Now or Never Book Review

goodreads summary

Twenty-one year old Grayson Alexander finally breaks away from an abusive relationship and finds herself free for the first time in three years.

Determined to enjoy her new-found freedom, Grayson is intent on sticking with 'no strings attached' relationships—one-night stands, and steamy sex.

But she didn't plan on Derrick. 

Her attraction to the sexy man in uniform quickly turns into an unhealthy relationship. They both try to resist the pull, but neither can stay away. 

When tragedy strikes, Grayson realizes it's now or never—walk away or make it work

My rating 3 stars

My review

The book started out great, but as the book went on I felt as if Grayson didn't develop well at all. If you are looking for a story with growth and a character who is strong and heroic- this isn't the story for you. She makes this big decision to leave her abusive ex boyfriend, but her fears and trama from a physically and mentally abusive relationship are not show throughout the book. There is one scene where she has a flashback when a man's hand grazes her neck- but that is the extent. After volunteering and being around many women at a safe haven home for battered women- I didn't feel like the character portrayed this abuse well. Then the character kept embarrassing herself- I started to feel so bad for her. She was letting men walk all over her, not standing up for herself, and then basically becoming obsessed with the male love interest. It was quiet sad. Then she automatically accepts his apology for screwing her over and all we get is a little explanation at the end of the book on why he was such a jerk. I didn't feel like his character was well portrayed at all. Quiet jerk. That's what I would call him. THEN I kept waiting for the story to be about her abusive ex who was obsessed with her, but he never showed up. Those types of men don't give up. They stalk and beg and cry for forgiveness until someone is hurt or dead. What happened to him? He just disappeared mid way through the book. The writing style by the author was actually pretty well done- except for the fact that I may have enjoyed it better if it were in first person. There were a few instances where I had to keep rereading because I didn't know who was talking or who was saying what.For a free book, this book was satisfying and pretty sad. I wouldn't say I loved it or was blown away, and I may not read another book in the series unless it is free.
Wait...I forgot to add that Grayson has unprotected sex over and over again. The author would have done well to teach her a lesson. Give her herpes or something to make the story interesting....WTH???

What It Takes Review

(Goodreads summary)

After graduating college, Kelsey Morgan left her small-town Virginia roots to make it in LA. After years slogging in commercials and music videos, her movie career is finally taking off. But she's still miles behind her current costar, and Hollywood playboy, Patrick Lyons. Kelsey does everything she can to avoid Patrick off-set, hoping to not become fodder for the supermarket tabloids that scour the streets for Patrick, trying to get an exclusive look at him and his alleged woman of the week. Kelsey has successfully kept Patrick at a distance, and her reputation intact, until her drunkard brother-in-law Richard threatens to ruin everything by selling her darkest secret to the highest bidder. Now the victim of blackmail, Kelsey has nowhere else to turn but to Patrick's arms. But, can he be trusted? Or will the past destroy them all before she can find out if he's the hero she needs?(less)

My Rating 3 stars

My review

I received this ARC novel from net galley for my honest opinion. What it takes is a romantic novel about a girl afraid to let any man in.Kelsey has guarded her heart after having it ripped apart by her college sweetheart. Down the road, Kelsey is about to become the next big thing in Hollywood.. The novel started out strong with a headstrong heroine who doesn't seem to need a man. After the first few chapters, I became bored. There was scene after scene of what felt like uselessness. Parts that felt thrown in, parts I skipped past, parts that didn't really relate to the story at all. I never felt the spark between Kelsey and Patrick, and kept waiting for another leading man to step in and sweep her off her feet. Literally, I felt more passion for the side characters than the leading couple. (caution: the next part may contain spoilers) I found Kelsey annoying as a lead character. First off, she spent the entire novel whining about how her mom does 'whatever it takes' to keep a man happy, and how she would never want to be like that, but she does it the entire novel! She coddles her brother in law and makes excuses for him time and time again. It was rather annoying when she would give him what he wanted. She claims she doesn't want to be part of the tabloids, but she is an actress. Her secrets will come out sooner or later. The writing was a bit different as well. I believe a romance novel like this reads better as a first person POV, but this one was written in third person. The novel seems to go from third person, but switches back and forth as if the narrator can only tell what Kelsey is thinking in one scene, then suddenly the narrator knows what Patrick is thinking, but not Kelsey. Then the next scene the narrator knows what everyone is thinking. It was rather confusing. A novel like this isn't good when you know what all the characters are thinking and doing at the same time. Then Kelsey has a secret throughout the entire book, but refuses to tell us to the very end, even though the secret is predictable. It would have been better to let the secret out and feel Kelsey's struggles with her secret from the beginning.  Did I like the book? Yeah, it took me a while to finish, but I got there. Was I disappointed? Yes. Would I recommend it? No. This story line could have been great, if it were written differently. 3 stars for a nice try.

Rome by Jay Crownover Review

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray.Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . 

