Review: Myths of Mish by Katie Hamstead

4 STARS FOR MERMAIDS, ADVENTURE, AND A STRONG FEMALE LEAD!

Hansel and Gretel Herrscher survived the witch in the woods, but the experience has made Hansel paranoid for the past ten years. He sees dark magic at every turn. When Gretel has a marriage arranged to a much older man, and Hansel discovers he's about to be sent halfway across the galaxy, he knows something sinister is afoot. 

Wilhelmine Nordon has plenty of experience with Hansel's quirkier side. So when she catches him and Gretel running away in the middle of the night, she follows to keep them from getting killed. The siblings have never left the capital of Mish on their own, so they need a babysitter. Except when she's discovered, Hansel gives her his usual cold shoulder, and Gretel secretly begs her to take them back. 

The problem is, Hansel's paranoia turns out to be well founded, and they're all being hunted.


*Generously received a copy from the author in exchange for an honest review*

Myths of Mish is a sequel to Princess of Tyrone, but it can be read as a standalone novel. I have written a review of Princess of Tyrone, if you have not read it then you can find it here. I would recommend reading Princess of Tyrone first though due to different places and people being referenced. Thus, you will have a more informed mind of how the whole world that Hamstead has created works.

When I received the email that I was being provided an ARC to review the next book in this series, I was completely excited and thrilled. I LOVE Princess of Tyrone. It is one of those book series that takes stories and concepts that everyone is familiar with, but brings a whole new twist. I don't want to rant and rave too much of how much I love the general concept and world. I could spend the whole review just speaking about that without even touching on this particular story. 

Myth of Mish focuses on the story of Hansel and Gretel, but also on Wilhemine Nordon and is told in first-person point of view. Everyone knows the story of Hansel and Gretel, but Myths of Mish tells the story of what happens to Hansel and Gretel as they are becoming young adults and going off on an adventure with their friend Wilhemine. The book is filled with action, romance, a coming of age story, and is fast paced. I never felt like the story slowed down or had any moments that were lacking. I read through this book within two days and I didn't feel like I was purposely speed reading it. 



Hansel is really a complex character. He was one of my favorite character to read from their perspective. Hansel as a character is written to be very complex and has deep problems that are very relatable. Due to the trauma that occurred during his and Gretel's childhood, he has deep mistrust of essentially everyone, but Gretel. For this reason alone, he is one of my favorite characters. I loved reading his perspective to see through his mind how he reacts, reasons, and makes decisions. I think many individuals can read Hansel's story and really empathize. He lost his mother growing up, gained a step-mother that was the direct person that caused the trauma in his life, feels like he lost his father to the one person that he truly hates, and has pretty much lost all of his friends and others due to this event and the toll that it has taken on him. I think Hansel is a real representation of children and how trauma effects them years down the line as they are becoming adults. As an adult, Hansel feels isolated, misunderstood, lost, and abandoned. This is where Hansel stands at the beginning of Myths of Mish. 

Gretel as a character is very different from Hansel. Gretel is 17 years old and was very young when the incident occurred. Thus, her mind was not as self-aware of everything that occurred. Overall, as a character Gretel was not my favorite, but that was due to personal reasons. As I said before, Gretel is 17, so her mind is very naive, gullible, and is quick to make rash decisions. This leads her to making decisions in the book that leave me shaking my head and thinking "Man, this girl is dumb!" Gretel comes across in the book as a side character that is really in the middle of all the action. She was directly there with Hansel when they were trapped with the witch in the house and she is directly there with Wilhemine and Hansel on the adventure. So Gretel comes across as the glue that is connecting a lot of things in the story, but she doesn't have enough agency to really understand everything that is going and being truly involved. Also, when she does make decisions, it is for the wrong reasons and she is misinformed. All of this is true, but remember she is 17. I think that many 17 year old girls can say that they made some bad decisions growing up and that they were a little dumb. 

