[Review] Son of Thunder by Libby Bishop

Son Of Thunder
(Stand-Alone)
by Libby Bishop
ebook, 140 pages
Entangled Publishing
Publication Date: July 25th 2016
ASIN: B01HW6Z2XE

Rune is the grandson of Thor, and just as strong. Exiled to the realm of Earth for nearly killing his brother–it was a little misunderstanding– he has to find a way to redeem himself so he can get back to Asgard. And when he lands—literally—in the bed of a fiery redhead with an FBI badge, he realizes that she may be the key to going home. But helping Liv hunt a killer has one big consequence—chemistry. He can’t keep his hands off her, and there’s no way they can ever be together.

Six years ago, FBI Special Agent Liv Winter’s best friend was murdered. Since then, she’s taken a two-week vacation around the anniversary of the death to try and solve the case. She’s used every available resource. Yet, her friend’s killer is still on the loose. She refuses to give up—willing to do almost anything to bring the person to justice.

Apparently, almost anything includes trusting a god. And while she might need Rune’s help with her case, there’s no way she’ll ever trust him with her heart.

~ Book generously provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest opinion

When I saw this book on NetGalley and saw that it was about a descendant of Thor I knew I had to request it, because Chris Hemsworth, duh!

As much as I liked the premise of the book, I was quite disappointed. By 50% of the book I was convinced I would mainly write a real negative review, because of the following points.

The sex scenes were uncomfortable to read and normally I don’t have any problems with sex scenes, but these ones had something about them that just made me cringe.

Then the fact there was not so much as a drop of chemistry between Rune and Liv. You can’t tell me there was because there sure wasn’t any. Did I mention this is kind of an Insta-lust book?

Then there is the feeling I got that the main story wasn’t really important for most of the book. But it was the whole reason why I requested this book, so I was quite bored by the missing plot.

Also I had this huge question for like 40% of the book, then it finally got answered, kind of… Not really. I just needed a little info about how Liv knew that gods exist.

But! Remember when I said at the beginning of my review I was convinced I would give this book a completely negative review, I was wrong. At 60% the story finally developed. The suspense rose and I was finally invested into the story. So I have to give the first 60% of the Books 2 stars and the last 40% 3.5-4ish stars. Makes a totally of 3 stars for the whole book.

I think if you’re ok with all the points I named above this could be the perfect read for you. For me if was just averaged, but I liked the idea.

Rating: 3 stars

[Review] Rule by Jay Crownover

Rule
(Marked Men #1)
by Jay Crownover
ebook, 369 pages
Harper
Publication Date: May 23rd 2013 by Harper
ASIN: B00CR42N3Y

Sometimes opposites don’t just attract – they catch fire and burn the city down

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight-A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn’t want – and the only person she’s never tried to please. She isn’t afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won’t listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess – and his dead twin brother’s girl. She lives by other people’s rules; he makes his own. He doesn’t have time for a good girl like Shaw – even if she’s the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love…or each other.

A lot of people recommened Rule to me and I also heard a lot about it in a Facebook group I’m in and though I liked it, I did not love it.

The main reason being that I did not always like the character Rule, after whom this book is named. He was a bit of a jerk sometimes. I get that he has issues, but that’s not a reason to pull all the shit he did. I liked though that he pursued his dream to become a tattoo artist and how close he is to his friends. Then there was Shaw, the other main character. I didn’t like her either. She felt flat and was a bit annoying sometimes. I respect her persistence though. Whatever Rule did, she did not give up on him. That makes her more likeable than Rule.

The biggest problem I had with Rule – the book – was that I was more interested in the side characters and in the story of the dead twin brother of Rule. I mean – what? Should I be more interested in the story of Rule and Shaw? Since it’s their book?

Another issue I had with this book is the fact that there was as good as no chemistry between Shaw and Rule. At least I thought so. They developed this spark and then – snap – it was gone again.

If I have to put this book on a scale which goes from “boring as hell” over “average” to “awesome, awesome, awesome”, I would put it somewhere around average. I wasn’t blown away, but I wasn’t bored to hell either. It was an ok read to fill a boring evening.

Rating: 3 stars

I’m supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I’m an natural redhead even though I haven’t seen my real hair color in years, I’m a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.
I love to write, love to read and all I’m interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.
Thanks for taking the time to check my stuff out….
Jay Crownover

[Review] Scarred Souls: Raze and Reap by Tillie Cole

Caution: Books contain triggers!

