Tag Archives: review

Audiobook Review: Now and Again by Brenda Rothert

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Now and Again by Brenda Rothert
Series: Now #2 (full reading order below)
Audiobook Publication Date: January 26th 2016
Length: 6 hours and 30 minutes
Narrated by: Kirsten Leigh & Chris Ruen
Links: Audible • Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
Source: I received an audiobook in exchange for an honest review

Once again, 26-year-old Layla Carson has the attention of a man eager to satisfy her. Ben Montrose, the hot, confident cop who gets off on frustrating her, is eager to show her just how arresting he can be. But as a reforming sexaholic, Layla’s sworn off casual hookups, and doesn’t miss the days of her early 20s –much.

Ben’s caught off-guard when the sexy, outspoken attorney turns him on and then turns him down. But the confident former Marine knows he can handle the simple seduction of a beautiful woman. He finds Layla’s weak spot – competition, which he happens to share – and challenges her to a game that could make them, or destroy them.

As they compete to crown the master of seduction, Ben and Layla discover there’s more to their game than power and foreplay. But as the stakes go up, they realize the game has changed, and they both stand to lose more than they bargained for.

I’m a huge fan of dual narrator audiobooks, so Now and Again by Brenda Rothert was pretty much perfect for me! Not only are Kirsten Leigh and Chris Ruen incredible to listen to, the actual story of Layla and Ben is sweet, sexy, and romantic. I love a good book with a hot man in uniform, and Ben is as hot as you could get. He and Layla are just perfect together – I highly enjoyed Now and Again!

I went into this audiobook without having read the first book, Now and Then, but thankfully I wasn’t lost at all. Now and Again is very firmly Layla and Ben’s story, though the other characters in the series make their appearances too. Layla is a 26-year-old lawyer who has managed to change her stance on casual sex. She’s no longer looking for hookups, but rather focusing on herself and her career. But all her plans seem to fall away when, for a case, she meets Marine-turned-police-investigator Ben Montrose. The two of them share some crazy-hot chemistry from the second they meet, but while Layla is hesitant to start anything between them, Ben is determined make Layla see that their chemistry is something worth exploring.

Layla and Ben are wonderful characters, both strong, independent, and very, very stubborn. It was so much fun listening to their story! Kirsten Leigh and Chris Ruen both did a fantastic job at depicting these two characters. Their narrations were great to listen to and it was easy to distinguish the dialogue between different characters. As far as audiobooks go, this one is another winner, and I would definitely listen to the audiobooks of the rest of the series!

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Now series

  

#1 ~ Now and Then: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Now and Again: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Now and Forever: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

Here’s an audio excerpt from Now and Again!

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Release Day Review + Giveaway: Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

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Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren
Series: Wild Seasons #4 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received a copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

For two people ambivalent about dating and love, they sure get naked around each other an awful lot . . .

London Hughes is very content to surf daily, tend bar, hang out with her group of friends, and slowly orient herself in the years after college. Everything’s going great and according to the non-plan.

But when a wave knocks her for a loop one morning, then Luke Sutter’s flirtatious smile knocks her for another that evening, she veers slightly off course…and into his path. Sure, he’s a total player, but the Why not—it’s only one night is a persistent voice in her ear.

For his part, Luke’s been on hookup autopilot for so long that he rarely ever pauses to consider what he’s doing. But after an amazing time with London, he realizes that he hasn’t been moving on from a devastating heartbreak so much as he’s been drifting to wherever—andwhomever—the current takes him. With London he wants more.

Every relationship involves two people…plus their pasts. And as much as she enjoys her fling with Luke, when London learns about his past—more specifically, who’s in it—everything becomes the brand of complicated she strives to avoid. It’s up to Luke then to change some things in order to try and ensure he’s not something she’ll outright avoid as well.

We finally get the fourth and final installment in the Wild Seasons series, which is Luke and London’s book! As bittersweet as I am to see this series end, Christina Lauren couldn’t have ended it with a more perfect book. I loved Wicked Sexy Liar. LOVED it!! I honestly couldn’t stop smiling the whole way through. Luke and London’s story was an absolute joy and pure fun to read. Once again, Christina Lauren has stunned me with another brilliant, intelligent, refreshing read – this time, about a girl and her friend’s… ex.

Following me with his eyes, he asks, “So is this no-dating-guys-you-meet-at-work thing, like, an actual rule?”
“Sort of.” I fold the bar towel and tuck it into the back of my apron, meeting his eyes.
“What if I promised I was absolutely worth it?”

