Bigger Rock by Lauren Blakely Release Day Launch

The best book deal EVER is here! Grab BIGGER ROCK for $2.99 and get the first four books in the #1 New York Times best-selling Big Rock series by Lauren Blakely. Price goes up after release!

Once upon a time there was a cocky, confident, die-hard bachelor living it up in New York City. He was clever and charming, and he'd been living the good life. Then, one special woman -- one very sassy, confident, and fantastic woman -- knocked him on his butt, thanks to love that came out of the blue.

Take that story and multiply it by four. That's what's in the BIGGER ROCK box set -- four New York Times bestselling romantic comedies, told in the male POV, that established Lauren Blakely as at the top of her game in rom-com! You'll find friends-to-lovers, best-friend's-little-sister, boss-assistant, and roomies-to-lovers romances. Come meet the irreverent bachelor Spencer Holiday in BIG ROCK, the hot nerd Nick Hammer in MISTER O, his twin brother Wyatt, the sarcastic and sweet carpenter, in WELL HUNG, and the charming and brilliant doctor with the heart of gold, Chase Summers, in the #1 New York Times bestselling smash hit FULL PACKAGE. Get ready for a hot & hilarious ride!

✦Kindle ➜ myBook.to/bigger-rock ✦iBooks ➜ https://apple.co/2BpnGV5 ✦Kobo ➜ http://bit.ly/2E5o6CY ✦Nook ➜ http://bit.ly/2E2dIfr ✦Google Play ➜ https://goo.gl/Ceui8x ✦Amazon PB ➜ myBook.to/bigger-rockPB

Don't miss this message from Lauren!

Surprise! I've packaged the first four standalone novels in the Big Rock series in a box set for the first time! So if you've been wanting to read one or any of these titles, now is your chance! The price of this box set goes up in just a few days! Don’t miss your chance to grab all of these sexy and hilarious books in one set for just $2.99 while you can!

BIG ROCK Excerpt:

I do my best work in the bedroom. This is completely my domain. So it should be no big deal that she asked me to wait here. But something about being in Charlotte’s bedroom is wigging me out.

            Mostly because there’s nearby nudity transpiring mere feet away.

            She’s taking a shower, and no matter how you slice them, New York apartments are approximately thimble size. Let me spell this out—wet, naked, hot woman in a ten-foot radius.

            Got it? Okay. Moving on.

            I pick up a picture frame on her sky blue bureau of the dog her parents have. A fluffy brown summa dog—some of this, some of that. I’m going to focus on this mutt. Zero in on him. Look at his tail. Check out his ears. Yup, this picture is doing the trick. It is helping me not to linger on the naked woman and how well she kisses.

            Or how much I liked it.

            Why the fuck did I like it so much?

            Of course you liked it, idiot. A pretty woman kisses you, and you’re straight—you’d be stupid not to like it. End of story. Doesn’t mean anything. Stop analyzing.

            Especially since she just turned off the shower.

            Maybe she forgot a towel. Maybe she’ll open the door a crack, and ask me to grab one for her.         

            I smack my forehead. Get it together, Holiday.

            I set down the picture, draw a deep inhale and straighten my shoulders. The door creaks open. She steps out of the bathroom wearing only a white fluffy towel wrapped above her breasts.           

            “You might be wondering why I asked you to wait in my bedroom instead of the living room,” she says, in the most matter-of-fact tone.

            I have no clue how she can be talking like we’re having a business transaction when droplets of water slide down her bare legs. But I’m a strong man. I can handle this. I’m not tempted at all by my best friend. Though my dick begs to differ, the traitorous prick.

            “The thought crossed my mind,” I say, as I lean against the bureau, striking a casual pose.

            “Because if you’re my fiancé, you need to be comfortable with me being naked,” she says with a crisp nod.

            Shit, she’s going to do it. She’s going to drop the towel. She’s going to make us practice fucking. I am the luckiest man on the face of the earth.

            Wait. No. I can’t fuck my best friend. I absolutely, positively, can’t screw Charlotte. Even if she tosses the towel on the floor and begs me to.

            I lace my fingers together behind my back, linking these twitchy hands.

            “Okay, so you’re getting naked,” I say, doing my best to imitate her cool-as-a-cucumber tone that is throwing me off big time.

            “No. It’s the idea of me naked,” she corrects.

