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fortheloveoffictionalworlds's reviews
1351 reviews
Body of the Crime by Jennifer Chase
4.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of the Blog Tour!
Before I start on my thoughts on this book, you HAVE to keep in mind that in real life, I work as Assistant Forensic Psychologist at a Crime Lab. Yes, this has bearings on my review, for this book isn't the usual kind that I read!
This wouldn't be one of your usual crime novels - for the hero of this story is a bit eccentric, quite brilliant and absolutely worth taking notice of. He isn't your usual cocky alpha hero that most of us will not look twice in reality - but that's exactly the point - to not be fooled into thinking that the cover makes all the difference in the world.
Dr. Alexander “Chip” Palmer is a civilian consultant - a brilliant criminologist and a noted expert in behavioral profiling is introduced when he is giving an expert testimony on a serial rape case - and it is brilliant! He is methodological, intense and intelligent in a way that I understood right from the start that I DID NOT want to be in front of him in real life.
You also have Detective Murphy who seems like detests Chip, but is devoted to his work and to bring justice.
But the other major player in this book is D.A. Inspector Kate Rawlins, who recently just moved to escape a past but is unaware that her past is unwilling to let go of her. It is quite easy to like her - because right off the bat, you get an inside track to her thoughts and her feelings, which believe me make her more real than fictional.
The plot itself, without giving much away, is flawless - pretty much everything that is criminal and it's investigation, both legal and behavioral are pretty spot on - and I say that as an emerging professional in that exact field. Believe me, there is not one issue I found with the way the crime and it's investigation and that's saying something 'cause I have stopped reading crime - thrillers just for the reason that I could find fault.
And even though I devoured this book, I still wished the author had given a bit more background to the characters, a bit more depth if you would like - and I think that would have made an already interesting book, to one that became absolutely brilliant.
But I am still hoping that since this is a series, more will be revealed as it continues and I am quite excited to see where Jennifer takes this
Disregarding that, this is a book for everyone who loves getting to know the reason behind a criminal's actions especially when it involves a heinous crime!
“Everything we do, the way we do it, what we use to do it, and why we do it, actually means something. Criminals are no different. They have some type of fantasy, or goal, which is a better description so every movement and impulse helps to accomplish that goal.”
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
Before I start on my thoughts on this book, you HAVE to keep in mind that in real life, I work as Assistant Forensic Psychologist at a Crime Lab. Yes, this has bearings on my review, for this book isn't the usual kind that I read!
This wouldn't be one of your usual crime novels - for the hero of this story is a bit eccentric, quite brilliant and absolutely worth taking notice of. He isn't your usual cocky alpha hero that most of us will not look twice in reality - but that's exactly the point - to not be fooled into thinking that the cover makes all the difference in the world.
Dr. Alexander “Chip” Palmer is a civilian consultant - a brilliant criminologist and a noted expert in behavioral profiling is introduced when he is giving an expert testimony on a serial rape case - and it is brilliant! He is methodological, intense and intelligent in a way that I understood right from the start that I DID NOT want to be in front of him in real life.
You also have Detective Murphy who seems like detests Chip, but is devoted to his work and to bring justice.
But the other major player in this book is D.A. Inspector Kate Rawlins, who recently just moved to escape a past but is unaware that her past is unwilling to let go of her. It is quite easy to like her - because right off the bat, you get an inside track to her thoughts and her feelings, which believe me make her more real than fictional.
The plot itself, without giving much away, is flawless - pretty much everything that is criminal and it's investigation, both legal and behavioral are pretty spot on - and I say that as an emerging professional in that exact field. Believe me, there is not one issue I found with the way the crime and it's investigation and that's saying something 'cause I have stopped reading crime - thrillers just for the reason that I could find fault.
And even though I devoured this book, I still wished the author had given a bit more background to the characters, a bit more depth if you would like - and I think that would have made an already interesting book, to one that became absolutely brilliant.
But I am still hoping that since this is a series, more will be revealed as it continues and I am quite excited to see where Jennifer takes this
Disregarding that, this is a book for everyone who loves getting to know the reason behind a criminal's actions especially when it involves a heinous crime!
“Everything we do, the way we do it, what we use to do it, and why we do it, actually means something. Criminals are no different. They have some type of fantasy, or goal, which is a better description so every movement and impulse helps to accomplish that goal.”
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
Inevitable by A.S. Roberts
The prologue gives us an insight into the mind of Bella Carpenter - when she has to break up with the love of her life, for she has a past that she needs to confront and let go of before she could ever deserve his love.
Nathan Blackmore, on the other hand, doesn't believe that the woman he fell in love with, doesn't feel the same way, for he knows that she does - and yet all he wants from her is honesty, something that she doesn't give him.
And they both part ways.
Its months later and Bella is back for the wedding of Frankie and Alex, the eldest Blackmore brother, and while she is a bit apprehensive about facing Nathan, she is also looking forward to it - even though she knows that he hasn't exactly been celibate since breaking up with her.
But the Nathan, she encounters isn't the same Nathan she left - she understands that she broke something in him, when she left him, but even with the way he treats her, she realizes soon enough that she doesn't really deserve that sort of treatment.
Nathan, on the other hand, is still not over Bella, but does he handle it quite well? No, he doesn't. He partakes in the women who throw themselves freely at him, even though he TOLD BELLA, that he will be waiting for her to finally be honest with him! (yeah, that really did not endear him to me!)
