Manwhore

Manwhore (Manwhore, #1)
Katy Evans
Rating: 5 Bows
Barnes and Noble Amazon

Is it possible to expose Chicago’s hottest player—without getting played?

This is the story I've been waiting for all my life, and its name is Malcolm Kyle Preston Logan Saint. Don’t be fooled by that last name though. There’s nothing holy about the man except the hell his parties raise. The hottest entrepreneur Chicago has ever known, he’s a man’s man with too much money to spend and too many women vying for his attention.

Mysterious. Privileged. Legendary. His entire life he’s been surrounded by the press as they dig for tidbits to see if his fairytale life is for real or all mirrors and social media lies. Since he hit the scene, his secrets have been his and his alone to keep. And that’s where I come in.
Assigned to investigate Saint and reveal his elusive personality, I’m determined to make him the story that will change my career.

But I never imagined he would change my life. Bit by bit, I start to wonder if I'm the one discovering him...or if he's uncovering me.

What happens when the man they call Saint, makes you want to sin?

This is not the first book I've read from Katy Evans, having read the Real series, I expected a lot from this book. Let me just say, it does not disappoint.

One of the big things that makes me love Katy Evans is her writing style. I am in awe at how well she is able to get across the page the emotions of her characters. The first feelings of falling in love, the butterflies when someone is nervous, the way she writes it all is so realistic that it feels like I'm right there with the characters.

Let's talk about the story. When I read the synopsis of this book it was pretty obvious what was going to happen in the story, and that's okay. I quickly fell in love with Rachel. She is passionate and driven when it comes to her job and is willing to do anything to save the company she loves. However she is not perfect, she has many flaws and that's what makes her believable to me. She may not be the strong heroine we all want in our stories, she has insecurities and makes mistakes but she doesn't let them control her.

Malcolm Saint. DAMN. HE. IS. FINE. Katy Evans is a master at descriptions of characters, so when Malcolm Saint is first described, oh lordy. He is also the most caring, perfect, awe-inspiring male ever. He is absolutely not like I expected. He isn't overly cocky or arrogant, he's Malcolm, that's the only way I can describe him. You have to read this book to understand what I'm saying!

Malcolm's friends, Tahoe and Callan were equally sexy and funny. They act like teenagers when they get together but they're loyal to each other. Some goes for Rachel's friend, Gina and Winn. Gina is the level headed "protects her heart from guys" chick while Winn is the hopeless romantic.

Malcolm and Rachels relationship is bitter sweet to me. As they got to know each other I fell in love with them. I loved that he didn't shower her with gifts to impress her instead he reveals bits and pieces of himself that I couldn't wait when they got together again to find out more. But knowing what had to happen broke my heart every time I they had a sweet moment. It honestly took me a week to finish this book because I was dreading the inevitable.

This book was everything and more that I wanted it to be. It was also refreshing for once to have the female be the one who messed up instead of the male. Katy Evans hit a home run with this one and I can't wait to read the sequel! Malcolm Saint stole my heart. 'Nuff said.

Am I The Only One?

When I look for new books to read, it can take me minutes, hours, days, months, you get the picture.
It completely sucks because this means I can be stuck in a reading slump forever. Why does it take me so long to pick a book? Let me tell you.

First off, I like to read series. It keeps me entertained and hooked where as a stand alone ends too quickly. I have thins quirk of mine though, that the series needs to have a little romance but the most important thing is that the ending needs to be resolved. There is nothing more frustrating to me when a series is left with an ending that's left hanging, left up to the reader, or just unresolved. It leaves a bad taste in my mouth.

I also would like for the series to end with the main character ending up with the love interest that I was rooting for, yes I know that's not up to me, but I can live without this. What I can't live with is when the author kills the main character in the last book. WHY?? Why would they do that? I invested so much time and emotions, I have fallen in love with these characters and then BAM they snatch it away. AHHH it breaks my heart.

So there's a few series that I'm considering reading. They have all the issues I described above but sometimes it's worth it... and sometimes it's not.

Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea Series- the ending is like a cliffhanger...

The Raven Boys Series- this one kills me, because we all know what needs to happen. And it kills me. I don't know if I can emotionally get through that, so I don't want to fall in love with these boys and then just have it all fall apart.

Uh, I sound crazy but I love my books and I don't want to be heartbroken. Am I the only one who gets this invested in what they're reading? Or am I just crazy?

 What should I read?? Help!!

Hardline (The Hacker Series, 3)

Hardline (The Hacker Series, 3)
Meredith Wild
Rating: 3 Bows
Barnes and Noble Amazon

Software mogul Blake Landon has met his match in headstrong Erica Hathaway. While his controlling nature and her independent spirit continue to battle, Blake has no intention of letting her out of his life again.

Erica has given Blake her trust and her love, determined that they will conquer any challenges together. But when he demands more and tests the boundaries of her commitment, she is forced to face the dark desires he's kept hidden.

