Flock by Kate Stewart

Flock by Kate Stewart
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I gave in and started The Ravenhood series. This was good and I did enjoy it. I do not feel like we really got to know the characters as well as I would have liked too. I think I would have bought into the relationships a little more if we got to see a little more development. I feel it was instant for both Sean and Dominic. It does add up to why it was instant when you get to the end, but I wanted more to show why they have the emotions that they do.

I was confused with the big conflict that happened in the garage. I am hoping there is more around this in the next books. Some of the conflict is revealed in a very surface level at the end. This also leads with a cliff hanger.

The story itself was ok. It did not blow me away by any means. It did leave me wanting to know what happens next with the ending. I will continue on when I can get my hands on the second and third audiobook, but it was not something that made me want to scream and jump to book two.
I am glad I gave it a shot though and will finish the series eventually.


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Since You've Been Gone by Tari Faris

Since You've Been Gone by Tari Faris


I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I did read book one in the series, but it was so long ago. I was not able to read book two. This can be read as a standalone, but right from the start I felt like I was missing something. Maybe reading the whole series from the start would have helped with this feeling.

I had a hard time getting into this one for some reason. It may have been that I felt disconnected to the story and did feel like I was missing some pieces. I am not sure, but I found myself putting it down. Sadly, I just could never get back into this one. I may pick up book one and two and try again.


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Curvy Girls Can't Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting

Curvy Girls Can't Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting


DNF

I have always struggled with my weight and also have PCOS, so I was very excited to check this out. I was hoping it was not going to be focused on stereotypes around fat people. I was not impressed how it started with Beckett being teased. Not all fat kids are picked on and outcasts in school (I was not) and I am over it being a thing in any and every story you hear from/about overweight teens.

I was hoping for an amazing romance without all of that. Sadly, it was not getting any better and I just could not finish.


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The Wish by Nicholas Sparks

The Wish by Nicholas Sparks
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I love Nicholas Sparks but the last few releases just have missed the mark for me. When this one started I was hopeful it was going to be that heart breaking love story that I used to love about his work. This was closer to what I wanted, but I am still waiting for an epic romance from him.

This is more womens fiction than romance. It does involve a love story, but I do not consider it romance. This also deals with a very heavy topic as the main character is dying from cancer. I was expecting my heart to break. It was very sad as we see Maggie getting worse and worse but it did not bring that heart wrenching ache that I wanted and needed.

This was pretty predictable and I figured out the twist as soon as the first flashback story was told. I did not see how it unfolded and did tear up at this moment.

The story was just so slow. Not much happened at all and it just dragged on at times. We are following Maggie when she was younger as well as when she is older. Her story was very sweet. I just wanted more.

The audiobook was pretty good. The narrator did make younger Maggie sound much younger than she was at times.

Overall, this was better than the last few but still not what I want and expect from NS.


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Dynasty by Sheridan Anne

Dynasty by Sheridan Anne
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I have been wanting to read something from Sheridan Anne for a while now as several of her series have been on my wish list. I was so excited to jump into The Boys of Winter series as I have heard so many amazing things. I was not disappointed.

This is unlike anything I have ever read before. It is not going to be for the weak of heart. If you also do not love multiple love interests, this will not be for you.

Winter is 17 and in Foster Care. I am pretty critical when a story involves foster care since I have worked within the field for the last fifteen years. I hated that she has shitty foster parents, but I also understand it is needed as part of the story. It was something that pulled me in right from the beginning regardless.

I flew through this and listened to the audiobook in one sitting. I just could not stop listening. I am not a huge fan of Secret Society reads, but this one just had so much going on that it made you want to keep listening.

I was not expecting some of the turns this took and it took a lot of different dark turns. I think I would have bumped this up even more if this was not high school students. Some of their actions just did not match anything close to their ages. I almost forgot at times that they were all still in HS.

Are we supposed to have a favorite? Winter does not have a favorite? Ok, if I had to choose I am team Carver. I do see this sadly going in a very bad direction and the guys turning on each other later in the series. I do not see what is going on being long term.

This does leave in a cliff hanger and will leaving you wanting book two. Overall, I really liked it.


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The Legacy by Elle Kennedy

The Legacy by Elle Kennedy
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was a little worried about jumping into this as I just love all of these characters so much. I am not one to re-read and since it has been so long since I read this series, I did go through and try to make notes and remind myself of each character.

Some parts were better than others. I really liked how we get to see that all of the players are still friends after all this time.

Logan and Grace were just ok. I was not impressed right off the bat with them being the start of the book. I do not really think it brought much to their story. I also do not love how they keep the secret from all of their friends.

I enjoyed Dean and Allie a little more. I found myself grinning like I did when first learning about these characters. Allie is just as stubborn as always, but I love how they do not give up on each other. I still love Dean!

Tucker and Sabrina was again just ok. Again, it did not do much for me and I found myself drifting when reading.

I have seen several reviews around Hannah and Garrett, but I liked it

I also did not care about the doll at all.

Overall, I enjoyed this for what it is. If it was following different characters I would probably give it a lower star rating. However; I enjoyed it and still loved jumping into this crazy fun world


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Till It Hurts by Cora Brent

Till It Hurts by Cora Brent
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Triggers for mental health, addiction, pregnancy, loss, death, and more. This is a friends to lovers, back to enemy to lovers story. I enjoyed the reconnection between Jace and Tori.

I really loved the first half of this story. I am not usually a fan of dual timelines, but the author just did it right with this one. I found it to all connect the story. I really wanted to find out what happened with the trio and this kept me reading.

This does deal with addiction, but in way that is more around PTSD. I would have liked to see a little more around this as I feel it could have been more used to bring out a little more emotion in the story.

