Showing posts with label Suspense. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Suspense. Show all posts

Monday, May 15, 2017

Mini Reviews Monday

Lily O’Connell, a succubus, owns Lily Bound, an elite sex salon in the Blood Night District of Seattle. When a client is murdered in her house, a patch of skin missing from his chest, she knows there’s something evil afoot. Then comes the news that the Souljacker—a tattoo-artist-turned-vampire—has escaped from an institution for criminally deranged Supernaturals. And he’s hunting and killing everyone he has ever inked.

With one of the Souljacker’s tattoos on her thigh and nowhere else to turn, Lily hires Archer Desmond, a chaos demon and PI, to help her track down the vampire before he finds her and her friends. But Lily didn’t plan to fall for Archer. And as the old tales say—a succubus who falls in love will destroy the heart of the one she seeks to claim.
 


3 stars!

This had a lot of potential as far as plot and characters go, but something about it just fell a little flat. Whether or not that was due to the slightly dry narration in the audiobook or if it was a fault of the book, I can't say. Regardless, I didn't connect with the heroine.
While the premise was really interesting in the beginning, it took a safe and boring turn and didn't live up to all it could be.
I am curious about what will happen in the second book though, and will likely continue and give it a second chance.



We fell in love on a beach, got married in paradise, and I carried her off into the sunset. It should have been perfect, but saying “I do” doesn’t guarantee a happily-ever-after.

Two years later, I barely recognize either of us behind the walls we’ve built.

It’s time to bring it full circle. Back to a tropical paradise. Back to find out if we can still make this work.

I’m not willing to give her up, but to save us, I have to risk everything. 

Two damaged people. 

Countless secrets. 

The fight of our lives.

We might be broken, but we’re not done.


4.5 stars!

Sexy, fun, gripping at times and highly emotional at others. This left me with some serious desire for seafood, islands and boats. ;)
I was pleasantly surprised with how much I loved this story, and blew through the audiobook in a day. Fantastic narration, too!



A new standalone from New York Times bestselling authors Vi Keeland and Penelope Ward. 

I met Bianca in an elevator.
She was on her way to interview me when we got stuck.
The beautiful, raven-haired reporter assumed I was a delivery guy because of the way I was dressed.
She had no clue I was really Dex Truitt, the wealthy, successful businessman she’d dubbed “Mister Moneybags”—her afternoon appointment.
Bianca told me how much she hated Dex’s type—snobby, over educated, silver- spooned men who didn't appreciate the simple things in life.
So, after the elevator finally started moving again, I cancelled the interview and let her believe I was someone I wasn’t—a bike messenger named Jay. I loved the way she looked at the fake me and didn't want it to end.
I began dating her as “Jay”—all the while letting her interview the real me over email.
I didn’t expect that our chemistry online would be just as hot. 
I didn’t expect the mess I’d gotten myself into.
I didn’t expect that Jay and Dex would fall in love with her.
And she was falling for two men. 
Only, both men were me. 
And when she found out, we were both going to lose her.
Nothing could have prepared me for that day. And I certainly wasn't prepared for what came after.
All good things must come to an end, right?
Except our ending was one I didn't see coming.


4 stars!

Ah, there's nothing quite like the sexy times and drama that comes from a Keeland/Ward mashup. This writing duo is such a guilty pleasure of mine, and this didn't disappoint. 
Despite the hero's antics during the first part of the book, I really felt for him and enjoyed his character throughout the story. Couldn't really connect with the heroine, but I didn't have any major problems with her either way. 
And oh, that drama....it was so good in an insane kind of way. ;)





When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they're emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets... apart from the one that really matters.

And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.


4 stars!

First, I absolutely loved this heroine! She was strong, smart, funny and her voice was easy and enjoyable to follow. The hero got on my nerves a lot towards the end and I could never really reconcile his behavior, but for the first half I was absolutely swooning.
Fantastic side characters, especially Val!
I blew through this very well done audiobook and really enjoyed it overall. 



