REVIEW; Heartless, by Vanessa Marie

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Charlie has lived her life moving from place to place as her father moves with the military. She is finally excited to move when she discovers she will be returning to her original home town and will be reunited with her best friend Julian. 
Not having any interest in boys, Charlie can't help but give into the attraction she has for Sam - a cool, light-hearted 25 year old she meets in a cafe. But Charlie doesn't like letting people in and is always expecting to be let down. Sam manages to break down her walls and discover glimpses of her harsh youth and loves her for it. 
But just as they seem to be on the same page, Charlie starts back at school. And Sam walks into her Creative Writing class... as her teacher. 

My Thoughts:

Writing: At the beginning I couldn't help but cringe at the writing in this. The forced wit and banter among the characters seemed juvenile and childish. I'd really suggest re-writing the first 1 or 2 chapters as they just are such a turn off. However, as the story progressed the writing did also. The torment of life that plagued Charlie was described so emotively and I could really sense her suffering throughout. 


Characters: 

• Charlie: I loved her fight to begin with. She seemed so strong and sure of herself. But I got a little tired of the whole "selfless" act she tries to pull towards the end. Just feels a tad over done in so many novels where characters push people away for their protection. 

• Julian: He was awesome! Totally could see the twist involving him from the get go, but he's a best friend anyone would want. He was so good at giving Charlie the kick up the ass she needed but also he still had his breaking point, like every human

• Sam: Ooh la la! I'd say everyone reading this wished they were Charlie in the coffee shop! He had a great personality and charm that wooed the reader, but he wasn't perfect either. Charlie really got under his skin and seeing his anger and frustration play out, made him so authentic and realistic. He wasn't some glorified man who had no flaws, and this made him even more attractive. 

"Experience is a hard teacher because she gives you the test first and the lesson afterward"

"Life is bullshit. It's not sunshine and fucking rainbows, it's dark clouds and acid rain" 

Story: Regardless of any drawbacks, this story drew me in and kept me up late in order to finish it. I immediately bought book 2 to continue their story. Sam and Charlie had such a rich relationship in the first half, and it was painful to read their pain when they realised their new situation. Throw in the drama of Charlie's health and it's just a rollercoaster of emotion! This also really went beyond the usual teacher-student romance. I liked how it developed between them two initially and the chemistry that pervaded the novel. 

Overall: 

I loved this a lot. I'm so glad I stuck with it even though my first impressions were quite negative. There is such a beautiful, heartwrenching love story that unravels in the pages of this. It is a little heavy dealing with difficult topics and the struggles of life - but an amazing read. Definitely recommend!

Goodreads 
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REVIEW; Fallen Fourth Down (Fallen Crest High #4), by Tijan

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Mason Kade has left for university, and Logan is left to look out for Sam. But after what Tate told her, Sam wants to keep Logan away in an effort to protect everyone. 

Trying to keep her relationship alive despite Mason being so far apart, Sam doesn't know what to do. Meanwhile Mason is met with a girl from his past, adding fuel to the fire as he fights for his relationship to stay alive. 

Is this finally it for Mason and Sam? Will the secrets wedge them apart or will their love triumph over distance and gossip?

My Thoughts:

***Fallen Crest High Review***

***Fallen Crest Family Review***

***Fallen Crest Public Review***

UGGGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. 

So disappointed with this one! There was such a good route to have tried to go down and it was just abandoned and instead filled with boring story filler. 

I can't really break this review up into specific parts like I normally do. I kind of expected more drama between Logan/Sam/Mason but instead it was sort of weakly executed. I didn't want any cheating but everyone can tell Logan loves Sam in some manner. 

After Sam had regained her fight in the third book, she certainly lost it again in this one. She was way too co-dependent on Mason and acted like she couldn't function with him gone and then obsessed over the Logan drama. Get some bloody self-control and own yourself! She just seemed like a pathetic needy teenager rather than a woman in a loving relationship. Although the distance was there, they knew they'd be seeing each other so just get out of your slump and deal with it. 

