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Friday, October 28, 2016

Review: Camouflage by Mariyam Hasnain

Actual rating: 3.5 stars.  
 
 The Blurb:
“She looked gorgeous in off white bathrobe clung to her voluptuous wet body with her wet hair clumsily wrapped in a white towel. I couldn't take my eyes off her shiny toned long legs protruding out of the knee-length bathing gown as she led me in. I felt envious of the water droplets still hovering on her waxed legs.”

Thailand 2013, Mark a corporate executive quits his job and migrates to the city of Bangkok where he meets the love of his life. Sheina is the girl of his dreams, young gorgeously pretty, and his next door neighbor. Mark falls for Sheina, though unknown of the future.

What follows next is the deadly game of drugs, sex, and deceit as Mark discovers that his very own neighbor is not all what she claims to be.

Set in contemporary Bangkok, city of temples and brothels, Camouflage is an insightful must read for all those who are embarking on their first trip or a seasoned traveler to Thailand.


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

Mark Statler is a bestselling crime author living in Bangkok. Lately, someone has been messing with him in a big way--including hacking into his emails and replacing his latest book with nonsense. Coincidentally, he has also recently begun a relationship with his young Thai neighbor, Sheina.

From the start, I was quick to point the finger at Sheina because of timing, but lo and behold the answer to what has been happening is much more complex. In that regard, I was definitely surprised by the direction the plot took. I can't really describe it without spoiling it, but trust me when I say that whatever your initial gut feeling is, just wait, there's more!



The character dialogue is very formal, which takes a bit of getting used to. At times I felt it didn’t really reflect how casual acquaintances would speak to one another. But then, etiquette around the globe is different when it comes to expected formality. Considering this is set in Bangkok, I presume that could be a factor.

For example:
"Yes...I do remember and I can't forget the way you behaved that day. Clad in an outfit that I’d ensconced in an aloof corner of my closet just to wear it on our first date, I desperately wanted your eyes on me, and you didn't just notice me," she spoke her heart.



That being said, the formality doesn't take away from the intrigue. Hasnain weaves a complex mystery with many layers to peel away as you go. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy a good mystery with a splash of romance to spice things up.

Review: Start Again by J. Saman


The Blurb:

Kate Taylor had the perfect life. That is until an accident took everything she had away. For two years she has been living moment to moment and day to day. She's lost and can't seem to find her way back. Finally, in a last ditch effort, she decides to leave town in search of a fresh start. In walks Ryan Grant. The perfect man with dark hair and sexy green eyes. Doesn't hurt that they have smoldering chemistry either. Too bad Kate's heart and mind are trapped in the past.

Ryan Grant is stuck in limbo, floating through life with work as his only focus. Probably because he's been betrayed a time or two by the people he thought he could trust. Needing a change, he plans on moving his company west to Seattle. There is just one big problem. He doesn't fly. So when a girl from his past offers to drive him across the country, how could he say no? Katie is his dream girl after all. Always has been.



Fair warning, this book begins by ripping your heart out and slamming it down on a plate in front of you. Tragedy befalls Kate from page fucking one. And as a mom, I freely admit that I was sobbing like a little bitch.



Fast forward to two years later. Kate is a basket case (understandably so). So in the grand tradition of people who no longer have any fucks left to give, she decides a cross country road trip is in order. Her mother convinces her to at least take a childhood acquaintance along for her journey, since he is afraid to fly and needs to also be across the country within the next few weeks.

Can I just say that this back and forth exchange with her mother is just the realest thing ever? When Kate points out she doesn’t even know this dude, her mom answers thusly:

“You know him. I just told you. You met him when you were six.”

Mom logic. I accept this premise completely because I also have a mom.

Ryan is a 6’3 giant with a beard and glasses (I’m not sure if I should be picturing a hipster but what the hell, he’s moving to Seattle, so I did). Get the man some free trade coffee.



He’s cool, we know he is because he calls his mom a bitch, calls Kate's mom batshit crazy, and refuses to call Kate by anything other than ‘Katie’, despite Kate's protests.


I see.

My first impression of Ryan, therefore, was one of annoyance. But as the story progresses, he grew on me exponentially. He knows from the moment go that Kate has been through a lot and while others tiptoe around it and refuse to acknowledge the elephant in the room, he does the exact opposite. I thought it was incredibly endearing the way he talked to her about what had happened and helped her explore different ways to cope.

I also appreciate the author’s devotion to Kate’s mindset and mental health. The romance here is slow-building, with every step forward turning into several steps backwards for Kate when she cannot overcome the guilt inside her heart.

The two embark on a weeks-long road trip that brings them closer and closer. It’s a sweet story about love, loss, and learning to love again. Much mushiness. Cue the “I Don’t Wanna Wait” song.