Synopsis of Raze:

One man stripped of his freedom, his morals… his life. Conditioned in captivity to maim, to kill and to slaughter, prisoner 818 becomes an unrivaled and unstoppable fighter in the ring. Violence is all he knows. After years of incarceration in an underground hell, only one thought occupies his mind: revenge… bloody, slow and violent revenge. Revenge on the man who wronged him.

Kisa Volkova is the only daughter of Kirill ‘The Silencer’ Volkov, head of the infamous ‘Red’ bosses of New York’s Russian Bratva. Her life is protected. In reality, it’s a virtual prison. Her father’s savage treatment of his rivals and his lucrative and coveted underground gambling ring-The Dungeon-ensures too many enemies lurk at their door. She dreams to be set free. Kisa has known only cruelty and loss in her short life. While working for her church-the only reprieve in her constant surveillance-Kisa stumbles across a tattooed, scarred, but stunningly beautiful homeless man on the streets. Something about him stirs feelings deep within her; familiar yet impossibly forbidden desires. He doesn’t talk. Doesn’t communicate with anyone. He’s a man beyond saving. But Kisa becomes obsessed with him. Yearns for him. Craves his touch. Needs to possess this mysterious man… … this man they call Raze.

Review of Raze:

I loved the cover of the dual book and I wanted to try something new. Also the synopsis sounded interesting, so I found myself requesting this on NetGalley. I liked this book, but partly I am also disappointed by this book.

I liked Raze as a tortured hero, but I lost my interest in him, when he started to get his memories back. I never like the whole “hero has amnesia and then remembers his old life”-plot. After that the hero always turns into a different person. Didn’t quite happen here, meaning Raze remained Raze, but still I wasn’t a fan of that.

What also bothered me was Raze’s?…Raze’ses?… the hero’s real name, which I won’t mention here because I don’t want to ruin the book for you. I liked the name Raze a lot more, sounded more dangerous.

The heroine Kisa was a weak damsel in distress in my opinion, even though she is the daughter of the Bratva king and leads an illegal death fighting ring. I felt sorry for her though, she gets a lot of abused in this book.

The bad guy… come on, I was quite obvious that HE was the bad guy of the whole story. Nothing exiting there.

One thing I liked about the book though was the writing style. It drew me in from the very first page and I read the book in nearly one sitting.

If you like Mafia books about second chances and dirty fights, you will probably like this. I for my part am not sure what I actually feel about this book and if I would read the second book, but since this is a dual book, I will.

Rating: 2,5 stars

 

Synopsis of Reap:

Raised as a prototype for the Georgian Bratva’s obedience drug, 221 fails to think, act or live for himself; his master’s perfectly-crafted killing puppet. Standing at six foot six, weighing two-hundred and fifty pounds, and unrivalled in to-the-death combat, 221 successfully secures business for, the Georgian Mafiya Boss of NYC, in the dark world of the criminal underground. Until his enemies capture him.

Talia Tolstoi dreams to break from the heavy clutches of Bratva life and dreams of another life-away from the stifling leash of her Russian Bratva Boss father, from the brutality of her work at The Dungeon-her criminal family’s underground death match enterprise. But when she stumbles upon her family’s captive who is more monster than man, she starts to see the man underneath. A powerful, beautiful, damaged man whose heart calls to hers.

Review for Reap:

I liked the previous book Raze enough to finish it, but Reap … I couldn’t finish it. Once I reached 25% I had enough. I felt not one bit connect to the main characters Talia and Zaal, nor did I like them.

Also I wasn’t as invested into the story  as I was with book #1, so I decided to quit. I’m sorry, but I don’t think I will change my mind while reading on.

[Review] Grave Attraction by Lori Sjoberg

~ Grave Attraction by Lori Sjoberg ~

(Grave #4)
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Date of Publication: January 5th 2016 by Lyrical Press
Source: NetGalley

                  

 

Synopsis:

He’s a reaper who works by the book. But a sexy shifter will have him changing the course of fate just to be with her—if a killer doesn’t get to her first…

After four years as a reaper, helping souls cross into the afterlife is a job Adam Javorski has finally gotten used to. But when he arrives at the site of a serial killer’s latest victim, finding a living—not to mention gorgeous—hostage is the last thing he expects. The young woman captivates him in a way no one ever has—so much so, he breaks rule number one by helping her escape…

Marlena Walther doesn’t remember the man who rescued her. But when she sees Adam again, she recognizes him instantly as her soul mate. While the two work together to track down a killer determined to finish what he started, their undeniable attraction draws them even closer. Now Adam is the only one who can protect Marlena from a vengeful murderer—if he’s willing to sacrifice everything for her.

