Tag: book review

This Chick Read: Everything for Her by Alexa Riley

BIG SPOILERS!!! Read at your own risk. 

Everything For Her was my first book by Alexa Riley, a writing team who has had a ton of success. I have certainly heard of them, but not reading a ton of Billionaire romances, I hadn’t ever picked up one of their novels. I picked up their book for free at a convention and even met the authors who were very gracious and nice. I had high hopes that I would like this book as much as I did meeting them in person, but I’ll be as honest as I always am. I did not. I will say that the writing was excellent, the story well plotted, and it moved along quickly. In fact, I even finished the book! You may ask why I didn’t like this book? One reason, the love interest was a creeper/stalker. I just couldn’t see it any other way!

Here’s the premise: Mallory Sullivan gets a coveted  internship at the Osbourne Corp, one of only three ever given out. She and her best friend move to New York to start this next phase of their lives.  Celebrating at a bar she meets Oz, a handsome guy in a suit, they exchange phone numbers and start to see each other. Sounds pretty innocuous right? I thought so too, at first. Until I read further. It turns out Oz caught sight of Mallory when he was a judge at a math competition when she was in High School.  Now, he was only in college so an age difference wasn’t my big issue. He becomes obsessed declaring her the girl for him.  From that moment on he manipulated her life. She gets the first ever scholarship from the Osbourne Corp. to pay for college and living expenses at Harvard. That is one great scholarship! She gets to school and meets her roomie that she becomes best friends with. Mallory alludes to their all study and no play college life and later in the book we find out that her roommate and soon to be best friend was a plant by Oz. She was her roommate to encourage her away from men and to keep her safe and a virgin for Oz. The internship that moves them to New York? Yeah, that was a set up also. 
Of course, Mallory finds all of this out, and this is the big conflict in the book.  But she lasts THREE DAYS before she forgives him. Umm, girl, he set your life on this course, made sure you remained a virgin, had eyes on you at all times, got reports on your whereabouts, habits etc. then meets you finally in person, lies about his name and who he is, takes your virginity, begging not to use a condom so he can tie you to him with a baby?  WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!  This is not romance. This is called stalking, and the man should be arrested!

Of course, she forgives him, they get married, she has a baby right away, because of course she gets pregnant from all the unprotected sex! The epilogue flashes into the future, with a little boy toddler acting just as possessive at six as his father did at twenty-six. A little stalker to be. How cute. NOT.

Needless to say, I did not care for this book! However, as I said above, these girls can write. So, I gave, it ❤️❤️.

Here’s my question for you, my fellow bloggers.  Why are these kind of plots popular? I get the whole, he can buy you anything with all that money fantasy, but this guy was a serious creep! I kept hoping the HEA would be her leaving his ass, getting a backbone and finding a real man. Please answer in the comments below if you’re a fan of these books. I really want to know the big draw!


Sorry, no links for this one. I can’t encourage buying a book that teaches women to not honor themselves, even in their fantasy life.

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads12 Comments

This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Book Club- More Wine Please…

I love getting together with friends having some cocktails, food, and dishing on a good book. It’s a great time to get away from problems at work, and you can leave your husband and kids at home.  It’s the best hour and a half vacation in the middle of my week! But, sometimes that book club starts to feel like a chore.  Here are a few tips to keep it fun!

1) Don’t captain the Book Club Ship!  Wouldn’t it be more fun if you just showed up, ordered a drink and had fun with your friends? Yes it would! Looking over your shoulder for your boss and tearing your hair out in panic while google searching book club questions is no way to spend your last half hour at work! 


2) Can we pick a fun book to read please?  I get it. We all have different tastes in books. I got my fill of Pride and Prejudice while in college and other people think thats what a book club should be about. Be adventurous! Pick out a juicy book- think sex. Lots of it! There’s nothing more fun than giggling about the sex scenes with your friends. You might even get some great tips!  Lol.


3) Keep your group small. Unless you are meeting at someones home, it’s hard to hear people across a big table. Remember, you will be talking about things that might be overheard by Grandma and Grandpa sitting at the next table. Although truly, Grandpa would probably love to hear our unsavory discussion about the hero in our book! Grandma may want to thank us later!

