REVIEW; Predator, by Michelle Horst

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romance, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

Cara has been on the run through America since the murder of her parents in South Africa. Trying to fly under the radar, Cara soon finds herself kidnapped and locked up after letting her guard momentarily slip. But she's a fighter, and doesn't give up when she is being beaten or raped. 

Then in lands Predator, hired to kill her captors and save her. But he has his own demons and reasons for protecting her. Together, they need to work on saving Cara and rebuilding her life, while flying under the radar. But Cara doesn't want to rely on him and is trying to battle her feelings for him. They can't get too comfortable though, as the danger is always out there. 

My Thoughts:

Predator: He is a hired killer. He gets rid of the bad guys and rescues if necessary. Cara's uncle hires him to save Cara and he busts in and rescues her, hell bent on building her back up to the girl she was. But I am disappointed he didn't remain as Predator for long, he very quickly became human and less powerful by being called Damian. Being Predator allowed him to appear more powerful and secretive but stripping him of the title stripped also the intimidation. He wants to save Cara because he couldn't save his first love which is absolutely devastating to read about the amount of guilt he has being harbouring. 

Cara: I liked her strength and independence. When kidnapped she could have taken the easy route by succumbing to the torture to receive a lesser punishment. Instead, she proved to be a difficult victim by always fighting back. Even when Damian rescues her, she remains independent and tries not to rely on him for anything. But then at times, she did a 180 and appeared extremely weak, panic attacks and crying after everything. Understandable at times but then at others it was just frustrating. 

Story: there's quite a simple storyline that allows for focus on grief and trauma and character development. I was expecting a lot more action compared to what there was. Apart from a few scenes, there wasn't much else going on.  The story was told from both POV's and I wish it wasn't. Allowing the reader an insight into Damian's mind further stripped him from the secretive allure around him. But we get some truths revealed before they are to Cara and we learn a lot more about the danger Cara is still in despite being rescued. 

Overall:

This is definitely more of an emotional read and it does work if you have the patience for it. It deals with real harsh issues and the mental process of moving on and natural reactions. While I would have liked more action, I can appreciate the delicate nature of the topic at hand and think it was depicted realistically and truthfully. Definitely recommend. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; The Bet, by Rachel Van Dyken

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romantic Comedy

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Kacey did not expect to be back at her home town after so many years, but childhood friend and now hottest Bachelor, Jake, has a proposal. His grandmother is ill and he needs to have a fiancé to prove he is ready to settle down and take on the family business. Kacey tentatively agrees but is hoping Jake's older brother Travis would not be around after he did nothing but tease her as a child and torture her in school. But now reunited as adults, she can't ignore the attraction of his smile or the chemistry they clearly have... meanwhile she is meant to be proving she's engaged to the younger brother.

My Thoughts:

This is a hilarious read. I didn't expect it to be so good!!! Told from three POV's, Kacey, Travis and Jake, we learn a lot about their past and the drama hidden between them all. 

Kacey: Jake was the first person Kacey slept with and then he left without saying anything and she lost her best friend. That same night her parents died. You could say she's had it rough. Meanwhile, Travis always made her life hell. Little did she know that stemmed from him liking her as a child but always ruining his chances to impress her. Now she's back as a part of their family and the drama that ensues is hilarious! She has had a rough life and Jake's grandmother has always treated her as her own. She's meant to be there for the weekend to help Jake, but it's a weekend where she discovers a lot more about her parents and their death. My heart broke so many times for her! Jake had done a number on her and now she has trust issues... so of course she is hesitant when both brothers make a move on her. 

Jake: He was a great character. A player whose last plan is to settle down and he has to try convince his family that he is marrying Kacey, despite having not seen her for years. The great thing was that he wasn't a character that was to be converted or changed. He was allowed to be the player and sleep around and wasn't shamed for it either - he was just allowed to be. 

Travis: He was so sweet and had the patience of a saint. He loved Kacey since they were children and it must have hurt so much watching her with his brother believing they were getting married. I enjoyed reading the banter between them and watching their chemistry flourish. 

Grandmother: She stole she show for me. She was absolutely hilarious. Never try to con a granny! She knew right away that Jake was lying to her but never really let on, all the while rooting for Travis to go and get Kacey. I loved her so much. She was so wise but cheeky and was getting the most action in the whole book by dating her neighbour. 

Overall:

This isn't a love triangle book in the conventional sense. It's clear where the real emotions and feelings lie and it's a beautiful quick read. There's a lot of heartache and drama so it's not all fun and laughter, but a great story regardless.

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Madam Tulip and the Knave of Hearts, by David Ahern

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Suspense, Mystery

Recommend: Yes

Book 2

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

Madam Tulip is back in another mysterious setting surrounded by suspicious activity and life threatening situations. Derry O'Donnell is hired to perform her psychic act in a stately home in England after her current theatre role is jeopardized due to a falling stage. When things suddenly go awry, Derry has to stay longer than she anticipated as she is thrust into a murder mystery. Surrounded by a wealthy family who are focused on protecting themselves, Derry wonders how she will come out of this fiasco. Throw in the usual drama between her artist father and art-dealer mother, Derry O'Donnell just can't catch a break. 

My Thoughts:

***Thank you to the author for a copy in exchange for an honest review***

I really loved the first installment of Madam Tulip and was pleasantly surprised that this surpassed the first story. 

Derry: She really makes me laugh a lot! I love the constant battle between her want to make it as an actress but constantly finding herself being pulled back into the persona of Madam Tulip and her hesitance to accept it as a career of sorts... all the while battling her controlling and materialistic mother who is trying to sculpt her into her own minion. 

