Better Late Than Never, 2024 Favorite Reads

I've been wanting to dabble back in to reviewing but the books from last year feel so far in my past - yet I want to acknowledge a few.

My reading genres were totally different in 2024. I mostly read ALC (advanced listening copy) audiobooks that I received from Libro.fm. They have a monthly, eclectic mix and it helped me read outside my comfort zone. 

Favorites were mostly - books that stuck in my mind long after - rather than "enjoyed".

So, here are a few of my 2024 favorite reads with a few thoughts. Keep in mind, I read these many, many months ago so my memories could be a little hazy lol

In no particular order:

Maybe She Will by Gina Andrew ~ Goodreads: This is a gentle, women's fiction/romance, story about an "older" (41 years old - ancient in romance years lol) single mom of a teenage daughter and autistic son. She's stretched thin between parenting, advocating for her son and just general doing everything on her own.

After a tussle with Gavin, the new school coordinator at her sons school, she realizes that she might be able to let other people in to help, that it's ok to not have all the answers and that she's still sexy and worthy of a full life. 

I loved all the characters (even the kids!), the romance and especially Josephine who has seemingly held the weight of the world on her shoulders for so long. Seeing her let go and have FUN and let other people in was wonderful.

Source: Purchased

Strange Sally Diamond by Liz Nugent ~ Goodreads Sally is strange. She's lived alone in the woods with her father for years rarely talking to others and when she does she is very literal - very matter of fact. At first, I suspected neurodivergent, but there is a much more sinister reason for Sally's behavior. A secret past that even Sally has been kept int he dark about.

ALL THE TRIGGER WARNINGS -> kidnapping, rape, domestic abuse, racism, death, child abuse, captivity - psychological and physical torture <-

This is a deeply disturbing book about nature vs nurture, trauma/PTSD, (in)justice. There is no pretty bow wrapped ending but for some reason I really liked this one. I felt like the author did the topics justice, without sugar coating anything. This isn't an easy read but it is one that stayed with long after finishing. The audiobook is EXCELLENT with narration by Jessica Regan and Stephen Hogan.

Source: libro.fm

Annie Bot by Sierra Greer ~ Goodreads: Another really tough read.  Annie is an AI robot, created to be a "cuddle bot" - yes for sex, and to perform basic household chores. But she also has a (small) bit of human emotion and sentience added in to her programming- which makes her pass more as human but also gives her ideas and thoughts. Something her owner, Doug, isn't too fond of.  

I had such a visceral reaction to this story at first and had to set it aside several times (in anger) before really settling in with it. 

Annie and Doug's relationship was so toxic and abusive (bot or not) and it initially focused mainly on sex - for a reason - since Annie is a Cuddle Bot - but it was just so hard to read. I thought this was gratuitous sex just for titillation but it is very important to the story.

Additionally, I listened to it on audio and hearing Annie's pain, confusion, discomfort, fear, happiness added another level to the book. (excellent narration!). It made me empathize and relate to Annie in a whole other way.

Annie Bot initially is the typical story of an AI growing feelings but as the story goes on it really takes on abusive relationships, technology and agency on multiple levels.

This book had me FUMING lol but I really ended up loving it and highly recommend reading with a friend or book club for venting purposes.

Source: libro.fm

Remarkably Bright Creatures by Shelby Van Pelt ~ Goodreads: Let's end on a happier note lol Remarkably Bright Creatures was such a beautiful story about connections (both missed and made), grief, friendships and family - both blood and found. 

And a cantankerous giant Pacific octopus named Marcellus! Marcellus' droll narration and unexpected, sweet, connection to Tova, the older cleaning woman at the aquarium Marcellus is - in his words - "day insert # of my captivity" - was just a delight to read. 

Source: libro.fm

That's a wrap of my favorite 2024 reads! Maybe this means I will start reviewing a gain this year. 

Have you read any of these? What were your favorite reads of 2024?

Mini Reviews: Apples Should be Red, Thrown for a Curve, A Matchless Romance

Apples Should Be Red by Penny Watson

Recipe for Thanksgiving Dinner:

Start with sixty-two year old politically incorrect, chain-smoking, hard-cussing curmudgeon.

Add fifty-nine year old sexually-repressed know-it-all in pearls.

Throw in a beer can-turkey, a battle for horticultural supremacy, and nudist next-door neighbor. Serve on paper plates, garnished with garden gnome.
Tastes like happily ever after.

Penny Watson presents an over-fifty romantic comedy novella. 21,000 words. Story includes copious profanity and botanical references. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Apples Should be Red is a hilarious, romantic, opposites attract, novella about two older widowers forced to spend the holidays together for the sake of their married son & daughter. It’s so nice to see a story written about older characters (Bev is 59 – Tom 62 and both widowers). I mention it because it’s such a rare occurrence in romance, but regardless of age, this is a fantastic, sexy story about second chances and living your life to the fullest. Highly recommend this one.



Thrown for a Curve (A Perfect Fit Novel) by Sugar Jamison

WHEN YOU’RE A big girl

Cherri has often wished she were thin and graceful like a ballerina instead of being a six-foot-tall blonde with curves that require serious caution. Surely a charming Irishman like her new boss Colin, with his throaty brogue and to-die-for bod, would never go for someone like Cherri. Unless maybe he’s looking for the exact opposite of a delicate lass? 

there’s more of you to love

When Colin hired Cherri to work in his furniture-restoration shop, he had his eyes, first and foremost, on her artistic talents. But now he can’t help but see Cherri for the lush, spirited beauty that she is…and, soon enough, he finds himself mixing business with pleasure. But Cherri turns out to be more vulnerable than she appears. Is she in need of more than Colin can give? Or could it be that a feeling stronger than lust has him thrown for a curve? ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: This book got off to such a fun start. Cherrie is awkward and wonderful. She has great friends and a quirky, Ukrainian grandmother. Colin is pretty awesome too. Then things went off the rails. About halfway the story takes an abrupt turn and you just want to throttle Cherrie and Colin. They have the worst communication skills ever. I just couldn’t care less if they got together by the end. In fact, I wished they didn’t.


A Matchless Romance (Aisle Bound #4) by Christi Barth

Tabitha Bell is the face of Chicago's premiere matchmaking service. At least, she hopes it will be someday, once business really takes off. What she needs is more clients, so when she meets a sexy gamer in need of help, it's the perfect opportunity.

His discomfort talking to women almost cost Drew Watson his job. He'd be happy holed up in his office, designing blockbuster video games, but his boss considers talking to investors a nonnegotiable requirement. Who better than a matchmaker to teach him how to be comfortable around the opposite sex? Trouble is, Drew wants to get more than comfortable with Tabitha, while she's determined to keep their relationship all business.

