I live in a world few know exist. I’ve trained for this. I know what to say, what to do, and how to act. I’ve perfected the lethal calm required for this life.
Now it’s time to buy my first girl. But all it takes is one look at the brave girl who starts singing mid-auction for that calm to slip.
Briar Chapman is going to be the death of me, and I don’t care. I’ll take every day with her until that death comes, and I’ll welcome it when it does.
On the outside, Lucas Holt is what nightmares are made of. A man cloaked in darkness, with sin-filled eyes and an enticing grin. A devil so devastatingly beautiful and cruel that his very presence instills fear.
But beneath his terrifying, ever-calm exterior is an affectionate man haunted by a past that refuses to stay buried. And Lucas looks at me as though he’s finally found the only person who can make it all go away.
We’re a battle of the brightest day and the darkest night—and I want to lie in the wake of our war.
Title: Blackbird (Redemption #1)
Author: Moly McAdams
Publisher: Jester Creations LLC
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 334
Genre: New Adult, 'Dark', Romance
Date Read: 15-01-2019 - 17-01-2019
Favorite Quote: "You can't attempt to touch me with you light and not expect me to darken your soul. I'll always try to consume your light, just as you always try to consume my dark. It's who we are, but it won't change who we are. It's those pieces of colliding that make us incredible."
Review:
This is my second buddy read with Jessica. She doesn't like dark romances that much but I do. So when I read this blurb I was excited to read it. It how ever didn't match my expectations. It fell flat.
It's not that I think it's a bad book, because it's not. It's definitely not that dark, especially not compared some other dark romances I read.
This book says it has 334 pages but to me it sometimes felt like 1000. I was struggling to get through it. Again not because it was bad, but it was so slow. There where allot of thoughts, allot of talk (or so it felt) but hardly any action. Hardly anything that would back up the talk and show me why. Why Lucas was so bad, dark and dangerous. He hardly showed why. Why the two of them fell in love and that it was different than stockholm syndrome, because that's what it felt like to me.
I wanted more, I wanted anything to happen, to pick up the phase, but it didn't.
What is this book about:
This story begins with a mix up. A case of being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Briar ends up being mistaken for someone else, someone that lives in an abusive home, someone that no one would miss because she had no one, and got kidnapped. She got sold at an auction and became someones property. However Briar does have parents, she has a fiance that she loves, she has people that would look for her. That is the first mistake the buyer made.
Lucas shouldn't have bought Briar, it went against the rules his mentor thought him, but the second he saw Briar, the second she started singing he just had to have her. So he bought her. He bought her with the intent to do what he was thought to do, but can he?
The more time he spends with Briar the more he can feel his mask slipping, he can feel himself falling for her and that is a dangerous mistake to make.
What did I like about this book:
For me Lucas was the saving grace of this book. I liked him and there was depth to him. He tried to do the right thing, it might sound unbelievable since he is in the human trafficking business but believe me there is more to him than meets the eye.
In the beginning I did like Briar but I started to like her less and less throughout the story. She was all over the place, very wishy washy and her morals are way off.
SPOILER
She forgave him for buying her and holding her captive in his home, she forgave him for being a part of human trafficking but when she founds out that that is a lie, that he is working with the fbi to bring down the human trafficking ring, she gets upset because he lied to her. It gets worse, when she founds out that he was forced into a gang when he was younger, and did things to survive she is mad at him, she believes that is worse than buying humans.
END SPOILER
The author had an opportunity to create a dark and gritty story, to show how damaging it is and how terrifying the human trafficking business really is but she didn't. If felt like there where allot of excuses being made to justify the change of heart in Briar. The explanation that no it's human trafficking, not sex trafficking because that is worse while girls bought get taught lessons through rape. (Don't worry there is no rape in this book, just mentioning of rape)
The author tried to show that Briar wasn't suffering from stockholm syndrom with showing us other females in similar situations that where suffering from stockholm syndrom. It left a bad taste in my mouth to hear those females talk about how happy they where, that its better than where they came from and that they where excited to meet briar and that she was in the same situation as them. It's sad that they actually thought that and that they wished that fate on someone else.
If there was more show, more action that would show me why Briar fell in love with Lucas, then I would believe that she didn't suffer from stockholm, but for me the author didn't manage to do that.
Overall I didn't hate this book, it fell flat and I expected more. If it wasn't for Lucas and his story, then I wouldn't have given up on this book.
Rating:
In a place where ecstasy can cost you your life . . .
