REVIEW; Home Tears, by Tijan

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New-Adult, Contemporary 

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

NO SPOILERS!!! 

Summary:

Dani has just returned to her home town, after everyone believing she had died. The love of her life had left her for her sister so she left for 10 years. When she returns, her family aren't overjoyed to see her except for her Aunt who gives her a place to stay. 
Jonah, a bad boy back in high school, befriends Dani, and the two begin to test the waters of a relationship. But the more time spent back home, Dani begins to uncover some hard truths about her family and she wonders if she was better off letting them believe she had died. 

My Thoughts:

I think unfortunately something was missing for me to entirely love this. I did read it in a day and found it just as captivating as other Tijan books, but I wasn't in love with the characters like I usually am. I didn't form those emotional connections...

Dani: I really felt a lot of sympathy for her and liked how we got some development with her character. She has been through hell with her ex Jake, not just marrying one of her sisters but also having dated the 3rd sister. That for me, was a little extreme. Now she's back in town and they all couldn't be more uncomfortable with her return and refused to try and even understand the grief that Dani harboured. She must be one of the most resilient characters ever. I know if I were here, I would not have returned to the shit storm that awaited. 

Jake: I hated him. What an absolute ass. I feel like he should have stayed the hell away from Dani as he was meant to be marrying her sister, who couldn't be less pleased with her return and who feared Dani would steal him back. Jake had no backbone and Dani was much better off leaving him in her past...

Jonah: He was pretty cool! An apparent reformed bad boy, everyone loved him and I loved how well he complimented Dani. He helped her grow and spread roots and pushed her to mend relationships as they both fought against the town's judgement. He was a real core in Dani finding herself and having someone to confide in who had her best interests at heart. 

So, we had sister drama. We had boy drama... now onto family drama. 

Dani starts to dig and finds out that there was a lot more family drama than just a death and a guy who slept with each sister. As she aims to uncover the truth about her mother and her family, it's woven beautifully with her own journey of forgiveness and allowing herself to love again (because of Jonah).

Overall:

I can't really explain it well, but this was a beautiful read about betrayal, forgiveness and secrets. It sort of highlights what's important in life and in family units. It explores the journey of Dani recovering from lies and heartbreak and allowing herself to have a new beginning and new chance. 

Goodreads

REVIEW; Bad Mommy, by Tarryn Fisher

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Romance, Psychological Thriller 

Recommend: Yes

NO SPOILERS!!! 

Summary:

Fig lost her little girl and believes that her soul is present in a girl she watches at the park. She learns where the girl lives, and conveniently moves into the house next door, befriending parents Jolene and Darius. She wants everything that Jolene has - her child, her husband, her house, her style. As the imitation reaches new levels, so does the danger. 

My Thoughts:

Well where to start with this whirlwind of a book. I think this was definitely the best book I've read this year - it has to be. I love Tarryn Fisher's books and they usually hit me pretty hard, but this was on a whole new level of crazy (or maybe on par with Marrow). 

We know Fig has lost a child, and her relationship disbanded as her partner didn't want to try again while Fig couldn't cope with the loss. She slowly becomes fixated on a little girl she sees in the park, following her therapist's advice that she would meet her child's soul again. 

But Fig is an obsessive person, and moves into the house next door to Jolene and her young daughter. Fig is envious from the start; of Jolene's life including her home, her husband and her sense of style. It starts of rather minor, with Fig buying similar home decor, or vising places that Jolene has posted on her social media. But her stalker tendencies are dismissed by Jolene, but her husband, Darius, can't let it go. 

This book is told from three different POV in three distinct parts; Fig (The Psychopath), Darius (The Sociopath) and then Jolene (The Writer). And HOLY SHIT! It's hard to know who to believe as the plot twists and totally blindsides you and makes you feel sick with worry and... it's just a book that is impossible to put down. To the reader, it appears like Jolene and Darius have a happy, tight marriage. But after Fig's meddling, is it all for appearances? Can we trust Darius? There are just so many times that I had to stop and try and piece together the puzzle and THE ENDING! 

