Review: Wild Crush by Simone Elkeles

Wild Crush

By: Simone Elkeles

Series: Wild Card Series

Genre: Young Adult, Romance

Length: 304 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

When the only girl you want is the one you can't have...

Bad boy Vic Salazar breaks all the rules except one: Don't make a move on your best friend's girl. It’s a Guy Code that Vic lives by. It doesn't matter that he's had a crush on her for years. Monika Fox is off limits.

Monika has a secret of her own and when a tragedy throws her and Vic together, the only boy she trusts is the one she shouldn’t confide in. Vic.

As Vic struggles to keep his distance, and Monika struggles with her secrets, will their wild connection violate every rule both vowed never to break—about relationships, about friendship, about love? 

My Review:

Rating:

One beautifully written page-turner!!

Simone Elkeles has always been one of my favorite authors!! After reading Perfect Chemistry back in high school I have been hooked on her writing; the Perfect Chemistry series was my absolute favorite. Sadly over the years I have drifted away some from her books, however this past week I pick up Wild Crush and instantly remembered why I love her books. 

Wild Crush follows a troubled football player, Victor and his high school crush Monika on a rollercoaster of emotions. Vic is a start football player with a crappy home life and a secret love for his best friend's girlfriend. Monika carries a secret pain of her own, however when tragedy hits their small town of Fremont Vic and Monika find themselves growing closer. Can their new found feelings survive the loss of someone they both loved? Or will their grief tear them apart?

I struggled with putting this book down, I just had to get to the end. I had to know what was in store for Vic and Monika. 

And I must say I loved the fact that Simone brought back characters that we loved from her previous series, Perfect Chemistry. I definitely was not expecting a cameo from Alex Fuentes and his old friend Isabel, who turned out to be such a strong role model for Victor. 

This book is phenomenal and I can't wait to read more of her books. I can't even remember why I stopped reading them...every single one keeps me captivated from the very first page. This is one series that I highly recommend! 

Published by: K

Review: Stolen by Allison Brennan

Stolen

By: Allison Brennan

Series: The Lucy Kincaid Series

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Length: 384 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Nothing is more important to private investigator Sean Rogan than his relationship with FBI trainee Lucy Kincaid. But when his past catches up with him, Sean faces an ultimatum: clear his name and help the FBI take down a rogue agent, or go to prison and lose everything he holds dear. With only Agent Noah Armstrong as his back-up and forced to keep Lucy in the dark, Sean steps back into his old world. But the longer he's undercover, the more dangerous the game becomes. More than Sean's future with Lucy is at stake—so is his life.

Lucy can't imagine Sean would keep secrets from her—until an FBI agent casts doubt about who he really is…and who he used to be. Why did Sean quit his job with his brother and move to New York? Why hasn't he told her anything about his new job? With more questions than answers, Lucy doesn't know who to believe or who she can trust. All she knows is that Sean is in grave danger, and this time, it's personal.

My Review:

Rating:

Allison Brennan is a phenomenal mystery/thriller author. She gets you hooked from the very first page and you cannot help but wonder what twist is coming next. If you haven't yet read one of her books I highly suggest giving her a shot.

Stolen focuses more on Sean Rogan than any of Allison's previous books in the Lucy Kincaid series. We get to meet some of the people from Sean's past and what caused him to sign on with is brother Duke at RCK in the first place. I loved getting the opportunity to learn more about the surrounding men in Lucy's life. The previous books focused mostly on her and her goal of becoming an FBI agent. Instead of being the main character this time Lucy was more of a background character, which I throughly enjoyed. 

Sean agrees to help the FBI with bringing down a corrupt senator, going in thinking that all in good and in one month he will be back home with his love, Lucy. But things turn deadly for Sean, the operation was more about Sean than he had ever thought possible. Now everyone he loves is in danger, including Lucy. Sean must break the law in order to save those he loves, even if it means sacrificing he's life and possibly even his freedom. 

