Book Reviews Archives

March 21, 2019March 20, 2019

BOOK REVIEW: Turning the Tide by Phoebe Alexander

If you have read any of my reviews, you know that I am not a fan of coming into the middle of a series, so I love it when I find an author who can write a story that reads well as a stand-alone, but has enough detail that I want to find the previous books. This is one of those cases.

“Turning the Tide” is actually the fifth book in the Eastern Shore Swingers series. It focuses on Luke, an ENT doctor with an absolute shrew of a wife, and Connie, a recent transplant from California. Connie is the sister of Casey (who I gather might be the focus of an earlier story). They meet at “The Factory,” a club for alternative lifestyles.

But this book is much more than another BDSM/swinger novel. Sure there are scenes (and they’re pretty hot) and the romance grows as the two find their way to acknowledge their true natures. But there is also a great subplot involving Luke’s wife that builds throughout the story, culminating in some pretty awesome scenes.

Ultimately the story belongs to Luke and Connie, and it is absolutely fantastic that they are older (40s and 50s). It’s about time that somebody acknowledged and wrote about something other than doe eyed 20 year olds being shocked at a new lifestyle. I loved that these were two mature people who had been around the block and were ready to embrace their new lifestyle. More of this please!

I will definitely be going back and reading the first four in this series, and I look forward to any future books from this author as well. My Goodreads review is below.

Turning the Tide (Eastern Shore Swingers Book 5)

Turning the Tide by Phoebe Alexander
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really, really enjoyed this book. The romance between two older people who have seen a lot of life was a very refreshing break from the usual 20-something year-olds who pledge undying love in romances. Both Luke and Connie knew what they wanted and didn’t stand for games. The suspense part of the plot was well thought out and gave depth to Luke’s decisions. The man was certainly justified in his actions – it’s been a while since I found a character as loathsome as his wife. I especially liked how the author didn’t rely on the draw of the lifestyle to determine the arc of the story. The scenes of the lifestyle were interwoven seamlessly with the suspense plot, and I appreciated that the author presented the characters as normal, every-day people instead of focusing on the darker side like many other novels. This was the fifth in a series, but the first one that I have read. I liked the style of writing and the characters enough to go find the first four in the series. I definitely recommend this book. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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March 19, 2019March 19, 2019

BOOK REVIEW: Last Words by Colleen Green

Not gonna lie, this book confused the heck out of me. It started interesting, but then took me a few chapters to realize that the author had shifted into the past as the main character reminisced. There wasn’t the usual indication of a time change, just a simple sentence. Eventually the author circled back to where the book started, but it was a really long way to get there.

I honestly did like parts of it. There were events that were interesting, and the restaurant scenes were reminiscent of the cooking shows my family likes to watch. But there was an awful lot that seemed haphazard. The growth of the romance between Amber and Jack seemed forced – it didn’t seem to grow organically at all. I kept feeling like I was supposed to expect something else from Jack because of his actions, so I was really off balance on him. I also thought that the subplot involving the restaurant and Jack’s father was a stab at suspense that wasn’t entirely successful.

This is the first in a series, so I am hopeful that the series improves, and Amber was a heroine that I could root for. I just hope that things get a little more realistic and fleshed out in the long run. My Goodreads review is below.

Last Words: Book One in The Amber Milestone Series by Colleen Green
My rating: 2 of 5 stars (It was okay)

I had a difficult time with this book. My family watches a lot of cooking shows, so I liked that the heroine was a chef. I thought that some of the plot points were good and made sense. However, there were a lot of inconsistencies with characters, and other plot points didn’t seem to be fully realized. I thought the subplot with Amber’s niece was unnecessary, and the sister and brother-in-law were distractions. Their attitudes did not make a lot of sense in the bigger picture. Sadly, I also didn’t fully understand the romance angle with Jack. There were too many red herrings to make me believe that they had an undying love. An event near the end was downright outlandish, as were the machinations of another character. This is the first in a series, so I will be interested in seeing where the story goes from here. It was an okay book, but I hope for better from the rest in the series. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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March 18, 2019March 18, 2019

BOOK REVIEW: Three of Hearts by Angela Nicole

If you’re looking for a down and dirty menage romance, this isn’t the one for you. But if you’re looking for one that explores the concept and features characters who have the same doubts about the lifestyle that you might have, I would definitely recommend checking this one out.

