent on my kindle for some time, but admittedly, I was a bit torn because paranormal just really isn't my thing. But the basic premise had me intrigued from the moment I read the blurb.
Morley (what a lovely, unique name - well suited to this lovely, unique heroine) is a self admitted bit of a hermit, who loves her job at Art - an art gallery she was blessed to have been offered a job at shortly before she graduated with a degree in art history. She has a wonderful relationship with the gallery owner, who is a bit of a father figure perhaps to this girl who was orphaned at 18 and had her heart shredded by a most unworthy man shortly thereafter. She thinks she is satisfied with her lonely existence, she has a career and a home she loves, even if she despises the busy body HOA queen who lives next door (and gives her endless grief over her choice of painting her front door red - a nod to the past when a red door had nothing to do with prostitution and everything to do with welcoming weary travelers.)
In unloading a high dollar shipment at Art, she finds herself unexplainedly drawn to a portrait of an 19th century Lord. The owner notices her interest and convinces her you take it as a gift, as he claims it has no real value in comparison to the rest of the shipment and will wind up in storage if she doesn't take it to her meticulously decorated sanctuary. The fact that the man in the portrait looks like everything she has ever wanted in a man, she gives in. Through a series of typically hysterical events and mishaps and such (Ms. Eileen's humor always makes me laugh- "I didn't remember turning the TV on. Maybe the cat accidentally stepped on the remote. That would have been a very plausible explanation, if I owned a cat." is just one of many literal laugh out loud moments for me....too bad the others stuck in the emergency room waiting room as I read were not as amused.) Morley eventually has to admit the man of her dreams, that gorgeous hunk in the painting, really is talking to her...is responsible for the sudden chills following her.
As I said, paranormal is not my thing, but Joy Eileen's writing style certainly is. There are parts of this story that are almost too relatable for me...at 25, I was that recluse that spent all my energy on my career, and had that bff, much like Morley's Heather, who would almost literally drag me out once in a while. Luckily my neighbors were quite the opposite of the aptly named Mrs. Crabington, in the form of my nearly life long male best friend and his roommate who quickly became another friend. If nothing else, I could count on them to raid my refrigerator and make sure my leftovers never went to waste (and I just had to cross the sidewalk if I needed company, or anything else - the roommate was a nurse who may have saved my life one night by rushing me to the hospital he worked at. But I have gone well beyond a slight digression here...) I also had picked up a print of a long haired warrior at a Renaissance Festival in college, who starred in more of my fantasies and dreams than I care to admit to - maybe that explains my draw to the storyline despite my distaste of paranormal. Whatever the reasons may be, I am certainly glad I was willing to put my narrow-minded genre snob tendencies aside and delve into this one.
Without spoilers, the ending was perhaps a bit much to wrap my head around fully, but isn't that a hallmark of fantasy? And how much more hypocritical could I be to embrace all the rockstar story lines I don't discredit, no matter how unrealistic they are, but criticize a paranormal book - a genre that never claims realism - for being over the top? I can't do it. I pride myself on not meandering into spoiler territory in my reviews, so I am not comfortable sharing much about the story line itself, but real or just an old painting, Lord Alexander has an undeniable Magnetism. Morley does too.
I surprised myself greatly as I searched the waiting room for tissues. As much as I would like to blame it on the nasty summer allergy weather, these jaded eyes rarely leak, but I did discretely work my way through quite a number of tissues. At least as many as my equally embarrassing inappropriate outbursts of laughter. Some incredibly executed sexy scenes keep this squarely in 18 + age categories, but beyond that, it gets my highest recommendations, even for those like me who aren't PNR fans. I fins myself hoping for a bit more of their story sometime down the road. ...more
Where to begin, oh where to begin? I have had several schools of thought on this while reading, knowing I would be reviewing as soon as I finished reaWhere to begin, oh where to begin? I have had several schools of thought on this while reading, knowing I would be reviewing as soon as I finished reading. But as I pulled up the page on GoodReads, something crossed my mind.
This book, this series...these are the reasons I blog. The books that touch your heart and soul when you read them...the books that break you until there is no avoiding the ugly cry, no matter how guarded you think your heart is....and then put it back together, if only to set you up to do it all over again. Books that affect you in ways you never thought possible. Books that let you soar to the highest heights and drag you through the depths of hell and every emotion in between. Books of epic romances you feel privileged to have a peek at. For me, it is always a bonus if music is involved, particularly rockstars, but music is a part of almost every part of my life, so, once I discovered the multitude of books that weave music and musicians into their storyline, why would I not include music in my literary choices. But, I digress, I wanted to focus on those rare, special unicorns....those books keep me going as a reader as well as as a blogger. I honestly have never had dreams of writing myself, but there is a special kind of joy I get as a blogger when I have the chance to introduce these mythical masterpieces to a new audience. My friends, please take note of the name D. Kelly.
