Reviews: Under the Hood by Juanita Kees & Slow Burn by Anne Marsh

Juanita Kees

Title:  Under the Hood

Release Date:  March 1, 2013

Author: Juanita Kees

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Spoilers:  No way!  Y’all get your own copy.  

Note:  This book contains mentions of drug use, foul language, and some sex scenes.  I do not place an age limit on readers, but if you are offended by any of these things Under the Hood may not be suitable for you.  

Synopsis:

TJ is a kickass mechanic who has set up an apprentice program at an auto repair shop for teens in need of help.  Now that a new owner has purchased the shop, TJ is afraid her program is in jeopardy.  Little does she know, Scott is not running from his problems on the east coast . . . he is searching for a challenge in his new home on the west coast. 

After firing and re-hiring TJ, Scott becomes involved in getting the program up and running.  Attraction is inevitable in this cute, yet oddly tragic contemporary romance.  But will that be enough when the past makes an unwelcome appearance?

Opnion:

The story was fairly short, but it packed lots of goodness.  TJ is feisty, feminine, and ready to risk everything for kids who have nothing.  It is difficult to give my opinion without mentioning spoilers, but I will say I gave this book 4 stars up until about that last 70-80 pages.  The ending was left open and unresolved. With that said, I am really hoping there is second book in this series.  I’m not sure where the author would go with the main characters (which is exactly why I will be reading the second book if there is one!), but maybe there will be someone for Marty.  Marty!  Marty!  Marty!  

Actually, maybe Detective Mark Johnson deserves his own story.  Hmm.  Yes.  Yes, he will do quite nicely.

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  

Anne Marsh

Title:  Slow Burn

Release Date:  March 26, 2013

Author:  Anne Marsh

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Spoilers:  No way!  Y’all get your own copy.  

Note:  This book contains foul language and some steamy sex scenes.  I do not place an age limit on readers, but if you are offended by any of these things Slow Burn may not be suitable for you.  

Synopsis:

Faye Duncan is free from a marriage that was over shortly after it began.  Now she is on the road in her shiny new-to-her classic Corvette, headed to Strong, California for her job as a photojournalist and to escape the life of a firefighter's ex-wife.

Evan Donovan is quiet and devoted to family, his job, and his team of Smoke Jumpers.  He never wanted or expected to fall in love with a drunken lady singing karaoke in the local bar, but he's on a mission to fulfill a favor from an old friend.  An old friend who happens to be Faye Duncan's ex-husband.  

Complications surface when Faye’s ex-husband and a firefighting arsonist come in the middle of relationship that heats up with every turn of the page. 

Opinion:

Please read the entire review before you think I’m bashing this book.  Because I’m not.  I promise. 

I waited over a week to review just in case I decided I liked it more.  I think the main reason I didn’t fully love this book is because I found Faye and Evan to be more exasperating than lovable.

But I'm Really Not

I understand Faye is upset by her ex-husband, but she consistently tells the reader all the ways she knew the marriage was over before he decided to sleep with someone else.  So I know you're angry but I need you to take a shot, cry it out, walk it off, and keep it moving . . . preferably toward Evan.  If I could give Evan and Faye a piece of advice—and yes, I do this.  In my head.  Because out loud would be just crazy.  Right?  Anyway.  Back to the advice:  Communication is a beautiful thing.  If you just communicate accordingly, your relationship will not need as many buckets to hold the tears.  I like Marsh’s take on Evan.  He is not outgoing, not drop-dead drool on your sleeve gorgeous, and seriously lacks in social skills.  Evan's strongest point is the loyalty he has for his family and his team, but he also has (cliché alert!) a heart of gold and that draws you to him. 

The mystery of the arsonist and the call outs for the Smoke Jumpers are really the high points of this book.  I found the relationship between Ben and Nonna to be a bit more intriguing than Faye and Evan.  Here’s the thing, though.  I’m going to read the first book.  Not only will I read the first book, but I will read the next book in the series.  Why?  Because I like this author.  The romance between the main characters was not my favorite, but I like Anne Marsh’s style.  I am also pretty much in love with the idea of the Smoke Jumpers because their story is just so different from your basic sexy fire fighter love interests (although I do love those, too). 

I recommend this book to lovers of sexy insta-romance and insta-drama.  Now I’m off to purchase the first book. 

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.  

WHAT I'M LISTENING TO TODAY:

Fall Out Boy-The Phoenix

Book Review: More Than This by Shannyn Schroeder

Just a little side note:  My blog is currently under some major construction.  I began this as a class project a couple of years ago and have deleted a lot of the creative writing posts and even some of the book reviews I did back then.  I will be bringing in a new layout, content, and random book giveaways soon.  So spread the word, y'all!  Free brownies and free hugs will be involved.  Did I mention I am a pastry chef and a professional hugger?  I am.  

