Archive | January 2019

Pretty Young Things by Ace Gray–Review

Jan26

Pretty Young Things by Ace Gray is a monster. Ace is a new to me author and I’m so incredibly happy that I got to start my ‘Ace’ experience with this one. There are only a few that I know that could tackle seven different points of view over the span of 20 years. That’s right, 7 POV’s in 20 years. It was exquisitely written that I didn’t realize I was in a time warp while doing spin the bottle to determine the next character. Incredibly flawless.

I had to do a quick high school English refresh when I heard that this was based on The Count of Monte Cristo. For a quick recap of TCoMC, some of the major themes are: revenge, jealousy, manipulation, desire, greed and betrayal. PYT had all these themes in spades. Whether you were the betrayers or the betrayed, everyone is affected by the seven POV’s.

To simplify, I’m going to go through some of the major players. There were four teenage boys who were battling their own demons and for some reason or another felt isolated in this world. This foursome soon became a brotherhood, through the blood pact. They were ‘blood brothers. Now and forever’ and vowed to always have each other’s back. There’s Dante, Diego, Danger and Rousse. Each boy unique in personality and characteristics, but a love of surfing bringing them together. Soon they are adult age and Rousse had the ability to buy the house that they always congregated at. This brotherhood soon became roommates.

Next player is Mercy. She is a twenty-year-old who is incredibly unlucky. She lives in a trailer with a drunk daddy who likes to get a little grabby and a mother that ran away when she was young. There is something that happens in her life changing her unluckiness and allows her to meet Dante. Soon she is living with him and neither have been happier. Life is going right for these perfect partners and Dante had a job promotion. Nothing was ever going to change in this young couples’ life, because now everything seemed to fall into place so easily since they were together. As far as the other POV’s, I’m going to leave that a secret.

All is not what it seems in their young lives. There is a strain in this brotherhood that is starting, because of jealousy, greed and lust. Without knowing it, manipulation and betrayal are at play and if ‘The Brotherhood isn’t careful, vengeance will soon have your name on it.’

Pretty Young Things was nothing like I expected, but everything I wanted and more. Excuse me, Ace Gray, you have gained a lifelong fan. 🙋🏻‍♀️🙋🏻‍♀️

Normally, I have ‘issues’ with time jump stories (especially flashbacks). However, I was so engrossed with every single detail and every single character, that it didn’t bother me. Yes, the book may sound overwhelming, but you get so drawn into their world, as if you were another character, that the next thing you know is that you’re at the end going ‘what did I just read’. For this sentiment alone, I give 5 ‘Have Mercy’ stars. Take a chance on Pretty Young Things and you won’t be disappointed.

‘Promise me forever, Dante Rogue.’

‘On every constellation in the sky.’

 

Drifter by Kristy Marie–Review

Jan26

For those of you who haven’t hopped on the Commandeer in Brief series yet, don’t worry, Drifter is a great place to start (and then go back and catch Commander in Briefs and Gorgeous). Once again, we find ourselves back in the wonderful little town of Madison at the McCallister Jameson Foundation that was started by Anniston McCallister for Marines. Now that we have the formal stuff out of the way, let me bring your attention to two words. Connor…Hayes! Drifter is about Connor and Bianca.

Connor is not only the hero of Drifter, but also one of the most enigmatic characters in Kristy Marie’s newest release. Connor oozes charm from every pore, darlin. He is the quintessential playboy who also resembles that ‘boy next door’ with dimples, rocking body and full of humor.

Mason: ‘Hayes, I swear if you pull your dick out in my car, I am going to beat your a@@.’

Hayes: ‘Don’t say beat and dick in the same sentence, that’s just teasing me at this point.’

I was pulled in immediately from the opening scene with not only ‘what is going to happen’, but with a boatload humor. Kristy wrote with such passion and vision that I was right along for the ride. I challenge you to read the prologue without laughing. It can’t be done.

Hayes: ‘Dude, I just came in my pants.’

