Book Review: Forgivable Sins by Adelaide Forrest

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Forgivable Sins
Bellandi Crime Syndicate #2

Author: Adelaide Forrest
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Mafia Romance | Contemporary Romance
Released: 04/24/2020
Review Source: Provided by author

No one knows me like she does.

She’s the only one who has power over me.

I’ve loved Samara since I was a boy, since the moment I heard her sing and told her she would be my wife. I sacrificed that dream to keep her safe.

Our love is a secret, hanging unspoken between us.

Everything changes the night I find her beaten and broken by the man who should have protected her. What I have longed to do more than anything.

After all this time, the safest place for her is in my arms.

I’ve tried to be patient, to let her come to terms with the shift in our relationship, but soon I will make her mine. Time is running out for my Little Dove.

I won’t stop until she’s my wife.

Forgivable Sins is a friends to lovers story centered around Lino and Samara. It was a cute, easy read, and a nice addition to the series. 

There was a scene where Samara's brother, Yavin, found out about Lino and Samara's relationship (and marriage) and he was not happy that his little sister married his best friend. This is what Samara said back to Yavin, and it's one of my favourite parts of the book.

"Who introduced you to Lino? Who used to sit inside with Lino when he wasn't allowed to go play sports outside?"

"Who hugged him? Who listened to his stories about his father and kissed his boo boos when his father hit him, even if he was ten f*cking years old and too old for that sh*t?"

They have cared about and loved each other for so many years and I love that they finally get their happily ever.

Book Review: Amber Sky by Amy Braun

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Amber Sky
Dark Sky 0.25

Author: Amy Braun
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Steampunk
Released: October 4th 2016
Review Source: Amy Braun

Press-ganged into servitude by a ruthless band of marauders who survived the devastating Storm, Nash has grown tired of his career– the young, undefeated champion of the Stray Dog fighting pits. All he longs for is a place to live where his family is not his enemy.

When his captain gives him an assignment to embed him deeper into the crew, Nash attempts to refuse, until the life of his friend is threatened. Determined to save her, Nash embarks on the mission to subjugate and control a supplier. But the supplier has other clients, one of which could be the son of the most feared pirate captain in all of Westraven.

And if Nash plays his cards right, the key to his deeply desired freedom, if he can live with the consequences of his choice…

Set two years before the events of CRIMSON SKY, this prequel novella tells the story of how Nash and Sawyer crossed paths– and fists. While best enjoyed before reading CRIMSON SKY, this bonus story can be read at any time or enjoyed as a standalone.

To be totally honest, I haven't read the following series so reading Amber Sky was step one for me. For the most part I was interested, but the fight scenes read like a play-by-play announcer, every punch and move mentioned.

The main character, Nash, read like the complainy emo kid. So strong, yet not liked and detesting everything. Okay, sure, its nice he has morals and is surviving in the only viable option he has, but it was rough at times to read.

The story kept me though, seemed like too easy of a wrap up for Sonya. I am hopeful Crimson Sky is as compelling story wise if not more so. I understand this is simply out there to explain how Nash and Sawyer met up in such a vast and empty world.

Mini-Book Review: Stone Field by Christy Lenzi

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Stone Field
Author: Christy Lenzi
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Historical Fiction
Released: March 29 2016
Review Source: Roaring Brook Press

In a small town on the brink of the Civil War, Catrina finds a man making strange patterns in her family’s sorghum crop. He’s mad with fever, naked, and strikingly beautiful. He has no memory of who he is or what he’s done before Catrina found him in Stone Field. But that doesn’t bother Catrina because she doesn’t like thinking about the things she’s done before either.

Catrina and Stonefield fall passionately, dangerously, in love. All they want is to live with each other, in harmony with the land and away from Cat’s protective brother, the new fanatical preacher, and the neighbors who are scandalized by their relationship. But Stonefield can’t escape the truth about who he is, and the conflict tearing apart the country demands that everyone take a side before the bloodbath reaches their doorstep.

Inspired by Emily Bronte’s Wuthering Heights.

Catrina finds a strange man in her family's sorghum crops. Having a strong pull to him but knowing how her brother will feel about this connection she has to decide whether to follow her heart, or if family is more important.

With this book being inspired by one of my all time favorite books ever, Wuthering Heights, I had assumed that I would enjoy this book...I was wrong.