Story is well written, dialogue is true to how people actually speak, which is something I always look for. POV switches up to give us insight into both characters, which is also nice because they each have a lot to say. I wish there had been a little more detail in the love scenes, because I'm a perv. Definitely a five star romance for those who can handle the emotional slap at the beginning!

Wednesday, October 12, 2016

Review: Amatore's Restaurant by James Sillwood



The Blurb:

The international cast of the Recreative Theatre Company meet for their end-of-season dinner at Ristorante Amatore. As the evening progresses, each guest recalls a past liaison, an encounter which has made an impression in their life: narratives of love and tales of deceit. Will Prudence ever discover the identity of the elusive stranger she meets on a train? Just how much of a con-man is Monsieur Raul? Has Cordelia's unconventional approach to men proved to be a success?
A common theme begins to unfold: hidden truths behind the motives for seduction.
As the evening draws to a close emotions rise to the surface, declarations of love are expressed, jealousies and resentments run deep. Who will think back to the evening as a success and who will regard it as nothing more than a disaster?

Intriguing, erotic, insightful and perceptive. This novel explores the relationship between characters with a refreshing approach to the theme of seduction.
(Suitable for adult readers only)


Writer was generously provided with ARC by the author in exchange for my honest review:
 
This book is comprised of a series of short stories, all of them intertwined on the larger scale. A formal dinner party at Signore Mario Amatore’s restaurant inspires its participants to recall various erotic interludes preceding the event (and allowing us, the readers, to see how everyone is connected in some way). And Holy. Hell.



These were not your run-of-the-mill erotic stories. Sillman writes beautifully, the attention to detail is magnificent, and the way everything is woven together is quite an impressive feat. Not only that, the narratives are so intimate and personal that at times, it felt straight up voyeuristic to be reading this. Additionally, some of the stories are so dark and intense they really do require a bit of a break, as another reviewer pointed out.



This was a really different read for me when it comes to the erotica genre. The way each story manages to combine eloquent prose and impressively naughty language makes the entire book feel like a peephole, with us, the reader, as the Peeping Tom. Sinfully delicious read!



5 stars!!!

Tuesday, October 11, 2016

Review: Igniting the Countess by Lisa Torquay

The Blurb:

With the shadow of scandal looming over her, the countess, Loraine Durant, had to stay away from Garth Evans.

Loraine Durant, widowed Countess of Crawford, lives her life for her toddler son, the heir of the late count. But the world seems to go out of its axis when she lays eyes on the new breath-taking footman. She fights arduously the flaming attraction she feels for him, deeming it inappropriate, failing notoriously. With the shadow of scandal looming over her, she had to stay away from him. When she discovers he is much more than a servant, it is too late and he already hates her.

Garth Evans is the bastard son of a Marquis, trying to make his unprivileged way in the world and holding back from trouble with women. Being constantly in the presence of the Countess proves to be a hellish temptation and he can hardly keep his hands off her. After they part, he thinks she is as whimsical and frivolous as any other lady of her rank. Now, he hates her for all she represents. Wrenching passion threatens to break his resolve to keep her at arm's length, his desire for her about to burst at any moment.



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

Oh my goodness!



Loraine Durant, Countess of Crawford, widow to a self-absorbed cheating douchebag, leads an emotionally dissatisfying life in British high society. Only raising her young son brings her joy. Until the handsome new footman shows up, that is.


I mean come on, Tom Hiddleston was made for a role such as this.

Garth Evans is not the typical servant. He is the bastard son of a Marquis, well-educated, struggling to figure out where he fits in the world. He’s also drop dead gorgeous.


Fine, I just wanted to post another pic of Tom
(And pretend that Crimson Peak didn’t happen)

As one can imagine, being attracted to one of the servants is quite scandalous in British aristocracy. Loraine’s main concern is the well-being and social acceptance of her son, heir to her dead husband’s Earldom. With a powerful (and bitchy) mother-in-law watching closely, Loraine is under a lot of social pressure.

Nonetheless, Tom...I mean, Garth...is very persistent and pleads a good case for the Countess to cave in:


Risky though it may be, the pair can’t keep their hands to themselves. And these are some steamyyy love scenes!!!

"He did not spare her because she was a lady. He did not deny her because she was sheltered. He did not recoil because she stood above his rank. He treated her like a flesh-and-blood woman and that ignited her to explosion point."



This was a quick, easy read even with the era-appropriate lingo. An enjoyable combo of scandal, smut, just the right amount of mushiness, and a HEA that does not disappoint.

5 smoldering stars to this sexy bodice ripper!