This book had me on the edge of m seat from the very first page. So many twists and turns that I never saw coming. Allison Brennan did yet another amazing job webbing together such a captivating story. Cannot wait to get my hands on Cold Snap!!

Published by: K

Review: Stalked by Allison Brennan

Stalked

By: Allison Brennan

Series: The Lucy Kincaid Series

Genre: Mystery

Length: 386 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

A new trainee at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Lucy Kincaid has already seen more than her share of murder and mayhem. Still reeling from the sex-crime case that sealed her reputation, she's found a true friend and mentor in Agent Tony Presidio. No matter what goes down at the bureau, Tony's got her back-until she's called to New York to help investigate the murder of a reporter with ties to Lucy.

But the reporter might not be the first victim of a patient killer with a penchant for revenge, and she's definitely not the last. Connections between closed cases, a missing person, and Tony himself lead Lucy to fear for those she cares for most. When the FBI is rocked by the death of one of their own, Lucy seeks the help of her bf, PI Sean Rogan, to help put together the puzzle-and puts her career in jeopardy.

But the harder she pushes for answers, the clearer the truth becomes: There's a killer inside Quantico. Watching her every move. Waiting to kill again...

My Review:

Rating:

I absolutely love Allison Brennan's books. She has a way of grabbing you and sucking you into the storyline. Her books are always page-turners from the very beginning. She is a phenomenal author and out of all of her books the Lucy Kincaid series is one of me favorites. 

In Stalked, Lucy has finally made it to Quantico, her dream career is right in front of her however someone is out to sabotage her future. But she is determined to make it through and face her fears, that is until a secret comes to light. 

Not only is Lucy's future on the line but she has found herself in the middle of yet another investigation. And this one has followed her straight to Quantico, there is a murderer among them and she is the only one that can get inside the killers head. Along side Sean, Noah and some old friends, Lucy must track down the killer before anyone else she loves gets hurt. 

While this series is just like every other murder mystery there is something about these books that grabs your interest and just won't let go. The writing is amazing and I enjoy the multiple points of view, getting several little tidbits of the mystery at a time and piecing it all together right along with Lucy and her team. 

If your ever looking for a quick read this is the series for you, they are fast reads and some of the best mystery novels I have read in a while. 

Published by: K

Review: Silenced by Allison Brennan

Silenced

By: Allison Brennan

Series: Lucy Kincaid Series

Genre: Crime Mystery

Length: 405 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

A Washington Sex Scandal

It has been seven years since Lucy was attacked -- and almost killed -- by an online predator. Today, she is well on her way toward a new life. While waiting to begin her training at the FBI Academy, Lucy's is tireless in her fight against cyber sex crime. Her current mission: to find out who killed a high-priced call girl linked to a powerful Congressman. 

A Cold-Blooded Killer

A number of known prostitutes -- with scores of high profile clients -- are turning up dead all over D.C. Is this the work of a depraved killer? Or the result of an inside job? Lucy's investigation will take her into an underground network of prostitutes, the chambers of the country's most powerful players, and her own dark past to confront an unknown enemy who's always one step ahead of her. With the help of her P.I. boyfriend Sean Rogan, Lucy must find and protect the only witness who can identify the killer and end the conspiracy, but can the witness be trusted? Lucy will risk everything to expose the truth and ensure justice is served, even if that means putting herself in the line of fire...

My Review:

Rating:

Silenced is your typical FBI mystery, a crime has been committed and only one person can solve the case. And in this case it is Lucy Kincaid, the soon-to-be FBI recruit with a tragic past. While this book was just your typical murder mystery it was still a great book. It held my interest from the very first page. Sometimes we just need a good murder mystery to break up the norm of fantasy and romance novels. 

Lucy Kincaid finds herself at it again only weeks before she enters the FBI academy at Quantico. A young politician's mistress has been murdered only weeks after the affair was made public and Lucy is on the case along side Noah Armstrong and Sean Rogan. 