But they soon find out that Bella's past isn't exactly her past yet and they need to be proactive to keep Bella safe and who else to keep her safe better than Nathan.
Bella is a heroine I liked, not loved - mostly because she was a bit too chaotic for me. She went from hating Nathan to lusting after him too easily - and while I got that love and hate are two sides of the same coin, I still couldn't get over the way Nathan acted and the way she took it at first.
That being said, she went quite a few notches, when she gave Nathan back, especially the honesty that she should have given him right from the start.
The road trip they both took id a whole lot of good for their relationships - they finally communicated with each other and got a lot out of their way.
Nathan, honestly though did not endear himself to me at the start - he was callous and the fact that even though he was in love with Bella and yet screwed everything skirts was not a good sign. Though he did become a lot more better in my eyes, with the kind of gentleness she deserved and the loyalty she needed!
Did both of them get on my nerves? Yes, they did, but then again so would any character who has had the kind of life these both had - and it was such a treat to see that they both understood the need to be open about things.
It was a fun ride, for Nathan really does ride well, and I can't wait to read more from this author <3
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
4.0
The prologue gives us an insight into the mind of Bella Carpenter - when she has to break up with the love of her life, for she has a past that she needs to confront and let go of before she could ever deserve his love.
Nathan Blackmore, on the other hand, doesn't believe that the woman he fell in love with, doesn't feel the same way, for he knows that she does - and yet all he wants from her is honesty, something that she doesn't give him.
And they both part ways.
Its months later and Bella is back for the wedding of Frankie and Alex, the eldest Blackmore brother, and while she is a bit apprehensive about facing Nathan, she is also looking forward to it - even though she knows that he hasn't exactly been celibate since breaking up with her.
But the Nathan, she encounters isn't the same Nathan she left - she understands that she broke something in him, when she left him, but even with the way he treats her, she realizes soon enough that she doesn't really deserve that sort of treatment.
Nathan, on the other hand, is still not over Bella, but does he handle it quite well? No, he doesn't. He partakes in the women who throw themselves freely at him, even though he TOLD BELLA, that he will be waiting for her to finally be honest with him! (yeah, that really did not endear him to me!)
But they soon find out that Bella's past isn't exactly her past yet and they need to be proactive to keep Bella safe and who else to keep her safe better than Nathan.
Bella is a heroine I liked, not loved - mostly because she was a bit too chaotic for me. She went from hating Nathan to lusting after him too easily - and while I got that love and hate are two sides of the same coin, I still couldn't get over the way Nathan acted and the way she took it at first.
That being said, she went quite a few notches, when she gave Nathan back, especially the honesty that she should have given him right from the start.
The road trip they both took id a whole lot of good for their relationships - they finally communicated with each other and got a lot out of their way.
Nathan, honestly though did not endear himself to me at the start - he was callous and the fact that even though he was in love with Bella and yet screwed everything skirts was not a good sign. Though he did become a lot more better in my eyes, with the kind of gentleness she deserved and the loyalty she needed!
Did both of them get on my nerves? Yes, they did, but then again so would any character who has had the kind of life these both had - and it was such a treat to see that they both understood the need to be open about things.
It was a fun ride, for Nathan really does ride well, and I can't wait to read more from this author <3
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
Eternal Temptations by Janine Infante Bosco
5.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of the Blog Tour hosted by Indie Sage PR :)
In case you notice, I am not mentioning any players or characters in this review – this is a deliberate choice. For those who haven’t read the series yet. I am trying really hard to make this review spoiler free – but I still recommend reading the series before reading this one!
This was absolutely the BEST ENDING to a brilliant series – it was everything I could have wanted when concluding a series! It had action, angst, loss, romance and BEST OF ALL, it had something from every character I had ever loved in this series.
Here, you go back to the start – the start of the temptations, you get to see where everything all began for individual couples and where everything ends for them. And it was so satisfying to watch them fight for their love, their family ONE. LAST. TIME!
Not everything is smooth sailing for the MC boys neither for the Pastore boys – one last enemy to conquer and new allies to be made.
I started this journey off with Jack "Bulldog" Parrish in Uncontrollable Temptations (Read My Review) – a wholly different ride than I had ever experienced. Then, with Kitten and Tiger in Reckless Temptations (Read My Review), a wonderfully hilarious ride that I had not been expecting after the one I had read; it wasn’t what I wanted, but it definitely was what I needed and lastly but not the least, the angst filled ride for Leather and Lace in Lethal Temptations (Read My Review) – and I have enjoyed every single of them – I have laughed, cried and had my heart broken and mended all together and I couldn’t wait to have my closure with this final installment.
One last ride, one last hit for my favourite boys – and this was every bit the closure I needed. You have one villain you did not see coming, but you are also introduced to some new characters that you *JUST* know will have some amazing HEA’s for themselves and I WAS RIGHT. There is going to be a spin-off series starting with the new head of the mob and I am waiting on pins and needles for that one to arrive! <3
This was the perfect send – off for the fans of the Temptations series, and everyone will appreciate the closure the author provides to her readers!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
In case you notice, I am not mentioning any players or characters in this review – this is a deliberate choice. For those who haven’t read the series yet. I am trying really hard to make this review spoiler free – but I still recommend reading the series before reading this one!