Saving the best for last, WILHEMINE! Wilhemine is my favorite! She is strong, mature, self-aware, confident, brave, smart, and cares about others. She is a perfect role model for young woman. She has always cared about Hansel, but she has not given up who she is to try to win him over. She has stayed true to herself and if Hansel did not like her then so be it. I love that about her! Too many women try to change them self to win a guy, but Wilhemine does not do that. In the end, Hansel recognizes Wilhemine for who she is, but that is because her beauty shined from within. She stood up for herself and didn't let Hansel or any other person boss her around. She is a total Queen B! Queen Boss, guys! :D Also, like any modern Queen B, she has her own career and dreams. I completely love that everyone on the planet respected her, because she earned it. She has worked hard for everything that she has and nothing has been handed to her. She is not some sissy girl in a pretty dress with pretty hair. She is a strong, confident, and beautiful woman that knows her value and worth, but is also really kind. How can anyone hate her or not want to be her?! *Crying* SHE IS PERFECT! 

Last but not least, I was really excited to see the fairies made an appearance! :D Here are my favorite fairies to end my review. Enjoy! That is a wrap for me! 4 STARS and a must read in my opinion! I love this book and can't wait for book #3!

Review: Thin Lives by Bethany Kris

4 STARS FOR AN AMAZING TRILOGY FROM BETHANY KRIS!!

Some days, it felt like Emma had just imagined it all. 
Like maybe everything she had been with Calisto was just a dream. 
Emma knew it was crazy—it was impossible to forget what she had shared with Calisto Donati. All their love, the stolen moments, their foulness together, and the beauty underneath it all were real. 
They were real. 
But he didn't know. He didn’t know any of it. 
And little by little, with every day that passed her by, Emma found she was losing those pieces that reminded her they had existed once. 
Just like the rosary. 
All too soon, Emma knew … there would be nothing left.

Calisto Donati

Emma hadn’t given him a choice. 
Her, not him. 
Yeah, that’s what Calisto was going to keep telling himself. He refused to feed into the strange curiosity he had about Emma Donati. It had been building from the moment he’d first seen her face after he’d awakened. He wouldn’t admit that for longer than he cared to admit, he thought there was more behind her false smile, polite words, and the distance she put between her and him—that there might be more to them. 
He couldn’t. 
Except … he was feeding into it. 
Calisto just wasn’t sure what it was. 
But tonight he was going to find out. 
Whether she wanted to tell him or not.

***

The final Bloodlines novel.

(Generously received this book for my honest review by Indie Sage PR)

Thin Lives is the third and final book in the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy and is not a standalone novel. I HIGHLY SUGGEST that you read the first two novels in the series, Thin Lies and Thin Lines, before reading this novel. If you are interested in reading my reviews for Thin Lines and Thin Lies, then you can find them here. 

I cannot promise that you will not read any spoilers in those reviews or this one. I always try my best to not give away any major spoilers and forewarn you if the review does contain any spoilers, but still provide the best review that I can for the author and publishing company. Yada, Yada, Yada. Disclaimer, disclaimer, disclaimer. ON TO THE REVIEW!

If you have been keeping up with any of my reviews this year, then you know that I have been absolutely loving and raving about this series and BETHANY KRIS! Honestly, this has been one of my favorite trilogies/series of 2016. It is so different from the other trilogies that have come out this year and recently. Unlike other series that feature the first book, a filler second book, and the final book that wraps up the series, the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy has a first book that completely hooks you, a second book that makes you craving for more, and a final book that fulfills everything that you wanted in the series. This series does not have anything that I would change, complain, or criticize, which is really rare for a book series to achieve from me. So I will definitely applaud and hail Bethany Kris! She has definitely made it to my current list of favorite authors. She is up there with Alice Clayton and Penny Reid in terms of who I am really actively reading and loving at the moment. 

On the note of Bethany Kris, I have read all of the Filthy Marcellos series, minus Dante's story and I still think that the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy is better overall as a series. I believe that I find this storyline more appealing, captivating, gritty, and the characters in the story contain much more depth. You really believe Emma and Calisto, their feelings, and you connect with them. This is something that I felt was lacking a little bit in the Filthy Marcellos series. 

In terms of the Thin Lives novel, the novel continued where the second book left off with Calisto still not remembering Emma. I actually liked that Kris didn't immediately have Calisto remember Emma. The reader spent a good portion of the book with Calisto as he struggled to regain his memories. This was a journey that I wanted to take with Calisto as a reader. It wasn't rushed along for the sake of moving forward with the plot. At the same time, we were able to experience Emma's struggle with not being able to interact or reveal her history with Calisto. This was such a difficult predicament to read for the both of them, but I'm still glad that, as a reader, it was included in the book. 