First we were friends. Then we were roommates. Now I want more…
What can I say about Chess Copper? The woman is capable of bringing me to my knees. I know this about five minutes after getting naked for her.
No one is more surprised than me. The prickly photographer my team hired to shoot our annual charity calendar isn’t my usual type. She’s defense to my offense, a challenge at every turn. But when I’m with her, all the regrets and darkness goes away. She makes life fun.

I want to know Chess, be close to her. Which is a bad idea.

Chess is looking for a relationship. I’ve never given a woman more than one night. But when fate leaves Chess without a home, I step up and offer her mine. We’re roommates now. Friends without benefits. But it’s getting harder to keep our hands off each other. And the longer we live together the more I realize she’s becoming my everything.

Trick is… Now that I’ve made her believe I’m a bad bet, how do I convince her to give this player a true shot at forever?



5 stars!

I loved every single thing about this book. It was the perfect contemporary romance for me. Friends to lovers, sweetest man ever, strong heroine, roommates (!!!), believable angst that wasn't over the top, and the whole relationship progression felt very natural and genuine. I loved it. 




Monday, April 3, 2017

March Wrap Up

Hey ladies!


Time to wrap up what I read in March! It was a pretty good month overall, especially since my February slump hasn't returned, and I'm excited for all the great books coming out in April!


Books Read


















Total - 16



45 of 100 books read/45% complete/20 books ahead of schedule 





Real Good Man
Fake Fiancee
The Allure of Dean Harper
Undecided




0. Yep, still failing.


Real Good Man
Real Good Love
The Room Mate
Till Death
Silence Fallen
Souljacker
Mack Daddy
Take Me Back

Doing much better on the audio challenge, if I do say so myself!



The One That Was My Favorite


The Very Pleasant Surprise 


The Ones That Made Me Say "Shut Up, You Douche"


The Biggest Disappointment


The One I Breezed Through

The One That Made Me Realize I Don't Like This Author
Just how does one fuck up a road trip book? 



The One With The Best Narration


SaveSave

Sunday, March 26, 2017

The Sunday Post/It's Monday, What Are You Reading?

Hey all!



The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba @ Caffeinated Book Reviewer. It’s a chance to share news. A post to recap the past week, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead. It's Monday, What Are You Reading is a fun weekly meme hosted by Kathryn at The Book Date where we share what we've read and reviewed over the past week and what we plan to read next. 

First day of semi-vacation is today! Working a bit, but not as much as usual this time of year and we're staying at a little beach house a tiny way's away from home. We're also dealing with some incoming family (yay....), but I'm really hoping they don't, ah...hang around too much. And that I'll at least get to sleep in before dealing with them. Is that bad to say?


Fitness

Steps this week:

Sunday - 13,684
Monday - 10,996
Tuesday - 11,919
Wednesday - 9,318
Thursday - 11,350
Friday - 11,261
Saturday - 8,262

Total - 76,790


This Week's Recap







Coming Up

Little Book Haul!

Top Ten Tuesday: Authors I'd Like to Meet

Waiting on Wednesday

TBR Thursday

Cover Lust, No. 58


Read This Week

5 stars! This was spectacular, absolutely spectacular!

4 stars! I was really impressed with this and enjoyed it hugely!


Currently Reading

Just an audiobook reread. I want something fun and easy!


What Will I Read Next?

???


Monday, March 20, 2017

Mini Reviews Monday

Zeke Daniels isn't just a douchebag; he's an a**hole. 

A total and complete jerk, Zeke keeps people at a distance. He has no interest in relationships—most a**holes don’t. 

Dating?  
Being part of a couple? Nope. Not for him.

He's never given any thought to what he wants in a girlfriend, because he's never had any intention of having one. Shit, he barely has a relationship with his family, and they're related; his own friends don’t even like him. 

So why does he keep thinking about Violet DeLuca? 
Sweet, quiet Violet—his opposite in every sense of the word.
The light to his dark, even her damn name sounds like rays of sunshine and happiness and shit.

