FIGHTING DIRTY

By: Lori Foster

Year: 2016

Genre: Romance. New Adult.

“With the life he's led and the muscles he's gained, Armie Jacobson isn't afraid of anything. Except maybe Merissa Colter's effect on him. It's not just that she's his best friend's little sister. Fact is, she deserves better. Women pursue him for one night of pleasure, and that's all he wants to offer. Until rescuing Merissa from a robbery leads to the most erotic encounter of his life.

Good girl meets bad boy. It's a story that rarely ends well. But Merissa is taking matters into her own hands. No matter how he views himself, the Armie she knows is brave, honorable and completely loyal. And as past demons and present-day danger collide, they're both about to learn what's truly worth fighting for…”

I entered to Lori Foster world books with Ultimate Series, and after read the first book of the series, I felt in love with all characters, but special with Armie. That didn´t change with the other books. On the contrary, I was so excited with Armie and Merissa story that I read in one day.

I love Lori Foster writing style, but in this book she went beyond expectation. Her signature was present in every page, and the elements that we are use to, were there too: The romance, the sexy scenes, the intensity of the dialogues, the funny moments, the suspense, the unexpected twist, and of course, we also have the gorgeous Alfa male protecting the beautiful lady.

 However, even when this story is similar to the others, also it is different in a good way. The writer portrayed a broken hero, a man with demons well hidden, with fears, a savior, who also need to be saved. Moreover, the author presents us a unique protagonist. A strong woman, who fights for the love of his life, who believes and supports him, who understands him more than he thinks. But also she is a woman with fears and insecurities, with pride but with the enough wit to ask for help or protection when she needs it. So yes, she is not a silly female main character, Merissa is the perfect match for our hero Armie.

Next to the romance, which made me sight and sobbed more than once, there are the display of affection among the others characters part of the series. The friendship, the loyalty, the commitment was emotionally overwhelming. Especially the relationship between Cannon and Armie a friendship without reservation, and that was absolutely effective.

On the other hand with have the narrative. Which was efficient, keeping the reader attention, asking for one more page. However, in some point has some flows issues, some repetitive sentence that there weren´t necessary, and some contradictions, that pulled me out of the story but just for a sec. nevertheless, those are small matters comparing with the whole value package represented in this captivated story.

Also, I would love to have more in the epilogue, maybe a glance into the future. I guess Foster trusted in our imagination, or better, maybe we´ll have a peek insight our favorites´ fighters’ life, in futures books. And that is other think I love about Lori Foster, how she keep our heroes connected through different books.

If you like romance, action, sexy steamy scenes and funny stories, this book has the perfect mixture just for you. This book is a stand alone, but, I recommend the reading of the entire series, you are going to love every page. And then go to another series by this author, all of them worth your time and your heart.

My rating: 4.5 stars.

Best Phrases:

“You own me stretch. For better or worse. Today and forever”

“He´s always been my brother, Cannon said. Now it´ll finally be legit”

“My whole life has been about you, Rissy. For so long, it seemed I could never have what I wanted the most”.

Note: Picture was taken from www.google.com 

 

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SPAIN

I was 15 years old, when I promised to myself to go backpacking across Europe… Well it didn´t happen exactly as I planned, but I did went to the old continent at least to a part of it.  And I´m still looking for some genuine words to describe the most incredible experience of my life.

They were just two weeks, with so much to see, so much to do, so much to enjoy that at the end it was never enough time. However, what I did, what I saw it´s going to be forever in my heart.

The best part, I wasn´t by myself, I was with my oldest best friend. We met again after awhile and at the airport he gave me my own “love actually movie” hug.  During that time together, we share old stories, happy memories, we talked about our new projects and our fears, we went to the movies, we watched the sunset on the beach, and in the light of the night, we saw a water fountain to dance. It was like when we were kids.

During two weeks I felt free, I crossed the Atlantic by myself, is amazing how powerful that little thing it made me feel. I admired the horizon on the top of the world; I filled my heart with the history and culture of a wonderful country. 

Today I´m watching the clock on the wall, I´m thinking right now is noon out there,  moreover I´m thinking about possibilities which one should be the next to make it a reality, because that was Spain taught me, life is about dreams, we just need the courage to  become them true.  

RYAN HUNTER

"This girl is mine"

By: Anna Katmore

Genre: Y/A Contemporary Romance

Year: 2013

“Ryan Hunter kissed more girls than he cares to remember. But the only one he ever wanted is in love with his best friend.”

      I met Ryan Hunter in “Play with me”, the first book of the Grover Beach series, and I just fell in love with him, the bad dangerous boy with sweet eyes and huge heart melted me.  That´s why, I was enthusiastic to read Ryan Hunter point of view, but honestly after the simplicity with which the first book was written I wasn´t expect much from this one.

     Thanks God I was totally wrong; Anna Katmore when beyond my expectation. This story hooked me immediately since the first page; so much that I read it in one night.

      The author did an excellent job portraying a teenage boy, it was hilarious being in Ryan heads, it was like eavesdropping guys conversations when girls aren´t around. Boys have feelings, insecurities, dreams like any girl, and I loved the way Anna Katmore showed us that.

     The written is marvelous, with good descriptions of scenarios, gestures and emotions. Although in some moment I would love if the writer showed us more. I mean, the dialogues were great in fact I haven´t laugh that much with a book in months, however dialogues were missing in some specific point of the story where they were necessary.

     The characters were well developed, the main, seconds and even those that appeared just a couple time. As matter of fact the author introduced each character subtle but flawlessly, so that the reader will remember the reason why they are in the story.

     Also it was wonderful how Ryan´s relationships were illustrated: for example, who might think that the bad guy could be close and honest with his family. I think Ryan strong personality is due to the bonds with his parents.