As I stated in the previous novel, Alfonso is still a large factor and source of struggle for the couple. This was to be expected seeing as he is the big bad guy in the first two books. I do not want to reveal too much that happens with his character, because I do not want to give away any spoilers. But I will say that I am glad with the way that Kris ended his storyline in the book. It was a prefect conclusion for his character. I do not want to say too much more about the book, because I do not want to give anything away.

Do Emma and Calisto get their HEA? You will have to read the book to find out! ;)

Lastly, would I recommend this book to others? Definitely! I would definitely recommend the entire series. Especially to those that love Mafioso Romances. This would be right up your alley. It really is a great trilogy. Please do not take my lack of a review in terms of the book as a reflection of how amazing the series is. It is because I love the book so much that I am not writing/saying more of what occurs in the plot. 

Review: Now That It's You by Tawna Fenske

3 STARS FOR A GOOD ROM-COM & HAPPILY EVER AFTER!!

Talented chef Meg Delaney hasn’t spoken to her cheating ex-fiancé, Matt Midland, for two years. Ditching him at the altar after blurting out “I can’t” instead of “I do” would sour any relationship. But now, just as Meg is finally ready to bury the hatchet, she learns closure is permanently off the menu. And the kicker? Matt’s brother, Kyle, is back in her life, stirring up feelings that are equal parts guilt and lust.

Meg was the best thing that never happened to Kyle. He couldn’t make a move on his brother’s girlfriend—even if Matt didn’t value her nearly enough. The situation is even more complicated now that Meg’s bestselling aphrodisiac cookbook has spawned a legal battle with the Midlands. Maybe he should stay away. But love, like family, plays by its own rules. And the one woman he shouldn’t want might be the only one who’s perfect for him.

Now That It's You by Tawna Fenske is like one of those good Rom-Com movies that you can always put on and rely on it to make you feel good. It's like "Just Friends" with Ryan Reynolds. (It's one of my sister's favorite movies, so I have been exposed to the movie more times than I would have probably expected.) You know that when you put on "Just Friends" that it will make you laugh, but ultimately it is about the heart-wrenching HEA. Everyone always has a HEA movie that they put on, just because they need that little bit of reassurance and pick-me-up. This book reminded me of just that. 

Now That It's You has all of the key ingredients of a good Rom-Com/HEA. First, boy and girl first meet when they were young, but due to circumstances they were unable to form a romantic relationship. *Cough* Friends Zone *Cough*

Meg first met Kyle when Meg dated Kyle's brother, Matt. Meg and Matt dated for a significant amount of time before they became engaged, but Meg left him at the alter due to his infidelity. Leaving Kyle at the alter caused Meg and Kyle to not see each other ever again until Meg decided to go visit Kyle and get some closure on their relationship. This leads to the next part of a good Rom-Com/HEA. The reunited moment.

Meg and Kyle are both reintroduced into each other lives. It becomes new again. As if they are meeting each other for the first time, but not necessarily. There is a past between them, but now they can form a relationship that is not connected to their past. It can be based on the present. BUT......

Life happens and things get in their way, like every good Rom-Com. There has to be that little bit of conflict. And overall, I did like the conflict that Fenske provided. I definitely sided with Meg on some of the issues. I felt like Kyle was a little stupid, well in my opinion, in some of his decisions and some of the things that he said. Especially with some of the decisions that he made while Meg and Matt were still together. I like to think that it was because of Kyle's idiocy and inability to really commit to fighting for something that led to their "falling out". Yes, the good ol' falling out part of the Rom-Com movie where the director attempts to make you think that the couple is not going to be together, but YOU KNOW THAT THERE IS LIKE 20 MINUTES LEFT IN THE MOVIE!! THEY ARE SO GETTING BACK TOGETHER!

I will give Fenske credit with Meg and Kyle as a couple. I honestly really enjoyed them, because they were more mature about their relationship and feelings. They were actual adults.  The stupid moments with Kyle were genuine and believable in a way that a guy would be stupid. I didn't sit and scream at the book about how un-life-like it was. Many times, I read a Rom-Com book and will just roll my eyes at the characters, because it seems like they try to hard. The author just tries so hard to the make the characters or story like something that it comes across as just not believable. I'm just not convinced, but I didn't feel that way with Meg and Kyle. I think that my sister (a big Rom-Com fan) would enjoy this book. I would recommend it to her Dawson's Creek loving , Love Actually obsession, Just Friends loving heart. I think that it would be right up her alley. 