            I give her a pointed look. “Seems to me it’s both the idea and the reality.”

            “Fine, fine. They’re one and the same, and it’s part of the debrief.”         

            “Is this the exam portion?”

            She walks past me, her arm brushing against mine before she yanks open the top drawer of the bureau. “Yes. This is the practical portion.”

            “And this is because you somehow think we’re going to be required to be naked together in front of Mr. Offerman in order to pull this off? This isn’t like some feats-of-strength style fake engagement where we have to pass certain skill sets in an obstacle course. You know that, right?”

            She nods, as she hunts around in the drawer. “I’m aware of that. I see this as more like the Newlywed game.”

            “And in this version of the game we’re quizzed on how I get used to the idea of you naked and vice versa?”

            Her breath hitches when I say that—vice versa.

            I don’t know what to make of that small gasp, or if it means something about the idea of me au naturel.

            She spins around, and holds up two pairs of panties, one in each hand. “Quick. Do you prefer it when your fiancée wears the black lace thong?” She waggles a scrap of silky-looking fabric that is so hot my face might be engulfed in flames right now because Charlotte owns that? “Or do you prefer her in the white side-string bikini?” She waves the white pair before my eyes, and all I can see is a tiny triangular patch of fabric that’s the slightest bit see-through.

            Forget the flames. I am a fucking inferno right now knowing she owns this too. White panties that reveal pretty much everything.

A #1 New York Times Bestselling author, and #1 Wall Street Journal Bestselling author, Lauren Blakely is known for her contemporary romance style that's hot, sweet and sexy. She lives in California with her family and has plotted entire novels while walking her dogs. With fourteen New York Times bestsellers, her titles have appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller Lists more than 85 times, and in March she'll release WANDERLUST, a breathtaking new romance that will sweep you away. To receive an email when Lauren releases a new book, sign up for her newsletter! laurenblakely.com/newsletter

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ARC Review: At the Stroke of Midnight by Tara Sivec

Synopsis:
Meet the Naughty Princess Club: a brand new series from USA Todaybestselling author Tara Sivec that introduces readers to Fairytale Lane and the hilarity—and romance—that ensue when three women start a new business to make it rain.

Once upon a time Cynthia was the perfect housewife. Between being the President of the PTA and keeping her home spotless without a hair (or her pearls) out of place, her life was a dream come true. Her husband was once her knight in shining armor, but now he’s run off with all their money…and the babysitter.

Dressed as a princess at the annual Halloween block party on Fairytale Lane, she meets two other “princesses” also facing money troubles: antique store owner Ariel and librarian Isabelle. When the women are invited to wear their costumes to a party where they’re mistaken for strippers, Cindy, Ariel, and Belle realize that a career change could be the best way to make their money problems go bippity-boppity-boo.

But can structured Cindy approach a stripper pole without sanitizing wipes? And could the blue-eyed anti-prince that has been crossing her path become Cindy’s happily ever after? At the Stroke of Midnight is a hilarious, empowering story where princesses can save themselves while slaying in stilettos.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
Tara Sivec has always been one of my favorite authors. I love her sense of humor in the books she writes. When I found out that she had a new book coming out this year, At the Stroke of Midnight, I knew I had to read it. Then I found out it was a fairy tale re-telling, and it got bumped up to one of my most anticipated books of 2018. I'm so glad I got a chance to read it. I loved it. It became my favorite Tara Sivec book of all time.

Not only is At the Stroke of Midnight my new favorite Tara Sivec book of all time. Out of the sixteen books I've read so far in 2018, it's my favorite book I've read. As I read more books, I still forsee it holding that title for quite some time. It was everything I wanted in the book. I don't know if it's correct to call it a fairy tale re-telling. The book is based on Cinderella, but the author takes the story of Cinderella and turns it into something completely new. She put her own spin on the story, which I loved. I think it made the storyline even better. I loved the main character, Cindy. She was so relatable. There were several times while reading the book that I thought "oh, we've all done that", or "I've definitely been in the position she's in". It made it easy to empathize with her, and to love her.

