Book Review: Wanted (Wanted #1) by Amanda Lance

November 6, 2013March 9, 20142 Comments

3 Stars

SYNOPSIS:

Considering she’s a girl who calculates everything, Addie Battes knew the statistical probability of being abducted in her lifetime—too bad she never analyzed the odds of falling in love with her captor.

While stopping at a crowded rest area one summer night, seventeen-year-old Addie accidentally catches a truck hijacking in progress. Desperate to rid the crime of its only witness, one of the thieves kidnaps Addie. Yet surprisingly, when a renegade thief attempts to silence her for good, Addie is saved by the very man who abducted her. Now, forced on board a cargo ship in the middle of the ocean, Addie finds herself surrounded by international smugglers who want nothing more than to throw her overboard.

All except the artistic and intriguing Charlie Hays, whose strange protectiveness convinces Addie to trust him, even when common sense tells her otherwise. Yet, despite her doubt, and his unrelenting temper, their relationship develops into something much more. But, Charlie’s scorned colleague has stowed away, and as he seeks revenge against his coworker, Addie and Charlie are forced to put their new love—and lives—at risk.

MY REVIEW:

Addie Bates is a 17 year old girl who finds herself at a fuel station to grab coffee for her Dad and herself after dropping her brother off at the military base. While standing in line she has a chance meeting with a mysterious guy (Charlie) after he whispered something over her shoulder about the book she was currently immersed in. Addie a little taken aback, quickly felt flattered by the unexpected attention and thought that this mysterious guy was, in fact, pretty nice to look at though she couldn’t see his eyes hidden behind the dark shades. With their interaction cut short, Addie gets the coffee she came in for and heads to the exist only to realize that the main exists are a little congested thus forcing the impatient Addie to look for an alternative way out. Finding herself in the back of the fueling station where the trucks are, Addie hears a strange noise and decides to investigate, but what she came across would change her life drastically. In an attempt to flee unnoticed, Addie backs right into the hands of her kidnapper and despite her best efforts at self defense she is thrown into the back of a van.

I originally picked this book to read because the blurb did catch my attention with the indication of romance and kidnapping, so I was excited when I began reading this book. The first few pages were a breeze and then I found myself struggling for a little while to keep reading. I’m not sure if some of the content such as the age difference of both of the main characters or the notion that some of the things that transpired were a little difficult for me to believe were contributing factors but for a few chapters I really just wanted to put this one to the side and move on to my next book. Despite this lull in reading I continued and I’m glad that I did.

To me the action didn’t pick up until later in the book and I found it much easier to read and very enjoyable. Yes, the romance between Addie and Charlie begins to build as she has come to terms with the fact that she has feelings for the guy who kidnapped her. Charlie as well begins to let her in on his feelings for her as well. But the action that took place on the ship was very enjoyable and downright page turning. This is where I felt the author could have spent more time developing the content and expanding on some of the things and situations that just seemed cut short. I just personally could believe more of a romance building from Charlie’s constant protection of Addie with more interaction with danger from…………. (I will not give a spoiler) Charlie’s scorned colleague. :-) It’s hard for me to believe that a young inexperienced girl can fall in love with her kidnapper in a few short days. I can understand and believe there is a physical attraction but love………I’m not convinced.

Although I had a few content issues with the book and believe there are areas that need more development and/or explanation, in general it was a good read. The cover did lead me to believe that there would be a fair amount of naked play time between the two, but I was happy that there was no sexual encounters between Addie and Charlie mostly because of the age thing but also because I felt like something was missing in this growing romance. I am a bit curious to read the sequel to see if more content has been added to better develop the plot as well as the romance, and lets not forget the action scenes that should push and pull Addie and Charlie together.

Mz V

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Blog Tour Book Review: “Last Call” by Michele G. Miller

October 25, 2013October 26, 20131 Comment

4 Stars

SYNOPSIS:

“You are cordially invited…”

Four words that spark the fear of God into any gently bred, single southern woman.

