authentic reviews and insightful interviews for inquisitive readers
Title: All Fired Up Author: Lori Foster Series: Road to Love #3 Meh Thanks to Justine Sha for inviting me to participate in the blog tour, and thanks to Lori Foster, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This was a cute story. Not riveting but not terrible either. My overall feeling was an amicable “meh.” A little too cheesy for my taste. Mitch was a nice guy if rather …
Title: A Bad Day for Sunshine Author: Darynda Jones Series: Sunshine Vicram #1 Don’t repeat your mistakes, Jones I would like to effusively thank Darynda Jones, St. Martin’s Press, and NetGalley for letting Christmas come early by allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. When a new Darynda Jones book drops out of the wild blue yonder directly into my lap more than six months before its due to be released, there’s only one …
Title: How to Hack a Heartbreak Author: Kristin Rockaway Series: N/A Earnest but unexciting and perhaps a bit self-righteous I would like to thank Kristin Rockaway, Harlequin/Graydon House, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. Okay, so I am not the ideal reader for this kind of story. Subject matter-wise, I mean; genre-wise—women’s fiction/romance—it’s right up my alley, but I don’t give a rat’s about dating apps, social media, or the …
Title: Steel Resolve Author: B. J. Daniels Series: Cardwell Ranch: Montana Legacy #1 Generic tale with more suspense than romance and underdeveloped MCs I would like to thank B. J. Daniels, Harlequin, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was a solid piece of work, but it lacked personality. It was well plotted and moved at a steady pace that didn’t let me get bored—though it slowed, sometimes a …
Title: Kingdom of Exiles Author: Maxym M. Martineau Series: The Beast Charmer #1 Not the best beginning but still a great book I would like to thank Maxym M. Martineau, Sourcebooks, Inc., and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was a fun adventure with high stakes, an intriguing premise, and a fascinating use of magic. It was generally well-written, with multifaceted characters and creativity that knew no bounds. I …
Title: The Fifth Doctrine Author: Karen Robards Series: The Guardian #3 Got a love-hate relationship with this series I would like to thank Karen Robards, Harlequin/Mira, and NetGalley for allowing me to read a free ARC in exchange for an honest review. I read Moscow Deception (MD) and Fifth Doctrine (FD) back to back, so this is kinda-sorta a review for both. I’ve decided to have a love-hate relationship with this series. On one hand, I freaking love it, because …
Title: The Dysasters Author: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast Series: The Dysasters #1 Liked but didn’t love I would like to thank P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast, and Michelle Cashman at St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. This is the abridged non-spoiler version. Find the full spoiler review here. Jumping right in—the illustrations were my biggest problem with the book. …
Title: The Dysasters Author: P. C. Cast and Kristin Cast Series: The Dysasters #1 Liked but didn’t love I would like to thank P. C. Cast, Kristin Cast, and Michelle Cashman at St. Martin’s Press for inviting me to participate in the blog tour. I received a free ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Don’t want to be spoiled? See my non-spoiler review. Jumping right in, my biggest problem with the book didn’t have anything to do …
Title: The Duke and the Enchantress Author: Paullett Golden Series: The Enchantresses #2 Wonderfully complex characters, minor narrative issues My thanks to Paullett Golden, who asked me to read a free copy of her novel in exchange for an honest review. I didn’t like Charlotte or Drake as they were portrayed in the first book. I thought she was a whiny woe-is-me brat and he was an obnoxious, selfish asshole. I was very curious about this second book, because I …
Title: Say You’re Sorry Author: Karen Rose Series: Sacramento #1 Good read but rather bland Click here to find an interview with the author regarding this book. I liked this book a lot, but it…lacked energy, I guess. Things moved along at a steady clip, never got slow to the point of putting me to sleep—but I didn’t want to stay up late to read more, either. There were only two scenes—in six hundred pages—that got my heart pumping: when …