Mini Reviews Monday

#1 New York Times bestselling author Ilona Andrews launches a brand new Hidden Legacy series, in which one woman must place her trust in a seductive, dangerous man who sets off an even more dangerous desire…

Nevada Baylor is faced with the most challenging case of her detective career—a suicide mission to bring in a suspect in a volatile case. Nevada isn’t sure she has the chops. Her quarry is a Prime, the highest rank of magic user, who can set anyone and anything on fire.

Then she’s kidnapped by Connor “Mad” Rogan—a darkly tempting billionaire with equally devastating powers. Torn between wanting to run or surrender to their overwhelming attraction, Nevada must join forces with Rogan to stay alive.

Rogan’s after the same target, so he needs Nevada. But she’s getting under his skin, making him care about someone other than himself for a change. And, as Rogan has learned, love can be as perilous as death, especially in the magic world.

4.5 stars!

This was such an enjoyable book! It was one of those urban fantasy that's not so over the top and confusing that it's not enjoyable; it was firmly based in the real world and it made it easy to fall in to. The characters had great chemistry, the tension was fantastic, and the action spot on. The narration was incredible too. 

My childhood was perfect.

I’ve led a charmed life, and I’m not going to blow it now by picking the wrong guy.

I’ve got my sights set on my brother’s best friend.

He’s known my family for years. He’s reliable and kind and handsome.

Sure, he’s been avoiding me since I was six.

I’m a bit aggressive for him, maybe.

But he’s the one… right?

2.5 stars!

Eh...? It was just okay. The thing with two out of these 3.5 books is that it feels like it's trying too hard. Trying too hard to be funny, relatable, sexy...just trying too hard. The heroine was incredibly immature and ground against my nerves, and hero was a douche when the conflict happened. 

To most people, princes, princesses, counts and dukes are found only in the pages of the most famous of fairytales. Crowns, priceless jewels and gilded thrones belong only in childhood dreams.
But for some, these frivolous fancies are truth.
For some, they are real life.
On Manhattan’s Upper East Side, people have always treated me as someone special. All because of my ancestral name and legacy. All because of a connection I share to our home country’s most important family of all.
I am Caresa Acardi, the Duchessa di Parma. A blue blood of Italy. I was born to marry well. And now the marriage date is set.
I am to marry into House Savona. The family that would have been the royals had Italy not abolished the monarchy in 1946. But to the aristocrats of my home, the abolition means nothing at all.
The Savonas still hold power where it counts most.
In our tight-knit world of money, status and masked balls, they are everything and more.
And I am soon to become one of them.
I am soon to become Prince Zeno Savona’s wife…
… or at least I was, until I met Achille.
And everything changed. 

3 stars!

The Italian setting was absolutely gorgeous, and made me want to hop on the next flight to Italy and spend my days exploring grape vines, stuffing my face with delicious food, and then burning off those calories with horseback riding and sex. ;)

That said, I struggled to connect with the story. Neither protagonist really worked for me, and I felt like the writing was far too flowery, taking away from the story and the characters.

What happens when your life goes to crap the week of Christmas? You invite a hot Marine you met in an airport bar to come home with you for the holidays, to distract your crazy family from the truth. 

With a handsy aunt, a meddling mother and a father concerned for the wellbeing of his daughter's eggnog, there's no chance Sam and Noel will have time to fall in love...or will they?

The Stocking Was Hung is a standalone, Christmas story that will make you laugh, make you HOT and maybe even make you say, "Awwwww" a few times.

3 stars!

This was funny, sexy and a quick read. Parts were a tad over the top, even for Tara Sivec, and the romance was quick, but it still worked for the story and I had a fun time. Plus, that title!