Review: Chance of a Lifetime by Jodi Thomas

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Chance of a Lifetime
Series: Harmony #5
Author: Jodi Thomas

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Emily, the local librarian, has started a writing group, but as the group stumbles through both the fiction and reality of their lives, they’re learning much more than how to write. But Emily suddenly has other things on her mind when a friend from her past shows up in Harmony’s library. Now she must deal with a secret she’s kept for fifteen years—a secret that changed her life and threatens to shatter her future.

Meanwhile, new lawyer Rick Matheson thinks he’s in charge of his world until accidents start happening all around him. Just when he realizes someone is trying to kill him, he meets a beautiful U.S. Marshal named Trace Adam. Now that the marshal has given him an even stronger reason to go on living, he must learn to take a chance on life to dream bigger—and love better—than he ever has before…  

MY THOUGHTS

Chance of a Lifetime is the fifth book in the Harmony series by author Jodi Thomas.

I have never read any books by this author before this one, so I had no idea what the writing style would be like.  I love to find new-to-me authors to add to my ever growing list. I honestly can say that author Jodi Thomas is now on that list. Her writing was sweet and flowed at a perfect pace.  The characters were believable and were enjoyable to read about.  I loved the author’s voice.  The writing felt natural with sweet southern charm. While there were some tense moments in the book involving all of the characters, the author did a wonderful job in keeping each character strong as a separate story.  I didn’t feel like everyone was spread out all over the place and I could connect with each one on a different level.

While this was my first book by author Jodi Thomas, this is definitely not going to be my last.  I can’t wait to read the first four books in this series and the books she will bring us in the future!

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Review: For the Love of a Goblin Warrior by Shona Husk

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For the Love of a Goblin Warrior
Series: Shadowlands #3
Author: Shona Husk

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Centuries ago, Meryn was thought to be utterly lost–all traces of his soul given up to the ravening goblin horde. But with the curse that enslaved him now broken, he must once again learn to walk in the realm of men.

Nurse Nadine Gilbert likes working the night shift to avoid her disturbing dreams, but her mysterious new patient looks hauntingly familiar. Meryn knows he doesn’t deserve a second chance, but Nadine brings out his long-buried human side. Telling her the truth about his violent past could destroy their fragile trust. Could she ever believe in the love of a Goblin Warrior?

MY THOUGHTS

For the Love of a Goblin Warrior is the third book in the Shadowlands series by author Shona Husk.  If you haven’t read the previous books in this series, it should still be no problem to follow along.  While I recommend you read the previous books, it is not necessary to read them first.  The main characters are Meryn and Nadine.

While this book was good and kept me reading straight through until the end, it wasn’t a book that I would say I fell in love with.  The story was a little choppy at times and it kind of threw me off while reading it.  Once I recognized the pace of the book though, I started to enjoy the plot.  This book had it all. It had loss, love, obstacles and redemption. I really enjoyed the characters and they actually felt right together.  While this book fits into the paranormal romance genre, I loved how it incorporated the fantasy elements as well.  I haven’t read much about Goblin’s, but I found it is a story line element that I could enjoy in future books – especially if written by this author.

Again, it can be read as a stand alone novel, but reading the previous books in the series will just make the world the author created richer and better detailed in your mind.  I can’t wait to see what the author will come up with next!

MY RATING

Very Good! I would recommend this book!

Review: Pushing the Limits by Katie McGarry

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Pushing the Limits
Series: Pushing the Limits #1
Author: Katie McGarry

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

No one knows what happened the night Echo Emerson went from popular girl with jock boyfriend to gossiped-about outsider with “freaky” scars on her arms. Even Echo can’t remember the whole truth of that horrible night. All she knows is that she wants everything to go back to normal.But when Noah Hutchins, the smoking-hot, girl-using loner in the black leather jacket, explodes into her life with his tough attitude and surprising understanding, Echo’s world shifts in ways she could never have imagined. They should have nothing in common. And with the secrets they both keep, being together is pretty much impossible.

