Mini Reviews Monday

An all new second chance love story by the New York Times Bestselling author of the Driven series.

It all started with the invitation. To my ex-fiance’s newwedding. 

I should have ignored it.Thrown it away. Set it afire. But I didn’t.I replied. 

With a plus one. 

And then my assistant accidentally mailed it.

Enter Hayes Whitley. Mega-movie star. The man who has captured the hearts of millions. But I gave him mine years ago. He was my first love. He was my everything. Right until he up and left to chase his dreams without so much as a simple goodbye.

When he showed up out of the blue ten years later, I should have known to steer clear. I should have rejected his offer to take me to my ex’s wedding. I should have never let him kiss me.

But I didn’t. 

And now we’re left wondering if the pieces of the life we once shared still fit together somehow. First loves are hard to forget. The question is, do we want to forget? Or do we risk the chance and see what happens next?

3 stars!

A quick and easy read, but wasn't anything special. An annoying and dramatic heroine combined with an okay but doormat-like hero.

He's my soulmate. There's only one love that matters more than your first love: your last love. How damn lucky am I that both of mine are the same person?

“Knock knock!”
“Um… Who’s there?”

Yeah. That was me, on my last date. Before you feel sorry for me 
you should know that I was the one telling the jokes. Jokes as in 
plural, because I didn’t stop with just one. Of course not. 

Hi, I’m Chloe Scott. The most awkward single girl in the city.
But I’m going to get it together. I am. 

I’m going to learn how to date like a grown up.
I’m going to have an orgasm not given to myself. 
I’m going to fall in love and live happily ever after. 

Right after I get out of this interrogation room.

4 stars!

I didn't really get into this one until about 35%, but after the struggle with connecting with the heroine, I really enjoyed it! It was funny, super quick and easy, and the sex was hot. ;) Low drama, sexy read!

This girl is a fucking whirlwind to my common sense. She makes me think about forever with her when I haven't even nailed her down to the next date.

It started off as a battle of wits. Me: the ordinary girl with a big mouth against Him: the sexy bastard with a big...ego.

I thought I’d hit the jackpot when I was upgraded to first class on my flight to London.

That is until HE sat next to me. Gabriel Scott: handsome as sin, cold as ice. Nothing and no one gets to him. Ever. He’s a legend in his own right, the manager of the biggest rock band in the world, and an arrogant ass who looks down his nose at me.

I thought I’d give him hell for one, long flight. I didn’t expect to like him. I didn’t expect to want him. But the biggest surprise? He wants me too. Only in a way I didn’t see coming.

If I accept his proposal, I leave myself open to falling for the one man I can’t manage. But I’m tempted to say yes. Because the real man beneath those perfect suits and that cool façade just might be the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And I just might be the only one who can melt the ice around his heart.

Let the battle begin…

5 stars!

This book...this book! I loved it, absolutely loved it. The opposites attract romance was spot on, the banter between the entire cast was amazing, the pacing was flawless, and I was so happy while reading it. I was dying to get back to it every time I was forced to put it down!

Best of 2016.

"First and most importantly, I love you. I have never said that to a woman, and I will never say that to any other but you. I've lived long enough to know that you are completely it for me. This is a done deal - signed, notarized, what have you.

I will say the wrong words from time to time. And I will cock things up. That's a given, unfortunately. But there will never, ever be a time when I do not love you or want you in my life."

{Mini Review} A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it... or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down! 

4 "I Am Very Conflicted" Stars

This will be a short review today! I had a lot of thoughts on this one, but my poor dog broke her tooth over the weekend, so we're off to the vet's today. She's not feeling too good right now. :(

A Court of Thorns and Roses was a well written and intriguing retelling of Beauty and The Beast, and is a refreshing and exciting addition to the new adult genre. It was definitely a hyped novel, and in a lot of ways I can see why. In others...well, I'll just do a pros/cons list and keep it simple. ;)


On the one hand, I love:

- Tamlin. He was an enjoyable character, if slightly one-dimensional. I enjoyed how he did not push Feyre into anything, his loyalty and protectiveness of his people, and he's admittedly pretty sexy.

- Tamlin's best friend, Lucien. That man was hilarious, and I want to see more of him! He and Feyre had some awesome banter.

