A Wicked and Beautiful Garden (Witches of the Island #1) by Katie McGarry ~ Review

Source: eARC provided by the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Twenty-eight year-old Cassie Strega can’t escape fate.

All she wants is to live a normal, quiet life delivering the babies in her small town. But when she discovers she comes from a lineage of witches, her life becomes extraordinary—in the gravely dangerous type of way.

Then, she’s reunited with her first love.

Orion, the sultry Fae warrior who broke her heart years before, is searching for a baby. Not just any baby, but the queen of the Fae who will one day lead them in their final battle against the demons determined to rule the world. The same baby who has been calling to Cassie for help in her dreams.

Fighting the intense attraction of their former blood bond, Cassie and Orion work together to find the child. But when the heartbreak that nearly destroyed Cassie nine years before looms once more, she’ll have to decide whether getting involved in the supernatural war is worth losing everything, including her life.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

I've been a fan of Katie McGarry since her first book, but all of her books I've read have been contemporary. So I was very intrigued to see how she handled a new genre. Especially since this step into a new genre had such a interesting premise--with witches and fae and a romance with a warrior??? Count me in. And I'm glad I picked it up because A Wicked and Beautiful Garden is a very good introduction to this new series.

I'm going to do this review in list form because that's the way my brain is working right now...

Things I Liked:

- First and foremost I will say that Katie McGarry is great with words. It wasn't hard to get interested in this book, and it wasn't tough to stay interested either. 

- I loved the characters. Cassie was awesome. She's kind and selfless and smart and sassy. And Orion took time to grow on me, but he seems like a good guy. And I very much enjoyed the side characters as well.

- The take on witches and fae was so unique. Especially the way they were intertwined for this world...I'm excited for more as the series progresses.

- Flashback scenes can be hit or miss for me, but I rather liked the ones in this story. It really helped piece things together as the plot progressed. Especially things between Cassie and Orion.

- Speaking of Cassie and Orion...I'm kind of on the fence about them. Do I like them together? Yes. Do I feel like they have had adequate time to really form a strong relationship? Not so much. So they're going in both what I liked and what I didn't like. Here I'll talk about what I liked: they are very devoted to one another. And they make a good match. I'll be very interested to see where their romance goes...

Now...Things I Did Not Like:

- Cassie and Orion and their romance. Second chance romances are always a hard sell for me, and this one has me torn. I like the characters individually. And I don't hate them together. But I feel like we didn't see enough of their relationship building and growing. Instead, they just resurface feelings they apparently had before rather quickly. I'm looking forward to more of them in the next book, where hopefully their relationship feels more organic.

- While the plot was good, it sometimes read as a little disjointed. This was rather minor, but it was on my mind as I read.

- Like the plot, some of the worldbuilding and the magic system was kind of odd. I have high hopes that it will all make more sense as the series arc continues to play out, however. But things seemed to be introduced out of nowhere--like the connection with Orion, for example. I wish we could have gotten more info on exactly how that works. Mostly that's what I'm saying here--I want to know more about how things WORK.

Overall, A Wicked and Beautiful Garden was a solid and interesting introduction to the Witches of the Island series. There were a few aspects I found a little rocky, but it's a unique take on witches and fae. I'd say it was definitely worth the read, and I am very much looking forward to picking up book 2!

3.5 stars - A solid & interesting introduction to a new series!

Forever Never by Lucy Score ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Forever Never by Lucy Score

You don’t fall for your brother’s high school sweetheart, your boss’s daughter, or your ex-wife’s best friend. Especially when they’re all the same woman.

Under Brick Callan’s mile-wide chest beats a loyal heart with a few cracks in it. He’s the steadfast, overprotective type. Especially when it comes to the one woman he can never have. It’s a long, complicated history punctuated by fights, friendship, family, and an attraction that strains his iron willpower.

When Remi Ford returns to Mackinac Island in the dead of winter with a secret, Brick makes it his mission to find out what put the shadows in those green eyes. Even if it means breaking down the walls he’s built between them. Even if it means falling for the one girl he’ll never get over.

The free-spirited artist just needs to lay low for a few weeks so she can figure a way out of this nightmare. She’s definitely not staying. Not when the man who broke her teenage heart into splinters keeps showing up at her parents’ dinner table. Remi doesn’t need broody, bearded Brick riding to her rescue…again. Not when it will put them both in danger, costing them much more than their hearts.