Soon Tabitha learns that beneath the geek-chic hoodie lies six feet of sexy physique--and the more time she spends with Drew, the more she appreciates his brainy brand of charm. Will she succumb to his sweet-but-nerdy charm offensive or will it be game over before he can win her heart? ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Oh how I swoon over a beta hero. Drew was awkward, sweet and sexy as hell, without even realizing it. Match Drew with the confident, sexy Tabitha, who has a secret nerd side and the sparks fly.

I do have one tiny complaint. Drew was a self proclaimed nerd (he is a video game designer) and thinks gorgeous women like Tabitha are out of his league. But he is somewhat of a player within his own nerdish community - especially at cons. I actually liked that - he wasn't the typical virgin nerd or totally clueless - just awkward outside his nerd zone. Those are random hookups though - he wants a hot girl for a long term relationship. Fair enough. And to Drew a girl like Tabitha is the whole package - hot and plays video games. Score! But I just felt like he was being a snob in the way he thought hot girls were with him. Seems to me he didn't think much of having a relationship with a "nerdy" girl while he held out for a hot girl.

That's a really minor complaint but since it seemed to be a reoccurring point that bugged me I had to bring it up. Don’t let it deter you though -  I absolutely loved Drew and Tabitha as characters and together.

I realized when I finished this was a series. It held up perfect as a stand alone although it did make me want to read the other books. Tabitha's friends and their boyfriends seemed like a lot of fun.

Review: Love Hacked (Knitting in the City, #3) by Penny Reid

There are three things you need to know about Sandra Fielding: 1) She makes all her first dates cry, 2) She hasn't been kissed in over two years, and 3) She knows how to knit.

Sandra has difficulty removing her psychotherapist hat. Of her last 30 dates, 29 have ended the same way: the man sobbing uncontrollably. After one such disaster, Sandra--near desperation and maybe a little tipsy--gives in to a seemingly harmless encounter with her hot waiter, Alex. Argumentative, secretive, and hostile Alex may be the opposite of everything Sandra knows is right for her. But now, the girl who has spent all her life helping others change for the better, must find a way to cope with falling for someone who refuses to change at all.

This is a full-length, 110k word novel and is the third book in the Knitting in the City series. All books in the series can be read as a standalone.

Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Source: Purchased

Review:
This is the second book I’ve read by Penny Reid & I find her writing style to be so much fun, even a little oddball at times.

Her characters have major quirks, (like belting out random trivia at inappropriate times) and an air of mystery surrounding them. At times it can be off-putting but I also love how her stories keep me on my toes and throw me off balance.

The first book in the Knitting in the City series, Neanderthal Seeks Human, was hilarious. While Love Hacked is also filled with funny moments, it’s also darker.

Sandra is a pediatric psychotherapist, 29, single and looking for THE ONE. She meets all her dates at her favorite restaurant, on a Friday night. They start to unload on her because she’s such a great listener, leave in a fit of tears and move on, finding their happily ever after – and it isn’t Sandra. It’s ok though, because none of the men have given her the zing; except for her very young, very hot waiter, Alex.

Oh Alex. I had such a difficult time with this character. He is everything I hate in a book guy. He runs hot & cold, he’s a little stalker-ish, possessive, secretive, and has SO much emotional baggage. He might as well be a blaring red flag warning. KEEP AWAY FROM ME. But…..lord help me – I found him to be so freaking sexy. Along with all his bad qualities, he’s sweet, innocent, awkward, wise beyond his years and fiercely loyal.

I think what made the Alex/Sandra relationship work for me was that Sandra stopped Alex in his tracks when he was being an ass. They could be in an extremely hot and heavy moment but Sandra didn’t pull that “my body betrayed me” crap and let him run over her. She stood her own ground and set boundaries.

Love Hacked was surprising. I was never sure how, or even if, this romance could ever work. I wasn’t even sure it should work. It was refreshing. Even though I wasn’t always sold on them as a couple, I loved that for once I couldn’t see the path to their HEA after page 2. Yet, it was also loads of fun.

Another thing I love about this series is the friendship between the knitting club girls. They are supportive but honest with each other. I don’t know how many of the girls will get a book but I hope it’s all of them. You can read the books as stand alones but each one builds on the friendships and personally, I enjoy that aspect as much as the romances.

There were a few editing issues – wrong pronouns and a few typos but nothing overly distracting. 

Final thoughts: Fun series, lots of sexy times. While both Neanderthal Seeks Human and Love Hacked have a lot of humor, Love Hacked was much edgier concerning Alex and his past. Also a fun element of intrigue and mystery as a backdrop to the romance. 

Mini reviews: Geeks in love…

It seems that being a nerd/geek/socially awkward is the hot thing right now when it comes to romance. The first book of this type I read was an erotica - The Theory of Attraction by Delphine Dryden.

There’s something about a nerdy character that makes them instantly relatable and likable. Of course in booklandia they are also incredibly gorgeous (even if they don’t see it in themselves) and the sex is scorching hot (even if they can barely interact with another human) but whatever – this trope tends to have a lot of humor and awkward encounters – something I love in my romances.

So here are a few mini reviews for romances with geeks in love…


A life of crime is easy…until love goes all ninja on your ass.

Asprey Charles has always assumed he would one day take his place in the family art appraisal and insurance firm. “His place” meaning he plans to continue to enjoy his playboy lifestyle, lavish money on his Cessna, and shirk every responsibility that dares come his way.

But when a life of crime is thrust upon him, he is just as happy to slip on a mask and cape and play a highwayman rogue. After all, life is one big game—and he excels at playing.

Poppy Donovan vows that her recent release from jail will be her last—no more crime, no more cons. But when she learns that her grandmother lost her savings to a low-life financial advisor, she’s forced to do just one more job.

It’s all going smoothly until the necklace she intends to pawn to fund her con is stolen by a handsome, mocking, white-collar thief. A thief who, it turns out, could take a whole lot more than money. If she’s not careful, this blue blood with no business on her side of the tracks could run off with the last thing she can afford to lose. Her heart. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: I guess strictly speaking, Asprey isn’t quite a nerd. He’s a thief, underappreciated by his wealthy family, who thinks he just plays around spending their money. But he has a zest for life and says the geekiest things like –

“Spork! I cry spork!”

“You cry spork?”

“It’s my safe word,” he managed. “You know – functional yet innovative? I hate to brag, but I’ve been told I’m  little of both.”