We don’t know much about Luke or London in the previous books, and to be honest, I wasn’t sure how I’d feel about them going into this book. But right from the get-go, I fell so hard for these two. They instantly captivated me with their honesty, depth, and realness. Christina Lauren has a magical talent at writing characters who feel so genuinely real to me – there are so many hidden layers to each and every one of their characters, and as you unravel each one, you can’t help but grow to love that character.

Luke was the one I expected to have trouble with, but there’s something so lovely and good about him that I couldn’t help but love him. He may be a manwhore, but Luke is also so much more. He’s genuinely a good guy, but he’s buried away his hurt from his ex-girlfriend to give off this easy-going vibe that no one sees through until he meets London. London’s also got a messy romantic past, so to say these two are wary of relationships is an understatement. But slowly, through a budding friendship and a deep sexual connection, the both of them chip away at the walls around their hearts until they find themselves completely immersed in one another.

Luke is managing to break down my walls one smile at a time. Being with him feels a little like letting go of the handlebars and racing down a hill. And it also feels like being wrapped up in the warmest blanket.
How can he feel both like an adventure and a comfort?

The slow burn in Wicked Sexy Liar is absolutely wonderful and the perfect pace for Luke and London. I was expecting the romance to include some crazy drama and angst, since Luke is London’s friend’s ex, but honestly, everything about this book was FUN. It’s flirty, sexy (so freaking sexy), sweet, funny, original, and just all around a feel-good read. I read this book in one day, that’s how totally INTO this book I was. And what I loved most about the romance was how much effort it took for Luke to win London’s trust, and eventually, her heart. Ahh, Luke just makes me SWOON!

It’s sex, but it’s not.
It’s sex, but it’s more.
There are so many ways to love this girl; good God, let me find each and every one of them.

This newest book of Christina Lauren’s only reaffirms how brilliant these two writers are and how they’ll forever be my go-to authors for some incredible contemporary romances. Luke and London’s romance blew me away and is definitely one of my top favorites from this author duo. I can’t recommend this book – and author – enough. Everyone who loves romance just needs to read this book and experience how wonderful Luke and London are!

5 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: Wild Seasons series

 Dirty Rowdy Thing by Christina Lauren Dark Wild Night by Christina Lauren Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren

#1 ~ Sweet Filthy Boy: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Dirty Rowdy Thing: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Dark Wild Night: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Wicked Sexy Liar: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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A paperback of Wicked Sexy Liar (US Only)

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Release Day Review: The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard

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The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard

The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard
Series: The Florentine #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel trilogy comes the hotly anticipated follow-up to The Raven, a sensual novel set in Florence featuring the dangerously intoxicating coupling of Raven and William…

Raven Wood’s vampyre prince has returned, pledging his love and promising justice for every wrong done to her. In the wake of their reunion, Raven is faced with a terrible decision—allow the Prince to wreak vengeance against the demons of her past, or persuade him to stay his hand. But there is far more at stake than Raven’s heart…

A shadow has fallen over the city of Florence. Ispettor Batelli will not rest until he uncovers Raven’s connection to the theft of the priceless art from the Uffizi Gallery. And while the Prince hunts a traitor who sabotages him at every turn, he finds himself the target of the vampyres’ mortal enemy.

As he wages a war on two fronts, he will need to keep his love for Raven secret, or risk exposing his greatest weakness…

I highly enjoyed the first book in The Florentine series, so I couldn’t wait to jump into my early copy of the sequel. The Shadow picks up right where The Raven left off, continuing with Raven and William’s passionate love story and the dark underworld they live in. Sylvain Reynard’s writing is as lyrical and lush as ever, and though I didn’t love this book as much as I loved The Raven, it’s still a great installment to the series.

“You’re a dream.” She sighed. “A dream of love I never thought I’d have.”

William has now accepted that his heart belongs to Raven, and he’ll do anything and everything to protect her. There are dark forces that threaten his reign over Florence, and the best way to hurt him is to hurt Raven. The Shadow focuses a lot more on William and Raven’s beautiful romance, which is certainly the highlight of the book. We also get to know William so much better and he’s no longer such a mystery. Their relationship has now developed into something deeper, more intense and passionate. The depth of love these two have for one another is above and beyond, and I really loved seeing how they interact together.

He touched her cheek. “You are the light that shines in my darkness.”