When Savannah Guthry receives an invitation to her cousin’s wedding back home in Charleston, South Carolina, her first thoughts aren’t of flowers and dresses. Instead, she’s reminded of the groom: her first love and the reason she ended up at a college 500 miles away from home.

Determined to show up and dazzle not only her ex but her spoiled cousin too, Savannah allows her friends to set her up on a series of dates looking for Mr. Right. Wrapped up in her memories of the past and the drama of the present, Savannah doesn’t recognize a pattern in the seemingly random events that occur around her. There is a dangerous threat looming in the shadows, and if she’s not careful, she might lose more than Mr. Right.

**This book is a New Adult Romantic Suspense. It is intended for mature (18+) audiences due to sexual situations and mild language**

MY REVIEW:

Savannah Guthry was raised in South Carolina, with country clubs, debutants and a prim and proper ladies as her mother embedded in her head. But taking the first chance she got, Savannah moved to Tennessee for school to escape a broken heart and failed relationships, not to mention betrayal by a family member. After a day of class she comes home to find a letter awaiting her that reads “You are cordially invited…” in a microsecond all that she has been running from comes back in a flash. With no desire to go home, but also unable to escape the town gossip if she doesn’t, Savannah begins to think of a way to make the trip more bearable.

Putting a plan in motion, Savannah’s friends, Candace, and Sara decide its best to take a smoking hot date that will keep her company and get people off her back at home, but one issue with that is, Savannah hasn’t dated anyone since she’s been at her college. With only weeks till the wedding, how can she possibly find a date with the correct traits and looks her mother and home-town expects and convince him to come to a wedding with her.

With her friends setting her up on blind dates at the local bar they frequent, Savannah finds herself on unfamiliar grounds in the dating scene and in the company of one sexy new bartender Gage.

This book was a fun read for me. I loved the friendships that Candace, Sara and Savannah had and reminds me of some of my own friends. The dating game that they put her through was not only entertaining but very real when it comes to the dating scene and I was very happy with how well author Michele captured it. I was laughing hard at some of the dates she went on and the things that happened on them. Being a southern raised girl, Savannah, was so out of her element on theses dates, but her innocence in them was felt. Her upbringing of country clubs, debutantes and high society is something she hasn’t forgotten but is not as closely connected to as when she first came to college (she has spread her wings a little), but with the upcoming wedding, how can she face her past and show everyone including her mother that she has moved on and is not affected by it? Let along find a guy who fits the bill enough to take along?

As Savannah goes on her blind dates, they meet at the local bar so that she can be in a public atmosphere and feel a little more comfortable, but what she didn’t expect was the attention of a hot new bartender that just seems to push her in all the wrong and right ways. Even their interaction was funny and real. She finds herself beginning to like this guy, but caught up in her current dating frenzy and an approaching deadline, can she spare time to entertain her thoughts of him. Michele does a great job at building the romance, while keeping some of Savannah’s upbringing at the forefront, but what I didn’t anticipate was the twist she trough in the book that caught my attention all over again. I was a little disappointed when I was able to figure out Gage’s secrets way before they were revealed which was a let down, but I’m hoping there is more to explore of his story than what was revealed on the surface. I did feel like there were a few loose ends to certain scenes in the book that left me wondering what happened. Michele did a really good job at making sure we felt the romance, not just sex like some books, which in turn gave us the right amount of anticipation to build this relationship upon.

I hate giving spoilers, so let me best describe things as this. Romance builds, suspense is heightened, past secrets not only come to the surface but also must be faced, lives are threatened and truths come out. Overall it was a very enjoyable book and I look forward to reading the rest of the story, because I’m so certain that it doesn’t end there (hint, hint). The again there wasn’t an epilogue in the book, so my instincts tell me that I will be reading a sequel. Add this to your TBR list as I recommend you should read it.

I received an ARC of this book in return for an honest review.

