Posts Tagged: Adult Fiction

Tuesday, June 04, 2013

Review: If I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones

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I received this book for free from Simon & Schuster Audio in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

Review: If I Were You by Lisa Renee JonesIf I Were You by Lisa Renee Jones
Series: Inside Out Trilogy #1
Published by Simon & Schuster Audio on March 12th 2013
Genres: Adult, Erotica, Romance
Source: Simon & Schuster Audio
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three-stars

When Sara McMillan finds a stack of journals in a storage unit, she’s shocked and enthralled by the life the writer led. Unable to stop reading, she vicariously lives out dark fantasies through Rebecca, the writer—until the terrifying final entry. Certain something sinister has happened, Sara sets out to discover the facts, immersing herself in Rebecca’s life. Soon she’s working at the art gallery Rebecca worked at and meeting Rebecca’s friends. Finding herself drawn to two dangerously sexy men, the manager of the gallery and a famed artist, Sara realizes she’s going down the same path Rebecca took. But with the promise of her dark needs being met by a man with confident good looks and a desire for control, she’s not sure anything else matters. Just the burn for more.

As my first Adult Romance novel on audiobook I was a little unsure of what to expect. In the end I’m glad I tried it; it was a pretty good book and the narrator was fantastic. Being an audiobook had me especially concerned, I mean, there were ways this could have been a complete disaster with a lot of giggling on my part and embarrassment for the narrator’s sake, but there was none of that. She didn’t reenact the sexy scenes with awkward moaning or anything of the sort. It was no different than reading the words off the pages, really. She was great at bringing the character’s voice to life, though.

This was a romance through and through, and thus a little out of my comfort zone as adult romances are not something I read very often at all. But I can’t say I disliked much of it. I did find the plot was slow moving, concentrating more on Sara’s flourishing relationship with Chris. So, as a romance alone it was great. Chemistry between these two is insurmountable. Although I both liked and disliked their relationship, which is odd, I know. On one hand they were everything each other needed, but on the other hand it was all a big control competition. Chris could be a little intense, making it hard to see the good in him, but he wasn’t a complete asshole either. I guess I’m saying he’s a hard character to decipher. I think it’s what makes it hard for Sara to fully lend her trust to him, making her a little testy at times. Chris is not the only man in her life (no worries–no love triangle!). There’s also Mark, her boss, who is equally mysterious. He gives off this dangerous vibe but he seems to want what’s best for Sara so it’s mixed signals all over the place. Intriguing though: he absolutely is! I was also especially curious by Sara’s best friend who suddenly runs off to elope some random dude. That whole thing seems bizarre to me so I think something ominous is brewing which could be kind of awesome.

The plot is there in between the romance somewhere. After Sara finds some journals left in a storage units, she becomes privy to a very hot and… dark relationship by its writer, Rebecca–a mysterious woman who has since disappeared. Sara is set to find her; little does she know that her life is about to intertwine with Rebecca’s own. This was very interesting from the get-go–probably my favorite part of the book. What we encounter in these journals is pretty sinister, leading the way for what could be an exciting mystery. However, we barely get anywhere in this particular storyline at all which is disappointing. We do get bits and pieces, but it’s barely grazing the surface. When something big does happen, of course it’s the cliffhanger! GAH! Being an audiobook I had no notion of how long there was left in the novel, catching me especially off guard; when the ending music started I wanted to cry! I think I even gasped out loud. It was a great cliffhanger for sure, and I secretly love them (when they’re well done) so I will, without a doubt, be thinking about it until I can get my hands on the sequel!

If I Were You is scorching hot, dark and mysterious but plot wise it didn’t progress enough for the anticipation it built up. Like I said though, this was my first steamy adult novel, so… maybe they’re not really supposed to have that much plot progression? Dunno. If I rated it purely on the steamy side it would get a 4 (and ok the cliffhanger, too), but as a whole I felt like it wasn’t enough.

three-stars

3 Hot Espressos

Review: As The World Dies Untold Tales 3 by Rhiannon Frater

Review: As The World Dies Untold Tales 3 by Rhiannon Frater

Posted by on 05/21/2013 • 19 Comments

I’m fairly certain I’m repeating myself when I say I’m in love with this series, but really I don’t care! This series rocked my world thoroughly and completely, quickly becoming one of my favorites of all time, if not the favorite. So it’s no surprise that these untold tales garner just as much love from me. I rarely read novellas even when they’re part of a series, but I’m telling you, these ones are absolutely worth it. They put the cherry on top of an already fantastic series. And for the love of god if this is really your first time hearing me rave about these books, see what you’re missing here!