Yet the crazy attraction between them refuses to go away. And Echo has to ask herself just how far they can push the limits and what she’ll risk for the one guy who might teach her how to love again.

MY THOUGHTS

Pushing the Limits is the first book in the Pushing the Limits series by author Katie McGarry.  The main characters in this book are Echo Emerson and Noah Hutchins.

You see that boot over there?  That would be the boot that left the red mark on my behind for waiting so long to read this book. What was the matter with me?  I had heard great things about this book, but for some reason I had waited to start it.  I am so glad I finally got to sit down and read Echo and Noah’s story.

Echo was attacked by her mother and left with scars on the outside. Mentally, she has the incident blocked and can’t remember what exactly happened that fateful night that changed her life entirely.  She had recently lost her brother while fighting in the Marines, and then her mother does the unthinkable to her.  Afterwards, she saw a therapist who pushed her mind too fast to remember that night.  She ends up having a nervous breakdown from it.  When she starts school again, she is now the outsider. She used to be one of the most popular girls in school, but now she finds herself withdrawn and hiding from everyone.  The kids at school call her freak and have basically cast her aside from their social circles.  Not only has she lost family, but now she must cope with being a freak with no friends.

Enter Noah Hutchins. Noah, the sexiest stoner in school who is also known as a ladies man that pleases the women and then leaves the women when he is done with them.  When Echo finds herself tutoring Noah, they both find an attraction that shouldn’t be there.  Noah lost his parents in a house fire.  He saved his two younger brothers from the fire, but they were eventually torn apart in the foster system.  His main goal is to get his brothers back and make them a family again.  To increase visitation with his brothers, he must apply himself to school work and be tutored by Echo.

I loved the character of Noah.  I really liked how he was willing to put everything before himself.  He wanted his brothers back and was willing to give up college and his dreams to raise them.  He was also willing to help Echo with her problem of rediscovering that lost night that ruined her life.  Echo seemed a little self absorbed and whiny at times, but overall it wasn’t too bad.  Luke — Echo’s ex-boyfriend — was a jerk and I couldn’t stand him when he was given page time.  Grace — Echo’s ex-best friend — was also one I wish we could have erased from the story.  I didn’t like how her reputation of being the popular girl was more important than her friendship with Echo.  She treated Echo horribly and was glad that she wasn’t featured as much as I thought she would be.  The rest of side characters were great.  I loved Isiah, Beth and Lila. I loved the bickering and the wit each of them showed.  They were engaging characters that really helped move the book forward.  I am looking forward to reading more about those side characters in future books.

Again, I wish I had read this book sooner.  I am still going to be kicking myself in the pants for a few days while thinking about Noah and Echo’s story.  I can’t wait to start the next book in the series! An engaging read that will keep you up all night reading!

MY RATING

Outstanding book that will stay on my bookshelf for rereading!

Review: All In by Raine Miller

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All In
Series: The Blackstone Affair #2
Author: Raine Miller

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

The second part in The Blackstone Affair series! Looming danger. A love worth fighting for. A man who’ll go all in.

Ethan Blackstone has a problem on his hands. He’s broken Brynne’s trust and she’s left him. He’s unwilling to live without her and isn’t giving up—he’s dead-set on getting his beautiful American girl back. The passion between them was explosive, but the secrets they hid from each other are dark and chilling and are powerful enough to destroy their shot at a life together. With political threats now directed at Brynne, Ethan is running out of time and he’ll need to gather all his strength and agility to protect her from the dangers that could take her away from him forever. Will Ethan be able to save Brynne from a past that keeps her locked in fear? Will he ever feel the warmth of her touch, the solidity of her trust again? This is a love-struck man who is willing to do whatever it takes to possess the heart of the woman he loves. He’ll go to any lengths to protect her. He’ll go all in.