Author’s Note: Frenemies-to-lovers. Opposites attract. Slow burn. Girl in danger. Glorious, glorious banter. Fighting as foreplay. Small-town shenanigans. Big, grumpy, pining, overprotective hero. Wild-child, trouble-finding heroine who keeps on pushing the hero’s buttons. Steam Level: Lava. Suspense: Nail-biting. Feels: Big time.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

After reading and enjoying Rock Bottom Girl, I've been wanting to pick up another Lucy Score novel. So when an ad for Forever Never came up on my Facebook timeline I couldn't help but download the sample. And right after finishing the sample I couldn't help but download the whole book. And now that I've read it, I can say that it was, in fact, quite good.

There were a few things that this book did very well. First was the premise: the lively, lovable woman come back to town with a big problem and the burly guy who pines after her forcing himself in to help. It was a slow burn, which I love. And there was an angst factor that I was in the mood for.

Second was the characters. Lucy Score is so good at writing interesting characters. They're fun and quirky but also realistically flawed. Take Remi's sister, for instance, and her marriage--flawed but in a way that was real and not the end all be all. It was just...like life.

Third was Remi and Brick together. I LOVED them together. I loved how Brick wanted her. How he cared and watched and helped and was solid and always there for her. And Remi, I really loved Remi. She'd loved him forever and I felt so much for her as they slowly found their way together. 

Fourth, this book did a fantastic job of hooking me. I love me a chunky book, but the way I flew through it last weekend was awesome.

All that said, there were some aspects of Forever Never that didn't quite work out for me. Most of them can be summed up by my adoration for Remi--I don't feel like she got what she deserved. She took a lot of verbal hits in this book, which I respect because that's the name of the angst game, but I don't feel like anyone (particularly her sister and Brick) gave her the apologies she deserved. The only one who tried hard enough was AUDREY, of all people, and even that I'd have liked a little more--but it didn't bother me nearly as much since in the grand scheme Audrey shouldn't have mattered.

I was especially disappointed by how little groveling Brick did. He married her best friend. When he'd clearly loved Remi all along. (Not a spoiler, he's obviously head over heels from page 1.) And instead of Brick winning Remi over, we get Remi trying to win him over. Remi is always the one who has to be understanding and I just wanted better for her.

Overall, Forever Never was a good story that I had a good time reading, but it could have been better. And I'll definitely be picking up another Lucy Score novel (lol since originally writing this review I have and it was very enjoyable). If she can get me THIS into a second chance romance (aka not one of my favorite tropes at all--so take this entire review with that grain of salt), I have hope that I can find another novel in her backlist to love. 

3.5 stars - Not a favorite, but I really liked this one & the main couple was so perfect for each other!

Welcome to the Dark Side (The Fallen Men #2) by Giana Darling ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Welcome to the Dark Side (The Fallen Men #2) by Giana Darling

I was a good girl.
I ate my vegetables, volunteered at the local autism centre and sat in the front pew of church every Sunday.
Then, I got cancer.
What the hell kind of reward was that for a boring life well lived?
I was a seventeen-year-old paradigm of virtue and I was tired of it.
So, when I finally ran into the man I'd been writing to since he saved my life as a little girl and he offered to show me the dark side of life before I left it for good, I said yes.
Only, I didn't know that Zeus Garro was the President of The Fallen MC and when you made a deal with a man who is worse than the devil, there was no going back...

This is Daddy Zeus Garro's story from Lessons In Corruption. A standalone in The Fallen Men series.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

It's kind of wild how my reading moods can shift in the blink of an eye. Earlier this month I was all about vampires. Then I jumped two different genres and...somehow ended up here. I think because the love interest of this book was mentioned in a thread of loyal heroes and I was like HMMM. And then I downloaded the sample of this book...and then the whole book...and then read it. And I must say, Welcome to the Dark Side was not bad.

MC romances are very hit or miss for me. There's probably more misses than hits, tbh. Because cheating is a big no for me and it tends to be a common occurrence in MC romances. But reviews convinced me to give this one a try because it seemed like this book was nearly nonexistent on that front (cheating, I mean--and it's true, there's nothing that made me angry in that regard in this book!). That said, I tend to be drawn to them. I read so many reviews for these types of books. Because the idea draws me in, especially when I'm in the mood for it. But it always comes down to how the hero acts. As I mentioned, this one was a winner!

I was also very intrigued by the entire premise of this book. How the characters meet. How they connect. Her sickness. It was all an interesting mixture, and I easily became invested in the story early on.

I don't feel like I have loads else to say. It was an MC romance that didn't make me super angry due to cheating. The premise is one that draws you in. And the other characters surrounding the two MCs were interesting, too. I especially liked Mute, which I'm sure isn't uncommon because he was so very lovable.

All that said, I do wish the main character had been just a year older. I was here for the age gap, but if only she'd been 18 instead of 17...things would have been more believable. Or certain plot points wouldn't have felt so forced, is more the point I'm trying to make. Also, I very much had a good time reading the book but the MC drama didn't much pull my attention. I was here for the romance and the parts of the story that were centered around Loulou.