The characters are likable, almost sweet at times, which makes for an interesting juxtaposition when it comes to the sexy times. Regardless, at the heart is a decent romance. Check out my Goodreads review below.

Three of Hearts by Angela Nicole

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Sometimes a book in a genre bends the rules a little and doesn’t fit the usual mold. This is one of those times. “Three of Hearts” is a menage romance, but not in the traditional sense. This one actually had some plot to it and existed as more than just an opportunity to get to the steamy sex scenes. Kate has been best friends with the Bailey brothers, Marcus and Matthew, forever. But she has also loved them, and they love her. It makes for an interesting “when will they” aspect that moved the plot along. That being said, it felt like there was a little bit too much back and forth to get to their actual realizations, and the subplot involving the ex-husband and son seemed as if it was only used to get the son out of the way so mom could play without guilt. That being said, there were some genuinely amusing moments, and I enjoyed the unusual romance. This review was written based on a complimentary pre-release copy.

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March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

BOOK REVIEW: Convergence by Ginny L. Yttrup

I love when I find a book that brings back good memories – even if the book itself is more twisted than anything I ever experienced! Such is the case with Convergence, by Ginny L. Yttrup.

When I was little, my parents and I used to go river rafting in the Sierra Nevadas. We even had our own raft, life jackets, oars, etc. In fact, I am pretty sure that they are still in my parents’ garage. My mom was a teacher, and one of the science teachers was a licensed river rafting guide. I have many fond memories of rafting the American and Stanislaus rivers, as well as the Snake and Boise rivers in Idaho.

(A less fond memory is when I got thrown out of the raft and ended up pinned beneath the raft in some pretty rough rapids, throwing out my back. But that’s another story.)

I picked up this book originally because the river rafting aspect of the plot intrigued me. Suffice to say that I got a lot more than I thought I would. I am really glad that I read this, and I highly recommend this suspenseful thriller. Below is my Goodreads review.

Convergence by Ginny L. Yttrup

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a fascinating and complex book. I thought it looked interesting from the description because of the focus on river-rafting (my family used to go river rafting on the American River a lot when I was a kid). Once I started reading, however, I realized there was much more depth to the story than just a suspense novel. It is written exactly like a river rafting trip. It started slow, just floating along like the beginning of a rafting trip. Then there were a few bumps, light rapids, as we get glimpses into events in Deni’s past. More events occur in the present, and we hit some class III rapids. The story continues to pick up the pace up until the Class VI climax. It was a tightly-woven plot created to mimic the river that is a focal point of the story, and it just enhanced the tension. Even the title has a double meaning relating to the river and the plot. I was very impressed with this book and highly recommend it. A big thank you to NetGalley, Barbour Publishing, Inc., and the author for a digital ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review

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March 1, 2019March 1, 2019

BOOK REVIEW: Ruthless Misfit by Liza Street

I have always been a reader, but over the past year, I have greatly expanded the number of genres I draw from. One of the newer types of books is shifter romances. Most of these are animal shifters, although there are some stranger ones out there. I have found that the better ones really weave the animal/human aspects together to make complete characters.

Ruthless Misfit by Liza Street is one of those better ones. The story revolves around Erena and Matt and their Rock Creek Clan. The first in a series, we are introduced rather quickly to the clan, and know from the get go that neither Erena nor Matt are comfortable with being in the clan, but for very different reasons.

