Thief by C.L. Stone

My edition: Kindle (Owned)
Pages: 420
Series: The Scarab Beetle #1
Rating: 3 stars
Synopsis:

Kayli Winchester is a dirt-poor girl living out of a hotel, forced to be the parent for a drunken father and teenage brother who she’s desperate to keep in school. The only way she scrapes by is to utilize her on skill: pickpocketing. But even though she’s a thief she has a moral code: no kids or old ladies, only targets who can defend themselves. Not that they see her coming…

Thinking she’s been working under the radar, Kayli has no idea The Academy has been watching and taking notice. Now a team that needs her skill has offered her a way out of her predicament and it’s her last chance: work with them, or face jail time. Kayli resists at first, but slowly the boys reveal they can be trusted. With Marc, the straight man, Raven, the bad-boy Russian, Corey and Brandon, the twins as different as night and day, and Axel, their stoic leader, there’s a lot Kayli can learn from these Academy guys about living on the edge of the law. If only she can stay on the good side instead of the bad.

Especially when the job they offer her is more than any of them bargained for. After it’s done, the hunters have become the hunted and their target is now after Kayli. The Academy boys do their best to keep her hidden, but a thief like Kayli will never sit still for long.

Warning: This is a new adult series. Readers of the other Academy series may need some caution as this series will contain mature sexual and violent situations and themes.

Review: For many who know me, know I love the Ghost Bird series. I’m also weird and love a good reverse harem story. When I heard of this one I thought I would give it a try. Well now a several months later and a new book out, I decided I needed to reread this series. I did catch a lot of things I didn’t before. Such as I really hate Kayli.

I like the new Academy team but Kayli’s inner dialogue makes me just want to scream. She is the only thing I don’t like about this book. Sadly it is her P.O.V. through out the books. I like the guys as I said but the way she acted was irritating. She’s hot for them one moment then cold for them in the next. She can’t seem to make up her mind and she is a huge B*TCH!! Then her with Blake…

Her and Blake can leave the book and let Marc and the guys contuine on. I am going to keep rereading the books because as much as I hate Kayli, I love the boys. Not as much as I do the Ghost Bird team.

Monthly Best Reads: November 2016

Wow November is over, it’s December and 2016 is about to be up. Where did this year go by? Well it is time to pick the best read in November. I started the month out strong and ended it sort of slightly strong. I’m not in a slump but I have so many series that I want to read the next book only it’s not out yet.

List:

1. Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole & BT Urreula
2. Until November by Aurora Rose Reynolds
3. Fight For Me by Bethany Bazile
4. Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

And the Winner is…

Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole & BT Urreula

This book was amazing. The ending is still messing with me today. Loved it!!! Want to reread this now but I have to 1. wait for my physical copy and 2. have so many new books to read and a couple of other books I need to read that I can’t reread it right now.

Runner ups:

1. Until November
2. Daughter of Smoke and Bone
3. Fight For Me

Happy December readings!

Ruby Red by Kerstin Gier

My edition: Library book
Pages:324
Series: Edelstein-Trilogie #1
Rating: 3.5 stars
Synopsis:

Gwyneth Shepherd’s sophisticated, beautiful cousin Charlotte has been prepared her entire life for traveling through time. But unexpectedly, it is Gwyenth, who in the middle of class takes a sudden spin to a different era!

Gwyneth must now unearth the mystery of why her mother would lie about her birth date to ward off suspicion about her ability, brush up on her history, and work with Gideon- – the time traveler from a similarly gifted family that passes the gene through its male line, and whose presence becomes, in time less insufferable and more essential. Together, Gwyneth and Gideon journey through time to discover who, in the 18th century and in contemporary London, they can trust.

Review: So this is really my first time travel book. It is also the first book I have read by this author. I’ve had this on my TBR list since I was a senior in high school. I’m just now getting to it. I know so long!

Anyhozers I read through this pretty fast even though I have been “currently reading it” for about a couple weeks. I technically picked it up last Thursday. With such a busy month I really haven’t been able to read, nor have I been in a big reading mood. Luckily I am slowly getting out of that.