The ending of this will never escape my memory. This wins the best ending ever and it absolutely punches you and guts you. I even ran out of the room to my mom to tell her how it ended because I was so in shock. Even now, what wonderful literary wisdom to write that way. 

As victim to emotional blackmail in a relationship with a narcissist, I feel like this is an important read. It really highlights how blind love can be when you are being lied to and how you need to be stronger to rise above it all, now matter how much it F's you up. I got chillsssss...

Overall:

Wonderfully psychotic and captivating - one of my favourite reads from 2017 with some twisted characters brought to life with magical writing skills.

Goodreads

REVIEW; House 23, by Eli Yance

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Genre: Thriller, Suspense

Recommend: No

Standalone

SPOILERS!!! 

Summary:

Joseph Lee was framed for his wife's murder. She was bludgeoned to death as he was out cold on the bathroom floor. He wasn't convicted, but that doesn't stop his town from blaming him. Joseph hasn't left his house in 6 months, until a new couple move in to number 23, across the road. The wife looks the image of his dead wife, Jennifer, and Joseph feels a connection with her. Slowly, he befriends the couple and mourns his wife's death. But not everything is at is seems; especially as the real murderer has not yet been discovered.

My Thoughts:

This started off really promising. There was the initial suspense of who was the real murderer and what was with connection with Zala looking like Jennifer. 

None of the plot fitted well for me. My interest was piqued when it was clear there was something more going on with Zala and her husband, but as soon as Joseph uncovered some information it all tumbled in a downward spiral with so much excessive, unwarranted violence. 

So much of the build up to the action is also unnecessary. There is a lot that pulls you in; the desire to discover the real murderer for one, which is hardly even addressed. We do find out, but it's a totally new character that is just thrown in at the end with a typical, feeble excuse and reasoning. It all just boils down to an affair and a jealous husband. While conveniently the new neighbours are cons who are squatting in the murderer's house, so it all really comes full circle...

The pacing is a little off. As said, the first part is good as the drama and suspense steadily increases, pulling you in. But as soon as one thread of info is discovered, it all becomes unraveled in one breath. 

Overall:

I wouldn't recommend this novel, unfortunately. It didn't flow well and the whole plot was haphazard and alien. 

Goodreads

ARC REVIEW; Mirror Me, by Tara St. Pierre

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Young-Adult, Contemporary 

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

NO SPOILERS!!! 

Summary:

Hannah now attends a prestigious, strict school, as a last effort of her mother's to tame her. After a rebellious past and an event involving Hannah's best friend, Hannah can't look at herself in the mirror. When she does, her reflection doesn't match what she expects, and Hannah fears for her sanity. When objects become displaced, screens appear backward, and Hannah is accused of going places & doing things she has no recollection of, Hannah debates if she can even trust herself. 

My Thoughts:

***Thank you to the author for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review***

Wowww! The blurb provided doesn't really allude to the extremities of what occurs and I was SO hooked. There are so many questions; What happened with Nikki? Is Nikki alive? Who is really to blame? Is Hannah seeing things? What is going on with her reflection? Who is moving her phone? The list goes on. 

It's actually quite a difficult book to review without giving spoilers away as you need to nearly go into this book half blind. 

Hannah: I think Hannah was a brilliant main character. We know she has had a rebellious past and is now paying the price under the strict rule of her mother. She has had to move away from her old life, her best friend, Nikki, and doesn't even get to keep photos of her life. She is now trying to keep her head down, get good grades and just stay out of trouble, but it's not good enough in her mother's eyes. As a teenager, she also has the ongoing drama of school life and friends and trying to fit in and be a part of things as much as her mother will allow. Her mother only approves of one friend solely because she believes she helps Hannah's grades and that's all that counts. As the story builds, you really feel for Hannah and her loss of control over her life as the unthinkable drama unfolds. 