4) Finish the book! Ok, I’ll admit, I have been totally guilty of this one. I know some friends who read on their phone at work just to get it finished! Remember though, if the book is a mystery and half the group hasn’t read it, the ending will be spoiled. If we hate it, you will hear we hated it! Who would want to finish a book if no one liked the characters, the writing sucked, etc? It happens! Not all books are great, but do your part and finish the book so you can give your honest opinion.


5) Take part in the discussion! That’s why we have alcohol. It loosens lips, so hopefully even our quiet friends will take part. Don’t drink? Sugar is the next best thing! Order lots of dessert. Sugar high’s and alcohol buzzes are remarkably similar. Both cause hyperactivity and chatter.


I am totally trying to be funny and make a joke out of how serious some book clubs take themselves. For those of you who like those, I apologize! I like the next great book just as much as the next person, however, truthfully 95% of the time I’d pick Kristen Ashley over Jodi Piccoult. If I could just find that Kristen Ashley book club!  Lol.

Until next Sunday!

Deb

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads5 Comments

This Chick Read: Wildfire (Hidden Legacy #3) by Ilona Andrews

Nevada Baylor and Connor Rogan are one of my favorite fictional couples. The combination of strength, unselfishness, and unbelievable chemistry make discovering this world and reading their story a lot of fun. Wildfire, the third and possibly last book in this series stayed on my TBR only as long as it took for me to pick it up, take it home and start reading.

Nevada has discovered that she is related to one of the most ruthless houses. A house that does not have any living relatives but one, and her grandmother has found out that her lost son had a family, and she is going to try to claim them. In order to keep her family safe Nevada and her sister need to declare themselves Primes and become their own House, House Baylor. Nevada makes plans to register their house while investigating another mystery and battling the mysterious Consortium that was revealed in the two previous books.

Every time a House is revealed with new and fascinating powers I fall in love with the world in this book a little bit more. The thought that this could be the last one is heartbreaking. BUT, I have heard a rumor. Apparently Ilona and Gordon Andrews don’t want this to be the last book in the series either. There is a strong possibility that they may release more, but not with this publisher. I certainly hope so! Every Ilona Andrews book is completely original. What makes this series so special? Connor and his tragically lonely background, incredible power, honor and vivid love for Nevada makes him magical. Nevada’s strength of character, love for a man that everyone else is afraid of, and her loyalty towards her family and friends gives us a heroine to root for. The two of them together have depths that I still need to plunder. Please!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️


Click link to purchase! Wildfire: A Hidden Legacy Novel

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads4 Comments

This Chick Read: Under the Wire ( Bad Boys Undercover #4) by Helenkay Dimon

This romantic suspense novel is the fourth novel in the series, but luckily this story stands pretty well on its own. Our hero Reid Armstrong belongs to a top secret military unit that has previously rescued our heroine Cara Layne. Caught up in the passion of the moment they start a relationship and plan to be married. Until Cara comes to her senses, or really, starts to doubt her feelings and breaks things off with Reid. This novel starts when Cara is in danger in Russia and her brother hires Reid to find her and bring her out alive. Reid, who had implanted a LoJack in her previously ( yeah, you read that right!), switches it on and pretty easily tracks her down. That seems to be the only easy part of this mission.

Reid brings along one of his teammates to help with the rescue and thank god because he provided some much needed comic relief. The plot was well written, but I found it hard to identify with these two characters. Reid was the strong silent military guy. Non communicative about his feelings, he played silent and broody even during the emotional scenes. You would think Cara would be the more emotional character and bring a little balance to the pair, romantically, but she was kind of stunted. Her responses were robotic and even though the plot moved along well, her lack of emotion really slowed down any momentum in this book. It’s funny that I can forgive a man for being  unemotional but not the woman. Very stereotypical of me, but regardless, Under the Wire just didn’t pull my heartstrings.