This was absolutely the BEST ENDING to a brilliant series – it was everything I could have wanted when concluding a series! It had action, angst, loss, romance and BEST OF ALL, it had something from every character I had ever loved in this series.
Here, you go back to the start – the start of the temptations, you get to see where everything all began for individual couples and where everything ends for them. And it was so satisfying to watch them fight for their love, their family ONE. LAST. TIME!
Not everything is smooth sailing for the MC boys neither for the Pastore boys – one last enemy to conquer and new allies to be made.
I started this journey off with Jack "Bulldog" Parrish in Uncontrollable Temptations (Read My Review) – a wholly different ride than I had ever experienced. Then, with Kitten and Tiger in Reckless Temptations (Read My Review), a wonderfully hilarious ride that I had not been expecting after the one I had read; it wasn’t what I wanted, but it definitely was what I needed and lastly but not the least, the angst filled ride for Leather and Lace in Lethal Temptations (Read My Review) – and I have enjoyed every single of them – I have laughed, cried and had my heart broken and mended all together and I couldn’t wait to have my closure with this final installment.
One last ride, one last hit for my favourite boys – and this was every bit the closure I needed. You have one villain you did not see coming, but you are also introduced to some new characters that you *JUST* know will have some amazing HEA’s for themselves and I WAS RIGHT. There is going to be a spin-off series starting with the new head of the mob and I am waiting on pins and needles for that one to arrive! <3
This was the perfect send – off for the fans of the Temptations series, and everyone will appreciate the closure the author provides to her readers!
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
Taylor Made by kj lewis
5.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds in exchange for an honest review :)
Disclaimer: This book ends on a cliffhanger. I did not know that before going in. It did not end well for my iPad. It has now cracks like it’s crying and I can’t even sincerely apologise to it.
Can I be honest? I have not read Crossfire Series and I read Grey Book 1, before I left it. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for Alpha, Possessive Heroes – I like them just fine (in fact, I more than like them, I fell in love with one of them!), what I am not into guys who do not understand the meaning of being protective possessive or being asshole protective!
And while I knew this one was being touted for fans of Crossfire and Grey, I still went ahead, for *MY* gut instinct got me to sign up for this one and I *Always* listen to my instinct – it hasn’t steered me wrong yet!
Emme James is woman who with a secret past and definitely a present that’s he has cultivated for herself – she balances a full blown career, with the stress of being roommates with not ONE but SIX HOT GUYS (I honestly would have dies of combustion, hence she had my admiration from the start!) :D She literally was the calmest heroine I have read in a long time – but that just made me want to unearth her secrets all the more – so yes, I could see the attraction the males would have had to her! ;)
Graham Taylor, a hot shot rich alpha is a man who values *HIS* control over everything in life, even women. He isn’t someone who misleads about his intentions, but he isn’t someone either who lets go of someone he really wants. And he definitely wants Emme, even though he knows (but doesn’t accept!) that he has met his match!
Can I just say, for a DEBUT NOVEL, this was OFF THE CHARTS BRILLIANT! I can’t even express properly how this author sucked me right into this romance without even me realizing it! DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THAT IS?
The wonderful complexity of this plot is absolutely unreal, (and I am repeating that, this is the author’s DEBUT NOVEL!), it is absolutely atrocious that this author hasn’t been sharing her words with us before this.
I adored every single part of this book – from Emme and her relationship with her roommates (her dwarves even if they are all TALL and did I mention, HOT!!), the support system she has even though she tries to everything on non-emotional level and her connection with Graham! OH. MY. GOD. **fans herself* That connection is literally the foundation of this book and honestly, if there was any slacking on the author’s part in this regard, this whole book could have gone sideways but NOPE. SHE NAILED IT RIGHT ON THE CENTRE!
Their relationship was everything I could have ever wanted in a character’s pairing – there is stubbornness, there are secrets, there is stupidity but there is also passion, compassion and understanding. In fact, everything that could make them a real couple rather than a fictional one was there in the mix!
Okay. For the cliffhanger.. Now this is not the worst cliffhanger I have ever lived with but I DO NOT LIKE CLIFFHANGERS and I did not go in with all the information (my fault really!), so when the book ended? My iPad *accidentally* slipped from my hands and now sports a giant crack in the screen – definitely NOT my finest hour as reader really! But c’mon! How am I supposed to live with THAT ending till the next book’s release date is announced (which it hasn’t been. I checked. Religiously!).
Plus, I *WANT* a paperback copy of this one – and I can’t find it anywhere and I want it *NOW*. That cover is brilliant – so minimalist and without giving away a hint of the amazeballs story inside <3 *totally in love right now!*
Do you even realise my dilemma? *sad face*
This is a book that you *DEFINITELY* need to read – but if you are anything like me about cliffhangers, then maybe put this one on a TBR till the next one comes out – for now every book I read will be overshadowed by my thoughts of this one! :D
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
Disclaimer: This book ends on a cliffhanger. I did not know that before going in. It did not end well for my iPad. It has now cracks like it’s crying and I can’t even sincerely apologise to it.
Can I be honest? I have not read Crossfire Series and I read Grey Book 1, before I left it. Don’t get me wrong, I am all for Alpha, Possessive Heroes – I like them just fine (in fact, I more than like them, I fell in love with one of them!), what I am not into guys who do not understand the meaning of being protective possessive or being asshole protective!