Witty & wacky story about cons, double crosses, a  hot ninja chick, family squabbling. Lots of laughs – a bit of a rushed ending but Morgan has said there will be a book #2 – so yay!

***

There are three things you need to know about Janie Morris: 1) She is incapable of engaging in a conversation without volunteering TMTI (Too Much Trivial Information), especially when she is unnerved, 2) No one unnerves her more than Quinn Sullivan, and 3) She doesn't know how to knit.

After losing her boyfriend, apartment, and job in the same day, Janie Morris can't help wondering what new torment fate has in store. To her utter mortification, Quinn Sullivan- aka Sir McHotpants- witnesses it all then keeps turning up like a pair of shoes you lust after but can't afford. The last thing she expects is for Quinn- the focus of her slightly, albeit harmless, stalkerish tendencies- to make her an offer she can't refuse. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: Janie is a truly unique heroine. She is whip smart and all her knowledge comes spilling out whenever she’s in a socially awkward situation. Which is basically every time she’s within range of the gorgeous but cold as ice Quinn Sullivan.

He leaves her off balance and unable to put everything in neat little boxes with labels like everything else in her life.

“I like labels. I like maps with labels. I like figures with labels, and I like footnotes. I don’t do well not knowing someone’s intentions or how to calibrate my expectations accordingly.”

I think some of miscommunications go on a little too long and every one who loves Janie has an infuriatingly strong need to protect her. I do think she has an odd approach to life but I also think she can order her own dinner and pick who she loves. Her lack of self confidence was kind of sad but I got it and it made her more relatable.

Still – a super cute story and I liked the authors writing style. Despite a few flaws, I’ll be picking up the other books from this series.

***

How to Land the Hot Guy 1.0

A multimillionaire by the age of 27, app developer Evie James is clueless when it comes to hooking up. So she does what any self-respecting geek-girl looking to get laid would do: she programs her own app for landing a hot guy. After a few failed attempts at making contact, beta testing leads her to Caleb Anderson.

Caleb is used to female attention, but finds himself attracted to Evie because of her unique brand of awkward. A master of one-night stands, he's more than happy to show her what she's been missing in the bedroom. But he quickly discovers that one night with a woman like Evie will never be enough for him…. ~ Goodreads

My thoughts: I enjoyed Yates novella, A Royal World Apart, it was a little cliché but very romantic. Crazy, Stupid Sex was also cliche , but in all the ways that aggravate me.

I loved Evie, who is the master of her domain at work as an app developer but clueless when it comes to picking up a member of the opposite sex. She decides to be the test subject of her new app for landing a guy. She strikes out until she meets sexy playboy Caleb Anderson. Bored with all his random hookups, Evie presents a challenge to him. She’s innocent but willing to explore her sexual side.

Caleb is a playboy (which he mentions about a 100 times) and says to Evie that he’s her man, because of his extensive sexual experience he’s up for anything but then he seems almost as inexperienced with sex as Evie. He says that he’s slept with a different woman almost every single night for 10 years - yet he hasn’t dabbled in light bondage? I’m talking light…tie your hands up and a little ordering around. That just seemed strange to me.

While I think he was good to and for Evie in bed – he was a complete ass-hat outside of it. He had reasons – there are always reason aren’t there? But he was just not my kind of guy.

Once Evie let her inner sex kitten out to play there wasn’t much about her geek side or intelligence which depressed me. It was all about the sex at that point. They don’t go out on dates, they maybe have two deep conversations, but after a few weeks of hot sex this is the real thing.

Personally, I couldn’t get on board with Caleb. He's lazy, shallow and mean but it you are a fan of the hot playboy with a tragic past that explains his behavior then this might be the book for you. As a Cosmo Red Hot Read, it is scorching hot, just not my cup of tea as they say.

Review: A Royal World Apart (Call of Duty #1) by Maisey Yates

When duty wars with desire, which one wins? 

With her life mapped out since birth, Princess Evangelina Drakos-known for her dramatic flair-hopes the minor scandal she plans to create will deter potential suitors.

Hired for Eva's security, unemotional bodyguard Makhail Nabatov never makes a mistake, but the impulsive princess pushes his resolve to the limits. It's not long, however, before the beautiful and imprisoned Eva entices him to leave his bonds of duty and honor behind.

While their chemistry reaches fever pitch, Makhail knows he knows he must deny his desire-for Eva is promised to another man.

Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Source: Purchased

Review: I’m such an impulse buyer when people are in a tweeting frenzy about a book. I end up downloading 20 books in one day then forgetting what the heck they were and why I bought them in the first place.

That was the case with this book, A Royal World Apart. I was in one of my OMG I have so many books but I don’t know what to read manic moments and saw this on my Kindle. Why did I download THAT book?The cover looks kind of cheesy…heads to Goodreads. Spoiled princess falls for cold, virgin, bodyguard hero. Oh yeah! It was the virgin thing lol But now it sounds dumb…I should just delete it. But it’s a novella – I can finish that baby in a few hours. I’m in the mood for cheesy!

Well shame on me for being so judgy because this was really goooood! Super romantic, sexy and emotional.

Eva is a spoiled princess who has no say in her own life. Her father believes in arranged marriages that benefit the country, not love. So she acts out publicly in an effort to scare off potential suitors.

Mak is Eva’s self appointed billionaire bodyguard (ok – so I rolled my eyes a little on that one). He’s cold and very rude to Eva, calling her out on her spoiled brat behavior. He believes in honor and duty. He doesn’t believe in love…for really heartbreaking reasons.

Of course, as they spend more time together Mak sees that she’s more than just a princess, a prop to be handed out to the highest bidder, and Eva finds out that he isn’t as cold and unfeeling as he seems.
For a novella, both characters were surprisingly well developed, both with explaining their pasts and how much they grew as individuals in the present. I loved how their relationship allowed both of them to change their perspectives on life – even though they were coming at from totally different points of view.

This had the feel of a old school romance novel. It’s all the kind of longing and romance that you get swept away in. The emotional depth and intensity of the couple help overcome the clichés that might have taken this from romantic to silly. 

Review: Perfect Lies (Mind Games #2) by Kiersten White

Annie and Fia are ready to fight back.

The sisters have been manipulated and controlled by the Keane Foundation for years, trapped in a never ending battle for survival. Now they have found allies who can help them truly escape. After faking her own death, Annie has joined a group that is plotting to destroy the Foundation. And Fia is working with James Keane to bring his father down from the inside.

But Annie's visions of the future can't show her who to trust in the present. And though James is Fia's first love, Fia knows he's hiding something. The sisters can rely only on each other - but that may not be enough to save them.

Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Source: Own

Review:
The Mind Games duology has a lot of flaws (next to zero world building, odd structure and dialogue) yet I’m totally captivated by the characters and want to know more about them.

There are a lot of series out there that say they are about family or that they don’t focus on the romance...but let’s face it – it’s about the romance. But Mind Games, & now Perfect Lies, truly is about two sisters who will do anything to save each other. There is a romantic element, and it drives many of the characters decisions, but it never overwhelms the story. At the heart of this series is Fia and Annie's relationship.

You do need to read Mind Games first. Perfect Lies isn’t a book you can jump into cold turkey. Even having read the first book last year, I had forgotten things and it took me about 50 pages to come up to speed. A re-read might be in order if you’re forgetful like me.

Annie plays a bigger role this time. I found her a little boring in Mind Games but it was nice to see her come into her own this time. I had thought the romance was going to head in one direction with her but it didn’t and I loved how it turned out. Very sweet.

Fia. She’s still hanging by a thread. Being in Fia’s head is nerve wracking and intense. She is one step away from being completely unhinged and you’re right there with her. Her nervous tapping and tics are a little less prominent this time around but if they annoyed you before, that will probably still be the case here. It’s very similar to Juliette in Shatter Me. But where I find Juliette self absorbed and thinking mostly of herself, I feel empathy for Fia. Everything is about Annie’s safety. EVERYTHING. If all her sacrifices don’t keep Annie safe, then what was it all for? Has she turned into a monster for nothing?

Her intense feelings for James are both sad and scary. If he lets her down, who will be her anchor? I was torn between wanting love to overcome all and yelling at Fia to get away from him.

There are several new characters that add depth to Fia and Annie. It allows us to see another side of them. A softer side of Fia - a stronger side to Annie. James is still… unapologetically James.

I love how this series walks that line of morality. There is a lack of background to anyone who is not Annie or Fia – that’s a major flaw – but it also allows you the moral ambiguity to shift your opinion of the characters actions. They all do bad things but is it for good reasons? Only you can decide because honestly it could go either way. Another author might have let you off the hook but White doesn’t.

Final thoughts: There were shifting time lines that confused the crap out of me, there isn’t really much in the way of world building or back story for the supporting cast. It’s frustrating and was one of my big complaints with Mind Games too. If you can handle it or enjoy that type of book then I still highly recommend this duology.

I LOVED the ending. It’s so perfect for both girls and not something that usually happens in YA.

Mini review: Across a Star-Swept Sea (For Darkness Shows the Stars #2) by Diana Peterfreund

Centuries after wars nearly destroyed civilization, the two islands of New Pacifica stand alone, a terraformed paradise where even the Reduction—the devastating brain disorder that sparked the wars—is a distant memory. Yet on the isle of Galatea, an uprising against the ruling aristocrats has turned deadly. The revolutionaries’ weapon is a drug that damages their enemies’ brains, and the only hope is rescue by a mysterious spy known as the Wild Poppy.

On the neighboring island of Albion, no one suspects that the Wild Poppy is actually famously frivolous aristocrat Persis Blake. The teenager uses her shallow, socialite trappings to hide her true purpose: her gossipy flutternotes are encrypted plans, her pampered sea mink is genetically engineered for spying, and her well-publicized new romance with handsome Galatean medic Justen Helo… is her most dangerous mission ever.

Though Persis is falling for Justen, she can’t risk showing him her true self, especially once she learns he’s hiding far more than simply his disenchantment with his country’s revolution and his undeniable attraction to the silly socialite he’s pretending to love. His darkest secret could plunge both islands into a new dark age, and Persis realizes that when it comes to Justen Helo, she’s not only risking her heart, she’s risking the world she’s sworn to protect.

In this thrilling adventure inspired by The Scarlet Pimpernel, Diana Peterfreund creates an exquisitely rendered world where nothing is as it seems and two teens with very different pasts fight for a future only they dare to imagine.

Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Source: ARC provided by the publisher – Balzer + Bray via BEA

My thoughts: What a refreshing change of pace to have so many well developed, intelligent characters in a YA novel! Especially female characters. Oh this book made my heart sing with all the complex female characters!

Across a Star-Swept Sea has very little action but I didn’t really miss it because instead it delivered an intelligent examination of political strife, class discrimination, our treatment of the mentally disabled and equality.

All while throwing in cool things like palm ports, flutter notes, a sea mink (I want one!) and a sweet romance. 

Across a Star-Swept Sea gives you a story that you can sink your teeth into….and have fun while doing it. A difficult thing to balance but Peterfreund does just that.

Quotables:
“But I've decided you're in fact terminally brave. And that should never be snuffed."

“No one is innocent in the tides of history. Everyone has kings and slaves in his past. Everyone has saints and sinners. We are not to blame for the actions of our ancestors. We can only try to be the best we can, no matter our heritage, to strive for a better future for us all.”

“We can only be responsible for what we ourselves do. Bad things happen in this world, and we are judged on how we respond. Do we take part in evil, or do we fight against it with all we have.?”
“How odd that an array of gorgeous dresses and a few well-placed dumb comments were all it took to disguise her true self, Was it because she was a woman?”

Across a Star Swept-Sea is a stand alone – companion novel to For Darkness Shows the Stars.

Review: Chasing Magic (Downside Ghosts #5) by Stacia Kane

A DEADLY HIGH

Magic-wielding Churchwitch and secret addict Chess Putnam knows better than anyone just how high a price people are willing to pay for a chemical rush. But when someone with money to burn and a penchant for black magic starts tampering with Downside’s drug supply, Chess realizes that the unlucky customers are paying with their souls—and taking the innocent with them, as the magic-infused speed compels them to kill in the most gruesome ways possible.

As if the streets weren’t scary enough, the looming war between the two men in her life explodes, taking even more casualties and putting Chess squarely in the middle. Downside could become a literal ghost town if Chess doesn’t find a way to stop both the war and the dark wave of death-magic, and the only way to do that is to use both her addiction and her power to enter the spell and chase the magic all the way back to its malevolent source. Too bad that doing so will probably kill Chess—if the war doesn’t first destroy the man who’s become her reason for living. ~Goodreads

SPOILER WARNING: No spoilers for Chasing Magic but I do refer to the previous books in the series.

Review:
This book emotionally drained me.

A lot happened in Sacrificial Magic (book #4). When I finished I felt like that was the pivotal book that would turn Chess in the right direction. Now don't get me wrong. I know this is a Stacia Kane novel and we're talking about Chess Putnam. It isn't going to be all sunshine and rainbows after her epiphany but still I wasn't expecting the emotional turmoil.