❤️❤️❣️


Click on link to purchase! Under the Wire: Bad Boys Undercover

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads

This Chicks Cover Reveal! Balancing the Scales (#BritsinManhattan series) by Laura Carter

I am really excited to be a part of the team who is releasing the cover for Balancing the Scales, the newest novel by Laura Carter and the first in the Brits in Manhattan series. This book will be released on November 21st through Kensington Publishing and Penguin Random House.

As with all of Laura’s other novels, this book sounds like a lot of fun! Check out this blurb.

BLURB:

“Carter’s writing style is absolutely brilliant.” —The Romance Reviews

A Hotshot Manhattan Attorney. 

Drew Harrington knows exactly who he is—a legal shark with a love ‘em and leave ‘em attitude that works just fine in his cutthroat world. He’s on the cusp of promotion to named partner, but only if he can prove to his colleagues that he has a more human side.

A Sweetheart of a British Patisserie Chef.

Becky Fletcher is running from her past, so the last thing she’s looking for is love. What she does want is a friendly face in a cold city. Her sunny outlook is the sweetness Drew never knew was missing from his life.

One fateful meeting at a bagel cart.

They sound like a match made in heaven—or is it a car crash? If they have any chance of finding happiness, Drew and Becky are going to have to rethink their life plans. Until then, is there really any harm in having some fun between the sheets?

All’s fair in love and lox!

BALANCING THE SCALES is the first standalone novel in the BRITS IN MANHATTAN SERIES #BalancingtheScales #BritsinManhattan

PRE-ORDER:

iBooks: https://goo.gl/0MLjEk 

Barnes and Noble: https://goo.gl/0xaq5B 

Amazon UK: https://goo.gl/AbwA8z 

Amazon US: https://goo.gl/vCN42X 

GooglePlay: https://goo.gl/he4H3O 

Kobo: https://goo.gl/mlxcDH

Follow Laura on:

BOOKBUB: https://goo.gl/6kND3X
GOODREADS: https://goo.gl/4GuJdd

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This Chick Read: Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers) by Rebecca Zanetti

Finally we get to see Bear the Alpha of the Grizzly nation and head of the Grizzly MC Club get his own heroine and chance at everlasting love! Wicked Bite continues the storyline of finding and eliminating the Apollo drug that is being used to kill off the Witch nation. Nessa Lansa goes undercover by approaching Bear as a possible mate. She is a witch who can’t draw upon fire and he is a bear shifter who is also half dragon. In a previous novel, Bear went against nature to shift into a dragon to save his sister Simone, irreparably harming his soul. Nessa’s story is that if they mate, her healing skills will work better at healing Bear, where she may gain his dragon fire. Of course, there’s this thing called physical attraction that comes into play and Bear starts taking this Mate thing very seriously!

I’ve heard this is the last novel in the Realm Enforcers series. Oh no!  As an offshoot of the Dark Protectors series I really enjoyed catching up with all of our past characters. I hope I’m wrong because I can see a couple more heroes in this last novel that should get their own story. Can we get another spinoff? We can only hope!

Bear had been a favorite character and I was happy to see his HEA. His easygoing bear nature fooled everyone including Nessa, who learned that there was a reason he was Alpha, and in this novel that Alpha warrior got to come out and play. Nessa was also no push over. Her Alpha Princess came out packing this novel full of action, and not just of the bedroom variety! If this series does end here, I think it’s a great ending, but I’m keeping my fingers crossed that there’s more of this world in our future.  ❤️❤️❤️❤️

I received an ARC of this book through NetGalley for an honest review, and my review was honest.


Click link to purchase! Wicked Bite (Realm Enforcers Book 5)

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

 

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This Chicks Sunday Commentary: Favorite Fictional Couples 

I have never been the type of person who gets crushes on famous actors, has a book boyfriend, favorite band or heck, even a favorite food.  Sure I have likes and dislikes; I like Chris Hemsworth more than Liam Hemsworth and Mexican Food more than Chinese, but never have had an outright favorite.

I do however have favorite fiction couples. Is it the thought that there is one person out there for everyone? Sure. But it’s more of how those two people fit together and that chemistry thats so fascinating. Let’s analyze a few of my favorites.

The Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon – Jamie and Claire

I read these books when they first came out in the ’90’s. Yes, some of you weren’t even born yet! ALL the women in my family passed these books around to each other and swooned over Jamie and Claire. One of my Uncles even named his daughter Claire ( yes, the men in my family have read Outlander, even my own husband!). Why do these two connect so well with us? Claire is a modern woman, well modern for historical highland Scotland anyway. She’s smart, stands up for herself, and even though torn between two men finds enough love within herself for both. Jamie is the love of her life or lifetimes, as the case may be. Jamie, a young handsome highlander likes her smarts, sass, and experience. Most importantly, he allows her to to be Claire. In doing so, he captures her heart even when they live centuries apart. That separation and the fact that Claire travels through time to be with her true love only makes us love it and them more.

Click this link to purchase! Outlander

In Death series by J. D. Robb – Eve and Rourke

She’s a cop, and he’s a gazillionaire ex-thief and the setting is futuristic New York. Despite their surface differences they have commonalities in their depths. Eve was abused and raped by her own father and she killed him when she was a child in self defense. Roarke was a street punk who survived by those artful dodger skills. Both lacked love as children but somehow overcame that to have thriving careers and ultimately finding that love they needed from each other. He is whimsical and uber brilliant, and she is steely and analytical and because of those traits they are the yin to each others yang. It’s great fun to see Eve discover her own hidden depths and Roarke to love in overwhelming waves and to see each other grow as a couple because of their trust for each other.  His gazillionaire status doesn’t play into it at all though all his gadgets, gizmos and exotic locations do make for a fun read

Click the link to purchase! Naked in Death (In Death, Book 1)
The Hidden Legacy series by Ilona Andrews – Nevada Baylor and Connor Rogan

An Urban Fantasy series, the third,Wildfire, came out this week and I am reading right now. (I MUST get back to it!) Connor Mad Rogan, is a Prime. A mage with an extraordinary skillset that has been used in battle and earned him a certain reputation. He and Nevada cross paths when they are both investigating the same crime. He is instantly intrigued by her and although she can’t ignore how attractive he is, his reputation is pretty scary (hence the nickname “Mad”) and she isn’t interested. However, forced to work together she is drawn to his strength and honor, and see’s that young boy inside of him that suffered from a lack of love. Those things whittle away at her walls until she lets him in, and at that moment, he has her trust, heart, and hope. Connor, with all of that power never used it to win her over. I think it was the fact that he let her grow without trying to influence her, fought by her side, protected her family and ultimately that strength of passion that won her over. Oh, don’t forget their incredible chemistry. Wowza!

Click the link to purchase! Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy)
A Court of Thorns and Roses series by Sarah J Maas – Feyre and Rhysand

This YA fantasy series used misdirection and an evil enemy to move our two heroes Feyre and Rhysand together both in the fight against evil but also in a bonding love that would seem to be everlasting. Feyre, human turned Fae, is certainly put through the wringer in these books. Fighting for herself and her family, the whole time. Rhysand, introduced to the reader as the King of darkness, had a lot to overcome, both with Feyre and the reader because Ms. Maas manipulated our minds into believing he was the bad guy. As the story unfolds and we see the true nature of Rhysand and Tamlin (the red herring) our own hearts unfold, right along with Feyre’s and we bleed our love for Rhysand. Or at least that is what it felt like to me. Theirs was a union that had to overcome death, deception and war. In comparison their happy moments felt like golden moments of stolen time, sure to be taken away. Feyre, although not my favorite female character of all time, was held up as part of one of my favorite couples because of Rhysand’s grit and fortitude, and yes love and passion. He was desperately fighting for their love, we just didn’t realize it until later, and when we did, we bought it and him, hook, line and sinker.

Click the link to purchase! A Court of Thorns and Roses

The more I think on this topic the more I could go on and on and on. I left out the obvious classics like Romeo and Juliet (although they both die so really does that count?), Ron and Hermione for the Harry Potter fans, and even Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson. These four are a few of my favorites and I know my choices lean towards fantasy which may not appeal to everyone.