I really liked this book. That being said, the first half of the book felt too slow and there wasn’t much going on besides Raven and William reaffirming their love. However, once the plot involving the underworld developed more, the suspense and action went up a notch. This is when I became fully immersed in the story and couldn’t stop flipping the pages. The action and intensity near the end of the book reminded me of why I fell so in love with the paranormal romance genre years ago, and continue to love it to this day.

The Shadow is a must-read for fans of the series. The romance is captivating and sexy, the writing is detailed and sensual – everything about this book is so very SR, even though it’s PNR and not contemporary. I’m already eager to get my hands on the next book in the series – I can’t wait to see what SR has in store for William and Raven, because I really need them to get their HEA!

3.5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Florentine series

The Prince by Sylvain Reynard The Raven by Sylvain Reynard The Shadow by Sylvain Reynard

#0.5 ~ The Prince: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ The Raven: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Shadow: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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Early Review: Remembrance by Meg Cabot

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Remembrance by Meg Cabot

Remembrance by Meg Cabot
Series: The Mediator #7 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 2nd 2016
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher in exchange for an honest review

Fifteen years after the release of the first Mediator novel, #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot returns with a deliciously sexy new entry to a fan-favorite series. Suze Simon—all grown up and engaged to her once-ghostly soulmate—faces a vengeful spirit and an old enemy bent on ending Suze’s wedded bliss before it begins.

You can take the boy out of the darkness.

But you can’t take the darkness out of the boy.

All Susannah Simon wants is to make a good impression at her first job since graduating from college (and since becoming engaged to Dr. Jesse de Silva).

But when she’s hired as a guidance counselor at her alma mater, she stumbles across a decade-old murder, and soon ancient history isn’t all that’s coming back to haunt her. Old ghosts as well as new ones are coming out of the woodwork, some to test her, some to vex her, and it isn’t only because she’s a mediator, gifted with second sight.

From a sophomore haunted by the murderous specter of a child, to ghosts of a very different kind—including Paul Slater, Suze’s ex, who shows up to make a bargain Suze is certain must have come from the Devil himself—Suze isn’t sure she’ll make it through the semester, let alone to her wedding night.

Suze is used to striking first and asking questions later. But what happens when ghosts from her past—including one she found nearly impossible to resist—strike first?

What happens when old ghosts come back to haunt you?

If you’re a mediator, you might have to kick a little ass.

I honestly want to cry right now!!! I was up until 3 AM finishing this… I can’t believe it’s over! Reading Remembrance was literally a dream come true for middle-school me – Suze and Jesse as adults, about to get married, was absolute perfection. It was amazing catching up with them and the rest of the gang (yes, even Paul). Meg Cabot is that one author who got me into reading, and I will be forever grateful to her for it. I remember reading the Mediator series as a young teen, so getting to experience this new chapter in the lives some of my favorite beloved characters was beyond anything I could’ve imagined. To say I had high expectations for Remembrance is an understatement, but Meg Cabot has blown me away. I couldn’t imagine a better and more perfect ending for the series!

So what has the Mediator gang been up to? Well, it’s been six years since Suze has graduated high school, but the only job she’s been able to find is one that doesn’t pay… and is a position at that same high school. Jesse is a doctor now, doing his residency. Oh, and the two of them are engaged – YAY!! Paul is, surprisingly, a successful businessman, but still as manipulative as ever. Suze’s stepbrothers lives have also changed considerably – Jake sells medical marijuana, Brad is a father, and David is in Harvard. Everything is so DIFFERENT and yet exactly the same. When I picked up Remembrance, it felt as if I never left this world, it was so easy to jump back into.

Suze is, of course, always involved in some ghost case or another, and this time is no different. There’s a ghost following around one of the students at her school, and she is determined to get to the bottom of it. Suze is seriously one of my favorite heroines of all time – she’s so funny, sarcastic, stubborn, resilient… she’s just a fantastic character to read about. And her narrative had me in stitches, I was laughing so hard. And, of course, Jesse is as wonderful as ever. Ever patient with Suze and her antics, and always there for her, Jesse is the perfect fiancé and soon-to-be husband. Except for the fact that he’s ingrained in his Catholic ways and wants to wait until marriage for sex. Suze gets frustrated, but then again, how can she complain when she’s about to marry the love of her life?

“I believe in facts. And the fact is, I want to be with Jesse because he makes me feel like a better person than I suspect I actually am.”