Lucy, a skilled analyst with a troubled past has a way of reading a criminal as if they are standing right in front of her telling her every detail themselves. Due to her traumatic past she has a connection to these murderers that very few do. As the story unfolds we find that there is so much more to the story and so many secrets are being uncovered regarding how Lucy actual got into Quantico and the many conspiracies that connects the mistresses death with a runaway prostitute hell bent on saving her sister. 

This book is quite the page-turner and the further you get the more you want to know. Allison Brennan is a phenomenal author and truly has a way of weaving together a believe story. So many points-of-view and so many side stories that are weaved together perfectly to make the story easy to follow. 

I would definitely recommend this series, they are fun reads when you just need a quick read that will hold your interest from start to finish. This past year has been stressful and extremely busy that I did not have much time for reading and when I did I just could not get into the book. It is nice to start this year of right, with a book that captured my attention and has kept me out of my reading slump. 

Published by: K

Review: The Darkest Star by Jennifer L. Armentrout

The Darkest Star

By:

Jennifer L. Armentrout

Series:  The Origin Series

Genre: Young Adult Romance, Fantasy

Length: 368 ages

Synopsis From Goodreads: 

When seventeen-year-old Evie Dasher is caught up in a raid at a notorious club known as one of the few places where humans and the surviving Luxen can mingle freely, she meets Luc, an unnaturally beautiful guy she initially assumes is a Luxen...but he is in fact something much more powerful. Her growing attraction for Luc will lead her deeper and deeper into a world she'd only heard about, a world where everything she thought she knew will be turned on its head...

#1 New York Times, USA Today, and internationally bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout returns to the universe of the Lux in this brand new series, featuring beloved characters both new and old.

My Review:

Rating:

“There's nothing we can do other than live with the promise of tomorrow while knowing it may not come.” 

Jennifer L. Armentrout has out done herself yet again!! I was so disappointed when the Lux series came to an end and now we get to travel back to that world through her new Origin series. :)

The Luxen series is what got me hooked on reading again after a long hall of disappointing books that never really held my interest. Now with the Origins series it is pulling me out of 

yet another reading slump I have found myself in. 

I'm so glad we get to experience the Luxen world once again, with cameos from some of our favorite Lux characters. One of those characters being Luc!! I was so excited to hear he was getting his own series, the misunderstood Origin from the Lux series!!

“That was what I wanted at some point in my life, for someone to look at me like I looked at tacos.” 

The Darkest Star follows Evie, a young girl just trying to get her life back to normal after the Luxen invasion and the death of her father. She has friends, her mom and a very normal high school life however ever since she met Luc her world has been turned upside down. 

Two classmates have turned up dead and Evie is beginning to question everything about her life. Who is she really? Why does she feel drawn to Luc, the presumed bad boy? 

This book has you on the edge of your seat from the very first page. Wondering what is going to happen next? Is Evie really who she thinks she is? And how does Luc know so much about her? 

I loved every second of this book and truly cannot wait to get my hands on the second book. Jennifer L. Armentrout is a phenomenal author and never disappoints. Every one of her books is a page-turner, keeping you wanting more. 

Just to hold me over until book two I have a feeling I will be rereading the Lux series. 

Published by: K

Review: My Heart and Other Blackholes by Jasmine Warga

My Heart 

and 

Other Blackholes

By: Jasmine Warga

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary

Length: 302 pages

Synopsis From Goodreads:

Sixteen-year-old physics nerd Aysel is obsessed with plotting her own death. With a mother who can barely look at her without wincing, classmates who whisper behind her back, and a father whose violent crime rocked her small town, Aysel is ready to turn her potential energy into nothingness.

There’s only one problem: she’s not sure she has the courage to do it alone. But once she discovers a website with a section called Suicide Partners, Aysel’s convinced she’s found her solution: a teen boy with the username FrozenRobot (aka Roman) who’s haunted by a family tragedy is looking for a partner. 