Now . . . Onward to the review! 

Title:  More Than This

Author: Shannyn Schroeder

Genre:  Contemporary Romance

Spoilers:  No way!  Y’all get your own copy.  : D

Note:  This book contains steamy, beautiful, sweet, sexy love making that may not be suitable for anyone who is offended by such things.

Please Read My Book Review Disclosure

Summary:

“Someday had become her mantra for years. Someday had already taken too long.”

High school English teacher Quinn plans everything—right down to the month she wants to be artificially inseminated in order for her work schedule to comply with the month her baby is born.  When she decides to carry out her “My Someday” list, she reluctantly hands over the reins to her sister and best friend to write out the list for her.  Quinn must carry out this list of eight things before the end of the summer. 

Quinn and her colleagues frequent O’Leary’s, a bar owned sexy, family-oriented Ryan.  When Ryan makes it his goal to become more than a bartender to Quinn, he gets a little more than he ever expected from the shy English teacher.  Between a sister who she thinks is prettier, more talented, and more experienced in the Man Department, and an ex-husband who worked at a bar throughout their marriage—which for him meant staying drunk all the time and countless infidelities—Quinn is reluctant to be anything more than friends with an unrelenting Ryan.    

My Opinion:

Ryan and Quinn develop a friendship that inevitably gets Ryan stuck in the friendzone.  Family, friends, a wallowing ex-husband, and numerous horrific internet dates get in the way of a story that could have held more. Since I do not want to add any spoilers, (not to mention I am very stealthily making you decide to get your own copy . . . gah, I'm like a book ninja!) the only thing I will say is the ending was so abrupt I had to go back and re-read a few pages to see what I missed.  That was one of the only cons I felt about this book. 

I like the author’s style.  She has a good mix of steamy and funny and seriousness to her characters that makes you want to give up your plans for the day and find out what happens.  This book, I believe, will appeal to readers who are looking for a romance that develops slowly, then all at once.  More Than This is not a story that is all-conclusive.  I’m a sucker for a good epilogue.  I love to see what the characters are up to—be it tomorrow or five, ten, twenty years down the road.  I did not get an epilogue with this book, but a preview into what’s going on in Quinn’s sister’s life.  I am pretty excited about that.  Actually, I would love to know what is going on with Kate, as well.  Oh, and throw some Colin in there, too.  I feel there are so many books that can come out of this one story and I will most definitely read all of them. 

I received a copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.  

Shannyn Schroeder

What I'm Listening To:

Mayday Parade-Three Cheers for Five Years

Review: Playing For Keeps by R.L. Mathewson

Normally I only read books from the Young Adult genre, but lately I have branched out into other literary greatness.  I recently found an author that I am pretty much fangirling right now . . . in a totally no weirdo kind of way, of course.  I read all of her e-books in about a week, except one.  I refuse to read this last one because I'm not sure when the next one will come out and that hurts my heart a little.  

Gosh, Maria, could you be just a little more dramatic?  

I could, but I'll spare you.  You're welcome.

Book Review Disclosure

Title:  Playing for Keeps (A Neighbor From Hell #1)

Author:  R.L. Mathewson

Genre:  Contemporary Romance (if there were a genre for "Contemporary Romance and Friggin' Hilarious," this would be the perfect category)

Note:  There is sex in this book.  Steamy, beautiful, sweet, sexy love making that may not be suitable for anyone who is offended by such things.

Overview:

Haley Blaine and Jason Bradford are neighbors and colleagues at the same high school, in the same department, with adjoining classrooms   As a neighbor Jason is loud, obnoxious, messy, and a self-proclaimed a-hole.  Haley is the world's biggest pushover who avoids conflict at all costs and never complains about his parties, naked people climbing her fence to jump in the pool, or women screaming at Jason from his front lawn at all hours of the night.  However, the day Jason begins digging in her flower garden is the day Haley decides enough is enough. 

After a timid Haley hoses him down with icy water and tackles Jason from behind for pulling up her precious flowers, the neighbors surprisingly strike up a close friendship where they bond over food, baseball, and predicaments only a Bradford can get into.  With Jason's influence, Haley discovers exactly how strong she can be.  

My Opinion:

Now.  What I described sounds really serious and dramatic, but the way R.L. Mathewson portrays this story is anything but dramatic.  Rarely does a book make you laugh out loud, but there were times when I had to put down my phone (yes, I read this on my phone . . . you can judge me later) and double over . . . I just could not stop cracking up.  Jason is funny and charming and so is Haley.  The steamier scenes in the book are very well written and (thank goodness!) not cheesy atallwhatsoever.  