And while I knew this one was being touted for fans of Crossfire and Grey, I still went ahead, for *MY* gut instinct got me to sign up for this one and I *Always* listen to my instinct – it hasn’t steered me wrong yet!
Emme James is woman who with a secret past and definitely a present that’s he has cultivated for herself – she balances a full blown career, with the stress of being roommates with not ONE but SIX HOT GUYS (I honestly would have dies of combustion, hence she had my admiration from the start!) :D She literally was the calmest heroine I have read in a long time – but that just made me want to unearth her secrets all the more – so yes, I could see the attraction the males would have had to her! ;)
Graham Taylor, a hot shot rich alpha is a man who values *HIS* control over everything in life, even women. He isn’t someone who misleads about his intentions, but he isn’t someone either who lets go of someone he really wants. And he definitely wants Emme, even though he knows (but doesn’t accept!) that he has met his match!
Can I just say, for a DEBUT NOVEL, this was OFF THE CHARTS BRILLIANT! I can’t even express properly how this author sucked me right into this romance without even me realizing it! DO YOU KNOW HOW RARE THAT IS?
The wonderful complexity of this plot is absolutely unreal, (and I am repeating that, this is the author’s DEBUT NOVEL!), it is absolutely atrocious that this author hasn’t been sharing her words with us before this.
I adored every single part of this book – from Emme and her relationship with her roommates (her dwarves even if they are all TALL and did I mention, HOT!!), the support system she has even though she tries to everything on non-emotional level and her connection with Graham! OH. MY. GOD. **fans herself* That connection is literally the foundation of this book and honestly, if there was any slacking on the author’s part in this regard, this whole book could have gone sideways but NOPE. SHE NAILED IT RIGHT ON THE CENTRE!
Their relationship was everything I could have ever wanted in a character’s pairing – there is stubbornness, there are secrets, there is stupidity but there is also passion, compassion and understanding. In fact, everything that could make them a real couple rather than a fictional one was there in the mix!
Okay. For the cliffhanger.. Now this is not the worst cliffhanger I have ever lived with but I DO NOT LIKE CLIFFHANGERS and I did not go in with all the information (my fault really!), so when the book ended? My iPad *accidentally* slipped from my hands and now sports a giant crack in the screen – definitely NOT my finest hour as reader really! But c’mon! How am I supposed to live with THAT ending till the next book’s release date is announced (which it hasn’t been. I checked. Religiously!).
Plus, I *WANT* a paperback copy of this one – and I can’t find it anywhere and I want it *NOW*. That cover is brilliant – so minimalist and without giving away a hint of the amazeballs story inside <3 *totally in love right now!*
Do you even realise my dilemma? *sad face*
This is a book that you *DEFINITELY* need to read – but if you are anything like me about cliffhangers, then maybe put this one on a TBR till the next one comes out – for now every book I read will be overshadowed by my thoughts of this one! :D
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
The Stranger by Anna del Mar
4.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of the blog tour!
Summer Silva is a woman on a mission in the wilderness of Alaska - as the elder (step) sister to a sister suffering from a disorder, who apparently impulsively traveled to Alaska to be with a man she has known only online.
She isn't prepared for the cold nor for the remoteness of a place she is encountering. Nor is she prepared for the gruff man who rescues her, yet accuses of her setting him up by a rival.
“Are you going to tell me what your name is or what?”
“Oh.” I was close to frozen stupid. “My name is Summer, Summer Silva.”
“Summer in Alaska?” He stared at me for an instant, then burst out into quiet laughter. “You’re a little late. Summer arrived in Alaska just in time to meet winter.”
Seth Erickson, is a recluse - a billionaire, but definitely a recluse, especially after coming back from Afghanistan. He is currently in the middle of some hostile negoations with a rival (from his own family!) so treats Summer with his trademark gruffness and suspicious nature that, honestly is absolutely valid in my mind!
But there is an instant connection between them that is undeniable, neither by them nor by the reader. And it honestly, blazes out between them in that one moment in time that changes everything for both of them.
“Is this your idea of...what? Asking me out or something?”
“I’m good with that, if that’s how you’d like to call it.”
“Are you off your freaking rocker?” She stared at me.
“Is it such a bad idea?”
“It’s a terrible idea and you know it!”
“Why?”
“I’m from the other side of the world,” she said. “I’m tropical, you’re arctic. I’m a surly witch and you’re grouchy as hell. I suffer from a very inconvenient disorder that makes dating very hard”
I am not going to lie, from the first page, this one had me hooked right in. I wish I could say it was just one thing, but it was everything in this one - from the characters, to the plot, to the hints of something otherwordly (cannot use paranormal here!) everything seamlessly blends into some beautiful imagery in this romance.
There is action, there is adventure, there is angst, and there is pure beautiful and unadulterated love, that this author has pulled off and I am in awe of her skills!
This was the first book for me by this author and honestly, the moment I was done, I went ahead to buy all the books by her within the next five minutes! And I have a feeling I am definitely going to adore them as well <3
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
Summer Silva is a woman on a mission in the wilderness of Alaska - as the elder (step) sister to a sister suffering from a disorder, who apparently impulsively traveled to Alaska to be with a man she has known only online.
She isn't prepared for the cold nor for the remoteness of a place she is encountering. Nor is she prepared for the gruff man who rescues her, yet accuses of her setting him up by a rival.
“Are you going to tell me what your name is or what?”
