Month: October 2022

Book Review – Suddenly Dirty by J A Low

Posted on by Amber Marie in Book Review, Books

This is another one brought to me by the Book of Faces. Seriously you guys, they’re starting to figure me out! There’s so many things on my TBR list right now! I think I just added fifteen new books last week. It’s a lot, but I’m not worried. It’s a lot of reading for me this fall.

So, Suddenly Dirty, you guys, this book was awesome. This is one of those rockstar trope, “forbidden” love type of stories. It has a HEA ending, of course, because it’s a romance novel. Sienna Hayes is one of the main characters and after a really rough vacation, she takes a job with her best friend as the stylist for the band Dirty Texas. Through a drunken mishap, she ends up in bed with Evan Wyld, one of the members of the band who has promised her best friend, the band’s publicist, that he won’t go after her. Sienna has been declared off limits, but Evan can’t seem to stay away from her. Nor can she stay away from him. It’s a really cute story with a lot of ups and downs and drama but the steamy scenes are just that….steamy and spicy AF! It’s a great read.

Book Club for Complicated House Plants

Did the book strike you as original?
Yes. I really enjoyed this book, and for all of the contrived, tropey stuff I’ve read before, this still managed to feel original. I really liked the world this author dunked me into with this story.

Which character did you feel the most sympathy for?
Sienna. I’ve been through some of the same relationship struggles that she has so I empathize pretty hard with her. There were a few times I just wanted to hug her.

Did you like the “heat” level of the book?
I did. At first I wasn’t sure, starting with the first time Evan and Sienna were together, it seemed a bit much a bit quickly, but after I got further into the story, it made a little more sense. I did really like how spicy it was.

If it’s part of a series, did this book compel you to read the next one?
Yes. I actually know who the next book is about, and I can’t wait to read it. It’s kind of been hell only reading so many first books in a series as I have been, I have A LOT of series to finish and I’m really excited about it. This one in particular actually. I can’t wait for the next story.

How did the setting impact the story?
I think that with part of the story taking place while they’re on tour, it definately makes for a different setting all the time. But with that always changing, it keeps the characters on their toes and keeps them from settling, which may be part of the problem actually. Once they get back from tour and can settle, it changes the dynamic. So yeah, the setting greatly impacts this story in a fun and dynamic way.

What was your favorite part of the book?
There is a moment, when they’re on tour, that Evan tries to make one of Sienna’s dreams come true. I love it. It’s sweet. I won’t go into too many details because it’s kind of sweet and I don’t want too many spoilers.

Which scene has stuck with you the most?
There is an argument that Evan and Sienna have, and it’s pretty intense. I think about that scene a lot. Both as a reader and as a writer. It was dynamic and so well written that I felt the intensity of the moment. It was difficult to say the least, and admirable as well. I want to emulate that kind of response in my own readers. It was powerful.

What surprised you most about the book?
How much I liked it. Like I said, that first scene between Evan and Sienna, it was a tiny bit off-putting, but not enough for me to put down the story. It was more like, how do we come back from that? I needed to know. I mean, it was what drew me to the book in the first place. It was part of that scene that was on the book of faces that drew me to it. I didn’t expect it to happen quite so quickly, and that took me by surprise. I’m glad I stuck with it though, because it was totally worth it.

How did your opinion of the book change as you read it?
Like I said, the first steamy interaction between Sienna and Evan had me a little confused as to what kind of book I was going to be reading, but it surprised me after that. It was good. I’m glad that I stuck with it, I really am. I liked it enough from what I read on the book of faces, and then I loved the beginning and was excited, I was a little hesitant when it came to the scene and it’s placement, as I’ve already stated. As the story progressed, it got better and I found myself wanting desperately to finish the page I was on so I could turn it and found out what happened next. By the end, I was excited for the extra content because I kept wanting to know what happened next.

Is this book overrated or underrated?
Personally, underrated. It does not get as much attention as it should. This author is amazing and I highly recommend them to everyone who likes a good dirty love story.

Ratings

Overall

This book deserved the five stars, even though it was a bit frustrating at times, it was totally worth it. It earned these stars. With every page.

Heat Level

This totally earned the heat level I gave it. It was amazing. Super amazing. And I loved every thigh clenching moment of it.