- The world building is just gorgeous. Rich, vivid, and thought provoking, but thankfully didn't enter the realm of "I have no fucking clue what is going on" high fantasy.

- The Fae were interesting! I've been intrigued by fae since reading Karen Marie Moning's Fever series, and it's always interesting to see another author's perspective. This cast of characters was slightly different from anything I've read before.

- The last 10-15% blew my mind. The action was heart pounding, emotions ran high, and I felt like I was right there with them.

- After the first 70 pages or so, it was incredibly addictive and I didn't want to put it down.

- Despite having more of fade-to-black sex scenes, this was a surprisingly sensual novel!

- I feel it could be read as a standalone without problem.

- The audiobook is pretty decent!




I wasn't as big a fan of:

- Feyre. First of all, I bought the audio version just so I could figure out how the hell to pronounce her name. I was thinking something along the lines of Fay-re, Fear-re, ect, but nope. Her name is pronounced Fair-uh. Never would've gotten that.
Second, I didn't really care for her as a heroine. She's just okay; a bit bland, not too well defined. She wasn't much of anything, good or bad.

- I have a sneaking suspicion that there will be a love triangle. I really, really hope I'm wrong.

- Like I said, it took around 70 pages to get into the story.

- The pacing for the book was a little weird to me. Nothing so hugely, glaringly obvious that I can pinpoint and say "that's what's wrong with it", but more like a nagging little something that set it off as odd to me.

- The romance. This was my biggest disappointment for me, especially because it's a Beauty and The Beast retelling and that storyline needs a romance that is all consuming. This one...wasn't. It was just okay. I wanted, needed to be completely enthralled with their romance, needed to believe in it one hundred and ten percent. The entire plot is revolves around love, and I didn't fully buy Tamlin and Feyre's love.

Overall though, it was an enjoyable read and I look forward to the next!

- Amanda, aka The Bibliophile Babe

{Book Review} Big Rock by Lauren Blakely

From Goodreads

It's not just the motion of the ocean, ladies. It's definitely the SIZE of the boat too. 

And I've got both firing on all cylinders. In fact, I have ALL the right assets. Looks, brains, my own money, and a big c*&k.

You might think I'm an a*&hole. I sound like one, don’t I? I'm hot as sin, rich as heaven, smart as hell and hung like a horse.

Guess what? You haven't heard my story before. Sure, I might be a playboy, like the NY gossip rags call me. But I’m the playboy who’s actually a great guy. Which makes me one of a kind. 

The only trouble is, my dad needs me to cool it for a bit. With conservative investors in town wanting to buy his flagship Fifth Avenue jewelry store, he needs me not only to zip it up, but to look the part of the committed guy. Fine. I can do this for Dad. After all, I’ve got him to thank for the family jewels. So I ask my best friend and business partner to be my fiancée for the next week. Charlotte’s up for it. She has her own reasons for saying yes to wearing this big rock.

And pretty soon all this playing pretend in public leads to no pretending whatsoever in the bedroom, because she just can’t fake the kind of toe-curling, window-shattering orgasmic cries she makes as I take her to new heights between the sheets.

But I can’t seem to fake that I might be feeling something real for her.

What the fuck have I gotten myself into with this…big rock?

BIG ROCK is a standalone, dirty romance novel written from the guy’s POV by NYT Bestselling author Lauren Blakely…

My Thoughts 

4.5 "Sinfully Sexy and Sweet" Stars

I tell myself not to panic prematurely. This is what friends do for each other. They pretend they're going to marry you when you need them to. Right?

I bought this book because I thought it said "big cock" at first glance, and that, combined with the cover hunk, set my inner pervert all aflutter. 

Okay, and the ratings for it were really highly. But mostly for the first thing.

I've been in the mood for light, funny, sexy times lately, and this book was exactly what I wanted. It was the perfect mix of hilarity, smut, and plenty of sizzling chemistry. I was giggling throughout the whole story, and fanning myself during the epic sex scenes. 

"How do you get yourself into these situations?"

"I like to think it's my wit and charm, but in this case, it might have been my big mouth.

The all guy POV was something I haven't read in quite a while, and it was very well executed! Our protagonist, Spencer, was a refreshing take on the typical hero: rather than a brooding, using manslut, he's a happy and gentlemanly (sort of...he's still a delightfully dirty bastard ;)) manslut. 

