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Lust is the Thorn
4
4.0 (1 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is the second novel I have read from this author and I am not sure if I like her or not yet. Both stories feature tormented men with troubled past and the women who love them. I love a good romance about a man falling in love with his best friend’s sister, but there seemed to be a lot lacking from this novel. I felt that the only conflict was the character’s own hang ups.

I did, however, enjoy the bad girl, good boy dynamic. I am so used to the man being the “bad” one that it was refreshing. Not to mention he was genuinely a good guy. I felt like they deserved each other and helped each other heal.

However, I didn’t particularly care for the story line. There was nothing wrong with it or the author’s writing. I just didn’t care about the characters or their story.
  
I received this novel in exchange for an honest review.

I would like to say this was a cute romance novella but the heroine was too frustrating. Actually, both leads were but male protagonist’s was more understandable. The couple fell in love but, due to their relationship, are not allowed to be together. However, they still act like they are together, e.i. jealousy, touching, etc. That was all fine and dandy, but the female lead was too childish for me. Not to mention she seemed to cry on nearly every page. I don’t mind tears, they realistic. But this novel had too much.

Also for being the first in the series, there isn’t much background information. While it’s not absolutely necessary, it would have been much appreciated.

The author created a interesting universe with realistic characters (even though they weren’t my favorites). It ends with a pretty hot scene, but is overall pretty tame.
  
Burned (Burned, #1)
Burned (Burned, #1)
Ellen Hopkins | 2006 | Fiction & Poetry
10
8.3 (7 Ratings)
Book Rating
Contains spoilers, click to show
Where does one begin when trying to explain the overwhelming admiration they have for this book.

I loved that I could not only relate to the character on her views on religion, sex, gender roles, and romance, but, also the fact that the author never makes light of the abuse or sexualization of women in this novel.

This leaves you pondering what you would do in Pattyn's place. I couldn't help but root for her despite her turning into a cold stone killer at the end of the novel.

This gives you a better understanding of people in abusive relationships and how it affects those associated with it. It not only showcases different levels of abuse (whether it's sexual, verbal, or physical) but also shows you the raw painful aftermath that the abuse victims face.

This book was brilliantly written and I recommend this to anyone who can stomach it's horrific content of abuse.
  
T.A. Davenport has created a wonderful and exciting world in her novel The Great Balance. This is a book about good and evil with just the right amount of romance.

The characters in the book are very well developed. My personal favorite is Briellyn. She is the heroine of the novel, and she seems so real! She is a strong and confident business woman who is also so kind and good. I would love to have her as my boss! Another character I love is Eric. He is just all sorts of amazing. He is the perfect guy.

Ms. Davenport's writing is very vivid and easy to follow. The pace of her work is not too fast nor too slow. It is just right and makes you want to just keep on reading!

Also, the plot in this novel is so fresh and new! I loved the twist on the creation story from the Bible. I have yet to read anything that took a spin on Adam and Eve before, and it was really interesting!

All in all, T.A. Davenport has a special gift, and I am sure there will be more greatness to come!

*I received a free copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review.*
  
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ArecRain (8 KP) rated Blown Away in Books

Jan 18, 2018  
BA
Blown Away
8
9.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I received a complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn’t sure how I was going to feel about this book. I generally like second chance romances but it rubbed me the couple’s history rubbed me the wrong way. I know it shouldn’t and that I am close-minded for thinking so.

I enjoyed the concept of this romance. Storm chasing isn’t something we see a lot especially in the romance genre. I felt like it added enough tension and another dimension to Drew and Aiden’s relationship. I felt like they had more going on than just the typical “oh we can’t be together because of her dead ex-fiancé.” I appreciated that. And honestly, they just made sense together.

This is the first novel I have read by this author so I am glad it was such an enjoyable read. Rothert really knows how to tell a love story.
  
I had such high hopes for this book. The only nice thing I have to say about this books is that at least Louisa Edwards can write a realistic storyline. Unfortunately, it was a story I was completely uninterested in. I was intrigued because I always have a thing for romance novels involving kitchens and cooks. That is why I asked for the book in the first place.

Yes, the characters were realistic not only in their behaviors and dialogues, but also in their interaction with each other. Yes, the storyline was also believable, with plenty of the usually deceit, secrets, and embarrassing moments that come with romances novels. But that was just it, I felt like I was reading just another romance. Nothing about this novel seemed special, unique, or stuck out in my mind.

Well written, with realistic characters and plot, but nothing special. I will not be reading the other two in the series.
  
