Tuesday, August 28, 2018

Come Back to Me by Sharon Sala


Title: Come Back to Me 
Series: Blessings, Georgia #6
Author: Sharon Sala 
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Release Date: August 28, 2018





After a crime pitted their families against each other, high school sweethearts Phoebe Ritter and Aidan Payne were forced to say a tearful goodbye. Phoebe stayed behind in Blessings, Georgia, while Aidan and his father left town for good.


Twenty years later, after the death of his grandfather, Aidan comes home to Blessings--only to discover he has a nineteen-year-old son. Aidan is hurt, but thrilled to meet Lee. And as Aidan and Phoebe spend more time together, they realize their old feelings are as strong as ever. But with a complicated past riddled with drama and betrayal, can they truly forgive and forget?



Amazon |  B&N


I was happy to take another mental road trip to Blessings, Georgia. A small town where everyone knows each other. 

This time, our newest couple is actually an old one. 

After a horrible fire, Aidan Payne and his father will be forced to leave Blessings when the town turns their back on the Payne family. Aidan not only loses his friends and home but he will lose the love of his life, Phoebe Ritter. She didn't trust him when he needed her the most. 

Phoebe lost her father during the same fire. A day later, she lost the love of Aidan by obeying her mother who blames Aidan's dad for the accident. It takes a few days for Phoebe to understand that she has made a mistake but when she goes back to tell Aidan she was wrong, he's packing the car to leave town. The last thing Phoebe does is to run behind his car and to scream for Aidan to come back for her. 

Fast forward years later and Aidan is going back to Blessings. His grandfather has died and he has inherited all his real-estate properties. Aidan has not been back since the fire. As he approaches Blessings, he admits to himself that he's not crazy about going back. Worse, he doesn't want to encounter Phoebe. He doesn't want to learn that she's now unavailable. Even after all these years, he has never forgotten her or been able to start a serious relationship with another woman. But Aidan is going to get the shock of his life. It turns out that when he left, Phoebe was pregnant with their son and now their son, Lee is a college student. 

I LOVED. LOVED. LOVED how the story unfolds. We get many points of views and each one helps the reader paint a better picture of what's really going on. For the most part, the people of Blessings are all helpful, compassionate and caring. They do like to meddle and gossip but what small town doesn't? 

Sharon Sala's books are always heartwarming and sweet. It's exactly what I need between my thrillers and suspense romance. 

Even though Come Back to Me is the sixth in the series, I believe you can read them as a standalone. 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Monday, August 27, 2018

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han


Title: To All the Boys I've Loved Before 
Series: To All the Boys I've Loved Before #1
Author: Jenny Han
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Release Date: April 15, 2014



What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them… all at once? 



Sixteen-year-old Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control. 





“If love is like a possession, maybe my letter are like my exorcisms”


Sometimes when a book has so much hype, I become doubtful. If I go in with high expectations, I might end up being disappointed. 

Thankfully, I really liked To All the Boys I've Loved Before. It was what I needed. A cute romantic novel that stole my heart. 

From the first page, our heroine Lara Jean Song's quirkiness was endearing to me. She's shy, likes to blend into the background, is a good sibling and a no-problem daughter. She's a good student and someone might say she's a goody-two-shoes. 

As part of her catharsis, Lara Jean has written letters to the boys she has fallen for. She writes them once her feelings for them are over. So when all the letters she has written to them end up being mailed and distributed to them, Laura Jean doesn't know what to do. 

Ok, let me back up a little. The book begins with the Song sisters. All three of them are very close to each other. Their dad is an Obgyn and they lost their mother due to a freak accident. Margot, the oldest daughter took the role of a mother when they lost her. She made sure their house run smoothly. But, Margot is moving to Scotland to attend college and now it will be up to Lara Jean to take the post next. She will take over the chores and take care of her little sister, Kitty and their father.

