Z is for Zero Factor #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Synopsis

Via is a psionic. This is a person who can see future events by touching a person. The government required all psionic persons to register and become government property to be used as the government sees fit.

Locke is a man with mechanical enhancements working as a soldier in a militia to keep order and protect the general public. He takes his job very seriously.

Via sees Locke’s death because of a tear in her glove and her skin touches his. She kisses Locke so that he can see her vision. From that point on, the Locke is trying to avoid being killed while trying to figure out how to deny how Via makes him feel.

Opinion
This is a sci-fi story and the setting is in a dystopian future and made me think of the Hunger Games (no other book/plot similarities though). I rated this book 3 hearts and then 4 hearts and was going back and forth, but decided to stay with 4. I am stingy with my hearts, but in this case, I thought it deserved 4 hearts because it was a story that I kept thinking about long after I finished the book. The story is short (only 68 pages), but it is action packed with a cute little love story.

I liked the characters too. Via is trying to survive and has a “Woe is me” attitude in the beginning. Soon enough she develops enough to embrace her gifts to the fullest. Locke believes that has to be order and the psi cause confusion. But when a psi woman saved his life and his commander tried to kill him, his world is turned upside down.

The villain’s reasons for causing havoc and mayhem was as usual insane-in-the-membrane. No real logic as to why he wanted to do what he did, but the reader is suppose to take it for granted that it needs no explanation.

But I thought it was weird that he was so over the top crazy and no one else noticed. How was he able to do all those outrageous things and the government not know about it. Of course, the book ends with all ends tied up neatly.

Should you buy? I thought it was a great book but I do think it was overpriced for the length. I probably would not have got this book if it had not been for the A-to-Z challenge and I needed a “Z” book.

Book details from Goodreads
Unknown Binding, 68 pages
Published August 1st 2011 by Samhain Publishing
Available on Amazon

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So this is the last post for A-to-Z blog challenge hosted by http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/

I am so happy that I was able to stick with it and post every day. I met a lot of great bloggers that I am sure I will keep in touch with in the future. I am tired but in a good way. This makes my usual posting schedule of every 5 days seem easy. I wanted to challenge myself more this year and the feeling of accomplishment shows me that it was worth it. So now, I share with you some of my favorite celebratory gifs.

S is for Sheikh #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr22

The Sheikh’s Bargained Bride (Harlequin comics) ♥ ♥♥

Synopsis
When Sabrina’s father dies soon after her wedding to Sheikh Adham, she is told that it is custom in her husband’s host country to allow time for bereavement. Considering how Adam was before they got married, Sabrina cannot understand his cold attitude as if he is not really attracted to her.

Sheikh Adham’s attitude has nothing to do with respecting her time for bereavement but thinking that Sabrina was deceitful, calculative, and manipulative.

Opinion
While Sabrina thought she found the love of her life, Adham gave mixed signals. His hot and cold demeanor towards her had confused me also. Even though he explains his reasons, I was still confused. He was very affectionate in public as if he was the dutiful, loving husband. However, in their home when it was just the two of them, it was the opposite at times. I would have been less confused if he had not been overly lovey-dovey in public while in private acting as if he was disgusted that he was so attracted to her.

Initially, I agree that Adham had reason to feel that he had been wronged and tricked into marriage. But he was so distrustful of her that he did not see the truth about her actions. At that point, it was not a matter of miscommunication but rather he let his emotions cloud his judgment. If he had looked at things logically, he would have figured it out sooner.

I did like the ending though. Sabrina showed that she was made of strong stuff. She was not going to allow herself to be at Adham’s mercy or whim, yearning for his affection and melting at his touch when decided to bestow it upon her. I wanted to yell, “You GO GIRL!” She had enough respect for herself not to permit Adham to treat her any kind of way. That was the only way for Adham to come to his senses and see error of his actions.

Book details from Goodreads
Kindle Edition
Published January 21st 2014 by Harlequin K.K. / SB Creative Corp.

Available on Amazon

M is for Mighty Hunter #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr15

The Mighty Hunter (Lords of the Abyss Book 1) ♥♥♥

Synopsis

Bridget is a scientist who loves the ocean. She is working on a ship to get the experience she will need to do the job she wants in deep water research.

Caderyn is a merman living in the abyss, miles below the water’s surface on ocean floor in the legendary, mythical city known above water as Atlantis. He is a hunter who rescues Bridget from drowning after a monster attacks their ship.