Mz V

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Book Review: Driven (The Driven Trilogy) Book #1 by K. Bromberg

October 20, 2013March 9, 20144 Comments

5 STARS

SYNOPSIS:

Rylee Thomas is used to being in control. But she’s about to meet the one man that just might make her enjoy losing it… I am the exception to the rule. In a world full of willing women, I’m a challenge to the roguish and achingly handsome Colton Donavan. A man used to getting exactly what he wants in all aspects of life. He’s the reckless bad boy constantly skating that razor thin edge toward out of control, on and off of the track. Colton crashes into my life like a tornado: sapping my control, testing my vulnerabilities beyond their limits, and unintentionally penetrating the protective wall around my healing heart. Tearing apart the world I rebuilt so carefully with structure, predictability, and discipline. I can’t give him what he wants and he can’t give me what I need. But after a glimpse beneath his refined exterior into the dark secrets of his damaged soul, can I bring myself to walk away? Our sexual chemistry is undeniable. Our individual need for complete control is irrefutable. But when our worlds collide, is the chemistry enough to bring us together or will our untold secrets and battle of wills force us apart?

My REVIEW:

Dealing with issues of her past, Rylee Thomas has found an outlet and passion in her job at Corporate Cares, that keeps her very busy. Taking control of her life has been a refuge and a defense mechanism to her healing heart. Taking lead in a project to raise funding for the expansion of a group home for orphans in her care, Rylee’s charity date auction event seems to be going well, that is until she remembers that she has forgotten a few key items to the actual auction. Headed backstage to retrieve the missing items prior to the auction bidding Rylee finds herself in an uncomfortable situation; getting trapped in the storage closet, that has her in a state of panic. While doing her best to not overreact to the circumstances, but failing, Rylee finds herself in the arms of one handsome rescuer.

Playboy race car driver, Colton Donovan, comes to the rescue of Rylee and one look at her has him knowing he wants her. Challenged by the feisty woman who melts in his arms Colton sets in motion a series of events just to get what he wants, which is her. Not having any control over Rylee is what initially attracts him the most to her. Her resistance is a new concept for him, and he just won’t accept that this sexy woman who responded so well to him in the heat of the moment, refuses to give him the time of day. Determined to do things his way and the only way he knows how, Colton won’t give up when Rylee blatantly rejects him along with his standing reputation as a world-class playboy, and manipulates his way into her personal life, work life and the lives of the boys in her care.

~”Hi Ace,” I say guardedly. “Since when did you add stalker to you repertoire of talents?”

He dashes me a lightening fast grin. “I’d be more than happy to show you my talents, Sweetheart.”

I roll my eyes at him. “Womanising is not talent.”~

~”Keep fighting me, Sweetheart. The feistier you are, the harder you make me.”~

Sighs contently…….I have added another book boyfriend to my list.

This book caught my attention from the beginning with the interesting way in which the characters meet and I wasn’t able to put it down after that. I loved the characters and most definitely enjoyed the feistiness of Rylee and her ability to say what was really on her mind. She was certainly going to make Colton work for what he wanted. Bromberg’s creativity and believability in this novel was absolutely riveting. Not only was it very easy to read, but I really fell in love with the characters and could feel and see the passion they had for that which they loved, (Rylee her orphan boys, and Colton racing). Between this passion and the passion they developed together Bromberg had me fanning myself at the intensity.

Both Rylee and Colton are fighting for control to protect themselves and their past from the vulnerabilities this union could expose. Though Rylee begins to open up in this novel, Colton has secrets so dark he refuses to have anything not on his terms. What I really loved about Rylee in this book is how she takes a stand for herself and her needs, as much as she wants Colton, she wont settle on her needs and that is something Colton wont give in to.

Everything about their relationship is so incredibly intense – the good, the bad, the sex, the drama. I was hooked from the first page and the story line consumed me from start to finish. Though I was hot as fish grease at the cliffhanger at the end, but that was short lived because the second book was already out. YAY!!!!!!!

OH MY GOODNESS THIS BOOK IS…. AWESOME. Grab your copy today.

Mz V

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