Just a few days after her sister leaves, Lara Jean wrecks Margot's car. While she's waiting for Josh, Margot's ex-boyfriend and their neighbor (and one of her crushes), Peter Kavinsky stops by to ask if she's ok. Peter K used to be her friend. She also used to be friends with Genevieve, Peter's girlfriend. Lara Jean is surprised by Peter's act of kindness. Peter was her first kiss and she wrote him a letter after she lost her romantic feelings for him. 

Next thing she knows, Peter is cornering her at school and asking about the letter he received. She downplays it and tells him that she wrote it a long time ago while inside her heart is hammering. Later, Josh is also on the receiving end of another letter. Lara Jean feels ashamed. Her sister is not even gone for long and her ex-boyfriend is asking her about her feelings. Lara Jean in a moment of panic uses Peter as an excuse. She tells Josh, she's now with Peter (he and Genevieve have broken up). To her shock, Peter wants to continue the farse.

“It's not like in the movies. It's better, because it's real.”

I just adored everything about this book. I love the sibling interaction, they way they are protective of their father. I adore Peter once I got to know him. I'm still not sure what power Genevieve has over him but hopefully, it won't last long. Josh was sweet, especially at the beginning.

Lara Jean's baking made my mouth water all the time. They had so many traditions that made them endearing to me. I do have to say, the writing felt more of a younger character's voice but I got over that real fast. The pages just turned by themselves.  

Once I got to the end, I just couldn't believe it was the last page. I needed more. I'm so lucky I didn't have to wait to start P.S. I Still Love You.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs


Sunday, August 19, 2018

The Hating Game by Sally Thorne


Title: The Hating Game
Author: Sally Thorne
Release date: August 9, 2016 
Publisher: William Morrow




Nemesis (n.)
1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome;
2) A person’s undoing;
3) Joshua Templeman.
Lucy Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their feelings through a series of ritualistic passive-aggressive maneuvers as they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight, meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.


Now up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just another game.





Amazon | B&N




I will like to nominate Lucy Hutton's speech as one of the best speeches used in defending someone you care about which I've read in romance. I could vividly picture the scene in my head. It would be I.D.E.A.L for a movie!

The Hating Game stars Lucy Hutton and Josh Templeman. Lucy and Josh hate each other. They are both working as executive assistants to their respective CEOs of a publishing company. The CEO's don't like each other either. The current publishing company was the result of a merger between two companies in order to remain afloat. Lucy came from the Gamins and Josh came from the Bexleys.

Lucy is the nice girl. She tries to get along with everyone. She was raised on a strawberry farm but she fell in love with her job. She has a great relationship with her parents but no recent boyfriend. Her life is her job and trying to beat Josh in every game they play. 

Josh and Lucy have a staring game (which included the serial killer eyes), they have an HR game and many more. The idea is to break the other one. Josh's nickname for Lucy is Shortcake. Yes, Lucy is short and Josh makes fun of her height. Lucy would like nothing more than stop having to see Josh's face every morning. She would also like for Josh not to be so handsome. She knows everything about the way he looks, the body he has and the shirts he wears for work. She thinks Josh is cold, uncaring and too uptight. He's a psycho for order and discipline. 

Everything gets worse when a new position is available for only one of them. They both want the promotion and they will have to compete against each other for it. If the tension in the office was bad, when the news spreads about the new opening, it becomes exponentially worse. 

It was so much fun finding out more about Josh. I think Sally Thorne did a perfect job in letting the readers learn more about him in a slow way. Through Lucy's eyes and voice, we are just as surprised as she is when we find out the truth behind Josh's cold exterior. I finished the book with a big smile on my face. I thought it ended superbly.

I had a hard time deciding between a four or a five star rating. I guess the only reason why I don't give it a five it's because Lucy could act too immature at times but at the same time, she could be a tigress and defend what/who was important to her. 

By the way, Robin egg blue is a beautiful color :) 

Cliffhanger: No

4.5 Fangs

Thursday, August 16, 2018

Two Alone by Sandra Brown


Title: Two Alone 
Author:  Sandra Brown





Beautiful and self-confident businesswoman Rusty Carlson was hurt, terrified and alone with a man she feared. But one thing was certain she would surely die without his help. 

