The Angel
Series: The Original Sinners #2
Author: Tiffany Reisz
SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)
No safe word can protect the heart
Infamous erotica author and accomplished dominatrix Nora Sutherlin is doing something utterly out of character: hiding. While her longtime lover, Søren—whose fetishes, if exposed, would be his ruin—is under scrutiny pending a major promotion, Nora’s lying low and away from temptation in the lap of luxury.
Her host, the wealthy and uninhibited Griffin Fiske, is thrilled to have Nora stay at his country estate, especially once he meets her traveling companion. Young, inexperienced and angelically beautiful, Michael has become Nora’s protégé, and this summer with Griffin is going to be his training, where the hazing never ends.
But while her flesh is willing, Nora’s mind is wandering. To thoughts of Søren, her master, under investigation by a journalist with an ax to grind. And to another man from Nora’s past, whose hold on her is less bruising, but whose secrets are no less painful. It’s a summer that will prove the old adage: love hurts.
The Angel is the second book in The Original Sinners series by author Tiffany Reisz.
Let me start by saying that I enjoyed the first book titled The Siren. It surprised me and took me so far out of my comfort zone that I was thrilled to have enjoyed that ride. When I started reading The Angel though, I was having a hard time getting into that mindset again. It was dark, edgy and cringe worthy at times. Certain scenes in this book had me picking my jaw up off the floor with shock. I think the shock value is what made me give this book a higher rating than what I normally would. After reading countless romance and BDSM books that are out in the book market today, this one blows them out of the water. When a story can still shock me after many years of reading them, then the book definitely deserves the higher rating — whether I thoroughly enjoyed the book or not.
I think the main problem I had with this book was Nora for me. I just couldn’t connect with her like I did in the previous book. I am not sure exactly why, but again it could have been my mindset at the time of reading. The writing was amazing and the author did not disappoint with her effortless skill. Author Tiffany Reisz will bring it all out in a book and most likely when we don’t expect it. I did enjoy the character of Michael. Soren is still a character I can’t bring myself to love. He is creepy and still on my perv radar.
Overall, the book was amazing with writing and shock value. Unfortunately I just couldn’t get into our main character of Nora. I am hoping whatever it was that bugged me in this book will resolve itself so I can enjoy the next book in the series like I did the first one.
The Buckhorn Legacy
Series: Buckhorn Brothers #5
Author: Lori Foster
SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)
Emma Clark is back in Buckhorn. Once she was the girl with too much makeup and a bad reputation—and she tried everything she could to get Casey Hudson into bed. He was the cutest guy in town, and the only one who seemed to really care about her.As a hot-blooded teen it was hard for Casey to resist Emma. Now, eight years later, it’s impossible. But Emma is doing her best to shut him out—and Casey needs to convince her that the attraction that burns between them isn’t just leftover teenage lust, but his real love for a real woman
The Buckhorn Legacy is the fifth book in the Buckhorn Brothers series by author Lori Foster. The main characters featured are Casey Hudson and Emma Clark.
Casey. Oh sweet and sexy Casey. I have been dying to get to your book in my pile and I finally got to read about you. I loved the previous books in this series, but Casey’s book was the one I was dying to read. There was just something about that character that drew me in and kept hold of me up until the last page. Casey is Sawyer’s son. He is also the one that had this reader drooling in anticipation. Emma was considered the town tramp even though she was young.
Fast forward eight years and and Emma has returned after running away at a young age. Casey always wondered what happened to her, but he never knew. In The Buckhorn Legacy we find out what happened and read about the chemistry between the two. In this book we also get to see the true depth of Casey’s heart and feelings.
This was a wonderful conclusion to a great series. I am sad to see it end, but the best certainly came last. While it is not necessary to read the previous books in the series, I highly recommend that you do to get the full picture of the family dynamics and Casey.
Speechless
Author: Hannah Harrington
SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)
Everyone knows that Chelsea Knot can’t keep a secret
Until now. Because the last secret she shared turned her into a social outcast—and nearly got someone killed.
Now Chelsea has taken a vow of silence—to learn to keep her mouth shut, and to stop hurting anyone else. And if she thinks keeping secrets is hard, not speaking up when she’s ignored, ridiculed and even attacked is worse.
But there’s strength in silence, and in the new friends who are, shockingly, coming her way—people she never noticed before; a boy she might even fall for. If only her new friends can forgive what she’s done. If only she can forgive herself.
Can we talk about this cover first to get it out of the way? I find it hard to believe that the cover department couldn’t come up with something other than the boring cover of white that we got. If I were to see this on a bookshelf at a store, I would pass it over without thinking twice. Thank goodness I read the summary of this book beforehand and decided to give it a chance. Truly a good example of not judging a book by its cover.
Moving on from the cover fiasco. I was actually surprised by this read. I thought this was going to be a plot that would be juvenile and not my cup of tea. What we get though is something so good and the writing that actually kept me interested and curious to know more. The author does a wonderful job at scene set up. While I admit that the first part of this book was slow and something I had to force myself to get through, by the middle of the book it started to take off. I ended up enjoying the characters and the plot of the book. Yes there is some angst. Yes there is a boy involved. Yes there is teen drama and gossip. The end result though was self discovery, consequences to actions, and characters that fit the story.
I really ended up enjoying this book and I can say that it was much better than expected. Would I read the story again in the future? Maybe. It won’t be one I will be dying to reread again anytime soon, but it is one I would recommend to read a first time.
Pivot Point
Series: Pivot Point #1
Author: Kasie West
SUMMARY
(From Goodreads)
Knowing the outcome doesn’t always make a choice easier . . .
Addison Coleman’s life is one big “What if?” As a Searcher, whenever Addie is faced with a choice, she can look into the future and see both outcomes. It’s the ultimate insurance plan against disaster. Or so she thought. When Addie’s parents ambush her with the news of their divorce, she has to pick who she wants to live with—her father, who is leaving the paranormal compound to live among the “Norms,” or her mother, who is staying in the life Addie has always known. Addie loves her life just as it is, so her answer should be easy. One Search six weeks into the future proves it’s not.
In one potential future, Addie is adjusting to life outside the Compound as the new girl in a Norm high school where she meets Trevor, a cute, sensitive artist who understands her. In the other path, Addie is being pursued by the hottest guy in school—but she never wanted to be a quarterback’s girlfriend. When Addie’s father is asked to consult on a murder in the Compound, she’s unwittingly drawn into a dangerous game that threatens everything she holds dear. With love and loss in both lives, it all comes down to which reality she’s willing to live through . . . and who she can’t live without.
Pivot Point is the first book in the Pivot Point series by author Kasie West.
When I first saw the cover for this book, it sparked an interest in my mind. I love that cover and I applaud the cover artist for it. Then I read the summary and I was definitely interested in reading about Addison. Then I read the book and can honestly say that I loved it. I loved the theme, suspense, plot, and characters so much more than I though I would.
Since Addie can see into the future and see which decision she makes will have the outcome she wants. She is called a Searcher and the name fits the power. She has to search the outcomes to see which one would be best. When her parents divorce, she sees one future with her living with her father and one future where she is living with her mother. In both futures there are love interests and her best friend. There is also mystery and suspense in each as well.
With each chapter alternating between both outcomes, we get to see the decisions that Addie is going to be forced to make in each one. The author did a wonderful job of balancing the dialogue and narration without over doing it on either. The characters were enjoyable and I found myself telling my family ‘just one more chapter’ before doing something for them.
If you are looking for a fresh and new paranormal read in the young adult genre, then Pivot Point should be your starting point. I can’t wait to see what the author is going to bring us for the second book in the series!