My only issue with this book, in particular, was that it referred to events prior to this book as if the reader knew why everything had happened. The backstory was not as full as it could have been. It made reading this story feel like I was missing something – like I should have already known what was being discussed.

The author does do a good job of presenting a conflict that will continue through at least two other books, so I am hoping that there will be more answers coming. All in all, it was an interesting introduction to a new series. Below is my Goodreads review.

Ruthless Misfit by Liza Street

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This was a departure for me because I haven’t read very many shifter romances, but I really found myself enjoying this one. I especially liked how the animal habits melded into the human traits, and how the terminology used covered both animal and human. I thought the plot was interesting, but it sometimes seemed as if there was a lot of action prior to this story. It’s hard to describe, but the way that the characters referred to events made it seem like there was a previous book that covered it all, but near as I can tell, there isn’t one. Regardless, the plot was intriguing and definitely made me want to stick around for the second book to see how it progresses. I think both people who are familiar with and those who are new to the shifter genre will enjoy this book. I received a free digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

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March 1, 2019February 28, 2019

BOOK REVIEW: Southern Player by Jessica Peterson

I read a lot of books. I’m averaging one every couple of days right now. Even though I read everything, I’ve read more than my fair share of romances of every kind. Y’all know by now that I don’t often rave about romances, because most of them are enjoyable enough but not necessarily anything special. This is NOT the case with “Southern Player.”

This one has a sexy ex-pro baseball player turned farmer, an educated but vulnerable businesswoman (who happens to be the farmer’s best friend’s sister), and a host of entertaining supporting characters.

I. Loved. This. Book. Honestly, I can’t say enough good things about it. This was unlike any “best friend’s sister” romances I’ve ever read; it was thoroughly unique. I loved the raw frankness of Gracie and Luke. I loved how the dialect was written so that it made the characters come to life; I could hear them in my head, and it added so much depth to the story. I loved how the author juxtaposed a Regency romance with a contemporary romance and made them dovetail. I appreciated Gracie; her success tempered by her vulnerability were instantly relatable. I loved the heat and chemistry between Gracie and Luke. And the sexy times? Holy combustible pages! Seriously hot, but not in a gratuitous way. The tender romance combined with the off-the-charts chemistry was extremely swoon-worthy and gave me that nice little stomach drop that I love in a romance. I cannot recommend this book enough. A huge thank you to the author and publisher for a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Southern Player by Jessica Peterson

Release Date: February 28th

Southern Player, a full-length standalone romance by Jessica Peterson.

I’m looking for a hot hookup with no strings attached. And I want my older brother’s best friend to step up to the plate…

My dating history is lame. My experiences in bed? Even lamer. As the owner of a thriving business, I’m used to calling the shots. But one place I don’t always want to be in charge is in the bedroom.

Enter Luke Rodgers. My brother’s best friend. Former Major League baseball player. A guy who now hangs out on his farm, sweaty and shirtless, as he nurses a shoulder injury.

If the rumors are true, he also likes to work up a sweat behind closed doors. A total MVP in the sack.

Just the take charge guy I’m looking for.

With Luke and I, it’s game on. And it’s all good until Luke decides he wants forever, and he wants it with me.

I’m just not convinced I can trust Luke. Will he keep playing the field? Or is he really ready to hang up his cleats for good?

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Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2T3PJqN

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/SouthernPlayerJP

Add to Goodreads: http://bit.ly/2tmsyc5

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Excerpt:

I can’t deny this woman a damn thing. So I climb onto the bed. The mattress dipping beneath my weight as I crawl to Gracie on my hands and knees. She is still facing away from me. So I duck down and press my lips to the spot where her neck slopes into her shoulder. Her skin, warm and soft, pebbles into goose bumps as I kiss her there, nicking the sinew with my teeth. She sucks in a breath, reaching back to dig her fingers into my hair. “Luke,” she breathes. “I love it when you say my name,” I murmur against her skin as I slowly work my way up her neck. Gracie arches against me, fingernails curling against my scalp. “Luke,” she says again. “Yeah?” “Why do you”—her voice catches when, leaning all my weight on my good arm, I reach around and cup Gracie’s breast—“you talk dirty, but you go slow. Why?” “Because.” Through the fabric of her shirt, I gather her nipple between my thumb and forefinger and draw it out. “I ain’t rushin’ with you. I been waiting ten Goddamn years to touch you, and I plan to savor every minute. But I am as God made me, baby, and He in all His wisdom gave me a real dirty mouth.” She moans when I play with her hardened nipple, giving her tit a solid squeeze. “Never thought I’d like dirty talk,” she says. “But with you—Luke, I love it.” I grin as I feather my lips over her jaw. “I noticed.” I nudge her with my nose, and our eyes meet. “Dirty talk aside. I’mma do this nice and proper like, Grace. Meaning I’m gonna take my time and learn your body and draw you out just how you want. Nothing leaves this room. Same as nothing gets left on the table. I’ll give you everything I got, and you better damn well do the same. You want that intensity we talked about? You gotta give me your all, baby girl. You gotta show me everything.” Her forehead is creased as she searches my eyes for a beat. Then another. My heart is thudding inside my chest. “I’ll try,” she says at last. She takes me by surprise when she turns her head a little more and kisses me. A quick kiss, but a hot one. An honest one. “Thank you. For getting it. For doing this with me. It means a lot, and I appreciate it more than you know.” I look at her. Cock blaring. “Thank me when I’m done.” And then I’m getting on my knees and reaching for the hem of her shirt.

About Jessica:

Jessica Peterson writes smart, sexy romance set in her favorite cities around the world. She grew up on a steady diet of Mr. Darcy, Jamie Frasier, and Edward Cullen, and it wasn’t long before she started creating irresistible heroes of her own. She loves strong coffee, stronger heroines, and heroes with hot accents.

She lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, with her husband Ben and her smelly Goldendoodle Martha Bean.

Connect with Jessica:

Website: www.jessicapeterson.com

The City Girls, Jessica’s Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/PetersonsPupils/

Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/jessicapetersonauthor

Instagram: @JessicaPAuthor (https://www.instagram.com/jessicapauthor/)

Email: jessicapauthor@jessicapeterson.com

September 25, 2018September 25, 2018

New Links for Readers

Not huge news, but I have become an Amazon Affiliate. What does this mean to you, my readers? On my book reviews, you will now be able to click on the cover of the book, and it will take you to the Amazon page for that book. Obviously, you are under no obligation to do so, but if a book catches your eye, please use my link to purchase. I’ll also post any sales, reduced prices on books I’ve reviewed, or discounts that I find!

I am hoping to go back and update all of my past reviews, especially since some of them have come down in price. So I apologize in advance if you have subscribed and get a bunch of updated posts. (If you haven’t subscribed, what are you waiting for?!?)

As always, thanks for reading!

September 5, 2018

About the Fiction…one last thing

This blog was almost called “Fireflies, Fiction, and Free Kicks.” Fortunately one of my best friends talked me down from making it too obnoxiously long. But there will be an important aspect to this blog, and that will be book reviews. I have been an avid reader since…well, since I could first read. In second grade, I won a reading competition. Big deal, right? It was one that was held at the junior high school where my mom was an English teacher. That’s right, little 2nd grade me beat a bunch of 8th graders.

My love for books has never diminished. This past May, I became a member of #NetGalley. I receive Advanced Reader Copies (ARCs) from publishers in exchange for honest reviews. It’s exciting on so many levels, because I get to read buzz-worthy books, but I also get insight into an author’s thought process. Hey, maybe someday I’ll have courage to write that book that’s been kicking around in my head….

Anyway, you’ll see my reviews on this page. I hope that people grab recommendations from them. Nothing would make me happier than to know that people read and spread the word on a book that I recommended.