Much to my happy surprise, his whorish ways are really only mentioned in passing and as backstory, and we don't see any of his slutty ways aside from a few of his comments. That was a pleasant change!

This is the end to my Saturday night. My cat has watched me whack off to a vision of my best friend. 

"Don't say a word," I hiss.

He looks away, lifting his chin haughtily. But he'll keep my secret.

I'll keep his too, the fucking little voyeur. 

The chemistry between Spencer and Charlotte was off the charts. I'm a sucker for a good friends to lovers story, and Big Rock is pulled it off flawlessly. There's history and familiarity between the two, with the sort of easy back and forth banter that kept me smiling and rooting for them over the course of the story. 

The sex is smokin' hot. The story was fun and funny, but the sex was the icing on the cake!

I burn up all over as I watch her. I am comprised of nothing but heat. Her lips. Her eyes. Everything. She is my fucking everything. 

The book is a bit predictable and straightforward, but it worked for it. These kinds of rom-coms don't really need an intricate plot with tons of twists and world building; it's dessert, not a nutritional meal. I want to just sink into fun, sexy times, and that's exactly what happened!

I've broken the biggest ground rule of all. I've fallen in love with my best friend. 

Big Rock moves along at a good clip and primarily spans a week's time. I was eager to get back to it when I was forced away, and it was a very quick and enjoyable read.

Overall, Big Rock is a delightfully fun and romantic story with a charming hero, a funny and relatable heroine, plenty of sex and banter, and zero angst. Highly recommend!

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*My own copy

- The Bibliophile Babe

{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.

Review of Nocte

**** 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!

Add to Goodreads

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

{Book Review} Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers, #1) by Tara Sivec

From Goodreads

Claire is a twenty-something, single mom that grudgingly helps her best friend sell sex toys while she attempts to make enough money to start her own business to give her foul-mouthed, but extremely loveable (when he's asleep) toddler a better life. 

When Carter, the one-night-stand from her past that changed her life forever, shows up in her hometown bar without any recollection of her besides her unique chocolate scent, Claire will make it a point that he remembers her this time. 

With Carter's undisguised shock at suddenly finding out he has a four-year-old son and Claire's panic that her stretch marks and slim to none bedroom experience will send the man of her dreams heading for the hills, the pair will do whatever they can to get their happily ever after.

Warning: contains explicit sex, profanity and enough sarcasm to choke a horse.

My Thoughts

4 "Hilarious Cure For The Angst" Stars

I read Fisher's Light by Tara Sivec early last year, and was blown away by the beautiful, unique story of love, loss and redemption. I've had her Chocolate Lovers series on my TBR for months and months, but only just got around to reading book one. I have no idea what I was waiting for, because this was one of the funniest books I've ever read! The characters and writing style reminded me a bit of Alice Clayton's books, which are some of my favorites. 

Don't go into this book expecting tons of depth, seriousness, and mature adults doing things by the book. You'll be disappointed if you do. The story is the opposite of that, and I couldn't be happier for it. 

My inner 12 year old was cackling at the perverted humor, the epic swearing, and the truly hilarious title chapters. My adult self admittedly flushed at the simmering sex scenes, and swooned over the way the hero interacted with his son. I want Claire for a best friend, and I feel the sudden urge to gorge myself on chocolate (though that would not be wise, since I don't eat sugar.). 

It has been a long time since I've laughed until I cried while reading, and Seduction and Snacks was exactly what I needed. I was doing this weird laugh/cry/snort thing throughout this story, laughing my ass off at nearly every page. The humor alone marks this as a must read for me.

I loved the subtle and sometimes not-so-subtle jabs at traditional romance novels, like this bit here:

My breasts were heaving and my loins were quiverings.

I HAD QUIVERING LOINS!

I enjoyed all the characters; they all had great chemistry together and each had their own quirks and personality that created a well rounded group. They're not especially deep, but neither is the story, so it worked well for them.

I could be a dirty slut; I could be dirtier than a hooker at a gang-bang.

Okay, maybe not that dirty.

Claire was someone I connected with and wound up admiring. Looking past all her hilarious fumbles and filthy humor, she's really made something for herself and her son, while still retaining her sense of self, and she had an honesty about her I couldn't help but love.

Her son, speaking of which, was a riot. He reminded me so much of my youngest sister, and I loved when he had page time.