Story: This is such an original concept, brought to life so well. Slowly, Hannah is being accused of doing things she has no memory of; plagiarizing and sneaking out, getting her in further trouble, and we have no idea how it's all happening. Told from Hannah's POV, the reader is left with the same wonder and questions as Hannah, not knowing the importance of mirrors and the messages left. Added with the mystery of Hannah's past and it's quite a page turner! The pacing is executed brilliantly; there's enough ongoing drama to prevent any dragging, balanced perfectly with answers, so it's not just an ending filled with all the answers we had.

Characters: I really liked that there weren't too many characters in this. They all held purpose and had distinct personalities and reasoning, that made them so realistic. I think I would've liked a teeny bit more of an insight into the beginning of Hannah's relationship with Cole, but then again, Hannah also missed out on most of that too! Hannah's mother is just awful, with absolute no emotional bond with her daughter, but yet even with her there is character development and attempted justification. 

I thought I had figured out what was happening as we got a little bit more revealed, however the "twist" near the ending really got me (a positive). When the why is revealed, it's a bit like a punch to the stomach (in a good way) and there lies a great underlying message about forgiveness. Everything is finished off expertly, and it feels like the whole story is justified with solid reasoning rather than just being an unexplained event.  

Overall:

This is an extremely original and captivating read with great twists. There is a thread of Fantasy genre intertwined with a solid, thought-provoking theme regarding growing up and forgiveness. A magical YA read. Tara St. Pierre has one of the best imaginations!

Goodreads

REVIEW; Dirty Red (Love Me With Lies #2), by Tarryn Fisher

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: Fiction, New-Adult, Contemporary

Recommend: Yes

Book 2

SOME SPOILERS!!! 

Summary:

Leah Smith beat Olivia in winning Caleb's heart. Olivia is no longer competing and Leah has a marriage and a baby on the way. The perfect family. But Leah isn't finding marriage or motherhood the easiest - compromise was never her style. Being married and following "rules" is cramping her lavish lifestyle as she fears her image will be destroyed. After beating Olivia, she may now lose Caleb all on her own. 

My Thoughts:

The Opportunist blew me away and I always worry the follow on books won't be as exciting as the initial novel. The idea of a novel from Leah's point of view really intrigued me as she was such a hateful vindictive character. 

I am a sucker for Tarryn's evil characters as she writes so twisted and amazing in their POV, and nearly justifies all the horrible things they do. What a woman Leah was. 

In The Opportunist she mainly comes across as a jealous love rival, doing what she needs to do to keep Caleb. But Dirty Red exemplifies her true horrid nature. She is so manipulative and her lack of empathy borderlines sociopath behaviour. She even uses her new born as a weapon of manipulation. 

There were times where I really felt for Leah. I actually had sympathy for the bitch. She is so insecure and that is the root of a lot of her evil actions, you want to just hug her and also bash her head against the mirror to just show her what she has. But her fear of losing Caleb and losing her "image" caused her own self-destruction to losing everything. She even is jealous of her own baby girl because she doesn't like another female having Caleb's attention - that is twisted! 

We get an insight into her past, which sometimes eludes to her present behaviour, although not excusing the majority of it. It was also an opportunity to see a different side of Caleb. In book one Caleb is presented as a boy in love, wanting a restart in his life to find himself, possibly a little bit of a push-over. However in Dirty Red he becomes a man. A father who will protect his baby at all costs and we see his ruthlessness as he finally stands up to the bitch he married. 

Just when you think you can justify Leah's actions, she continues to be more selfish and wretched. And I loved it. I loved reading from the POV of a despicable, vile human. 

Overall:

I am such a fan of Tarryn Fisher so of course recommend this whole series. Never before have I loved to hate a main character so much! 

