Mini Reviews Monday

Happy Halloween, everyone!!!

I have a few mini reviews for you all today, since I'm far too lazy to get any full sized ones out. I did read one last week though that I think will earn a full sized review. Let's get to it!

When Kate Watts abandoned her law career to open a food pantry in Northeast Minneapolis, she never dreamed it would be this difficult. Facing the heartbreaking prospect of turning hungry people away, she is grateful for the anonymous donations that begin appearing at the end of each month. Determined to identify and thank her secret benefactor, she launches a plan and catches Ian —a charismatic hacker with a Robin Hood complex—in the act.

Ian intrigues Kate in a way no man ever has. But after learning he’s snooped around on her personal computer, she demands retribution. Impressed with her tolerance and captivated by her spirit, he complies and begins to slowly charm his way past her defenses. Time spent with Ian is never boring, and Kate soon finds herself falling for the mysterious hacker.

But Ian has enemies and they’re growing restless. In the hacking world, exploiting a target’s weakness is paramount, and no price is too high to stop an attack. And when Kate learns exactly how much Ian has paid, she’ll discover just how strong her love is for the man who has hacked his way into her heart.

3 stars!

This was such hard book to rate for me. On the one hand I really loved both characters and the banter was fantastic. On the other...it didn't really do anything for the majority of the book. It was so overly detailed and really dragged down the novel. It was still cute, though!

From the New York Times bestselling authors of Stuck-Up Suitand Cocky Bastard, comes a sexy new standalone novel.

Money or love? Which would you choose?

You probably just answered the question in your head thinking it's an easy decision.

For me, it's not. Did I mention it's a lot of money? A hell of a lot.

I needed to go far away to think it through.

As I embarked on an impulsive trip, I hit a detour when I met sexy Carter in the airport lounge. We struck up a heated conversation.

Then, he left.

I thought I'd never see him again.

But fate had other plans.

Surprise! He was the pilot of my flight.

The bigger surprise was the adventure that followed after the plane landed.

Carter was dangerous and always on the move.

Even though our connection was magnetic, I knew it was only temporary.

He would give me tickets, and I would follow him around the world to exotic places.

A bevy of flight attendant exes and rumors about Carter's reputation were never far behind.

I didn't know what to believe.

But I was addicted. Nothing else mattered anymore. And I was going to get hurt. Because a part of me wanted to be the one to finally ground the playboy pilot.

At the very least, he was taking me on a thrilling ride.

All good things must come to an end, right?

Except our ending was one I didn't see coming. 

4 stars!

This was such a great, fun and sexy read. Lots of swoon and plenty of heat, with enjoyable characters and a fantastic flow. One star knocked off because of a thing that happened, ugh. Why must authors go certain paths?!

Fate. Hate. Love. Lies.
Which four letter word will change their lives forever?

Sydney Paige was never so mortified to hear the words "wrong number" in her life. She meant to tell off the guy who broke her best friend's heart, but unleashed her anger on a perfect stranger instead. And now her world is turned upside down by the captivating man who wants to keep her on the line.

Brian Savage is living a life he's quickly come to hate-until Sydney's wild rant has him hooked and hungry for more. Soon the sexy woman on the phone becomes the lover in his bed. But Brian has secrets, and the closer he lets Syd get, the harder it is to shield her from the devastating mistakes of his past . . .

2.5-3 stars!

The writing was decent and a few of the side characters were great, but the hero ground on my last nerve. He reminded me so much of Kristen's Ashely's heroes: incapable of speaking in complete sentences, obnoxiously alpha and too full of angst. There were too many dramatic plot points for my taste, too.

There is one character whose story I can't wait for!

I awaken in a laboratory.
I don’t know who I am. 
I’m inexplicably drawn to the doctor who cares for me. She tells me I’ve been altered, that I’m stronger and faster, that I’ll be a key component in a war between corporations. She says I volunteered for this. She says I volunteered to be transformed, but I have no way of knowing if what she says is true. 
Something isn’t right. My memories have been taken, wiped clean, but dreams begin to slip into my conscious mind. I can’t let anyone know when that happens, or they’ll remove my memories again. Somewhere inside of me, I know I need to remember something important. 
I’m fighting a war I don’t understand, and the one woman I rely on can’t be trusted

4 stars!

A fantastic male POV post apocalyptic romance that kept me on the edge of my seat. Twisty and dark, with all kinds of emotions running high. One star knocked off for an open ending, because my god, I hate those. 

Four beautiful days. Three steamy nights. One breathtaking love. 

Levi Michaelson. He wanted four dates. Four opportunities to prove I could trust him. Four chances to change my mind about him. 

I agreed. 

Probably not my smartest decision. He was everything I knew to avoid—gorgeous, charming, sexy as hell—but I couldn’t help myself. When he touched me the whole world disappeared. I should’ve known I could lose myself to him, that he could be the one man to destroy me. 

I guess it’s true what they say—some things are too good to be true. And Levi Michaelson might just be one of them. 

Unzip this sexy, southern contemporary romance that’s guaranteed to make you sweat and make you swoon! 

