Nette's Novel Notes

Friday, October 23, 2015

Review: Once Kissed by Cecy Robson

Once Kissed by Cecy Robson
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Once Kissed is the first installment in the O'Brien series, this installment is Contessa and Curran's story.
It's a quick read but I won't be putting it in my re-read pile. The writing was okay, the story had promise but it was lacking depth and dimension. There was nothing for me to "sink" into it.

1.) Tess: how can you work in the DA's office and be so damn fragile! The character development coupled with the career path didn't work for me. To be a prosecutor you have to be headstrong and feel confident wielding one's personal power and Tess was more like the mail room clerk with her fragility. In a fictional world I like to see my leading ladies make sense. And Tess did not make sense to me. Perhaps if I'd had better history I would speak differently but the very few and small glimpses we get to her past/childhood aren't much to hold onto to in terms of justifying her weak character.

2.) The blip of action/excitement at the end was just...what? Oddly placed and moreover wrongly timed. I will not speak on it further for fear of revealing spoilers. I will say that I sniffed a bit of a Fifty "inspiration" on this scene which, I'm glad this happened towards the end of the book because....fifty and all that.

3.) Curran's character was nothing special. He's quite crass and rude and while I believe the author was going for a studly, jock-like demeanor the development of his character didn't quite bring that to fruition. Although I didn't dislike him, he's unforgettable at best. Nothing swoon worthy or remember worthy about him.

Once Kissed being my first foray with this author, I'm not completely writing her off. I've heard positive things about her pnr series so I will check those out before I make my final decision. I'm not sure if she's written contemporary romance previously and while the writing was okay, the story was flat. It could have been good with better development. It didn't cause me to have any of the "feels" I so crave with my romances. All in all just meh.

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Thursday, October 1, 2015

Forever With You by Jennifer Armentrout Giveaway + Excerpt

We are so excited to bring you the Release Week Blitz for Jennifer L. Armentrout's FOREVER WITH YOU! FOREVER WITH YOU is a standalone New Adult contemporary romance being released on September 29^th, and is the fifth book in the Wait For You Series, published by Avon Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Grab your copy of this incredible addition to Jennifer's Wait For You Series and see what everyone is talking about!

FOREVER WITH YOU

Synopsis:

In the irresistibly sexy series from #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, two free spirits find their lives changed by a one-night stand… Some things you just believe in, even if you've never experienced them. For Stephanie, that list includes love. It's out there. Somewhere. Eventually. Meanwhile she's got her job at the mixed martial arts training center and hot flings with gorgeous, temporary guys like Nick. Then a secret brings them closer, opening Steph's eyes to a future she never knew she wanted—until tragedy rips it away. Nick's self-assured surface shields a past no one needs to know about. His mind-blowing connection with Steph changes all that. As fast as he's knocking down the walls that have kept him commitment-free, she's building them up again, determined to keep the hurt—and Nick—out. But he can't walk away. Not when she's the only one who's ever made him wish for forever . . .

Amazon Barnes and Noble iBooks Kobo**

Praise for FOREVER WITH YOU:

“Armentrout packs a powerful emotional punch in her fifth Wait for Younew adult contemporary (after Fall with Me)... Armentrout tugs at the heartstrings while delivering an intense, gripping tale.” –Publishers Weekly

“Armentrout presents an emotional installment in her Wait for You series…[she] does it again, presenting a fast-paced tearjerker that fans will devour.”–Booklist

EXCERPT

I spotted Roxy and her blue glasses toward the back of the busy restaurant. The walkways between the booths were crowded with racing kids covered in sticky jelly and older people trying to rein them in as I made my way toward them.

Review:Losing Control by Jen Frederick

Losing Control (Kerr Chronicles #1)
Jen Frederick
Montlake Romance
8/2/2015
258 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
**** 4 Stars
Goodreads
Amazon | B&N

Welcome to a world few people know. A world where the hottest bedroom desires become a reality and where good girls like Victoria “Tiny” Corielli shed their sweetness for carnal, bad-girl pleasures.

Victoria nurses her mother through cancer treatments and works long hours as a New York City bike courier to pay for the roof over their heads. When a suspiciously high-paying delivery job thrusts her into the arms of impossibly attractive businessman Ian Kerr, Victoria is sorely tempted to enjoy his attentions and his chiseled body, if only to forget her responsibilities for a while…no matter the cost.

Kerr seems to have it all: money, power, and charisma to spare. What he doesn’t have: revenge on an old nemesis, but he intends to get it. Kerr is prepared to cast innocent Victoria as the lure in his vengeful plot. Yet the more they explore midtown Manhattan—and each other—the more she means to Ian. Will it be too late for him to stop the dangerous plan he’s already put into motion?

My Review

At first glance, reading the blurb, it seems like your typical poor girl/rich guy romance. A knockoff of Fifty. Because I mean, who didn't ride on that coat tail right? I usually pass up any books that have hints of fifty anywhere in the story but the cover drew me in. And if I'm going to be honest, I requested this book solely on it's cover before even reading the synopsis. I took a gamble on this book and I was well rewarded. Like I said the cover drew me in but the characters made me stay.

Victoria, or Tiny as she's called in the book was a strong, believable and *gasp* like-able character. Ian as well. He wasn't arrogant as billionaires typically are. He had the alpha-male qualities with none of the typical drawbacks. He was thoughtful, sweet and caring. Likable. Believable.

Tiny's a bike messenger (which earned her major points in my book) and while she lives a mediocre life she's happy with her life. Until her mom gets bad news that her cancer has come back. While it effects Tiny tremendously, she puts on a brave face for her mom. Having gone through this battle once before, they both try their hardest to keep moving. But her salary as a messenger won't cut it. Seeing as they live on the fifth floor of their apartment and her mom's illness there's just no way that's gonna work. Taking up a second job to make ends meet, she runs into Ian-literally-and so their cat & mouse chase begins. And I loved it! He was relentless in his pursuit and while it was hard for Tiny to keep her wits about her she did a stellar job of maintaining her sense of modicum and pride.

Watching their attraction build amidst the backdrop of danger and sadness allowed their relationship a depth that would have otherwise floated in shallow waters. Even with the plot twist with Ian's past history and his intention to make right what was wrong, the fact that he was able to allow his love for Tiny to change him in a positive way was just so damn convincing!

I really enjoyed this book. The pacing was great, the story even better! A must read for those of you who enjoy sexy alpha heroes and sizzling romance.