It all just got too annoying by this stage. 

Even the Kade brothers seemed to show a more sensitive weak side as if they weren't those same brothers as in the first book! There was a lot less tough guy and a lot more emotional dealings and I'm not sure if that worked or not. There just seemed to be a lot more of me wanting to through my kindle across the room during this than I have previously... 

Overall: 

This had the same feel as the second book - merely a story filler. I was really expecting a LOT more but still did enjoy the story nonetheless. That cliffhanger though!! I will definitely be finishing this series though regardless of feelings about this one. 

Goodreads 
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VOTE! - Whiskey Devils, by Brandon Zenner

KINDLE SCOUT: 

Hi All,

I love supporting authors in any way I can, and even more so when they've produced books that I have absolutely loved. I recently favorably reviewed a novel by Brandon Zenner and now have the opportunity to help with his latest piece of work.

I ask anyone reading this, please take 10 seconds of your time to follow this link and vote or "nominate" his novel, Whiskey Devils.

Kindle Scout gives readers the opportunity to nominate new novels with the chance that Amazon will then publish the winning novel.

You will need to sign in/up to amazon to cast a vote.

Thanks in advance to all who vote! Please share among other readers.

Every vote helps!

REVIEW; Fallen Crest Public (Fallen Crest High #3), by Tijan

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

It's the last semester before Mason Kade heads off to college. Sam is starting in their school and has to face the predicted obstacle of not being wanted there by the popular crowd. 

Trying to fend for herself, Samantha has Heather who helps her out with a mutual hatred for Kate, who is hellbent on ruining Samantha. 

Meanwhile Sam is trying to keep Mason and Logan in check from being involved with the rival gang of Broudou's... and the situation isn't helped when one of the brothers has his eye set on Sam.

My Thoughts:

***Fallen Crest High Review***

*** Fallen Crest Family Review***

This was definitely up to the standard of the first book! I loved it so much. It had everything I originally loved with the whole story.

Sam: She got her spunk back in this book. She definitely seemed stronger and more able to stand her ground. Maybe not every time, but she wasn't as broken as she was in the last book and this really supported her character development as she gets stronger with the more that's thrown her way. It definitely helped that she had Heather, a girl friend she could properly rely on to have her back.

Story: Oh wow the drama in this was just so addicting! Every second there was something being thrown Sam's way and I secretly enjoyed Sam and Mason's relationship being put to the test. It always flowed so well and it was sort of redeeming to see it struggle slightly and there be a little fight on their hands. Add in the Broudou brothers... I loved that dynamic between them and how opposite they were. It worked so well for me rather than them just being a pair of cold asses!

Ending: *JAW TO THE FLOOR* WHAAAAAAT?! Okay, I'd like to say this totally surprised me... It didn't surprise me what Tate said as honestly, I got that impression too but always dismissed it as just being... nothing. BUT THE FACT IT WAS FINALLY ADDRESSED AND IN TYPE! Just got me so hyped for the next book to see where the story went and what drama would ensue. I think it worked a treat. Totally drew me in! 

Overall: 

As per everything I read by Tijan - I recommend this series entirely. Probably my number one series at this rate. Totally head over heels for everything they're involved with. It's just so addictive! I could go on and on but I really don't want to give any spoilers away. 

Goodreads 
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REVIEW; The Experiment of Dreams, by Brandon Zenner

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Psychological Thriller, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Ben Walker's life ended with the death of his wife. Passing his days with alcohol, he earns extra money by being test subject to new drugs and sleep related studies due to his migraines and ability to lucid dream. 

When offered a new job to be a part of a highly paid, top secret experiment, to test a machine that can record and playback dreams, Ben can't resist the financial benefit. 

With the added perk of being able to travel the world with his job, Ben soon meets Sophia, the first woman that has caught his eye since his wife's passing. But not all is what it seems. Ben is being watched and kept in the dark about a lot of things. When one of Ben's dreams sparks panic and outrage, the truth begins to unravel, and Ben is put right in the path of danger.

