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Friday, September 30, 2016

Review: Ghost by A. Zavarelli (Boston Underworld #3)


The Blurb:
Talia. I have always been a bird. Caged by one prison or another when the only thing I ever wanted was to fly away. Sold. Beaten. Starved. Drugged. Nothing scares me anymore. Until him. He makes the numbness go away. He is hazardous to me. It has nothing to do with his mafia lifestyle, and everything to do with what he offers. A gilded prison. A retreat from everything that I once knew. The reality I have no desire to return to. He thinks he’s caged me, but soon… I’m going to fly. 
Alexei. I live by a code. The Vory code. In this mafiya world, there are traditions. Expectations. She does not care for these things. She does not care about anything. She thinks she has me fooled with her haunted eyes. What she can’t know is that I see her better than most. She wants to fly. But I’m going to clip her wings. And make her my wife. 


Swearing alert. This review will have swear words. And spoilers, because I can’t not talk about it.

*********

…HOLY FUCKING SHIT you guys!!!! I’m still in shell shock from this book.



For starters, the opening sequences of this book are basically the reason trigger warnings exist. Sweet Jesus. I can tell you that this author definitely did her homework when it comes to trauma survivors. This book is different from the previous two installments. It’s more visceral. Agonizing, even.



Talia, whom we’ve heard so much about in the previous books, has been sold into sexual slavery by a Russian man that she met at Slainte (the strip club front for the Irish mafia). Readers are greeted with everything horrific that such a situation could entail. I had to pause a few times, to be honest.



Cut to Alexei, the Russian Ghost, a skilled hacker in charge of all gambling operations for the Russian mafia. He’s been tasked with finding Talia as a favor to Mack, but he’s got some other plans in mind as well. We get the impression Alexei has some issues of his own, but it’s a slow discovery to find out just what’s going on with him. But we do know from Lachlan Crow that he’s a man of his word, and he has found Talia just as he promised.



Getting her out of that place was heart wrenching to read. The delays caused by Alexei’s necessary diplomacy make you doubt whether or not he’ll even get her out at all. And that’s only the beginning, folks. Talia is truly messed up from the ordeal she’s been through. Alexei was aware this was likely, but he rolls with it. And it’s not just patience he has…it is understanding.



The bond these two share, though neither one can admit it right away, is so insanely on point that I just could not stop reading until I knew how this was going to play out. The extreme emotional effort they each have to put into creating any sliver of intimacy is just…gaaah!! There is never an insignificant interaction between these characters. The last few chapters had my chest pounding for both of them.



This is, so far, my favorite book of the year. What an amazing ride this series has been!!!

All the stars!!!

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Review: And Never Say Goodbye by Nancy Glynn


The Blurb:

Nicknames are illusions...

Ice. That's what they call her. Mallory "Ice" McShane. Living in an old family farmhouse, hiding from tornadoes, she's biding her time. A promise still unmet. But she can't get thoughts of coworker Lawson "Wolf" Gallagher out of her head, making the promise harder to fulfill.

Don't listen to the rumors...thieves of the truth.

Wolf. That's what they call him. In the OR...and in bed. But he only wants one woman called "Ice." And her promise to someone from the past stands in their way. Can he break the ice around her heart?

When Mallory and Lawson come together after an intense donor case in the OR, they realize a love that’s on a path to heartbreak. A promise stands between them, ready to snatch a future that’s already doomed. A future that’s been laid out for Mallory, dashing any hope of another man’s love. Lawson dares to fight this plan. Will Mallory honor the promise…or her heart?


 
Mallory McShane, “Ice” as they call her, is a surgical coordinator in organ recovery. She’s got a gift for her job and earned her nickname because she’s so good at dealing with the abject horror that sometimes accompanies such a position. Harvesting organs is one thing. Having to speak with the families prior? Negotiating consent to donate? Oy.