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Erika (17788 KP) rated A Crash of Fate (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge) in Books

Sep 28, 2019 (Updated Sep 28, 2019)  
  A Crash of Fate  (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge)
A Crash of Fate (Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge)
Zoraida Córdova | 2019 | Science Fiction/Fantasy, Young Adult (YA)
5
6.3 (4 Ratings)
Book Rating
This book was trying sooo hard to mimic @Lost Stars (Star Wars) , you can't help but compare them. This definitely hurt this book.
Firstly, the author did not develop the two main characters' childhood friendship enough to understand the bond they had. Therefore, I didn't understand or care about the romance that developed between the characters. The story line was tired and predictable. The characters just weren't developed enough.
The only thing I did like about the book was the description of Bantuu, and the Black Spire Outpost. It's good background for Galaxy's Edge, the new theme parks at Disney World and Disney Land.

Also, the book kept mentioning Hondo, but he never appeared. How old is he by now? His first appearance was the first season of @Star Wars: The Clone Wars . From pictures, I know he wanders around the park.

So, basically, this lame-o YA romance novel was only worth reading for details on Bantuu.
  
TM
The Measure of a Lady
4
6.0 (2 Ratings)
Book Rating
I love me some Deeanne Gist, but I have never had a novel make me as angry as this one.

Everything about this novel was so obnoxious and contradictory that I wanted to scream. Rachel is an overbearing sister who is trying to set a good example for them, but, in reality, she is just a control freak who has been uprooted from all she has ever known and clearly does not like change since she does not even try to adapt to her new surroundings. What makes her character even more frustrating is that she tends to break all the rules that she sets forth for her siblings, mainly her sister.

Her younger sister is a whole other can of worms. While the brother seems almost nonexistent in the novel, only appearing when needed for furthering the story, Rachel's sister has grasp onto to this new found freedom, since Rachel cannot control her because she is too busy breaking her rules for being a lady. The younger sister takes this freedom and runs with it, wreaking all sorts of havoc while her bad attitude ever increases.

Out of all of Gist's books, this seems to be the most sensual. In her other books, the relationship of the protagonists seems more important than their hormonal need for each other. I felt like I was reading an 80's romance novel with the way they lusted after each other.

I am giving it two starts only because of its one redeeming factor: Gist's lovely style.
  
The Kiss Quotient
The Kiss Quotient
Helen Hoang | 2018 | Romance
8
8.4 (13 Ratings)
Book Rating
Bold & Original Romance Adds Up
Back when I read the First Impression excerpt of The Kiss Quotient on Bookish First this past spring, I knew Helen Hoang's novel was sure to be one of the most talked about romances of 2018.

Bolstered by its inclusion as one of June's Book of the Month Club titles (which is where I nabbed my copy), it has fulfilled that promise and more as the genre's most popular summer beach read.

Taking familiar romance genre paradigms and giving them a new spin, Hoang's startlingly sexy title might bill itself as a gender swapped Pretty Woman but it actually reads more like a politically correct version of Fifty Shades of Grey... only with econometrics, martial arts, and fashion design filling in for the Red Room.

Centering its sexy Pygmalion narrative around a heroine with Asperger's whose disability does not define her – a premise that originally attracted me to the novel – the book is both a refreshing step forward for fictional disabled representation and a bold work all around.

While it inevitably suffers from predictable genre conventions including a slightly clunky start that moves from Point A to Z at an unrealistic pace, once Hoang balances out her equation, The Kiss Quotient really adds up.

Note: I would probably give this book 7.5, if able to award half points.
  
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Goodreads: Book Reviews
Book, Social Networking
6
8.8 (453 Ratings)
App Rating
Goodreads allows for socializing specifically for us bibliophiles, tells you what your friends are reading and allows access to scores of books and reviews posted about them. (0 more)
Sometimes is a pain in the a** when adding books read in their normal none tech form. (0 more)
Goodreads. Because how else will I know what I’ve read?!?
Secret romance novel readers beware.. no just kidding, or am I? Goodreads is where you go to access scores of novels and reviews for them. You are able to socialize with fellow book readers and follow what your friends are currently reading or have read. ( hence the secrete romance readers beware) I even had an author dm me for giving a review of a novel they had written and let me tell you I was ecstatic for many days.
*Focus

You can challenge yourself each year to read more books than the last while they keep track for you as long as it is read in a device linked with the account.
The only thing I find frustrating is sometimes you have to go through a million steps (exaggeration) just to add a book read in it natural papery scented goodness.
Overall the app is good, a great place to start if you’re seeking an idea of how great or sucky a book is, depending on the personal taste of course.