Review: Haunting Adaline

Review: Maybe Someday

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

Sorry, everyone... There is an Unpopular Opinion warning in effect. Batton down the hatches my friends because the storm is rolling through!


OK... So I have had this book on my TBR list for quite a while. It's one of those that I have heard very good things about, had recommended to me several times, and also just so happened to be narrated by my ALL TIME FAVORITE NARRATOR OF ALL TIME, Mr. Zachary Webber.

So, I dove into this book STUPIDLY without doing my normal research upfront. I know it might be blasphemous to some, but I do look up certain spoilers before I invest time into reading a novel. I must confirm there are no ridiculous love triangles, no cheating, and an HEA. I don't need to know the details, but there are just some things that are a Gandalf scenario.


This book.... *sigh* This book hit three of my Gandalf scenarios. I got to 30% and wanted to throw the book down and forget I ever thought it was a good idea to read. F THIS!


But I took a deep breath and decided that I will finish it for the good of being a good book nerd who doesn't stop reading books halfway through.... But also because my book club said I had to.

SOME SPOILERS AHEAD PEOPLE - Keep your hands, arms, legs, and feet inside the review at all times.

Well, lets get to the reasons I say this book was SO not for me. Firstly, A really ridiculous love triangle. I am NEVER a a fan of a love triangle, but I do agree that sometimes it can be done in a way that doesn't make me want to poke my eye out with a fork.
This one.... It was a real struggle to stay away from the silverware drawer.
Ridge - Hero - Is a super hot rocker guy who lives across the apartment complex from our Heroin, Sydney. He is fantastic looking and plays guitar outside on the patio and this is how they get to know each other. Great. Lovely!~ What a fun story!! - Enter Hunter, Sydney's cheating BF, who was cheating with her roommate and BFF, Tori. Scandalous! Still fine though. Scummy cheating ex's are a common fixture in New Adult romance.
When Syd finds out, she needs a place to live and who comes to the rescue? None other than Dun Da Da Dunnnn!!! Ridge and his fancy pants guitar.

This is where the shit comes in. Ridge has GF, Maggie. Who is the all-around best character in this whole damn book. She is more likable, has more agency, is more independent and has the supurb decision-making skills that everyone else in the book was completely and painfully short on.

Sydney was dumb as a rock at times and it just made me hate her. A huge part of her character was the fact that she didn't want to be a Tori, but of course she was and it could have easily been stopped. If it was so important to her NOT to be a Tori, then why didn't she grow some balls and do the right thing and MOVE OUT! Don't give me that BS of she didn't have the money because when the plot damnded she move out, she did. So she simply COULDN't have done this earlier?? Why?? Well because then the book couldn't happen. (There are more things I hated about her, but I just can't type for that long and have my fingers still work)

Ridge - What a likable guy for like 45% of the book. A rocker with a heart of gold and magical fingers. (To strum his guitar! Get your minds out of the gutter) I just could not stand the fact that he was totally unable to make ANY decisions on the women in his life. I mean, I get that you can like two people at the same time, but I don't buy that you have not even ONE inkling of who you love more. Ridiculous.
If he did have any idea who he would stay with I would have to say it was Maggie. That is the direction he leans for basically the entire book. It really destroyed any love I had for the main couple. We were witness to love scenes between Ridge and Maggie, cute little texts and inside Jokes between them. It really just cheapened the whole entire romance between the main couple. Ridge and Sydneys connection never felt special to me, it never felt unique or one of a kind and I think that's what really killed the book.
It's impossible to feel that excitement when the couple finally gets together because you aren't experiencing something special.
He didn't even really accept that Sydney was his one and only person even in the end when Maggie! It made it really feel like she was his second choice and you just can't have that in a romance. It's just un-cool.

So yeah, my favorite thing about this book was Zachary Webber and he could read me a DMV Rules and Regulations Handbook and I would still swoon.

It was odd to be in the minority with this one, but I guess it happens on occasion :/


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Review: The Boss Who Stole Christmas

The Boss Who Stole Christmas by Jana Aston
My rating: 5 of 5 stars



This was a solid *5 Novella Stars*

The MC's, Nick and Holly, were very likable and well developed despite the short length of the story. She also even figured out how to successfully create side characters that you want to read about later in their own stories, which is hard to do in such a short number of pages. The plot was well-paced and peaked in all the appropriate places. One of my favorites from this author in it's column.

It was like a really cute perfect Hallmark movie, but with humor and a little dirtiness thrown in for flavor.

You can always count on Jana Aston to give you a fun time with a happy ending and a good helping of dirty lovin to keep your interest.

I'm looking forward to the next couple in the series

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Review: Hooked on the Game

Hooked on the Game by C.M. Owens
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

**3.75 Stars** I rounded up for GoodReads star rating purposes

So I loved the start of this book. I was all about the enemies to lovers trope. The plot, characters, story arc... all done reasonably well. After the 80% mark my interest started flagging though.

It seemed that much of the controversy in the plot around and after this mark became more contrived than natural to the story. I found myself thinking, "Well, it makes no sense that she would feel this way or do this thing." Which is never good.