Lawson “Wolf” Gallagher (geez this place has a lot of nicknames) is another surgical coordinator. He trained Mallory 3 years ago, and now the student has become the teacher. He’s in his late 30’s, outwardly seems to have the typical surgeon’s God complex, and he's a womanizer to boot. But as we learn more, he’s actually pretty mushy on the inside. He even has a dog that he dotes on, because adorable.


I want one. Can I have one?

McShane and Gallagher dance around each other in a semi-flirtatious way, but Mallory is more than aware of his reputation. In fact, it’s pretty much shoved in our face as often as the plot permits. Gallagher has apparently tapped every vagina under 40, if you go by the amount of horny women constantly approaching him for seconds or lamenting to other random hospital employees that they’d hit that again.



Speaking of which, does this place even have an HR department or what? Everyone just openly comments on everyone’s sex lives, sometimes in front of the freaking supervisors. I’d get fired at my job if these conversations took place in front of my boss. I should have been a surgeon. I aspire to have that kind of job security.

Regardless, there is a mutual understanding between Mallory and Lawson. They have an intense job that not everyone is capable of carrying out. These two are very respected at their hospital, and staff frequently lean on them to negotiate with traumatized families. That kind of bond alone has to be pretty significant for both of them.

They continue to gravitate closer and closer to one another as the feelings develop from mutual respect into something more. But ya know, then Lawson continues being Lawson.

“Stop trying to always be a man and let someone else be it for a change.”



But then he’s all like


Sorry, what was I saying?

“Never thought that. But you have to admit you’re a little...”
“What? What am I, Gallagher?”
He grinned. “Uptight?”



ARGGG

I really enjoyed this one. It’s cheesy at times, but sometimes cheese is good. There were some emotionally heavy moments as well, including one chapter involving an OR on a baby, which had me tearing up. What a roller coaster!

Stylistically, the book is written/edited well, pacing is good. It’s a quick and easy read, even with the medical lingo. It’s just enough to help set the scene without causing the reader to become lost in translation.

The plot throws a curveball that I just did not see coming, even though I *thought* I had it figured out. Whoa.

Spoiler Alert:

The ending is terribly convenient, I’m not gonna lie, but that’s okay because sometimes books should have HEAs. I definitely wanted this one to. 

5 mushy stars!!!!

Sunday, September 25, 2016

Review: Fallacies by Maya Tripathi


 The Blurb:

In the depths of Crestpoint, there is unrest. In 2019, the nation became independent, leaving behind the confines of the United States--creating its own government. Five years later, a plan is underway to make it stronger. The leaders are only getting more secretive--wanting more control. Frightened by the sudden changes, seventeen-year-old Natalie Matthews decides to join the government to protect herself and her family from her deepest fears. She is given the opportunity she needs to succeed, but when she falls in love with Sean Davis, she is forced into the center of a plot much thicker than she imagined. Entangled in an effort to win a treacherous competition, she becomes the target of attacks. As she exposes the leaders' corruption, she thinks the danger is over, but instead finds herself caught between the watchful eyes of the world and the lingering secrets of the person she wanted to trust the most.



ARC generously provided by author in exchange for my honest review:

The main character is Natalie, a teenager in Crestpoint--a country which is newly separated from the U.S. as of 5 years ago. Natalie seems to be pretty well-educated for a teen: she’s very introspective about the intrusiveness of the government, the Council’s bid to increase its military capabilities, and she even goes so far as to analyze the reasoning for recruiting young adults ages 17-26 (because they’re so emotionally malleable). I feel like my U.S. education shortchanged me. The only critical thinking I did at that age was debating whether or not Taco Bell’s meat was real.




Next, we meet Sean Davis. Sean is a 20 year old FIRST-IN-COMMAND. For the Crestpoint military. No big deal. This guy must be all the smartness. He’s in charge of recruiting, and for reasons totally unrelated to him or aforementioned smartness/hotness, Natalie immediately decides to join the ranks after hearing him speak (but not like, for a guy...pfft).


I mean…I’d join...What? Nothing. I didn’t say anything.