Goodreads

REVIEW; Girl Undone (TJ Peacock and Lisa Rayburn Mysteries #3), by Marla Madison

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: Suspense, Mystery

Recommend: Yes

Book 3

NO SPOILERS

Summary:

Private Investigator TJ Peacock, and psychiatrist Lisa Rayburn, are hired by Ms Petretti to solve the mystery surrounding her niece’s disappearance. Kelsey Blasko went missing on Tuesday, and turned up in the mall on Friday with no memory of her abduction or what happened.

Meanwhile, criminal blogger Bart Kosick, is being harassed by a persona Headliner. Leaving threats and breaking in, Bart realises the danger when a young girl’s dead body is placed on his property. Both crimes soon interlink as the danger increases and creeps closer to home.

My Thoughts:

Story: Breaking it down simply, this was a good story. I read it within 24 hours so there was definitely an element that drew me in and kept my attention. There were good plot twists and often parallel story lines were interlinked, making a few pieces fall into place. However, at times, some plot holes were answered but I was left unsure of what this meant for the parallel story line. I like in a series when there is a bigger plot going on across the books with an individual “front plot” per book, and I am presuming that was the case for this – Kelsey’s disappearance was the front plot and Bart being harassed the bigger plot. I’m still uncertain how these two plots truly interlinked at the end though due to the sort of cliffhanger ending…

There was multi POV, the reader seeing events unfold from numerous persona’s which kept the pace of the novel alive and moving appropriately.

There were a few typos which broke up the pace here and there, mostly grammar ones that could’ve been noticed with perhaps another read through?

Characters: A negative in this were the quantity of characters. This is book 3 in the series so I assume the rash introduction and background of a few characters was for a speedy introduction to get the reader up to date. But it did become a little confusing. Halfway through the book a girl called “Shannon” was present and I’d to search back to recall who she was by re-reading her introduction at the beginning. 

Overall:

I would recommend this book for anyone requiring a quirky mystery read that isn’t too heavy. If you can get to grips with who is who early on, it’s an extremely easy read! 

Goodreads

REVIEW; I Am Not A Serial Killer (John Cleaver #1), by Dan Wells

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: Suspense, Thriller, Supernatural

Recommend: Yes!

Book 1

NO SPOILERS!!! 

Summary:

John Cleaver is 15 and helps his mother in the morgue. With a penchant for serial killers, he feels alive when there is a monster active in his neighbourhood. He's aware he isn't like the other kids; he has a list of rules to make sure he doesn't let the monster within him to take over. But as the serial killer becomes more active, John can't help but hunt him, allowing his own demons to come to life. 

My Thoughts:

John: I think he is one of my favourite characters from any book. He was absolutely fascinating and the story is told from his POV and we get an insight into the mind and thought process of someone strongly resisting what he believes to be an internal demon. John is convinced it is his destiny to be a serial killer and so has a list of serious rules he sticks to in attempts to remain "normal" and not become the heinous monster he believes resides deep within. This includes not focusing on anyone doing anything for any length of time to avoid noticing any detail about them and prevent becoming obsessed. If someone makes him angry he will compliment them to remain positive. The main hook for me was definitely exploring John's psyche over the actual plot. 

Writing: This was written fantastically. The whole pacing of every snippet of information and plot twist worked so well. I've been in such a reading slump lately due to life events and this book hooked me in, I was back to sacrificing sleep to read. 

Story: The premise of this novel was brilliant. It was a thriller wrapped up in focusing on the internal battle of John as he yearns to solve the crime and work out who's responsible for the killings, while attempting to manage his own instincts. However, the big plot twist is the supernatural twist in this novel. I am undecided as to if it works or not. In one way, the supernatural theme ran deep enough to be able to wrap up the story well, but it sort of came out of nowhere at the same time. 

Overall:

I loved this so much. Would definitely recommend to anyone who lives a thriller but with a twist. The insight into a teenager's mind who is convinced he is destined to be a serial killer is enthralling and the overall story is brilliant. 