Not only is Chess not better, she's probably worse. Although that's over simplifying things. Something I tried to do a lot while reading this book but Kane just would not allow me to.

The action is dark, gruesome and unrelenting. The big bad in this book is a dark magic that is being slipped into the Downside's drug supply turning it's users into murderous zombies. This spells all kinds of trouble for Chess on a personal level. First - she's a drug addict so she could actually be a victim herself. Second - this crime wave pits the two men in her life, Terrible & Lex, against each other.

There were points throughout this book that made me want to slap each and every one of these characters. Then I just wanted to help them and enroll them all in group therapy or anger management or something. I was torn almost non stop. Lex does horrible things - but I get him. I felt like we maybe saw a bit more of Bump but he's still an asshole. Elder Griffin gets much more page time and it's kind of heartbreaking. I hope we get to see a lot more from him in the future. Chess backslides so far at a few points I could just shake her. Then I remember that I had friends with a past like hers and you know what? Abuse and addiction don't go away with the love of a good man.That's the reality. As much as I would like the easier, happier, fantasy solution, I admire that we get the honest depiction instead. I think it's hard to stick with that 5 books into a series and still keep your heroine sympathetic. Honestly this book tested that for me but Kane succeeds in the end.

Chess and Terrible continue to make inroads in their relationship. I think. Terrible always gives Chess the room she needs so that she's in control and can go at her own pace but in Chasing Magic he's also laying down a few rules. About time! It will be interesting to see if she can stick to them. For the first time I wasn't sure if their relationship is even healthy. No doubt Terrible gives Chess something to live for, a reason to be a better person. I'm rooting for them 100% but sometimes their love is dark and violent, almost like a drug or addiction in its own right. Again, Kane doesn't take the easy way out. It's honest. They live in a violent world. Terrible is a violent person but it made me uncomfortable at times. We also get to see the major consequences of saving Terrible's life with that sigil.  (and soooo many to die for swoony Terrible moments)

This whole book made me uncomfortable and made me question and change my opinions throughout.

If I wasn't reading on my iPad, I probably would have thrown it across the room a few times.
I do start to get a little weary of the spells and constant beatings. It gets repetitive after a while but I really enjoyed how magic was used to explore the gentrification of Downside in this book. It really tied together the warring factions and lent an urgency to solving this crime. It also made me wonder about what's best for the future of Downside. Obviously not zombies or pretending the residents don’t exist but are the heroes of this piece any better when they are keeping them drugged and are ruled by pimps and drug lords?

One thing I would like to see more of is Chess and Blue's friendship. I almost want to see Chess say F*CK it! and take off with Blue - Thelma and Louise style (minus the whole dying thing). No guys and just take some time away to find out who she is without the men in her life defining who that is for her.

Rating: 3.5 out of 4 Roller coaster reading ahead! If you can take deeply flawed characters this is the series for you. Relentlessly uncompromising and gritty. I loved how this book challenged my opinions and had me thinking for days after.

Author: Website | Twitter
Source: Netgalley for my honest review
Buy the book! Chasing Magic
Reviews for previous books in the series: The Downside Ghosts Series - books 1-3 | Sacrificial Magic book #4

Review: Chasing Shadows by Swati Avasthi

Before: Corey, Holly, and Savitri are one unit—fast, strong, inseparable. Together they turn Chicago concrete and asphalt into a freerunner’s jungle gym, ricocheting off walls, scaling buildings, leaping from rooftops to rooftop. 

But acting like a superhero doesn’t make you bulletproof…
After: Holly and Savitri are coming unglued. Holly says she’s chasing Corey’s killer, chasing revenge. Savitri fears Holly’s just running wild—and leaving her behind. Friends should stand by each other in times of crisis. But can you hold on too tight? Too long? 

In this intense novel, Swati Avasthi creates a gripping portrait of two girls teetering on the edge of grief and insanity. Two girls who will find out just how many ways there are to lose a friend…and how many ways to be lost. ~ Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Review:

I absolutely adored Avasthi's debut YA novel SPLIT (my review) . That book was something special, looking at domestic violence from the boys POV. It was about the history of violence in a family and how it changes and shapes your future.

I've been patiently waiting for her to publish another book. When I received Chasing Shadows I was ecstatic but also had reservations. The characters are freerunner's  ("defined as the art of expressing oneself in his or her environment without limitation" wikedpedia ) and the story is told in both prose and graphic art. I wasn't sure this would feel accessible to me as a reader since I don't know much about either art form. And while I admit to a small adjustment period, I was completely enthralled with this story and characters once I let go.

Chasing Shadows is about grief in all its forms. How it breaks families, ruins friendships and drowns you in sorrow and guilt. It's also about survival and grasping that one thread of hope that makes life worth living.

Corey, Holly (twins) and Sav (Holly's best friend & Corey's girlfriend) are inseparable until a horrific tragedy that changes everything.

The story is told through alternating chapters between Holly and Savitri as they struggle to maintain sanity and friendship after Corey's death.

I've been feeling ranty about "issue" books lately. The market is kind of flooded right now with characters that have all kinds of abusive pasts and disorders. I don't discount them at all but I also don't feel they are given the weight and respect such topics deserve. Everything is swept away by a little angst and romance. Not so with Chasing Shadows.

As both Holly and Sav struggle, to move on - stay still - hang on - let go, we are swept into the world of the Shadowland. This is where Holly becomes a superhero, The Leopardess, and heroically clings to Corey while also losing herself bit by bit and Sav sacrifices everything to be whatever Holly needs.
Chasing Shadows is unflinching in it's portrayal of grief. The two girls, their families and friends each handle the loss of Corey in different ways. It would be easy to pity Sav or be angry at Holly for being so selfish at times but what resonates the most is the honesty of their feelings. There is no one way to grieve. They all make mistakes and do things that can't be undone. But grief shapes you. Both good and bad. It's just a matter of how you come out the other side.

"The damage we do to ourselves, by our own hands, sometimes that's even worse that what's been done to us."

It sounds sad and it is, but it's also so compelling that you are sucked right into the world of these three friends and freerunning. Hoping, praying that just maybe…The Leopardess is real and Corey can be saved from the Shadowlands.

"When you are hurting that much, it may be easier to crawl into someone else's skin. And whose better than a hero's? I suspect that there are times when anything, anything, seems better than the hell you are living in."