She's a demon-slayer who hungers for sensual pleasure-but fears it will always be denied her. Until Tayla Mancuso lands in a hospital run by demons in disguise, and the head doctor, Eidolon, makes her body burn with unslakable desire. But to prove her ultimate loyalty to her peers, she must betray the surgeon who saved her life.
Two lovers will dare to risk all.
Eidolon cannot resist this fiery, dangerous woman who fills him with both rage and passion. Not only is she his avowed enemy, but she could very well be the hunter who has been preying upon his people. Torn between his need for the truth and his quest to find his perfect mate before a horrific transformation claims him forever, Eidolon will dare the unthinkable-and let Tayla possess him, body and soul . . .
Title: Pleasure Unbound (Demonica #1)
Author: Larissa Ione
Publisher: Piatkus
Edition: Paperback
Amount of Pages: 388
Genre: Fantasy, Adult, Romance
Date Read: 12-01-2019 - 14-01-2019
Favorite Quote: "I'll bet you could make a woman throw out all her toys"
Review:
I knew I read this book before, back in 2013 I believe but I recalled very little of it. I recalled that the Eidolon, Shade and Wraith where doctors/ worked in a demon hospital. And that Eidolon and Tayla had sex in the beginning. But thats about it. It felt like I read this book for the first time.
What is this book about:
This book is about demons. Not the I'm evil, i'm gonna kill and corrupt humans kind of demons, well not all of them. But demons that made the choice to do good. Eidolon is one of them, he and his brothers own a demon hospital. A place where demons can go when they get injured or sick and get healed. Eidolon and his brothers all have a kind of healing gift, thanks to the kind of demons they are.
Tayla is a hunter. She is part of a human group that believes all demon are evil and kill them. On one of her assignments she gets badly injured. When she wakes up she finds herself in a hospital. Not any hospital, no a demon hospital. Everything she ever learned about demons, everything she ever thought was true, is being challenged. Could her group have it wrong the whole time?
Tayle doesn't want to be attracted to Eidolon, she doesn't want to sleep with him, and she most definitely doesn't want to like him but the more she is around him, and the more she gets to know him, she can't seem to help herself. Will Tayla be able to look past her prejudice and see Eidolon for the man he is, and not his race. Or will Eidolon, like so many other demons, meet his maker at the hands of the slayer he can't seem to get out of his head...
If that all isn't enough, there are demons being killed for their organs so the organs can be sold on the black market.
What did I like about this book:
Overall I really liked this book. More specifically I really liked Eidolon. He is a good guy. I also really liked Shade, he is a no nonsense kind of person and I like that. Wraith intrigued me, I'd love to learn more about him.
Tayla was oke, she got on my nerves from time to time. I get that it was a huge shock for her and that her whole world changed, and that it takes time to come to terms with that, but man girl. Open your eyes. Judge them by their actions and not their race. I guess its a hard blow to know that the things you've been killing weren't all evil, and some where innocent.
The back and forth at times got to me, I guess i'm to impatience.
Sometimes I found the flow of the story a bit off. Like the relationship between Tayla and Eidolon went a bit fast at the end. Because till then they where going back and forth a bit, you could tell they liked each other and that they where attracted to each other. That went at a somewhat normal speed. SPOILER But in the last couple of pages they where I love you and lets mate and bam it happend. Tayla changed her mind a bit quick.
Overall a really enjoyable read and I most definitely look forward to reading more about these characters/ world
Rating:
Zane Phillips mistook me for his dog walker. It shouldn’t surprise me that the man with a suit more expensive than my rent would assume that I was there to serve him. The positive? I put him in his place. The negative? I missed my job interview because of it.
Now I find out he’s a rich Australian entrepreneur, and he wants to make up for tanking my interview. Yes, he’s impossibly hot – but he’s also an arrogant jackass—so . . . no thanks.
But after a little white lie I tell spirals out of control, I’m somehow offered the chance to play Zane’s girlfriend to help promote his new dating website – and the best part? He can’t say no because he’ll get caught in his lie too.
Little did I know this would entail sharing a tour bus with him for the next few months. The fact that the bus has just one bed isn’t the most ideal of circumstances, but this spokesperson gig might be the kick in the pants my career needs, so why not take a chance?
Famous last words.
Now I’m crisscrossing the country–and sharing that bed—with the one guy I can’t stand. And even worse, my traitorous body is wondering at every turn what it’s like to be down under the gorgeous Australian. But as the miles unfurl, so does our passion…and if I’m not careful, I might end up believing that fairytales really do come true.