I really enjoyed this book, and if you like rockstar romance with a dirty twist, you will too. Check it out, you shouldn’t be disappointed. It’s good. That’s all from me this time, check it out, or anything else by this author, it’s worth your time, I promise. You will never see me promote something that isn’t four stars or more. Ever. Alright, I’m out. Have a great day my friends!

Book Review – Cheeky Royal by Nana Malone

Posted on by Amber Marie in Book Review, Books

This was another Book of Faces rec. I swear they target me so well, and I can’t even be mad anymore. Most of my ads are about books and coffee. It’s like they’ve finally figured me out. So I downloaded this book, the first in a six book series, on Kindle and I guess I should have paid more attention because this book was sooo good that as soon as I was done, I went looking for the next one, only to discover that she’d put only the first book on Kindle Unlimited, the rest were only available in physical copies and audiobook. You bet your ass I ordered that second book.

When searching for the cover for this book for the review, I found out I’m a little late to the party, I mean there’s six books in the series, I’m not surprised, but hey, there used to be different covers for this series, the old cover looked like this.

I honestly can’t tell you which one I prefer. So here’s what I understand about this series. There are two books per character. This one, and the next in the series, Cheeky King, are about Prince Sebastian. It’s a really good story. Which, after reading the Amazon reviews, I was worried I wouldn’t like the writing style. Then again, most of the reviews are people mad because it’s a “story ripped in half” like yeah…. it says Book One on the front of it, on both covers. That usually indicates to me that it’s part of a series, otherwise why include it? Others were mad that it ended on a cliffhanger and felt they should have been warned. I personally hate it if I’m warned of a cliffhanger. Don’t tell me that. Cliffhangers are powerful tools. Kind of like putting the first book on KU and then making me buy the rest. I’m gonna do it, but that was smart from the author perspective.

So, with those mixed reviews on Amazon, and knowing it’s a cliffhanger, and part of a series, here’s what I think.

Penny is a Royal Guard, just like the rest of her family, but it’s not where he passion lies. Her passion is in art. As a Royal Guard, she’s too clumsy, and she doesn’t have a very good opinion of herself. Prince Sebastian, the heir, has been “missing” for six months. No one is quite sure where he really is because he’s employed body doubles, who look enough like him to fool people, to travel the globe and keep up the drinking and womanizing that his reputation expects, only he isn’t going to do those things. He’s looking for his long lost brother. A brother he didn’t even know he had.

King Cassius assigns Penelope a special job, to go undercover, pose as Sebastian’s neighbor and convince him to come home before his birthday in six weeks. Penelope initially turns down the job, thinking she’s not the best one for it. After talking to her best friend, Ariel, and an argument with her boyfriend, she decides to take the assignment after all, if for no other reason than a change in scenery. The plan is simple, her and Ariel form a two man team to watch the Prince, keep him safe, and Penelope has to convince him to come home, all without him realizing who she is. She goes by the name Len, something her parents used to call her when she was young, and moves in next door.

It’s a romance, so hijinks ensue and there’s a lot of ups and downs. They’re both trying to resist the romance of it all for their own reasons. Sebastian is trying to track down his brother and convince him to come back to the Winston Isles. Penelope is a Royal Guard, even though she breaks up with her boyfriend (for a scandalous reason i might add!), she can’t let herself get close to the Prince for obvious reasons. It was good. Really good. I highly recommend, but do yourself a favor, order the second book before you start the first otherwise you’ll be stuck in limbo while you wait for it!

Book Club for Complicated House Plants

Did you think think the first sentence of the book was effective?
Oh yeah. It sets us up perfectly. In one sentence, we understand a little bit about the relationship she has with her parents, and how other people see her. It sets us up to understand her low self-confidence.

How do you feel about the books pacing?
The pacing was good. I felt like it went at the speed it was supposed to go at.

Did you feel the narrator of this book was reliable?
I really liked the dual POV. I think that Sebastian and Penelope were able to give us the reality as they saw it, and that was helpful so that the reader understood what was going on.

Was there a moment when you disagreed with the protagonist’s decisions?
Yes. It’s toward the end of the book, and they both decide they have to tell each other the truth. But they keep letting themselves put it off. They should have had the difficult conversation, even if they didn’t want to.