He's so cute! :D

Until the next review, which I'm hoping to start on right away. Like I said in my previous blog, I have some catching up to do.

Review: Cream of the Crop by Alice Clayton

3 STARS FOR A CURVY, CONFIDENT WOMAN!!


Manhattan’s It Girl, Natalie Grayson, has it all: she’s a hot exec at a leading advertising firm, known industry-wide for her challenging and edgy campaigns. She’s got a large circle of friends, a family that loves her dearly, and her dance card is always full with handsome eligible bachelors. What else could a modern gal-about-town wish for? The answer, of course, is...cheese.

Natalie’s favorite part of each week is spending Saturday morning at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, where she indulges her love of all things triple cream. Her favorite booth also indulges her love of all things handsome. Oscar Mendoza, owner of the Bailey Falls Creamery and purveyor of the finest artisanal cheeses the Hudson Valley has to offer, is tall, dark, mysterious, and a bit oblivious. Or so she thinks. But that doesn’t stop Natalie from fantasizing about the size of his, ahem, milk can.

Romance is churning, passion is burning, and something incredible is rising to the top. Could it be...love?

*CONTAINS MINOR SPOILERS. READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION*

This blog entry and countless others have been sitting here on my laptop for a while now waiting for the reviews to be written, but I just haven't had the moment in my life to put everything else on pause and write all of the reviews that are pilling up. So there isn't a better day, then Labor Day to take advantage of the time off from work to provide some reviews for all of you.

First things first, Alice Clayton's Cream of the Crop. Alice Clayton is one of my favorite authors. I love her series Wallbanger and the first novel in The Hudson Valley series, Nuts.

Cream of the Crop focuses on the story of Natalie Grayson. Natalie and Clara were first introduced as Roxie Callahan's best friends in Nuts and I'm interested to see how Clara's story plays out in the next novel. Clayton has not released the name or date for the third book in the series yet, but I am hopeful that it will come out in 2017.

I like Natalie's story when I solely focus just on her past, how she came to where she is currently, and who she is as an individual. I think Natalie's voice as a character is unique and funny. She is like so many of us with secret desires of a life that we are afraid to voice. Afraid that if we speak them out loud or share them with others then that will make the dreams real and us vulnerable.

Natalie is also relatable as a protagonist in her appearance. She is not a perfect Barbie cut woman. She is larger and curvaceous and totally owns it! She wears stilettos and the current fashion trends. She doesn't allow a number on the scale to dictate how she feels about herself or the confidence that she exudes.

Natalie is awesome and like I mentioned, I enjoy her back history, everything overall about Natalie, and her story.  BUT...... I felt like there were things lacking with Cream of the Crop and they lie more with the development of Oscar as a character, the plot with his ex-wife, and the pace of the ending of the novel.

I understand the appeal of Oscar as a character. He is a quiet, mysterious, sexy farmer, BUT I wish there was a little bit more developing of Oscar as a character. I wanted more depth and dialogue. Once I finished the novel, it hit me that Oscar didn't really say a whole lot. I didn't feel like I really knew Oscar. Oscar was almost more of a concept of a man. So when some of the more serious scenes and interactions did occur, I completely sided with Natalie and didn't understand why Oscar was behaving the way that he was. It was really frustrating.

The best way I can describe it is when you are dating someone and you know them as the person that you have been dating. You know their name, occupation, and what you have gathered from experiences together, but something occurs and all of a sudden it makes you realize that you don't really know them at all. You thought that you did, because you had the basic information and everything else you filled in with your mind. And it is all of those empty spaces that you filled in that turned out to be completely wrong and now it makes you question who it is that you have been dating and seeing. Now, I'm not saying that Oscar is exactly like this scenario, but this is what comes to mind when I think of how I felt about Oscar at the end of the book. Plus, the epilogue from his point of view was kind of odd.

Now, in terms of the plot with Missy. Missy and her relationship with Oscar completely frustrated me, and I completely agreed with Natalie's feelings and sentiments. Of course, some of you will think that I am only siding with Natalie because she is the protagonist and that I wanted her to be with Oscar, but even if Oscar and Natalie did not end up together I would have still thought that Missy and Oscar's relationship was not healthy and weird. I hated that Clayton made Natalie look like a bully/villain/bad guy for calling out Missy and Oscar on their friendly relationship. I do not believe that Oscar could have a healthy relationship with any woman while Missy was still a large part of his life. It is not to say that two ex-spouses could not be on good terms, but there is a difference between being on good terms and baking muffins for your ex-spouse every week and texting them anytime that you need something. VERY BIG DIFFERENCE! And there is nothing wrong with a woman beginning a relationship with a guy and wanting to be the main woman in his life, wanting his focus and attention. There is nothing wrong with that. I think that most would expect it.