I also wanted a little more around Colt and his return. I did tear up when he and Jace finally meet up again in the future and we get to see how much Colt has grown.

I feel like certain aspects had the perfect amount of detail and others could have used more. Overall, I really enjoyed this though and plan to check out more from this author.


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Heard It in a Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves

Heard It in a Love Song by Tracey Garvis Graves
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

I do not really know how to explain this story. It is definitely more women’s fiction than romance. The story jumps back and forth between the past relationships and the current day. We really get to see more around the past for both Layla and Josh as the story is follows more so around their previous relationships/lives. There are very limited scenes involving the two together. There was little romance for me personally. It was more of a story around finding yourself and picking up the pieces after divorce.

This was not what I was expecting at all. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters though. Overall, a decent read.


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Stay With Me by Nicole Fiorina

Stay With Me by Nicole Fiorina
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am a little torn on my rating for this one. When it first started, I was devouring it. It was so different than I was expecting and I loved how our characters were all older.

This does deal with some very intense topics including mental health, rape, and sexual abuse. Most of the characters are dealing with trauma and it does come out as you read. I really liked the vulnerable parts when we would learn more around each person. However; we really did not get much except around Mia and Ollie.

This really slowed down for me though. I found the games between the friends to be repetitive and dragging the story. Everyone is at Dolor for something and I would have liked to see a little more of that represented. There was not enough happening in the middle to keep my interest and I found myself skimming as I did still want to find out what happens.

This really does pick up towards the end though. We have some twists thrown in that I did not see coming.

Overall, this was ok but I was expecting much more. I was expecting it to be very emotional and even though it does deal with dark topics, it did not grab on to my heart strings like I wanted it too. I would continue on with the series if it ever came to audio, but not sure I would pick up the rest for physical reads.


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When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting

When Sparks Fly by Helena Hunting
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

This may be my favorite Helena Hunting so far! I could not put this one down and I highly recommend the audiobook. I ended up reading this one in one day.

The first half of this was a five star read for me. This had my heart pounding as certain moments as it does deal with some more serious issues especially based on the families past. The audiobook just brought the right intensity to these parts and I found myself in tears waiting to see what would happen.

Once everything happens though, it does slow down. It did get repetitive at times and started to drag a little towards the middle. I needed more to happen after such an amazing start.

I loved how Avery had a group of guy friends as it just reminded me of me.

If you love friends to lovers, I would say give it a try.

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Greek by Kandi Steiner

Greek by Kandi Steiner
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

I am a huge Palm South fan and am so sad to say goodbye to these characters. I love them all and could follow their lives forever. I really need more of Bear and Erin!

I could easily see this being a TV series as it just has a little bit of everything. The finale was everything I needed it to be. Yes, there were some moments where I was like “why is this happening”, but it all came together in the end.

There were so many fitting moments that just made me cry knowing that this was it. Overall, a really nice ending and a story I will never forget.


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It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey

It Happened One Summer by Tessa Bailey
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ok, so this one is so hyped so I was a little hesitant to pick it up. However; I enjoyed it. The romance was super cute and I loved the Captain! It was different on that aspect, but otherwise it did not really have anything that set it apart from others. Do not get me wrong, I still enjoyed it and am giving it four stars as it was still a really fun read.

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Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai

Girl Gone Viral by Alisha Rai
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I wish this had a prologue to explain Katrina and her past. The story was a little confusing and I never connected with why she needed so much security. I would have liked to have known much more around this as it would have made the story flow a little better. I know we get pieces throughout, but it just did not all work for me.

The story was very slow moving. I found myself drifting a little during the audiobook as not much was happening. The romance was very immature as well with just lusting and gradual bumping into one another. I did like the idea of the romance including Jas’ being a bodyguard.

Sadly, this one just fell flat for me.

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The Pass by Rebecca Jenshak

The Pass by Rebecca Jenshak
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I am a huge Smart Jocks fan and I think I gave every book in the series so far five stars. I have been so excited for this one and it took me too long to actually pick it up. I was excited to jump into this world and these characters again.

The series as a whole can be read as standalones. However; I feel this one was very disconnected from the others. It read a little more youthful than the others. At times I found the behaviors and situations very immature. It all just fell flat for me.

Sadly, I did not love this one. However; this is still one of my favorite series that I will recommend to everyone.


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Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

4.5 Stars

Thank you to LiboFM for the audiobook version.

I have heard so many mixed reviews on this one, but I am sad I put off reading it for so long.
I loved this! This is a story around a family and their lives. I loved both the before story and the current story following the characters.

This did follow a few different characters that I did not find necessary and the ending was not what I was expecting. However; I enjoyed this one for what it was.


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First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel

First Love, Take Two by Sajni Patel
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was sent this book from the publisher/publicity team. My ratings and reviews will be my own personal opinions and are in no way influenced by publishers or authors who may have sent me books to review.

Triggers for mental health, pregnancy loss, and racism.

I was a little lost at first with this one. So many things are brought up like we should know about it. Characters, relationships, and incidents were thrown at you when you had no clue what they were talking about. It has been a while since I read the first book in this series, but I do not remember any of this being in that book either.

I loved the first reunion between Preeti and Daniel. I love the situation they find themselves in as they are reunited after six years. It is very clear how both of them still love each other. I love their banter and how Daniel is always there for Preeti.

This does have a lot to do with cultural expectations when it comes to dating within your same race and dating in general. I love how Preeti stands up for herself, her family, and Daniel in the end.

This was a little slow moving. I did find myself cheering for Preeti and Daniel to be together. I do feel the romance was not the forefront of this story though. I wanted more with them as I really loved the two of them.

Overall, I was a little disappointed with this one. When it started I thought it was going to be a solid 4/5 stars, but as the story continued it dragged just a little too much. I wanted more romance.

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