My Thoughts:

Woooooooooooooooow!!!!!!!

I downloaded this book from BookBub as I love psychological thrillers or novels surrounding dreams and experiments. After falling into a lull of reading NA Romance, I chose this to break up the cycle and WOW! It reminded me why I love these type of books so much. 

Story: The plot in this is so original and fascinating. The idea of Lucy - the dream recording machine - is amazing and the amount of scientific explanations for everything in this make it so believable and plausible. From the start the reader is thrown into a whirlwind of drama and suspense, not knowing when the dangers will present themselves. I love anything to do with how the mind works and this novel really explores the nitty gritty about dreams and the states of mind. It's actually unsettling to read about how easily one can fall victim to their own mind. 

Ben: Immediately I felt for Ben; his tragic past and his lethargic and vulnerable state made me care and worry for his safety. With the added uncertainty and untrustworthy vibe from the Dr, Iain etc, I was constantly on the edge of my seat waiting to see what they'd do. Zenner has gone into such great but precise detail with describing the tortured and depressed mind of Ben, suffering still with the loss of his wife and how he coped, or failed to cope, with her death. 

Writing: I'm a big fan of the writing in this. I really got the sense every single word was chosen specifically, like in poetry, rather than just in a haphazard method of writing in a stream of consciousness. The level of description, even in basic passages is astounding and so emotive, but it doesn't lull. I was never tempted to skip a paragraph like I normally would. The story often jumps back in time as more is revealed to the reader and I liked how this was displayed subtly; 

"A younger Iain Marcus and Michael Bennet approached Drapery Falls in the dead of night..."

 Rather than stating "X years ago...". Great examples permeated the novel of perfect "show not tell" execution.

Ending: The last 30% of this flew by and was filled with shocking twists. I don't know many times I shouted "Oh. My. God!" when finishing this. Not only was there a surprising ending, it was wrapped up so well that it didn't feel like the story just ended. 

Overall: 

The Experiment of Dreams has made it onto my favourites list. From the beginning to the end it's a complete rollercoaster of suspense. There's so many little twists incorporated and it's not a predictable read in the slightest!! Definitely a stand out novel. 

Goodreads 
Amazon UK
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REVIEW; The Truth About James (YA Series #2), by Sarah Tork

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: No

SPOILERS

Summary:

Annabelle is still losing weight but that's become the lesser of two battles. Having fallen for James just before school started, she now returns to see him at the height of popularity and mixing with the Queens. 

He doesn't want to let go of her, but Annabelle struggles to believe he really wants her when she sees him flirting in school and doesn't include her in his plans. He always has an excuse and Annabelle wants to believe in him, but as he continuously lets her down, can she find the courage to to walk away for good? 

My Thoughts:

*** Young Annabelle Review ***

I was glad I had this to read right after finishing Young Annabelle having felt like it wasn't a complete story. 

Annabelle: She was a lot more frustrating and pathetic in this book. James was her weak spot and I understand how she kept letting him back into her heart and although it was annoying to read again and again, it was realistic and we're all guilty of it. But I hate when people jump to conclusions and it was all she did consistently throughout despite having sworn to trust him. I didn't feel for her as much in this as I had previously. She played Dean as well and that wasn't cool either. Both main characters in this just weren't likable in the least.

James: Ughhhh... sorry but no. All his smooth talk and charm that won Anna over was just awful. I didn't care for him at all. His texting was that of a child and I couldn't imagine a male being so drama seeking. The conversations of them going back and forth were just annoying with the petty "I don't care" and "I'm done with this" blah blah. They did more superficial arguing than actually working anything out and getting to the point. He was so disrespectful and arrogant, wanting a relationship with Anna but then not confiding in her and telling her of his plans and blaming her when she asks him about where he's been. When Anna did walk away he'd rock up the next day as suited him and act like nothing had changed between them. 