Lastly, is the pace of the book at the end. The beginning and middle had great pace with moving the plot along, but the ending felt completely rushed. I felt like there was really great content at the end of the book that given the opportunity to flesh out and really dive into could have brought a lot of development to Natalie and Oscar as a couple. One example, Natalie had a whole scene where she spoke to Chad and Logan about her previous relationship. This was a really big, important moment for Natalie in the book. It really revealed a lot of information about Natalie as a character. Yet, this type of moment never occurred for Natalie with Oscar, instead it was a short, brief moment. I would think that Clayton and Natalie would want Oscar to have the same, if not, more time and treatment of the topic. It came across to me, as a reader, that Natalie didn't really want to tell Oscar the full story. Like she just glazed over it and how much it impacted her. Another example, Natalie ran into her ex and it did affect her emotionally, but Clayton just grazed the surface with the scene. This was a moment that I wish Clayton would have taken the time and added the extra pages to provide more depth and details, because Clayton did already write the scene. I wish that she would have just really gone for it and written a full blown interaction or discussion between Natalie and Oscar about her ex or even a full discussion between Natalie and her ex. Yet, this never occurred. These are just two examples of content that occurred at the end of the book, but was rushed.

Overall, I really enjoy Natalie and Alice Clayton's works. Sure, there are some things lacking with the book that I personally think would have enhanced the story, but I still feel like the story is worth 3 stars. I still like the book, but I would have really enjoyed the book and would be raving about it if it had these changes.

Review: Thin Lines by Bethany Kris

4 STARS FOR UGLY CRYING LIKE KIM KARDASHIAN AND MAFIA DRAMA!

Calisto and Emma are back! <3

WARNING: The first two books in the Donati Bloodlines Trilogy end on a cliffhanger, and are not considered safe romance.

Calisto Donati

Calisto had never been a fan of pain, but he found it provided a certain relief. 
It was a high that couldn’t compete with anything else he experienced. That was why he fought bare-knuckled, why he drove fast, despite knowing he might crash, and why he still enjoyed looking at Emma Donati—no matter her current status. 
Pain felt good. 
He might have been a fool for doing so, but as long as he got what he wanted from it, he didn’t really care. 
When he fought, he was given release. When he drove, he was given freedom. When he looked at Emma, he was given memories. 
All of them brought a certain level of pain. All three might kill him someday. 
Calisto glanced at Emma, taking her in again when she didn’t know he was looking. 
He realized then that only one might actually be worth dying for. 


Emma Donati

Emma kept her gaze on the book in her lap, pretending like there wasn’t an argument going on across the room. She had become terribly good at acting like she didn’t hear. 
Calisto watched her out of the corner of his eye while he argued on with Affonso.
She was too focused on Calisto to care about their fight. 
His anger. The tightness of his jaw. Searing soul-black eyes. 
The two men were not the same. They might have shared blood, but their hearts were entirely different. One man never let her out of his sight when he was nearby. The other acted like she didn’t exist. 
This was what it was like, she realized, to be in love with someone she couldn’t have. 
Calisto Donati would never be hers.
This wasn’t a fairy tale that would end happily. 
They weren’t star-crossed. They were impossible. 

*Generously received a copy from Indie Sage PR in exchange for an honest review*

Bloggers Note: It is July! I apologize for being a little MIA recently. June was not one of my greatest months in terms of reading and reviewing. I have been very busy with everything going on in my life (working, summer plans, keeping up with things around the house, "attempting" to keep a workout regiment, and everything else that the world throws at me) that I haven't even had a chance to spend any time reading, let alone writing reviews. But I hope that will change sometime soon. Reading and writing reviews bring a lot of joy and happiness to me personally. It is one of the few things that I do for myself and not for anyone else and I actually notice a correlation between how much I read and my level of happiness. Well, enough about me......ON TO THE REVIEW!

If you have not read Thin Lies, then I suggest that you wait to read my review. Thin Lines is the sequel to Thin Lies and cannot be read as a stand-alone. 

Calisto and Emma are back!! After reading Thin Lies back in April, Bethany-Kris has finally graced us with her sequel to the book (If you have not had the chance to read my review for the first book, then you can find it here: *Review: Thin Lies by Bethany-Kris*). I was so excited to read this. My level of excitement and joy was soaring through the roof. And then I started to read it......

Now, if you read the first book, then you are fully aware of the cliff-hanger at the end of the book and how heart wrenching it was. Well, Thin Lines does not release your heart from the wrenching and gut-punching moments. If anything, I feel like Bethany-Kris beat us down into the ground and keeps throwing the punching to remind us to stay down and to never try to get up. The series does not have a warning about not being a safe romance for nothing. I feel like there is no hope in the world left for Calisto and Emma. 

While I was reading Thin Lines.  I blame you, Bethany-Kris!

So, as I have established, Calisto and Emma's story was super depressing through Thin Lines. For the most part. I don't want to go into too much detail as to what actually occurs in the book. This book is still super amazing, even though I have said nothing, but how depressing it was to read. But the depressing and heart wrenching parts are what make-up the book and make it special.

Every other book has a beginning, end, and a moment of struggle in between, but the Donati Bloodlines trilogy has a depressing beginning, a depressing middle, and I am really rooting for a happy ending somewhere in there. I will honestly be really angry, annoyed, and betrayed if there is a depressing ending. I will seriously be screaming at the book and questioning everything that I am doing in life, if there is not a HEA.

I will also note that this book was great in terms of character development. Calisto and Emma both grew as characters, together and separately. The twists and turns in the story were not predictable and legitimately surprised me. Notice the "s" at the end of both words. This book does not string you along and then throw in a twist at the end to catch you off guard and wanting more. No, Bethany-Kris keeps you on the tip of your toes through the whole book and do not expect her to hold back and protect her two heros. No, if anything she feeds her two love birds to the dogs and leaves us asking why. Why does this keep happening to them? And when will they ever get there happily ever after? After finishing the second book, I don't know if they will have a HEA. I really don't. The last book is really going to be a up hill battle, because I don't expect Bethant-Kris and Alfonso to make it easy for them.

But until then, I will think back on the fond moments of Calisto and Emma, because they do have a few of them. Moments of joy and hope. I imagine doves flying in the air when I think of the happy times without Alfonso popping up and destroying everything and everyone in his path. <3

Review: Only for a Night by Naima Simone

2 1/2 - 3 STARS FOR STEAMY SEX, DISCUSSING ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIPS, & MISCARRIAGES

Rion Ward fought hard to be free of the Irish mob life. Now, as the co-owner of Boston’s hottest aphrodisiac club, he’s traded crime for the ultimate sexual fantasy. But when the “good girl” from his past walks through Lick’s doors, he discovers that his unconsummated hunger for her never abated.

Widowed for two years from a man who felt that anything besides the missionary position was dirty, Harper Shaw is ready to move on. The first step to feeling alive again is sex. Hot, dirty, black-out-from-orgasm sex. And who better to provide it than the brooding, sexy, tatted bad boy-turned-man she’s known for years?

Rion, however, has one stipulation: He’ll be hers only for one night. One night to explore her every fantasy. One night to push her limits. One night to introduce her to a passion that makes both doubt if it will be enough…

*Generously received a copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

My overall feelings for this book are mixed, thus leaving a mixed stars rating. I don't believe the book was lacking enough to give it 2 stars, but I don't think the book can be warranted a 3 star rating with the other books that I have provided the same rating. Thus, a mixed feelings review will be brought to you.

The easiest way for me to convey how I feel about this book is through a list of things that I like and things that maybe just didn't cut it for me.

Likes:

1. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenes and dialogue between Rion and Harper. They held so much tension that was so sexy. Plus, the book held great foreplay. I have previously mentioned in other reviews about the importance of foreplay and this book is a great example of execution of foreplay. 
2. The intercourse scenes were steamy and, like I mentioned above, the foreplay helped the tension and build up to the scenes. Also, there were some moments that made me a little uncomfortable as a reader, but I do not hold that against the book. They are scenes that made me, personally, uncomfortable, but they did not make me put down the book and stop reading. I just kept reading through them. 
3. I really liked that the heroine in the book was a widow with a difficult past. It isn't very common to have a leading lady that is a widow with a former husband that was abusive, plus had a miscarriage. Honestly, I read plenty of books that have provided less of a back story and tried to get away with it, so this story providing the back story that Harper has was a big thumbs up in my book!