Carter was a sweet, funny and endearing hero, one who adored his son and had a great connection with Claire. His eagerness to learn and help was both charming and adorable. 

Their chemistry was off the charts, and the sex scenes were to die for.

The words "penis" and "vagina" are used more times than I can count, and a few times it bordered on ridiculous. And, you moron, you're speaking about your vulva, not your vagina. It worked for the most part, but it did aggravate me a few times. 

It's told in dual 1st person perspective, and the Claire/Carter switch off wasn't marked. Their voices were distinct, but I still found myself wishing we were told who's who right off the bat. 

There's a lack of commas in the book, along with a few other punctuation issues. Not enough to take away from the story, but enough for me to notice a theme.

"Jim, would you rather have your porn name be Hugh G. Rection Mike Unstinks?"

I laughed so hard I cried when I read this gem. I told you I had the humor of a 12 year old.

There is 0 angst in this story, despite the single mom/long lost father plot. It was light, fluffy, and sidesplitting funny. If you're looking for a humorous, sexy read that doesn't ask much of the reader, I highly recommend. I'll be delving into book two soon!

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*My own copy 

- The Bibliophile Babe

{Book Review} The Air He Breathes by Brittainy C. Cherry

Goodreads

From Goodreads

I was warned about Tristan Cole.

“Stay away from him,” people said.
“He’s cruel.”
“He’s cold.”
“He’s damaged.”

It’s easy to judge a man because of his past. To look at Tristan and see a monster.

But I couldn’t do that. I had to accept the wreckage that lived inside of him because it also lived inside of me.

We were both empty.
We were both looking for something else. Something more.
We both wanted to put together the shattered pieces of our yesterdays.

Then perhaps we could finally remember how to breathe. 

My Review

4 "I Am So Conflicted" Stars

Elizabeth knows what it's like to struggle to breathe. After losing her husband and soulmate, she fled to her mother's home to escape all the memories. A year passes, and together with her young daughter, she's back in her hometown. Everything is exactly how she remembers, with the exception of a viciously closed off man moving in to the house next to hers. 

The town gossips are quick to warn her about this beautiful, scornful man. 

They all warned me about Tristan, begging me to stay away. 'He's an asshole, he's wild, and she's broken, Liz.', they would say. 'He's nothing but the ugly scars of his yesterdays.', they swore.

Tristan struggles every day to take just one more breath. He lost is wife and best friend, along with his son, in a horrific car accident. With the two most important people in his life ripped away from him, he's beyond damaged. He is hateful, he is bitter, and he is lost.

The two share dozens of interactions, fueled by Tristan's cruelty and Elizabeth's heated confusion. Reluctant sexual tension crackles around the couple, and soon they start using each other.

Using each other to forget.

Using each other to remember.

I saw the broken parts that somehow matched by own. 

This was my second Brittainy Cherry book (the first being Loving Mr. Daniels), and everyone and their mother raved about it when it came out in late September of 2015. Because I am incredibly lazy with new releases, save for a select few authors, I only got around to picking it up a week ago. Oops.

I blew through this book in less than a day, and was left feeling more than a little conflicted, especially when it came time to rate it.

Let's get to it.



The first half of this book was absolutely amazing. It was so, so emotional, so intense, and I connected so strongly with both Elizabeth and Tristan that their emotions felt like my own. I loved the side characters, and I really enjoyed the author's more minimally descriptive writing style.
 It was ugly cry heartbreaking, but with surprising bits of humor woven in that made me laugh out loud. It was a really nice balance, and worked flawlessly for the story and characters.



She undressed me and made love to her past.
(that is just gorgeous <3)



Elizabeth and Tristan's chemistry soon turns into a sexual relationship. They use each other in the most basic, primal way, each envisioning their dead spouse in the place of the person in front of them.  There was absolutely zero love, or even much affection between the two to begin with, and I loved the refreshing lack of insta-love. Their raw yearning and all consuming love and grief they had for their spouses brought tears to my eyes, and painted the most potent picture of tragedy and loss. It was incredibly well crafted, easily enthralling the reader with the characters' heartbreak.


"I'll help. I'll help you hold onto him. I'll help you remember."


I was sure I had a 5 star read on my hands for that first 50%, certain I was going to reread this story, and being confident that it'd wind up on my Top 2016 List.

