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The Code: Ice Dragons Book 1 #review

Nov9

The Code (Ice Dragons Hockey Book 1)
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Synopsis
Ryan Flynn’s life and career with the Ice Dragons hockey team is defined by a code: friendship, loyalty, respect, leadership, and protection. A call from his best friend’s sister ends up with him taking her home, and it’s all he can do to remember that she’s off limits. It doesn’t matter that she’s too much of a temptation for a man on the edge, he’s promised her brother he wouldn’t let any guy in professional sports anywhere near her, and that includes him.

Kat has been in lust with hockey player Ryan Flynn since she first laid eyes on him. The problem? Ryan is her brother’s best friend, bound by a complicated code of chivalry both on and off the ice. When he rescues her and then takes her home, she just needs a single kiss—and he is more than happy to help her out. When the kiss is just the start of something they need to hide from her brother, abruptly things are out of control.

Could Ryan, the hard man of the Dragons, see her as anything more than his best friend’s sister? And will Kat be able to catch and keep this Dragon who is the other half of her?

Opinion
I received this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

I thought this was going to be a book about Dragon shifter hockey players. The name of the hockey team is Ice Dragons. The first few chapters had me confused.

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I wondered when they going to begin shifting. Was Kat a dragon too? The fact that I thought this was a shifter romance is my fault because I did not read the blurb. As soon as I saw dragons in the blurb, I decided this was a book I wanted to read (I have been reading a lot dragon shifter romances lately). It did not help that on the cover there’s a picture of a dragon. Sometimes it is best not to judge a book by its cover.

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Once I realize they were all 100% human, I started to get into the story. I had to reread some of the chapters because I was so focused on trying to figure out when they were going to turn into dragons that I wasn’t paying as much attention to the plot details.

Hockey politics play heavily in this book. There is a lot of detail regarding the ins and outs of being on a hockey team and their hard work to make it to the playoffs. That helped strengthen the plot line and provide understanding of the character dynamics.

Now but me talk about the characters:
I did not know what to make of Kat. She is fiercely independent and does not want any help because she think she can take care of herself. I guess it is because all the men in her life try to take over and tell her what to do and where to work. I felt like she should at least realize that what they say has some merit instead of completely discounting anything because she was determined to do her own thing.

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I did agree with her decision to keep her relationship with Ryan a secret from her brother until they determined that they were actually going to be serious with each other.

This book got many hearts as it did because of Ryan. He was rough and tough on the outside, but tender and sweet on the inside. He had been in love with Kat for years but never thought he was good enough. I like that he decided to bite the bullet and go after what he wanted. He let her set the pace and didn’t pressure her to commit until she was ready.

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TOW Final Word: Buy, Borrow, Pass?
BUY. Despite my initial confusion, I did enjoy this book. If you like sport romances and the friends to lovers trope, you will love this book.

Book details
Heat Level: Steamy 🔥 🔥 🔥
Series: Ice Dragons
Print Length: 156 pages
Publisher: Love Lane Books Ltd; 1st edition (October 24, 2016)
Publication Date: October 24, 2016

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Review: Sleeping with the Boss #HarlequinDesire #romance

Sep5

Sleeping with the boss

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Synopsis

Eileen is helping Rick in his office while his secretary is on vacation. During this time they discover that they have explosive passion for each other between the sheets. Eileen is ready to commit only if Rick will do the same. An unplanned pregnancy should change things, but Rick has to decide if he will trust her with his heart.

Opinion
This is a predictable story line. I thought the title was misleading. Technically he was only her boss for a couple of weeks. She had her own business and could leave if she wanted. She was there to help him out because she knew his family.

Rick has his emotional issues because he has been hurt before. His parents did not love him. Poor Rich boy sob story.

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When he gets Eileen pregnant, he acts as if he can use the pregnancy to solidify the relationship without full commitment on his part. That was ironic because you would not think that someone who did not want to commit would want to be tied to another person in such a way.

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Eileen’s psychoanalyzing of Rick helped in the long run. At the same time, I thought she should have explained herself better. She understood his emotional hangups better than anyone else. Getting him to understand that she understood, was the issue in a nutshell.

It all works out in the end.

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It better. I do not buy Harlequin to have surprise tragic endings. Or major plot twist where the hero and heroine go their separate ways.

Should you buy? I recommend this book for those times when you want a light romance read for the beach or when traveling. It was entertaining  while completely predictable.

 

Book Details
Print Length: 192 pages
Publisher: Silhouette Desire (June 11, 2010)
Publication Date: June 1, 2010
Sold by: Harlequin Digital Sales Corp.

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Book Review: The lie by CL Taylor #guestpost #amreading #thriller

Aug30

Today I have a guest post by Sophia Rose.

sophiarose

The Lie by CL Taylor

Rating: 4 

GoodReads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/30170265-the-lie

Synopsis from GoodReads:

Haunting and compelling, this psychological thriller is perfect for fans of Gone Girl, Girl on the Train, and Daughter.

Jane Hughes has a great boyfriend, a job in an animal shelter, and a tiny cottage in rural Wales. She’s happier than she’s ever been…but her life is a lie. Jane Hughes does not really exist.

Five years earlier, Jane and her best friends set off on what was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime, but it rapidly descended into a nightmare that claimed the lives of two of her friends. Ever since, Jane has tried to put the past behind her and lead a normal life. But someone out there knows the truth about what happened-and they won’t stop until they’ve destroyed Jane and everything she loves.

