Tag Archive | 4.5 Stars

The Boy I Grew Up With by Tijan–Review

Nov9

trapper keeper
I don’t know if you are prepared for Heather and Channing, but wow, was this one an emotional read. Happy, sad, distraught, hurt, angst, fear are just some emotions that you will feel. Tijan has once again delivered an enthralling and intoxicating book.

TBIGUW is Heather and Channing’s story. Heather is Sam’s best friend, from the Fallen Crest series. I must admit that I have been intrigued with their backstory since the teasing of them in FCH.

Heather and Channing have an epic, emotional and enduring love story. Heather has said that she has loved Channing her entire life and through this book we get to see the depth and length of that love. Their love isn’t pretty, it isn’t storybook, but it is their love. Every emotional up/down, trust/mistrust and hidden secret/revelation is what makes them Heather and Channing. This book goes to show that not every love is picture perfect and that there are many kinds of love.

Heather is a no nonsense, take charge, lady balls present and accounted for, bad ass woman. Her character is one of my favorites (next to Sam) and it was a joy to read about a female lead who had no qualms about standing her ground.

As with Heather, Channing also presents with a not so easy life. He is dark, mysterious, brooding and extremely charismatic. In Tijan’s book, Crew, we got to see the insides of a crew (what they are, how they work, etc.) We are also introduced to Channing’s sister, Bren. TBIGUW continues with the relationship of Channing and Bren and Bren’s involvement with a crew. After suffering a loss, Channing’s idyllic lifestyle begins to change. Through this changing period is when things really start to turn Channing into the distant and closed off person he is of the present. Heather and Chan have a toxic and back/forth relationship. They both know this, but when you’ve been connected to someone since first grade, it’s hard to walk away. Tijan did a fantastic job of eliciting this back and forth relationship while maintaining the history of the couple. They both know they are better off apart (Heather deserves more, and Channing knows Heather deserves better). The question is: how do you walk away from someone you’ve loved for almost as long as you’ve been alive?

Tijan wrote this book in the present sense, but through flashbacks, we get to see some of the more lighthearted and fun times between Heather and Channing. We are also blessed with a phenomenal epilogue. I hope this is a sign of things to come!!

I loved Heather and Channing, despite the grittiness of their relationship. Tijan wrote this book to also elicit many emotions from the reader. I laughed, cried, was pissed off, shocked and just plain fell in love along with Heather and Channing!

4.5 ‘long term love’ stars

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Anonymous by L.P. Dover–Review

Apr23

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⭐⭐4.5 ‘Anonymous’ Stars⭐⭐

I was immediately pulled in by the simplicity of the cover. The hauntingly beautiful picture with black, red and white promised a suspenseful mystery. Ms. Dover didn’t disappoint with the telling of Anonymous, a romantic suspense.

Jake and Elizabeth Kingston are the featured couple in this book. They have an incredible marriage that is on sound footing and are madly in love. They have been married nine years and met through a mutual friend. Jake is a prominent figure in the world of architecture and a former MMA athlete. Ellie owns a bakery in town and is very successful in her own right. She is famous for her flavors and her artistic abilities when it comes to decorating a cake.

Jake travels a lot for his job leaving Ellie at home. She doesn’t mind, because she is usually busy with her bakery, family or friends. While getting her hair done one day, she receives a text from an unknown number. Considering Ellie has had the same phone number since she was sixteen there could be a multitude of people who the unknown texter could be. After receiving a few more texts (increasing in the creep factor), she decides to block the number and not tell Jake about it. Unfortunately, the blocking only lasts 90 days. Fast forward through time, and the texts begin again with a different number. The creep factor is ratcheted up again another notch. The texts progress to insinuate that they will make Ellie ‘his’ and will stop at nothing to fulfill this, even kill Jake. In addition, Ellie begins to get these feelings that she is being watched/stalked. Jake and Ellie decide to get the police involved at this point. Finally, she decides to get a new number, but this doesn’t deter the creep at all.

The mysterious/suspense/creep factor was good throughout this book. I, honestly don’t know if I would call so much a romantic suspense, but there definitely were sexy times and love that was shown through Jake and Ellie. Overall, it had me guessing throughout the whole book as to who it could be and why. When I finally got to the climatic ending, it was one that I didn’t FULLY see coming. I had my suspicions, but wasn’t fully committed to who and why.

If you love suspense with romance involved that also encompasses the texting world, you will enjoy this.

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Callback by Katana Collins–Review

Apr6

4.5 ‘Sticker and Planner’ Stars

Callback is a uniquely written book that centers around two actors who are up for lead roles in a movie that includes the world of BDSM. Jude and Marly are actors who practice their craft through method acting. The hero, Jude, is a ‘kink master’ of sorts and belongs to a very secretive and secluded BDSM club. Marly is an actress with very recent success on a rom com movie, who is looking to break out of the roles that are slowly becoming her ‘stereotypical’ role.

Jude is on the audition panel when Marly walks into the room and is instantly smitten with her, because of her innocence and submissive nature. Unfortunately for Jude, there is one other actress up for the role and that is his ex-wife, Layla. The CEO of the production company has laid it out in front of Jude the direction that they want to go in and it’s simply because of her sexual appeal. That would-be Layla, however, Jude saw Holly (the character within the movie) when Marly was auditioning. He is given one week to teach Marly the in’s and out’s (no pun intended) of the BDSM world and see if she can handle the part. As you can imagine, Jude and Marly get closer than close and have to break down some internal walls to see what is right in front of them.

Besides learning a few things encompassing the BDSM world, we are treated to a wonderfully developing love story. There are hang-ups, road blocks, ups and downs and contractual issues that prevent them from exploring any feelings between them. Despite everything against them, does love find a way to Jude and Marly? Does Marly get the part?

Callback is a super sizzling, steamy and just plain deliciously hot, that is FULL of all sorts of naughtiness and deliciousness. It is SO much more than the exploration of BDSM, there is a story of two individuals who have been hurt in the business and are trying to find a way to each other. The underlying romantic relationship was developed beautifully (and the last chapter and epilogue was full of feels). After finishing, I completely felt a juxtaposition of feelings. I was truly saddened by reaching the end, yet deliriously happy at the ending and the little preview we get of Ash’s book.  SO excited, I can’t wait (Ash is Jude’s best friend)!

‘Do you know what BDSM stands for?’

‘Burritos, Doritos, Snickers and M&M’s’