Gwyneth isn’t my favorite YA heroine but she wasn’t horrible either. Somethings that she did just seemed like you shouldn’t do because… well because common sense. Gideon is an a$$hat buffoon that I won’t ever like. He was so hot and cold I thought Katy Perry based the song off of him.

He wouldn’t like Gwyneth then he would show something totally different. I wanted to pull him from the book, punch his arrogant face, then put him back. Also really hated when he called her Winnie or said she was a child even though she was the same age as Charlotte. Which I didn’t like her either. Charlotte seemed like everyone’s family member that is a total stuck up b*tch that no one likes. (Come on now we all have that one family member.)

About half way through I thought back to the prologue and was like yeah could guess that right away. But still the story is very original. I’ve never read anything like this. Gwyneth was the only character I really like along with her friend Lesley and the ghost James. All the other characters I really didn’t care about. I will read the second book. Note me a bit curious.

Until November by Aurora Rose Reynolds

My edition: Kindle (Owned)
Pages: 2
Series:Until #1
Rating:
Synopsis:

November is looking forward to getting to know her father and the safety of a small town. After leaving the Big Apple and her bad memories for Tennessee, November starts working for her dad at his strip club doing the books. The one time she’s allowed there during club hours she runs into Asher Mayson. He’s perfect until he opens his mouth and makes assumptions. November wants nothing to do with Asher but too bad for November, fate has other plans.

Asher Mayson has never had a problem getting a woman, that is until November. Now all he can think about is making November his and keeping her safe.

Review: November was attacked one night by a random man. She was saved by her new dog Beast, who is a Great Dane. She decides to pack up and leave New York City and head down to a small town in Tennessee where her father lives.

She will be working on the books for her father’s strip club. The one night she is there during hours she runs into Asher, who yells at her for not having an escort. Thinking she is another stripper who is messing around with Mike (her dad) Asher is very agitated, till Mike comes over and introduces November as his daughter.

November is visiting the nursing home when she runs into Asher again. He then gets her to agree to go to the bar in town to hang out. November agrees only to get Asher off her case. She then finds out she is in a world of trouble when Asher brings her home to find the house broken into and a blood red message on the wall.

I loved this story. I loved the mystery behind it and the love story. Asher is a total alpha who can talk pretty dirty. I loved every minute of Asher and November. They were so dang cute. The Mayson brothers are just *stares off into space* *drools* Where was I? Ah yes the brothers. I think I like Trevor. I can’t wait to find out his story next along with Liz.

 

Fight for Me by Bethany Bazil

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 401
Stand-Alone
Rating: 3.5 stars
Synopsis:

I just needed someone to show me how to fight for me…

When tragedy hits Alexis Cole is shattered. She carries the blame on her shoulders after losing a big piece of herself. When Ryder Hayes sweeps back into her life, she has something to hold on to, but just as quickly as he appeared he was gone. When fate-or-meddling parents- throw them back together they can no longer deny the heat that’s burned between them for years.

Ryder has always wanted Lexi, but he’s never fought so hard against something in his life. Saving Lexi from her past was never on his agenda, but he could never bear letting her drown in it. With the UFC championship title on the line, the last thing he needs is to be distracted by Lexi. When she’s thrown back into his life he can no longer fight their attraction.

But once he claims her he knows he’ll never let go.

Review: A dark-haried angel pulled me into her sea of grief, and i would have died before I let her drown in it.

Alexis (Lexi) Cole has known Ryder since she was thirteen and him sixteen. She had a crush the moment she saw him. Ryder knew the moment Lexi looked at him he was a goner. Two years after they met and became close friends, a family fight tore them apart. Then a few years after that Ryder came back in Lexi’s life after a tragedy hit home. Then he left for another three years. Meddling parents threw them back together. After fighting the connection they have, they finally decided to give in. But certain people and obstacles stand in their way.

He was cocky and arrogant in a way that aggravated me, but sexy and intriguing in a way that excited me.

I don’t know how I feel about this. There were parts I really liked and parts I didn’t like at all. The only thing I really like about Ryder is his pierced tally-wacker. Lexi was an alright character. She kind of pissed me off with the whole Jacob thing at fight night. Ryder pissed me off when he said goodbye to Leah. If I was Lexi I wouldn’t have forgiven him as easily.