Friday, October 7, 2016

Review: Darkest Obsessions by Sheree Smith



 The Blurb:

All Sadie wanted was a normal life and when her ex-boyfriend, Matthew, was finally sent to jail she thought she could start that normal life in a little village on the Scottish Borders. Tom, a small county veterinary had spent the last five years just surviving. A tragic accident had left him riddled with guilt. But when the beautiful Sadie Buchanan waltzed into her parents cafe, his meaning for life is questioned. Now he has to overcome his demons before he can start living again. But Matthew has already hurt Sadie before, would he allow Sadie to have the happiness she always longed for.......



I really enjoyed this book. This is, for me, a more desirable Eat, Pray, Love fantasy (err...minus the tragic portions).

Sadie, a young architect from London, is a survivor of domestic violence. Though narrowly escaping with her life, her ex-douchebag, Matthew, has only been given 18 months behind bars ::::cough::::DISTURBINGLY COMMON::::cough:::: What’s more, he’ll likely be out sooner on good behavior. The poor lad was depressed, you see.


Just sayin’.

Sadie needs a mental health break, as anyone would, and decides to take a leave of absence from her job to go stay in her parent’s cottage at the Scottish Borders:


I would also drop everything to move here.

Tom is the local vet. He lost his family in tragic circumstances years ago and he’s still pretty hung up on it. But he’s dreamy, he’s sweet, and come on...he works with hypothermic puppies and helps his mom with horses.


Pictured above: Tom, with a dog. Because Tom.

What I wouldn’t give to just take off to a beautiful countryside, start baking cupcakes for gossiping old ladies, and staying in a cottage where you can see your parents every day. What I really enjoyed about this book was the effort it spends wrapping you, the reader, in a warm security blanket as Sadie sets out to redefine her life.

That said, it is also a bitter reminder to any survivor of domestic violence that it seldom feels completely over (and indeed, often it’s not). The looking over your shoulder, the bad memories, the impact it can have on future relationships, etc. I liked that the writer took the time to address periodically what kind of psychological toll such an ordeal can cause. It was one of those details that meant a lot to me personally. Lotta women share these experiences to some degree.

Stylistically, the pacing is good and it was an easy read. Narrative breaks a few times from 3rd person to 1st, nothing that distracts from the story.

5 stars to this one!!! 

 

Tuesday, October 4, 2016

Review: Broken Lynx by Tori Knightwood



 The Blurb:
 Broken heart need mending? Check into Hotel Safari.

Deirdre O’Connell is an Irish nurse who has lost everyone she ever cared about. She runs away to a job at the Hotel Safari Lodge in Kenya, never realizing she’s searching for a new life, a new family, and possibly a new love. While she longs to make friends, she doesn’t know how to trust.

Hans Schmidt is a German lynx on a mission to forget. Leaving behind a fiancée, his job, and the only life he has ever known, he takes the job of jack-of-all-trades at the lodge with no timeframe and no expectations. But when he meets the sassy nurse, his broken heart finds a new reason to mend.

Is friendship with Deirdre enough for Hans? Or will he show her their two injured souls can be perfect together?

This stand-alone short, recommended for ages 18 and up, is a multicultural shifter romance novella with a little bit of spice and a happily-ever-after.


 
Writer generously provided ARC in exchange for an honest review:

This was a different sort of read for me. I haven’t read much in the shapeshifter genre, but the ones I have read pay very close attention to detail (including the unsavory details I never wanted to know). But I think that is an important component for this kind of fic-details, both the good and the bad.

To that end, I think it was my biggest hurdle with this storyline. It’s a quick read, but I feel like this story would have been better as a longer fic with more character/plot development. It had the right ingredients to make for a juicy slow burn, but it didn’t quite get there because the pacing was so rushed.

Deirdre basically discovers that Hans is a shapeshifter right away, but the big reveal is...not terribly big?



We get an inward explanation that Deirdre is no stranger to loss and whatnot, but come on! I imagine even trauma survivors would still pee their pants if some dude turned into a lynx in front of them. Deirdre, on the other hand?

“She wasn’t sure she was attracted to Hans but he seemed like a good guy, despite the whole turning-into-a-cat thing.”

The whole “I’m so damaged that this doesn’t even phase me” attitude wasn’t really believable for me. Deirdre is somehow ready to trust Hans despite saying she hasn’t trusted anyone in years. She literally just met him AND he turned into a giant cat. So what does she do? Invite him back to her house, of course.

“Surely there was no harm in sharing another drink with him. In her house. Alone.”



We get the HEA but it doesn’t feel like there was a whole lot of struggle to even get there. Maybe I’m demented. I like a spot of suffering with my HEAs.