“Oh.” I was close to frozen stupid. “My name is Summer, Summer Silva.”
“Summer in Alaska?” He stared at me for an instant, then burst out into quiet laughter. “You’re a little late. Summer arrived in Alaska just in time to meet winter.”
Seth Erickson, is a recluse - a billionaire, but definitely a recluse, especially after coming back from Afghanistan. He is currently in the middle of some hostile negoations with a rival (from his own family!) so treats Summer with his trademark gruffness and suspicious nature that, honestly is absolutely valid in my mind!
But there is an instant connection between them that is undeniable, neither by them nor by the reader. And it honestly, blazes out between them in that one moment in time that changes everything for both of them.
“Is this your idea of...what? Asking me out or something?”
“I’m good with that, if that’s how you’d like to call it.”
“Are you off your freaking rocker?” She stared at me.
“Is it such a bad idea?”
“It’s a terrible idea and you know it!”
“Why?”
“I’m from the other side of the world,” she said. “I’m tropical, you’re arctic. I’m a surly witch and you’re grouchy as hell. I suffer from a very inconvenient disorder that makes dating very hard”
I am not going to lie, from the first page, this one had me hooked right in. I wish I could say it was just one thing, but it was everything in this one - from the characters, to the plot, to the hints of something otherwordly (cannot use paranormal here!) everything seamlessly blends into some beautiful imagery in this romance.
There is action, there is adventure, there is angst, and there is pure beautiful and unadulterated love, that this author has pulled off and I am in awe of her skills!
This was the first book for me by this author and honestly, the moment I was done, I went ahead to buy all the books by her within the next five minutes! And I have a feeling I am definitely going to adore them as well <3
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Do come join us at For The Fictional Worlds Facebook Page
A Player for a Princess by Tia Louise
5.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of the Blog Tour hosted by Inkslinger PR <3
Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
This book picks up exactly where [b:The Prince & The Player|29368099|The Prince & The Player (Dirty Players Duet, #1)|Tia Louise|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1460055067s/29368099.jpg|49615995](Read My Review) left off – with Zee on the run with Cal going after her to bring her back and protect her!
Rowan and Ava, on the other hand have settled into a blissful state of happiness; the only thing marring that happiness is that Zelda has now become the target of their villains. And with a background plot of betrayals, lies and spies; a kingdom to run, Queens to satisfy and scams to uncover – this was a swoony, breath-taking ride from the start to finish.
Cal catches up to Zee quite early in the book – and while I was quite happy and definitely ecstatic *fans herself* with their reunion; it still made me quite apprehensive; for if this book WASN’T about Cal and Zee getting back together, then there HAD to be a whole of a book where my heart was going to be broken more times than I could count – and I was PARTIALLY RIGHT.
While there was no heartbreak, really; there was a whole lot of twists and turns that I DID NOT see coming – I mean seriously? With my vivid imagination, there is a whole lot of scenes that I could have really done without (not really, but c’mon!) – and at one time I was really scared of the mind that Tia Louise’s – you’ll know what I am talking about when you read this book!
Zee shows a whole lot of courage in this book and that courage is only tempered by her strength. I was in awes for almost 60% of the book – she doesn’t let anything dampen her courage, not even what most would have called her stupidity (and trust me, I had my doubts) – but, n the end my exasperation with her actions is overshadowed by my respect for her as a human being (even if she is fictional!)
Cal, on the other hand, just got a whole lot of freakingly better. He was amazing in the first book; but it is here that we see that even with his human discontent showing, he still put Zee before anything else, even his need to be angry with her. It broke my heart to see him almost broken with everything happening around them; but it takes a strong man to hold our Zee’s heart and Cal proved it again (and again!) that he is definitely up for the task.
Here’s the thing – me? I read this duet together (I know; being a blogger is AH-WESOME!); so my ratings could be influenced by that, but not by much!
Was this perfect as a duet? Yes.
Was one book better than the other? I wouldn’t say so. Book 1 gave us a foundation to the story, but Book 2 is where all the action is.
Two couples in the book – my favourite? Cal and Zee; but it has to be because the focus was more on them rather than Rowan and Ava.
Sibling Rivalry? Absolutely no. There is love, respect and absolute loyalty in the relationship between both the siblings set.
For whom would I recommend this duet? Any reader, who adores their romance with a whole lot of kick in their plot with a background scandals, politics and betrayals; should definitely pick this duet up!
I only know as much as I don’t deserve him, he’s my prince. I gave my heart to him, and no matter how far I run, I’ll never stop wanting him.
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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Actual Rating 4.5 Stars
This book picks up exactly where [b:The Prince & The Player|29368099|The Prince & The Player (Dirty Players Duet, #1)|Tia Louise|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1460055067s/29368099.jpg|49615995](Read My Review) left off – with Zee on the run with Cal going after her to bring her back and protect her!
Rowan and Ava, on the other hand have settled into a blissful state of happiness; the only thing marring that happiness is that Zelda has now become the target of their villains. And with a background plot of betrayals, lies and spies; a kingdom to run, Queens to satisfy and scams to uncover – this was a swoony, breath-taking ride from the start to finish.
Cal catches up to Zee quite early in the book – and while I was quite happy and definitely ecstatic *fans herself* with their reunion; it still made me quite apprehensive; for if this book WASN’T about Cal and Zee getting back together, then there HAD to be a whole of a book where my heart was going to be broken more times than I could count – and I was PARTIALLY RIGHT.