Overall, Welcome to the Dark Side was a good read that easily pulled me in, but it didn't blow me away. The premise was great, I enjoyed the romance, and I breezed through the entire book in one sitting. If you're in the mood for an MC romance and like me tend to prefer something on the safer (in romance terms) side, this is definitely one to try!

Note: I have not read book 1. I just jumped into book 2 because it looked good. I didn't have any trouble understanding what was going on, nor did I feel like I was missing anything important. (Though I may go back and read book 1 now that I've liked book 2...) So if you're wondering about whether or not this one can really stand alone, I say it can!

3.5 stars - An MC romance that was easy to enjoy

Jane's Team (Bizarro Universe Books #1) by Janie Marie ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Jane's Team (Bizarro Universe Books #1) by Janie Marie

When you’re in love with your best friend, life is complicated.

When he’s also your stepbrother, it’s a nightmare.

Jane’s apparently a magnet for chaos.

Because now she’s agreed to tutor her stepbrother’s enemy, and that sexy bad boy might have a thing for her. She might also love that a tingle surrounds her soul whenever he’s close.

Throw his two brothers into the mix, dangerous rivals looking to destroy every one of them, and parents controlling her love life. It’s safe to say she’s wandered into the apocalypse.

At least being torn between four hot guys isn’t the end of the world.

Just kidding. It totally is.

But they’ll all realize something.

Jane’s the ruler of her life. No one else.

Long live the queen . . . and her kings.

*strong language, sexual assault, sex, stepbrother romance, reverse harem romance.
Guaranteed HEA. No Cliffhanger*

Jane's Team is an alternate reality for Janie Marie's Gods & Monsters trilogy. While this is a standalone, efforts were made to bring extra smiles for established G&M readers. If you'd like to meet the gang in their original reality, that series is available. Still, the Gods & Monsters trilogy is not a prerequisite to read and enjoy Jane's Team.

Goodreads | Amazon

*Available through KindleUnlimited!*

After reading the most recent installment in one of my favorite reverse harem series (Lost Star by Rebecca Royce--and if you haven't read the Wings of Artemis series, I very strongly recommend it), I was in a little bit of an RH mood. And then I came across the author of THIS book talking about the sequel (novella?) she's writing, and I was like hmmm. So I downloaded the sample of book 1, this book, Jane's Team. Then I downloaded the entire book. And what a wild ride it was.

Have you ever read a book, and you're aware that it's not good, and there's a lot you don't truly like about it, but you're so freaking entertained nonetheless that you can't put it down? That was me with this book. I lost sleep to read this book. I read it on my phone when I found some spare minutes at work. It was such fun brain candy, and that is my favorite thing about it.

I also tend to love the drama of it all. The girl who is *so conflicted.* The guys who want nothing more than for her to realize how amazing she is and be happy. It's all so dramatic and compulsively readable, even as it's kind of a trainwreck. But I was in the Mood for this one, and so I let it take over my life. No regrets.

My other favorite thing about this book was Ryder. He was definitely the best character. He was my favorite of the harem for Jane. And he was honestly the best one of the harem for Jane. Which the characters in the book seemed aware of...but I'll get to THAT in a moment. I was 100% here for his devotion to her. He was down for whatever she wanted as long as she was happy and actively tried to help to make it happen. And he said what he meant without lying or sounding insincere, which I have all the respect in the world for.

The things that weren't great about this story are many.
- The parents. How could David's father be so blind as to not see his son was in love with Jane before then? But also, why was he so insistent on them acting like siblings? And then, why was he so angry about the idea of what Jane was sorting out with the guys but then once Ryder has a talk with him...he kind of changed his mind? All of it put together made little to no sense.

- David. My least favorite character! He's the variety of "I've always loved you" while also sleeping with someone else and then being confused as to why Jane would be upset about it. Such garbage. Jane was *right there* the whole time. All he had to do was twitch a finger in her direction and she would have caved. But *he* pushed her away and then *he* acted like some rejected martyr and slept with someone else. I hate that so much. (That was not a spoiler, btw. It's something that comes to light early on in the story)

- While I do like Tercero and Luc...I'm kind of unsure as to why this one was RH. Because Ryder was clearly the best one for Jane. They could have been perfectly fine and happy together if their relationship had been left alone. These two kind of feel like after thoughts. Especially Luc. The story feels like it forced the four together into a harem just because. Just so it could be RH. Which is not something I ever say because I'm always here for reverse harems. But this one time...I think I would have been okay with just Jane and Ryder being the cutest couple. That said, maybe I feel this way because we barely get any page time with them all being in their RH relationship, settled and decided and working out? I'm totally going to read the sequel when it releases so we'll see how I feel then, I suppose!

