Our Book Thoughts - Reviews and Recommendations Jan 19th

💖 BOOK REVIEWS FOR THE WEEK 💖

📚  01/19/20 📚

🥺 I Like The Way You Hurt by Lorrain Allen
⏳ Enamoured by Giana Darling
🧸 Their Boy by Cara Dee
🦈 Shark's Edge by Angel Payne
🩸 Blood Captive by Kim Loraine
⚖️ Stolen Lies by K. Webster

GOODREADS  AMAZON   BOOKBUB

I Like The Way You Hurt by Lorrain Allen

I almost put this down
I'm truly glad I took the chance on Maverick and Cocoa's story

This is a new author for me and I will admit it took me a few chapters to get accustomed to her writing style.
But once I found my rhythm it was an enjoyable read.

Cocoa is a tough character to crack. Her zest for life is almost contagious and her ability to trudge through the deepest of slush- and it gets pretty deep was a sight to behold.
She's young but she has a good head on her shoulders and every intention of fulfilling her dreams. She has been at the top of the high school feeding chain and in my opinion, can firmly handle being at the bottom just as gracefully - or not.
Mav has had a bit of a rocky start in life. He is angry and emotionally stunted. A bit feral really. Pulling pigtails on the playground seems to be his only knowledge of relationships or the only that he chooses to participate in.
Yes, I am downplaying the events of his childhood a touch but I think each reader will find his past affects us on varying levels (the whole nature vs nurture argument) and will have their own opinions as to whether he is the victim or the villain. My direction of choice may be the odd man out - I am okay with that.

I did have a bit of trouble connecting with the characters in the first 30% or so of the story. The scenes felt too structured and overly descriptive. Areas where I wanted more or even needed it just wasn't there. It did eventually begin a smooth rhythm grasping my attention and keeping me engaged.
I am curious to see what happens with our newly formed group. We get to meet the cast on a superficial level and I truly am interested in knowing more.
The copy I read was comp.
Amazon

Enamoured by Giana Darling

I admit in the end I had all the feels but if that had been me in the beginning, the middle or heck even close to the end - one bomb after another ripping through my life - I would have thrown in the towel! I would have taken some folks with me too you can be sure of that.
This is the second in a duet so if you have not read the first in this series STOP go no further - wouldn't want to spoil anything

Cosima has always been very strong in spirit and will. This was blatantly obvious in how she handled the situations she kept finding herself in. Her personality found strength in sacrifice - IMO this is what allowed her to bounce back each time a bit stronger and more determined.

Alexander... be still my beating heart.

"Sometimes my beauty, domination is not about me taking over your body with control and discipline. Sometimes it's about letting the submissive worship that which she adores"
Swoon... one of my favorite scenes!
This was Alexander raw exposed - honest about who and what he was.

A great way to wrap up the duet. I had most of my questions answered even a few I did not know I had.
Watching Alexander and Cosima find their HEA despite the odds against them and the way their relationship started was a breathtaking experience. There was a sensitivity to their M/s relationship that radiated from the pages. It is hard to put into words. As the story developed something between them just clicked I kept seeing Alexander looking down on Cosima with the most revere of expressions in his eyes (Yes I know this in no way followed the rules of practice but It is fiction)
I would like to see stories for the supporting cast. We get to see into the future so we know who ends up with who but it would still be nice to get their stories.
The story flows at a bit like a roller coaster in its pace - our couple would get a moment at the top, a chance to breathe in the beauty the freedom before being suddenly plummeted back into the abyss of evil. There were times I felt the story was a bit - drawn? There was no rhyme or reason to the scene besides additional angst - and being honest here our couple had enough trials and tribulations to overcome.
Amazon

Their Boy by Cara Dee

"Scars are like book covers. They hint at a story. We know the story is there, but we are the authors and we tell it" or something like that - Colt

Just IDK - all the feels!!
Kit was perfect. He was real and the way he drifted into his little space was flawless. I never questioned his transition. He had lost so much and to me, it seemed he dealt with the pain by redirecting the energy into helping others by masking it with the happiness of others. I doubt I explained it properly but I'm still a bit emotional.
Colt and Lucas were the perfect compliments to Kit's personality.
Lucas was the calm one. The thinker if you will whereas Colt ... well the man is a sadist 😳
Watching them nurture Kit's little persona, and the small detailed interactions between them .. all the darn feels!
I was a bit jealous, to be honest.