Title: Faking It
Author: K. Bromberg
Publisher JKB Publishing LLC
Edition: Kindle
Amount of Pages: 287
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Date Read: 11-01-2019
Favorite Quote: "Sometimes the people who make you feel all riles up inside end up lighting a fire in your heart"
Review:
In the beginning I was feeling intrigued. It started off quite fast so It took me a bit figuring out who was who and what was going on. After that I started to feel annoyed with certain characters, especially robers and harlow's mom. I found the pushing a bit annoying.
The more I read on the more I started to like it. I was too invested and wanted to see how the story would end.
What is this book about:
The book starts of with Harlow being late for a job interview because Zayne mistook her for his dogwalker. After a shouting match between the tw Harlow was sure she would never see Zayne again. That is until he shows up at her house with a replacement of the shoes his dog broke and an invitation to her pre launch party for his company and new dating app called soulm8. Harlow keeps saying she won't go, and Zayne keeps insisting that she will. Harlow ends up showing up at this party and overhears Zayne talking shit about her, after turning to leave she runs into Robert, who owns 20% of the company, and they start talking. Harlow finds out that Robert doesn't fully trust Zayne yet. And that they are looking for a spokesperson for the company. Harlow decides to play the game Zayne is good at playing and manages to get the job. Zayne not being happy about this but also because of the lie he told Robert sees no way out of it. He figures with Harlow going on a promotion tour, he won't have to see much of her. Or so he thought. Robert had other plans. He wants Zayne to go on tour with Harlow to show their personal succes with the app. Because that lie Zayne told, the one that Harlow uses in her advantage, was that Zayne met Harlow on the app and that they are in love. And what proves that the app works better than its CEO finding love on there. So for the next two months these two people, who can't stand each other, have to live together in the tour bus and pretend to be in love with each other. Nothing can go wrong right....
What did I like about this book:
I liked the banter between the characters. I liked how their relationship progressed. It was to be expected but I enjoyed watching it unfold.
I had a hard time connecting with both of them in the beginning but I got there eventually.
Overall an enjoyable read by the talented K. Bromberg.
Rating:
Theodosia was six when her country was invaded and her mother, the Fire Queen, was murdered before her eyes. On that day, the Kaiser took Theodosia's family, her land, and her name. Theo was crowned Ash Princess--a title of shame to bear in her new life as a prisoner.
For ten years Theo has been a captive in her own palace. She's endured the relentless abuse and ridicule of the Kaiser and his court. She is powerless, surviving in her new world only by burying the girl she was deep inside.
Then, one night, the Kaiser forces her to do the unthinkable. With blood on her hands and all hope of reclaiming her throne lost, she realizes that surviving is no longer enough. But she does have a weapon: her mind is sharper than any sword. And power isn't always won on the battlefield.
For ten years, the Ash Princess has seen her land pillaged and her people enslaved. That all ends here.
Title: Ash Princess (Ash Princess Trilogy #1)
Author: Laura Sebastian
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Edition: Paperback
Amount of Pages: 448
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy
Date Read: 09-01-2019
Favorite Quote: "We are not defined by the things we do in order to survive. We do not apologize for them. Maybe they have broken you, but you are a sharper weapon because of it. And it is time to strike"
Review:
I am happy the book turned out to be good. It's mine and Jessica's first buddy read together so I wanted the book to be good.
I really liked this book and I can't wait to see how the story will continue. I have many theory's on what can happen.
There's a hint of a possible love triangle that could happen but as someone that absolutely hates love triangles it doesn't bother me, nor does it have to turn out that way. It's just a suspicion of mine.
What is this book about:
This book is about 16 year old Theodosia aka Theo. When she was six years old her country was invaded and her mother was murdered right in front of her. She was taken prisoner and she has been living under the Kaizer's thumb as Thora, ash princess for the last 10 years. She has been tortured, humiliated, and broken.
One day something happens, something that shook Theo to her very core and she was done. Done being their prisoner, done being their play thing. It's time to fight back and claim the title that has been hers all along, queen.
What did I like about this book
I am very impressed with this author. From my understanding this is her first novel and it's really good.
It is a bit on the slow side but it works well with the world building and character introduction and development.
I can't wait to see where the story will take us!
It was so much fun to buddy read this with Jessica, and discuss as we go. We made the time difference work.
I really hope Theo and Soren end up together. I think there is a great opportunity here to get peace between the two countries. Hell peace everywhere.
I get her hesitation though, but if she wants to make a lasting difference, this is a good opportunity for her. And Soren is awesome. He knows he did bad thing, he knows his father is a monster and he wants change, he wants peace. And he owns up to the bad things he did on his fathers orders. He is trying to make things right, that speaks about his character.
Rating:
