Review: Two Wedding Crashers by Meghan Quinn

Two Wedding Crashers

Author: Meghan Quinn
Series: Dating by Numbers #2
Pages: ebook, 372 pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: March 11th 2018

Summary:

I don’t know what love is anymore.

Well, that’s not entirely true, but I’m going to tell you a little secret: I’ve lost the spark.

You know the kind of spark I’m talking about?

Where butterflies take flight in your stomach from two hands innocently colliding. Or catching your breath when you first meet someone attractive. Yeah, that spark.

Except I haven't felt that feeling in forever; there is nothing left inside of me.

Normally, this wouldn’t be a problem--but I’m a writer on a serious deadline, and my editor is breathing down my neck for a romantic, Nicholas Sparks type love story. No pressure, right?

That's how I find myself flying across the country to crash a wedding in the name of research, dress and heels stuffed into my small suitcase.

It should be the easiest book research ever. Drinking some free champagne, basking in the love of two strangers, and tapping into my romantic side. That will be a breeze. I'm a pro. I can handle this.

Until I mistakenly end up in the wrong hotel room, naked as the day I was born, with the sexiest human I have ever met staring me down, wondering what I'm doing taking a shower in his bathroom. I don't think calling it research will get me out of this pickle.

But it will make for one hell of a story....

Review:


So it took forever and ever to read this.
Due to two reasons actually: I was reading a few books at the same time, do be exact *looks around and whispers* six. Yeah, not a proud moment there. Alas, I am slowly working on my CR list and am as of now down to two now! One NF & one cute&fluffy, like normal people. But I digress, second: It took me nearly half the book to get into it.
I mean it was funny and had its moments. But somehow though I trust that Beck is smexy and all that, I didn't see the pull. Then the wedding happened. And well, I was a goner.
I am suddenly totally in Camp Beck.

The storyline is fun, to a degree slow burn just like usual Quinn goodness and has some interesting twists.
The whole secretive about the past thing was taken to a whole new level. I mean I guessed at most of Becks past- btw I was a bit disappointed by how ..normal? .. it was. I kinda expected more extravagance. Don't ask me why. This is way more realistic and relatable, but I was feeling a bit deflated and thought, that's all. No fame no riches no... then I put the book down for a bit and thought to myself, is this where you at these days? You want your cute and fluffies to become cute and ridiculous? This is big enough as it is, there is some serious sh*t there and fame or money doesn't change that. So I actually like that aspect now. It is realistic and I like how Beck deals with it.

The character building is brilliant. I love the supporting cast. I mean I love them with a capital L. Seriously such vivid, quirky and funny cast. I want to be part of their squad.
Then there is Beck. INSERT; *LEsigh*. I think he has become one of my favourite characters by Quinn. He is in one word amazing. swoony.
okay that's two. I actually could add a whole litany of them.
I am firmly in camp Beck.
This is interesting because after reading Three Blind Dates I wasn't that interested in Beck.
I know a lot of people were totally taken by him. Me, not so much. Sure he was smexy and all alpha hotness. I know there was a brooding side to him and some big secrets. But he wasn't enticing to me. I thought it's just physical attraction. He is your usual bad boy hottie, who will be reformed... and I was proven wrong.
The slow unfolding of his past & his demons, seeing him have fun not taking himself too seriously and yet being steadfast with what's important to him? What amazing character building!
Yep as I said swoony, awesome and sigh.
Rylee, well I like her. But frankly, at times, she was too ditzy for my taste.
Her hide and run attitude kinda made me super frustrated, especially towards the end. It didn't feel stubborn, it felt childish.


This book made me laugh a lot. It is so much fun. I mean I literally laughed out loud. I was giddy with anticipation for most of the second half.
Well written, cute and swoony.
Oooooh and not to forget: BABY RED PANDAS!

So now I just have one question will we get books for the 4 Knightly brothers too?


Rating: 

Release Day Blitz: Inticing A Riot by Karen Renee

It’s the release blitz for Karen Renee’s INCITING A RIOT. Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

 

Title: Inciting a Riot

Author: Karen Renee

Genre: Contemporary Romance

 

About Inciting a Riot:

Cary “Vamp” Sullivan earned his Riot MC patch and shoved Lorraine Francis Ingram out of his life six years ago by cheating on her. He’s regretted it ever since because he knew she was a top-notch woman. After mentioning his regrets to his brother, Cal, Vamp suddenly finds himself faced with an opportunity to win Lorraine back. When he runs into her unexpectedly and finds out she has been beaten at the hands of a man, Vamp and his Riot MC Brothers are determined to protect her. Vamp is determined to get her back in his life, and he knows it’s going to be an uphill battle.

Lorraine insists that if any Riot MC Brother is going to protect her, it cannot be Vamp. She gets no promises from the Riot MC, and she finds herself with Vamp at her doorstep. She’s determined there will be no second chances, but her resolve is weakened because Vamp isn’t playing fair, he’s fighting…fighting to win her over.

Once she and Vamp are reunited again, they realize there is a very real threat to them both. Lorraine and Vamp are put to the test to rekindle their long-lost love and stay alive.

Get Your Copy Today!
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Exclusive Excerpt:

“You gonna sleep like that, doll? Or will you make some room for me?” Vamp asked.

I opened my uninjured eye to give him a look. I shouldn’t have looked at him. Now who’s satisfied and tickled too? I supposed both of us were, but the look on Vamp’s face was one part cat-who-got-its-cream and one part mesmerized. The competitive part of me hated to think that he had won the war, but was it really worth fighting the war if I ended up with those delectable triple twitches every night by surrendering?

I felt the bed depress and my cocked leg was moved to drape over the back of Cary’s thigh. He moved my hands and pinned them by my head. At that maneuver, I opened both my eyes to find his intently examining me.

After a deep breath, he said in a low voice, “I want to marry you.”

I would not freak out. My eyes slid to the side and then back to him, “Um, did you drink from your dad’s highball glass tonight?”

He smirked and shook his head. The niggle of fear I felt earlier was back except it had grown to a full-blown ache sliding through me. Mom and I were left by my dad when I was still a baby, and no man since had ever wanted to commit to my mother. Maybe that’s why you go for cheaters. You kick them aside before they can love you and leave you. What the fuck? Now really, my thoughts needed to get with me and not try to undermine my sanity. His mother deserted him, but he’s not scared of mentioning marriage. True, but hell, we just got back together.

I took a deep breath and said, “I’m thinking it might be a little too soon, Cary. We just got back together.”

More of his weight descended on me. “I’m thinking it might be six years too damn late. We gotta make up for lost time.”

“Let’s take it one day at a time, and…” I trailed off because I was going to say he could make me his old lady before we tried marriage. The problem was I wasn’t new to the MC world. I knew full well that being an old lady was a higher commitment than a marriage license and wedding bands would ever be. If I was willing to say, make me your old lady first, then any protests to marriage were useless.


About the Author:

Karen Renee is the author of Unforeseen Riot and Inciting a Riot. She has wanted to be a writer since she was eight years old, but it’s taken the last twenty plus years for her to amass enough courage and overall life experience to bring that dream to life.  Some of those life experiences came from the wonderful world of advertising, banking, and local television media research.  She is a proud wife and mother, and a Jacksonville native.  When she’s not at the soccer field or cooking, you can find her at her local library, the grocery store, in her car jamming out to some tunes, or hibernating while she writes and/or reads books.

Connect with Karen:

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Review: Fumbled Hearts by Meagan Brandy

Fumbled Hearts

Author: Meagan Brandy
Series: Tender Hearts #1
Pages: Paperback, 588 pages
Genre: New Adult
Release Date: September 21st 2017

Summary:

He’s the persistent playboy who refuses to walk away. I'm the impassive new girl with nothing left to give.
Things are about to get complicated...

After months of refusing, I finally agreed to make the move to Alrick Falls. My family thought it was best - that a new scene would be good for me—and I was sick of having the same conversation.
So here I am, and the plan is simple. Smile through each day and avoid her at all costs.
It's perfect.

Until the cocksure quarterback comes into play.

The last thing I want is his crooked grin and dark brown eyes focused on me.
Yet here he is, constantly in my space, pushing me, daring me to care. Telling me what I think and feel, as if he knows.
He doesn't know anything. And  I plan to keep it that way

Review:

Yeah so this.. is just not for me

First up, I don’t like the writing style. It’s too.. something. Not exactly terrible- but it feels to meditated, too simplistic and woody
The worst for me, however, were the dialogues, honestly who talks like that?
Really who?
I know not a single person who does -except the ones in series, maybe...
in fact, talking TV series this kinda reminds me of them- like A mix between Beverly Hills and the OC

The second problem I had: these are kids who are supposed to be 17/18... but they behave like 20+yr old
Then throw in the whole rich kids thing and every other cliche out there and we have what is supposed to be the backdrop of Fumbled Hearts
So unrealistic. As I struggled through read this I actually kept rolling my eyes and kept muttering: “yeah right “
I mean I like fantasy, just not this kind

Let look at the character building. I think actually this was not completely terrible. There are even some good moments - but they are few and far between
Most of it is again, just cliche, so many overused cliches

The storyline was predictable with a capital P - and frankly, I wouldn’t have minded that at all, but it also feels so long wound. The whole book felt way too long- though I am not sure if it is just because I didn’t like it or if actually is long. Actually its 500+pages... it IS too long. 500pages, really?
So this makes me wonder that maybe with some harsh editing this would be better?
But then again, I still would have the problem of the rich kids behaving like adults thing.
Again this is just not my cup of tea.