When reading a book, you immediately start to gravitate to one character or the other. Sometimes, it can be both characters. In my personal experience, I am mostly drawn to the hero. Regarding the heroine, it is easy to get behind the heroine that is downtrodden, suffering emotionally, being bullied or is the underdog. However, there are times that there is such a strong, kick butt heroine that I am all about, ‘you go girl’. Now, is it difficult if said heroine also happens to be a criminal? That is what we are faced when reading about Bianca.

On paper from the beginning, it’s easy to typecast Bianca as a thief, a criminal, a person with no feelings or disregard to what she is doing and how that affects other people. Well, Bianca meet Hayes. Let’s see if you feel the same afterwards girl. Bianca has so many layers to her story, that I was full-on on the Bianca bandwagon along with being a staunch Connor Hayes supporter. Bianca was forced to make decisions for two reasons. 1) She was in an extremely disastrous relationship where she felt cornered with no way out. 2) One simple word, her mother. Bianca’s mom is huge driving force in her life and at times, heartbreaking to read about. Despite this, they have a beautiful relationship, which is only more fulfilling to read about when Hayes becomes involved. She portrays herself as a woman with a tough exterior, a true ‘tough nut to crack’, yet in reality, she’s all layers of ooey gooey-ness. What she didn’t realize is that she just needed the one person that will stand by you, make you stronger and build you up. Someone who is proud.

‘A wise woman wishes to be no one’s enemy; a wise woman refuses to be anyone’s victim.’

-Maya Angelou

Drifter is a book about second chances, redeeming yourself from the past, growing and evolving into who you want to be and deserve to be. In reading Drifter, I experienced all four polar opposite emotions; joy-sadness, anger-fear, trust-distrust and surprise-anticipation (you’ll have to read Drifter to how these all fit in). Kristy Marie did an outstanding job with not only her primary characters, Hayes and Bianca, but all the secondary characters as well. Thank you, Kristy, for expanding this wickedly delightful Marine family and bringing them into my life. One last nugget from Drifter…Theo and Aspen are flipping adorable. I want one…of Theo and Aspen in my life, so I can laugh and swoon at this touching relationship.

Readers, do yourselves a favor and pick up this exquisite book. There is no losing when reading about a houseful of Marines, the women that attempt to tame them and a deliciously adorable baby.

5 stars

Boys of Brayshaw by Meagan Brandy–Review

Jan24

 

Before I talk about the book, I just have to talk about the author for a second. Meagan Brandy, I don’t know you, but I LOVE you. Can we be secret friends and when you come up with anything genius, you send it my way? What have you done to me, girl?? You have magically created a world that I want to be transported to. I WANT to be a Bray girl with the ‘Boys of Brayshaw’. This is my first read from Ms. Brandy and I will happily go back for more!

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Raven (Rae) is a fiery and plucky seventeen-year-old from Stockton, CA. Rae, unfortunately, has been dealt a shit sandwich regarding her home situation and life. Her daddy was nonexistent, and her mom isn’t much better. Her mother has a certain ‘reputation’ around town and by default, Raven has acquired the same rep. Due to an incident at school, she is sent to live in a girls only home for troubled kids about to age out of the system. As with any situation in her life, Rae is sizing up the situation, because there is only one person she can count on, herself. Being moved to this new house means she will be attending a new high school, Brayshaw High. Raven is a loner and she’s ok with this and prefers it. She is feisty, tough, will NOT let anyone speak negatively of her and is ready to throw down. She’s a bada@@ and very perceptive to situations and the brothers, as well. I want to be Raven when I grow up (there’s still time for me to emulate, Ms. Raven).