Review:

I’ve been in the mood for spine-tingling chills and a complex twisty plot.  The blurb captured my attention and into it I dove hoping to be thrilled by a satisfying and intense mystery.  Eventually, the book gave me that, but it started out slow before it really got rolling.  What I think helped me connect with this book was when I realized it was actually not just a thriller, but an interesting blend of women’s fiction and thriller.

As I said, it started off slow.  There was twice the intro and set up because of the way the plot was structured which explains the pace.  This is one that flips back and forth between a past and present story line, but with the same character perspective narrating both.  The present is with Jane Hughes the quiet, put together woman with a nice cottage, lovely boyfriend, and satisfying job at the animal shelter who is now receiving messages from someone she thought was dead.  The past is with Emma (she changed her name to Jane to start over) and her three friends who go on the adventure holiday of a lifetime that turns into a nightmare.

Once in a while, I come across a book that blends some elements that make for an interesting read and take some getting used to.  In this one, the author melds women’s fiction into a thriller story.  There is definitely a suspenseful and even atmospheric thriller layer to the plot.  Danger is very present and people are terrified for their lives.  I guessed after the person and motive behind it all, but the truth was only obvious near the end when the layers were peeled back bit by bit.

Planted in the center of all this is a story of four women who claim a friendship.  They are drawn as regular people with regular people foibles.  I didn’t care for any of them when the book started and I only started warming up to some of the characters much later.

As four college friends set out on their holiday, there are certain dynamics in place.  Not ideal all around, but a decent group.  As their situation becomes drastic and beyond their previous experience, it all shifts.  Under the pressure they experience, they are all tested and it was interesting to see how it all turned out.  It reminded me of real life friendships that may or may not last.

In summary, this story took me places that I just never imagined when I picked it up and I would definitely give this author’s books another go.  I would recommend this for those who don’t mind the blending of thriller with women’s fiction.

My thanks to Sourcebooks Landmark for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Book Details
Genre: Thriller
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Landmark
Published:  6.7.16
Pages: 400
Format: eARC
Source:  Sourcebooks Landmark
Sellers:  Amazon

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Sophia’s Bio:

Sophia is a quiet though curious gal who dabbles in cooking, book reviewing, and gardening. Encouraged and supported by an incredible man and loving family. A Northern Californian transplant to the Great Lakes Region of the US. Lover of Jane Austen, Baseball, Cats, Scooby Doo, and Chocolate.

Alpha Lion’s Bride #werelionromance #fatedmates #AlyseZaftig

Aug10

The Alpha Lion’s Bride

4heart

Synopsis

Allison has relationship issues since her dad abandoned her mom when she was a child. She is working at a restaurant when she meets Trevor. He is her best friends’ boyfriend’s friend (not as convoluted as it seems).

Trevor is the alpha were-lion of his pride. From the first moment he met Allison, he decided she was his mate. He cannot understand why she is resisting the idea of them being together.

Opinon

I first mentioned this book in a post last year. I liked the book so much, I thought it deserved its own post. Since this was a short story, I expected the attraction had to move quickly. I also do not mind love-at-first sight in shifter books, since the “fated mates scenario” should mean they are destined to be together forever. However, when introduced to Trevor, I thought he was too intense.

Smelling her neck at the first meeting?

No wonder she was creeped out.

Kudos to the author for making Allison skeptical and difficult. She did not fall into bed just because he said so. Plus, there was an instance where she said yes but then changed her mind and said no. With so many books out there that blur the lines of consent, it is good to see the alpha male respect the woman’s right to say no, even if she had been agreeing previously.

Trevor was a serious alpha but met his match when it came to Allison. Once they got together and were on the same page relationship wise, they were heating up the sheets something serious.

Should you buy? Yes. If the book had been longer, I probably would have given an extra heart. I think it was a great short shifter were-lion story. There is a little conflict to move the story along. There was not a lot of romance in the beginning because Trevor did not understand the concept at first. He comes around and they have a happy ending.

I am looking forward to reading more from Alyse Zaftig!

Book Details
File Size: 1451 KB
Print Length: 263 pages (TOW note-> I don’t think it was that many pages)
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1634810368
Publisher: Zaftig Publishing (October 22, 2015)
Publication Date: October 22, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services LLC

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Marooned by Veronica Scott #scifiromance

Jun20

Star Cruise: Marooned: (A Sectors SF Romance) – Veronica Scott

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Synopsis

Simon (Red) and Meg work on a spaceship that takes wealthy people on intergalactic excursions. The plant Dantaralor is the next stop and should be a fairly standard excursion for the ship full of wealthy passengers.
The trip turns into a nightmare. The crew and passengers are left on the planet in an extremely hostile situation.

Opinion

I really loved this book. In the beginning, I thought I was going to be ambivalent towards the characters. Meg seemed to be too straitlaced for me, but then I realized she had to wear that attitude like armor. Red seemed like a cutie from the moment he was introduced.

Red already got points from being ex-military. All he did to get to know Meg just cemented to me that he was book boyfriend worthy.

I liked the way Meg and Red worked together to get out of danger. Meg was not a weak woman but was an equal. This was not your damsel-in-distress-waiting-for-her-knight type of book. They were a team.

The romance was quick but considering that they did not know if they would be alive the next day, I granted them leeway.

Should you buy? Yes! This book has nail biting action and suspense that will make you release the breath you did not know were holding when it’s all said and done. This was the first book that I read by Veronica Scott. It will not be the last. I enjoyed it thoroughly!

Book Details

File Size: 1977 KB
Print Length: 140 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Jean D Walker
Publication Date: June 18, 2015

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