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Review: Borrowing Trouble

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Juggling a new boyfriend who is constantly MIA for work, his mom who likes her just a little too much, a best friend whose husband might be sneaking around, and a busy career saving clients from sexual harassment lawsuits is pulling Marisa Tanner apart at the seams.

Being with Trip is good, but is it real? Will he bail on her like her past boyfriends or for once in his life will Trip be able to maintain focus longer than the time it takes to close a business deal?

A follow-up to Risking Ruin, Borrowing Trouble maintains Mae Wood’s distinctive style of smart and sexy chick lit.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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This is book 2 in the Give Me Memphis series. You can see my review for book 1, Risking Ruin, here.

Borrowing Trouble starts off where it left off, with Marisa and Trip still together. Like the blurb states, Marisa is becoming  a bit overwhelmed with everything, and feels like she is being pulled at all angles. Trip seems so sure about their relationship, and Marissa isn’t quite as sure. Can love really happen that fast? She is a bit insecure as to how Trip feels about her, and how she feels about Trip. Totally normal emotions in a new relationship.

Trip’s mother loves Marissa, and Marissa just isn’t quite sure how to act. Plus Marissa’s best friend is having marriage problems.

As you can see, there’s a lot going on in the book, and other things that I won’t give away. With that said, though, I do feel like the book was missing a major climax. There were a bunch of conflicts happening and being overcome, but I just didn’t feel much of a climax in the book.

All in all, it was a good book! If you’re looking for a contemporary romance read, give this series a try.

My Rating: 3 1/2 stars

3 and a half stars

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***I received a free copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

Review: The Selection

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For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.

But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.

Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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Ok, I’m going to be honest with you here. I’ve been seeing this series everywhere on Instagram. Yes, I totally bought the book based on the cover. But look at it! Beautiful.

I’m glad I did buy it though, I was not disappointed. America is a great character, only a teenager but strong enough not to be pulled down by the competition of the other girls around her. She’s so relatable too. America’s family is a Five aka lower middle class. She does the competition to help her family with no intention of falling for the prince. Honestly, I didn’t even really like Prince Maxon at first either. He just didn’t seem confidant enough. He did grow on me though.

The ending doesn’t leave you feeling satisfied though, but don’t worry, the next few books are already out. In fact, I have book 2 waiting for me to read. So if you’re looking for a new Young Adult dystopian/post apocalyptic read, check out The Selection. Let me know what you think.

My Rating:  4 1/2 stars

Find the bookGoodreads          Amazon

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Review: Fallen

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There’s something achingly familiar about Daniel Grigori.

Mysterious and aloof, he captures Luce Price’s attention from the moment she sees him on her first day at the Sword & Cross boarding school in sultry Savannah. He’s the one bright spot in a place where cell phones are forbidden, the other students are all screw-ups, and security cameras watch every move.

Even Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce – he goes out of his way to make that very clear. But she can’t let it go. Drawn to him like a moth to a flame, Luce has to find out what Daniel is so desperate to keep secret…even if it kills her.

Dangerously exciting and darkly romantic, FALLEN is a page-turning thriller and the ultimate love story.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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This book didn’t do it for me. Too bad since I actually bought the paperback. I mean, it was definitely good, the writing was good, the story was good. But I just felt like it was a little predictable and lacked the excitement I was looking for.

Just like the blurb states, Daniel wants nothing to do with Luce. In fact, he’s a bit mean to her. The first time she lays eyes on him he gives her the finger. I just feel like this is already overdone in young adult books. For instance, in Twilight, and Hush, Hush, the main male lead characters act the same way – mean. They are clearly attracted to the leading lady, but want to avoid her because of their supernatural being. I just feel like it’s already been done before.

Luce is also in a boarding school because the police think she is responsible for a classmates death. If I was in her same situation I think I’d be scarred and think about it all the time. I’d feel horrible. But I just didn’t see Luce have a reasonable reaction.

Maybe I was just disappointed because of all the hype surrounding this book. It was definitely a good read, but I won’t be continuing the series.

My Rating: 3 1/2 stars

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Review: The Illusions of Eventide

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Nicolas Deschanel was betrayed by the only two people who matter to him. Their disloyalty stung and an overwhelming sense of loss lingers. Nicolas has lived the high life professing to not have a care in the world, and now this illusion is calling his bluff.

Determined to take control of an existence now devoid of purpose, he sojourns to his family’s holiday home on the Gulf of Mexico. Resolved more than depressed, he plans to privately say goodbye to a world which no longer needs him. Of questionable fortune, he finds a woman, Mercy, sitting alone on the shore at eventide. Nicolas is conflicted between an obligation to help, and annoyance at her intrusion.

Mercy has many layers of secrets. Deepest of all, she cannot tell this Child of Man she is thousands of years old and very powerful. In her presence, Nicolas’ own dormant powers begin to surface, triggering a sequence of events that cause both of their lives to spiral further out of control. When old friends from both sides come to help, together they all learn a painful truth: new life can only begin once you’ve set free what means the most.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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I have a soft spot for any story with fantasy so when Ms. Cradit asked me to review her book I said yes, and was excited to. I was enthralled with the story from page one.

The point of view does shift to a few different characters, and I do normally prefer reading from one character’s point of view so a bit of a mystery remains. But that’s just a matter of preference and I still did really enjoy the book.

I like how Nicholas, who’s a man’s man, is taken aback when Mercy appears and can’t seem to say no to helping her. I also enjoyed when the secondary characters came into play. They made the story that much more enjoyable.

If you’re looking for a new paranormal/fantasy read, give The Illusions of Eventide a try. You won’t be disappointed.

My Rating: 4 stars

04***I received this book free from the author in exchange for an honest review.***

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Review: Heat

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Under a burning sun more than a thousand miles from home, Lynn Stevens is trying to get her life back on track and leave memories of that one fateful night behind. She meets Dan, a young man with strangely erratic behavior and smoldering brown eyes, who is on an involuntary vacation with his parents. In him, she sees her own struggle reflected every time she is starting to get too close.

Dan doesn’t like being touched. But when he sets out to uncover Lynn’s secret, it means he’ll have to tell her some secrets of his own.

‘Heat’ is Lis Lucassen’s New Adult debut novel. This book puts her on the map in the Netherlands as the first-ever NA author from her own country.

(Blurb from Goodreads)

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 I am honored for being able to read the first New Adult book published in Holland. How amazing is that?! And Ms. Lucassen did an amazing job on her debut New Adult book as well.

Heat is the perfect beach read. It’s about two young adults at a resort; Dan is a guest and Lynn works there. Both have their secrets, and both of their secrets are pretty dark. Lynn is working there to get away from her past, and in a way, so is Dan and his family.

This is a contemporary romance and a bit on the dark side. But still, it was a fast and unique read. So if you’re looking for a new summer read, check out Heat.

My Rating: 4 stars

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***I received this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***

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