“Fear isn’t going to go away. You have to look past that. I can’t convince your parents for you. I can tell you my experiences and that joining has been a huge part of who I am, but I can’t make it important to your life and I can’t make it any less scary.” That’s pretty insightful for a 20 year old. I’ve had boyfriends in their 30’s that couldn’t think their way out of a ball pit, let alone dissect the intricacies of managing fear and confronting something larger than yourself, with your life and the well-being of your entire family on the line. See above, re: sign me up.

The biggest hurdle I had with the story was mostly the initial setup/how Natalie and Sean even cross paths:

First of all, Natalie’s dad immediately assumes Sean will make it the focus of his job to protect his baby girl. “She may join, but you will be fully responsible for her safety.” WHAT? He’s First-In-Command, doesn’t he have literally all the things to do? I’m sure all fathers would love such a promise! Fortunately for them, Natalie is immediately important to Sean for reasons.

What’s more, Sean actually responds to this demand with: “Of course I am,” he answers without hesitation. “If you want to join, then I’ll take accountability for your safety to the best that I can.” Seems legit. I get that he has underlying motivations, but for a character like Natalie, who was introduced as being constantly wary of the intentions of those around her, this seemed pretty trusting of her.

SO we learn that Sean wants Natalie to be in the leadership management program.



Like, management, management? Sign me up, I'm emotionally malleable.

A 17 year old military noob. Wow, it must really bother all those other people who have already dedicated years of their life to...oh, wait. Yeah. They aren’t happy about it. Natalie will now be competing with a group of 15, all vying for one spot to be in charge. No pressure. Just don’t mess up. And don’t fall for your hot First-in-Command.



Sean obviously has a thing for Natalie right from the start, but his motivations aren’t made completely clear for quite some time. As the sexual tension begins to escalate, there were also a few times where I was getting super irked with these two. “If anyone asks why we kissed, you can let them know that you were just upset about your peer getting hurt and weren’t thinking.” This man is a First-in-Command. In charge of things.

BUT overall? That slow build-up was sweet, sweet torture. Fair warning, angsty story is angsty.




No, seriously. I may have reached a point where I was yelling at my phone. “I’m going to give you one more kiss and if you don’t answer honestly and in detail,” he threatens, hooking his fingers on either side of my t-shirt. “I’m going to lift this up and we’ll be playing in a new area.”
 
Me: GIRL, COME ON YOU HAVE ALL THE TOOLS YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN.




Stylistically, this story is well-edited and had no spelling/grammar issues. The plot flows well, pacing is steady throughout. At times, paragraphs can get pretty long. Some of the dialogue focuses quite a bit on the minutia of the moment (perhaps to show the conversations in their entirety). But this is more of a stylistic preference than a criticism.

I presume from the ending that there will be more installments in the future, which is good because we need to talk about Natalie and Sean!!! 4 Brave New World stars!!!

Sunday, September 18, 2016

Review: The Player by Kresley Cole



The Blurb:

A madman with a shadowed past . . .
In the City of Sin, Dmitri Sevastyan finds her, Victoria Valentine--sexy, vulnerable, and in need of a protector. Obsession takes root deep inside him. Despite a history tainted with violation and betrayal, he will stop at nothing to possess her.

A grifter with nothing to lose . . .

Descended from a long line of con artists, twenty-three-year-old Victoria, a.k.a Vice, needs the score of a lifetime to keep her loved ones safe. She sets her sights on gorgeous and rich Dmitri Sevastyan. Even as the irresistible Russian toys with her body and mind, he tempts her heart.

Love is the ultimate wildcard.
When Vice and her associates maneuver Dmitri into a hasty Vegas wedding, he refuses to protect himself with a prenup, trusting her with all that he has. But can she trust him? As secrets unfold, the newlyweds share days of doubts and nights of the wickedest pleasures. Yet once Vice discovers her husband's past, will she stay to fight for her marriage or cut her losses and run?