- There's more that wasn't great about this story and that weren't handled in a way I liked, but for the sake of not going into actual spoiler territory and because I feel like I've nailed down the things that bothered me the most, I'll end this list here.

Overall, Jane's Team was total brain candy, and I will definitely be picking up the sequel. It's fun and dramatic and I really did love Ryder. I don't recommend this if you're looking for a genuinely good RH, but if you're looking for something that's just a dramatic good time I say give this book a shot and see how hooked you get! ;)

*Oh, and small note: I have not read Janie Marie's Gods & Monsters trilogy. I know this is like an AU of that, but I have no idea how that plays into the story or anything and it has no bearing on my thoughts. I can say that Jane's Team does standalone solidly, though!*

3.5 stars - Not the best, but super fun & entertaining!

The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley #1) by Devney Perry ~ Review

Source: Purchased.

The Coppersmith Farmhouse (Jamison Valley #1) by Devney Perry

One old farmhouse brought them together. It could also tear them apart.

Gigi has just uprooted her whole world to start a new life. The unexpected gift of a farmhouse in small-town Montana is just what she and her daughter need to escape big-city loneliness. The last thing she needs is attitude from the town’s sheriff, the most perfectly attractive and ruggedly handsome man she’s ever laid eyes on—and a complete jerk.

Jess knows all about women like Gigi. Beautiful. Sexy. Scheming. She’s stolen his sanctuary, the farmhouse that should have been his. But along with a face full of freckles, she’s got a sharp wit and a backbone of steel—something he doesn’t discover until after making a complete fool of himself. If he can earn back her trust and win her heart, he might just find the home he’s always needed.

Goodreads | Amazon | B&N

I've been scrolling past this one on Goodreads and Amazon for a while now, unsure on whether or not I should pick it up. Then a friend of mine recommended it, saying it read like a Kristen Ashley book. So then of course I had to give it a shot. Turns out, my friend wasn't really wrong but The Coppersmith Farmhouse ended up falling short regardless.

It's tough with this one, because there were so many aspects that added up in a way that should have had me loving this book. The way the romance developed. The heroine, who was awesome, for the most part. The alpha sheriff hero. The sweet daughter who was fun to read but also added some layer to the relationships building in the story. When everything is listed out, this adds up to what should have been a great book.

But then, for me, it flopped on execution. I think part of that might have been because I went into it expecting a readalike to KA, so I was comparing a little even though I tried hard not to. But I think a majority of it is just that the writing wasn't to my taste for this one. 

A few specific reasons this one didn't quite work for me: Jess. There's a fine line to walk between a hero being alpha and a hero being an asshole. Jess landed on the wrong side of that a lot of the time. Throughout the book he was a jerk, then apologized and said he'd do better. But this happened multiple times--clearly showing that he didn't learn anything and wasn't improving. Also, the romance was never fully convincing to me. Gigi was holding back and then all of a sudden wasn't and things didn't really *develop* they were just at Point A then suddenly were at Point C. This is something I probably wouldn't have cared much about if not for the way Jess was--part of the reason Gigi held back in the first place was because of his behavior. So if he was relapsing into the same jerkish habits, why did she keep brushing it off? And lastly, this book just wasn't memorable to me. It's not one I think I'm going to think about often--I haven't been thinking about it a lot so far and it's been a couple of weeks since I finished it. I'm probably not going to re-read. 

All that said, I did really enjoy the beginning of the book. Meeting the people of the town and getting introduced to everything was great. And this is a big deal for me because I have no patience for the exposition pieces of books. But in this one, I had a good time with it. I think that may be why I'm so bummed about this one--the beginning was so good but the way the rest of the story panned out didn't work for me. I also loved the characters--all except Jess. The town and its inhabitants are cool. 

Overall, The Coppersmith Farmhouse unfortunately did not end up being my cup of tea. That said, I did read the preview for the next book in the series, The Clover Chapel, and I think I'll probably give it a try sometime. As I said, there was a lot about this story that had potential and that I think I could have liked if only the specific aspects that *didn't* work for me weren't so prominent. So hopefully I won't have those issues with the second book when I get around to reading it, and I can just love it :)

3.5 stars - So much potential, but the execution fell short for me.

Gravel and Grit (Khargals of Duras #1) by Stacy Jones ~ Review

Source: Kindle Unlimited.