And that pisses him off, too.


3 stars!

This was a bit of a let down, though I'm not sure if that's the fault of the book or if it's because the first book in the series was just so amazing that this one pales in comparison. There was a little too much drama and angst for me, and the hero was a major douche.
"Well duh, that's in the title!" 
Yeah, but the last hero wasn't a malicious douche like this guy was. He just had no filter.



The Instant New York Times Bestseller!

Bustle - 2017 YA Must Reads
Paste Magazine - Most Anticipated YA Books of 2017

Dark, romantic, and unforgettable, Wintersong is an enchanting coming-of-age story for fans of Labyrinth and The Beauty and the Beast.

The last night of the year. Now the days of winter begin and the Goblin King rides abroad, searching for his bride…

All her life, Liesl has heard tales of the beautiful, dangerous Goblin King. They’ve enraptured her mind, her spirit, and inspired her musical compositions. Now eighteen and helping to run her family’s inn, Liesl can’t help but feel that her musical dreams and childhood fantasies are slipping away.

But when her own sister is taken by the Goblin King, Liesl has no choice but to journey to the Underground to save her. Drawn to the strange, captivating world she finds—and the mysterious man who rules it—she soon faces an impossible decision. And with time and the old laws working against her, Liesl must discover who she truly is before her fate is sealed.

Rich with music and magic, S. Jae-Jones's Wintersong will sweep you away into a world you won’t soon forget.


4.5 stars!

I was shocked at how much I enjoyed this story! It was so far out of my comfort zone, from the plot to the ending, but I'm so glad I took a chance on it.
It was a captivating story, with a wonderfully complex and relatable heroine. She was one of the most real and honest characters I've read in a while.
The plot kept by at a steady pace, taking me on a strange but wonderful experience. It was a bit trippy at times, but it worked for the story.
The narration was absolutely spectacular, too!


In New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout’s gripping new novel, a young woman comes home to reclaim her life—even as a murderer plots to end it. . . 

It’s been ten years since Sasha Keaton left her West Virginia hometown . . . since she escaped the twisted serial killer known as the Groom. Returning to help run her family inn means being whole again, except for one missing piece. The piece that falls into place when Sasha’s threatened—and FBI agent Cole Landis vows to protect her the way he couldn’t a decade ago.

First one woman disappears; then another, and all the while, disturbing calling cards are left for the sole survivor of the Groom’s reign of terror. Cole’s never forgiven himself for not being there when Sasha was taken, but he intends to make up for it now . . . because under the quirky sexiness Cole first fell for is a steely strength that only makes him love Sasha more.

But someone is watching. Waiting. And Sasha’s first mistake could be her last.
 

4 stars!

This should be what JLA writes! I was sucked in right off the bat, enjoyed pretty much every character, and was so entertained from start to finish. I didn't experience any of my normal irritation while reading JLA. ;)
I did guess the culprit as soon as they were introduced, but I think that was more my fault than the author's - I tend to guess early on in these suspense type stories, which is why I don't usually read them.
The narration was good, too!




In the #1 New York Times bestselling Mercy Thompson novels, the coyote shapeshifter has found her voice in the werewolf pack. But when Mercy's bond with the pack and her mate is broken, she'll learn what it truly means to be alone...

Attacked and abducted in her home territory, Mercy finds herself in the clutches of the most powerful vampire in the world, taken as a weapon to use against alpha werewolf Adam and the ruler of the Tri-Cities vampires. In coyote form, Mercy escapes only to find herself without money, without clothing, and alone in the heart of Europe...

Unable to contact Adam and the rest of the pack, Mercy has allies to find and enemies to fight, and she needs to figure out which is which. Ancient powers stir, and Mercy must be her agile best to avoid causing a war between vampires and werewolves, and between werewolves and werewolves. And in the heart of the ancient city of Prague, old ghosts rise...
 

3.5 stars?