While there was no heartbreak, really; there was a whole lot of twists and turns that I DID NOT see coming – I mean seriously? With my vivid imagination, there is a whole lot of scenes that I could have really done without (not really, but c’mon!) – and at one time I was really scared of the mind that Tia Louise’s – you’ll know what I am talking about when you read this book!
Zee shows a whole lot of courage in this book and that courage is only tempered by her strength. I was in awes for almost 60% of the book – she doesn’t let anything dampen her courage, not even what most would have called her stupidity (and trust me, I had my doubts) – but, n the end my exasperation with her actions is overshadowed by my respect for her as a human being (even if she is fictional!)
Cal, on the other hand, just got a whole lot of freakingly better. He was amazing in the first book; but it is here that we see that even with his human discontent showing, he still put Zee before anything else, even his need to be angry with her. It broke my heart to see him almost broken with everything happening around them; but it takes a strong man to hold our Zee’s heart and Cal proved it again (and again!) that he is definitely up for the task.
Here’s the thing – me? I read this duet together (I know; being a blogger is AH-WESOME!); so my ratings could be influenced by that, but not by much!
Was this perfect as a duet? Yes.
Was one book better than the other? I wouldn’t say so. Book 1 gave us a foundation to the story, but Book 2 is where all the action is.
Two couples in the book – my favourite? Cal and Zee; but it has to be because the focus was more on them rather than Rowan and Ava.
Sibling Rivalry? Absolutely no. There is love, respect and absolute loyalty in the relationship between both the siblings set.
For whom would I recommend this duet? Any reader, who adores their romance with a whole lot of kick in their plot with a background scandals, politics and betrayals; should definitely pick this duet up!
I only know as much as I don’t deserve him, he’s my prince. I gave my heart to him, and no matter how far I run, I’ll never stop wanting him.
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Jackson Stiles, Road to Redemption by J.R. Richardson
4.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds as part of the Blog Tour hosted by Tasty Book Tours <3
Jackson Stiles, Road to Redemption is the story of a bounty hunter/Private Detective, with a whole lot of issues and baggage and a conscience that is a lot more active than he actually believes it so!
What do a renegade cop turned bounty hunter or Private Detectives and a straight shooter with a flair of dramatics have in common? Not much really, except a murder that shouldn’t have even happened and an attraction that somehow sneaks up on them.
Told in the POV of Jackson Stiles, it is one twist after the other that held more conspiracy in his small town than he could have actually believed to be possible. Support comes from the unlikeliest form of ally in Emma Green; the one reporter who lambasted him in one of her articles and is not exactly his favourite person in the world! But he really has no choice when faced with the stubborn wall that is his nemesis!
This is one of the few books that I have read that is all MALE POVE – you don’t get those books a whole lot; especially in the romance genre – so just for that reason it would have been a treat to read this – but what made it better was that the writing was phenomenal! The plot was intricate and had me hooked in right from the start – the disgruntled family times, the angsty conscious of the hero, the twisty plot lines, the induction of amazing secondary characters and a plot that had me guessing at every single turn!
What was also definitely fun was Jackson and Emma’s relationship – you see a transformation of supposed hate to colleagues to definitely falling for each other! There is this singular connection between these two that pops out to the reader from the first moment that they meet each other in the book!
Road to Redemption was a single sitting read for me – and my only issue with this book was that “I” did not know that this is NOT a standalone. No, there is no cliffhanger at the end; but there are a whole lot of loose threads from the foundation plot line to the characters themselves that I believe are going to be taken care of in the next book – so even though it wasn’t the “UGGHH” ending I have read, I am still going to antsy till the next book releases!
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Jackson Stiles, Road to Redemption is the story of a bounty hunter/Private Detective, with a whole lot of issues and baggage and a conscience that is a lot more active than he actually believes it so!
What do a renegade cop turned bounty hunter or Private Detectives and a straight shooter with a flair of dramatics have in common? Not much really, except a murder that shouldn’t have even happened and an attraction that somehow sneaks up on them.
Told in the POV of Jackson Stiles, it is one twist after the other that held more conspiracy in his small town than he could have actually believed to be possible. Support comes from the unlikeliest form of ally in Emma Green; the one reporter who lambasted him in one of her articles and is not exactly his favourite person in the world! But he really has no choice when faced with the stubborn wall that is his nemesis!
This is one of the few books that I have read that is all MALE POVE – you don’t get those books a whole lot; especially in the romance genre – so just for that reason it would have been a treat to read this – but what made it better was that the writing was phenomenal! The plot was intricate and had me hooked in right from the start – the disgruntled family times, the angsty conscious of the hero, the twisty plot lines, the induction of amazing secondary characters and a plot that had me guessing at every single turn!
What was also definitely fun was Jackson and Emma’s relationship – you see a transformation of supposed hate to colleagues to definitely falling for each other! There is this singular connection between these two that pops out to the reader from the first moment that they meet each other in the book!
Road to Redemption was a single sitting read for me – and my only issue with this book was that “I” did not know that this is NOT a standalone. No, there is no cliffhanger at the end; but there are a whole lot of loose threads from the foundation plot line to the characters themselves that I believe are going to be taken care of in the next book – so even though it wasn’t the “UGGHH” ending I have read, I am still going to antsy till the next book releases!