The ending conflict was great as far as an idea, but it felt abrupt. And not in a good way, Like "Oh wow! I never saw this twist coming! but more like a "What the hell is going on and who is this other person?". I feel that the foreshadowing was there but not really sufficient enough or not well executed enough to be effective in creating that 'gotcha' ending.

The ending was also very convenient. The resolution to the main conflict seemed to fall into place with a perfect coincidence. It just seemed too easy.

I did enjoy the read though. I will definitely read the next in the series as this one seemed a lot like a set up novel.

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Beg for Mercy by Lane Hart
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

** Solid Enemies to Lovers 4.5 stars**

Ok so I don't usually like to read books where only one is completed in the series and the release date is so new.
Unfortunately, I am a rather impatient person and my mental health can't really handle cliff hangers or any kind of waiting. (I have a hard time in lines at amusement parts too). So needless to say I was a little iffy on starting this book right now.



BUT! I am super glad I did :) I enjoyed this read more than any other book I have read in quite a while.

Maddie is probably going to go down as being one of my most favorite heroines. She was tough as shit with a selfless heart and a beautiful soul. I loved that she had such a good heart and sacrificed for her loved ones, but the fact that she was like that didn't turn her into some wilting flower. She stood up for herself and didn't take shit from anyone and I freaking loved that. I also loved that this book didn't have any of the cliche drama between the misfit chick at school and the perfect blond Barbie Squad.

Aric underwent a great transformation if a bit cliche (I was ok with that though, seeing as it was probably the only cliche thing in this book) He was a spoiled little shit who gets the chance by way of blackmail to spend some time with a girl he thought of as trash and soon learned that she was in fact a tressure that even all his loads of money couldn't purchase.

Spoilers below - but don't worry - I kept them hidden for those of you who hate spoilage -

UNPOPULAR OPINION ALERT - So, I am a person who very much enjoys older man/younger woman stories and really dislikes younger man/older woman stories - I know that may be shocking, but it is true. I don't know why, but I read that and immediately say, "Nope, this is not for me."

Anyway! I digress but I promise I am still on topic... mostly... ANYWAY! So In the beginning of this story (view spoiler)[ OW - Is Aric's best friends MOM! ... Yuck... (hide spoiler)] I actually really enjoyed the take Hart gave Maddie on this and the direction she took it. It kind of puts front and center the idea that although the boys might be all about it because this hot older woman is giving them attention that doesn't mean that it's ok. (view spoiler)[ their relationship started when Aric was 16 and she was 34... that shit is not ok.... it's predatory. (hide spoiler)] Whether you are a man or a woman, it doesn't matter. It is never ok to seduce a CHILD'S and use their overly active teenage hormones as an excuse for your behavior. During the course of this book Aric starts to realize with Maddie's company that maybe he wasn't such a willing participant at first in his relationship with the OW. He had never really considered that before and I thought that was an interesting take. - NOW LET'S BE CLEAR - I am not saying that ALL older woman and younger man relationships are bad or predatory. To each their own, as long as everyone is of age and consenting, you do you. I just thought this book kind of sheds a little light on the issue and I liked it.

SO let's move on to the reasons it lost that half star for me. -
I would have to say this is mostly due to some story and plot holes along with some character issues. Maddie has a brother and sister who are supposed to be the most important things in the world to her but we don't actually even SEE them until more than halfway through the book. And there was an opportunity to do so.

Also, there is the issue of Blake. To me, there was a lot more development of the Hannah and Royal relationship than there was of any Blake relationship and I was a bit bummed that the next book is Blake. He didn't catch my interest as much, but I'm still very down to read it.

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The Bet by J.L. Beck
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

~~ 3.5 Stars ~~

Sooo... I kind of struggled with this one. I stayed interested through the entire book and the writing was pretty good. I am a fan of Enemies to Lovers Trope as you would probably see going through my books and reviews. Also I am not one to shy away from Dark reads either. I LOVE a good Dark romance staring an angry hero with a weakness for his heroine.

This book promises that but I think it missed the mark on several fronts.

**SOME SPOILERS AHEAD Please don't read if you hate spoilage**

Firstly, I didn't really understand the volatility of the Hero's anger towards the heroine. Yes, she left and he was vulnerable at that time in his life. That blows, but it's not like she killed his dog, spat in his face, and told him to go fuck himself. She was a teenager who family was relocating ..... What the hell was she supposed to do??? The strength of his anger towards her seems a bit out of proportion for the 'crime' so to speak.

Secondly, I thought Jules' emotional reaction to the big 'betrayal' of the recordings was also extremely overblown. I mean, would I be pissed as hell about this, but she kind of went a little psycho with the whole "You're dead to me business", among other things.

IDK I think it just made the drama of the book a little OTT and not as believable as it would have been if the emotions were a little more realistic.

I also didn't like the fact that the hero was SUCH a whore. He doesn't have any relations with OW or anything during the timeline of the book -so that was a plus- but... It wasnt a deal breaker or anything, just a little ... icky.

Other than those few things I did enjoy the book and finished it to the end. I was also intrigued enough to read the next in the series. So that review is coming up next!

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Review: Stolen by the Mob Boss : A Russian Mafia Romance

Stolen by the Mob Boss : A Russian Mafia Romance by Nicole Fox
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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