Final thoughts: Chasing Shadows was a heartbreakingly beautiful story about love, loss, friendship and limits. Avasthi tackles death and grief head on. I absolutely adored that this was about two girlfriends. There wasn't any romance or boys to magically make things better. This is an intense book but I appreciated the honesty in relation to the topic.

* I was part of the Chasing Shadows blog tour earlier this month and Swati wrote one of my favorite guest posts that I've ever had on the blog. if you get a chance check it out - Making Heroines

Review: Man Made Boy by Jon Skovron

Love can be a real monster.

Sixteen-year-old Boy’s never left home. When you’re the son of Frankenstein’s monster and the Bride, it’s tough to go out in public, unless you want to draw the attention of a torch-wielding mob. And since Boy and his family live in a secret enclave of monsters hidden under Times Square, it’s important they maintain a low profile.

Boy’s only interactions with the world are through the Internet, where he’s a hacker extraordinaire who can hide his hulking body and stitched-together face behind a layer of code. When conflict erupts at home, Boy runs away and embarks on a cross-country road trip with the granddaughters of Jekyll and Hyde, who introduce him to malls and diners, love and heartbreak. But no matter how far Boy runs, he can’t escape his demons—both literal and figurative—until he faces his family once more.

This hilarious, romantic, and wildly imaginative tale redefines what it means to be a monster—and a man. ~ Goodreads |Author |Amazon

Source: Finished copy provide by Viking Juvenile for my honest review

Review:

Man Made Boy is a wildly inventive and original story. It’s part coming of age – meets monster mash up – meets road trip – meets sci-fi story. 

The highlight for me while reading Man Made Boy was meeting all the monsters of folk lore and legends. Secluded in various enclaves throughout the world, the monsters have formed smaller societies that let them earn a living, yet stay protected from humans, such as in Boy’s group in NYC. They live right in the middle of Times Square putting on a nightly Broadway Show for humans who are none the wiser that the trolls and Medusa on stage are the real deal.

While most of the monsters appreciate the need to stay hidden, a few, like Boy, long to go outside and interact with the humans and see if they can make it in the “real” world.

Boy hatches a plan and leaves the safety of his family and strikes out on his own. This is where the story got a little shaky for me.

Boy almost fits in too easily. It’s not that life isn’t difficult for him, but even though no one is exactly running up to and embracing his stitched up body, neither are they running screaming from him.
There are so many cool concepts in this book. Boy discovers first love. How far are you willing to go to fit in? There’s a nice parallel at work with the concept of creator vs creation in relation to being the son of Frankenstein's monster and the possible inventor of artificial intelligence gone awry. Not to mention the oddest love triangle you’ll ever read about and a crazed maniac on Boy’s trail.

There in lies the problem with this book for me. I really enjoyed it but it seemed unfocused, jumping from one plot to another. Even though they are loosely tied together, I had trouble really connecting with any one character or plot thread because of it. The story has a lot to say, about science and about society, but somehow just skirted around it all. It was all awesome – I just wished it was a little more focused or spread out into more books so we could really delve into things.

Boy himself was just too passive a character for me. I loved how we get to see his character grow from a boy to a man with lots of (realistic) mistakes being made but he just rolls with the punches so much that I didn’t get the full impact of emotions as I hoped I would.


Final thoughts: Although I didn’t fall head over heels for this one, I enjoyed it quite a bit and would still highly recommend it. It appears from the ending that there is opportunity for a sequel. I would be interested in continuing just to see if the story starts getting a little more focused now that the introductions are over.

Mini Reviews: Unbound by Cara McKenna and Run to You by Charlotte Stein, Cake by Lauren Dane

I’m not a prude, but there aren’t too many erotica novels or writers that really wow me. I tend to get more caught up questioning how part A got into part B with them tied up and twisted like that. And where the heck is the story?? I need to know the characters better and have growth. I’m also not a fan of the uber controlling guy and virgin girl whose life becomes complete after being ordered to have 20 orgasms.

There are always exceptions though and here are a few boundary pushing (for me) erotica titles that I enjoyed.

Source: All books were purchased.

*****

UNBOUND (Intermix) by Cara McKenna

An all-new novel from the author of After Hours.

She set out to find herself, and discovered the darker side of desire.

Merry’s lost a lot recently—first her mother, then close to a hundred pounds. Feeling adrift, she strikes out in search of perspective. A three-week hike through the Scottish Highlands was supposed to challenge her new body and refocus her priorities, but when disaster strikes, she’s forced to seek refuge in the remote home of a brooding, handsome stranger…

Rob exiled himself to the Highlands years ago, desperate to escape his own self-destruction. Haunted by regrets, he avoids human contact at all costs…but when Merry turns up injured, he can’t very well run her off. And as he nurses her back to health, Rob can’t resist his guest’s sweet demeanor—or her flirtatious advances. The igniting passion between them rouses a secret appetite Rob has long struggled to keep hidden. But Merry craves nothing more than to help Rob surrender to his desires, and the journey draws the lovers into an entirely different kind of wilderness. ~ Goodreads | Author | Amazon

My thoughts: I’ve loved everything I’ve ever read by McKenna, starting with her Curio novella series. Her books have hot, explicit sex, but they also have characters that are quite ordinary. They have regular jobs and are relatable, but they’re all looking for a connection. Sure it manifests sexually but McKenna’s books are smart, witty and filled with heart and love.

I have to say that Unbound pushed me way outside my comfort zone at times but I liked the way McKenna explored the submissive/dominance dynamic in a new way. Merry and Rob’s relationship is believable despite the circumstances that bring them together and the sex doesn’t erase all their issues. They both have to learn about forgiveness and self acceptance before committing to anything permanent. And that’s what I love most about her writing. The character growth, how they make mistakes, learn and and become better people because of their love.

Unbound is about more than weird kinks and I highly recommend Cara McKenna’s writing if you want to test out the genre.

*****

RUN TO YOU by Charlotte Stein
Alissa Layton leads a dull and ordinary life, safe in routines, with no plans to escape. But when she meets businessman Janos Kovacs, and is introduced to his kinky lifestyle, Alissa's entire world changes…

She uncovers a hidden world of secret assignations and kinky meetings between like-minded high fliers at an exclusive hotel. But the businessman Alissa spies on seems far too handsome, sexy and worldly for someone like her, and he's into the kind of things she's not sure she can do.

Janos Kovacs has spent so long indulging in emotion-less dalliances that he's forgotten what real passion is. But the more time he spends with Alissa, the less control he has over himself. By the time he's finished teaching how deliciously naughty sex can be, he might be the one learning the lessons. ~ Goodreads |Author | Amazon

My thoughts: This was a really beautiful story where the sex isn't used for titillation but as a very integral part of the story. On the surface it seems like another billionaire, domineering type guy, teaches a young innocent the wicked ways of pleasure but Run to You flips the story around and turns into something quite unexpected. I enjoyed that aspect of it.