Vietnam vet Cooper Landry had a deep-rooted grudge against beautiful women like Rusty. Experience had taught him they were takers. But he'd survived far worse dangers, and this time he'd be damned if he'd let her risk his chance for survival. But there were predators in the dense woods both animals and human and the odds were against them. They could handle that. 

What Rusty and Cooper weren't prepared for was the discovery that they desired more than just survival.









It was bound to happen. For the first time since I started reading her books, I found a hero who's not to my tasting. 

Why?

He was so mean and rude to her. For me, it was a little too late when he realized what he had and then decided not to let her go.

Maybe it's because this book was written some time ago but I just didn't like the guy. I was all about the heroine. She did her best in an awful situation and she was super patient with him and his frequent outbursts of anger. I mean she had no other means of survival so I get why she needed to be on her best behavior with him but once civilization was back on the plate, she should have made him grovel big time. 

So what's Two Alone about?

Rusty Carlson and Cooper Landry found themselves as the sole survivors after a plane crash.  Rusty is the first one to wake up and she helps Cooper get out of the plane. As soon as Cooper is awake, he takes the lead in organizing their survival.

Rusty is a successful real state agent in Los Angeles. She comes from money. Despite this, she's able and ready to deal with her new environment. 

Cooper is an ex-Vietnam vet. He's rough around the edges. He's a man of few words and he's someone who mistrusts women implicitly. He dislikes Rusty from the moment his eyes landed on her. She's too beautiful and probably in need of a sugar daddy. He also thinks she's a seductress who's making him be consumed by lust. 

Uff, can you tell why I wasn't a fan of Cooper? 

Now, the writing per se was as always stellar with great descriptions and ambiance.

Cliffhanger: No

3/5 Fangs

Tuesday, August 14, 2018

The Prince by Jennifer L. Armentrout

 

From #1 New York Times Bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout, comes THE PRINCE, a new novella in her Wicked Series, brought to you by 1,001 Dark Nights! Be sure to grab your copy today!


 



From #1 New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout comes a new story in her Wicked series…

She’s everything he wants….

Cold. Heartless. Deadly. Whispers of his name alone bring fear to fae and mortals alike. The Prince. There is nothing in the mortal world more dangerous than him. Haunted by a past he couldn’t control, all Caden desires is revenge against those who’d wronged him, trapping him in never-ending nightmare. And there is one person he knows can help him.

She’s everything he can’t have…

Raised within the Order, Brighton Jussier knows just how dangerous the Prince is, reformed or not. She’d seen firsthand what atrocities he could be capable of. The last thing she wants to do is help him, but he leaves her little choice. Forced to work alongside him, she begins to see the man under the bitter ice. Yearning for him feels like the definition of insanity, but there’s no denying the heat in his touch and the wicked promise is his stare.

She’s everything he’ll take….

But there’s someone out there who wants to return the Prince to his former self. A walking, breathing nightmare that is hell bent on destroying the world and everyone close to him. The last thing either of them needs is a distraction, but with the attraction growing between them each now, the one thing he wants more than anything may be the one thing that will be his undoing.

She’s everything he’d die for….





Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Amazon Canada

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 Did it make you a bad friend if you were completely, a hundred percent envious of that friend? Yes? No? Kind of? I figured it was somewhere in between. That’s what I was mulling over as I watched Ivy Morgan brush thick, red curls over her shoulder, laughing at something her boyfriend Ren Owens had said to her. At least I wasn’t envious of that—their love. Okay, well, that wasn’t entirely true. Pretty sure anyone who was as single as me would be envious of all that warm and fuzzy that was passed back and forth with each long look or casual brush of skin. The two could barely tear their gazes away from one another to eat the dinner we’d grabbed at the cute little diner inside the shopping center on Prytania Street. I honest to God couldn’t be happier for them. They’d been through so much—way more than two people should ever have to go through to be together, and here they were, stronger and more in love than ever, and they deserved that happiness. But their epic love story wasn’t the source of a current case of the green-eye monster that was sitting on my shoulder. Ivy was just such a… badass. Even right now, relaxed in the chair, surrounded by twinkling Christmas lights with her hand in Ren’s and her belly full of a cheeseburger deluxe and crinkle fries and half of my tater tots, she could kick ass and take names along with addresses, telephone numbers, and social security numbers. If the proverbial poo hit the fan, you called Ivy or Ren. If you needed to know what streets Royal intersected with, you called… me. Or if you needed coffee or fresh beignets but were currently busy, you know, saving the world, you’d call me. The three of us were all members of the Order, a widespread organization that was literally the only thing that stood between mankind and complete, utter enslavement and destruction by the fae. And not the super cute fae found in Disney movies or some crap like that. Humans thought they were on top of the food chain. They were wrong. The fae were. The only thing pop culture got right about the fae was their slightly pointy ears. That was it. The fae were more than just beings from another world—the Otherworld—they were capable of glamouring their appearance to blend in with humans. But all Order members, even me, were warded at birth against the glamour. We saw through the human façade to the creature that lurked beneath.  



   











 

# 1 New York Times, USA Today and international bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you’ve heard about her state aren’t true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell Loki. Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. She also writes adult and New Adult romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.   

Website | Facebook | Twitter


   



 

Be Mine, Sweetheart by Codi Gary


Title: Be Mine, Sweetheart 
Series: Something Borrowed
Author: Codi Gary 
Publisher: Lyrical Press
Release Date: August 14, 2018




RULE #3: DON’T MIX BUSINESS WITH MIXED DRINKS


Kelly Barrow, the founder of Something Borrowed, didn’t get the happily ever after she counted on, but she considers herself fortunate anyway. After all, she has a thriving business and a loving family and friends. Yet ten years after her heartbreak, surrounded by couples in love, she knows it’s time to move on—and the gorgeous actor who hires her for his sister’s wedding seems like the perfect opportunity. There’s just one problem. Her best friend and legal counsel, Christian Ryan, keeps getting in her way . . .



Chris has been a shoulder to lean on since they were kids, and Kelly never expected him to interfere in her dating life. She doesn’t realize that over the years, Chris’s feelings have grown beyond friendship. The timing just never seemed right—until now. And as the two of them work through the wedding’s inevitable surprises and disasters, Kelly begins to wonder if she’s been looking for love in the exact wrong place . . 










Kelly Barrow and Christian Ryan have been friends for a long time. When they were teenagers, Christian approached her and told her, his best friend Ray liked her. She told him to tell Ray to tell her himself. This was the beginning of their friendship. Kelly fell for Ray and a few years later, Ray asked her to marry him. Of course, she said yes. Regrettably, the wedding never happened. Ray died while on tour in the middle east, leaving behind Kelly and Christian and their grief.

Fast forward fifteen years and Kelly is the owner of Something Borrowed. She loves her job but she's starting to feel lonely. She's thinking it's time to start dating. She opens a profile on a dating website and to her dismay, her first date is a bust. 

Christian is now a successful lawyer. He handles the business contracts for Something Borrowed. He dates but never seems to find the right gal. He's true constant is Kelly. They do everything together. They have movie nights and they text each other constantly. To Christian's surprise, he gets upset when he discovers Kelly is about to start dating again. He doesn't understand his feelings but when the actor Hank Townsend shows a definite interest in Kelly, he can't stand it. 

Be Mine, Sweetheart is a Friends to Lovers novel. One that had the right ingredients to make it sweet and sexy at the same time. I enjoyed Kelly and Christian's camaraderie, banter and friendship. I got a kick out of their shock when they realized they wanted more. 

I wonder if they'll be another book in this series. I think there's potential for one more couple. 