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Loving Amber by Roya Carmen
3.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds on tour with TRSoR Promotions <3
Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
I am starting to adore second chance romances; but I am still iffy about friends – to – lovers; because it mostly depends on the perfect connection between the authors’ talents and the characters themselves.
Loving Amber is romance of Amber Riverstone and Aiden Rogers – but first it was the story of Amber, Aiden, Flynn, Paul and Amber’s twin, Ken. Friends since childhood, they all have been quite the gang and the gang stayed together till their adulthood.
Amber marries her childhood sweetheart, Paul even though she has always been attracted to Aiden; but then again, he never gave an indication that he was interested in Amber, in fact he goes out to his way to antagonize her – giving credence to the old saying “boys tease you because they like you”.
But it is when Amber’s husband and twin are killed in a car accident, she blames the only person walks away alive, Aiden. She hasn’t seen or talked to Aiden in 2 years, mostly because she feels a whole lot of guilt over her attraction to Aiden even while her husband was alive!
With Aiden, on the other hand, it’s easy to see the guilt and love he has for Amber and the accident. He has kept in touch with Flynn, Amber’s elder brother, and always asks about Amber, even though he knows that she blames him for the accident.
There is angst in this book, a whole lot of it, some of it quite unnecessary – I get that Amber blames Aiden, but her actions sometimes were infinitely crueller than I could have ever imagined (for me, at least!) and the fact that Aiden took it, till he couldn’t anymore, made me all the more antsy.
I could have enjoyed this book – but somehow somewhere, it was the writing that fell a little flat for me. Or maybe it was the characters that I couldn’t actually connect to. Or maybe it was a combination of both. I do know that I was looking for clues about Ruby and Flynn’s own stories more than I was ever interested in Aiden and Amber’s ongoing drama.
It was only in the last 10% or so that I got back in the groove of things – and looked forward to their resolution, and the ending was poignantly emotional and perfect (and the reason for the 3.5 stars)
Loving Amber is one of those romances where there was that “almost” connection between the author’s writing and the characters – the one where everything should have worked out but couldn’t actually hack it.
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Actual Rating 3.5 Stars
I am starting to adore second chance romances; but I am still iffy about friends – to – lovers; because it mostly depends on the perfect connection between the authors’ talents and the characters themselves.
Loving Amber is romance of Amber Riverstone and Aiden Rogers – but first it was the story of Amber, Aiden, Flynn, Paul and Amber’s twin, Ken. Friends since childhood, they all have been quite the gang and the gang stayed together till their adulthood.
Amber marries her childhood sweetheart, Paul even though she has always been attracted to Aiden; but then again, he never gave an indication that he was interested in Amber, in fact he goes out to his way to antagonize her – giving credence to the old saying “boys tease you because they like you”.
But it is when Amber’s husband and twin are killed in a car accident, she blames the only person walks away alive, Aiden. She hasn’t seen or talked to Aiden in 2 years, mostly because she feels a whole lot of guilt over her attraction to Aiden even while her husband was alive!
With Aiden, on the other hand, it’s easy to see the guilt and love he has for Amber and the accident. He has kept in touch with Flynn, Amber’s elder brother, and always asks about Amber, even though he knows that she blames him for the accident.
There is angst in this book, a whole lot of it, some of it quite unnecessary – I get that Amber blames Aiden, but her actions sometimes were infinitely crueller than I could have ever imagined (for me, at least!) and the fact that Aiden took it, till he couldn’t anymore, made me all the more antsy.
I could have enjoyed this book – but somehow somewhere, it was the writing that fell a little flat for me. Or maybe it was the characters that I couldn’t actually connect to. Or maybe it was a combination of both. I do know that I was looking for clues about Ruby and Flynn’s own stories more than I was ever interested in Aiden and Amber’s ongoing drama.
It was only in the last 10% or so that I got back in the groove of things – and looked forward to their resolution, and the ending was poignantly emotional and perfect (and the reason for the 3.5 stars)
Loving Amber is one of those romances where there was that “almost” connection between the author’s writing and the characters – the one where everything should have worked out but couldn’t actually hack it.
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Taken by Laxmi Hariharan
4.0
This review was first posted on For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
Taken by Laxmi Hariharan is a standalone novel in the Many Lives Universe and while it would be easier to understand this world if you have read Feral before, but it is still a novel that sucks you right in from the start.
This world is a bit different (and you have no idea how much I adored that! For the first time, I was reading a dystopian romance in a world that is most familiar to me and not in the western countries (ala US of A!).
Jai Iyeroy is the son of the mayor of Bombay – and the city’s most feared soldier. He has taken a vow to protect the ccity against hybrids and he will die to keep his vow!
Aria West has lost everything when London fell; and now her only aim is to confound Jai and get the one thing that will protect her and hers.
Neither of them ever imagined the consequence of their meeting!
This romance literally just sucks you in – the plot is not only intricate but brilliant in its imagery, an imagery that will stay with you long after you are done with the book and you’ll definitely end up with buying all the books in this universe just like I did.
The chemistry between Jai and Aria is not only off the charts, but their emotions, their struggles are so poignantly put across that I ended with a heavy warm ache in my heart for the most part of the book, and being the voracious reader that I am, it has become very difficult for any author to make me feel that way and Ms. Hariharan does it brilliantly.