I don't know how I feel about this one, but it's definitely my lowest rated Mercy book since the first one. I don't know why, but this never really clicked for me. I didn't like Adam's POV, and I found it a little choppy in several places.

Great female narration, so-so male narration!




Single Dad. Second Chances. Meet Mack in the newest STANDALONE novel from New York Times bestselling author, Penelope Ward. 

They called him Mack Daddy. No, seriously, his name was Mack. Short for Mackenzie. Thus, the nickname. Perfect, right? 

So was he: perfect. The perfect physical male specimen.

At the private school where I taught, Mack Morrison was the only man around in a sea of women.

Everyone wanted a piece of the hot, single father of the sweet little boy. 

I became a woman I didn’t recognize, someone riddled with jealousy, because they didn’t know that—to me—he was much more. 

They didn’t know about our past. 

He’d chosen my school for his son on purpose, because Mack and I, we had unfinished business. 

As my friend, Lorelai, so eloquently put it: “Unfinished business between two people who are clearly attracted to each other is like an eternal case of blue balls.” And I was suffering in pain from my case.

I was still intensely attracted to Mack. I tried to resist him, immersing myself further into a relationship with someone else just to protect my heart. 

Not to mention, getting involved with a parent was strictly against school rules. But seeing Mack day in and day out was breaking me down.

And soon I might be breaking all the rules.

Author's note – Told in alternating points of view, Mack Daddy is a full-length standalone novel.

3 stars!

First off, I hate this title with a burning passion.

Penelope Ward is a hit or miss guilty pleasure author for me, and I'm happy to see her writing improve with each book she puts out. I'm excited to see what's next!

This was a good read overall, if a little predictable and heavy one some rushed drama at the end. The hero was decent, the heroine was okay, but I did struggle with their relationship. I didn't feel the usual sizzling chemistry I feel while reading a Penelope Ward book. 
There were a couple of sex scenes that were just...icky to me, and I'm a free spirt when it comes to sex scenes so it takes a lot to make me feel gross!

That said though, it was a very quick and easy read, with a good narration. 













Thursday, May 12, 2016

TBR Thursday

Kimberly @ Kimberlyfaye Reads started a new weekly feature that I'm excited to join in! This feature is to showcase what's on your to be read shelf (or eReader, or Audible library) and see what others think of it. Have you read it? Should I read it or put it back on the shelf? It's a way to dust off the books on your self and decide if they're worth reading!




The 
USA TODAY bestselling author of the Ten Tiny Breaths and Burying Water series makes her romantic thriller debut with this heartpounding story of a young woman determined to find justice after her best friend’s death, a story pulsing with the “intense, hot, emotional” (Colleen Hoover) writing that exhilarates her legions of fans.

Twenty-eight-year-old Maggie Sparkes arrives in New York City to pack up what’s left of her best friend’s belongings after a suicide that has left everyone stunned. The police have deemed the evidence conclusive: Celine got into bed, downed a bottle of Xanax and a handle of Maker’s Mark, and never woke up. But when Maggie discovers secrets in the childhood lock box hidden in Celine’s apartment, she begins asking questions. Questions about the man Celine fell in love with. The man she never told anyone about, not even Maggie. The man who Celine herself claimed would be her ruin.

On the hunt for answers that will force the police to reopen the case, Maggie uncovers more than she bargained for about Celine’s private life—and inadvertently puts herself on the radar of a killer who will stop at nothing to keep his crimes undiscovered.


I've loved K.A. Tucker's other books (Burying Water is a favorite!), but haven't gotten around to picking this up. Should I move it up the TBR pile?



Friday, February 5, 2016

{Book Review} Lux (Nocte, #3) by Courtney Cole



From Goodreads

LET THERE BE LIGHT. 


My name is Calla Price and I’m broken. 

My pieces are all around me, floating on the wind, even as I desperately try to grasp them. 

Who is dead? Alive? Insane?

What is the truth?

I don’t know. 

I do know this: The darkness is strangling me. With every breath, I choke on another lie. 