This book had its adorable moments, who doesn't like a forbidden love story? But for me there were more moments that dragged.  I'm not sure why it dragged - it just did. I wanted more of a supernatural story - in my head because the man made crop circles. I wanted an alien. But that just wasn't the case - at least in the sense I was thinking at least.

Mini-Book Review: Off the Clock by Roni Loren

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Off the Clock
Author: Roni Loren
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Released: January 5th 2016
Review Source: Berkley

Overtime has never felt so good…

Marin Rush loves studying sex. Doing it? That’s another story. In the research lab, Marin’s lack of practical knowledge didn’t matter, but now that she’s landed a job at The Grove, a high-end, experimental sex therapy institute, she can’t ignore the fact that the person most in need of sexual healing may be her.

Dr. Donovan West, her new hotshot colleague, couldn’t agree more. Donovan knows that Marin’s clients are going to eat her alive unless she gets some hands-on experience. And if she fails at the job, he can say goodbye to a promotion, so he assigns her a list of R-rated tasks to prepare her for the wild clientele of The Grove’s X-wing.

But some of those tasks are built for two, and when he finds Marin searching for a candidate to help her check off her list, Donovan decides there’s only one man for the job—him. As long as they keep their erotic, off-the-clock activities strictly confidential and without strings, no one will get fired—or worse, get attached…

This is an Adult romance novel recommended for ages 18+ due to sexual content and mature subject matter.

I'll make this short and sweet.

Off the Clock is the type of story when you're in THAT mood. You know, the type in which you just want to read a story that really will keep you entertained... four hours.

This is the story of Marin Rush and Dr. Donovan West. They both have a thing about studying sex and at the end of story these two will try every position ever tried and every move there is. So yes, you do not want to read this book while you're at work. You will blush and get all worked up. Do not embarrassed yourself.

There are lots of sex scenes but there is a point the story drags a bit. Overall, this is a story you want to read when you're in the mood to read something sexy. A story that will keep you away from the real world. Just remember not to read this in private.

Mini Series Review: Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott

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Stage Dive Series
Stage Dive 1-3
Author: Kylie Scott
Reading Level: New Adult
Genre: Romance
Review Source: Purchased

From Book 1: Lick Evelyn Thomas's plans for celebrating her twenty-first birthday in Las Vegas were big. Huge. But she sure as hell never meant to wake up on the bathroom floor with a hangover to rival the black plague, a very attractive half-naked tattooed man, and a diamond on her finger large enough to scare King Kong. Now if she could just remember how it all happened.

One thing is for certain, being married to rock and roll's favourite son is sure to be a wild ride.

From Book 2: Play Mal Ericson, drummer for the world famous rock band Stage Dive, needs to clean up his image fast - at least for a little while. Having a good girl on his arm should do the job just fine. Mal doesn't plan on this temporary fix becoming permanent, but he didn't count on finding the one right girl.

Anne Rollins never thought she'd ever meet the rock god who plastered her teenage bedroom walls - especially not under these circumstances. Anne has money problems. Big ones. But being paid to play the pretend girlfriend to a wild life-of-the-party drummer couldn't end well. No matter how hot he is. Or could it?

From Book 3: Lead Stay up all night with the sexy rockers in Stage Dive, the epic New Adult series from New York Times bestselling author Kylie Scott, author of Lick and Play.

As the lead singer of Stage Dive, Jimmy is used to getting whatever he wants, whenever he wants it, whether it's booze, drugs, or women. However, when a PR disaster serves as a wake-up call about his life and lands him in rehab, he finds himself with Lena, a new assistant to keep him out of trouble.

Lena's not willing to take any crap from the sexy rocker and is determined to keep their relationship completely professional, despite their sizzling chemistry. But when Jimmy pushes her too far and Lena leaves, he realizes that he may just have lost the best thing that ever happened to him.

Alright, alright, alright…

So in December I kind of disappeared... I was 22 books away from my Goodreads goal and I was determined to finish it  no matter what (which I did, I may have cheated a little with short stories but I did it). So here I am attempting to do some mini wrap up reviews on some of the books I read.

So… First up to bat is the Stage Dive Series by Kylie Scott. I received the fourth book, Deep, earlier in the year and devoured and reviewed it and couldn’t wait to read the first three. While I did enjoy Deep(4), and definitely Lead(3), I was kind of disappointed with Lick(1) and Play(2). Though it was probably my fault because with reading a series like this I find that I enjoy the books further into the series, which explains why the third and fourth are my favorites, and reading the last book first, I got the taste of the awesome right off the bat. On the plus side I still devoured the three books in a weekend and then had to skim through the fourth just to revisit that couple again.