 


I can honestly say with this series that I enjoyed the next even more than the one before. The final installment in Cole’s Game Maker series, The Player introduces us to the youngest Sevastyan, Dmitri. Gotta say, given the way he was described by his brothers in the previous books, I was really doubting how they could go about creating any kind of love interest for him. By their own accounts he is constantly hanging on by a thread.


The mentally unstable brother with a thing for blondes?

Yet now I would have to say Dmitri’s is my favorite love story of the trio. He’s fucked up, no doubt. His childhood trauma was so awful that I wondered how he would even function in a relationship. Our only perspective is from Victoria, a young grifter in need of a heavy score to save her family from a dangerous debt. Fortunately for her, Dmitri is immediately taken with her and decides she will be the one for him.




Not dating.

Not girlfriend.

The one.




Dimitri’s obsession with Victoria is painfully convenient for her underlying intentions to “milk cow” him (marry the rich guy, divorce the rich guy, walk away with some $$$). But Dmitri is just so damn adorable, and Victoria can’t help but fall for the guy in spite of herself. He’s so desperate for her love, he’s willing to give her anything.



I think the reason I liked this one so much was because Dmitri doesn’t shy away from the fact that he’s crazy. He acknowledges it and takes great strides to manage his issues as best he can. He doesn’t quite have it all worked out by the time he meets Victoria, but he jumps in anyways and puts his sanity on the line, all for the chance to have true love and happiness.



The story ends in an unexpected way. When it all comes together and everyone’s secrets are laid bare, I was audibly squealing with delight.

Friday, September 16, 2016

Review: Avalon Dreams by Alexa Whitewolf



The Blurb:

“It was impossible they had met before – of that she was certain. Yet his hold on her was undisputable, an irrational pull to the utmost recesses of her soul.” Vivienne du Lac has everything she could wish for – a normal, peaceful life, a good job, cushy nest egg, and a semi-social nightlife. The only problem? She’s clueless to being the reincarnation of the Lady of the Lake, mythical sorceress from King Arthur's time, and Merlin's apprentice. Sebastien Dubois is the guy you wouldn’t take home to mom and dad. He’s the one you jump off on a motorcycle with, to ride into the sunset. The sexual chemistry between them is sizzling from the start – but there’s more to the tall, dark and handsome stranger. When a magical past tumbles into her orderly reality, he is Vivienne’s only hope at survival. Caught between darkness and light, a battle she has no intention to fight – let alone the knowledge to win – Vivienne quickly finds out not even closest allies can be trusted. Can she look within and access powers from long past, become the enchantress Merlin meant her to be… Or will she lose it all over love, for Sebastien’s salvation? This is a battle between good and evil you don’t want to miss.


  
Avalon Dreams is a romantic fantasy. An Arthurian romantic fantasy. Swoon.

So before we get started, I must gush that this book is an actual sloooow burn. Like crack to my fiending soul.




This story is told across two different timelines: Vivienne, formerly a princess of Avignon, lives in the present, despite being plagued with frequent flashbacks to her past life. These flashbacks are more than a déjà vu, they render her dazed and even unconscious at times. As it turns out, she is a former student of Merlin.


Yes, I did it because she’s French.

Sébastien, formerly a knight and guardian to Princess Vivienne, is also living in the present.



Sébastien, Sebastian. Tomato, Tomahto.

Fine, I have a fixation. Whatever. Don’t judge me.

Unlike Vivienne, however, Sébastien remembers everything. It becomes apparent rather quickly that he is currently beholden to someone that’s not exactly on the up and up. But to what end? Strap in and prepare for the long haul, because we don't find out the whole scoop for quite some time!

Vivienne and Sébastien have a long, complicated history together spanning more than one lifetime. And as Viv begins to remember more and more of her past life, she begins to realize that renewing her relationship with Sébastien may not be such a simple thing.

Can we talk about the dog for a minute? Because I want a giant bear dog now. Alistair, a Caucasian Shepherd, is Vivienne’s familiar, both in her past life and once more in the now. How freaking awesome would that be, to have a sentient dog follow you around, understanding every word you say and telepathically communicating with you inside of your head?