Goodreads

REVIEW; Downshift (Skid Row Kings #1), by Winter Travers

Rating: ★★☆☆☆

Genre: New-Adult, Romance, Suspense

Recommend: No

Book 1

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

26 Y/O Violet Barnes is on her own. Since her parents' death she has built her own life and keeps herself to herself. A book nerd, she works in the library to earn some money and fulfill a passion. 
Luke Jensen owns the local garage, where his two brothers work, and his younger teenage sister Frankie lives. Luke doesn't have time for innocence and vanilla, whilst Violet doesn't care for Luke's arrogant facade when she meets him through Frankie. But their stubborn arguing soon brings them together and they fight to be with each other, despite having opposite pasts. 

My Thoughts:

As a car girl I love any romance involving racing and cars and long to find an author actually showing knowledge about engines and how things work when a pivotal character has the hobby... in fairness to Travers, that was well depicted in this novel. 

Characters: I don't know why, but I couldn't connect with Luke or Violet. At the beginning I loved their chemistry and was hooked, but about a third of the way in I lost focus completely. Violet was 26 and I couldn't relate to her level of innocence at all. If her age had not been divulged, I would've guessed she was about 17 or 18 judging by her maturity. Frankie was integral to Violet meeting Luke, but she seemed to only re-appear when convenient for a plot twist or further drama. Luke will not be making it onto my book boyfriend list. I didn't find him charming or anything redeeming about him. He seemed to do a 180 too quickly for it to be believable from going to having one night stands to being devoted to Violet, even though we did get some mental battle. 

'"He beat York off the line and stayed ahead the whole race."
"That's good, right?"'

Is she serious?! Pretty sure everyone knows the person who stays ahead in a race wins!

POV: Dual POV can work really well... or be detrimental to the story. Sadly, in this case it was the latter. There was no added value having the insight into Luke's mind and the writing was not distinct enough to differentiate between characters. A reader should be able to tell who's POV it is without being told IMO. This is a common find among the female writers and although it probably doesn't bother 99% of readers, it's one of my pet hates. The thought process and mind of a male is entirely different to that of a female, and Luke showed too many female thinking patterns.

Romance: The initial chemistry between the pair drew me in and was electric. But then it all sort of fell by the wayside and felt strongly amateur. I cringed at most latter conversations or romantic scenarios between them both and sped read a lot of the remainder of the book. Luke calls Violet "Princess" throughout, but way too often for it to be endearing. 

There was a lot of pages of pure dialogue that held no meaning or substance. With this, there was also a lot of tell after the reader was shown. Authors need to have faith in their readers picking up on subtle nuances and double-meanings rather than over explaining everything. 

If the main characters are late twenties to thirties, I expect some maturity and advance in the writing style. I felt like I was older than them all in this book and it made me lose interest. 

Overall:

I wouldn't recommend this book. There were too many minor issues for me that disrupted the effect of the story and I couldn't get swept up in their romance. However, majority of people are giving this 5 stars, so if the issues listed don't bother you, than maybe it will be your sort of thing.

Goodreads

REVIEW; November 9, by Colleen Hoover

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: Romance, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Fallon's life changed on November 9th. Ben's mother committed suicide on November 9th. Ben and Fallon meet on November 9th. And then they make a deal. Fallon and Ben will continue their separate lives, but meet up again every year on the same date. The rest of the year they stay away without contact, no messaging, no calls, no social media contact. The date becomes something special to them both, but as their life changes each year, can they see it through and find love together? 

My Thoughts:

Story: For the most part I really enjoyed the premise of the story - meeting each other on the same day for 5 years before re-evaluating their lives together. But honestly, I don't understand the insta-love effect. I can't imagine how one can go a year without seeing someone, or even changing. The whole point was from 18-24y/o one changes but to be honest I didn't see much evolving of the characters.