Did you guess the ending of the book?
I did not see that coming. If you guessed it, you’re a wizard, because I didn’t see it coming at all.

Did you race to the end or was it more of a slow burn?
I’m not gonna lie. I raced there. It was so good I didn’t want to put it down. I kept wanting to know what happened next.

Which character did you like best?
If I’m being completely honest, as much as I loved the two main characters, Sebastian more than Penelope but only a little bit, my favorite character was Ariel. She’s such a great friend. She’s always got Penelope’s back. She’s amazing in her own right as well and that makes me super happy.

Are there any characters you’d like to deliver a lecture to?
Yes. Penelope’s brother Michael and his best friend Robert. They need a very stern talking too, starting with HOW DARE YOU! on so many counts.

Did you like the “heat” level of the book?
Please excuse me while I pull out a fan because damn. It was good. I liked it, and it didn’t feel forced or put in for shock value or anything else. It was good for the story. Especially given what the characters were feeling.

Was the couple’s connection believable?
Yes. On a number of levels. It’s cute that they both remember one another from childhood, even if it’s vaguely. Then to have the relationship they do later on in the book. I love that they start as friends, they encourage each other in their passions, it’s simple. Easy. Without the other titles hanging over their heads. I hope that they remember that after their secrets are revealed.

Well, that’s all I’ve got this time around folks. Trust me, after I get the second book, I’ll let you know how that one was too. I can’t wait. I’m sure this is a series that I will read every book for. I hope you enjoyed this review. Tune in next week for another. Have a fantastic day my dears!

Book Review – Firefighter Griffin by Zoe Chant

Posted on by Amber Marie in Book Review, Books

This is another one of those books that I saw on the book of faces and just had to read. Normally, I don’t read anything in the middle of a series if I know it’s the middle of a series, but this one I made an exception for. I got drawn in by the little boy turning into a lion, climbing a tree, and getting stuck and the poor mom freaking out. So, I sought out the third book in the Fire and Rescue Shifter’s series by Zoe Chant and I’m so glad that I did. It was awesome.

Griff MacCormick is a Scottish shifter who can’t shift. He decides to check out the “prank call” his coworker thinks is just kids messing around. Griff knows better. He had been part of Team Alpha, a fire and rescue squad made entirely of shifters, until something happened to his leg and he couldn’t do it anymore. He can still hear other shifters in his head, and see them, but he can’t shift himself, which is a disappointment.

But, he shows up at Hayley Parker’s house anyway after his shift, which is just after the call comes in, and gets her son Danny down out of the tree. Hayley is NOT a shifter, didn’t even know they were a thing! When Griff tells her that he’s happy she’s moved to the UK from California, since US based Shifters aren’t well protected but the Royal Family make certain that shifters in the UK have some protections. I think the best line I read in the early part of this book is about the Royal family itself, who apparently have been Dragon shifters since the War of the Roses. I loved that. It was an interesting bit of world building that I found humorous.

Griff helps Hayley with Danny. He helps Danny understand what’s happening to him, and how to shift back and forth. He isn’t sure what to do about the fact that Hayley is his mate but there’s something wrong with him, he cannot have her. It’s stressful for both of them. It’s a great book though, filled with lots of colorful characters. It was a thrill to read and I really want to read the rest of the series now. Maybe this winter I will.

Book Club for Complicated House Plants

Did you decide right away if you liked or disliked the book?
Based on the little bit I had read in the preview on the book of faces, I knew I was going to like this. I was so right. From the very beginning it was amazing and everything I could have hoped for. It was sooo good.

What drew you in?
It was the idea that there were shifters and no one knew about them. I’m a sucker for shifters and vampires and paranormal of any kind. I mean I write it so clearly I enjoy it, but I am a sucker for that kind of thing specifically. I loved the idea that someone who was falling apart, was willing to give of themselves to help someone else. I love that.

Who was your favorite character?
John Doe. Hands down. He’s not even a main character but our introduction to him in this book, is him washing dishes while also cooking because he works with water. He hates the voice of the dishwasher and prefers to ask the water nicely for help. I love that. Keep in mind that I haven’t read the rest of the series, just this book, and I loved that that was my first glimpse of him. He’s a fantastic friend to Griff and I just love him okay?