Cliffhanger: No

3.75/5 Fangs


Friday, August 10, 2018

Tailspin by Sandra Brown


Title: Tailspin 
Author: Tailspin by Sandra Brown
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: August 7, 2018 




#1 New York Times bestselling author Sandra Brown returns with a potent fusion of tantalizing suspense and romance, in a thriller about a reckless pilot caught in a race against time.



Rye Mallett, a fearless “freight dog” pilot charged with flying cargo to far-flung locations, is often rough-spoken, usually unshaven, and he never gets the regulation eight hours of shut-eye before a flight; but he does have a rock-solid reputation: he will fly in the foulest weather, day or night, and deliver the goods safely to their destination. So, when Rye is asked to fly into a completely fogbound Northern Georgia town and deliver a mysterious black box to a Dr. Lambert, he doesn’t ask why–he just ups his price. As Rye’s plane nears the isolated landing strip, more trouble than inclement weather awaits him. He is greeted first by a sabotage attempt that causes him to crash land, and then by Dr. Brynn O’Neal, who claims she was sent for the box in Dr. Lambert’s stead. Despite Rye’s firm “no-involvement” policy when it comes to other people–especially gorgeous women he doesn’t trust–he knows that something about his mysterious cargo just isn’t adding up. Soon Rye and Brynn are in a treacherous 48-hour race to deliver the box before time runs out. With the hours slipping by and everyone from law enforcement officials to hired thugs hot on their heels, the two must protect their valuable cargo from those who would kill for it–that is, if they can trust each other. 











Another great addition to my Sandra Brown's favorite book list!

Tailspin had me from the first chapter. I couldn't wait to know what was waiting at the end of the tunnel. 

Tailspin begins with a storm and a pilot who likes to pursue challenging flights. He's what we call a freight pilot. He'll fly under any circumstances. When another pilot turns down a job due to weather, Rye Mallett doesn't think twice and says yes. His destination is to fly to Georgia and deliver the cargo to a doctor by the name of Lambert. The cargo he's flying is a black box with unknown contents but he knows the contents have to be important enough to be asked to do so with the current conditions. 

To his surprise, when he gets there, Dr. Lambert is nowhere to be found. Instead, Dr. Brynn O'Neil is there and she wants to take the box. Rye knows something is amiss and he wants to know what's inside the box. He doesn't think that Brynn is telling him the whole truth. Soon it's clear that someone covets the contents inside the box and they will stop at nothing to get it.  

I love Rye and Brynn together. They had plenty of chemistry and attraction to make me believe that after forty-eight hours, they deserved to be together. So many things happened to them. There were plenty of twists to keep my attention and there were more than enough to make me forget about the real world.

Rye was fantastic. Despite his mantra of not getting involved, he couldn't walk away from Brynn. He was protective and resourceful. 

Brynn was a very determined woman. She knew what the right direction to take and no one was going to stand in her way. I respected her. 

Tailspin has plenty of action and romance to satiate all my reader's desires. I was fully involved with the plot and I loved the outcome.

Thank you Grand Central Publishing for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review. 

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs

Wednesday, August 8, 2018

Star-Touched Stories by Roshani Chokshi







STAR-TOUCHED STORIES
By Roshani Chokshi
Published by Wednesday Books
**On Sale August 7, 2018**
Trade Paperback | $10.99
ISBN: 9781250180797| Ebook ISBN: 9781250180803




Roshani Chokshi proved herself an author to watch with her young adult fantasy debut, The Star-Touched Queen and companion novel A Crown of Wishes. Debuting at #4 on the New York Times bestseller list, her novels received rave reviews from fans and critics alike and appeared on the most buzzed about lists for young adult novels. 

With STAR- TOUCHED STORIES (Wednesday Books; August 7, 2018), Chokshi adds to the Star-Touched world in three short stories, re-visiting some fan favorite characters. Exploring what happens after the happily ever after in Chokshi’s Star-Touched novels, her short stories are the perfect read for a taste of beautiful writing with delicious plots.