The book was also absolutely hilarious. I don't think I've laughed that hard while reading in a long time. Between Cindy learning how to get the stick out of her ass, Ariel's crudeness, and Belle's random facts at the most inopportune times sometimes, I was laughing so hard I was almost crying. The whole scene with what Ariel finds in the back of Cindy's closet had me laughing so loudly that I woke my husband up, and scared the hell out of him in the middle of the night when I was reading. I was practically howling from how hard I was laughing.

At the Stroke of Midnight proved once again why Tara Sivec is one of my favorite authors. She writes hysterical romantic comedies, with steam that just rolls off of the pages. I loved this book so much. Out of all the new releases I've read so far this year, if I could recommend that everyone read just one book this year, it would be this one. Last year was rough for me, and this book got this year off to a great start. I am dying to read the other books in the series. I think it will be amazing to read about the business from Ariel and Belle's perspective, especially Belle with how shy she is. I have a feeling those books will be great as well.

I give At the Stroke of Midnight: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://tarasivec.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TaraSivec.authorpage
Twitter: https://twitter.com/tarasivec
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/tarasivec/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authortarasivec/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6422281.Tara_Sivec

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Creation Debt by Lore Graham

Synopsis:
Radical views sometimes require committing a crime or two. In his biggest move yet to fight for android rights, Derek liberates a group of androids working off their creation debt at a hospital. One of those androids is 141, who is surprisingly reluctant to leave the facility, leaving Derek baffled.

A delay in their escape forces them to take an alternate route to Derek's base, trapping them on a decrepit spaceship for a week, where they have only each other for company and a divide created by assumptions and wariness—but also an undeniable curiosity.
(Synopsis from Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:
I love dystopian books. It's one of my favorite genres. Add in an LGBTQ+ main character, and it makes me even more excited to read the book. After reading the synopsis for Creation Debt, I knew I had to read the book. A transgender character fighting to bring down a corporation sounded like something I would love. Unfortunately, I found myself disappointed after finishing the book. 

Creation Debt had the possibility to be one of my favorite books of 2018, or at least that's what I thought after reading the synopsis. Unfortunately, it fell short of what I wanted, and what I expected. for one thing, I think the book would have been better if it was expanded upon a bit. I was really interested in some of the other things that Derek, the main character, had done to free androids. Those things were briefly touched upon, but not described with the amount of detail I wanted. I would have loved to see it happen. I also wanted more detail about what happened towards the end, after everyone met up on Mars. It would have been nice to see the relationship that happens in the book with 141 and Derek evolve more.

There was one thing that I really loved about this book. The author used the proper pronouns for both characters. Not only that, but the publisher also used the proper pronouns for the author, Lore Graham. That's hard to find in a publisher. They didn't make the author hide who ze is. The book was also very informative about proper pronouns, the correct way of asking, and not assuming someone's gender or pronouns. I've read a lot of LGBTQ+ books, and I think this is easily the most informative book about pronouns, gender, and sexuality that I've read. It handles the subject in a great way, making it easy to learn about, while keeping the reader's interest at the same time. I learned quite a few things that I had never known before. 

I think that if Creation Debt were to be expanded, and to give more detail about the characters, and the world, it would easily be a four or five star read. As it was, I found it to be disappointing because it just lightly mentioned the things that I wanted to know more about. I did love the relationship between Derek and 141 though. The two had a lot of chemistry. I also greatly enjoyed the respect that the author and the publisher both have for using proper pronouns. If Lore Graham ever writes a sequel, I will read it though. I really did enjoy zir writing style, and would love more of these characters.

I give Creation Debt: 3/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: https://grahamlore.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GrahamLore
Twitter: https://twitter.com/grahamlore
Tumblr: http://grahamlore.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14204591.Lore_Graham

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

First Position by Melody Grace

Synopsis:
"A man dances the same way he f*#ks. His stamina, his rhythm, the slow grind of his hips. Some people are born to it, others learn through years of careful study.

And dancers? We f*#k best of all."

The moment I saw her, I knew. Her innocence is intoxicating. My lust is fierce. Primal.

To watch her dance is to know the torment of true temptation.

She will be mine.

(Synopsis from Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:

I love Melody Grace's Beachwood Bay series. I binge read the series over a few days time, and couldn't get enough. Therefore I decided to check out some of her other works. The synopsis for First Position hooked me immediately, so I decided to pick it up. Unfortunately after reading it, I didn't enjoy it as much as I expected to.