My mind has protected me, but that shield will soon be lowered. 

All will be revealed. 
Every answer to every question. 

It’s all been leading to this. 

Don’t be afraid. 
Be terrified.


My Thoughts 

4 "Twisted, Twisted, Twisted" Stars


Reading order: 
Nocte
Verum
Initium (novella that I highly recommend reading for a better grasp on the last book) 
Lux.


**** Spoiler free! *****

We're all prisoners. Prisoners of expectations, prisoners of reality, prisoners of life.



The Nocte series has been one of the most twisted, confusing, and fascinating mindfucks I've ever had the pleasure of reading. Despite its Young Adult (toes the very early new adult line) category, it's incredibly dark, violent, and downright disturbing at times. It kept me ensnared in the story and desperate for more, even as I shuddered at some of the things that happened. With a touch of romance and strong family bonds, this series is right up my alley. 

The almost simplistic and minimal writing style of the trilogy leaves so much up to the reader, allowing them to flesh the story out as they see fit. The flow of the story does a fantastic job of showcasing the heroine's struggle and confusion, leaving you just as twisted up as she is. You really do become Calla as you read the story.


Save me, and I'll save you.


Lux, the third and final novel, was the one I'd been waiting for. The dozens of questions accumulated after reading the previous books left me salivating for answers, and on most aspects, Lux was a satisfying read. 

With a fast paced plot filled with flashbacks and all kinds of odd things, Lux was a book I devoured in less than a day. This book was definitely the most twisted one of the three, and several times I found myself muttering "that's just wrong" as I frantically read the pages. These revelations raised more questions than they answered, but that didn't bother me too terribly much, and what info we are given was satisfying and starling in equal measures.
Lux is a riotous mixture of emotions, going from desperation to anger to sadness to guilt and back again in the blink of an eye. It gave me whiplash and had me dying to see what happened next.

The big reveal of sorts was a tad anti-climatic and confusing for me. It's a bit open-ended, and leaves the reader free to decide where they think the story went. While half of me appreciates fittingness of the not-quite- perfect-ending, the other, sappier part longed for a definite happily ever after. It did work for the story, however!
(It's not a not-happy ever after, but it's definitely not tied up with a bow all nice and neat)



May you always have the courage to live free, and the strength to do what is right. 



My favorite part had to be how this story played out in my head; each scene was so vivid that I felt like I was either living it, or watching a really well done movie. It was like I could reach out and touch something as it unfolded for me.
Lux was one of those books that just begs for a soundtrack. I like to listen to music as I read, and a few songs were so perfect for the story I had them on repeat.

Lux Mini-Playlist:

Running Up That Hill - Placebo
I'll Take Everything - James Blunt
Wherever You Will Go - The Calling
Ugly Love - Griffin Peterson
Take Me to Church - Hozier
Letters From The Sky - Civil Twilight
I Know You - Skylar Grey
Angel - Massive Attack


Overall, Lux was a mostly satisfying conclusion to a fantastic series. I highly recommend checking the trilogy out!


Stats:

Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Young adult/new adult, mystery, suspense, dark, romance
Series: Nocte, #3
POV: 1st person
Warnings: Lots, but can't tell for spoilers!
Length: 274 pages
Published: October 26th, 2015
My own copy

- The Bibliophile Babe



Friday, December 18, 2015

{Book Review} Lawless by T.M. Frazier



From Goodreads

Thia is prim and proper.
Bear is leather and lawless.
It will never work between them.
It's a lie they almost believe...

Lawless is book three in the King Series
and is Bear and Thia's raw, and gritty tale!

NOW AVAILABLE
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1HQU3im
Paperback Amazon: http://amzn.to/1YsctJZ

My Review

(this summary is short, because you really should just dive in!)

The third book in the King series focuses on Bear, the late 20s, roguishly sexy member of the MC Beach Bastards. When we first met Bear, he was hiding out from the head of the MC, who just so happens to be his father. After some unspeakably terribly events in book two, Bear is not the same man he used to be. He's laid down his cut and left the MC, drowning himself in booze, drugs, and women. 