Dean: Ahhh.. I didn't like him much at first as he just seemed like a player but he definitely had a lot respect for Anna. He had his flaws but he showed emotion and a real care for Annabelle and I was sort of rooting for him to really show up how crap James was.

Jenna: I loved her so much. She was a brilliant best friend and spoke so much sense. She was such a crucial person for the story as she was the voice of reason reminding Annabelle of what she deserved and what she was worth, which is an important message to relay in a story like this, as Annabelle followed her heart rather than her head. 

Story: Meh, there isn't much depth in this at all. It just childish arguments throughout. The texting was frustrating with the wrong grammar. Often there were exclamation marks in replacement of question marks. The same phrases were thrown about and even conversations on repeat. 

Overall: 

I wouldn't really recommend this. It's rather childish and just typical and predictable drama with little depth or story to anything. I still stick to my original view when finishing Young Annabelle, that all of this was too broken up and thrown together. It all would've flowed a lot better being the one book. 

Goodreads 
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REVIEW; Young Annabelle, by Sarah Tork

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: Young Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Annabelle is over 160 pounds and her mother doesn't let her forget it. Controlling her meals and watching the amount of calories she burns, Annabelle can't escape the constant reminder of not being good enough by being judged by her weight. 

Then she meets James; he sees nothing wrong with how she looks and doesn't try to hide how he feels for her. 

But no matter what he does, Annabelle can't let him in and constantly chooses to see him as a typical popular player. Can she possibly win him for good, as she battles every day with her body and her family to try and win the prize of being loved?

My Thoughts:

Annabelle: I often find it hard now to read stories with characters a few years younger than me, as I can often find them being immature as I subconsciously compare them to me currently. But even trying to think back to when I was 17, and how my friends acted, I really think she was quite childish still. She did put up with a lot from her control freak mother and horrible family, so I understand her want to lash out. But she needed a kick up the ass to just stand up for herself. She had no problem with being rude to James all the time, so I fail to see why this attitude wasn't integral to her persona and it infiltrate all of her relationships.


James: Meh. I liked the banter between the two, but he was annoying. He lead Annabelle on completely and really was up his own. I don't think we got enough insight into his character to be able to see why Annabelle fell for him, so it felt like it was all just her wanting to be accepted more than down to James himself. He didn't make an effort with Annabelle but just spontaneously appeared as it suited him and expected her to be chill with it all ~ he didn't speak to her for 2 weeks as his phone broke... but yet he knew where she lived and it was supposedly close by. If he really cared he would've dropped by to tell her.


Story: I really was disappointed with the content in this. From reading the blurb of the book, I expected the majority of the story to take place when Annabelle had actually returned to high school, but in fact out of 6 weeks, only one day was set in the new school year. I liked the idea behind it all though, but am put off that the first book actually had so little in the story. I was expecting a lot more and had it read in well under 3 hours and it felt like I'd just read a few chapters. But oh well. 


Theme: I'm a huge fan of how influential authors can be and them recognising this fact and not abusing this power. Writing a story involving self-image issues and weight needs to be executed in a careful manner as it's an issue nearly every young-adult/teen experiences growing up. Annabelle wasn't at an outrageous weight that required a diet or such drastic reaction to by her parents. She was described as having a round belly and love handles etc, (pretty normal) but it was clear she was self conscious about this part of her body, regardless of the number on the scales. THIS IS WHAT SHOULD'VE BEEN THE FOCUS! Instead of fighting against her mother about what she ate, there should have been more discussion over her self image issues- what she was conscious about, ~ like pulling her cardigan down so she could breathe out and keep her tummy hidden ~ the little things she did to battle her insecurities that the reader could relate to and James/Jenna whoever reassuring her (the reader too maybe) that there was nothing wrong with her body. Of course, keep the horrible mother character as the bully and the catalyst for feeling so awful, but there needed to be a balance as I felt there were things that weren't addressed that should've been in this theme. There was no element of self love, and I don't mean it should be promoting being unhealthy and taking the attitude of "I love myself so I don't care" but rather not having to be a certain number on the scales or not have an ounce of "wobble" to be considered healthy. I'm not overweight or fat etc, whatever word you want to use, and I am healthy, but it took me years to be able to focus on being healthy rather than being a certain size and this needed to be really incorporated into the story to really hit home the theme in this... *deep breath*