Ryder is the typical dirty talking alpha male in most new adults. The drama in this wasn’t OTT. There was some drama I mean it is a NA book. There was a couple of times that Lexi took the time and talked to Ryder before jumping to conclusions and listen to whatever Jacob or Leah said.

I think another reason why I wasn’t fully invested in this was because I’ve been wanting to read a football romance, but I needed to get this one out of the way first. So my heart wasn’t fully in. I did have my feelers mess up a bit with the beginning. That hit me right in my cold ice heart. The sex scenes were pretty well done. I have read worst. Plus I started thinking what does a pierced tally-wacker feel like. I’m kind of curious.

I’ll give this author another chance since this was my first read by her. I think this is more of a me not feeling completely into the book than the book itself.

Wicked Little Words by Stevie J. Cole, BT Urruela

My edition: Kindle (Buying paperback soon!)
Pages:171
Rating: 5 stars
Synopsis:

Edwin Allen Mercer
I want them all to read my words. And they do. Every last blood-stained sentence, they’ve red and praised me for. They love the gore and violence, the realness. And I get a sense of power with it all because I know a secret: the victims in my books-they’re real and have all died on my table. And maybe that’s why the last book had such awful reviews. Murder is, after all, a dirty little thing. Some can stomach it. Others can’t. My answer to those reviews: find a woman to co-author with. To be the next pathetic character in my book. Pity she’s so pretty.

Miranda Cross
All I’ve ever wanted was to be successful as a writer so when I was offered the opportunity to co-author a book with my idol, EA Mercer, I jumped at the chance. He’s beautiful and a literary genius, but something about him makes my stomach knot. And maybe it’s my overactive imagination making my hairs stand on end when he walks up behind me.
After all, these wicked little words we’re typing are only fiction.
They’re only fiction…

Review: They want the gore. They want the carnage. They want the mayhem. And goddamn it, I’m going to give it to them.

Wow. My mind is on the ceiling. This is they type of thriller I love. Did not expect the ending. I love this! I can’t wait to get my physical copy so I can reread this.  I have read one of Cole’s books before and two of Urruela’s and love both of their work. So when on twitter I saw Urruela post that he co-author with Cole on this I knew I had to have it.

Miranda got an email with an opportunity to win a chance to co-author with her idol, EA Mercer. She ends up winning with her story she submitted. She travels to his remote cabin that is miles from the nearest town. She is nervous and excited to work with EA but she has a nagging feeling something just isn’t right.

Edwin had some pretty bad reviews on his last book. They say he needs to soften up a bit, that he needs a more feminine touch. The moment he sees Miranda’s name he knows she’s the one, then he reads her story and knows that fate has put her right in front of him. One thing she doesn’t know is that EA’s victims are real. Every single one of the women in his stories are prostitutes that end up on EA’s table.

If you trust a stranger and fuck a stranger, don’t complain when things come back to bite you in the ass.

Jackson is a detective who has been trying to find a killer for the last four years. The case soon became personal when one of the dead girls ends up being his sister. Now he wants to get this killer now more than ever. But when he finds out who it is he can’t believe it.

The more Miranda is around Edwin, the more uncomfortable she gets. Edwin has mood swings that are very unpredictable. When he starts to show interest in her, she wants out. She can’t help but feel like Edwin just might have a darker secret. A secret that is hiding in the shed.

It’s only fiction. Just words. Only words…

I started questioning myself at the beginning of this story. I kind of liked Edwin with his killer ways. Then I got to halfway and my liking turned to not so much liking. Edwin is the definition of psychopath. Totally crazy.

But here’s the thing: aren’t we all a bit crazy in our own way?

I love the writing in this. I was on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t have guessed the end. Plus the way these two authors ended it with a Night, Night dear made me get a little creeped out and I loved it. Oh and the dig they said about Justin Bieber totally made me love this book even more.

Bieber’s preteen vocals once again tarnish the beautiful country silence.

Cole and Urruela worked together wonderfully. I can’t find one thing that I didn’t like, not one thing. That’s very rare for me to find. If you haven’t read this yet, why are you still sitting there. Go get this and devour it.