That being said the internal monologue of the heroine and her constant use of the word "oh" (131 times) and the phrase "of course" (89 times) started grating on me. Honestly, it fits with her character, she’s a tad dramatic, but oh my God… I can only read the same word so many times.

I think I'm going to give the author another try and see if the repetitive wording was a fluke because otherwise I loved her writing and the deeply flawed but fascinating characters.

*****

CAKE by Lauren Dane

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Dane comes the latest release from Cosmo Red-Hot Reads from Harlequin.

She won’t be satisfied with just one bite...

Art student-slash-bike messenger Wren Davis pursues what she wants. And what she wants now is Gregori Ivanov, rock star of the Seattle art scene. With his tattoos, piercings and sensual sneer, Gregori is the ultimate bad boy.

But Gregori loves women like he loves cake and champagne—intensely, but only for the moment. And after Wren experiences just how scorching sex with Gregori is, she’s determined to show him that just one taste won’t be enough.Wren’s gotten to know the man beneath the body art, too—and it only makes her crave him more.~ Goodreads | Author | Amazon

My thoughts: I’ve heard good things about Dane’s writing and everyone in my Twitter feed was absolutely raving about Cake when it came out so I thought I would give it a shot.

Gregori has the brooding artist thing down. He’s sexy and gun shy after a bad marriage with a crazy ex but in Cake it’s Wren who steals the show IMO. I LOVED her. It was such a pleasure to read about a woman who is confident in her sexuality. She asked for what she wanted, was willing to give Gregori the space he needed but demanded respect and fairness in the relationship. She also had her own life, friends and career. This shouldn’t be such a great – rare discovery but it was and I’m hoping to find more female characters that follow suit.

Yes, the had the requisite hot sex but they also formed a wonderful friendship that was lovely to watch unfold.

This definitely won’t be my last book by Dane.

Note: These books all have explicit, smoking hot sex. I know not everyone likes that so just a heads up since that’s not what I typically review.

Review: Cinderella Screwed Me Over by Cindi Madsen

Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so-called “princes,” and starting something with Jake would break all of them.

Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?

Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp. ~ Goodreads | Author | Amazon

Source: E-arc provided by Entangled Publishing for my honest review

Review:
I wanted to read this book the second I saw the cover and title. It just screams fun and Madsen delivered.

Darby grew up dreaming of meeting her Prince Charming just like the princesses from all the fairy tales we’ve been spoon fed since childhood. But in a hilarious series of case studies Darby exposes the reality of love & eventual heartbreak, complete with lessons learned, one fairy tale at a time.

Cynical is an understatement when it comes to Darby but I loved her. She has good reason to be sour on love and she doesn’t believe in Happily Ever After, yet she’s not a bitch. Cautious x’s 1000 but not mean or callous which made all the difference to me. She’s still supportive of her best friend who is getting married despite her personal feelings on the subject and excellent at her job. She’s flawed but also has a nice independent streak that I admired. (& yeah - I'm pretty cynical too so I *may* have related to her quite a bit. lol)

Jake. *sigh* I love a good guy and he’s the best. He’s strong, confident and incredibly patient with Darby, letting her go at her own pace. 

Darby and Jake had sizzling chemistry but also a blossoming friendship. Those are the kind of romances that leave me convinced of the HEA.

Final thoughts: Super cute, quick read. I wish there were more books out there like this that mixed life lessons with humor and romance. Not everything has to be over the top angst and that made Cinderella Screwed Me Over a joy to read.

review: seven day fiancé (love and games #2) by Rachel Harris

One bad boy. One good girl. One unforgettable week.

 Angelle Prejean is in a pickle. Her family is expecting her to come home with a fiancé—a fiancé who doesn’t exist. Well, he exists, but he definitely has no idea Angelle told her mama they were engaged. Tattooed, muscled, and hotter than sin, Cane can reduce Angelle to a hot mess with one look—and leave her heart a mess if she falls for him. But when she ends up winning him at a charity bachelor auction, she knows just how to solve her fiancé problem.

Cane Robicheaux is no one’s prince. He doesn’t do relationships and he doesn’t fall in love. When sweet, sultry-voiced Angelle propositions him, he hopes their little fiancé game can finally get her out of his head. He doesn’t expect her to break through all his barriers. But even as Angelle burrows deeper into his heart, he knows once their seven days are up, so is their ruse. ~ Goodreads | Amazon

Source: e-ARC provided by Entangled Bliss for my honest review

Review:

We first met Angelle and Cane, and saw the sparks fly, in Love and Games #1 – Taste the Heat. Although you don’t need to read that book first I’m glad I did.

We got a chance to see Cane as a devoted uncle and brother and Angelle as a hardworking firefighter. That’s missing in most of Seven Day Fiancé in favor of romance, family dynamics and exploring the differences in the Cajun culture. There’s nothing wrong with that approach but I’m glad I didn’t miss out on the other side of these wonderful characters. I think I would have thought less of Angelle and Cane at first without knowing them the way I did already. Angelle is very insecure when it comes to disappointing her family and Cane, although very sexy, seemed the typical relationship avoiding hot guy at first. They are both so much more though.

The Entangled Bliss line has fade to black sex scenes but Harris writes the steamiest romance I’ve read from this line. It doesn’t need to be any more graphic. It’s hot enough! I know what they’re doing! lol
The other thing Harris does so well is explore NOLA and Louisiana in a way that makes me feel fully immersed and like I’m hanging out with good friends. I went to NOLA once and I have to admit that it wasn’t a great visit. I was not impressed but this book made me want to give the place another shot. The sense of love, food and culture just drips off the page.

Final thoughts: I did enjoy Taste the Heat a bit more than Seven Day Fiance’, but Cane and Angelle heat up the pages and turn the overused “fake fiancé” trope into a moving ode to family and commitment. This is a really fun, romantic series. 

Author: website | twitter | Goodreads

Early Review: Tumble & Fall by Alexandra Coutts

A novel about the end of days full of surprising beginnings

The world is living in the shadow of oncoming disaster. An asteroid is set to strike the earth in just one week’s time; catastrophe is unavoidable. The question isn’t how to save the world—the question is, what to do with the time that's left? Against this stark backdrop, three island teens wrestle with intertwining stories of love, friendship and family—all with the ultimate stakes at hand.