Gravel and Grit (Khargals of Duras #1) by Stacy Jones

Zaek is losing hope after waiting centuries for rescue, but the time has finally arrived. The lost emergency beacon has fallen from orbit and gone active. All he needs to do to get off this damn planet named Earth is find it and get to the pick up location in time. The problem? The beacon comes with an addictively confounding, Earthian female who makes his mating gland swell, marking her as his true mate. Zaek hasn’t been around a human who didn’t run away screaming monster in a millennium, so how the hell is he supposed to convince this smart, beautiful, sarcastic female to give him the opportunity to win her heart before he loses his chance forever?

Mira has always been obsessed with all things alien, but when one breaks into her lab at Area 51, first contact doesn’t go how she planned. Kidnapped and running for her life with a gruff gargoyle that definitely isn’t made of stone and has more than his share of quirks, Mira learns that sometimes plans are made to be thrown out the window.

With a black ops team hot on their heels, determined to kill or capture them both, time is running out and their fumbling romance isn’t the only thing standing in their way to happiness.

Goodreads | Amazon

I've kind of stumbled into a reading slump lately. I moved last month and didn't have time to read, thus lost my momentum and since then I haven't been able to pick something to read that I think will be a winner. When that happens, I resort to my comforts: fanfiction and re-reading. So I did that for a little bit...but then Goodreads reminded me that I'm behind on my goal so I decided to actually pick something up. That something was Gravel and Grit, because I loved Stacy Jones' Chosen series and hoped this one would win me over just like those books had. Unfortunately, Gravel and Grit wasn't quite as good as her previous series, but I did enjoy reading it!

My issues with this one happened mostly all in the first half. It took a while to get me into it, first of all. This isn't an uncommon problem, because I have no patience and want the main characters together always. But it took a little bit for things to come together and get going. And once they met, it took a little bit longer for things to settle enough that I was like "okay, I'm here for this." I also thought it was strange how much they both talked to themselves out loud. I understand Zaek to an extent, but Mira doing it too was kind of too much?

The second half, however, was much stronger. The characters settled into each other, and their personalities became defined without feeling strange. That was when they grew on me and I became truly invested. And I absolutely adored their relationship. Zaek was so sweet! And I appreciated Mira's growth, level head, and honesty.

As for the plot as a whole, I was a fan of the premise from the start. It's a cool idea, and I think I'll probably peek at the rest of the books in the series sometime even though they're all b authors I've never read. My one, final gripe is just that I wish the book hadn't ended at the exact point where it did. Or if it had to, I wish it wasn't a standalone! I want to know more, what comes next. There's so much more to explore. But I suppose that's the mark of a good book--I was left wanting more.

Overall, Gravel and Grit is a really good book that took some time, but it grew on me. The second half was stronger than the first half, but it got me to the point where I was loving the characters and their relationship. If only we could have more!

3.5 stars - A great premise and a sweet romance!

Storm and Fury by Jennifer L Armentrout ~ Review

Eighteen-year-old Trinity Marrow may be going blind, but she can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits. Her unique gift is part of a secret so dangerous that she’s been in hiding for years in an isolated compound fiercely guarded by Wardens—gargoyle shape-shifters who protect humankind from demons. If the demons discover the truth about Trinity, they’ll devour her, flesh and bone, to enhance their own powers.

When Wardens from another clan arrive with disturbing reports that something out there is killing both demons and Wardens, Trinity’s safe world implodes. Not the least because one of the outsiders is the most annoying and fascinating person she’s ever met. Zayne has secrets of his own that will upend her world yet again—but working together becomes imperative once demons breach the compound and Trinity’s secret comes to light. To save her family and maybe the world, she’ll have to put her trust in Zayne. But all bets are off as a supernatural war is unleashed…

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Amazon | B&N

HUGE spoilers in this review.  Read only if you have read the book or at your own risk.

First of all, I have always been firmly a Team Zayne camper.  I believe completely that if I had never read the Dark Elements series, I would adore Storm and Fury.  I also believe that if I had been Team Roth, I would adore Storm and Fury.  Neither are true though.  So, I don’t love Storm and Fury.  There I said it.

The beginning of this book drags.  Sure, it starts with a kissing scene but that quickly breaks down into an assault.  Justified on Trinity’s part and totally not so on Clay’s part.  But after that it’s pretty slow.  A lot of Trinity trying to get information and Misha trying to keep her in line.  Yeah, good luck with that.  She is a strong soul who pretty much does what she wants.  Sure, she’s trying to stay safe at the community of Wardens so she does most of what they want her to.  But she is 18.  She is an adult.  And she is the unknown being that we are not told about until half way through the book.  There are hints and it was pretty obvious (though I didn’t know the name they were using).  So, though she does have a protector, she doesn’t need protecting, really.  She reminds me of Alex from the Covenant series by the same author but Trinity hides her bada$$ ways behind the secret of who she is.