Standalone. HEA. Intended for mature readers.

2.5-3 stars!

Started out cute and sweet, then got so sugary I could feel cavities starting. Then add in an insane amount of drama, a propensity for stuttering when the heroine does not actually have a stutter, and an overall predictable plot. Oy. 

On the plus side, it didn't take any concentration to read it and the writing was decent.

Nicholas Arthur Frederick Edward Pembrook, Crowned Prince of Wessco, aka His Royal Hotness, is wickedly charming, devastatingly handsome, and unabashedly arrogant; hard not to be when people are constantly bowing down to you.

Then, one snowy night in Manhattan, the prince meets a dark haired beauty who doesn't bow down. Instead, she throws a pie in his face.

Nicholas wants to find out if she tastes as good as her pie, and this heir apparent is used to getting what he wants.

Dating a prince isn't what waitress Olivia Hammond ever imagined it would be.

There's a disapproving queen, a wildly inappropriate spare heir, relentless paparazzi, and brutal public scrutiny. While they've traded in horse drawn carriages for Rolls Royces, and haven't chopped anyone's head off lately, the royals are far from accepting of this commoner.

But to Olivia, Nicholas is worth it.

Nicholas grew up with the whole world watching, and now Marriage Watch is in full force. In the end, Nicholas has to decide who he is and, more importantly, who he wants to be: a King... or the man who gets to love Olivia forever. 

4.5 stars!

Emma Chase is now officially on my auto-buy author list. I just love her writing! This was so sexy, swoony, addictive and made me happy. I think this was Emma Chase's raunchiest book to date. ;)

A bit predictable, but that was okay with me. I can't wait for Henry's book!

Series Tour: Caged by Shay Savage

I am so excited to be participating in this tour! Shay Savage is one of my favorite authors, and Caged did not disappoint. There's around 900 pages between the three books, and I devoured them all in less than three days. One of the best series I've read all year!

The third and final book just released, so I'll be doing a review for the series as a whole. Spoiler free (for book 3, at least...I'll try and keep it completely free!), I promise!

This is not made for TV. This is the raw, brutal underground of no-holds-barred combat. Inside the cage there is nothing but me and the pain I inflict on those who dare enter. In the cage, I never have to worry about anyone but myself. Yet, when she began standing outside of the cage, everything changed. I was no longer fighting for the money or the glory – I was fighting for her. 

Takedown (Book One) Caged Series

Amazon US:  http://amzn.to/1HvHfGR

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RzZXTw

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1HnHZ3T

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1CxUCKS

iBooks: http://apple.co/1TszIkO

Bizarre rituals on a remote island in Maine.
My crazy neighbor lying naked in the produce section of a grocery store.
The sting of a knife as it slices through my flesh.
Now I know why they say life is never easy.
The soft touch of Tria’s hand against my chest is the only thing that keeps me going, but there are consequences. As a fighter, I should be able to deal with anything life throws at me, but there is one circumstance I simply can’t handle.
I only have one coping mechanism: a tube around my arm and a needle in my vein.

Trapped (Book Two) Caged Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Sghf8B

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1dONldL

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1MnJZdI

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1DlDEjw

iBooks: http://apple.co/1KCaPML

Oblivion is a sweet, sweet place.

No pain. No disturbing thoughts of the past. No guilt from my recent actions.

Deep down, there is still a part of me that knows how screwed up I am. I don’t see a way out, not now. Tria’s gone, and the possibility of her forgiving me in my current state is exactly zero. I know I have to pull myself together, accept my responsibilities, and try to make amends, but I have no idea where to start.

No job. No apartment. I’m living on the streets with the other junkies. As little as I had to offer Tria before, I have nothing to give her now. The only way out is to come clean and tell Tria the truth about my past, but the idea of reliving the memoires is so painful, I can’t think about it long enough to figure out a solution.

I’ve hit rock bottom, and I don’t even know which way is up any more.

Released (Book Three) Caged Series

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1SCMct7

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1OLjmAs

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1D2xeFY

Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1LqEOgk

My Review

Liam Teague came from a privileged family, but after a tragedy destroyed his relationship with his parents and broke something inside him, he walked out and turn to the only thing that would numb his pain: heroin. 

After a near death experience and with the help of a fighting trainer who took him in, Liam's been clean for four years, though that itch is always in the back of his head.

With next to no money and completely alone, cage fighting is his escape and his passion. That is, until he meets Tria.

Tria is a young woman from a very remote town, alone in a big city and putting herself through college, against the wishes of her adoptive family. She has more than her fair share of heartache, but stays positive and works hard to build herself a better future.

One night after one of Liam's fights, he spots a lone woman being threaten by a group of drunk men. He saves her, and soon discovers that this fiery girl with an enormous purse is none other than his new neighbor, Tria. 

They form something of a friendship (with plenty of sexual tension), and when Tria is laid off at her job and can't afford the rent for her apartment, Liam suggests they become roommates. 

Things start heating up for the pair, and they become a couple. Liam is refuses to tell her just what exactly happened to him, which causes a bit of stress between them, but for the most part they're happy together in their little slice of sunlight in a dark world.