Opinion

Top three reasons why I liked this book:

I have yet to find a book with a merman hero that I do not like. They are near the top of my choice of mythical men list. In case you are wondering, ❤ dragon shifters ❤ are number one. But I digress…
I like all things Greek mythology. In this case, the city of people were cursed to live on the ocean floor and turned into merr people because they angered Posiden. While the ocean god does not appear in the book, he does get an honorable mention.
The chemistry between Bridget and Caderyn was hot! I am surprised the ocean water was not boiling from their heat.

“There was something about this warrior hunter man that always made her want to jump on him, straddle his waist and offer herself to him.” – Bridget

The only reason I did not rate this book higher is because Bridget got on my nerves at times. I get that she was agitated because the rescue seemed more like a death sentence if she could not return home above the water. Plus the scientist in her wanted to see proof before trying to comprehend what seemed unbelievable.

The hunky, muscular merman that wants to do delicious things to her body should have made up for it. There was no need to for her to lash out and say the hurtful things she did. She made a lot of assumptions and projected her own insecurities when she should have been less uptight and more forthcoming with communication.

Should you buy? Yes. It was an enjoyable read. This is a standalone novel and the first in the Lord of the Abyss series. After reading, I wanted to know more about the merr people in the underwater city. Yea, I bought the next two books. More on that later.

From the author: Contains graphic sexual content, adult language, and violence. Novel intended for adults only.

Book details from Goodreads
ebook, 172 pages
Published July 21st 2010 by Smashwords Edition (first published 2006)
series Lords of the Abyss #1
Available on Amazon

K is for Killing #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr13

Killing Honor (Lucky Thirteen Book 1) ♥♥♥

Synopsis

Brody is a Navy SEAL who comes home after two years on a top-secret assignment. He is ready to be home, but the unfinished business of the mission causes him to worry that his family may be in danger.

At 21 years old, Devyn, was married and mother of twin 2 week old preemie girls when Brody left for deployment. Now that he has returned home, she has to figure out if she is still in love with him or in love with the idea of him.

Opinion

This was one of the more somber, serious romances that I have read in a long time. It is a military romance that does not glamorize what being married to a SEAL in active duty must feel like. While I do not usually prefer books told in the first person, this one works well because I felt like Brody and Devyn were telling me their story.

The young couple is dealing with several issues

Two year separation
Being parents as a couple
Post-traumatic stress

Brody has secrets from the mission that torment him but he cannot reveal what is worrying him. Devyn worries that his reticent behavior means that he does not love her as he used to do.

“What if…he came back different and didn’t love me anymore?” Devyn

It is some consolation that it is obvious to the reader that they still love each other.

“She owned my soul since the first moment I saw her.” Brody

“His kiss sent a relentless ache though straight to my core.” Devyn

However, it is difficult for them to verbalize their insecurities to each other. As a reader, I wanted them to openly communicate but I understood what was holding them back since these were not trivial issues. While the physical aspect of their relationship never lost its heat, the misinterpretation of nonverbal cues from the other person caused additional distress.

Should you buy? Yes. There is action and suspense, but the book’s main focus is the dynamic of a military couple who have to figure how to save their marriage. They learn how to reconnect and re-calibrate their relationship.

Book details from Goodreads
ebook, 250 pages
Published March 24th 2014 by Soaring Phoenix Press
series Lucky Thirteen #1

Available on Amazon

F is for Fall #atozchallenge #ABCofRomance @AprilA2Z

Apr7

Fall Hard: Navy SEAL contemporary romance (SEALs Undone series Book 2) ♥♥♥

Synopsis

Jared is a Navy SEAL and Cassie is a divorcee living next door. They are good friends that like hanging out with each other.

“She was in a man-free period in her life and happy for it.”

After a while, Cassie began to see things with Jared differently.

“She’d started to want him to play with her.”

Jared wants her too, but thinks that his secret might turn her off. **NO SPOILERS**

Opinion

This seems like your typical friendship turn lover scenario. Jared’s secret put an interesting twist to the whole story. I had to read the sentence twice. Trust me that his secret was unexpected to say the least.

At any rate, his secret does not mean the end of the relationship. This was a good thing in my opinion because Jared was a sweet guy. Cassie deserved some happiness as well.

This is a short novella, so there was not much character development or fluff to the story.

As with all books with SEALs as main characters, there was a lot of profanity.

Also, the loves scenes were very detailed.

Should you buy? Yes. I say read for Jared’s secret alone! I do not know why this fascinated me so much but it did. Plus I have a soft spot for SEAL romances. The story is short enough that you will finish in an hour or two.

Book details from Goodreads
90 pages
Published December 26th 2014 (first published December 23rd 2014)
series SEALs Undone #2

Available on Amazon