The brothers…holy heck where do I start with them? Maddoc, Royce and Captain is a unit of brotherhood personified. Trust is something that comes very difficult for these three. They remind me of ‘The Three Musketeers’; ‘One for all and all for one’. To me, the boys were everything. They were rough, tough, distrustful, yet completely endearing. Meagan’s depiction of these boys and personalities was completely thought out and well written. Maddoc (sigh) is the leader of the group, Royce is the comedian and Captain is the silent killer. This brotherhood is fascinating to read about. Despite their rough and tumble exteriors, they really are human beings each longing for something inside.
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Kudos, Meagan Brandy, kudos! The Boys of Brayshaw is an incredible start to the series. In my mind, it’s a cross between Fallen Crest series by Tijan and The Elite Kings Club series by Amo Jones. Not a bad group of authors to be included in. There is more mystery, drama and plot twists than seen on Murder, She Wrote, Matlock, Monk and Hart to Hart combined. Sorry, there was a mystery marathon on Hallmark. 🤷‍♀️🤷‍♀️ I loved this story and can’t wait for book two.

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The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen–Review

Jan17

LJ Shen has messed with my mind and I don’t know what to think about it. I think I like it and am ok with it. If you are going into this thinking it sounds like such a romantic read, you might want to actually read the blurb and re-think the word ‘romance’.

Imagine this:

A masquerade ball

She dressed as Nemesis; He dressed like a villainess thief in the night

The princess anxiously awaiting a kiss at the ball like Cinderella; The prince grants her the first kiss, but wait, who is the prince and what does this mean for the princess’ future?

Nemesis’ prince turns out to be as villainous as she thought. He was not to save her, but torture and torment her.

The princess realizes her fairy tale is an actual nightmare and she’s on her own in a very luxurious prison.

I finished reading this a few days ago and honestly, I’m still gobsmacked. I FLIPPING LOVED THIS BOOK, but what does this say about me regarding some scenes? After you read ‘The Kiss Thief’, you will understand. Is this an ooey, gooey, sugar sweet cavity laden romance? No, it’s not, but it is so much more. Love is messy, it has its ups and downs, and is not predictably planned. As Francesca soon finds out. Through this situation that she is in, she begins to realize her worth as a person and starts to feel that inner strength that she has always had, but never needed. She is mistakenly viewed as weak with no worth, because she is female. Her only worth is to be obedient, arm candy. Unfortunately, for everyone that isn’t Francesca, they better watch out and not get in her way. Francesca is such an incredible heroine with as many layers as an onion. It was thrilling to see her evolve from arm candy to her own person. She is the perfect match for Wolfe Keaton. Being Mrs. Keaton though is not going to be an easy task, but Frankie is up for the challenge. Being the type of man Wolfe is, he will take care of her every need, even if he is detached and relegates these tasks to his staff.

‘He was fire. Gorgeous to the eye, lethal to the touch.’

Let’s talk about our Hero (if he can/should be called that). Senator Wolfe Keaton has an axe to grind with a particular crime called The Outfit. I should say precisely more the head of The Outfit, Arthur Rossi. Through some questionable, smart and long term thinking on our beloved Senator’s behalf, he ends up with the beautiful, Frankie, as his soon to be wife. Frankie is less than thrilled, considering she had been promised her hand in marriage to her childhood sweetheart, Angelo.

‘You’re a collected debt, a retaliation, and, quite frankly, pretty decent arm candy.’

Wolfe is a different breed. He is wickedly intelligent, has more charisma in his pinkie than a whole auditorium of used car salesmen and male strippers combined. Wolfe is lethal with his charisma, so don’t think that wins him very many points with his soon to be bride. He has more walls erected than the Winchester Mystery House. Despite all his flaws, I was utterly swept up by Senator Keaton. He is the clean-cut exterior of a good guy that would make you want to take him home to meet the parents. However, don’t let the exterior fool you. Internally, he is every inch the bad boy that your parents would warn you of. I will go on record and say that I loved Wolfe. He was so broken, brooding and injured, that despite what he did, you wanted to gobble him up and hug him until everything was ok. Seriously, book boyfriend material!

Leigh Shen has outdone herself with another broody a-hole male and a heroine that is understated but bursting with inner strength. Wolfe in The Kiss Thief gives my favorite LJ Shen Hero a run for his money and I don’t know if Vicious would stand for it!!