Who was your least favorite character?
Reiner Ljonsson. He could have had a happy relationship with his son, and I’m all for people coming back later to try to have something to do with their kids as long as it’s for the right reasons. His reasoning was flawed and I hated that. It wasn’t okay.

Could you relate to any of the character?
Hayley was extremely relatable. As the mother of six kids, I can’t imagine what my reaction would be to finding out they could shift. And the way she tackles the whole new world that she’s exposed to, that’s goals right there. I loved it. She was awesome, strong, brave, and level headed. It gave me a sort of in to this world that I knew nothing about.

Did you have a favorite line or chapter?
The first time John Doe meets Hayley, it’s kind of a tense situation as everyone from Team Alpha is there and something is wrong with Griff. Hayley is appropriately freaked out. Then John comes in the door, and he is freaking HUGE. He’s a sea dragon in human form. He’s not small. But he’s the epitome of teddy bear. This is what he says when he first encounters her.

He Sank gracefully to one knee in front of her, bowing his head. “My Lady. I am the Walker-Above-Wave, Knight-Poet of the First Water, Guardian of the Pearl Throne, Seeker of the Emperor-in-Absence, Firefighter of the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, and Griffin’s sworn Oath-Brother. If by my life or my death I can serve you, I will.”

John Doe, Firefighter Griffin by Zoe Chant.

I remember calling a friend and being like YOU HAVE TO HEAR THIS! If this was not the best character introduction I have ever heard, I don’t know what to tell you.

Did you think the couple in the book were a good match?
I did. I love the “true mates/soulmates” trope. I use it in my own writing sometimes. And I love that. In addition to the one perfect mate thing, Griff and Hayley got along well. They wanted similar things and it was easy to see why they would be compatible. As a single mom, I loved that Griff took a shine to Danny immediately and wanted what was best for him, even if he didn’t like it personally.

What was the saddest part of the book?
The fight for dominance between Reiner and Griffin. It was heart breaking because it put Griff into an impossible situation where he knew he would fail, but he had to do it. It hurt my heart so much.

If you could ask the author a question, what would it be?
All of my questions would be John Doe based. How did she create him? How did she decide on his titles? He’s my favorite and this isn’t even his book.

How did you feel about the ending?
The ending fit the book. I saw it coming, but anyone who knows anything about mythology probably would. It was predictable in the best possible way and I loved it! I wouldn’t trade it for something else. It was perfect for the story.

Ratings

Overall Rating

I gave this book five stars. It lived up to every single expectation that I had after reading the preview. It was amazing and I’m so glad that the book of faces recommended it.

Heat Level

I gave this four flames for the heat level. It wasn’t that the heat wasn’t there, it’s just that there wasn’t a lot of it. There are so many other things going on in this book that the steamy romance part got put on the back burner somewhat for the characters. They are dealing with a lot. Though the sexual tension between them is insane and when they do give in, it’s hawt! Very much so. But that’s why there’s only four flames. It was good though.

Well, that’s all for me this week folks. Check out the Fire and Rescue Shifter’s series. Trust me. It’s amazing. I have the next book on my list soon, it’s about John Doe after all, so you know I have to read it. 🙂

Book Review – Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks by Kelsie Stelting

Posted on by Amber Marie in Book Review, Books

I really enjoyed this book. It was the first YA book I’ve read in months, and it felt like it, but it was really really good. Then again, when you read a YA book after reading several romance novels that border on erotica, some dark romance, and write steamy paranormal…. reading any YA is gonna be noticeable.
The main characters are all plus size girls and it’s just as much about empowerment as it is the relationship between the main characters, Aurora “Rory” Hutton and Beckett Langley. It also actively tackles the experience of being diagnosed with PCOS, which I feel is SUPER important.
For those of you who don’t already know, PCOS stands for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and has a lot of side effects that women in general find difficult to live with. For a teenager with a super health-conscious mother who obsesses about their weight, I can’t imagine the stress of that. But that’s exactly what Rory deals with on a regular basis. Plus the bullying at school for not being model thin. Let’s be real, High School sucks!