If any of you are a lover of dystopian genre, and are somewhat disenchanted with the genre now, you should definitely pick up this one – Taken will make you feel not only refreshed, but also make you fall in love with dystopia again <3
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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Taken by Laxmi Hariharan is a standalone novel in the Many Lives Universe and while it would be easier to understand this world if you have read Feral before, but it is still a novel that sucks you right in from the start.
This world is a bit different (and you have no idea how much I adored that! For the first time, I was reading a dystopian romance in a world that is most familiar to me and not in the western countries (ala US of A!).
Jai Iyeroy is the son of the mayor of Bombay – and the city’s most feared soldier. He has taken a vow to protect the ccity against hybrids and he will die to keep his vow!
Aria West has lost everything when London fell; and now her only aim is to confound Jai and get the one thing that will protect her and hers.
Neither of them ever imagined the consequence of their meeting!
This romance literally just sucks you in – the plot is not only intricate but brilliant in its imagery, an imagery that will stay with you long after you are done with the book and you’ll definitely end up with buying all the books in this universe just like I did.
The chemistry between Jai and Aria is not only off the charts, but their emotions, their struggles are so poignantly put across that I ended with a heavy warm ache in my heart for the most part of the book, and being the voracious reader that I am, it has become very difficult for any author to make me feel that way and Ms. Hariharan does it brilliantly.
If any of you are a lover of dystopian genre, and are somewhat disenchanted with the genre now, you should definitely pick up this one – Taken will make you feel not only refreshed, but also make you fall in love with dystopia again <3
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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Tattoo Killer (A Tattoo Crimes Novel #1) by A.J. Norris
This one was a cute story with a slight suspenseful twist – but it was definitely such fun to read!
We open up to a scene wherein the hero, Mike Hardin is being interrogated for the murder of a young woman, and it’s pretty easy to actually believe that he is innocent, especially after the monologue wherein he talks about his witch of an ex-wife; who is the one who is creating such suspicions.
But even through all this suspicions and the turmoil, he makes sure that he is there for his young son, making him a pretty wonderful father. While he is trying really hard not fall into romantic entanglements, Grace is a woman who worms herself into his life and his heart!
Grace Bell, is a recent divorcee and definitely a person who isn’t that well versed in the art of romance! So when she meets a man who she is instantly attracted to, she is definitely interested for she has always been called a cold woman by her ex-husband.
What happens when she finds out that he is a murder suspect? And not just any murder suspect, but a psychopathic serial killer!?
What I loved about this story is the narration – you get a whole lot of multiple POV’s – from Mike’s to Grace’s to the cop who is investigating the murders, Harry’s and then last but definitely not the least, the killers – what it does is provides a 360 view of the plot, the characters in real time, and thus it becomes like a motion picture inside your head.
The characters are quite wonderful – Mike is a brilliant and an amazing hero, Grace takes a while to get used to (I couldn’t fathom a 30+ year old giggling at every word at the start!); Harry is a typical relentless cop who doesn’t let go of his convictions; but most of all I adored the relationship between Mike and his son, Brayden. And while Grace and Mike’s relationship couldn’t be called Insta-Love, it came quite close to it (hence, my mixed feelings about it!).
The suspense is where Tattoo Killer falls a bit short – it didn’t take me long to figure who the real killer was – yet I still enjoyed reading the story, for I needed to know that these characters also figured out and everything ended the way it was supposed to!
All in all, it was a fun few hours I spent with this book, and I am looking forward to where this series might go.
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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4.0
This one was a cute story with a slight suspenseful twist – but it was definitely such fun to read!
We open up to a scene wherein the hero, Mike Hardin is being interrogated for the murder of a young woman, and it’s pretty easy to actually believe that he is innocent, especially after the monologue wherein he talks about his witch of an ex-wife; who is the one who is creating such suspicions.
But even through all this suspicions and the turmoil, he makes sure that he is there for his young son, making him a pretty wonderful father. While he is trying really hard not fall into romantic entanglements, Grace is a woman who worms herself into his life and his heart!
Grace Bell, is a recent divorcee and definitely a person who isn’t that well versed in the art of romance! So when she meets a man who she is instantly attracted to, she is definitely interested for she has always been called a cold woman by her ex-husband.
What happens when she finds out that he is a murder suspect? And not just any murder suspect, but a psychopathic serial killer!?
What I loved about this story is the narration – you get a whole lot of multiple POV’s – from Mike’s to Grace’s to the cop who is investigating the murders, Harry’s and then last but definitely not the least, the killers – what it does is provides a 360 view of the plot, the characters in real time, and thus it becomes like a motion picture inside your head.
The characters are quite wonderful – Mike is a brilliant and an amazing hero, Grace takes a while to get used to (I couldn’t fathom a 30+ year old giggling at every word at the start!); Harry is a typical relentless cop who doesn’t let go of his convictions; but most of all I adored the relationship between Mike and his son, Brayden. And while Grace and Mike’s relationship couldn’t be called Insta-Love, it came quite close to it (hence, my mixed feelings about it!).
The suspense is where Tattoo Killer falls a bit short – it didn’t take me long to figure who the real killer was – yet I still enjoyed reading the story, for I needed to know that these characters also figured out and everything ended the way it was supposed to!
All in all, it was a fun few hours I spent with this book, and I am looking forward to where this series might go.
For more reviews visit For The Love of Fictional Worlds :)
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