Overall I’d give this series 3.8. And the best part about this series was I was able to gobble it up like a Thanksgiving turkey. I went back to work monday laughing about a joke Mal said and then realized that it did not happen in real life and I spend too much time in fiction than reality, but then I shrugged it off and picked up another book (couldn’t dwell I had 22 books to read).

Mini-Book Review: This Raging Light by Estelle Laure

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This Raging Light
Author: Estelle Laure
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: December 22, 2015
Review Source: HMH Books for Young Readers

Can the best thing happen at the worst time?

Her dad went crazy. Her mom left town. She has bills to pay and a little sister to look after. Now is not the time for level-headed seventeen-year-old Lucille to fall in love. But love—messy, inconvenient love—is what she's about to experience when she falls for Digby Jones, her best friend's brother. With blazing longing that builds to a fever pitch, Estelle Laure's soulful debut will keep readers hooked and hoping until the very last page.

With an unstable father and the abandonment of her mother, Lucille is all on her own to take care of her younger sister. Top top this off, her best friend is giving her the silence treatment during her hard times. What a friend!

Although I did not connect with any of the characters of this story, Lucille is the type of heroine you root for. She is worthy of your cheers. The girl has it rough but she is not going down easily. Why wouldn't you cheer for her?! Her story will choke you with pain and you will wonder how is it possible for parents to be as cruel enough to let their kids suffer.

Even though the story left me questioning many things, the story is yet enjoyable. Reading someone's struggles is hard, let alone this person that is very young. She is being the parent her mother and father could not be. Her romantic interest was not as interesting, as I thought he was a douche. Yet, the ending does brings you hope.

Overall, I liked this story and those who love contemporary should give this story a try.

Check out Bianca's 4 Trees review!

Mini-Book Review: Shallow Graves by Kali Wallace

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Shallow Graves
Author: Kali Wallace
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Released: January 26th 2016
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books

 

For fans of Holly Black and Nova Ren Suma, a gripping, hauntingly atmospheric novel about murder, revenge, and a world where monsters—human and otherwise—lurk at the fringes.

When seventeen-year-old Breezy Lin wakes up in a shallow grave one year after her death, she doesn’t remember who killed her or why. All she knows is that she’s somehow conscious—and not only that, she’s able to sense who around her is hiding a murderous past. In life, Breezy was always drawn to the elegance of the universe and the mystery of the stars. Now she must set out to find answers and discover what is to become of her in the gritty, dangerous world to which she now belongs—where killers hide in plain sight and a sinister cult is hunting for strange creatures like her. What she finds is at once empowering, redemptive, and dangerous.

Tense, complex, and wholly engaging, Shallow Graves is a stunning first novel from Kali Wallace.

Shallow Graves is a story I was really looking forward to read. When I read the synopsis, the story reminded me of the Lovely Bones. A murder in a sense of paranormal? Yes, please! And you all know I love sad stories.

I'm not saying I am disappointed with the outcome, okay, maybe I am. What I am trying to say is this is not the story I was hoping for. The fact that I could not connect with any of the characters was another issue. However, I do have to say this story is full of adventures. Although most leave you confused, as the plot is all over, there is action and you wish you were part of the gang. There are mysteries, more obvious than others. Yet the ones that you cannot make sense of, are the ones you want to slap yourself for not making the connections.

I would say if you love mythical creatures, monsters and explorations, then this book is for you. As for me, I guess I was in the mood for a sad story and less of mythical creatures at the time that made me not enjoy the story much.

Mini Review: Everything She Forgot by Lisa Ballantyne

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Everything She Forgot
Author: Lisa Ballantyne
Reading Level: Adult
Genre: Mystery
Released: October 6th 2015
Review Source: William Morrow Paperbacks

Lisa Ballantyne, international bestselling author of The Guilty One, delivers a compelling domestic thriller with impeccably observed characters and masterful edge-of-your-seat storytelling in a novel that leaps between past and present with page-turning finesse

They’re calling it the worst pile-up in London history. Driving home, Margaret Holloway has her mind elsewhere—on a troubled student, her daughter’s acting class, the next day’s meeting—when she’s rear-ended and trapped in the wreckage. Just as she begins to panic, a disfigured stranger pulls her from the car just seconds before it’s engulfed in flames. Then he simply disappears.