Death and Night
He was Lord of Death, cursed never to love. She was Night incarnate, destined to stay alone. After a chance meeting, they wonder if, perhaps, they could be meant for more. But danger crouches in their paths, and the choices they make will set them on a journey that will span lifetimes.

Poison and Gold
Now that her wish for a choice has come true, Aasha struggles to control her powers. But when an opportunity to help Gauri and Vikram's new reign presents itself, she will have to battle her insecurities and maybe, along the way, find love.

Rose and Sword
There is a tale whispered in the dark of the Empire of Bharat-Jain. A tale of a bride who loses her bridegroom on the eve of her wedding. But is it a tale or a truth?

As the excitement builds for Chokshi’s next series THE GILDED WOLVES (February 2019), this collection will satisfy the cravings for her gorgeous prose and fans can catch up with their favorite characters. Even if dipping into the Star- Touched universe for the first time, STAR-TOUCHED STORIES will draw you in and leaving for more.








Reading these short stories reminded me why I love Roshani's writing so freaking much. All of the short stories were enchanting, mesmerizing, lush, and romantic. I could read a full novel about each of the short stories in this book! I loved going back into the world of The Star-Touched Queen series and learning more about the world, history, and favorite characters. I made me love the The Star-Touched Queen series even more, which I did think was possible.

I am a HUGE romance fan, and Roshani knows how to write romances that make me swoon like there is no tomorrow. I feel like romances are hard to pull off in short stories, but Roshani did it masterfully. I WANT MORE!!!!

I also really enjoyed the plot of each short story. Each story had an interesting and well-developed plot that kept me hooked from the first page. 

If you are a fan of the series and are still craving more form the world, then I 100% recommend picking up this collection of short stories! This book will suck you back into the magical world and remind you just how wonderful the series is.

5 / 5 Fangs

*This ebook was given to me in exchange for an honest review. * 







ROSHANI CHOKSHI is the New York Times bestselling author of The Star-Touched QueenA Crown of Wishes, and Aru Shah and the End of Time. Her work has appeared in Strange HorizonsShimmer, and Book Smugglers. Her short story, "The Star Maiden," was longlisted for the British Fantasy Science Award.



General Q&A:
  1. What inspired you to create this fictional world? Were there anyRomo mythologies that particularly inspired you? I was really inspired by the childhood stories that my grandmother told me. To me, they were so rich with details and texture that it really shocked me how these worlds and mythologies were never explored in mainstream literature. I was particularly inspired by Greek and Hindu mythology.
  2. Why did you feel it was important to add Star-Touched Stories to this world you've created?  What do you want readers to gain from the stories? Do you think there are any more stories to tell from the Star-Touched world, and if so, who you most like to write about next? For me, this collection of stories is my farewell to the world that I created. It was extremely cathartic to write these three stories. I want readers to gain a sense of closure. I want readers to feel as much as I did when I with the stories. Who can say whether or not there are more stories left to tell in this world? ;)
  3. Will you miss writing this world and characters? Absolutely! They lived in my head for so long that I feel strangely weightless to be without them.
  4. What was your favorite scene to write from Star-Touched Stories, and what was your favorite scene to write from the whole series? Honestly, my favorite scene that I wrote was the last scene the last story. I think you'll see why. As for my favorite scene that I wrote from the whole series, I think it would have to be the moment when Maya first enters the Night Bazaar.
  5. Is there a scene or character from one of your stories that you've had to cut which you really wish you could share with readers? There once was a speaking monkey character… But I had to let go of him. Maybe he'll reappear some other time.
  6. How is writing short stories different than writing a full-length book? How different is it to write YA and MG? How has your writing evolved? Writing short stories is really different from writing a full-length book because you're ultimately writing to a punchline in a shorter amount of space. There is less space to explore so the language must be very deliberate. I think my writing has evolved to become a lot more character focused than I once was. I still love gorgeous, decadent prose, but I believe that the best kind of language is that which is emotionally filtered through the feelings of a character.
  7. What is the best advice you would give to inspiring writers? Read often. I realize that sounds trite, but so many people retread the same path with stories out of comfort or nostalgia. I totally understand this and I'm one of those people who loves to reread my favorite books but I never found a sense of my own writing voice or writing style without reading a wide variety of works.
  8. What sort of music do you listen to when you write? I mostly listen to music to get me in the mood for writing rather than listening to music to get me through a scene. I think the only times I listen to music when I'm writing is if I'm in a third or fourth round of revisions. Otherwise I get distracted.
  9. If any of your books were given an adaptation, would you rather it be a movie, TV show, web series, or stage musical? For The Gilded Wolves, I would rather see that as a miniseries. For both books in the Star-Touched universe, I'd rather see those as movies.


