Tag: Contemporary

Review: The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang

Posted October 24, 2022 by Rowena in Reviews | 2 Comments

Review: The Heart Principle by Helen HoangReviewer: Rowena
The Heart Principle by Helen Hoang
Series: The Kiss Quotient #3
Also in this series: The Kiss Quotient (The Kiss Quotient, #1), The Bride Test
Publisher: Berkley
Publication Date: August 31, 2021
Format: eARC
Source: NetGalley
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Cliffhanger: View Spoiler »
Content Warning: View Spoiler »
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 343
Add It: Goodreads
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three-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

A woman struggling with burnout learns to embrace the unexpected—and the man she enlists to help her—in this new New York Times bestselling romance by Helen Hoang.

When violinist Anna Sun accidentally achieves career success with a viral YouTube video, she finds herself incapacitated and burned out from her attempts to replicate that moment. And when her longtime boyfriend announces he wants an open relationship before making a final commitment, a hurt and angry Anna decides that if he wants an open relationship, then she does, too. Translation: She’s going to embark on a string of one-night stands. The more unacceptable the men, the better.

That’s where tattooed, motorcycle-riding Quan Diep comes in. Their first attempt at a one-night stand fails, as does their second, and their third, because being with Quan is more than sex—he accepts Anna on an unconditional level that she herself has just started to understand. However, when tragedy strikes Anna’s family she takes on a role that she is ill-suited for, until the burden of expectations threatens to destroy her. Anna and Quan have to fight for their chance at love, but to do that, they also have to fight for themselves.

It’s been quite a while since I’ve written a book review so please bear with me as I jump back into this bitch. It’s also been a little bit since I read this book but I came across my notes that I wrote for this book so I’m reviewing it. I’m not going to get into what this book was about, the summary does a great job of explaining what we’re getting into so I’m jumping right into my thoughts.

This is the third book in the Kiss Quotient series by Helen Hoang. It’s the book that I was really looking forward to because it’s Quan’s book! Lovely Quan, Michael’s cousin from The Kiss Quotient. He was such a memorable character for me. I’m a bit sad that this was Quan’s story because we got more Anna than Quan. I felt that Quan was part of Anna’s story and that was a bummer for me. Quan was such a delightful and interesting character so I felt he was cheated and even after all of this time, I’m still not over that.

That’s not to say that I hated Anna or that I hated the book. I just wish that Quan had gotten another story where he shined and was front and center instead of being featured in someone else’s story. There is a lot of heavy stuff tackled in this book and I understood and even connected with Anna through all of it. There were times when I really felt for Anna and wanted to fight every single member of her family because holy shit are they toxic as hell but there were also times when I wanted to smack some sense into Anna as well.

The little Quan that we got in this book was fantastic. My heart hurt for him and what he was going through and seeing him work through each of his struggles made my love for him stronger. I loved the way that he loved Anna. I loved the way that he was up for anything and willing to do whatever he can to support Anna with everything she was going through. Even when he didn’t know how to support her or even if he had to do things that hurt him in order to support her, he was ready and willing.

The romance between Quan and Anna was small but what we got worked. I just wanted more. As a romance, which is what I assumed I was getting, this was okay but this would have worked better for me had it been a women’s fiction story but I’m still salty about not getting as much Quan as I wanted.

3 out of 5

The Kiss Quotient Series

three-stars


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Lightning Review: Wild Wind by Kristen Ashley

Posted May 23, 2022 by Holly in Reviews | 1 Comment

Lightning Review: Wild Wind by Kristen AshleyReviewer: Holly
Wild Wind by Kristen Ashley
Series: Chaos #6.6
Also in this series: Wild Fire
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: March 9, 2021
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Pages: 255
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Series Rating: four-stars