Overall: 

Okaayyyyyy. So, after all that, I do recommend this! It's a light read and definitely suitable for YA's out there. The writing is good and there's a good pace to everything as the story does move along quite well. I'm reading the second book straight after this so maybe certain issues are addressed in that, however I do believe it would've been better if this first book had more substance to it.

Goodreads 
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REVIEW; Fallen Crest Family (Fallen Crest High #2), by Tijan

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Mason and Samantha are as strong as ever - and deeply in love. Whether or not people approve, they are meant to be. But Sam's mother is determined to keep them apart and control Sam's life. 

Doing what she can to maintain her relationship, Sam also has to deal with jealous bitches getting inside her head due to her association with the Kades.

Turning to running as her escape, Sam has to be as strong as ever and battle through all that life throws at her, especially as soon Mason will be gone to uni, and Sam will have to cope by herself. Can their love, and Sam, survive?

My Thoughts:

***Fallen Crest High Review***

Ahhhhhh!! My God!! 
I loved Fallen Crest High and Tijan jumped to my list of favourites so I was so excited to finally get the chance to read this! 

Sam: Why are people beating her down so much? Yeah, she was so bad-ass and strong in Book 1 - but, come on!!! She has so much to deal with, and her mother is so crazy and is doing whatever she can to destroy Sam and Mason. Sam is pretty much hated and targeted in school and every day is a battle. So, yeah, she gets upset and emotional at times, but I still think she is just as bad-ass as before. People need to remember she's 17 - how would you react in her situation? I understand her penchant for running as a release, but 4.5 hours on a whim? That seemed a little far-fetched when doing daily. 


Story: I'm not really too sure what the big story here was... It seemed a little lost at times. I would have preferred some more emotional intimacy between Sam and Mason though instead of always physical comfort. There were some aspects that didn't really add up as well. If Sam was only 17, is she legally allowed to work in a bar? And then Heather and her brothers owned it but they were around the same age as Sam... But I don't know American rules! 


Writing: I love Tijan's writing style. I just fall so easily into the story and become completely invested in her world within the first paragraph. Any twists or drama are delivered in such a gripping manner and the story flies. 


Characters: The Kade brothers are amazing. Mason is fantastic but I think I'm starting to prefer Logan. His affection for Sam is adorable and how much he wants to protect her. I love the mix of humour with angst they carry. It's also refreshing that we're reminded occasionally of the darkness they come from - they're not bad people but they do go around the law and there is a slight fear of them - making them so much more attractive. There's also a good character development. Sam was once a lot tougher but clearly times are taking their toll. Mason and Logan are tough as nails, but they have a sensitive side which reminds you their human and real. 

Overall: 

This is my favourite series. I love everything about it and the characters. A great second book but I feel it's one making the way for a great third book! A must read and if you haven't started the series then you definitely should! 

Goodreads 
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REVIEW; Forever Too Far (Rosemary Beach #3), by Abbi Glines

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Blair and Rush want their happily ever after with their perfect family. But no matter what they do, something always thwarts their plans. 

Blair thinks that finally all the drama is behind them and that her and Rush can finally live their life. 

But torn between his family and his family with Blair, Rush can't seem to please either side no matter what he does, causing more drama. Every attempt at pleasing one, results in the sadness of the other. Can Blair and Rush have a happy ending? Or was their love doomed from the beginning?

My Thoughts

***Fallen Too Far Review***

***Never Too Far Review***

Story: I'm not really sure all of this warranted a full novel. It mainly followed Blair with her pregnancy and Rush being always sidetracked by Nan's desperate attempts for attention. To begin with, obviously the drama was needed by Rush going off to help her, but he had more than enough warnings that putting Nan first was harming Blair. He should've manned up and given Nan a good talking to much sooner. She was a massive bitch and although she needed help, Rush treating her like a fragile being wasn't helping her in the least. 