Paul gets a lot of screen time in Remembrance. I hate Paul as much as I love him. I don’t know… he’s just a GREAT character. He’s always stirring up drama that Suze falls for, and this time, Paul is threatening her with the one thing she cares for most: Jesse. There is a ton of suspense and action in this book that totally had me on the edge of my seat. I seriously couldn’t put Remembrance down, it was so good.

I loved this book so hard. There’s never a dull moment for Suze, from ghosts, to Paul, to keeping Jesse safe. Remembrance might be my new favorite of the series, that’s how much I loved this book. There really isn’t anything I can complain about in this book – so if you’re a fan of the series, you absolutely don’t want to miss this brilliant new installment!

“Susannah, Susannah, Susannah,” he whispered after a little while. “Te amo.”
“Me, too,” I whispered back, slipping my arms around his neck. … “Back at you.”

5 hearts
lacey

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Mediator series

   
  Proposal by Meg Cabot Remembrance by Meg Cabot

#1 ~ Shadowland: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Ninth Key: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Reunion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Darkest Hour: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Haunted: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Twilight: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6.5 ~ Proposal: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Remembrance: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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Review: Proposal by Meg Cabot

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Proposal by Meg Cabot

Proposal by Meg Cabot
Series: The Mediator #6.5 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: January 19th 2016
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

The last place Suze Simon expects to find herself during Valentine’s Day is a cemetery. But that’s what happens when you’re a mediator – cursed with the “gift” of communicating with the dead.

That’s how Suze has ended up at the graves of a pair of  NCDPs – Non-Compliant Deceased Persons – whose drama didn’t end with death. It’s Suze’s job to make sure they move on–for good.

But the NCDPs aren’t the only ones with problems. The reason Suze is spending her Valentine’s Day with the undead instead of her boyfriend, Jesse, is because he’s having so much trouble adjusting to life after death . . . not surprising, considering the fact that he used to be an NCDP himself, and now his girlfriend busts his former kind for a living, while he tries to cure his kind of what used to ail him.

Can Suze use her mediating skills to propose a mutual resolution, and bring all these young lovers together – including Jesse and herself – especially on the night Saint Valentine declared sacred to romance?

Or will she end up alone–and possibly undead–herself?

“I’m Suze Simon,” I said. “And you thought being dead was bad? Buddy, your eternal nightmare’s only just begun.”

I was lucky enough to get an ARC of Remembrance, but had been saving to read it at the right time – and when better to read it than right after reading Proposal? Proposal is a novella that bridges the original Mediator books to the upcoming adult installment, and if you’re a fan of the series, then you need to get your hands on Proposal before starting Remembrance. Suze and Jesse are back and better than ever – it was absolutely wonderful to be back in the Mediator world!

They think Jesse is what Father Dominic told them he is: a “young Jesuit student who transferred to the Carmel Mission from Mexico, then lost his yearning to go into the priesthood” after meeting me.
That one slays me every time.

The Mediator series is one of my all-time favorites from my childhood – Meg Cabot got me into reading in elementary school with this series, so Suze and Jesse will always have a piece of my heart. Reading Proposal pretty much felt like a throwback – it seemed like no time had passed since the last time I read Twilight, the sixth Mediator book. Suze is now in college but still ‘mediating’ ghosts and kicking ass (or getting her ass kicked). Jesse is away at med school, but since it’s Valentine’s Day, they’re together for a rare moment… but of course another ghost case pops up, so their romantic holiday will have to wait just a little longer.

I loved seeing Suze and Jesse older and physically TOGETHER now that Jesse has regained his body. And obviously from the title, you know what’s going to happen in this novella. But the lead up to the climax was honestly pure fun to read. The ghost case had me hooked onto the pages. Suze is her usual sassy, stubborn, hilarious self, and Jesse is as sexy and patient as ever. I loved the sexual tension between them, how Suze wants everything with Jesse, but Jesse (and his conservative ways) wants to wait for marriage. Overall, it was just a blast to be back with these two – they’re different now, yet totally the same lovable characters I knew from my childhood.

P.S. I’ve already read Remembrance, and I have to say, it just might be my new favorite of the series!

4 hearts
lacey

Reading Order: The Mediator series

   
  Proposal by Meg Cabot Remembrance by Meg Cabot

#1 ~ Shadowland: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Ninth Key: Ebook • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Reunion: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Darkest Hour: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#5 ~ Haunted: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6 ~ Twilight: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#6.5 ~ Proposal: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#7 ~ Remembrance: My Review • Hardcover • Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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