Usually I love serials. They're one of my favorite things to read. That's why I was shocked when I didn't really like First Position. There were certain things that happened that were way too convenient to be anything other than a device to further the plot along. Otherwise, they made no sense why it happened at the time it did. It made everything seem so cliche. The book also was really boring. Nothing happened until the last ten percent or so. However, when something did happen I did like the direction it was taking. What happened at the last couple of pages really made me want more. It felt like instead of being a serial, this should have combined the first two books together, and been a full-length novel.

Even though I found First Position disappointing, I will continue with the series. Something major happened towards the end of the book, and I really want to see how Annalise overcomes it, or if she ends up giving up her hopes and dreams to do something different. I hope there is more excitement in the next book in the series, Second Position.

I give First Position: 2.5/5.

Want to know more about the author?

Website: http://melodygracebooks.com/

facebook: https://www.facebook.com/melodygracebooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/melody_grace_

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/melodygracebooks/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6926290.Melody_Grace

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures by Sebastian Gregory

Synopsis:
Once upon a nightmare…

Long ago, in a land where imagination meets the darkest nightmares, they built the asylum. Surrounded by a forest of thorns, it holds the most twisted minds in the fairy tale kingdom: a terrible collection of evil creatures and forgotten souls. Imprisoned within its walls, they are doomed to spend forever after telling their tales… and serving as a warning to others.

Now, you are invited to accompany Blood Red Riding Hood into the depths of this strange place – where you will meet its even stranger inhabitants. But be warned: walls this thick were built to withstand the darkest magic… so once you’re inside, you might just find yourself living horribly ever after… and wishing you were indeed in a land far, far away.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
I love fairy tale re-tellings. The genre is one of my favorite things to read. Therefore, when I saw The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures, I knew I had to read it. The title drew me in right away, and made me want to know more about it. The book also has an absolutely stunning cover. Unfortunately, I ended up not enjoying the book. It was extremely disappointing.

The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures had a great premise, but the book itself failed to deliver. I think my main problem with this book was that it needed an editor so badly. The way it was formatted had the story out of order. It would skip back and forth between scenes, and I had no idea what the heck was going on. When I was reading it, I could tell it wasn't done on purpose. It just wasn't edited. It was almost like someone copied and pasted parts of the story in the wrong place on purpose. It made everything so confusing. Just when I thought I was starting to understand the story, it would happen again, and I'd be more confused than ever. Sentences would cut off in the middle, without ever being finished. The book was also full of punctuation mistakes, and run on sentences that never seem to end. 

There were a couple things I did enjoy about the book, even though it was so confusing. I loved how dark and twisted the storylines were. It created a completely different take on the fairy tales everyone knows and loves, along with some that I had never heard of. I will never look at teddy bears the same way again, or allow them into my house. They kind of creep me out now. I loved the fresh take on the classics. It got me interested in the characters. I also liked how quirky the characters were. I loved the mini stories about Snow White, and Cinderella.

I was sad that I didn't enjoy this book as much as I had hoped. However, I think in the hands of a different, more through editor, this could have easily been a four or five-star read. I'm hoping that one day the book does get another editor. If it does, I would gladly be willing to give it another try. I'm also hoping that one day the author write a book about the side characters, whose backstory was only covered in a couple sentences. I would love to learn what happened to them after all of the things that happened at the end of the book. I will definitely be trying some of the author's other books to see if they are edited better because I did enjoy his writing style.

I give The Asylum for Fairy Tale Creatures: 2.5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sebastiangregoryauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/wordsbyseb?lang=en

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

ARC Review: Seek by Mia Sheridan

Synopsis:
Wealthy socialite Olivia Barton never imagined her fiancé would disappear on what was supposed to be a routine business trip. She's even more heartbroken and confused when a hired private investigator tracks him half a world away, to a seaside town in Colombia. But the country has recently been ravaged by a massive earthquake and deadly tsunami, shutting down outside communication and making travel all but impossible. Still, Olivia is determined to make it to Colombia to find the answers she so desperately seeks. What she needs is a guide—a mercenary.

The man named Thomas arrives in shadows, an unmistakable air of danger about him, promising to help lead her through the ruined, crime-infested country. But when Thomas and Olivia find themselves fighting an undeniable attraction, danger takes on a whole new meaning. Then again, in the lush jungles of South America, all the rules are different and Thomas and Olivia are about to discover that sometimes the thing you seek, isn't necessarily the thing you find.