As far as the overall story goes, there is nothing I would change about Playing for Keeps.  The book is serious when it needs to be serious and beautifully sexy when the situation calls for it.  One of the things I love about her writing--and if you know about my fangirl obsession with YA author Simone Elkeles, then you will know why--is she has a heartwarming epilogue that shows what is going on in her characters' lives that could essentially develop into a short story all its own.  Why do I love when authors do this?  Because I am nosy and need to know what's going on in my favorite characters' futures and goshdarnit sometimes we need to see happy endings in books, and not just "Oh, Bubba and Ellie May pushed out some kids and did some work and blahbleghblah boring everafter."  Mathewson's writing is nothing short of refreshing.  In a genre where authors and stories tend to get lost in the overwhelming mix, she simply stands out, quietly basking in her amazingness.  Another good thing?  Her books are only .99 on iTunes!

Visit R.L. Mathewson

What I'm Listening To:

I'm in a country state of mind these days. 

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Photo Courtesy of Goodreads

BOOK REVIEW DISCLOSURE




Summary:  

Siblings Lochan (17) and Maya (16) have always felt more like friends than brother and sister.  With their alcoholic, practically non-existent mother, and a father who long ago abandoned the family, Lochan and Maya have taken over the role of parents to their three younger siblings.  Along with the stress of becoming stand-in parents, high school, and the constant threat of child protective services, their lives have brought them close.  So close, in fact, that Lochan and Maya have fallen in love.  Although they know the relationship is wrong, they are unable to stop how they feel.

Review:

First, allow me to say that if you do not have an open mind, do not read this book.  Seriously.  Some of the reviews I have read are downright ignorant, and some are even quite disgusted by it.  Which means, the point of the book is either 1) Received or 2) Not Received.  Confused?  Well, read this amazingly heartbreaking story and you will see what I mean.

Yes, there is incest.  Yes, a few times throughout I stopped and thought, "Oh my."  But this is a love story.  A tragic, tragic love story that does not have a happy ending.  Actually, when I first read this book, I hated it because I was so bitter about the ending.

However, my mind is changed.  I read Forbidden a little over two weeks ago and I cannot get this story out of my head.  It is one of those books, as I said in a previous post, where you find yourself wanting something to work out that maybe should not work out . . . and then you find yourself asking, "Well, why shouldn't it work out?  Who am I to judge love?  To judge anyone, for that matter?"

Forbidden will have you questioning things that have no answer.  And however frustrating, that's all right with me.

Book Review: Haven by Kristi Cook

I've read several books in the past week, and my goal is to do a review on each one within the coming days. Some days may have two reviews in one blog.  If it is a series, I will review the entire series.  Also, I don't discriminate by genre so if the book is YA Contemporary, Paranormal, Romance, etc. and I have read it (durh!),  I will review it.  {{Click HERE for my Book Review Disclosure}}



Photo Courtesy of GOODREADS

Summary: 

Leaving Atlanta behind, and starting fresh at Winterhaven School in New York, sixteen year old Violet McKenna is looking for a fresh start.  But Violet has a secret she has tried to keep hidden:  she has macabre, vivid visions of the future. 

Good thing for Violet that Winterhaven happens to be a safe haven for people like her with special "gifts and talents".  Here she meets extremely smart, sexy, mind reader extraordinaire, Aidan Gray.  But Aidan is hiding something from everyone at Winterhaven that could have them all running from him.  Will fate and a common enemy keep Violet and Aidan together or tear them apart? 

Review:

I had not heard of this book until I picked it up last Wednesday at my local bookstore.  The cover drew me in.  Does it make me shallow that I judged a book by its cover?  Ahwell.  When I read the back cover, I knew immediately I had to have it!  I can't tell you what it says, because I want you to go check out this book for yourself!  :)

I've read other reviews, saying that "Haven" is kind of a mixture of several other types of stories, and although I do see where these reviewers are coming from, this is one of those books that flows so beautifully and has some extras I haven't seen or have scarcely seen in YA Paranormal (astral projection, anyone?).  Oh, and let's not forget "The Aidan Effect" that may or may not have to do with his particular "gifts".  Personally, I've experienced this type of effect, and it is not pretty.  Oh wait . . . right . . . reviewing.  Sorrrryyyyy! 

What I wish I could have seen was more chemistry between Aidan and Violet, but I believe the lack of is leading up to a sequel (yayyyy!), so I can't say that I'm disappointed.  

I would definitely recommend "Haven" to anyone who wants a good YA Paranormal read.  The book is about 400 pages, but reads so smoothly that I got through it in about a day.   

                     

UPCOMING REVIEWS: 

ALL COVERS COURTESY OF GOODREADS