I have to go back and read how they got together! I was looking for something different when I came across this and it is a standalone even though it's part of a series.
And now I am darn curious about everyone else and the twins... Holy Hotness!!
Amazon

Shark's Edge by Angel Payne

Oh, he ll no you didn't!
Please tell me you are not that callous Shark!

Grab your stress ball ( Trust me on this - you will absolutely, positively need it)
Pick a quiet spot
Secure entryways
And buckle in
This is one intensely aggravating, at times emotionally trying, start/stop to what just might be this year's biggest train wreck of a romance!

"Full Nelson to a single leg take down. The emotions referee smacked the mat. One, Two, Three. It was an easy pin. "

Sebastian didn't stand a chance! As cold and calculated as our sadistic, egotistical, self-absorbed (I have other choice words to describe him but family-friendly and all that jazz) billionaire is
Abbigail had him pinned before he even knew what hit him.

"What if the big bad wolf was his true self?"

Oh, Abbi ... those walls, that false sense of protection. You poor girl. You are about to be chum.
Abbi is an absolute blast as a lead character - Smart. Driven. Fiery temper to match her stubborn nature (and lord is she stubborn). And wait for it... she is untouched 😲. Before you go jumping ship - It Works! I am being serious it was probably one of my favorite scenes. Not "the getting rid of " the problem but the moment of its unveiling.

"Layers. We all hide beneath them "

I swear both Shark and Little Red need therapy (issues much?). These two had me bouncing back and forth. One minute I wanted to hug them the next bop 'em upside the back of the head and knock some sense into them!

Grant - I think I love you 🤣
Terryn - you scare me 😳
The copy I read was comp but the enjoyment --- That was the cast.
Amazon  Kobo  Nook  Google

Blood Captive by Kim Loraine

This starts out a bit on the slow side but ends on a WTH -
A lot is happening but it seems like it is all running in the background. What do I mean?
We get hints - Little clues of Why? and Who? and What for?
I didn't feel like I got all the answers I wanted by the end of the book.
This being the first in the series would probably explain that feeling.
At about 60% the story takes a turn and things become intense.
As this first in the series wraps up we are left on a bloody hellacious cliff hanger with a lot more questions than answers.

I believe that there is a lot more to Cashel than we are shown. He is multi-faceted. I get, sort of, why he did what he did. I still have a lot of questions though. One is what he was doing there that night?
Olivia, I am a bit torn when it comes to her. She is strong in so many ways and stands her ground but at times Idk she got on my nerves.
Then we have the King - really do not like him
And the rest of the family again torn with regards to them and how they behave.
And then the hunters... I'm almost believing they are as dangerous and bloodthirsty as the vampires if not more so.

As I mentioned this ends on a serious cliff hanger but their story is complete so you don't have to hang around waiting to find out how this ends.
Amazon

Stolen Lies by K. Webster

"A filthy king and his adorable queen" - Talia

I would give this 10 stars if I could -
What a way to bring their story to a close ❤️
I cried. I cringed. I laughed so hard.
Before getting started:
I suggest a pillow to hold when things get dark
Some tissue for when the losses grip tight on your heart
A stiff drink to take the edge off when everything goes to chit
And a quiet place to take this journey so that each moment is the treasure it was meant to be

I can't recall the last time a couple touched me so deeply. There was just something about the push and pull between them that worked for me.
Talia is such a bad arse! She was right in the end though.
" Maybe she was just scared and he helped her come to the realization of what she already knew" -
"She was always meant to be loved by Pluto and to be the queen of the underworld"

**Sigh**
Kostas so many facets to him. A true diamond -
Practically indestructible - Raw - Unpolished - A hidden gem
(yeah I have a bit of a crush on him)

Phoenix and Adrian I hope we get their stories - For secondary characters, they get the oscar.

Aries - definite daddy issues

Amazon


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#LorrainAllen #GianaDarling #caradee #angelpayne #kimloraine #kwebster