My Rating :5 stars

My Review

I loved Rule, it was by far one of the best books I had read last year. When I saw Rome at the local bookstore, I immediately bought it. Rome is a different character that the normal men in Crownovers book. The passion and growth between Cora and Rome is breathtakingly and beautiful. They learn to make something good out of a bad situation. I love how the author blends all the books together with the storylines and the move one one book to the other is seamless. Cora is one of my favorite female characters, she has spunk and is not afraid to say what she thinks. I kept picturing Channing Tatum as Rome, perfect cast! I don't think I have anything bad to say about this book, its another five star book from Jay Crownover. I will be meeting her this summer, and am ecstatic about getting my copy of Rome signed.  

The Vincent Brothers By Abbi Glines Review

Summary
Getting a boy to fall head-over-heels in love with you isn’t easy. Especially when he’s been in love with your cousin for as long as you can remember.

Lana has lived her life in her cousin’s shadow. Ashton always made perfect grades, had tons of friends, and looks model-perfect. And she’s always had Sawyer Vincent—the only boy Lana’s ever wanted—wrapped around her finger. But now things are different. Lana has a chance to make Sawyer see her, and she’s taking it. If only he’d get over Ashton—because Lana is sick of second-best.

Sawyer’s heart is broken. He’s lost his best girl to his best friend. And then Lana comes to town. Ashton’s cousin has always been sweet and soft-spoken, but now she’s drop-dead gorgeous as well. Sawyer doesn’t know if Lana can heal his broken heart, but spending time with her might at least make Ashton jealous.

What starts as a carefree fling becomes a lusty game of seduction. Sawyer and Lana may have different motives, but their scintillating hookups are the same kind of steamy

My Rating:5

My Review:

Wow! Abbi Glines has done it again!  I LOVED LOVED LOVED this book. Abbi has written a wonderful tale about high school and the woes of lover. Sawyer is in love with Ash, doesn't think he will ever get over her, then here comes Lana,Ash's cousin, who has been in love with Sawyer for years. Now that him and Ash are broken up, she is ready to make her move. The only problem? Will Sawyer ever let Ash go long enough to love Lana? This book hits all the high notes of being a new adult in love. The jealousy, the flirtation, the fear, she writes it all so well I even reminisced about my own yesteryear's (a decade ago! I can't believe it!) You could actually feel Sawyer's pain as he had to watch his brother and Ash together. The characters were well developed and the storyline was fast paced. I really don't have anything bad to say about this book, which never happens! All I can say is, pick up this book, and read it!!!!

Jet By Jay Crownover Review

Summmary

With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.

Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.

Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?

My rating- 5 star

My review:

Jet is a story about a couple who aren’t a different as they seem to think. Ayden is a country gal from Kentucky with a past that she isn’t proud of and Jet is a rock and roll musician that every girl dreams of falling in love with. They are living as roommates trying to keep a platonic relationship, but still having to deal with these romantic feelings that they try and hide from each other. I can say, without a doubt, that I LOVED this book. Jay Crownover has to be one of the best writers out there. Her stories always come out clean, well edited and flow so seamlessly and her characters are so diverse. You can tell that she has a flair for writing what she loves, and she knows these characters from the inside out. Even the back story of each character is intriguing. I love that each story does include the other characters, so it feels like a continuation of every other book from another point of view. Crownover creates a story with new adults, put in adult situations, that ACTUALLY act like adults. Does that make any sense? So many times I see writers who try and write books with adult characters, but the writing is so immature- not the case here! Sure Ayden can be a bit frustrating at times, afraid to open herself to hurt, but after learning about her past who can blame her? These are completely flawed characters who need relationships to help make them a better person. The best kind! Can’t wait until book four comes out! 5 stars for this wonderful book!

Love Like the Movies Review by Victoria Van Tiem

Written by: Victoria Van Tiem

Summary
In this irresistible romantic romp, movie fanatic Kensington Shaw is thrown into love—Hollywood-style—when her gorgeous ex presents a series of big screen challenges to win back her heart.

What girl wouldn’t want to experience the Pretty Woman shopping scene? It’s number two on the list. Or, try the lift from Dirty Dancing? It’s number five. One list, ten romantic movie moments, and a handful of shenanigans later, Kenzi has to wonder . . . should she marry the man her family loves, or risk everything for a love like the movies?


My rating: 4 stars
My review: 
I had heard some good reviews on this book, so I decided to buy it one night and see what the fuzz was about. Kensington Shaw is a girl in love, but is the man that she is engaged to really the one? What about the man who broke her heart  seven years ago, does he deserve a second chance? Kensington is in search of a love like the movies.
Writing Style: This book is well edited, and wonderfully put together. How the author matches up all the movie scenes and quotes goes so well in the book. As a child of the 90's, these movies are all my all time favorite.
Character Development: Kensi, her parents, her friends, the characters are all wellrounded and I could really get a feel on them.
Ease of reading: Yes, Yes, and Yes! Totally easy to read, and the way the author had integrated social media into everyday life and relationship, very believable.
Storyline: The story line flowed wonderfully, my only pout was that I guess the ending, which is typical for this type of romantic story. I would recommend this book to anyone who wants to read a book, and is a fan of those romantic movies, because this book plays out so many of those scenes. It even made me want to pull out my old DVD player and watch a few of them.

Review by Bree (bookswithbree.com)