     In addition, there is his relationship with his friends. I loved his loyalty, the mutual support and the reciprocity of his affection. Ryan´s friend respect and love him for who he is, not for what he has.

     But the best relationship expressed was his devotion to a girl. That broke my heart more than once, shrinking and expanding it multiple times.

     Definitely in this book, is noticed how the writer was careful with the main elements of a young adult story and was showed them cleverly throughout the narrative.

     Nevertheless and even when the end was almost perfect, I would like a last thought of Ryan on the final scene, something I particularly was waiting throughout the entire story and it was not there, that, I could not understand.

     However, this book is one hundred percent recommended. I´m sure, you will spend a pleasant time reading it, like did.

      Rate: 4,5 Stars.

BEST PHRASES:

“Before I laid her down, I hugged her a little tighter with the intention of whatever happened, always remembering this wonderful moment where I held the girl I had loved for years for the very first time.”

 “Yeah, sometimes you just had to accept the crap life threw at you and put cheating grin on your face”

 “If there really could be butterflies in one´s stomach, there was definitively one playing havoc in mine now”

Note: The image was taken from www.google.com 

MAYBE SOMEDAY

By: Colleen Hoover

Genre: New Adult Contemporary Romance

Year: 2014 

The first thing a I liked what this part of the synopsis: “A passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance, Maybe Someday will immerse readers in Sydney’s tumultuous world from the very first page”. 

Which meant my perfect kind of before bed reading. In fact it was exactly like that, a breathtaking love story; what I didn´t expect was the amount of twists, one after other, a plot  brilliantly developed,  relationships carefully built, effective dialogues to make us die of laughs or for sorrow according with each scene. In addition there is a marvellous  technique mingling  music with written words, an excellent way to stop the readers’ heart. 

The story is told since the two main characters POV, lately one of my favourite written styles, allow us to perceive the created world from different eyes. 

This is my first book by the author, I decided to read her work thanks to the reviews of a couple of bloggers who their opinions I respect, and I chose Maybe Someday  randomly but now I must  say it was faith because for sure this is not going to be the last one. 

Colleen Hoover got me from the beginning until the last page, I am impressed by the sweetness, passion, all the deep emotions she poured into the book.

Although this book deserve 5 stars, I gave it 4,8 stars  and it’s just because as a hopeless romantic that I am,  there was a choice, a scene that felt real but I’d like something a little more novelettish and that is all I can say without drop some spoilers.

Best Phrases:

“It wasn’t basic need. Like need for water when I’m thirsty or a need for food when I’m hungry. It was an insatiable need for relief. Relief from want and desire that had been pent up for so long. I never realize how powerful desire can be.”

“I’m convinced that people come across others in life hose souls are complete; y compatible with their own. Some refer to them as a soul mates. Some refer to it as true love.”

“Breathe in Breathe out.

Expand, contract.

Beat beat, pause. Beat beat pause”

“Maybe I’m not the hero to her I’ve always tried so hard to be because right now, I feel as if she doesn’t even need a hero. Why would she? She has someone so much stronger than I’ll ever be for her. She has herself.”

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US

Author: Kasie West
Genre: Young Adult. Contemporary Romance.

Year: 2013

“Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. She finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.”

            This is my second book I´ve read by Kasie West, and I´m starting liking her fresh, sweet style. However, in this book I could find some writing issues, as a lot of she says, he says thing, guessing paragraphs out of context, abruptly changing of scenarios, communication problems which is understandable among teenagers, nevertheless it was hard to bite the magical solution for all of them.

            Yes, it was a couple aspects that could be better, but there were others really great that made me enjoyed it, laughed and sighted. For start, the author has a gift to create well done characters, everyone on the story is unique, I could feel how they jumped out of the pages until turning into something real; especially Caymen she was such great, powerful character that was easy to connect with her, I just loved her! All the -not so good- things I said about the book were forgotten because of her.

Plus there are hilarious dialogues full of sarcasm and entertainment. There isn´t a line of boredom in this book. Also there is friendship, family love and a delightful romance built page after pages until my favorite part - the happy ending-.

            Therefore 4 stars for “The distance between us”.     

            It is recommended for everyone who is looking to spend an afternoon with a fresh and light romance reading. Also for readers who like Jenny Han, Katie Macgarry, Huntley Fitzpatrick and Stephanie Perkins.

 Note: Image taken from www.google.com

EMPIRE OF NIGHT

I read this books the same day it came out, then I wrote a review on Goodreads but I kept this one in a drawer for months, until now that I decided to publish it.
Anyway ... Here there are my five stars for Empire of Night.

BY: Kelly Armstrong

Genre: Y/A High Fantasy

Year: 2015

Moria and Ashyn are back. After a year of waiting, Kelley Amstrong brought us Empire of Night the second book of the series Age of Legend.

Moria and Ashyn are twins, blessed by the Gods, they are the keeper and the seeker of the Edgewood a village that doesn´t exist anymore. After the events of Sea of Shadows, in this second book, the sisters are immersed in a new adventure, separated by force and involved in unusual relationships; both have to make their way until to find themselves again and moreover the true.

Empire of night is an excellent written book, with brilliant dialogue, unique plot with captivating characters.

            I really enjoyed the first book, but I loved this one, since the first page I was completely hooked, the author knew how to blend perfectly the subtle romance with danger, magic and treachery. It's a full story. I felt like I was in a rollercoaster of emotions, jumping from anxiety, frustration, tenderness and excitement.

            It is going to be a long, torturous waiting until we can read the conclusion of this trilogy, special after the most shocking, hanger cliff ending I ever read in a very long time.  

Best Phrases:

“She remembered the boy who´d fought by her side the boy who´d confided in her, the boy who´d lain by the fire with her and no matter what he seemed to have done since, she could not truly believe it.”