As their bonds grow tighter, their enemies close in. With Erica's start-up in danger, Blake's frustration grows as he tries to protect her from those who would ruin her only to get to him. Can their relationship survive when Blake's enemies cross the line and threaten more than her livelihood?

The story picks up where the second book left off and it starts with a bang...literally. I really wanted to give this book a higher rating but I had a few issues with this story. I wish it would have been a little longer but I could have gotten over that but the actual issues comes from the story.

I had major issues with Blake and Erica's relationship. I was under the impression that Blake was okay with Erica being his "submissive" in the bedroom but she was free to be her own person when it came to her business. Well that flew out the window. Whenever Blake wasn't able to control Erica and her business he went crazy, manipulative and down right mean. In a way I would have found it hot the way Blake wanted to take charge of the situation to help Erica but instead he was an ass and wouldn't even compromise with her.

I guess my biggest issue is that Erica can't live without Blake and she did anything he wanted in order to keep him. Seriously, what happened to strong independent Erica? She sacrificed EVERYTHING to make Blake happy and get him back while Blake, sat in his office waiting for Erica to give in. That is not okay with me. There needs to be a compromise from both sides for a relationship to work.

The book is not all that bad, aside from those issues, which begins at the middle of the story, Blake and Erica's relationship is heartwarming. The way Blake feels for Erica just melts my heart, and the sex...is steamy.

I wish it was longer because I felt like we didn't get anywhere with this book. There is a new twist introduced into the story but it's on the last page and then the book ends. It felt like I sort of wasted my time with this book because all I read was a bunch of lovers quarrels and in order to move on with the story I need to pick up the fourth book.

I will be picking up the next book in this series, I just hope we get a little more of the story and not just fights.

The Blood & Roses Series

The Blood & Roses Series
Callie Hart
Rating: 5 Bows!
Barnes and Noble Amazon

Zeth Mayfair's never been troubled by morals before. As one of Seattle's most dangerous, feared men, he's always carried out the jobs he's sent on without a second thought. Drugs? Guns? Dirty money? They're all fair game. But girls? Girls are another matter entirely. When Zeth's employer decides buying and selling kidnapped women is a lucrative sideline, Zeth's usually uncomplicated life suddenly becomes very complicated indeed. And his biggest complication goes by the name of Sloane Romera.

As a trauma doctor at St. Peter's Hospital, Sloane's finger is hardly on the pulse of Seattle's underground crime scene. Her sister is missing and she needs to find her, yet all doors leading into the seedy world of human trafficking are firmly closed in Sloane's face. She needs information. What she really needs is help...and help presents itself in the most unlikely of forms. Zeth Mayfair is terrifying, scandalously hot, and comes fully loaded with a terrible attitude and wicked smile. He also looks like he's Sloane's only hope. Can she work with the guy without getting herself killed, losing her job, or falling head over heels in love?

What happens in the dark never stays in the dark.

This book is hands down amazing. I actually bought this book to keep me busy while I waited for a new release on Tuesday and I am so glad I did. This is the first book I've read from Callie Hart and I am now a huge fan!

This book is dark and violent, yet erotic and sinfully beautiful. Pretty complex huh? It's so hard to put into words the many layers that this book has. The concepts are not the pretty cookie cutter types, they're violent and realistic, the characters are far from perfect and that's what makes this story so great.

The story is centered around Sloane trying to find her sister who was kidnapped two years ago. Sloane will do anything to get her sister back, and I do mean anything, and that's how we meet Zeth. I loved watching Sloane's personality grow through out the book. After everything she goes through she can no longer be the sweet naive woman, she has to become a strong willed person to survive.

Now to the best part: Zeth Mayfair. He is drop dead sexy as sin. Zeth is the definition of bad boy and he doesn't disappoint. What is so great about him is that even though he's a ruthless killer, he is protective, loyal and so honest. Zeth has a hard exterior and his emotions are as impenetrable as a steel wall. He loves kink. Yes you read it right, he loves his kink. He carries around a black duffle full of mysterious things and you know when he pulls that duffel out that it's gonna get pretty steamy. There is also a whole cast of side characters that play in important role in the story but the best one has to be Michael. This man, one word: LOYAL. I need my own personal Michael, and Zeth of course.

This story is a rollercoaster of emotions. There is violence and death and it's not all rays of sunshine. However the light in this book is Zeth and Sloane. Their relationship is one to aspire to. They complement each other so well and accept each other for who they are. So many books these days focus on one person trying to change the other but that's not the case here. I guess what makes this one of my favorite books is that even after finding solace and love with each other Zeth is still loves his kink and Sloane is still that strong woman.

It's my first book from Callie Hart but it won't be my last. I would recommend this book to anyone who's looking for some action, an alpha male lead and a strong willed woman who will knock him off his feet.  