Seek is a STANDALONE novel with a small, fun connection to the Sign of Love Collection.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
I have loved Mia Sheridan's books for years. I read Archer's Voice in June of 2014, and fell in love with her writing. She has a magical way of telling a story, and bringing characters together. Ever since then, I have devoured everything she has written, and loved almost all of it. When I saw that she had a new book out, Seek, I knew I had to get my hands on it. Even though I wasn't head over heels in love with the story, I found it really enjoyable. 

The storyline of Seek hooked me from the beginning. That prologue broke my heart, and made me bawl. The two characters, Thomas and Olivia, both have a separate mystery surrounding them that intrigued me from the start. I wanted to solve it, and figure out what was going on. I was dying to find out what happened to Olivia's fiancee, and why Thomas was being so secretive about certain things. I made some predictions, but when the plot twist was revealed, it blew me away. I had no idea that it was going to happen that way. I was shocked, and couldn't believe it. It had me on the edge of my seat. I ended up reading the whole book in about three hours because I couldn't put it down.

The main reason why Seek isn't one of Mia Sheridan's books that blew me out of the water is that it was really cheesy at points. Almost overly so. Typically, I can stand some cheesiness in romance novels, but it drove me crazy in this. Some of the things that the characters did and said were complete tropes. There's a scene with a motorcycle (I don't want to say too much because I don't want to spoil it for those that haven't read it) that literally made me roll my eyes. This was very close to being a four star read for me, but I couldn't get over how ridiculous that motorcycle scene was.

Despite the cheesiness, I really did enjoy Seek. It proves why Mia Sheridan is one of my favorite authors. The chemistry that Olivia and Thomas had was one hundred percent genuine and made me fall in love with the characters. Mia Sheridan doesn't typically write sequels for her characters and this ended in a way where there's no need for one. However, I really hope that she writes them into a cameo or something in one of her books because I really want more of these characters. I think that if you loved her previous books, or you just want an enjoyable read that hooks you from the start, you should definitely give Seek a try.

I give Seek: 3.5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://miasheridan.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/miasheridanauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/MSheridanAuthor
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/miasheridanauthor/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6994378.Mia_Sheridan

I received this ARC from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

The Last Good Night by Tiffany Reisz

Synopsis:
Now that the perpetrator has been apprehended, Nora sadly acknowledges she doesn't need a bodyguard anymore. She adores Lance and wants to keep him but is faced with a dilemma—if she uses her connections to help Lance, she'll have to give him up forever…
(Synopsis from Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:
In 2015, I started reading The Last Good Knight series by Tiffany Reisz. It was the first book that I read by her, and I instantly fell in love with the series. I have been putting off reading the last book in the series, The Last Good Night. I know the books are short, so I could have easily read it quickly, but I didn't want the series to end. I didn't want to say goodbye to these characters. However, one of my goals this year is to finish series that I've started, so I finally decided to read it. It was the perfect ending to the series. 

I loved The Last Good Night. The reader got to see a completely new side of Nora. This book reinforced that she's not just a dom. She's also a caring, loving, kind, kickass woman who is willing to go above and beyond to do anything for those that she cares about. The thing that she goes out of her way to do made me cry. It was so sweet. In fact, a few parts made me cry, which is surprising for how short the book was. I was heartbroken by the ending. I didn't like which relationship she chose, although I do understand why it had to happen.

Tiffany Reisz wrote the perfect conclusion to a series. After finishing this series, she has become one of my favorite authors. I love how her writing style takes me into Nora's world, and makes me feel like I'm there, experiencing things with her. I loved this series so much I didn't want it to end. I can't wait to read The Original Sinners series, and learn more about Nora, Soren, and everyone else. I'll be so happy to be able to reconnect with these characters.

I give The Last Good Night: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: https://www.tiffanyreisz.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/littleredridingcrop/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/8thcirclepress
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tiffany_reisz/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4480131.Tiffany_Reisz

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Cold-Forged Flame by Marie Brennan

Synopsis:
The sound of the horn pierces the apeiron, shattering the stillness of that realm. Its clarion call creates ripples, substance, something more. It is a summons, a command. There is will. There is need.
And so, in reply, there is a woman.