Alexandra Coutts's TUMBLE & FALL is a powerful story of courage, love, and hope at the end of the world. ~ Goodreads

Source: Free copy provided by the publisher, Farrar, Straus and Girous, at Book Expo America for review
Release Date: September 17th, 2013

Review:This started out as a DNF review. Tumble & Fall just wasn't working for me but then I gave it another shot and got drawn back in with mixed results.

First of all totally disregard that beautiful cover. If you are thinking this is an all out epic romance novel you would be dead wrong. That's fine but a tad jarring when you actually get to reading this book and are thrown in an entirely different direction. A better direction IMO but still not what you may be looking for when you start this one.

Tumble & Fall has a fascinating concept. It's the end of the world…but not quite yet. Everyone is just waiting for the asteroid to hit planet earth. There is no rush to a big movie style ending to save the world. It's coming and there's nothing you can do but wait. Which is sort of interesting as a contrast to the flailing panic & despair we usually read about.

The story follows three characters (listed below) during the final five days of their life on earth as they try to find closure and reconciliation with loved ones.

Sienna - she was released from a psychiatric facility to be with her father and brother when the asteroid hits. She's having a hard time dealing with the fact that her father is about to remarry when she runs into Owen, a childhood friend. Sienna's family dynamics were interesting, unfortunately the story focuses more on her relationship with Owen. I didn't mind the insta-love in this case. I mean the world's ending so emotions are heightened but Owen wasn't developed enough and his actions seemed downright bizarre at times as the story progressed. (I believe the cover is meant to refer to this couple but…meh I didn’t feel it)

Caden - He lives at home with his alcoholic mom and sister before being reunited with the father he's never known - in a very strange way. I really disliked this storyline. It could have been humorous but Caden's father just made me squirm. It was just skeevy and creepy. There was a romance with Caden and his father's girlfriend (or at least I think she was his girlfriend), drugging's, kidnappings, hookers…Oddly enough the conclusion of Caden's story was my favorite and but the journey there was too over the top.

Zan - I loved her story. She has been grieving over her dead boyfriend, Leo, for 10 months, but with the help of his best friend Nick she tries to unravel a mystery that threatens to upend everything she believed about her relationship with Leo. This was a real mystery with twists and turns, romance and heartbreak. Zan's story was too short and could have been the basis for the whole novel and the end left me scratching my head and kind of pissed off instead. lol

The writing is beautiful, almost haunting, but the 3rd person POV for multiple characters kept me from ever getting close to them or immersing myself in their experiences. I felt like a distant observer. Especially because all three teenagers call their parents by their first names. It just felt so impersonal.
I have to give the author credit for taking what is typically an action based story and focusing more on the psychological aspects of the end of times. But…..it seemed odd to me how very chill everyone was about it. I'm sure there will be people trying to maintain normalcy - hoping the end doesn't come to fruition, or groups having block parties but no riots? No government lockdowns or curfews? Maybe I've watched too many movies or my brain won't go outside the box but it seemed weird to me.

Final thoughts: I hesitate to say I disliked Tumble & Fall because the writing is beautiful and despite setting it aside several times I couldn't let it go either but I just didn't fully connect to any of the stories or characters.

I will say that the author took chances with this story and it's either going to be something that pisses you off or leave you saying WOW. I think I'm more in the pissed off camp because I don't believe the three different POV's allowed any sort of depth to a story that could have been incredible if it focused on just one of them. Or even a trilogy from each perspective that eventually tied everything together.

Author: Goodreads | Website
Buy the book! Tumble & Fall

Review: Out of Play by Jolene Perry & Nyrae Dawn

Rock star drummer Bishop Riley doesn't have a drug problem. Celebrities—especially ones suffering from anxiety—just need a little help taking the edge off sometimes. After downing a few too many pills, Bishop wakes up in the hospital facing an intervention. If he wants to stay in the band, he’ll have to detox while under house arrest in Seldon, Alaska.　

Hockey player Penny Jones can't imagine a life outside of Seldon. Though she has tons of scholarship offers to all the best schools, the last thing she wants is to leave. Who'll take care of her absentminded gramps? Not her mother, who can’t even be bothered to come home from work, let alone deal with their new tenants next door.

Penny’s not interested in dealing with Bishop’s crappy attitude, and Bishop’s too busy sneaking pills to care. Until he starts hanging out with Gramps and begins to see what he’s been missing. If Bishop wants a chance with the fiery girl next door, he’ll have to admit he has a problem and kick it. Too bad addiction is hard to kick…and Bishop’s about to run out of time. ~ Goodreads

Source: E-ARC provided by publisher for my honest review

Review:
A spoiled, pill popping, overdosing rock star thrown into the Alaskan wilderness (ok, a cabin in the woods - but that's still roughing it yo!) + a confident hockey playing girl = awesomeness!

This book is a lot of things rolled into one. Empowering. Heartbreaking. And laugh out loud hilarious.
I'll get to Bishop the hot rock star in a second but right now I'm going to stick with Penny because she's a real stand out as far as I'm concerned.

She's one of my favorite book girls that I've read about in a loooong time. Penny wants to stay on the men's hockey team and in her hometown of Alaska after she graduates. All her friends and family keep pushing her to join a girls team and leave the state so she can expand her horizons. She's tough as nails and has a clear vision for her life but isn't sure how to express that without letting down everyone around her.

There are very few YA/NA girls right now that I consider to be as thoughtful and self aware as Penny is. I think I'm girl crushing on her. She's confident and while she melts at Bishop's touch, she knows how far she's ready to go (and not go) and doesn't mind saying so.

Which leads me to Bishop. Oh, he's a hot mess. Spoiled, confident, and in complete denial about his drug addiction. When he and Penny meet it's nowhere near insta-love and I appreciated that. They just come to understand and appreciate each other over time and it comes as a total shock to both of them. I liked watching Bishop get knocked down a peg or two and reach that turning point in his life where he knows he has to do the hard work to get healthy.

Out of Play has all the required angst, sexual tension and crossed signals but what it does really well is showing us two characters who take responsibility for their actions.

I thought the end was a bit rushed. All the things that were building up come to a head and started happening very quick, in a very dramatic way. I wish it had been allowed to play out a little more or subtly but overall I loved this book and the relationships that were written so true to the teenage experience.

Final thoughts: Despite all their issues I felt this was a very realistic, healthy romance because as much as they helped each other, it was about helping themselves first. Good stuff. I read it in 5 hours. And...despite some required angst it’s funny as hell!

Author: Jolene Perry | Nyrae Dawn
Buy the book! Out of Play (Entangled Teen)