Even though Aysel and Roman have nothing in common, they slowly start to fill in each other’s broken lives. But as their suicide pact becomes more concrete, Aysel begins to question whether she really wants to go through with it. Ultimately, she must choose between wanting to die or trying to convince Roman to live so they can discover the potential of their energy together. Except that Roman may not be so easy to convince.

My Review:

Rating:

“Maybe we all have darkness inside of us and some of us are better at dealing with it than others.”

So I purchased this book a few months after it was released, I was so excited to read it because so many bloggers gave this book such high praise. However, like many of my books it ended up on my to read pile and was slowly forgotten. Lately I have been in a bit of a reading slump and while perusing my to read pile trying to find something that sounded as though it would hold my attention I found My Heart and Other Blackholes. And I am so glad that I did because this book has helped some with this two month reading slump I have been suffering from.

This book follows Aysel, a lonely and depressed young girl trolling suicide websites and plotting her own death. After her father's breakdown she has suffered; afraid she is going to end up crazy and angry like her father. She has distanced herself from everyone, family and friends. Until one day she finds the answer to her prayers, a site where she can form a suicide pact with another depressed soul. 

Roman, the boy Aysel meets and forms this new pact with suffers from his own darkness. Running from the death of someone dear to him and looking for a way to erase the pain. However, as their relationship grows Aysel has second thoughts on her life. She finds that not everyone sees her as the daughter of a crazy man. That there are people in the world willing to except and love her just the way she is.

And she makes it her mission to safe the live of one boy who has stolen her heart. 

This book was quite the page-turner from the very beginning. Wondering will Aysel and Roman go through with their pact? Will they be able to save one another? This book truly shows the impact depression and isolation can have on people. I'm glad I was able to find this book hidden in my to read pile. This book is definitely worth reading. And Jasmine Warga is a phenomenal author, I can't wait to see what else she writes. 

Published by: K

Book Tour & Review: Comes A Specter by Keta Diablo

Comes A Specter

By: Keta Diablo

Series: Ghostland Series

Genre: Short Story

Length: 87 pages

Book Blurb:

Six months ago, Anya Fleming's ten- year-old son, Willie-boy, found his father hanging

in the barn. Traumatized over his father's suicide, the boy hasn't spoken a word since.

Now, Willie-boy has come down with a grave, unknown illness and there's only one man

who can save him, Sutter Sky, a learned Blackfoot shaman known as Yellow Smoke—a

shaman who was once deeply in love with Anya.

But Fate had other plans for Anya and Sutter—she was forced to marry Lewis Fleming,

a cruel man who berated her night and day, and brokenhearted Sutter immersed

himself in the mystical customs and beliefs of his People and became a shaman

.

As if Anya didn't have enough to deal with after her husband's death and her son's

illness, an evil, sinister ghost is terrorizing their ranch. Anya is convinced the spirit is

Lewis, who apparently isn't done making her life miserable.

When she turns to Yellow Smoke for help, will he put side his bitterness and save Willie-

boy? And can the renowned shaman dispel the powerful ghost from their lives and send

him back to Hades?

Available on:

Amazon

My Review:

Rating:

***I was offered by the author an opportunity to read and review her short story in exchange for my honest review.***

I am glad I had the opportunity to read and review this short story. While I don't read many short stories; only because I have a hard time getting into them, I feel as though the story's can seem so fast-paced. Now while I had a bit of a hard time getting into the story, Keta Diablo does a remarkable job setting the scene. She makes you feel as though you are part of the story. 

Even though the story was short, I can honestly say I enjoyed it I had only wished it was longer because I feel as though there could have been so much more to the story. 

The character development was good; Anya, Sutter and Willie-boy had well-developed personalities. I think there could have been a bit more development to make you feel more of an attachment to the characters themselves, but over all their development was good.  

If you have the opportunity to read Keta's short story you should definitely take the time to read it. It is a quick read. 

Published by: K