At the beginning—no—at the end—she appears, full of fury and bound by chains of prophecy.

Setting off on an unexplained quest from which she is compelled to complete, and facing unnatural challenges in a land that doesn’t seem to exist, she will discover the secrets of herself, or die trying. But along the way, the obstacles will grow to a seemingly insurmountable point, and the final choice will be the biggest sacrifice yet.

This is the story of a woman’s struggle against her very existence, an epic tale of the adventure and emotional upheaval on the way to face an ancient enigmatic foe. This could only spun from the imagination of Marie Brennan, award-winning author and beloved fantasist, beginning a new series about the consequences of war—and of fate.
(Synopsis from Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:
I've heard great things about Marie Brennan's books. My husband has read her The Memoirs of Lady Trent series, and loved it. It was one of his favorite fantasy series that he read in 2016. He has talked so positively about her books that I've really wanted to read them. I was looking through her backlog, and decided to try Cold-Forged Flame. It's a Tor.com novella, which I've read a lot of recently. It's short, so I figured it would be a quick read to get a taste of her writing style. Unfortunately, I didn't like it at all. 

I had so many problems with Cold-Forged Flame. I think the main problem I had with the book was that it was so boring. Nothing happened. There was no plot advancement at all. Every time I felt like something exciting was going to happen, the book went down a different path, and nothing happened. It left me feeling frustrated, and very disappointed. It just felt like a waste of time reading one hundred and four pages. I understand that a lot of that was because of world building, and that it's very hard to build a complex world in a little over one hundred pages. If the book was longer, it might have held my interest more because it probably would have had some action. It was starting to have some at the end of the book, but at that point, I just didn't care and wanted to be done reading it. 

Cold-Forged Flame was incredibly disappointing to me, especially after my husband had hyped up how good Marie Brennan's books are. It was so incredibly boring. Even though I didn't like this book, I probably will give at least the first book in her The Memoirs of Lady Trent series a try. Cold-Forged Flame is the first book in a series, but I don't foresee myself ever picking up the rest of the series with as much as I disliked this book. I've learned over the last year that with Tor.com novellas, I have a love/hate relationship. Some of them, I become obsessed with and want to read multiple times. Others, I hate. There is no in between. Unfortunately, this was one of the ones I hated. I do still plan to make my way through all of the Tor.com novellas though. There are a lot of hidden gems in there. This just wasn't one of them.

I give Cold-Forged Flame: 2/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: https://www.swantower.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/swan_tower

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

This Girl by Colleen Hoover

Synopsis:
Layken and Will’s love has managed to withstand the toughest of circumstances and the young lovers, now married, are beginning to feel safe and secure in their union. As much as Layken relishes their new life together, she finds herself wanting to know everything there is to know about her husband, even though Will makes it clear he prefers to keep the painful memories of the past where they belong. Still, he can’t resist his wife’s pleas and so he begins to untangle his side of the story, revealing for the first time his most intimate feelings and thoughts, retelling both the good and bad moments, and sharing a few shocking confessions of his own from the time when they first met.

In This Girl, Will tells the story of their complicated relationship from his point of view. Their future rests on how well they deal with the past in this final installment of the beloved Slammed series.
(Synopsis from Goodreads). 

My Thoughts:
Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors. If she has a new book out, I devour it one sitting. I just can't get enough of her writing. There's something magical about the way she writes. I've been trying to make my way through her backlog of books. I loved Slammed, and Point of Retreat, so I recently decided to finish the trilogy by reading This Girl. I was hesitant at first, but I ended up loving it. 

When I first read the synopsis for This Girl, I wasn't sure if I wanted to read it. I don't usually like books where the plot is re-told through another main character's point of view. However, I'm so glad I did. Yes, This Girl is Slammed, and Point of Retreat re-told through Will's point of view, but it's so much more than that. I don't even know if it's accurate to say it's re-told. Seeing things from Will's point of view is so drastically different it's almost like experiencing them for the first time. I loved getting inside his head, and learning his thought process through some of the more crucial moments in the series. 

This Girl also brings some new things that the readers didn't get a chance to see before. I don't want to give too much away because all of those new things are major spoilers for the book. I will say that it made me fall even more in love with Will and Layken. It just reinforced my belief that after everything they've been through, they are absolutely perfect for each other. Oh, and that ending! I loved this way This Girl ended. It made me bawl like a baby. I don't think there could have been a more perfect ending. 