I really should start with telling you
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Just an Illusion - EPis not a standalone; you must read
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Just an Illusion - Side A, followed by
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Just an Illusion - The B Side first. This isn't any kind of hardship - this trilogy is one of the best I have come across in ages, if ever. Okay, maybe I should have started with how honored I was to receive an ARC copy since this doesn't actually release until June 21st, and I have been counting down the days since I finished The B Side. I am sure some of you would like to know that both Side A and Side B close on some pretty major cliffhangers and I will go ahead and mention that EP does close out this trilogy without that kind of angst. (So if you hate cliffhangers, you can get your closure on June 21st and not have to wait for closure.) I do know there is at least one more BAD/Weston book in the works, Just an Illusion - Unplugged, and I will hope, beg, bargain, plead and pray there will be many more than that. Only a very elite group of authors have ever touched me in the way Ms. Kelly has - as a reader first, but also as a book blogger, adding to that list is like a childhood Christmas morning. In most situations I am like the Grinch, and the every once in a great while a book/series/author comes along, sucking me into their fictional vortex and giving me all the feels, leaving me feeling like my heart grew 2 sizes that day.
One more warning (that, actually probably applies to the entire series) before we get down to business- check your stock, you may need to make a Sam's Club or Costco run before you get started if you don't have several boxes of tissues on hand. While you are there a couple of bottles of wine, and maybe a good bottle of whiskey or tequila might be needed as well. Just fair warning, and it comes from a non-crier. I can only think of one book that had me in tears quicker than EP, and I don't think any have produced the infamous ugly cry to the extent this book does. However, if you are suffering from allergies, or happen to have a sinus infection, the ugly cry might clear your sinuses better than any over the counter or even prescription medications.
So it is time to focus more specifically on Just an Illusion - EP. I am a spoiler-free reviewer, and that gets trickier the deeper into a series you get. Add in the cliffhangers the previous 2 books end on, and, nope, sorry (not sorry), you won't get a lot of specifics from me. The Weston Twins will both surprise you, in unexpected ways. I ran the gamut of emotions toward each of them as I read this tome. I will have to say the same is true of Mel. Sometimes you want to hug her, sometimes you want to shake her, or, as one member of the family actually does, you may have the urge to slap her (though perhaps not for the same reasons.) If you have read The B Side, you will know that it has a dramatic ending....I don't think there is any way to prepare for how that will play out. Saying it is extremely emotional is like saying our 97°F temps with 80% humidity this week are a bit warm. The impact is massive, and the rest of the story is definitely colored by the aftermath. I truly can't praise Ms. Kelly enough for her ability to make her characters come to life, all too human flaws and all. It takes true talent to bring such a realness to your creations that people have emotional responses to these fictional situations in black and white print in front of them. Ms. Kelly's talent well must be overflowing.
Don't get me wrong, it is not all angst and tearjerking. There is plenty of slightly snarky humor (my favorite kind) and some scorching hot sexy scenes. There are the strong family ties that we have seen throughout the series, including friends who have become a part of the family. Much like real life, there are lots of ups and downs, misunderstandings, and those rare relationships where people know you so well words aren't always necessary. One factor that sets this series apart from others is the strength of the secondary characters. While they never overwhelm our MCs, several have left me wanting to know more about them - lots more. Eli and Darren probably top that list, but there is no shortage of potential spinoffs because the glimpses we get are so strongly defined as to make us curious to know more. Mac the bodyguard even plays enough of a role to make my curiosity and imagination run. Off the top of my head I can think of at least 6 more names to add to the list. It is rare for me to take notice of secondary, and almost unheard of for tertiary, characters, but this whole crew, or more aptly, my reaction to them, has taken me by surprise.
I am such an avid reader that I don't often get attached to characters, but these have really gotten under my skin. I am about to do something I don't think I have ever done, and reread this entire series , immediately. I have heard the term "book hangover" many times, and I have experienced them a time or two (and possibly it's only because this is so fresh) but I feel like I have never had one to this extent. Obviously this series gets my highest recommendations....more
I am familiar with Sadie Grubor's work as a Rockstar Romance author - and a huge fan. Her sense of humor seems to match mine well, and her books are aI am familiar with Sadie Grubor's work as a Rockstar Romance author - and a huge fan. Her sense of humor seems to match mine well, and her books are always a joy to read. When she started teasing about writing this very different kind of romance, I was quickly lured on over to the dark side.
Yes, it is a dark romance. For those that like their romances sweet and happy, this isn't the one. Want a well written, creepy - sometimes to the point of making you cringe or you skin crawl - completely dysfunctional romance? You, that reader, don't hesitate on that one click button for one more second. You need this one in your collection.
I honestly am not sure who I like more - Saint or Mei. Both are outstandingly unique characters who will be with you long after you turn the last page of this book. Mei is still running from an unspeakable childhood, and has found her place working in a strip club, but staying out of the spotlight. Saint is the best in the business at his job, though I am not sure how to translate "mob enforcer" into professional resume speak. There is undeniable chemistry when they meet, but will even stone cold Saint be safe when Mei's past comes to take her back.
I go back and forth when it comes to reading dark romances, but I have read many over the years. I would very honestly put Doll Face up against the best of them. Ms. Grubor has a gift for the twisted, on top of her already proven talents as an author, and from the moment I first heard about this project I was sure it would be fantastic, but I don't think I had quite realized the depths of depravity it would hit, and I certainly wasn't prepared for just how much I would enjoy wallowing in the deep end.
Highest recommendations for anyone who can embrace their dark side. ...more
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