I really don't want to rush through the greatness of touching on Harper's story. Harper tried to do like many other women have tried to do, and that is being with a guy because of how he sounds on paper and because they think that the man is the type of guy that women are supposed to be with. This is one of the gravest mistakes that women can make and Harper experienced the repercussions. Being with a man that doesn't love you for who you are, staying with a guy for guilt, believing that everything is okay because he is financially supporting you, but who cares about emotionally well-being! (*Sarcasm*) I am, honestly, so glad that Simone took the time to write Harper's back story! For me, I could have read a story about Harper and everything that happened to her and not have cared about all of the steamy scenes. It was just that compelling to me! Not to mention, the hurt and loss that she experienced with losing a child that she was never able to carry. It is all so heart-breaking! So yes, it might seem like I am rambling, but I did not want this part of the story to be overlooked or not given the time and recognition that it deserves for being in an erotic romance novel. 

Dislikes:

1. So even though Harper has such a great back story, the overall plot of the book was very surface. All of Simone's time and creative was thrown into Harper's back story, which left the rest of the book was wanting, but part of me feels like I am being a little hard on the book. Pretty much, the book has a great back story with Harper and then you have steamy sex scenes. That is the book. I do not feel like there is anything else to the story, which is a bummer. :/ I wish that we, as the readers, were able to spend more time Rion in terms of character development and were able to get to know some of the other characters better. I just feel like the story has a lot more potential. 
2. The book is short. Like very short. 120 pages short. I read the book on my way to Tennessee and was able to finish the book before I actually arrived at my destination. I know that it is a silly thing to ding the book, but I feel like a good book should be longer than 120 pages. It made the end of the book feel rushed and did not provide the correct sense of closure. P.S. Completely thrown for a loop with the family reunion type scene at the end. It felt really odd. 

So, these are my thoughts, opinions, and feelings. I feel like this review is all over the place. One minute I am praising the book for discuss issues for women and then the next, I am bashing the book for not enough character development and plot. Obviously, I cant decide how I really feel about this book. But hey! It happens. Some books are just that way. 

Review: Grin & Beard It by Penny Reid

3 1/2 STARS FOR JETHRO WINTON, BEARDS, & SEXY PLUS-SIZED HISPANIC LEADS!!

Sienna Diaz is everyone’s favorite “fat” funny lady. The movie studio executives can’t explain it, but her films are out-grossing all the fit and trim headliners and Hollywood’s most beautiful elite. The simple truth is, everyone loves plus-sized Sienna.

But she has a problem, she can’t read maps and her sense of direction is almost as bad as her comedic timing is stellar. Therefore, when Sienna’s latest starring role takes her to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park she finds herself continually lost while trying to navigate the backroads of Green Valley, Tennessee. Much to her consternation, Sienna’s most frequent savior is a ridiculously handsome, charming, and cheeky Park Ranger by the name of Jethro Winston. 

Sienna is accustomed to high levels of man-handsome, so it’s not Jethro’s chiseled features or his perfect physique that make Sienna stutter. It’s his southern charm. And gentlemanly manners. And habit of looking at her too long and too often.

Sienna has successfully navigated the labyrinth of Hollywood heart-throbs. But can she traverse the tenuous trails of Tennessee without losing her head? Or worse, her heart? 

 Penny Reid does it again! I have read many of her works from the Knitting in the City series, the first book in the Winston Brothers series,  and I posted a review on this blog about The Player and the Pixie #2 in the Rugby series, which Reid collaborates with L.H. Cosway on the series. 

Similar to Reid's other series and works, Grin & Beard It does not disappoint! I have to admit, I have a problem when it comes to Reid's books. Anytime I pick up one of her books to read, I cannot put it down until I have finished the book. Seriously, it's a problem. This past weekend, I visited the zoo with my boyfriend and what was I doing on the way to the zoo? Reading Grin & Beard It. What was I doing while I was waiting for my boyfriend to get out of the bathroom? Reading Grin & Beard It. What was I doing on the way home from the zoo? Reading Grin & Beard It. I seriously think that Reid created a monster with this series. It consumes my life each time that she releases the next book. I'm not saying that I am complaining. I am willingly handing myself over to the monster with the sexy beard and yelling "YES! TAKE MY LIFE! I AM YOUR'S TO HAVE!" That pretty much describes my weekend with Grin & Beard It. 