And then I swiped to the next page on my Kindle, and it all started going downhill.

One of my favorite things about the first half was the straightforward, fairly drama free (well, as drama free as you can get while fucking someone and picturing your dead husband/wife...) story. Boy, did it make up for that in the second half.



"Show me the shadows that keep you up at night. Kiss me with your darkness."



So. Much. Drama. One thing after the other happened in the second half, each one more farfetched than the next. It completely took away from the beautiful slow burn of the first half of the book. Everything in the second half was rushed, forced, improbable, the secondary characters became obvious and juvenile (this is an adult book), and two of the big "revelations" were easy to spot. The book took an overused plot twist, one I saw coming from miles away.

The writing stayed consistently pretty and emotional, and I still read it with feverish fervor. The first half was a solid 5 stars, and the second a 3. I'd recommend it just for the beautiful first half!

I saw the broken parts that somehow matched by own. 

STATS

Rating: ...4 stars??
Genre: Adult, contemporary romance
Series: Elements, #1
POV: 1st person, alternating perspective
Steam/sexual content: Some semi-graphic sex, moderately steamy
Warnings: Tissues needed!
Length: 308 pages
Published: September 25th, 2015

{Book Review} Fighting Silence (On The Ropes, #1) by Aly Martinez

From Goodreads

Sound is an abstract concept for most people. We spend our lives blocking out the static in order to focus on what we believe is important. But what if, when the clarity fades into silence, it's the obscure background noise that you would give anything to hold on to?

I've always been a fighter. With parents who barely managed to stay out of jail and two little brothers who narrowly avoided foster care, I became skilled at dodging the punches life threw at me. Growing up, I didn’t have anything I could call my own, but from the moment I met Eliza Reynolds, she was always mine. I became utterly addicted to her and the escape from reality we provided each other. Throughout the years, she had boyfriends and I had girlfriends, but there wasn't a single night that I didn’t hear her voice.

You see, meeting the love of my life at age thirteen was never part of my plan. However, neither was gradually going deaf at the age of twenty-one.

They both happened anyway.

Now, I'm on the ropes during the toughest battles of my life.
Fighting for my career.
Fighting the impending silence.
Fighting for her.

Every night, just before falling asleep, she sighs as a final conscious breath leaves her.
I think that's the sound I'll miss the most.

My Review

5 "You've Always Been Forever For Me" Stars!

Till Page and Eliza Reynolds stumble upon each other in an abandoned building late one night. Each hiding from grim homes lives, they continue to meet in secret throughout the years, and soon form an incredible bond that is more than friendship. They become vital to each other's sanity in a dirt poor, damn near hopeless life.

"It was more than a friendship, but there wasn't romance or sex. There was definitely love, though. Immeasurable amounts of it. I knew Till had this grand fantasy about me, but what he didn't realize was all that he gave me in return. He was the only thing I'd ever had that I honestly thought I couldn't live without."

With his father in jail and his mother completely unconcerned, the responsibility of his two younger brothers falls to Till, in order to keep them out of the foster care system. Till and Eliza are as close as two people could be; Eliza is Till's fantasy, his escape from their bleak reality. He is terrified of loosing that, so much love for each other and one unforgettable night, their relationship never goes further.

With the stress of being a parent to his brothers at such a young age, struggling to keep a roof over their heads and food in their mouths, and Eliza going away to college, their lives are split apart as they move in different directions.

A twist of fates lands them smack back into each other's lives, and this time will be different. Despite fighting poverty, raising Till's brothers, navigating a new relationship, and dealing with Till's impending silence, these two stay strong. 

This time, it's no longer an escape. This time, it's their reality. 

I read Fighting Silence in one sitting, and fell in love from the very first page. It's high on my best books for 2015, and is one of my favorite books of all time. There honestly wasn't a single thing I didn't enjoy about this.

"There is nothing in this world that was ever more mine than you."

