Tag: 3.5/5 gavels

Apr 19

${Review} Saving Maverick by @Debra_Elise #BloomsburySpark$

{Review} Saving Maverick by @Debra_Elise #BloomsburySpark

Saving Maverick is the first book in the new adult Outlaws of baseball series by Debra Elise. I love the bloomsbury spark line, but for some reason I was under the impression that it was for more young adult line of books, but this was most certainly a new adult romance. I am really excited that the spark line is branching out into (or maybe has always done) new adult romances as well. Saving Maverick is a really yummy first book in the Outlaws of baseball series. It is a fluffy romances with depth. And I can’t wait to read some more of the players stories. I already have a feeling as to another pairing, and if I am right, it is going to be a great one! Saving Maverick is told in dual narrative between Maverick and Kelsey. I really liked both Kelsey and Mav. I love a guy that knows exactly what he wants and goes after it relentlessly. I admired the heck out of Mav for just… Read more »

Keep Reading

Apr 12

{Review+Giveaway} My Perfect Mistake by @KellySiskind @ForeverRomance

My Perfect Mistake is the first book in the contemporary romance Over the Top series by Kelly Siskind. I have not had the chance to read any of Kelly’s other books, but I have to say My Perfect Mistake was a very fun read. I love a good vacation hook up turned more story. While the main characters were a bit more abrasive than I am typically used to, I can see a ton of people really really loving them. I liked them too. My Perfect Mistake is told in dual narrative between Shay and Kolton. Each one of them have their own reasons for why they are not looking for anything, but nonetheless it was hard to deny the other one when they came steamrolling into each others lives. Literally. Watching them bicker back and forth was pretty hilarious. I really liked their dynamic, even if both of them were a bit much for my tastes. A bit too mean, a bit to brash, just a bit too much…. Read more »

Keep Reading

Apr 04

{ARC Review+Interview+Giveaway} Nightstruck by @JennaBlack @torteen

Describe Nightstruck in a tweet. (140 characters or less) Ordinary teenage girl tricked into opening gate to a malevolent world that takes over Philadelphia every night. What is something we would be surprised to learn about Becket? Becket knows how to fire a gun. She figured it would be “lame” not to be able to fire one when her father is the police commissioner. Her knowledge of firearms comes in handy more than once over the course of the book. What are some of your bookish pet peeves at the moment? This goes for books, movies, and TV—I get tired of scenarios where one character is keeping a secret, and then just when that character has nerved him- or herself up to reveal it, it comes out accidentally. It’s supposed to create tension, but because it’s done so much, you know from the moment the person in question decides to keep the secret that it’s going to be revealed by someone else and create drama and angst. What is one… Read more »

Keep Reading

Apr 04

{ARC Review+Giveaway} The Matchmaker’s Playbook by Rachel Van Dyken @RachVD

The Matchmaker’s Playbook is the first book in a new adult contemporary romance series, called Wingmen Inc., by Rachel Van Dyken. As the title and series name suggests, the story centers around two college friends that have a side business where they set up women with their crushes. The whole book had a very Hitch vibe (you know, the Will Smith rom com) They don’t advertise, you just pass around a card when you are done to a “women in need.” The main man of Wingmen Inc. is Ian, and the book is told in dual narrative between him and Blake. Blake is an athlete through and through and she goes to Ian for his help catching the eye of her childhood friend, and crush. Ian ends up falling for Blake. Don’t worry, I am not spoiling anything for anyone, you can tell all of this from the very first line in the summary. It is a very cutesey setup, and one that I really enjoyed. I can’t wait to… Read more »

Keep Reading

Apr 01

{Review} Controlled Burn by @ShannonStacey @CarinaPress

Controlled Burn is the second book in the Boston Fire series by Shannon Stacey. Each of the books can be read as a standalone, and I have to admit that I had no idea this was book 2 in a series, until I pulled it up on goodreads to write this review. (That should tell you that it really can be read a true standalone.) Now I am very curious to check out who book one is about, and get my hands on a copy of that as well. Controlled Burn is a great contemporary romance. I really connected with the subject matter of the book because it deals with something near and dear to my heart with the elderly and the issues they face while aging. It warmed my heart to see Jessica come to help out her grandparents, even though she had never met them before. It was really touching to see. And I loved how real their family dynamic was. There was no black and white good… Read more »