He reminds me, in a way, of the character Jim from the Aisling Grey series by Katie MacAlister. If you dug that, you'll dig this.

Carleigh is the big bad. He was also a former student of Merlin’s, until Miss Viv came along. We can’t all be the favorite. He’s not bitter, or anything.




God, the slow burn was killing me on this one.



But it hurts so good! Every time you think it’s gonna happen…nope! So…much…angst.



I enjoyed the duality of the flashbacks paired with the present. The characters are well-developed and the plotline is intriguing. It’s a longer book, but it’s also a complicated story that takes some time to tell. If you’re like me (a slow burn crackhead) you’ll love it.

Five stars!

Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Review: Reaper by A. Zavarelli (Boston Underworld #2)



The Blurb:

Sasha.
He’s dark and mysterious. Quiet and lethal.
An Irish mobster.
Pure sin wrapped up in a beautiful package.
But there’s also something off about him.
He doesn’t feel anything. He shows no emotions.
Sometimes I question his humanity.
He hasn’t spoken to me in two years. Not a single word.
But we share a secret, he and I.
And if it ever comes out, I have no doubt in my mind…
He won’t have a problem killing me too.

Ronan.
I’ve slain for her. I’ll do it again.
When it comes to Sasha, there isn’t a line I won’t cross.
I watch her. She doesn’t know it.
She thinks I hate her. Sometimes, I think I might too.
But I’m always there, lurking in the shadows.
Craving her. Trying to keep the beast within at bay.
I’ll keep her safe. I’ll slaughter anyone who tries to hurt her.
The only thing I can’t do… is protect her from myself. 



Another fantastic book from A. Zavarelli! After reading Crow, I was so curious about Ronan’s past. Well, we absolutely get a look at it (sometimes in graphic detail).

Sasha is a dancer at Slainte, a bar/strip club that is also a front for the Irish mafia. From what we know from Crow, she clearly has a history with Ronan. But we never got much detail about wtf is going on with these two. At the start of Reaper, it is explained that her mother is dying of cancer, and Sasha became a dancer so that she could provide for her family and take care of mom in her final days.

Ronan is Lachlan Crow’s right hand, best friend, and the man to see if you’ve got someone you want to die a horrible death.



The description of Ronan just had me thinking of Elijah from The Originals. And DAMN I do not mind that at all.

Yet Ronan has aspirations to become more than just a killer, he is hoping to take on more responsibilities for the syndicate. He cares deeply for Sasha, which we sort of figured out in book 1, but with his complicated job and personal history, relationships seem to be something Ronan has zero experience with.




I really enjoyed the way things started out with Ronan and Sasha. The two of them have a shared experience that brought them closer together while simultaneously driving them further apart. The distance between them has remained for quite some time, yet it is clear that their thoughts always linger on one another.


What I didn’t like (SPOILERS AHEAD):

I’m sick of romance books using babies as a way to force people into serious commitments.



The old “I’m pregnant with your baby so let’s be together forever” shtick is tiresome and for me personally, not romantic. And the cues that she was going to get preggers were pretty much shoved in your face right from the start. You know what I think is romantic? Two people actually overcoming emotional obstacles just because, rather than just because pregnancy. But that’s me, it's just my personal preference. I recognize that not everyone feels that way.

Also, given what we learn of Ronan’s…ahem…performance issues, I was really hoping to see that further explored. There’s soooo much that could have happened, but didn’t. I get that Ronan has problems with intimacy, but even in the moments where he was willing to go further with things, we didn’t really get to see much of it.




All in all, I’d still give this book 4 stars. I love the character of Ronan, and my questions about him were mostly answered. But I felt a little “meh” about Sasha. She had the potential to be really interesting, but something about the way she was written just didn’t do it for me.

I’m excited to read Ghost, and I really hope we finally get the scoop on Rory and Scarlett, because that’s another couple I’ve got so many questions about.