Eliza was a fantastic heroine. It was incredibly refreshing to read a heroine that was strong, capable, intelligent, and a genuinely good person. She wasn't whiny, despite how tough their lives are more often than not, and she gave so much. She loved Till's brothers like they were her own kids, and the way that family was together....that, combined with the level of gentle adoration she has for her lover and best friend, brought tears to my eyes, and inspired all kinds of:

Now Till...good god, he's a man after my own heart. I normally don't like fighter romances. The fighters are usually big, dumb, violent assholes. Till wasn't like that. He was compassionate, dedicated, hard working, smart, and loved his family beyond all reason. Even though he has so much working against him, he never once faltered in his tenacity for what he wanted. I admired him more than pretty much any character I've ever read.

"You always say that you love me, but you have given me so much more. And because of that, I will spend a lifetime fighting to give you the world."

The couple had fantastic chemistry! A truly deep, loving, understand relationship that was beautiful to watch.

Till's struggle with going deaf was fascinating to watch. How he dealt with it, how his family dealt with it, and how it affected every single aspect of his life and career was raw, and intense. It was so interesting to see how it nearly broke him, but he still pushed through and worked past it. It was inspiring and humbling, to be perfectly honest.

She burst out laughing. God, I loved that sound. I knew I'd never be the same when I lost it to the silence. I'd happily give up every noise in the world if I could just keep her laugh.

I loved the pacing and flow of this story. We start off with a bang, then we're in their childhoods. From there you're shown the evolution of the characters and their relationship, their mounting challenges, and every success. It was enthralling and addictive. I laughed, I cried, I swooned, and loved every second of it. 

This is the first book in the On The Ropes trilogy, each focusing on a Page brother. My review of the second book, Fighting Shadows, can be found here. The third and final book, Fighting Solitude, releases February 2nd!

Overall, this is one of the best contemporary romances I've ever read. If you like intense emotion, sexy boxers, strong family ties, amazing character development, and a gorgeous love story, I highly suggest this one! Go with the print of eBook version, though. The audio narrator doesn't do it justice. 

Add to Goodreads

- The Bibliophile Babe

{Book Review} Outtakes From The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

From Goodreads

Cat and Bones fans, sink your teeth into this new outtakes compilation from New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost! 

Indulge your love of paranormal super couple Cat and Bones with this ultimate “director’s cut” collection of deleted scenes and alternate versions from the first four novels in the Night Huntress series, complete with author commentary on each selection. Includes: the original beginnings of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave’s End, and Destined for an Early Grave: a chapter written in Bones’s point of view; alternate versions of sections of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave; the “white wedding” scene between Cat and Bones that never made it into the final books…and much more! 

My Review

5 Fantastic Stars!

I discovered the Night Huntress series early this year, and from the very first book I was completely addicted. I remember I had the first two books, finished book one, ordered the rest of the books, finished book two, and then couldn't wait for book three to arrive, so I went to Books-a-Million and bought it. It's a wildly addictive series, and is one of my very favorites. Each book completely sucked me in, that perfect mix of sex, action and humor relentlessly holding my attention.

However, I had some questions and thoughts that were never really answered during the series lineup. 

Enter Outtakes From The Grave. 

With tantalizing chapter titles like Bone's Point of View of Their First Time, Alternate Version of Cat and Bones's Reunion, Bones Discovers Cat's Tattoo, White Wedding, Bones Realizes Cat Almost Jumped, and a long novella length chunk for an alternate middle for Destined for an Early Grave, this book was like a Big Mac after a week of salads. 

I. Fucking. Loved. It. 

You need to have read the first four books (Halfway to The Grave, One Foot in The Grave, This Side of The Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave) before diving into this one. 

Not only was it beyond satisfying to see these alternate chapters and missing scenes, it was so interesting to see Frost's writing mature and evolve from the first alternate chapter for Halfway to The Grave, to the alternate middle of Destined for an Early Grave. What started as slightly tentative and a bit stilted turned into captivating confidence with an effortless flow. You're given author's notes in the beginning of each chapter; it was so neat to "hear" Frost's thought process on each part. 

Outtakes From The Grave has a slightly rougher, less-polished feel than the series novels, and I think it really worked for the book. You could see why certain things were cut - it was truly a behind the scenes look at the beloved series. Like I mentioned, you can see Frost grow as a writer throughout the story, and you can really see Cat mature in a way the series doesn't show. 

One of my favorite things in Outtakes was the missions, training and banter between Cat, Tate, Don, Juan, Cooper, and then eventually Bones. The series has always had richly developed side characters, and Outtakes fleshes them out even more. These were some of the funniest moments, and I loved getting a peek at Cat's life after she left Bones. 