Now to the stuff that you actually care about, how is the book and the content. The overall story line and plot is funny and entertaining. There are many scenes that had me laughing out loud. Such as this: 

"He hesitated for just a second before saying, 'It's just that, I like that you eat hot sauce because it means that you can handle surprises in your mouth.'"

Hot damn! Now if that isn't sexy, yet hilarious at the same time? Then I don't know what is! Reid had many scenes like this one and she excels at writing them. 

Sienna and Jethro as a couple are fun, especially Sienna! Sienna cracks me up! She reminds me of a mix between Sofia Vergara and America Ferrera. Short, funny, witty, curvy. grew up in America so she is still connected with the pop culture, but still connected to her Hispanic roots through her parents. Sienna as a character is someone that everyone can connect easily and is relatable. She has struggled with her weight and society's pressure to confirm to their ideals, but has a strong sense of who she is. I believe that is something that needs to be commended. I really applaud Reid for writing her character. There is not enough women characters in literature like Sienna. She stood up to not only to society and her peers in the industry, but even her sister. That is not something that everyone can and will do. 

Jethro Winston is a character that I was really unsure of going into the book. I was already familiar with Beau, Cletus, and Duane from the first Winstons book, so I knew that I would love them, especially Cletus. Cletus really shines  in this book and I can't wait to read his story in book #3. Also, I am super curious about Billy's story. 

(Note to Penny Reid: I felt like you left me hanging with the back story on Billy and Claire! What happened between them? And did Claire leave? We never got an answer!)

But back to Jethro. I enjoyed reading Jethro's character for the same similar reasons that I enjoyed reading Duane's. I like that Jethro really cares about how his decisions affect others. He isn't selfish. He is family oriented. Basically, he has many traits that are really appealing to women. He is handsome, smooth, charming, and do I need to remind you about the quote above? Yet, he has drawbacks with his past. His past is like a killer in a horror movie. The hero keeps looking over their shoulder to see if the killer is there or not. As the viewer, you keep screaming at them to run, RUN AS FAST AS YOU CAN! Yet, you never know when it is going to pop-up and stab you in the back. So this fear that Jethro has is a drawback. 

You are probably wondering why I gave the book 3 1/2 stars when everything that I have been writing is positive. Well, 3 1/2 stars come from a couple personal hiccups that I have. 

1. The previous mentioned unanswered back story with Billy & Claire. Also, only mentioning once that Claire was going to be leaving then never mentioning it ever again. 
1. So, unlike the resolution with Claire. Billy & Claire's history was a topic that was brought up multiple times. I'm pretty sure I can find at least three scenes where their history was brought up for question. Yet, it was never answered. We, as the reader, never received the full disclosure as to what happened. I'm assuming that this will be later revealed in Billy's book, but as a reader I am really kind of frustrated by that because I want to know now. It was brought up now, so I want to know now. Not 4 books later!
2. Did Claire move? I don't know. Claire told Sienna that she was moving and that she wasn't planning on telling Jethro. That is about as much information that the reader got. I'm just going to assume like I mentioned above that this will be revealed in a later book. 
2. Not a enough of conflict. 
1. There were things that were struggles for Sienna and Jethro, but that was limited to between the two. I talking about in terms of outside conflict between the couple. There was one thing that created conflict for Sienna and Jethro, but I feel like it was easily handled and moved on. And I felt like Reid could have taken a step further. I think that in terms of the book, characters, and the overall plot, that there could have been more conflict. Really shake things up for Sienna and Jethro. It just came across too easy, which leads to the next point. 
3. Resolution. 
1. The resolution came across as everything ended perfect and HEA. Jethro and Sienna had a problem. They had a conversation. Happy Ending. Well, what does that mean? Is Sienna moving to Tennessee? Is Jethro living on the road with Sienna or moving to LA? Is Sienna going to be working as much? Are the press and crazy fans showing up at Jethro's house? Are Sienna and Jethro moving in to Claire's place? As a reader, I just wish there was a little bit more resolution to the story. 

Well, I believe that wraps up this review for me. I still really love and enjoy the book. I can't wait till Cletus' story comes out in September. You better believe that I will be reading it and writing a review for you! :) Please comment, like, email, share, do whatever you want to do! :)