• This would've been a 4 star rating if there had been less of the Nan drama. It took up way too much of the book and it wore thin pretty quickly, especially as Rush was so hesitant to be stern with her.

• Blair and Rush's beautiful relationship was still strong in this. Although they'd their issues, it was still a gorgeous read and as brilliant as ever. 

• Grant and Harlow were such a lovely addition to the story. Although they probably didn't really fit into this book, it gives a nice branch into more of Grant's life that hopefully will be written about! 

After reviewing the previous two books, there's less to really comment on aside from the specific story. I think this was an appropriate ending and had suitable drama to keep my attention and still remain a decent read. I read all three back to back so the overall story just seemed like one long one and they did all blend quite seamlessly.  

Overall: 

It's the final installment of Rush and Blair's story. If you've started the series, I'd definitely recommend finishing it. Fallen Too Far is probably the best of the three, but overall, it's still a fantastic and gripping series and you will fall for Rush and Blair!

Goodreads 
Amazon UK
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REVIEW; Never Too Far (Rosemary Beach #2), by Abbi Glines

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILERS

Summary:

Blair is back home trying to sort her life out without Rush being in it. Meanwhile Rush is heartbroken and trying to find a way to get Blair back again. 

But when Blair is forced to return to Rush, she has to find a way to let him back into her life as he has to find a way to be around her without scaring her off again. She wants him back, but is terrified to trust him again after being betrayed.

But as they try to see eye to eye to make progress, other drama poses to threaten everything they've worked for, and their happily ever after doesn't seem to be a possibility no matter how much they try.

My Thoughts:

***Read Fallen Too Far Review***

So thankfully I had the second book to dive straight into after the cliffhanger of book one, but unfortunately, this wasn't as good as Fallen Too Far.

Blair: I really loved her in the first book. She was so self sufficient and independent. But in this, she lost her fight. She just got a little bit annoying making Rush really beg so much to get her back. He had kept something from her, and she deserved to be annoyed. But after finding out she was pregnant she needed to just get over it a little and stop pushing him away so much. She kept moaning on about how incompatible they were and just shuuuut uuuup already!! 


Rush: Still love him but maybe not as much... He could've easily been an ass with what happened but he stood up and took the role he was meant to. But at times I wanted to scream at him to wake up and stop always saying Blair was his priority but then choosing Nan and her stupid drama!!!!!!! Every. Single. Time... But I can forgive it simply as he is torn with his loyalties and just trying to do the right thing by everyone and his actions were entirely understandable considering his circumstances. He also really knew how to make it up to Blair, if she'd get over herself and accept his endless efforts of apology. Like, gah, despite his crappy decisions, when he gave his speeches to keep Blair, it was heart wrenching!


I loved how it alternated POV between Rush and Blair. It gave such a great insight into what both felt but how much they failed at just voicing it simply! Ah the drama that could've been saved if they just said what they felt/thought. But I know, in real life we don't know what the other person thinks so of course were silenced by our insecurities and worries.


Story: This definitely lived up to the first book on the drama element. I did accept the twists of Rush dealing with Nan's drama and Blair on her own drama journey... but the continuation of twisting the whole "Who's Nan's Father?" crap... it just seemed so dragged out. What's the truth? The real true truth? 


Ending: Umm...What? I'm in two minds about this one. In one way, it was an appropriate, albeit abrupt, end to their story. The reader could believe that was their ending and everything was good. But then it was sort of unsatisfactory after all the drama they'd gone through. At least I'd the final installment to start straight after but I think without it, Never Too Far would've felt just abandoned at the end rather than completed.

Overall: 

If you've read Fallen Too Far, I'd definitely say read this. It's a great continuation and still is a gripping read with plenty of captivating, emotional drama! 