[Review] Soul-Mate by Anna Santos

~ Soul Mate by Anna Santos ~

(Immortal Love Series #1)
Genre: Paranormal, Romance
Date of Publication: October 13th 2015 by Booktrope
Source: Author

                   

 

Synopsis:

Annabel is a bad-ass hybrid hunter, seeking revenge from the vampire who killed her parents and put her brother in a coma. Arriving in a new town with an undercover identity to protect and the mission to find a pureblood vampire to save her brother’s life, the last thing Annabel needs is to fall in love with the sexy, persistent werewolf who thinks she’s a helpless human in need of a knight in shining armor.

Shane is a dominant werewolf who also happens to be the local sheriff. He has almost lost hope of finding his better half. So when his beautiful soul-mate shows up and rogue vampires try to kill her, he does what any smart wolf would do: he saves her and takes her home, hoping to convince her that they belong together.

When sparks fly between them, Annabel has to decide if she tells him who she really is or runs the other way to protect her secrets.

[Review] The Young Elites by Marie Lu

~ The Young Elites by Marie Lu ~

(The Young Elites #1)
Genre: Dystopian, Young Adult
Date Of Publication: October 7th 2014 by G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
Source: Borrowed from Library

                       

 

Synopsis:

I am tired of being used, hurt, and cast aside.

Adelina Amouteru is a survivor of the blood fever. A decade ago, the deadly illness swept through her nation. Most of the infected perished, while many of the children who survived were left with strange markings. Adelina’s black hair turned silver, her lashes went pale, and now she has only a jagged scar where her left eye once was. Her cruel father believes she is a malfetto, an abomination, ruining their family’s good name and standing in the way of their fortune. But some of the fever’s survivors are rumored to possess more than just scars—they are believed to have mysterious and powerful gifts, and though their identities remain secret, they have come to be called the Young Elites.

Teren Santoro works for the king. As Leader of the Inquisition Axis, it is his job to seek out the Young Elites, to destroy them before they destroy the nation. He believes the Young Elites to be dangerous and vengeful, but it’s Teren who may possess the darkest secret of all.

Enzo Valenciano is a member of the Dagger Society. This secret sect of Young Elites seeks out others like them before the Inquisition Axis can. But when the Daggers find Adelina, they discover someone with powers like they’ve never seen.

Adelina wants to believe Enzo is on her side, and that Teren is the true enemy. But the lives of these three will collide in unexpected ways, as each fights a very different and personal battle. But of one thing they are all certain: Adelina has abilities that shouldn’t belong in this world. A vengeful blackness in her heart. And a desire to destroy all who dare to cross her.

It is my turn to use. My turn to hurt.

[Review] Hot Alphas

~ Hot Alphas by Lora Leigh, Laurelin McGee, Shiloh Walker & Kate Douglas ~

Genre: Romance
Date of Publication: May 19th 2015 by St. Martin’s Griffin
Source: NetGalley (368 pages)

                          

 

Synopsis:

In Erin’s Kiss by Lora Leigh, ex-Marine Turk has become Erin’s sworn protector. The consistent target of her CIA-operative brother’s deadly foes, Turk is the only port Erin has to cling to in a storm. He promised her brother long ago never to touch her—but how can he resist a woman who aches to be with him as much as he burns for her?

In misTaken by Laurelin McGee, Jaylene Kim is a strong independent woman whose feminist values run deep. Even though attractive men are her weakness the last thing she wants is one telling her what to do. Until she meets her mysterious new neighbor. He makes her realize that you can still be strong and relinquish control . . . in the bedroom. But as their passion consumes them both Jaylene isn’t so sure he is who he says he is.

In Burn for Me by Shiloh Walker, Tate longs to spend his nights with Ali, a woman he’s loved for years. But while Ali’s heart pines to be with Tate, her head has reservations. Ali knows that Tate has never forgiven his father for the fight he had with his mother right before she left the house—and was never heard from again. Tate’s unresolved anger is a force to be reckoned with . . . but the heat that blazes between them is undeniable. Now both Tate and Ali are left to wonder: Can love really conquer all?