Book: I enjoyed how Ben was writing a novel of their story within this - like a book within a book about the book! But I didn't understand the discussions re a bad romance novel and then mention of insta-love but yet they acknowledge that's what happened to them...? Seemed a bit weird acknowledging a bad aspect of a novel that's included.

Ben: Meh... I liked him at first when he showed up at the restaurant but I felt it hard to warm to him after the dress incident. His pushing for giving Fallon self-esteem was good but I felt he needed some sensitivity added to him. If a guy forced me to wear something I wasn't comfortable in just because he was paying for dinner I'd roundhouse him! 

Fallon: I really felt for her. Her dad was horrible to her and her career was ruined (ultimately because of him) but I hated the melodramatic romantic selfless acts of love she claimed were for the better that just pushed the guy she loved and who loved her away. I'm so over the "you're better without me bullshit" that's everywhere these days. If you find that sort of true love, you deserve to be broken hearted for rejecting it! 

Romance: the romantic scenes did not work. Ultimately cringe although suspect the aim was for some delicate handling of it all but really didn't work this time around. I feel like their should have been some more insight into the pain endured the rest of the year to solidify the level of happiness achieved on November 9th. While only recording November 9th has huge impact, at times it felt like the rest of the year didn't even happen but gaining an insight into their lives without the other would help hit home how much they needed each other. 

Overall:

I loved this and the unique spin of the story with some great plot twists and dark parts. But there was a little lacking for me and I didn't love the romance as much as I wanted too. Still, recommend it though!  

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; Killer (Savages #2), by Jessica Gadziala

Rating: ★★★★★

Genre: Dark, Romance, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

Book 2/3

NO SPOILERS 

Summary:

Following Shooter being saved by Alex and Breaker, he is sent back to Alabama after word of his father's death. He expects to be in and out. 
Amelia lived beside Shooter's dad, and is grieving over the loss of her friend. She meets Shooter and he gets more than he expected when she grills him for bad-mouthing his father. But she gets her illusion shattered when he confesses how his father treated him as a child. As sparks fly between the pair, Shooter tries to break down her walls. But trouble follows him and Amelia is in direct danger and he wonders if she will ever fit into his world.

My Thoughts:

I didn't think I would prefer Shooter's story over Breaker's but I fell hard for him. 

And yes, like a lot of people, I imagined him exactly like Stephen James... <3 

Shooter: He has had a really hard life. His father abused him and he didn't care that he died. But he gets quite the shock when he realises that his father was doing better for himself and was sober. After befriending Breaker he was able to turn his life around and make a name for himself, now being one of the best contract killers and earning the nickname Shooter. I liked his personality from when we saw him in "Monster", his carefree and smart-mouth attitude was just infectious. It was interesting to see him try to take Amelia serious and not revert to his old ways of joking around all the time. It was great being able to see a deep side of him and be raw and vulnerable to Amelia. 

Amelia: She is totally different to Alex. Amelia has had no involvement in the dark and dangerous world, although having a hard life herself, and she recognises she doesn't belong in his world. She is quite innocent and almost naive, despite having a strong attitude. Even I wanted to wrap my arms around her and give the poor girl a hug. But she was capable of standing her own and didn't need Shooter emotionally or to save her. 

Story: I loved the action in this. In some way there was a lot more suspense and drama involved as the threats weren't known straight- away and we find out the danger alongside Amelia. There was a lot more romance in this one, with the relationship between the two building slowly and steadily. It was so fragile between the two and I was willing them on so much and nearly screamed a number of times at Shooter to wake up and say the right thing! There was again, great pacing with the balance between action and character development perfectly depicted. It was great seeing Alex and Breaker appear and have them still fighting as usual, riling each other up. 

Overall:

I loved this. It was so much more emotional and I became so invested in these characters and their story. Absolutely adored it.