Splintered

Splintered (Splintered, 1)
A.G. Howard
Rating: 5 Bows!

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

What can I say about this book? It's AMAZING, duh! This is the second book that I've read that takes on the story of Alice in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, the first being Alice in Zombieland. In my opinion, I liked this one more. Howard creates a world of fantasy and adventure and the writing style makes you believe what you're reading is real.

Alyssa is the perfect heroine. Her life is far from perfect but she finds a way to deal with it all. She doesn't sit in a corner and cry when things go wrong, instead she is more determined to make her life better. I loved Alyssa's personality, for a teenager she wasn't overly whinny, she's brave and determined and dealt with the situation of Jeb with maturity (honestly I yelled at Jeb more than she did). Alyssa is a true kick ass heroine.

Jeb. I like him and I hate him at the same time. At the beginning of the book he was not my favorite person, in the middle I respected him and at the end I liked him. He's brave and protective of Alyssa but has issues when it comes to that (especially at the beginning). Despite his faults at the beginning, Jeb truly has Alyssa's back and would do anything for her.

Jeb would be the perfect love interest if it wasn't for Morpheus. Oh dear baby Jesus. I could not stop smiling and fanning myself when Morpheus first turns up. WOW, he is sexy, mysterious, charming and dangerous. I can't not love him. Morpheus had my feelings going like a rollercoaster. When it comes to Morpheus I felt love, hate, pity and sadness all in one chapter. Despite everything, I truly want to see him with Alyssa...sorry Jeb.

Overall, I loved that Splintered has elements of the original story tale but with a dark twist. Howard paints a world of dark fantasy and makes me wish it was real. I can't wait to pick up the next book and see where Howard takes these characters, more specifically Morpheus.

Alice In Zombieland

Alice In Zombieland (The White Rabbit Chronicles, 1)
by Gena Showalter
Rating: 5 Bows!

She won’t rest until she’s sent every walking corpse back to its grave. Forever.

Had anyone told Alice Bell that her entire life would change course between one heartbeat and the next, she would have laughed. From blissful to tragic, innocent to ruined? Please. But that’s all it took. One heartbeat. A blink, a breath, a second, and everything she knew and loved was gone.

Her father was right. The monsters are real….

To avenge her family, Ali must learn to fight the undead. To survive, she must learn to trust the baddest of the bad boys, Cole Holland. But Cole has secrets of his own, and if Ali isn’t careful, those secrets might just prove to be more dangerous than the zombies….

I wish I could go back and do a thousand things differently.
I'd tell my sister no.
I'd never beg my mother to talk to my dad.
I'd zip my lips and swallow those hateful words.
Or, barring all of that, I'd hug my sister, my mom and my dad one last time.

   So this was my very first zombie book. I won't lie, I was a little skeptical at first, I mean really, zombies? I'm glad I picked this book up! It was refreshing and full of action packed scenes and of course a slow building romance. 

   What I really enjoyed about this book is that Gena Showalter kept the zombies as zombies. Usually the creatures of then night turn out to be the love interest or they turn out to be good instead of evil but in Alice in Zombieland, zombies are bad, period. The originality of what zombies really are was a refreshing twist on the decaying walking corpse. 

   Now, to get into the characters. Alice: I liked how she was able to turn her grief into something useful, it gave her a purpose. She didn't wallow in self pity for long and that, in my opinion, was good because it gave us a more fast paced story. Her determination to avenge her family made her strong and nothing deterred her, and that in itself makes her stand out from the typical "I need saving" heroine. Cole: my oh my. Tall, dangerous, tattooed, bad tempered. What more can you ask for? Oh yeah, fiercely protective. *SWOON* He's a bit of a hard-ass at the beginning but he has reasons and to say he is fiercely loyal to his cause is an understatement. The only issue I had with Cole and his group of badasses was that the way they were described as reminded me of someone that was 22 or older when in reality they were 17. There are a lot of characters in this book and each one has their own personality. You'll love some and you'll hate some.

   Over all the book was fantastic and different. If other books about zombies are like this, then I'm diving straight into the zombie genre train asap! 

OH MY GOODNESS!

HELLO STRANGERS!!!

It has literally been a year...maybe less...maybe more? I don't know I've lost track of time. BUT it has been way too long since I've posted anything and I blame school for it all!

Luckily I've started my winter break and I'm hoping to start posting again!

So I've been wanting to do something a little different with this blog. It's still going to be a book review blog but I also wanted to blog about my life, what's going on around me just as much as I want to blog about books! Sounds good? Yes? Okay then!

Please hang in there with me, I'm trying to sort out my life since I will be graduating soon and heading to bigger things so I want to be able to still post and do all the things I love. I promise I will be posting new material up probably later tonight for starters and as the days pass I will add more things!!

Thank you lovelies! <3