Keep Reading

Mar 30

{Review+Giveaway} The Awakening of Ren Crown by @AnneZoelle

Welcome to The Awakening of Ren Crown Tour! Today as part of the tour, I’ll be sharing my thoughts with you on the first book in the Ren Crown Series! Don’t forget to enter for your chance to win some great prizes including an Amazon Gift Card, Special Edition poster and coloring book and pens! The Awakening of Ren Crown is the first book in the young adult fantasy & magic series, Ren Crown, by Anne Zoelle. It was very fun and very magical. I really enjoyed this book. And instead of doing a traditional review, I am going to give you reasons you should read this book, and this series. I love a magical boarding school setting. The Awakening of Ren Crown takes place at Excelsince University, and it is every bit as magical as you would hope. Full of secrets, eccentric teachers and secrets. I loved how unique their take on magic was too. I knew right away when Ren was developing artistically when she made paints, that… Read more »

Keep Reading

Mar 28

${ARC Review+Giveaway} Lucky Me by @saba_kapur @amberjackpub$

{ARC Review+Giveaway} Lucky Me by @saba_kapur @amberjackpub

Lucky Me is the first book (at least it better be! (more on this later)) by Saba Kapur. It is a young adult contemporary romance about a girl who is seemingly living a very lucky life. She is the daughter of two famous actors and she wants for nothing. Except, as the book so aptly points out, disaster does not discriminate and it can and will strike anyone it chooses. Lucky Me deals with a disaster in the form of a crazy stalker/killer that is out to get Gia’s family. This is a very hard review for me to write because there were a few things that did not work for me at all with Lucky Me. Things that in other cases would have annoyed me and made me think this is not the book for me. However, I could not put this book down. I really enjoyed it and after it ended, I found myself really really wishing that I had the next book so I could find out… Read more »

Keep Reading

Mar 26

{Review+Giveaway} Playing the Witch’s Game by Zoe Forward @entangledpub @AuthorZForward

Playing the Witch’s Game is an adult paranormal fantasy, and it it s the third book in the Keepers of the Veil series by Zoe Forward. Each of the books in the series can be read as standalones, but I wish that I had read each of the books in order. This was the first book in the series that I have read, and while I loved it, I think I would have enjoyed it even more if I had some more familiarity with the backstory on the witches and the world. Nonetheless, this was a great book. If you are a fan of romances that happen to be paranormal in nature and not the other way around, you will totally dig this story. It is told in dual narrative between Jen and Nickolai, which worked out great to advance the story. I loved seeing inside Nick’s head, and I think I enjoyed his chapters more than Jen’s. He is exactly my kind of paranormal book boyfriend. Sweet but totally… Read more »

Keep Reading

Mar 14

{Review} Demon Princess by Kassandra Lynn

Demon Princess is a young adult fantasy/ paranormal mash up and is the first in the Demon Kingdom Fairy Tales series by Kassandra Lynn. I am such a sucker for fantasy and paranormal story that deal with royalty in some way. I just love a royal family (they normally have some awesome drama.) and I also can’t resist some good ole magic in a castle. So when I saw Demon Princess had not only paranormal royalty, but also the magic of a promising fantasy element, and a gorgeous cover, I knew I couldn’t pass this one up. And while I found it to be a little on the short side, I thought this was a promising start to what seems to be a cool series. I can’t wait for the next book. Demon Princess has a really great cast of characters. In fact, they were my favorite part of the story. I thought Adrianna (the main character), Keldrin, Xander and Razen all added something unique to the story and I… Read more »

Keep Reading

Mar 07

${Review+Giveaway} In Real Life by @_JessicaLove @StMartinsPress$

{Review+Giveaway} In Real Life by @_JessicaLove @StMartinsPress

In Real Life is a young adult contemporary romance by Jessica Love. It tells the story of teens Hannah and Nick who have been best friends for four years. Only hitch to that is they have never met. I think this is a book that is long overdue in todays technological climate. People everywhere have friends that they have only interacted with over the internet, or phone, or on social media. It is just the way the world is today. When I first started reading In Real Life, I thought this was going to be a catfish story. (and trust me, I love a good catfish story. P.S. is anyone else watching the new season?) But In Real Life turned out to be so much more than that. Hannah and Nick have talked on the phone and video chatted multiple times, so they knew who the other person was physically. In Real Life was a delightful story of whether or not they could actually work out as friends (or more… Read more »