I loved This Girl so much. Once again, Colleen Hoover has proved why she is one of my favorite authors. Her writing is just above and beyond a regular level. It transports you into the story. I really hope she writes a spin-off series, or short stories, or something about what happened after the ending of This Girl. I don't want to let these characters go. I don't want it to be over. It's like a big family that I love to interact with and be around.

I give This Girl: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: https://www.colleenhoover.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorColleenHoover/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/colleenhoover
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenhoover/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5430144.Colleen_Hoover

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

The Death Pit by A.L. Kennedy

Synopsis:
Something odd is going on at the Fetch Brothers Golf Spa Hotel. Receptionist Bryony Mailer has noticed a definite tendency towards disappearance amongst the guests. She's tried talking to the manager, she's even tried talking to the owner who lives in one of the best cottages in the grounds, but to no avail. And then a tall, loping remarkably energetic guest (wearing a fetching scarf and floppy hat) appears. The Fourth Doctor thinks he's in Chicago. He knows he's in 1978. And he also knows that if he doesn't do something very clever very soon, matters will get very, very out of hand.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
Doctor Who has always been one of my favorite fandoms. My husband watched the first season in 2013, and kept telling me about it. At first, I didn't have too much interest in it. However, we sat down over a weekend and marathoned the first season, and by the end, I was in love. It quickly became one of my favorite obsessions. I've read most of the books now, so I always get excited when I discover one I haven't read. Recently, I discovered one of the few Time Trip books I hadn't read, The Death Pit, and knew I had to get my hands on it. I found it to be just okay.

Don't get me wrong, I did find the book enjoyable at times. It's just that I had one big problem with this. It was extremely cheesy. Now, I know that a lot of the appeal of Doctor Who is its cheesiness. I get that. Usually, that's one of the things I love about Doctor Who. However, this was over the top cheesy. For example, the way a certain character reacts to the golf pit towards the beginning drove me crazy. It was almost like terrible B-movie acting. It really took me out of the story, and made it a lot less enjoyable. It wasn't just that scene either, it happened throughout the book.

There were a couple things I liked about the book though. I liked how the author interpreted the Fourth Doctor. They gave just enough subtle hints that the reader was with Four throughout the book without shoving it in the reader's face. However, even if they wouldn't have given those hints, the reader would have been able to tell because the author wrote Four's personality really well. They captured the little quirks that are significant to Tom Baker's personality perfectly. I haven't watched a lot of episodes with the Fourth Doctor, but this book made me want to watch more. I also liked that we as fans finally got a direct, no beating around the bush answer about why the Doctor is so adverse to using guns.

When The Death Pit wasn't being terribly cheesy, I found myself enjoying it. I really loved A.L. Kennedy's interpretation of the Fourth Doctor. I hope that this author continues to write more Doctor Who stories in the future, even though I had some problems with this one. I think if their writing were to mature just a little bit, they could possibly write a brilliant Doctor Who story about Four. I am excited to do some research to see if there are any other Time Trips Doctor Who books that I may have glanced over, and not read yet.

I give The Death Pit: 3/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.a-l-kennedy.co.uk/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writerer

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review. 

Royal Day Out by Meg Cabot

Synopsis:
Olivia Grace Clarisse Mignonette Harrison never thought that being a real life PRINCESS OF GENOVIA could ever be boring, but with all of the new vans and paparazzi staked out in front of the palace, the whole family has been on lockdown for weeks. So when Grandmere suggests a shopping trip to buy a small present for Princess Mia, Olivia jumps at the chance—especially since the shopping trip comes with the promise of lunch at the Royal Genovian Yacht Club (makers of the best ice cream sundae in the world)! Surely nothing could go wrong with such a simple day out, could it?

A quick shopping trip with her royal Grandmere turns into a much bigger deal than Olivia Grace, the newest Princess of Genovia expected in this e-short edition to Meg Cabot's illustrated chapter book series From the Notebooks of a Middle School Princess.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
Ever since I was a little kid, I loved The Princess Diaries series. I got hooked on the series in fourth grade, and even re-read it from time to time as an adult. It still holds the same joy for me that it did back then. Therefore, when I saw there was a new Princess Diaries series featuring a new character, I knew I had to get my hands on it. I started the series with Royal Day Out. I found it enjoyable, but had some problems with it.