Goodreads 
Amazon UK
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REVIEW; 3.A.M, by Nick Pirog

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: Thriller, Suspense,  Mystery

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Henry Bins suffers from a condition named after him. He sleeps 23 hours a day and only wakes up at 3:00am for one hour only. But one day he hears a scream from across the road and sees The President leave the house.

After realising the woman has been murdered, Henry's main suspect is The U.S. President. But can he discover the truth with only being awake for 60 minutes? 

And what happens when he too, comes to be on the list of suspects?

My Thoughts:

I love original pieces of work so when I stumbled upon this, I knew it was my type of thing. It was sitting in my Kindle Library for about a year until I got round to finally reading it and I enjoyed it. 

Novella: To start off, this is a novella. Something I had missed when buying it. It only has about 100 pages and this was a huge disappointment. Even more so as it ends at 70% on the kindle too... There was such a great story to this, but it was too fast and quick. I like proper meaty stories and this sounded like one - granted it was my mistake - but I felt this had so much depth to it, that it could easily have been a proper novel. 

Story: I'm pretty torn with this. Half of me wants to pick apart the errors or problems but then the other half wants to applaud the original idea. 

• The idea of Henry Bins is a really interesting one. How would only being awake for one hour affect and change the human race? How much would the world be altered. Could people be awake for different hours? None of this was really explored and it feels like a missed opportunity. It was simply explained Henry has this condition and just accept it and move on. This felt a little strange as I would've focused a lot more on his condition and the consequences as it was such an unusual aspect of the story. 

• Lassie... uhhh isn't he meant to be a cat? It really didn't fit. I have two cats and just... it was simply frustrating how Lassie was responding to Henry and how he spoke to the cat. Just not realistic and was completely unnecessary too. 

• Amongst everything else going on, there was a slight hint of romance which was as if it was thrown in for the laugh. It didn't fit in with everything else at all and was again, unrealistic. It would've been a lot better had the book been a novel as there would've been the appropriate room for development rather than plonking it in the middle of nowhere.

Plot/Ending: The main appeal of this book was the mystery of "Who Dunnit?" Did The President commit the murder? Most likely not, but we still don't know. I love trying to beat the character into working out the culprit and motive... but this? Come on... the conclusion came out of nowhere and it was just a messy conclusion. Didn't enjoy it or believe it. Just didn't feel right at all and was a slight let down... 


Positives?: Right, so I still rated this 3 stars so there must have been some good points. And there were... To have packed all that was into such a short story was impressive. Yes, I would've preferred something lengthier, but I can't change that. Henry Bins was an interesting character with how he has adapted with his condition and it was a unique and original concept. There were some fun scenes and I did laugh more than once. If you don't read too much into the finer points, it is a great little story. 

Overall: 

Do I/Don't I recommend this? Yeah, sure why not?! It's a short little story that has so much going on and makes for a great read. Won't take more than a few hours to get through and I did enjoy it. Maybe just read it with a light pair of eyes. 

Goodreads 
Amazon UK
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REVIEW; Debt Inheritance (Indebted #1), by Pepper Winters

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Genre: Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: No

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Nila Weaver is an up and coming fashion designer, finally making a name for herself away from her Father’s business. But on the night of her success, she is handed to Jethro Hawk. Generations ago a deal was struck, stating the first female born of each Weaver generation was to be handed to the first born of the Hawks, to do as they please with until death. Inexperienced Nila is put through her paces, as she tries to find Jethro’s sensitive side and bide her time so she can fight for freedom. But she has no idea of the extremities of her ancestor’s deal. 

My Thoughts:

Mixed feelings for this book. I love Pepper Winter’s work and was so excited when I saw this was free as the first installment. But ultimately this felt like an unresolved novella. It’s stated as the first book of the series, but yet it more felt like an introduction to the whole story and whilst I really wanted to know more, it makes me wonder will the rest of the series only be tidbits of info? I have no issue with paying for books at all- but I don’t want to pay for something that seems to cover only a few chapters of work. It was like paying for a three course meal but only getting served the drinks and being told to come back and pay again tomorrow in the hope of getting more.