There were a few short scenes that I truly wish had been included, like Bones finding out about Cat's tattoo, and then him finding about the almost jump. They filled in some non-vital but still incredibly wondering ideas I've had about the series.

We're finally given Cat and Bones's wedding, and let me tell you, it was both beautiful and smokin' hot. God, it was so good. 

The long novella length alternative middle for Destined for an Early Grave was amazing. We're taken on a totally different route than the published store (hence "alternate"), and I almost wish that had been what had happened. It's not something I would usually be for, but it worked for the flow of the series, and we were allowed to see such a different side of our beloved couple.

I really hope Tavia Gilbert picks up the audiobook version for this one! If that happens, I'll be the first to buy it. She puts on one hell of a performance, and how can you not love Bones's accent in the audios?

Overall, Outtakes From The Grave is a must have for any Night Huntress fan, adding a new level of history and richness to the series. A highly satisfying novel that fills in so many blanks, and still leaves you wanting more!

Thank you to the author for the ARC. :D

- The Bibliophile Babe

P.S. I'll see you all on Sunday! Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

Cover Lust No. 8

 Mara Dyer believes life can't get any stranger than waking up in a hospital with no memory of how she got there.
It can. 

She believes there must be more to the accident she can't remember that killed her friends and left her strangely unharmed. 
There is.

She doesn't believe that after everything she's been through, she can fall in love. 
She's wrong.

I love all the covers in this series! The creepy starkness of the underwater couple, the embrace, the transparent font...so pretty. The series was pretty enjoyable, too!

{Mini Review} The Play by Karina Halle

From Goodreads

A troubled Scottish rugby player who doesn't play by the rules.
A vivacious man-eater who's given up on love.
When it comes to Lachlan and Kayla, opposites don't just attract - they explode.

Kayla Moore has always been comfortable with her feisty, maneating reputation. At least it was fine until she hit her thirties and saw her best friends Stephanie and Nicola settle down with Linden and Bram McGregor, leaving Kayla to be the odd one out. Tired of being the third wheel with nothing but one-night stands and dead-end dates in San Francisco, Kayla decides to take a vow of celibacy and put men on the backburner.

That is until she lays her eyes on Linden and Bram’s cousin, hot Scot Lachlan McGregor. Lachlan is her sexual fantasy come to life – tall, tatted, and built like a Mack truck. With a steely gaze and successful rugby career back in Edinburgh, he’s the kind of man that makes her want to throw her vow right out the window. But Lachlan’s quiet and intense demeanor makes him a hard man to get to know, let alone get close to.

It isn’t until the two of them are thrown together one long, unforgettable night that Kayla realizes there is so much more to this brooding macho man than what meets the eye. But even with sparks flying between the two, Lachlan can’t stay in America forever. Now, Kayla has to decide whether to uproot her whole life and chance it all on someone she barely knows or risk getting burned once again.

Sometimes love is a game that just needs to be played.

5 "Take a Chance On Me" Stars!

What do you get when you mix a hilariously brash woman, a gorgeous Scottish rugby player with a broken past, and pit bull rescue? One beautiful, heartfelt, amazing love story that is impossible to put down, and will stay with you well after you close the book.

Ladies (and any stray gentlemen), I present to you one of my favorite contemporaries of the year! 

"You only get one life. Well, two lives. The second one starts when you realize you only have one."

"Where did you hear that one?"

"I think I saw it scribbled on a bathroom door. People are philosophical when they're taking a shit."

It's no secret that Karina Halle is my favorite author, and this gorgeous book just reiterated everything I love about her writing. I laughed out loud, I cried, I swooned, and I felt such a deep connection to both protagonists. I finished The Play in a day, and I can say with complete confidence that this will be a reread. If you've never read a Halle book, I highly suggest this one to start you off. 

It's not like I'm a hundred percent pure evil. Just like forty percent. That's less than half.

The Play is a full length, standalone novel set in both San Francisco, CA and Edinburgh, Scotland. Both cities came to life on the pages with Halle's typical style, thrusting me right into the thick of it from the very first page. The story captivated me, and I was loathe to put it down on those few instances real life demanded my attention. 

The story was told in alternating 1st person point of view between Kayla and Lachlan, and their two voices were district, but still flowed together seamlessly. They filled in what the other person's perspective lacked, and it created a comprehensive plot. 