Enter Thia Andrews. 
Thia first met Bear at the age of ten, in a rather unusual way. Now eighteen and wrongly accused of a sickening crime, Thia explodes back into Bear's life with the force of a hurricane. 
With the law closing in on Thia and the MC gunning for Bear, these two are riding the most intense, adrenaline-fueled roller coaster imaginable. 



4.5 "Wild and Crazy" Stars



This is the third book in the King series (click to read my 4.5 and 4 star reviews for King and Tyrant), and it is best to read them in order to get the full effect. However, I think you could dive in with this book without being too terribly lost. 


I discovered T.M. Frazier's novels earlier this year, and have become obsessed. They are wild, sexy, incredibly fast paced, and more addictive than crack. I can't get enough of them, and it's never taken me longer than a day to finish one. Lawless was no exception.

Frazier's stories shouldn't be as enjoyable to me as they are. Everything I think I don't like is crammed into these novels, such as:
Age gaps
Motorcycle clubs
Truly Neanderthal heroes
Drug and alcohol use
Insta-love
Did I mention motorcycle clubs?

It doesn't matter, though! I may not like those things in general, but what Frazier writes it? Damn, do I love it. 


I absolutely loved Lawless! It was a wild, sexy ride that I could not put down. The dual points of view really highlighted the differences between the protagonists, as well as the startling similarities. The Florida setting was rich and three dimensional, and as a Floridian myself, spot-on accurate. You feel every emotion that runs through the characters, and I found myself nauseated, turned on, anxious, and wild throughout the novel.

Bear was a very interesting hero. He wasn't your typical bad-boy-that-is-actually-a-good-guy, and he never claims to be anything than what he is. He's loyal to a fault, surprisingly intelligent, and incredibly resilient. I would suggest reading the first two books to fully experience and appreciate what he went through, but even if not, you're slammed with the impact. I grew to really respect him as a person, even though he isn't your typical idea of a good guy. 

Thia was a character I had a harder time wrapping my head around and understanding at first, but by the ending of the novel I was completely sucked in. She was mature and astute, especially for her age, and had a way of cutting though the bullshit. She was a heroine unlike what I've read before, and I loved having that breath of fresh air. 



Love. It was the only kind of torture I wasn't familiar with. I was quickly learning it was the most painful kind of them all. 


These two seemed so different, in everything from upbringing to age to outlook, but they were incredibly well matched with fantastic chemistry. The age difference factor that normally squicks me out didn't bother me in the slightest here. They're both old in some ways, and very young in others. They balanced each other out, and despite the very short time the novel spans, they formed quite the connection. 


"I wanted you because of who you are, not regardless of who you are."


The story was incredibly intense, wild, violent, sexy, and with non-stop, heart pounding action. I couldn't put it down, and it has one bitch of a cliffhanger. I highly recommend! 
The second book comes out in February, and I can't wait! One of my most anticipated for the new year. 


- The Bibliophile Babe

*ARC courtesy of the author and The Rock Stars of Romance. 

Monday, August 10, 2015

Book Review: Burying Water by K.A. Tucker



From Goodreads:

The top-selling, beloved indie author of Ten Tiny Breaths returns with a new romance about a young woman who loses her memory—and the man who knows that the only way to protect her is to stay away.

Left for dead in the fields of rural Oregon, a young woman defies all odds and survives—but she awakens with no idea who she is, or what happened to her. Refusing to answer to “Jane Doe” for another day, the woman renames herself “Water” for the tiny, hidden marking on her body—the only clue to her past. Taken in by old Ginny Fitzgerald, a crotchety but kind lady living on a nearby horse farm, Water slowly begins building a new life. But as she attempts to piece together the fleeting slivers of her memory, more questions emerge: Who is the next-door neighbor, quietly toiling under the hood of his Barracuda? Why won’t Ginny let him step foot on her property? And why does Water feel she recognizes him?