Though she escapes with minor injuries, Margaret feels that something’s wrong. She’s having trouble concentrating. Her emotions are running wild. More than that, flashbacks to the crash are also dredging up lost associations from her childhood, fragments of events that were wiped from her memory. Whatever happened, she didn’t merely forget—she chose to forget. And somehow, Margaret knows deep down that it’s got something to do with the man who saved her life.

As Margaret uncovers a mystery with chilling implications for her family and her very identity, Everything She Forgot winds through a riveting dual narrative and asks the question: How far would you go to hide the truth—from yourself…?

Everything She Forgot is the story of Margaret Holloway. She has everything set in life. She is a mother, a wife, a teacher and a mentor. She’s marking her existing, however, she is unable to recall any of her memories from the age of 7 and earlier. Yet, after she is involved in a crash and a mysterious stranger saves her, Margaret begins to start recalling pieces of these missing puzzle. With the help of curiosity, she embarks a journey of discovery and starts to put these pieces together only to remember of a tragic event.

Although the book started a bit slow for my taste, after couple of chapters, this book became a page turner. Once I became invested in the story, I really enjoyed the multiple narratives, characters and the plot. Even though the outcome was not a shocker, I tend to always start my theories, it was enjoyable.

This story is not only thriller but it contains more than puzzles to piece. It is more about family, self-discovery, and consequences. Overall making this story enjoyable to read. So if you want to be entertained for couple of hours, this is a good read for the holidays.

Mini Reviews: How to be Brave & Sorceress

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How to Be Brave
Author: E. Katherine Kottaras
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Contemporary
Released: November 3rd 2015
Review Source: St. Martin's Press

An emotional contemporary YA novel about love, loss, and having the courage to chase the life you truly want.

Reeling from her mother's death, Georgia has a choice: become lost in her own pain, or enjoy life right now, while she still can. She decides to start really living for the first time and makes a list of fifteen ways to be brave - all the things she's wanted to do but never had the courage to try. As she begins doing the things she's always been afraid to do - including pursuing her secret crush, she discovers that life doesn't always go according to plan. Sometimes friendships fall apart and love breaks your heart. But once in a while, the right person shows up just when you need them most - and you learn that you're stronger and braver than you ever imagined.

How to be Brave is a cute and emotional story of a girl trying be spontaneous. Even though she is trying, some of these new things are terrifying to her but the girl is willing to try. She is willing to do the unknown, to learn to love herself (she is very insecure about herself), and learn new things. It is a journey to self-discover.

I really liked the story, however, I think a younger crowd would be best suited to this story. There were many times Georgia would do things and these were really childish. However, she didn't have a mother to tell her otherwise. Which was heartbreaking. Knowing that she loss her mother and she would need to learn things on her own. As she navigated her bucket-list, we saw her struggle and her grief. It was a touching story.

Overall, I liked How to be Brave. I like the progress Georgia made throughout the book. It was honest, well written and gritty with heavy topics.

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Sorceress
Spellcaster #3
Author: Claudia Gray 
Reading Level: Young Adult
Genre: Paranormal
Released: March 3rd 2015
Review Source: HarperTeen

To save the lives of countless people in Captive’s Sound, Nadia has sworn herself to the One Beneath, to black magic. Her plan, and the town’s only hope, is for Nadia to learn enough sorcery to strike back against the forces of darkness. But now that she’s separated from her friends, her family, and her Steadfast, Mateo, Nadia is more vulnerable than ever to darkness. And as the sorceress Elizabeth summons torrential rains and brings the One Beneath closer to the mortal world, Nadia is running out of time to stop her. The final battle lines are drawn, surprising alliances are made, and true love is tested in the action-packed conclusion to the breathtaking Spellcaster series.

Sorceress is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.

Sorceress is the final book in the Spellcaster series and a bittersweet ending. This series is full of magic, adventures and plenty of twists, so if you haven't read it, I recommend that you do.

The reason why I'm giving Sorceress a 3.5 is because I felt the book was rushed. Though the book was fast paced, full of actions, I wish the ending wouldn't have come. It was a good one but it wasn't epic in my opinion.

Nadia, a great and young sorceress, is trying to save her small town. She sworn her life to the One Beneath while trying to fight the black magic. There is a whole lot going on and you just cannot put the book down to know how everything is going to play out. Elizabeth, the great witch who has caused all the damage is still in control but with the help of her friend, Nadia will learn how to defeat her.

Again, this trilogy is full of magic and twists. I loved the first two book of the series and Sorceress was a good ending. Paranormal lovers should give this series a try.