It may not have mattered for the other Untold Tales, but it’s pretty important to have read the…

Review: On Every Street by Karina Halle

Posted by on 03/13/2013 • 18 Comments

Having already met Ellie in Sins & Needles, I was excited to get the before: What happened to make her run away, and how she fell in love with Javier to begin with. I must say, I feel very torn after this. In Sins & Needles, Ellie meets Camden with whom she develops a very chemistry filled, eccentric relationship that takes the reader by storm. Then she makes Javier out to be someone she fears, someone she must stay away from at all costs. He’s the villain no one wants to see swoop in. In On Every Street, however, we see what made her fall in love with Javier. Knowing their unfortunate downfall doesn’t make their romance, nor Javier himself, any less enticing, either. I didn’t think I would like…

Review: Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

Posted by on 03/06/2013 • 41 Comments

Gone GirlGillian Flynn Genre: Adult MysteryPublication date: May 24th 2012by Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Marriage can be a real killer.

On a warm summer morning in North Carthage, Missouri, it is Nick and Amy Dunne’s fifth wedding anniversary. Presents are being wrapped and reservations are being made when Nick’s clever and beautiful wife disappears from their rented McMansion on the Mississippi River. Husband-of-the-Year Nick isn’t doing himself any favors with cringe-worthy daydreams about the slope and shape of his wife’s head, but passages from Amy’s diary reveal the alpha-girl perfectionist could have put anyone dangerously on edge. Under mounting pressure from the police and the media—as well as Amy’s fiercely doting parents—the town golden boy parades an endless series of lies, deceits, and inappropriate behavior. Nick is oddly…

Review: Fuse by Julianna Baggott

Posted by on 02/01/2013 • 16 Comments

Fuse Julianna Baggott Series: Pure, #2 Genre: Adult Post ApocalypticPublication date: February 19th 2013by Grand Central Publishing

When the world ended, those who dwelled within the Dome were safe. Inside their glass world the Pures live on unscarred, while those outside—the Wretches—struggle to survive amidst the smoke and ash.

Believing his mother was living among the Wretches, Partridge escaped from the Dome to find her. Determined to regain control over his son, Willux, the leader of the Pures, unleashes a violent new attack on the Wretches. It’s up to Pressia Belze, a young woman with her own mysterious past, to decode a set of cryptic clues from the past to set the Wretches free.

An epic quest that sweeps readers into a world of beautiful brutality, Fuse continues…

Review: Sins & Needles by Karina Halle

Posted by on 01/21/2013 • 40 Comments

Sometimes when you finish a book, you loved it so completely, so thoroughly, that you don’t even want to give it a 5-star rating. Because then you start thinking of all the other 5-stars you’ve given, and it just doesn’t compare. You don’t want it to be compared. This was one of them. Having read a copy the minute it was made available, there were no reviews or feedback yet, giving me absolutely zero expectations, and I. Was. Blown. Away! (!!) I have both been dying to, and dreading, reviewing this book, because I want to just pour my heart out, but at the same time I’m afraid nothing I say can do it justice. So… it may not completely make sense, you have been warned.

First and foremost, this…

Review: Alexander Death by J.L. Bryan

Posted by on 01/11/2013 • 10 Comments

Alexander Death J.L. Bryan Series: The Paranormals #3 Publication date: September 23rd 2011

While Seth searches for Jenny, Dr. Heather Reynard of the CDC unravels Seth and Jenny’s secrets.

Alexander opens Jenny’s mind to her deep past, and to the full horrific extent of her powers.

Torn between her feelings for Alexander and Seth, and between her past lives and her present, Jenny must prepare to face her enemies, as well as the darkness within her…

*A copy was provided by J.L. Bryan for review purposes*  

*Spoiler free for the series!*

This series started so innocently didn’t it? I mean, we have Jenny who’s a timid, broken girl with the touch of death–or disease, who keeps to herself (for good reason) being all innocent and sweet. Ha! Good one!…

Review: Breed by Chase Novak

Posted by on 12/13/2012 • 17 Comments

BreedChase NovakPublication date: September 4th 2012by Mulholland Books 

 

Alex and Leslie Twisden lead charmed lives-fabulous jobs, a luxurious town house on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, a passionate marriage. What they don’t have is a child, and as they try one infertility treatment after the next, yearning turns into obsession. As a last-ditch attempt to make their dream of parenthood come true, Alex and Leslie travel deep into Slovenia, where they submit to a painful and terrifying procedure that finally gives them what they so fervently desire . . . but with awful consequences.

Ten years later, cosseted and adored but living in a house of secrets, the twins Adam and Alice find themselves locked into their rooms every night, with sounds coming from their parents’ bedroom getting…