Twenty-four-year-old Jesse Welles doesn’t know how long it will be before Water gets her memory back. For her sake, Jesse hopes the answer is never. He knows that she’ll stay so much safer—and happier—that way. And that’s why, as hard as it is, he needs to keep his distance. Because getting too close could flood her with realities better left buried.

The trouble is, water always seems to find its way to the surface.



My Review: 


Left for dead after a brutal attack, "Jane Doe" is lucky to be alive. She wakes in a hospital with no memory, a laundry list of injuries, and a scared face. Aside from an odd tattoo and the faintest of flashbacks, she has no idea if she'll ever regain the memories of her life. 

Watched over by her doctor and taken in by a reclusive and cantankerous neighbor, she renames herself "Water", and painstakingly begins life anew. 
With hundreds of questions and no answers in sight, Waters struggles with the incredible sense of safety and familiarity she feels with her doctor's son, Jesse. Does she actually know him? Or does she just want to? What is it that Jesse is hiding?




What if all those little bits that make up me get lost, overshadowed by one dark memory? My last memory, the one that made me want to forget everything in the first place. Will I be able to escape the kind of damage that experience can cause?



Burying Water was my first book from K.A. Tucker, and it won't be the last! I was completely captivated by this story from beginning to end; everything from the characters to the plot to the writing kept me glued to the pages. This was a surprising book for the new adult genre, and one I thoroughly enjoyed.




If you wait long enough, the truth always comes out. Just like water. 




It's told in alternating 1st person POV, flipping from present to past with every chapter. The two voices were so distinctive and vivid that sometimes it felt like I was reading two different stories that somehow still managed to fit together perfectly. The differences in their voices set the tone for the book so beautifully, with the perfect mix of confusion and perseverance from Water, and anxiety and conflict from Jesse. 
I absolutely loved seeing the past and present in this book. It kept me on the very edge of my seat, salivating for what would unfold next. Seeing "old Water" through Jesse's eyes, and "new Water" in her own eyes was spellbinding. 





"I wouldn't make you wear that shit. I'd let you dye your hair whatever color you wanted. I'd let you shave it off; I'd let you wear men's sweatpants. I'd do anything to keep you in school.  I'd never leave you alone in the dark. I'd never lay a hand on you. Not like that." 





Jesse is an intriguing character, one that I fell for right away. Despite the circumstances, he came across as so good and pure. A very genuine, passionate, and loving man. I connected with him more than Water, and being in his head was enthralling.




He saved me long before that night I almost died; that much I'm sure of. Maybe one day I'll remember exactly how. 




Water was an enjoyable heroine, with a quiet sort of strength that sneaks up on you. Even though she's been dealt an absolute shit hand in life, she keeps a positive outlook and makes the best with what she's given. I really admired her character, and her arc was fantastic. I also liked the chemistry between her and Jesse. 


All the side characters are so rich and well rounded. I loved the different personalities and opinions throughout the book; it made it so realistic and vivid. I can't wait to read Amber's story, Chasing River!

My only gripe with Burying Water is my gripe with most contemporaries: they end too soon. Everything happens and then boom, epilogue. I want to see some real closure! I want to see how everyone reacts in the aftermath of such a reveal. The ending of this book left me wanting more, and not in the best way as there is no direct sequel.

Aside from that, I loved the book. The pacing was perfect and tense, the writing beautiful and vivid, and the characters well developed. I can't say more without spoiling it! You have to experience this one for yourself. 

I thoroughly enjoyed Burying Water, and highly recommend it. If you're new to the new adult genre, this is definitely a good one to... test the waters with. You see what I did there?


STATS:

Rating: 5 stars
Genre: New adult, contemporary romance, suspense
Series: Burying Water #1, standalone series
POV: 1st person, alternating duel perspective
Steam/sexual content: Slightly steamy, very mild sex
Warnings: Violence, rape, abuse
Cliffhanger: No
HEA: Yes
My own copy


- The Bibliophile Babe