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley brings a new story in her Chaos series…
When he was sixteen years old, Jagger Black laid eyes on the girl who was his. At a cemetery. During her mother’s funeral. For years, their lives cross, they feel the pull of their connection, but then they go their separate ways.
But when Jagger sees that girl chasing someone down the street, he doesn’t think twice before he wades right in. And when he gets a full-on dose of the woman she’s become, he knows he finally has to decide if he’s all in or if it’s time to cut her loose. She’s ready to be cut loose. But Jagger is all in.
**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Jagger Black lost his dad when he was too young to remember anything about him. He’s felt something like a fraud his whole life because of it. Everyone speaks so highly of his dad and compares them so much that Jagger feels like he’s letting everyone down by not having those same feelings for this man he barely met. He still visits his father’s grave regularly, though, and that’s where he connects with a girl he knows should be his. She’s there for her mother’s funeral and they connect in a deep way, though they never exchange names. For years they run into each other at random times, always leaving a big impact on one another, but never for long enough to even introduce themselves. Until the day Jagger sees her chasing a thief down the street and steps in to help.

I think I liked this story a bit better than the previous book. I connected more with A and I liked the way they came together better. The way Jagger’s “issues” drug on and on was frustrating, especially considering the quick resolution, but I really liked the romance and the family matters that were dealt with.

Rating: 3.75

Chaos

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Lightning Review: Wild Fire by Kristen Ashley

Posted May 18, 2022 by Holly in Reviews | 2 Comments

Reviewer: Holly
Wild Fire by Kristen Ashley
Series: Chaos #6.5
Also in this series: Wild Wind
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: September 22, 2020
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 220
Add It: Goodreads
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three-half-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Kristen Ashley brings a new story in her Chaos series…
“You know you can’t keep a good brother down.”

The Chaos Motorcycle Club has won its war. But not every brother rode into the sunset with his woman on the back of his bike.

Chaos returns with the story of Dutch Black, a man whose father was the moral compass of the Club, until he was murdered. And the man who raised Dutch protected the Club at all costs. That combination is the man Dutch is intent on becoming.

It’s also the man that Dutch is going to go all out to give to his woman.

**Every 1001 Dark Nights novella is a standalone story. For new readers, it’s an introduction to an author’s world. And for fans, it’s a bonus book in the author’s series. We hope you'll enjoy each one as much as we do.**

Wild Wind is a novella set in the Chaos MC and features Dutch, Black’s son. Black was murdered before the Club went clean and Dutch and his brother Jagger have been living in his shadow their whole lives.

The first part of this story frustrated me a bit. I didn’t like how Georgiana and Dutch treated each other at first. I also really dislike the way KA inserted herself and her books into this series. Every time it comes up in one of the books it pulls me completely out of the story. I almost DNF’d this book because of it.

That aside, I liked Dutch and Georgie. They were cute together. They also worked well together, which was nice. This isn’t my favorite KA story, but I did enjoy it once I got past the first part and I’m looking forward to Jagger’s story.

Rating: 3.5

Chaos

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three-half-stars


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Review: Say It’s Forever by A.L. Jackson

Posted May 16, 2022 by Casee in Reviews | 1 Comment

Review: Say It’s Forever by A.L. JacksonReviewer: Casee
Say It's Forever by A. L. Jackson
Narrator: Andi Arndt, Joe Arden
Series: Redemption Hills #2
Also in this series: Give Me a Reason, Promise Me Always
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: March 28, 2022
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Point-of-View: Alternating First
Content Warning: View Spoiler »
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 414
Length: 11 hours and 33 minutes
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four-half-stars
Series Rating: five-stars

Jud Lawson found me stranded in the rain.
Broken down on the side of the road in a deserted neighborhood with my piece of crap car.
I wasn't looking for a hero, and definitely not one who looks like him.
An obscenely hot, mountain-of-a-man who screams danger.
But I have little choice other than climbing onto the back of his bike.

One look at Salem Aguilar, and I'm hooked.
The girl is devastation wrapped in a black, seductive bow.
A knockout.
A dream.
Turns out, she needs a job, and I need the help.
Now I have a vixen strutting around my shop, and I'm the fool who's itching to reach out and take what he can't have.