In Tangled by Kate Douglas, Nate shows up to work at Tangled Vineyards ready to do all the things he loves best—work with his hands, grow the grapes, and craft award-winning, full-bodied wines. But when something better comes along in the form of Cassie, the winemaker and former owner of the vineyard, Nate becomes completely love-drunk. Getting involved with Tangled’s number-one mixologist is a bad way to start off a new job, but with Cassie as a constant temptation, Nate doesn’t stand a chance…

[Review] Cover Me by L.A. Witt

~Cover Me by L.A. Witt~

Genre: Contemporary Romance, Mystery

Pub Date: January 31st, 2014

Series: Cover Me #1

Synopsis: When paramedic Nick Swain responds to a shooting in a seedy neighborhood, his entire world is thrown off its axis. His life is threatened…twice. Allegations of racism and medical neglect threaten his career and his ability to sleep at night. Not that he’ll be sleeping any time soon after the incident throws him into the path – and arms – of Detective Andrew Carmichael.

One hot night after another with Andrew may help Nick relieve some stress, but sex won’t solve every problem in his life. With the media hounding him and the city watching his every move, he starts to wonder if the world is out to get him.

The world may not be out to get him, but someone is.

And that someone wants Nick dead.

~~ My Review ~~

[Review] Darker Than Desire by Shiloh Walker

No matter how many times he’s left her in the past, Sybil Chalmers can’t ignore her feelings for the one man who stole her heart years ago. For countless nights, she has waited for him—for his kiss, his touch—and has longed for him to emerge from the shadows of his past. Only when she is in his arms does Sybil really feel alive…and finally, after all these years, that time is now.

He’s a man raised in a world of strict rules and unbreakable traditions and he’s always yearned to break free. But when a family tragedy lures him back home, he finds his one true passion has been there all along. With Sybil, he can explore his greatest potential—and allow her to discover a whole new level of ecstasy. But will a long-buried secret threaten to tear them apart? The only thing he knows for sure is that he will do anything to keep Sybil in his life…and keep her coming back for more…

__________________________________________________________________________
Genre: Contemporary
Series: Secrets & Shadows #3
Date of Publication: March 03, 2015
Cliffhanger: No
HEA/Happy End: No

Bewertung: 3 Sterne ✶ ✶ ✶
__________________________________________________________________________

Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Have you ever experienced this? You read a book, but after you ended it you aren’t really sure if you think it’s good. You know it’s not bad, but is it actually good?

I have exactly that problem with Darker Than Desire. I’m not really sure if I liked it. It was nicely written and the characters were okay. Also the story was good, but pretty dark.

I have not one bad thing to say about this book. It’s just that… well, it didn’t made me want to read another one. I just wasn’t hooked to this book and characters.

And due to that problem I’m not really sure what to say in this review, so I will just say this: If you like contemporary (with a dark story), go for it. If you don’t, leave it be.

[Review] Twelve Shades of Midnight (Short Story Collection)

Book provided by NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion.

Liliana Hart: The Witch Next Door ~ 1,5 stars
I liked the beginning, but after just a few pages it lost my interest. I got pretty confused by this whole past and present thing. Also I did have a big, big, BIG problem with this lust/love-at-first-sight thing and they all seemed to trust Barrett immediately even though he is a total stranger. I normally don’t read books about witches and this backs up my opinion.

Darynda Jones: A Lovely Drop ~ 4,5 stars
I liked the idea of going to a spot in the room and being able to go 24 hours back in time. The only bad thing about this short story is that it was way too short. I need a full novel. I see a whole lot of potential here. Miss Jones, write a full novel!

Shea Berkley: Dark Secrets: Stone Cold Dead ~ 1.5 stars
I liked Baby and Sage, the children who were a big part of the story, but the rest … Not so much. What bothered me the most is this instant love again. They love the other one after knowing each other for 1 hour and I have no idea on what this love is based. Also how did they solve the problem that she is immortal and he is only human? How should this work? There will be a second book but I won’t buy it. Sorry.

Claire Cavanaugh: Midnight Renegade ~ 2 stars
This was kinda boring and there are some things I did not quite get. But I thought that the abilities of Alex and Samantha were pretty cool. Samantha is able to become invisible and Alex can throw lightning and controls fire. Won’t buy the next installment though.

Robin Perini: Night Of The Jaguar ~ 1.5 stars
Okay, this was weird, like really weird. They meet – insta-love – they meet again – sex – trouble in paradise – kind of HEA ? I just didn’t get this story. Won’t by the next book in series.

I decided to skip all the stories about witches (I just don’t like the theme) and some others because I did not feel like I could like them.
The only short story I actually enjoyed was A Lovely Drop, the others were meh.

Overall rating of 2.5 stars

Buy it here:
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