Mini Reviews Monday

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

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

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

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

4.5 stars!

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

My childhood was perfect.

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

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

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

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

I’m a bit aggressive for him, maybe.

But he’s the one… right?

2.5 stars!

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

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

3 stars!

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

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

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

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

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

3 stars!

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

Book Boyfriends

Morning, y'all!


Today's post is on book boyfriends. You know, those wonderfully illustrious, sinfully sexy, swoon worthy men that have ruined you for real guys....this  sums that feeling up, doesn't it?

I have an embarrassing large collection of these book boyfriends. I may or may not have an entire Goodreads shelf dedicated to my men. It's seriously bad, people. Luckily, this is a very common affliction in the book community, and I'm in good company. ;) I thought I'd share with you my top five book boyfriends, the ones who are just so good they're at book-husband level, haha. Even with that, it was so hard narrowing it down!

(This is in order)

5. Fisher 

from Fisher's Light by Tara Sivec

I loved Fisher. He had so much baggage, had seen so much violence, hate and pain, and I just wanted to help him. His dedication to his recovery and management of his PTSD and to repairing his relationship with his wife was beautiful, and there are few things more attractive than admitting to and owning up to your mistakes in life.

"I'm going to fix this. I have to fix this... I hate every moment that I'm away from her, but I will do whatever it takes to find the man she once loved and bring him back to her."

4. Jericho Barrons

from the Fever series by Karen Marie Moning

The ultimate alpha male! He's the complete package with his insane confidence, protectiveness, unapologetic attitude for who and what he is, mystery, intelligence, and pure sex appeal. I've rarely ever panted so hard as I did when I read this series.

"I'm the one who will always watch over you. Always be there to fuck you back to your senses when you need it, the one who will never let you die."

3. Archer Hale

from Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Oh, Archer. Few books have been uglier cries for me than Archer's Voice. It is by far one of the most beautiful, passionate, and heartbreaking love stories I've ever read. The characters' connection is staggering, and Archer trying to navigate life for his girl made me swoon and cry my eyes out at the same time. He's tied with our next casanova for 2nd place.

"I want to be able to love you more than I fear loosing you and I don't know how. Teach me, Bree. Please teach me. Don't let me destroy this."

2. Till Page

from Fighting Silence by Aly Martinez 

Till was damn near close to being #1 on this list. He's sexy, sweet, tender, protective, and stands up and supports his younger siblings when he's broke himself. He's madly in love with his girl, and he is passionate in his sport. I don't care what you do, if you're passionate about it there is nothing sexier to me. He's in his very early twenties, and is rapidly loosing his hearing. The struggle he had, and the couple's coping, was beautiful.

"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."

1. Dex Foray 

from the Experiment in Terror series by Karina Halle

There is no one better than Sexy Dexy. He's one of the most unusual love interests I've read: he's short, he's both a fearless man and a scared little boy, he's honestly a little bit crazy and he can be the dirtiest bastard and then the sweetest lover. He also has a filthy mouth and some of the best swear words and come backs. I love a man who can make me laugh. He's perfect. <3

"I was head over heels in love with her. No, that didn't describe it. I was tear my fucking heart and throw at her, beg her to take it into hers. I was falling from the greatest heights with no safety net. I was giving everything of my own life for hers, giving up every inch of my soul so she could wear it proudly. I was a former king on my knees before the queen. A jester begging for a chance. I was powerless, helpless and at her mercy."
That's one of my favorite quotes.



Bonus! Tie for #1. Gilbert Blythe
From the Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery

My very first book boyfriend, before I even knew there was such a thing. The steadfast devotion and love he has for Anne takes my breath away, and his boyish nature and knack for mischief makes me love him all the more.
I want my own Gilbert Blythe. Even movie Gil is to die for!

"I have a dream. I persist in dreaming it, although it has often seemed to me that it will never come true. I dream of a home with a hearth-fire in it, a cat and a dog, the footsteps of friend - and you!"

"You know... that every day I would pick a different memory I had of you. And I would play it over and over and over again in my mind, until every detail, every hair, every freckle, every part of you was exactly as I remembered it."

There seems to be a bit of a theme with my guys. Intense, devoted, passionate, dark haired, intelligent....

Who are some of your BBFs?

- The Bibliophile Babe