Here is the fiery story of what happens when two people surrender to a love so great it can heal the scars of the past and give way to a life of pure, rapturous ecstasy.

MY THOUGHTS

All In by Raine Miller is the second book in The Blackstone Affair series.  It is told from Ethan’s POV this time around instead of Brynne’s.

After the last book in the series left me with mixed feelings, I was a little scared to read from Ethan’s POV.  While we are reading from his head this time around, it starts where we left off with Naked.  I will admit that Ethan was the main reason I continued — besides the story needing some answers from the previous book — and was worried that the author was going to let us down. Well, I was right unfortunately.

For a man who was suppose to be so Dominant, protective and sexy, Ethan came across as a pansy who needed a dose of man-the-hell-up and grow-some-balls medicine.  What happened to the man I enjoyed from the previous book? Why did the author turn him into a drama-king with no backbone?

When it came to Brynne, I wasn’t as shocked to discover he dark past but I was shocked that the author went there with some of it.  I will warn readers that it does involve serious issues that may be uncomfortable for some people.  It is just mentioned briefly, but it is one thing that some people may be shocked or offended to read.

Overall, I became bored with the repetitive sex between the two that seemed to happen every chapter that it was hard to focus on the relationship itself.  By the time I got to the 75% mark, I was skimming those scenes and trying to get to the serious parts. After finishing up this read,  I don’t think I will be continuing on in the journey of The Blackstone Affair.

MY RATING

       
I did not like this book at all!

Review: Naked by Raine Miller

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Naked
Series: The Blackstone Affair #1
Author: Raine Miller

SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)

Brynne Bennett is living the good life. An American art student at the University of London and part-time photographic model, she’s putting her life back on track with school and lots of hard work. 

When ultra successful London businessman, Ethan Blackstone, buys her nude portrait, he isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer. He wants Brynne in his bed and makes plans to keep her there no matter what. His dominant nature captivates and ensnares despite the demons she carries inside her. 

But there are secrets in this relationship. Huge ones. Can Ethan free Brynne from the past that has marked her? Will Brynne let him or will the specters tormenting her resurface to destroy them both…

MY THOUGHTS

Naked is the first book in the Blackstone Affair series by author Raine Miller.

This is another book where the review is going to be very hard to write with the rating being even more of a harder thing to decide.  While there were some elements that I enjoyed throughout the story, there were some problems along the way.  The best way I can explain this journey of Naked is like a car drag race.  It is built up with excitement from other readers.  It has a start where it is ready to take off and leaves you ready to stomp on the gas.  The story speeds along with the relationship — at times way too fast. Then it suddenly has the finale that is exciting but then you are left with a crash and burn of an adrenaline drop.

Ethan and Brynne have a very fast rate of speed with their relationship.  While Brynne states that she wants to take it slow, they do hop into bed fairly quickly.  They also start falling in love with each other almost instantly after having mind blowing sex.  Ethan is pretty dominant in giving orders and getting what he wants, but he actually had feelings and emotions that weren’t bottled up inside.  Brynne on the other hand has secrets and can be frustrating at times.  She wants to be with Ethan, but she doesn’t want to share much with him.  Their sexy times are plenty and quite steamy and erotic.  While at times the story could have left out one of those steamy scenes, they were ones that were hot.

The ending is left with the reader hanging.  We learn that Ethan also had a secret and it is one that is touched on in the prologue of this story.  While we still don’t know what Brynne’s secret is — just hints here and there — the ending was a let down for me.  It was rushed and then we are left with no real part of the story wrapping up.  While cliffhangers can be a huge success, this one was disappointing in the development of the relationship.

While I am curious to read the next book — especially since it will be in Ethan’s POV instead of Brynne’s — I am hoping that it will tie up at least a few loose ends for the reader.  The book was enjoyable and addicting, but needs to be slowed down just a bit for the next book.

MY RATING

Okay book, but it left me wanting more!