Once the group from DC shows up, things pick up some.  There is a connection between Trinity and Zayne from the start, even a touch has them noticing.  But Misha, Trinity’s protector, warns her off being around him.  Yeah, that was a hint right there.  I already knew Zayne from Dark Elements.  He’s not a bad guy as Misha suggested so I was suspicious of Misha from there on out.  There are some other puzzles to try and figure out: a demon attack, a ghost that was obviously killed by an upper level demon, a warden attack on Trinity (though that was is pretty obvious).  I do like to puzzle things out but unfortunately, I did puzzle most of it out before it was revealed.  That’s disappointing.  

There is one piece of information that is necessary remember for future reference.  Trinity had a crush on Misha for about 5 minutes (her words).  They kissed once.  It became clear she only loved him as a brother but it did open up the talk from her guardians that she can’t have that kind of a relationship with her protector.  It “messes” with their bond somehow.  (Spoiler ahead) Yeah, HUGE read flag went off right there.  I KNEW, KNEW then that something would happen to Misha and Zayne would take his place because yeah, lets make sure they CAN’T be in a relationship.  Let’s put him right back in the place he was with Layla.  Caring for someone and unable to act on it.  Actually, this whole story is to put him back into the place he was before with Layla only this time with Trinity.  Even the ending did that.  I’ll get to that later.  I am hoping that he gets a better ending, though.  But the pain he has to go through AGAIN will not make me happy.  (End spoiler)

Getting back to the connection between Trinity and Zayne, they keep running into each other.  A kiss happens and Zayne struggles but books it.  Yeah, my first thoughts were that he still loves Layla. It seems like it’s been about 6 months or so since the whole Dark elements storyline ended.  So, he’s definitely not over her.  Trinity, of course, takes it differently.  She thinks he doesn’t like her.  Isn’t interested in her.  And here’s a point I need to make.  I realize that romance (even ones about gargoyles) stories need that element that keeps the couple apart.  But it is the talent of the author to craft that in such a way as to not feel contrived.  AND I know that in YA books, that usually ends up being misunderstandings.  But this one is so clearly her misunderstanding and drawing the worst possible conclusion that it’s ridiculous.  I get that they can’t see each and fall into each other’s arms… end of story.  That would be boring.  But it kind of makes Trinity seem even less mature than she is.  I mean, she’s dealing with this vision issue and she’s all kinds of mature about that.  She knows what she is and that she’s a weapon waiting to be called on by her father and she’s got that handled.  But a boy DOES kiss her back and has the physical reactions of a very interested boy and then he runs.  She assumes he isn’t interested.  Please.

Once things truly hit the fan, she’s leaving to go to DC with Zayne.  Saw that coming.  (Spoiler ahead) AND “the hit the fan part” was an upper level demon taking her protector.  BUT seriously people, why would Bael not just take Trinity at the same time.  She is who they are really after.  She was standing right there.  That threw up a red flag.  Something is not as it seems.  My suspicions about Misha continue.  He’d been distant and letting Trinity go off a lot right before this.  What was he up to? (End spoiler)

Yeah, so Zayne has moved out on his own in DC, which means that Layla gets to stay with him at his place alone.  This is YA, yes?  I’m thinking it has more of a NA feel especially after a certain scene in Zayne’s bed.  NOT that I’m complaining one bit about that, just wondering.

After they arrive in DC and are pretty much alone, things unraveled for me and this plot.   (Spoiler ahead) One is that Misha was taken by an upper level demon.  That can’t be a good thing for him.  Trinity can still feel him through their bond.  He’s alive but he can’t be well, right.  Except that finding him takes a really, really long time.  At first, I was like okay they have to spend time looking and running down leads.  But when one lead takes a WEEK to get access to, I really started wondering.  WHY would an upper demon take her protector and not use him to get to her for days and even weeks.  He couldn’t last that long under torture.  There is one attempt to take her but it’s quickly put down by Trinity and Zayne.  Then nothing.  RED flag.  I started thinking about what could be happening with Misha.  Then I remembered how he wanted to be with a girl warder at the pit (a meet up place for the teens and such) when they were back at the community.  And how he had got really distant the closer it got to when he was captured.  And it struck me that he had to be on this.  And of course, that meant he’d have to be stopped.  Add that to the dreams that Trinity was having where Zayne was down and she was left to protect him and I knew.  Misha had turned on her.  She would have to kill him.  And her dad would show up and assign Zayne to be her new protector.  That would put him right back where he was with Layla in the Dark Elements series.  He would have to take care of her but not touch her.  And I was pissed.  Because hasn’t Zayne suffered enough?  Is this the only way for him to “get over” Layla and move on?  It is the perfect way to build a three-book story but my feeling for how much Zayne has suffered keep me from caring about that.  I just want a resolution not a drawn-out experience where Zayne is duty bound to protect but not touch.   (end spoiler)