It can't last though, and a few months into their relationship, something rocks their world to the very core. With history repeating itself and completely unable to cope, Liam walks out. He gives into that little itch in the back of his head that's now screaming at him, and puts needle to vein. 

He hits rock bottom, and he hits it hard. Will he be able to pull himself out of this darkness and get his life back on track, and Tria back? Or will he succumb to his addiction?

Holy. Fucking. Hell. This trilogy blew me away! I laughed, I brooded, I ached, I swooned, and I flat-out bawled. Shay Savage is a gifted, gifted storyteller, and that really came out in the Caged series. 

Liam's family issues may sound a bit trite and dramatic, but once you find out just what happened, you're torn in two. It's not often I can clearly see and sympathize with both sides of a rift in a story, but Caged had me split down the middle with my feelings on the matter. While I'm firmly in Liam's camp, I could see and appreciate his parents' angle as well. Right intentions, wrong execution. 

It was such a deep-seated issue between them, and watching the way it unfolded was incredibly raw and heart wrenching. I'm so pleased to finally have a story were there is some genuine healing between the two parties, even if it's not perfect. It was so tangible, and felt like it could happen in anyone's life. 

Caged had some of the best character development I've read in months. It's not an easy path by any means, but Liam completely transformed himself from the person he was in Takedown by the end of Released. There were setbacks, there was failure. There was hope, and there was success. 

Liam hit rock bottom, truly hit rock bottom. You can't get lower than he was without being dead. The way he clawed his way back on nothing but sheer willpower and the love of a woman was astounding, and humbling. Despite his shit choices in life (that were actually quite justifiable, given the circumstances), he came to be someone I admired and respected.

Tria also has a fantastic arc, though her's is bit more subdued than Liam's. She's a little younger than he is (6-7 years, I think?), so she's still growing up as all of this happens around her. She had a quiet strength and courage about her that I loved. 

"It's how beautiful you are when you're pissed off at me. It's how you smile when you're making me breakfast. It's your eyes, your voice, the smell of your hair. It's how your skin feels against mine."

Every character is well developed and fully fleshed out; it created such a vivid backdrop for Liam and Tria's story. It wasn't just them dealing with the effects of life and their choices, it was everyone around them. It made me view things differently than if it were more introspective, and it was a nice change of pace. Once again, this book felt like someone's life, rather than a fictional story. I almost felt like I was intruding in a few places. It was a very intense feeling, and one I loved. 

I was lost. Completely and totally lost within her.

The connection and romance between Liam and Tria was incredible. Absolutely incredible. They go through so much, and to be able to come out of all of it stronger than ever was awe-inspiring. 

"Please let me try to be what you need me to be."

I have't cried that hard while reading in a long, long, time. I'm not talking delicate, pretty tears either, oh no. Full on ugly, tight throat and clogged nose, can't see the Kindle screen from sobbing so hard crying. I was so attached to the characters, and their pain felt like my pain.

Liam's issues are heartbreaking, what he goes through is heartbreaking, and his determination is heartbreaking. It all hurt me, but in the best way.

"I want you because you are beautiful, inside and out. You're putting yourself through school and trying to do something with your life. Everything about you is admirable, and I don't even deserve to be in your company.

I've spent a long time not feeling anything, because all I felt was...bad. I was only happy when I was fighting, but you...you changed all of that. For the first time in a decade, I have a reason to be outside the cage."

There was the perfect amount of humor to balance the agony of some parts. Tria carries around an enormous purse that Liam is constantly baffled by, and the various names he calls it had me cracking up.

"How do you even carry that thing around?"

"What?"

"That...that purse-bag-thingy there. It's insane."

"There is nothing wrong with my purse!"

"It's huge."

"It has everything I need in it."

"It has everything you and then of your friends could need for a week. I know there are people who carry Chihuahuas in their purse, but you could fit a Dane in there."

"Don't be ridiculous."

"Okay, a decent-sized Schnauzer, then."

As I said earlier, this series is about 900+ pages between the three books. I started the first Monday morning, and finished the last late Tuesday night. I couldn't put them down!

She surrounded me, engulfed me, and made me whole as I came apart inside of her.

Since I can't say much more without being spoiler-y, I'll leave you with a GIF lineup of my reading journey.

Ovearlly, Caged is an emotional, incredibly deep and realistic trilogy that kept me on the edge of my seat. I fell in love with Liam, shipped the crap out of Liam and Tria, and had my heart broken and put back together. I highly, highly recommend them! 

Book 1 and book 2 end on pretty major cliffhangers, so you'll want to grab them all!

STATS:

Rating: 5 stars for each!

Genre: New adult/adult (toes the line) contemporary romance

POV: 1st person

Steam/sexual content: Deliciously steamy, hot sex

Series: Caged Trilogy

Warnings: Explicit violence, explicit drug use, explicit sex

Cliffhanger: Book 1 and 2, yes

HEA: Yes, and so well deserved!

Thank you to the author and TRSOR Promotions for the ARCs! All opinions are my own.

Goodreads

- The Bibliophile Babe