Bottom line, this too melodramatic, too cliche, too unrealistic for me but there are a couple of sweet moments - so 1.5 Stars


Rating: 


Review: Deniz

Blitz: Not for Me by Kat de Falla

 

ARC Review: Better Together by Crista McHugh

Better Together

Author: Crista McHugh
Series: One Fond Embrace #1
Pages: Kindle Edition, 168 pages
Genre: Romance
Release Date: August 20th 2018

Summary:

Hawaiian rancher Alex Kahale needs a temporary wife to close a deal that’s vital to the welfare of his herd. Thankfully, he’s already married to a woman stole his heart in less than a week, even if that same wife filed for divorce a few days after they said their “I dos.”

Rising country music star Britney Moore had a wild fling with a cowboy in Las Vegas a year ago which ended in a drunken drive-through marriage. Once she returned to Nashville, she filed for divorce to save her squeaky clean image. Besides, spontaneous marriages never last, and she knows better than to risk her heart on Alex. But no matter how many requests she sends him, he refuses to sign the papers. Then he sends her an intriguing offer. Come to his ranch on Kauai and pretend to be his wife for two weeks for business purposes, and he’ll sign the papers.

As much as Britney tries to resist his charm, Alex manages to tear down her defenses one by one until she falls for him all over again. But when the press finds out about her secret husband, will their revived romance be killed by the tablo

Review:

3 Stars or 3.5Stars? hmm, I will still ponder on the rating.

Let's just look at what I liked and didn't like first.

So I have read several books by McHugh, so it's kinda clear I like her writing style. Better together had many beautifully written moments, which just reaffirmed my love for her prose.

The storyline is... well, honestly, kinda a little bit different and a lot of cute & fluffy. But in all fairness, this is a cute & fluffy. Which I really enjoyed, I wasn't looking for some deep mystery or beyond shocking twists. It kept me entertained, made me smile and even a little swoony. It's a fast and sweet read, perfect for a summer afternoon.

I loved the setting. I love all of Alex's clique. They are an awesome support cast and the heart of this novel. Hawaii is really high on my bucket list and while I was reading Better Together, I started thinking maybe we should move there! Mountains, Oceans, lots of green and nice people? Totally my vibe! ;)
But seriously McHugh made me totally fall in love with Kauai. Her descriptions felt real and gave me a taste of the place. I would love to know what locals think of this! The sense of beauty and belonging, loving your roots- something that made my nomad heart ponder very much, yet did speak to it- is beautifully conveyed.
Alex is swoony. I love love love him. (I am calling dips, just saying!)

The scenes where Britney plays her music are inspiring. And Alex'love for his island and his Ohana is infectious and inspirational.

Now my issues.
My biggest issue was Britney. I mean I got why she was doing what she was doing. I got why she wanted those papers.. but the whole, okay just one little bit, a bit of flirting here and a whole lot of freakn rejection there, it was grating on me. She was complaining when Alex kept her distance, yet she didn't want to be close to him. She ran so hot and cold all the time, I just got beyond annoyed.
The other issue I had was actually Alex. I mean I do love him. Really I love love love him. But- yes there is always one of those. But, his chip was, well, I didn't get it. I mean I did but it didn't resonate with me. Or maybe it just felt a bit too thick layed on. I am not sure. But around halfway in I did feel, those two should just get the messages. His constant need to change her mind was too much. He kept saying, cool I am letting go, then she as much as batted her lashed and he was, let me try do this, so she will change her mind. The pull and push felt childish and was annoying. Until it wasn't. I have to admit I was naturally rooting for them, and when they both finally let go of their stubborn on mind track, I totally swooned.
I love that Alex sorted stuff in the end, and naturally, I love that the gang was there supporting him.

So a few bits that I found exasperating but mostly a sweet romance and beautiful moments.
Very enjoyable, a book that takes you to your own island!
So a solid 3.5 twinkly Stars

Rating: 


ARC was provided by Publishers through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review