I would love to hear who is your own favorite fictional couple. Do they come from the classics? Contemporary romance? Or are they from fantasy novels like mine? Please comment below and lets talk.

Until next Sunday!

Deb

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This Chick Read: Star Cruise: Outbreak – The Sectors SF Romance series by Veronica Scott

I enjoyed the first book in this series, The Wreck of the Nebula Dream. The author, Veronica Scott, did a great job mixing action, adventure, science fiction and romance and I wanted to see if she was able to replicate that magical formula. Star Cruise was slightly different than the first novel, dealing with real life subjects like PTSD and alcoholism, but still had that great mix of genres I mentioned above. The cruise ship is crewed by a group of ex military vets. Continue reading “This Chick Read: Star Cruise: Outbreak – The Sectors SF Romance series by Veronica Scott” →

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This Chick Read: Flame in the Mist (Flame in the Mist #1) by Renee Ahdieh 

Mirako is on her journey to become the bride in an arranged marriage to the younger son of her emperor when she and her company is attacked with everyone dying but her. On her own in the forest Mirako decides to investigate who had killed her retinue and ends up infiltrating their group. Of course, she can’t do this as a girl so she decides to disguise herself as a young boy and discovers the freedom a change in sex brings.

Renee Ahdieh writes in a lyrical style that was totally appropriate to the time and story she was telling and rivaled the beauty of the covert art on her book. Her descriptions really gave the setting an otherworldly feel that matched an era that was royally majestic and colorful, which hid the squalor of its poor. Mirako as a girl was seen as strange and odd. While not unattractive, she was a girl who asked questions and showed intelligence in a time where girls were to be seen and not heard and femininity was prized above all else. Mirako as a boy was allowed to use her brain and in fact her intellect was rewarded. It’s no wonder that when she infiltrated the Black Clan the lines between right and wrong were blurred. She makes friends and yes, she finds love, but her duty to her family keeps clouding thoughts of what would bring her happiness. Would leaving honor and duty behind bring her joy? Those are the decisions she finds herself making in this book.

This was a beautiful book to read and very easy to go all in emotionally. Who doesn’t want to root for a girl to be honored for her intellect, find true love and fight the bad guys? Right on!

❤️❤️❤️❤️❣️


Click the link to purchase! Flame in the Mist

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads4 Comments

This Chick Read: Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

Get out your tissues because Nora Roberts newest romantic suspense novel is a three hanky event. A novel about family lost and family found, love, and survival.

There are two storylines in Come Sundown. The first, takes place in current time at the Bodine resort and ranch. Bodine Longbow lives on the ranch with her brothers and parents while running the resort side of their business while her father and brothers run the ranch side. We learn that Bodine, named after her mother’s side of the family who owns the land their property is on, is super organized and the lady in charge, but isn’t the most emotional woman in the world. Not that’s she’s unfeeling but she’s all business. She has to be to keep their little empire afloat. Her love interest, Cal Skinner, is back after leaving at eighteen to make it on his own. He had worked as a horse wrangler in the movies and was ready to settle back down close to his family. He finds a job working for Bodine and the sparks start quietly zapping as the intensity between them builds.

The second plot line is set 26 years ago when Alice Bodine is hitch hiking back to her parents ranch after disappearing on the day of her sister’s wedding. She is kidnapped off the side of the road and held against her will until 26 years later when she escapes. This plot line was very well done, but the subject matter was not for the faint of heart. Alice was beaten, raped, and indoctrinated into this new life in ways that were heartbreaking to read about. When she finally has her reunion with her family, her journey back to normalcy was very emotional and well written.

Bodine and Alice’s storyline ran parallel to each other, but their journey was not similar at all. The disparity between the two stories gave the story impact and delivered a solid punch. This was a tough one to read but also a really heartwarming story about family ties. ❤️❤️❤️❤️

Click the link to purchase! Come Sundown

Copyright 2017 Deborah Kehoe The Reading Chick All Rights Reserved

I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

On By deborahkehoeIn A Hot Chick Who Reads9 Comments