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Monster (Savages #1), Jessica Gadziala

Rating: ★★★★☆

Genre: Dark, Romance, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

Book 1/3

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Alex is a hacker. She has a plan. She is dedicated to murdering the man who destroyed her life and caused her mother's suicide to seek vengeance.
Breaker is hired to deal with people, but he never touches women. He didn't realise that when he was sent to kidnap Alex. Soon he has to house her for longer than he wanted and she's a feisty hostage.  But they join forces when they realise they are working towards a common goal, even though it may lead to their deaths. They also have a burning need for each other, which could easily complicate things.

My Thoughts:

Alex: She's one badass woman!!! For once the heroine is not some weak, poor, pathetic damsel in distress. She is strong and independent and self sufficient. We see this from the beginning with her makeshift security system to protect her little flat from Breaker... not that it really worked. But she is so determined in seeking revenge and will die doing it. She is so smart-mouthed it's fantastic. I enjoyed watching her fight when she was first kidnapped and how she doesn't give in so easily. 

Breaker: He's a bad guy but for good reasons. He gets rid of the bad people but that makes him a bad person as he is a killer. He doesn't deal with woman and this shows he has morals although he gets conned into kidnapping Alex, he doesn't use violence once. He is so loyal and takes his word seriously. If he makes a promise he expects to deliver on it. We see the lengths he goes to for his friend, Shooter. I loved reading of the turmoil as he battled up Shooter's safety for Alex's. 

Romance: I wouldn't really say this was a romance. A lot was built on lust and there wasn't much of a build up or tension between the pair before they go on with things. There was however the battle of trust. Both characters are used to being on their own and letting someone in is a daunting prospect for them both. 

There is a lot of action in this which I loved. There's never a moment where you feel like they are safe or out of harms way and we are constantly reminded of the looming threat of Lex, who Alex is attempting to take down. The writing is decent, with few errors, and the whole story flowed really well, with suitable pacing to allow for some character development in-between the action-packed scenes.

Overall:

Alex definitely won this over for me. It was a wonderful dangerous steamy read and her fight was so admirable and entertaining. 

Goodreads 

REVIEW; Comfort Food, by Kitty Thomas

Rating: ★★★☆☆

Genre: New-Adult, Dark, Suspense

Recommend: Yes

Standalone

SPOILERS 

Summary:

Emily wakes up tied to a chair in a cell. The man who kidnapped her won't speak to her, but finds ways to communicate. Emily soon learns the rules; try to give him what he needs and she will be rewarded. It's okay if she fails, she just has to try. But refusing him results in solidarity punishment. Emily soon falls victim of Stockholm Syndrome and would do anything to not be put in the lone dirty cell she woke up in. She needs him. And will do anything to keep him. 

My Thoughts:

I've read Captive in the Dark and Tears of Tess and wrongly assumed this would be similar. But it was a great surprise. 

We read this from Emily's POV so learn the truths of her situation and her captor as she discovers them. We are brought along on the journey with her. 

Emily: she's rather strong to begin with but uses her knowledge of psychology to play the game. She catches on quickly how she must act to not be punished, but yet still remembering she has to fight to get free. I liked she wasn't some helpless victim from the get go. There is no romance here at all. Emily is there to satisfy his needs and that's all. But he becomes all she knows. Once returned to the real world she can't adapt. She craves him. And so offers up her freedom to return to him. Not going to lie, I didn't understand this power move. I can understand the bond she felt or why she wanted him, but I can't fathom how messed up she became to be willing to return to that. It was abuse. There was nothing romanticised to give even a glimmer of them having something balanced. But I guess that shows the level of psychological abuse Emily endured to be conditioned to such degree to depend on a man, or monster. 

There aren't many explicit scenes in this. It's definitely a story focusing strongly on the psychological abuse and wearing down of the human mind. It's quite extraordinary. 

Overall:

I liked this. I'm quite neutral though. I didn't love it. It's a heavy read though focusing on the psychological abuse and mind games and it's very easy to get lost in Emily's world of terror. 

Goodreads