But neither of us can ignore the burning attraction.
The fire that leads to a kiss.
A kiss that has us falling into my bed.
The connection that has me wanting the one thing I'd never thought I could have again.
Because monsters like me don't deserve love.

Only Salem has a secret, too.
She's been running for years, and her past just caught up to us...

Salem Aguilar is on the run from a husband that wants her dead. After four years of running, her brother talked her into coming to Redemption Hills & starting over. To say that Salem is nervous about staying in one place is an understatement. She has been on the run for so long, it’s hard for her to stay in one place for very long. It was a rainy night when her car broke down and her knight came to the rescue. Initially she’s very wary of Jud, which isn’t surprising. She learns that not only is a he a good person, but he is a genuinely good human. That doesn’t mean she’ll take a handout, so she talks Jud into letting her work for him in his office.

Jud is tortured af. He lost the thing that meant the most to him in this world. For years he’s been waiting, hoping that his ex-wife will bring his daughter back to him. Letting Salem and her little girl into his life is something that he is very leery of, but he can’t stay away from Salem anymore than he can stop himself from loving her little girl.

I read this book when it first came out, then I listened to it on audio. Andi Arndt & Joe Arden are two of my favorite narrators, so I was really excited to listen to it. It didn’t disappoint, in fact the audio was better. I really feel that I’m not doing this book justice in this review. It’s been a minute since I read it, but I still remember that it stayed with me for days after. Salem is such a strong female character. She’s been keeping herself & her daughter safe for the last four years. Jud wants to take some of the burden off her, but she doesn’t know how to let him.

I loved Jud & Salem together. I loved being able to see Trent, Eden, Gage, & Logan. I am so excited for Logan’s book!

Rating: 4.5 out of 5.

Redemption Hills

four-half-stars


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Review: Wolf by Jessica Gadziala

Posted March 2, 2022 by Casee in Reviews | 1 Comment

Review: Wolf by Jessica GadzialaWolf by Jessica Gadziala
Narrator: Jillian Macie, Alexandre Steele
Series: The Henchmen MC #3
Also in this series: Cash
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: April 6, 2016
Format: eBook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 301
Length: 8 hours and 52 minutes
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four-stars
Series Rating: four-stars

* The Henchmen return to finally give us Wolf & Janie’s story. *
He was just supposed to be saving her from herself… and the half dozen criminal enterprises that would want her blood when they realized what she had done.
What he hadn’t planned on was her invading every aspect of his life with her fiery temper and inability to take no for an answer. And when he finally got beneath her walls and found out why she had gotten herself into trouble in the first place, he knew what he needed to do.
He sure as hell didn’t think he would end up being the one who would need saving…
* This can be read as a stand-alone and has a HEA, but features characters from The Henchmen and Savages series.
** This is a DARK read. Anyone with triggers may want to avoid this title. For a list of possible triggers, follow this link: http://www.jessicagadziala.com/trigge...

Wolf is a man of few words. Very few words. He tends to keep to himself. Unless someone hurts a woman. Then all hell breaks loose. Wolf goes absolutely bananas. When he runs across Janie from Hailstorm, he can’t do anything else but help her.

Janie is one smart cookie. She’s Hailstorm’s resident geek. As a hacker, she can find things that most people can’t. She also can build bombs. She’s a very diverse character. She was tiny, yet fierce. I loved Janie. She is one of the best heroines of the Henchmen MC series. I just adored her.

Janie has been on a mission for years to bring down Lex Keith for the death of her mother. Her mother committed suicide and Janie holds Lex responsible. Janie has a plan. One that is going swimmingly until Wolf comes across her. His protective instincts immediately come out. It was sexy af.

Wolf said very few words in this book. Janie talked enough for the both of them. I loved that about them. They just complimented each other perfectly. I really enjoyed this book.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

The Henchmen MC

four-stars


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