Inked by Lauren Landish, Willow Winters

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages:222
Rating: 2.5 stars
Synopsis:

One look, and panties drop. One night, and they’re ready to marry me.

Too bad I’m not interested in anything more than a taste.

Until I’m tempted by Little Miss Goody-Two-Shoes. She’s a good girl, the kind I want to possess, dominate, ruin. No one’s ever told me no, and I’m not about to let it stop me now. 

She keeps pushing me away, even with her curvy body pressed against mine and those soft moans spilling from her lips.

But I’m persistent. She doesn’t stand a chance. And now that she’s moved in next door, it’s only a matter of time before I’ll have her screaming my name.

She can try to run, but she’s not getting away from the bad boy next door.

***Inked is a full-length standalone romance with a HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger. Contains TWO bonus books. Relentless from Lauren Landish and Dirty Dom from Willow Winters. Also cantains a teaser from our next collaboration at the end!***

Review: Madeline (Maddy) doesn’t trust men to easily after she walked in on her high school sweetheart getting a b.j. from a girl she hates. So she is swearing off all men till she meets Zane.

Zane was at the club, downing a few shots trying to forget the day, when he sees Maddy. Instantly he wants her in his bed. He thinks she would be the perfect distraction.

Maddy though isn’t buying, even though she wants to she’s not. She makes a quick escape into the night, glad she would never see him again. Well until she finds out they are next door neighbors. She tries to ignore Zane but he is persistent and it doesn’t help that her best friend/roommate Katie is pushing her to get with Zane.

Zane really didn’t really strike me as a player. In the beginning he was at the club to unwind but not really to meet a girl. The guy sitting next to him sounded more like the kind of guy that the blurb described.

Maddy just annoyed me. I hate when girls get cheated on then they take all their trust issues out on other men who don’t deserve it. Just because one guy wronged you doesn’t mean the next guy will. Plus the fact that she has known Zane a short amount of time and they haven’t really had much of a relationship besides having great sex, she already think she loves him.

There was also a deal with the ‘mob’ but it wasn’t really played much. Yes it was part of the angst but it really didn’t flow. It just seemed like ‘oh I need to have the bad boy tied into something… Ah ha the mob.’ I just didn’t believe it. Plus the whole pushing Maddy up against a wall, when she doesn’t want to talk and trying to get away, pissed me off. Sometimes I like the alpha male coming in a flooding the panties but with Zane it just pissed me off. I couldn’t get myself to like him.

Maybe it was me. Maybe I read this wrong. I am going to try another book by these authors since it was the first time reading either of their work. This one though just didn’t do it for me.

A Heart for the Holidays by Dana Volney

My edition: Kindle (Copy from NetGalley)
Expected Publish Date: Nov. 21st 2016
Rating: 4 stars
Synopsis:

Silver Morgenstern had a thriving, meaningful career as a surgeon working for charity organizations in war-torn countries. Then her life changed with one flick of the wrist. Now she’s back in Wyoming, serving as an administrator at the local hospital. But shuffling paperwork is nothing compared to saving lives.

Five years ago, Fisher Tibbs founded the successful social program Combat Children’s Hunger. Giving back to kids brings a sparkle to his eye, especially after the loss of his own young daughter, but it can’t mend the very real fissure in his heart. Ready to see his child again, he’s preparing and planning a future for CCH that he won’t get to witness.

But when Fisher’s application to be removed from the heart transplant list comes across Silver’s desk, her next mission is clear: convince him life is worth the fight. But she never expects that the struggle to rescue his heart might just save her own.

Review: I saw this on NetGalley and requested it faster than anyone can say romance.

Fisher has taken his name off of the heart transplant list. When this crosses Silver’s desk she know she has to make him see that he needs to stay on the list. What Silver didn’t expect is the handsome man who created a place for kids to come after school and eat. Fisher was accepting everything in his life and was ready to meet his daughter in heaven, until Silver walked in and jump started his heart.

I knew from the moment Silver first volunteered at Combat Children’s Hunger that I was going to cry. When I got to the moment of the Christmas tree lighting, I knew this was going to break my heart.