(My thoughts on the rest of the series…so yeah, spoilers)  AND, I can see the rest of the books unfolding.  This Harbinger will have to be dealt with (and I’m pretty sure I know who that is).  Trinity will stay in DC to help.  They will try to stay away from each other but there will be a couple of slip-ups here and there or they will refuse to be kept apart but only in private.  Either way it will be more pain for Zayne.  But there has to be a story, right?  Yeah, I get that.  But Every Last Breath was so completely brutal for me to read that I’m not dealing well with him suffering.  I will read the rest because I need a solution for Zayne.  But my passion for this series is not there.  I don’t want to help others discover it and I don’t want to shout about it on social media.  (End spoiler)

(Yeah, more spoilers)  I did have another HUGE issue with this book.  Layla and Roth.  I think I would have handled this book so much better without them being in it.  I get that a lot of fans of the Dark Elements love those two and would freak if they weren’t in this one too.  But Layla.  I outright hate her.  She had the absolute GALL to think that she and Zayne could be FRIENDS.  Um, no.  Just no.  You can’t hurt someone that badly and expect them to want to be around you and share stuff with you.  Even if he gets over her, which he says he has, you don’t want that reminder every time to see them.  But Layla is that selfish.  She wants to keep her friendship with Zayne and she’s upset with him because he’s not going for it.  Add Roth spilling his guts to Trinity about things Zayne’s not ready for her to know.  I just hate them both.

(HUGE spoilers) As for the ending, it’s a rewrite of the Dark Elements.  Abbot, Zayne’s father, was never supposed to bring Layla back but Trinity.  Zayne was always supposed to be her protector, thus the connection between them.  The whole mess with Layla and Zayne was never supposed to happen.  And Trinity’s father was aware of the “mistake” and had let this happen or done nothing to fix it.  Now the fates are setting things right.  And that just pissing me off again.  I already don’t like Trinity’s father but this just makes it worse.  Zayne had to suffer the consequences of that choice.  Abbot’s not even around to yell at.  Though I do think he was the unexplained warden spirit that Trinity encounters.  (She can see and communicate with ghosts and spirits.)  I guess the bottom line is that I just can’t accept the conflict that Zayne has to go through to get his happy.  I would be fine with it if I didn’t know first hand what he’s already gone through, but I do know.  A short note that he got over Layla and moved on to a successful relationship with Trinity probably would have been enough for me.

(This is the safe part of this review.)

As you can tell, the characters invoke feeling in me.  That is a characteristic of this author for me.  Unfortunately, I can’t just leave the feeling from Dark Elements at the door when I pick up this book.  They color my reactions.  But it is because I react so strongly to these character that prevents me from rating this book lower than I did.  Obviously, the characters matter to me.  So that says something about how well they are written.

The story itself was not as good for me.  I felt like I guessed too much and there were too many slow spots.  I’m sure I would have liked it more if Layla and Roth didn’t show up as much as they did, if at all.  I did enjoy seeing Bambi.  And I liked the hint that Roth would get her back.  She does belong with him.

I also like Peanut.  He’s fun to have around.  This author is good at having a side character in her books that brings some humor and interest to the story.

I did enjoy the banter between Trinity and Zayne.  That’s a trademark for this author.  She does it often and well.  The rest of the writing was what I would expect from this author, though I didn’t expect to guess so much right.  That’s not my normal experience with her.

I’m positive this book will be a success with new fans and those that loved Roth in the Dark Elements.  I will read on because I need resolution for Zayne but I don’t expect to enjoy that experience.  Of course, others feel differently.  My co-blogger Jess loves this book as do many of those who review for this author regularly.  Just not me.  And I won’t apologize for that.  I feel what I feel.  I’m not going to sugar coat it just because this author is a favorite.

                           

Three For Me by Sofia Clarke ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

Three For Me by Sofia Clarke

After going through a terrible breakup, Bailey is convinced that no man will ever want her. When she makes a wish to find love, however, everything changes. She meets three smoking-hot guys who want to show her just how desirable she is. She has to decide...will she run away from their affection or go for everything she wants?

Warning: In this sweet, steamy romance novel, her heroes are totally obsessed and eager to please. Sometimes wishes really do come true. This is a standalone story with an HEA or HFN guaranteed!