Nila: I really admired her fight and she seemed like a smart girl so I didn’t think how she fought back was appropriate. I was expecting her to be more cunning and pretend to go along with things and fool them into believing her and then acting out, rather than opening her mouth to cause a drama every time. In the end, I didn't care much for her or feel sorry for her that she had found herself in this situation beyond her control. 

Jethro: I didn’t think he was defined enough. He was meant to be of a malicious nature and yet from the get go clearly had a soft spot for Nila. I think it would have worked better had he remained stoic and cold and as he spent more time with Nila, then develop a minimal care for her. He wasn't developed or explained in any detail, so it was difficult to predict his nature and it just got frustrating as he sporadically changed his attitude.

Story: There’s a good story in this; just needed to be more in the first book. I’m not sure if I want to continue this series or not as I prefer bigger and meatier books. Maybe I was expecting it to be of the same nature as Monsters in the Dark and that was my fault. It does only have 222 pages but by 50%, nothing shocking or horrifying had occurred. I think the overall story has promise, but there wasn't enough in this first book to really drag me in. 

Pace: I didn’t really get the pace of this book. I found it hard to follow her conversations with Kite, as she’d be having one and then it would jump back to when they first met or something, making it just complicated to keep up with what was now and what was then. I did read this in one sitting so maybe I just wasn’t paying as much attention as I should’ve. 

Overall: 

I'm not going to recommend it but it is free on Amazon so if it seems at all interesting, give it a go. It just wasn't for me and I may have set my expectations too high, but it didn't fit in with my view of how Winters writes. 

Goodreads 
Amazon UK
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REVIEW; Beauty From Love (Beauty #3), by Georgia Cates

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New Adult, Romance, Drama

Recommend: Yes

SPOILER-FREE

Summary:

Laurelyn has finally become Mrs McLachlan and they've finally got their happily ever after. They've conquered every obstacle and their love is stronger than ever.

But Jack's history refuses to leave him alone and it's beginning to get to Laurelyn. How many more times can she be faced with his past? And what will happen when his past refuses to stay there without a fight? 

Can Laurelyn learn to accept all that is thrown at her that may threaten their marriage and will their love come out on top?

My Thoughts:

Jack and Laurelyn, my new favourite Book Couple. Thankfully I was able to finish book 2 and dive straight into their final installment and was eager to find out what new dramas would get in their way. 

As this is the final book there's less I can go through as I've really exhausted all there is character wise in my previous reviews. One thing that's been executed very well is the character development. Cates really knows who Laurelyn and Jack Henry are and they don't stray from what you expect them to be like. Their personalities are really grounded and their quirks remain constant, all contributing to an extremely plausible story and I can't help but fall for them even more!! 

Thank God for Addison too! I love her and wish she was present a lot more. Any time Laurelyn let her emotions take the better of her and lash out at Jack Henry, Addison always made Laurelyn see sense. I think she's a wonderful best friend.

I was unsure re the story in this book. After two crazy novels, I was skeptical as to what drama could happen in this that would seem realistic and wouldn't just drag their story out. 

Being honest, for the first half of the book it just seemed like the same old drama being churned up and Laurelyn reacting as she always does. Thankfully, the second half did pick up immensely and I raced through it. But maybe this would've worked better at half the length? I did start to skip the love scenes just as they were the same and dotted throughout at annoying parts. They felt more like a filler in this than an actual component of their story. 

However, I'm glad there was a third book. It was nice being able to read more of the HEA after the wedding stage and smashing the usual cliche that once you get married everything is hunky dory! They still had their struggles but also continued their lives and it remained a beautiful read. 

Overall: 

I'd definitely recommend completing this series with reading this. Although it's more like an extended epilogue, it's well worth it. I like completing stories and I'm so glad I know how their story ends. May not be as exciting as the first two, but so worth the read! 

Goodreads 
Amazon UK
Amazon