I did really enjoy this book. I loved watching a character who was so frustrated and lonely, gain some understanding of what was happening with her body, and make some great friends who really did love her for who she was. People who saw past what other people critiqued and saw it as simply being human. She finds a romance that we all would have wished for in high school, someone who can see the real you, and embraces that, no matter what anyone else thinks.

Book Club for Complicated House Plants

Curvy Girls Can’t Date Quarterbacks is one of the best books I’ve read recently. I read it on my Kindle as part of the Kindle Unlimited, and it’s the first in a series, of which I intend to read a few more. I recommend them for anyone that wants a fairy tale story with real life elements that include “real” people and “real” problems.

Did you decide right away if you liked or disliked the book?
It took a little bit for me to decide actually. I didn’t immediately hate it, but I didn’t have a strong opinion either way for the first couple of chapters. Which I guess is normal for me, I try to refrain judgement before the world building is set up. I did really like it though, read it rather quickly.

What drew you in?
It was the real life approach very quickly. The beginning was horrifying from the MC’s perspective and I had to keep reading to see what the hell was going on. The immediate addition of complicated real world issues, like PCOS, and the mother’s reaction to finding out, was good. It kept me going.

Who was your favorite character?
Honestly? Beckett Langley. He saw Rory before the bet happened. So for him, everything was real, and important. There were no high stakes for him, just a girl he liked and he went for it. That was it.

Who was your least favorite character?
Oh do I have words for the mother. I mean, she eventually pulls her head out of her ass, but forcing your kid to do a pregnancy test just because they’ve gained a little weight? Especially when they don’t have a lot of friends, let alone guys that they spend time with outside of family…. You’re killing me. You’re doing irreversible harm. And then you sent her to the doctor ALONE to have the testing done? Then you kept harping on her weight like it was the most important thing on the planet? Seriously? You’re a high school teacher, you KNOW how mean kids are, and you acted like that at home too? Ugh. Just ugh. I mean, I think the mom did more emotional damage to Rory than the school bullies did, it’s almost expected of the popular snotty girls, you know the ones, but from your own mom? That was probably a harder pill to swallow.

Did you have a favorite line or chapter?
Not so much a favorite line as a part of the book. After the interaction with the mean girls in health class, where Rory sticks up for herself and anyone else in class like her that is too afraid to speak, the other girls pull her into the AV room, which is amazing. She starts this awesome friendship with these people who are grateful to her for sticking up for them, and they want to help her win this stupid bet. It’s the beginning of a beautiful friendship. All of their antics and hangouts were my favorite. Everyone should have a best friend.

Did any part of the book elicit a strong emotional reaction?
Dude yes. There is this part, after Rory and Beckett start hanging out more, and he invites her to sit with him at lunch, and she does. Except, she used to eat lunch every day in the AV room with her friends. So there‘s this rift that starts growing within the friend group because Rory has Beckett and the friends think she doesn’t need them anymore, and she thinks that their friendship was too good to be true and now that they’ve achieved the goal they set out for, the friendship is over. I felt so sad at that part. I was happy it got worked out, but oh, that part was sad AF to me.

What was your least favorite part of the book?
An honest to goodness tie between the first couple pages and the big reveal by the mean girls of the bet that started everything. It was well written, the issue was more second hand embarrassment. Totally warranted for the storyline though.

Did you find the plot predictable?
Only as predictable as a romance goes. I write them, so I’m familiar with the formula that all romance stories follow, even sort of loosely. It did surprise me along the way though. I knew what was coming according to the standard of the genre, but the way it was written was fresh to me. It didn’t feel like I’d read six or seven harlequin novels in a row. I can’t do that because they get too predictable.

Would you recommend this book to anyone?
Everyone. Especially high schoolers. Read it. Read the series, I’m going to.

How did you feel about the ending?
I loved it. I felt like it fit the story well. It made me want to read the rest of the series. 🙂 For an author I’d never read before, I was an instant fan.

Rating:

I gave this book 5 stars. It was exactly what I expected and I loved it. I read it rather quickly, and at no point did I have to put it down and give myself some space due to writing style, content, any of it. I loved that the characters felt real and not flat, which sometimes happens with secondary characters. It was nice that they all felt like they wanted me to think they were the main character. I loved that.

Well, I’m out for now. I’ll see you next Thursday for the next review! Stay awesome my loves!