Tuesday, August 7, 2018

Desperate Girls by Laura Griffin


Title: Desperate Girls 
Series: Wolfe Security #1
Author: Laura Griffin
Publisher: Gallery Books
Release Date: August 7, 2018 





Defense attorney Brynn Holloran is right at home among cops, criminals, and tough-as-nails prosecutors. With her sharp wit and pointed words, she has a tendency to intimidate, and she likes it that way. She’s a force to be reckoned with in the courtroom, but in her personal life, she’s a mess.

When a vicious murderer she once helped prosecute resurfaces and starts a killing spree to wipeout those who put him behind bars, one thing becomes clear: Brynn needs to run for her life.

With no help from the police, Brynn is forced to take matters into her own hands, turning to a private security firm for protection. But when Brynn defies advice and gets involved in the investigation, even the former Secret Service agent assigned to protect her may not be able to keep her safe. With every new clue she discovers, Brynn is pulled back into the vortex of a disturbing case from her past.

As the clock ticks down on a manhunt, Brynn’s desperate search for the truth unearths long-buried secrets and reignites a killer’s fury.









Huge thanks to Gallery, NetGalley and Laura Griffin for providing me with a complimentary copy of Desperate Girls in exchange for an honest review.

Talk about excited about reading Desperate Girls. I love all the books by Laura Griffin and I couldn't wait to get my hands on this one. Even better, Desperate Girls is the first book in the Wolfe Security series (Yay! more swoony alpha guys to look forward to). Not that I didn't miss the Tracer series' characters and I'm selfishly hoping for more books in that world.

Desperate Girls begins with the murder of a prominent judge. This murder is linked to a known murderer and rapist who recently escaped from prison. The judge used to be a prosecutor and she was the one responsible for putting him behind bars.

Brynn Holloran is a defense attorney. She's ruthless in court and she's always prepared for whatever happens there. Her next case is extremely important to her. She believes the accused is actually innocent. She wants to do anything in her power to make sure he's a free man. When the news of the judge's death gets to her, she's shell-shocked. Brynn used to be a prosecutor and she worked for the demised judge.

Brynn's boss is convinced her life is in danger. He doesn't want Brynn or Ross, another lawyer in the firm, to be the next victims. He hires Wolfe Security to prevent any damage.

Erick is an ex-secret service agent. He now works for Wolfe Security. His job is to protect Brynn. It does bother him that he's attracted to her but he can't let himself get distracted by it or she could suffer the consequences.

Romantic Suspense, when done well, is a pleasure to read. Laura Griffin knows the exact combination of action and romance to spill into her books to make it work. She made Brynn a strong heroine. Although in the beginning, Brynn was not pleased with her security entourage and a couple of times she rebelled against it. Not very smart on her part. However, once she knew the threat was real, she followed their lead without questions.

Eric knew his job. He was a man of a few words but no one could say he was not the take charge kind of guy. He was secure in his ability to protect her and defend her from any threat. He tried to avoid falling for her but sometimes the heart wants what the heart wants.

Desperate Girls is written in three different points of views. Brynn and Erick have one. So does the female police officer investigating the case. There is one character crossover from the Tracers series and a couple of interesting male cops too. The twist at the end was unexpected but welcomed.

Cliffhanger: No

4/5 Fangs