"How long do you have to be absent of dick before you're considered re-virginized?"

Kayla Moore was a fantastic heroine: hilarious, blunt, loyal, intelligent, and completely relatable. I could see a lot of myself in her, and that added to the feel of living in the story.

I loved seeing how and why she chose to follow Lachlan to Scotland, the feelings and challenges she went through while there, and how her perception of life, love, and living changed. There was a good deal of character development for her, and it was refreshing to see.

If you can't find a man to share your heart with....well, share your vagina with him instead. 

I was thrilled to see how unapologetic Kayla was about sex and her sex life. All too often we're forced to endure the prim, dry virginal (ha...that is such a horrid pun) heroine, and I don't know about you, but that's just not someone I can empathize with. Kayla loved sex, and was proud of that. You go, girl!

Lachlan McGregor was such an intense, multi-faceted hero. He was a mass of contradictions; here is this hard, seemingly impenetrable, silent man...who happens to run a sanctuary for pit bulls, had a heartbreaking childhood, and cares so, so deeply for those around him. He broke me, and then put me back together in the next breath. 

Your life becomes all about erasing life, like a memory card wiped clean. I did drugs and I stole and I lied and I hurt and hurt and hurt until that card was blank, and then was nothing new to hurt me anymore.

The Play gave me a frank, hard look at the life of a recovering addict. Getting to see that constant, all consuming struggle, the pain of the past and the uncertainty of the future, gave me a whole new outlook on the topic. It was beautiful in a sad, twisted way. Despite what he thought of himself, Lachlan was one of the strongest characters I've ever had the pleasure of reading.

Plus, there's nothing sexier than a guy who loves dogs. #fact

I need to fuck her, messy, hot and wild. I want her body, I want her touch, her light to replace all the darkness that creeps into my dreams.

Holy....fuckin'....hell, those sex scenes practically lit my Kindle on fire. The Play struck the perfect balance between "how does her pussy still work?!" and "okay, your adults, let's get to it!" sex. It wasn't overwhelming, but goddamn did they pack a punch. Can someone please send me my own gorgeous, dirty talking Scotsman for Christmas? 

There's this one shower scene...and a locker room scene (I did not realize I even had that fantasy until then!)...and I just...fuck.

And now, now I'm going off with him. And so he is mine. My Lachlan. My beast. My big, broken man. 

Kayla and Lachlan's connection, while not insta-love, was intense and fairly fast to develop. It worked well for the story though; being on the time crunch they were, it was no surprise that adrenaline, feelings, and hormones ran high. It tied in perfectly to the story, and worked for the couple.

"I understand these dogs. I know what it's like to be cast aside, to feel unwanted, to believe you have no one to fight for you. Time and time again. It hurts like hell, but if I don't fight for them, who will?"

One of my favorite aspects of The Play was the emphasis on dog rescue, and pit bull rescue especially. Just a few weeks before the book released, I rescued my own pit bull from the brink of death, and that experience gave me such a "yes, this! This is how it feels!" feeling when I read the rescue parts. 

These dogs are so misunderstood, it's just sad. My girl is the sweetest, most loving dog you could ask for, despite the horrific life she led before me. Their capacity for love and healing despite what life throws at them is inspiring, and I wish more people realized that. 

The similarities between Lachlan and the pit bulls he rescues was so well done, and made me love him all the more. 

"Kayla...you're my girl. You're my beautiful world. And I'm whatever you want me to be, just as long as you know that I have never, ever felt this was about someone in my entire life. I'm losing myself in you. Every day."

Overall, The Play is a gorgeous love story about taking risks, overcoming adversary, making differences in the lives of things smaller than you, and finding love in it all, with a healthy dose of smexy smut and plenty of humor to balance the heavy. 5 stars, one of my favorites for the year. Highly recommend!

"In the light of day, I can see all your cracks and your darkness and your flaws, and I fall in love with it all. And I hope you can fall in love with everything I am, all that lurks in my dark, all that shines in mu light. I want you to love every little piece of me, because it all belongs to you."

- The Bibliophile Babe

P.S.: My mini reviews never wind up being very "mini". Sigh. 

P.P.S.: I had nearly 80 notes/quotes for this book. Beautiful!