"Derry remembered once standing on the top tread of a stairway at Dublin Airport, only for it to lurch into motion and reveal itself as an escalator. Such were conversations with Vanessa. All you could do was scramble backwards hoping somehow to end up where you should have started."

I would probably disown or strangle Vanessa were she my mother... but I hope she sticks around as she makes for a wonderful character to dislike! Their relationship is such a dichotomy to that between Derry and her father - which is somehow also dysfunctional.

Mystery: The suspense in this hit me a lot more than in the first novel. There was a really intricate web of threats and danger that I found so enthralling and thrilling - such as random body parts turning up in the post! With the climax looming the chapters covering the action were so fast-paced but detailed that the fear of the characters was palpable. 

Setting: The setting for this story really made it for me. A stately home in England with a complicated family history of secrets and deceit, I was hooked fairly quickly. I think the majority of people nowadays love the insight into a privileged and stately environment. Although, we still got some glimpses of Derry's Irish heritage beyond the initial chapters. 

“’Shinne Feena Fawl’ declaimed Derry, accompanying her proclamation with sweeping gestures. The crowd perked up. The was new. This was fresh. “Athaw fay towl in Ayring,” Derry added,”

Writing: I love Ahern's writing style. There is a great "story-telling" vibe that really made me feel like I was sitting down listening to a great whirlwind of events being related. I think this plays a huge part in why this series is so alluring. While the main concept is a murder mystery who-dunnit, more often than not I found myself chuckling away with his quirky style. 

“They might also detect a subtle nuance signalling please go away, and on your way out tell anyone without halitosis and with two atoms of charm to come on in. But subtle nuances were as lost on Frankie as the aroma of distant hamburger to a cactus”

Overall:

This is perfect for anyone who loves a cozy mystery with a twist. There are threats and deaths, but hilarious scenarios that keep it light in-between the drama. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; By Invitation Only (Gilt #1), by Geneva Lee

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: YA, Romance, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

Book 1

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

Emma Southerly feels out of place at Belle Mère Prep, just outside of Las Vegas. Her mother has left and upgraded to a rich husband and Emma is left with her alcoholic father. 
When her best friend invites her to a party hosted in the home of her father's arch enemy, Emma knows she should say no... There she meets Jameson, hiding out from the crowds and the party and Emma has the best night of her life. But waking up in the morning she discovers Jameson is now the prime suspect in a murder, and she is thrown into the mess of truth and deception.

My Thoughts:

Story: I feel like this was a guilty pleasure read. Definitely YA and for younger readers but I loved it. The Romeo and Juliet vibe runs through this but in an adorable way, and the added mystery of "Romeo" being a murder suspect really adds a thrilling side to it. There's a great mix of romance and excitement with the captivating plot twist of a "who dunnit?" 

Emma: I felt so sorry for her. Her mother left and "upgraded" her whole life, leaving poor Emma with her alcoholic father and grieving over the loss of her sister. She is then forced to attend the party of the rival family, And then she unknowingly falls for his son and has to keep him a secret from her father. She is then fired into doubt and wonders if he truly is responsible of murder and the poor girl can't just get a break!

I'm not so much a fan of how the books have been split up. Usually with a series I like each individual book to have at least some story resolve but we don't get many answers in this so feel pressured into buying book 2 to find out anything about this story. As a result, this all felt like a build up but you need to get the 2nd installment for the actual climax. This type of thing usually just annoys me so much I don't want to bother with the next book as I feel it's cheating a little. I don't mind cliffhangers, but give us SOMETHING! 

Overall:

Despite feeling short-changed, I still enjoyed this and got swept up into Emma's world. Recommend for YA readers who enjoy a 90210/Pretty Little Liar's mash up. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Needing To Fall, by Ryan Michele

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: New-Adult, Dark, Romance

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

Reign has bounced from foster home to foster home and been through it all growing up. Hated by her parents she went on to be abused and witness the murder of her only friend when he tried to protect her. 

Broken from life, Reign is living from day to day. But after discovering something from her past, she is sent back years. Barely surviving, Reign meets Lynx. He's been through hell and back and wants to help Reign. He understands. Together they will battle the darkness in an effort to reach the light. 

My Thoughts:

Now this is a dark read. Holy shit. I loved it. 

Reign: we know she's had it rough but nothing could prepare me for just how bad she had it. Her own parents despised her and life was against her from the beginning. If that wasn't torture enough, she was then victim to countless amounts of abuse from the foster families. She wants to die and I really feel for her. She really has no reason to live and has lost everything. I'd do the exact same and I was so pissed at Andi for getting in the way and caring. 

Lynx: can we all get one? He was amazing. A fellow patient suffering from PTSD he has his own battles to fight. I loved how he wasn't afraid to say the truth to Reign. He didn't baby her. He wasn't a perfect man either and probably someone that is hard to love, but yet they were so wonderfully matched. Him helping her helped himself.

This is primarily a story that focuses on finding love among all the pain and heartache. Both characters are suffering different type of heartache and trauma, but yet kind trust each other again and fight past all their demons. It's by no means romanticised or made seem attractive. It's ugly and it's heart-wrenching, but the outcome is a beautiful story between the pair. It's not always easy either, and they have to fight a lot for it, but it depicts something dark and scary and real, and shows the path in moving on with life and not giving up. That's important to read.

Overall:

This really blew me away. It was so dark and powerful and the writing was extremely evocative I was suffering with Reign. It's a read that will definitely haunt you and stay with you for a long while.

Goodreads