I was right. But this was a good story. I liked the flow and the characters. The heroine and the hero fit perfectly together. Nothing seemed forced. A cute, sad, sweet Christmas story. Just what I needed. I highly recommend if you like clean romances.

Top Ten Major Endings

Everyone has had these! Cliffhangers. Endings that made us think ‘It can’t end like this!’ This list is my very own major cliffhangers/ endings that made me want to scream, kick, cry, and throw my book across the room.

10. King by T.M. Frazier

This is the first installment of the King series. The way it ended left me shocked. I wanted to throw something. Luckily I found King when the first four books were out and I could get the next one in a hurry.

9. Forsaken by Laura Thalassa

Boy did I cry at the end of this one. My heart just couldn’t take it.

8. The Devil’s Prayer by Luke Gracias

I am hoping there is another book after this one. This left on a cliffhanger. If there is another book I need it like yesterday.

7. Paper Princess by Erin Watt

The way this ended made me so mad. I wanted to jump through the book and slap the shit out of someone.

6. Broken Promise by Jen Wylie

Yeah I’m still waiting on the next one which hasn’t even come out yet and it’s been two years. Wylie ended it with Aro and Kai… I need this next book dagnabit.

5. First Kiss by C.L. Stone

With Sang’s dad calling and wanting his daughter, I was on the edge of my seat. To bad it was the end of the book and the next one is suppose to be out this December.

4. Project: Killer by J.L. Beck

When I read what had happen the the heroine and what her secret was I was dying to get to the next book.

3. Life’s Blood by Kailin Gow

The ending with this had my heart ripped to shreds. I wanted her to be with him be he can’t be with her because of a-hole.

2.Accessory by C.L. Stone

Kayli and Blake were knocked off the boat by someone we don’t know. The rest of the team is still on the boat.

1. Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

Okay who didn’t cry at the end of this one. I mean really. This was the saddest ending in all of the Harry Potters. The next book has the most sad moments but doesn’t end sad unlike this one.

 

What is the book that comes to your mind when you think about it’s ending?

Blood Lock by Tenaya Jayne

My edition: Kindle Unlimited
Pages: 219
Series: The Legends of Regia #5
Rating:3 stars
Synopsis:

After her sister’s brutal murder, Sabra swore vengeance. But now, her brother has sold her as mate to the highest bidder. Defiant of the custom, and unwilling to submit, dangerous trouble lies ahead. In order to survive, she’s forced to accept the help of her mortal enemy.

On the eve of the Savage Solstice, the werewolves hold a tournament. A fight to the death. The victor will become the new pack leader. In a culture where women have no rights, Sabra will challenge tradition and fight in the tournament. She will nee all of her rage, strength, and training if she is to have a chance. But most of all, she’ll need her heart, and it just may have been stolen by the man she hates more than anything.

The wizards are coming…
All of Regia’s best minds are working tirelessly to come up with a plan to save their worl. A blood lock is set in place to hold enemy back. But if it fails…
Will Forest’s daughter hold the key to Regia’s survival?

Review: Boy did I want to scream when I read this one.

The werewolves… I normally root for werewolves in almost all stories I read. This is one of those stories where I didn’t root for them. Their way of life is totally barbaric. I’m normally not what I call a feminist. I do like an alpha male that takes charge. I have always wanted to be a housewife because that is what I want to do. But this book made an inner female warrior want to rip heads off of bodies.

The men have total control over women. Women have no rights. If a woman talks back or does something that doesn’t please the male, the male can either beat her or lock her underground. Women can’t choose their own mate. It is an arranged mating by the head male of the house.

Sabra is tired of the way things are. With Philippe dead a new alpha is to take place. A tournament will be held and Sabra will put her name in it. Unfortunately her brother and destined mate have other things to say about it. Sabra will have to work with Shreve to stay alive till the tournament so she can make things better for the women of the pack.

While Sabra is fighting for she-wolves rights, Forest and the rest of Regia are trying to figure out what to do when the wizards come. Forest is trying to handle this and with Tesla being the way Tesla is, Forest is having a hard time coping.

This one wasn’t my favorite but it is definitely the best one so far. Now I have to wait for the next book to come out. Countdown starting now.