Goodreads | Amazon

I can't remember exactly where I came across this one, but I know it caught my eye because 1) it's reverse harem and 2) the warning in the description is what I wanted to read. So lucky for me that this book is exactly as described--a sweet, steamy romance with very devoted heroes. All of which I had a great time reading.

My personal favorite aspect of the novel was, of course, the harem: Riley, Stephen, and Felipe. They're all so kind and sweet and protective and make up the perfect harem. But another top notch aspect to them is that they know exactly what they want and don't act any differently. They thing Bailey is amazing--and tell her that from the start. And then they continue to tell her. They're so open and honest. And funny. I really enjoyed them.

Then there's Bailey who is a great character, but also made this story a step more than just an indulgent romantic read. She's very unsure of herself. Her self-esteem isn't the highest, and she has trouble trusting--both others and herself. She knows what she wants but needs to gain the courage to go for it. And so this is the story of her journey through all that. Where she meets these guys and they help her gain confidence and finally take what she wants for herself. By the end of the book, I really admired Bailey.

The romance was very much full of insta-love. Personally, I was here for it. Especially since between the insta-love and actual relationship development, there was time for Bailey and the guys to get to know each other. Things progressed in a pretty solid way--they started with strong feelings, but were friends before anything officially more. 

So the question now is: why not 5 stars? And I don't have much of an answer, because this book is what I wanted when I picked it up. It's exactly what it says it'll be. But it also didn't feel like a 5 star read to me. I liked it a lot but I didn't love it. I didn't feel super emotionally invested. It was a quick read that I had a good time reading and that was kind of that.

Overall, Three For Me is a light, fun RH romance. I'm glad I picked it up and would definitely recommend it if you're in the mood for something indulgent and sweet. 

3.5 stars - A sweet, fun RH story with super devoted heroes!

A Star Pilot's Heart by Eva Delaney & Vivi Clarke ~ Review

Source: KindleUnlimited.

A Star Pilot's Heart (All the Stars in the Sky #1) by Eva Delaney & Vivi Clarke

Warriors. Smugglers. Rebels. Only Calpurnia and her crew of five seductive men can save the galaxy from its evil rulers.

With war raging between a cruel empire and a brave revolt, little hope is left in the galaxy. Captain Calpurnia has a chance to end the battle. But her journey takes her deep into the enemy’s kingdom with a power-hungry prince on her trail.

On her high-stakes quest, Calpurnia finds herself trapped in tight quarters with a team of rebels: A brave warrior, a shy genius, a mysterious bounty hunter, a gentle doctor, and a cocky pilot.

This fiercely independent captain is suddenly tempted by five alluring allies. Will she succumb to the men’s charms? Or shove them out the ship’s airlock?

Torn between her fear of loneliness and her fear of falling in love, Calpurnia must journey to new worlds alongside her enticing crew. Can she escape the cruel prince and save the galaxy, while navigating the desires of her heart?

Goodreads | Amazon 

I picked this one up because it was posted about and recommended in the Facebook group for an author I adore. Also because it's RH (or at least it's going to be? ...more on that later). Also, also because it's space-y and sci-fi-ish and really just have me Wings of Artemis vibes and we all know by now that I am here all day every day for WOA, yes? So I picked up A Star Pilot's Heart. And I enjoyed it!

One of the best things about this one was how easily it hooked me. I was in the kind of bookish mood where my patience was at zero and I needed something I could get into fast. This one totally fit the bill! And I flew through it so fast. It was fun, quick, and refreshing.

Another super strong point was the characters. They were entertaining and characterized pretty well. I really enjoyed them and look forward to both learning more about them and just plain spending time with them as the series continues. They're the type of crew that I KNOW are going to be full of good times, and I truly cannot wait.

It also stands to mention that MC is the type who doesn't take anyone's crap. She's confident and strong and sassy. I am totally a fan.

Now for the two things I'm not entirely sold on with A Star Pilot's Heart: the plot and the RH. The plot just felt a little too contrived for me. A lot of stubbornness and miscommunication--which made for solid characterization but weak storytelling. Which isn't the worst thing, but it left me not caring about the plot so much and mainly focusing on the characters. Again, not the worst thing. But it made some parts of the novel not hold my attention as well as others--which is why I'm even mentioning it here.

And then the RH: I'm just not sure about it yet. Mainly because it's not actually formed, but also because the way it currently stands, my least favorite of the guys has a head start which...meh. I don't think I'll have nearly as much of a problem with this in future installments in the series, but as far as this one went I was wanting more.

Overall, A Star Pilot's Heart was a quick, enjoyable read and though it wasn't perfect to me, I definitely plan on snatching up the sequel once it releases!

3.5 stars - An enjoyable RH that hooked me easily!