I think part of the problem why Royal Day Out wasn't a five star read for me was that I read it out of order, which was my own fault. After finishing the story, I realized it was book 1.5 in the series. Most people recommend reading it after Royal Wedding, book eleven in The Princess Diaries series, which I haven't read either. Once again, that's my own fault and doesn't reflect in any way upon the book. It did make confusing at first because I had no idea what was going on, or any of Olivia's backstory. The other problem I had with this story is that Grandmere drove me nuts. Usually I find her quirky, eccentric, and charming. However, in this story, I just found her to be annoying. Most of her actions were petty, rude, and out of character. It drove me crazy.

I did really like the main character, Olivia. I enjoyed that she brought something new and fresh to The Princess Diaries series. She has a great personality. No matter what was going on around her, she was able to adjust quickly. Whether it be Grandmere's split-second decisions to leave the shop, or things that had happened at the yacht club, she was able to still have fun, and make the most of it. I also really enjoyed how she got Grandmere to think on different terms, which is hard to do. She introduced Grandmere to the term gender neutral, and really got her to think about it and accept it, which I don't think Mia would have been able to do.

Despite a couple of issues that I had with the book, I really did like Royal Day Out. I loved Olivia's character. I think it will be interesting to see what she brings to the world of The Princess Diaries. I enjoyed this book so much in fact, that I put a hold on all three of the other books in this series at my local library. I can't wait to read them, and see what other interesting adventures Olivia gets into with Grandmere, Mia, and the rest of the characters that we know and love.

I give Royal Day Out: 3/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.megcabot.com/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/megcabot
Twitter: https://twitter.com/megcabot
Tumblr: http://megcabotsays.tumblr.com/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/MegginCabot
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/megcabot/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/officialmegcabot/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/117794062943087450599
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/11654.Meg_Cabot

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Bonnie and the Beast by Alexa Black

Synopsis:
The Beast's castle has been lonely since an angry sorceress cursed her years ago, and she resigned herself to it a long time ago. But now a woman has promised to brave the curse, and for the first time in too many years the Beast has someone to talk to—and perhaps even break the curse. 

But tricking people into visiting your castle isn't how you find a soulmate. And looking stranger than a werewolf doesn't help.
(Synopsis from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
Beauty and the Beast has always been one of my favorite fairytales. Every time I see a Beauty and the Beast retelling has been released, it jumps to the top of my to be read pile. Combine that with an LGBT theme, and I am all over wanting to read it. Unfortunately, it didn't turn out the way I wanted it to while reading Bonnie and the Beast, a lesbian re-telling of Beauty and the Beast. I went in with high expectations, and ended up massively disappointed. 

I don't know where to start about what went wrong with Bonnie and the Beast. There were so many things I didn't like about it. I don't typically like saying this about books, but it was pointless. It was basically just a thirty-four page sex scene. There was no plot, no character introduction, nothing that set up the story for the reader to know what was going on. There was absolutely no chemistry between the Beast and Bonnie at all. The sex scene wasn't even steamy, or hot. It was just awkward with the Beast being in her furry form. It made it difficult to read, and even gross at times.

I think if Bonnie and the Beast would have been longer, it would have been better. The story was so short that the plot couldn't properly develop. There were things that were mentioned that were briefly glossed over that I think would have been really interesting if the reader was told more about them. For example, I would have loved to learn more about how the old woman cursed the Beast, and what that curse entailed. The author kept talking about it like it was unique and something that hadn't been done in a Beauty and the Beast re-telling before. I would have also like to hear more about the Beast's interaction with the man that made a deal to have Bonnie come to her. There are a few other plot points as well that I wanted to know more about. Not getting any of that explained made for a disappointing, bland, and boring book.

I did not like Bonnie and the Beast whatsoever. It makes me sad because the book had so much potential, but it really fell flat. The author also had so much potential to really hook readers and tell an amazing story, but it never happened. I don't think I will be trying any of this author's other books in the future, based on how I felt about Bonnie and the Beast. As much as I love LGBT fairytale re-tellings, there are much better ones to read.

I give Bonnie and the Beast: 1/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: https://www.boldstrokesbooks.com/authors/alexa-black-255

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.