Book Review: The Thief - JR Ward

The Thief - JR Ward

Sola Morte, former cat burglar and safecracker, has given up her old life on the wrong side of the law.  On the run from a drug lord's family, she is lying low far from Caldwell, keeping her nose clean and her beloved grandmother safe.  Her heart, though, is back up north, with the only man who has ever gotten through her defenses: Assail, son of Assail, who never meant to fall in love--and certainly not with a human woman.  But they have no future, and not just because she doesn't know he is a vampire, but because he is not about to stop dealing arms to the Black Dagger Brotherhood.  Fate, however, has other plans for them.  When Assail falls into a coman and lingers on the verge of death, his cousins seek out Sola and beg her to give him a reason to live.  The last thing she wants is a return to her past, but how can she leave him to die?

As a lethal new enemy of the vampires shows its face, and the Brotherhood needs Assail back on his feet, Sola finds herself not only a target, but a mission-critical force in a war she doesn't understand.  And when Assail's truth comes out, will she run from the horror...or follow her heart into the arms of the male who loves her more than life itself?

3/5 stars (liked it)

As always JR Ward does not disappoint.  This book is about the love story between Assail and Sola.  She helps Assail heal and then find out the truth (that he's a vampire) and she has to decide if she stays or she goes.  Also in this book is the story of Vishous and Jane and their no so happily ever after.  They got together in a previous book and it seems JR Ward cannot give the brothers a happily ever after but give them marital problems.  Also in the mix is a new enemy which was briefly introduced in the previous book.  That is Throe, who has a mysterious book that has him summon Shadows which he can use to fight the Brotherhood.  

Book Review: The Kissing Booth - Beth Reekles

The Kissing Booth - Beth Reekles

Meet Rochelle Evans: pretty, popular--and never been kissed.  Meet Noah Flynn: badass, volatile--and a total player.  And also Elle's best friend's older brother...

When Elle decides to run a kissing boot for the school's Spring Carnival, she locks lips with Noah and her life is turned upside down.  Her head says to keep away, but her heart wants to draw closer--this romance seems far from fairy tale and headed for heartbreak.

But will Elle get her happily ever after?

2/5 stars (it was OK)

This was a very juvenile book.  I realize it was about high school students but I typically read quite a few YA books and this one just had me rolling my eyes quite a bit.  I still don't understand why Elle and Noah had to keep their relationship such a secret.  The drama seemed forced in the book.  Overall a cute book though and predictable ending.

Book Review: Rich Girl Problems - Tu-Shonda Whitaker

Rich Girl Problems - Tu-Shonda Whitaker

The diamonds are flawless, their drama is turned up ultra high, and the taboo beauties from Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker's Millionaire Wives Club are back for a third season of explosive lies, forbidden sex, and scandals like you've never seen before!

Step into the world of cable TV's hit reality show and meet new bride and new mother Milan, who finally has everything she's ever dreamed of.  Problem is her perfect life doesn't work for TV.  What will she do when the producer threatens to fire her?  Editor-in-chief Chaunci isn't feeling the fame and the last thing she needs is to share the spotlight with her worst enemy, newcomer Journee.  Socialite Journee expected her eighty-two-year-old husband to only live for days past their wedding night, but it's been four years.  And just when it seems that he's ready to meet his maker, his son---Journee's ex-lover---shows up.  Hair care mogul Vera is struggling with her failing marriage and the last thing she needs is her drug-addicted mother to further ruin her life or her image.  Jaise is finally standing by her man.  But will she live the life she thinks or will it cost her everything?

3/5 stars (liked it)

I didn't know whether to root for these women or smack them.  Okay I wanted to do both.  Women who didn't trust their man and women who cheated and lied.  Wow.  And that's not even what the producer set up for them but how they actually are.  A very entertaining read.

Book Review: Money Never Sleeps - Tu-Shonda Whitaker

Money Never Sleeps - Tu-Shonda Whitaker

The bling is brighter, the drama is amped up, the delicious beauties from Tu-Shonda's Millionaire Wives Club are back for a second season of backstabbing, divorce parties, and family sagas.  

Lights, camera, action!

Milan, Jaise, and Chaunci are the gorgeous, high-rolling divas starring in the hit reality show Millionaire Wives Club.  As they struggle with love, lies, lust, and the pressures of sudden fame, their friendships turn into catfights that keep the cameras following all their malicious moves.

Milan is finally engaged to Kendu, the man of her dreams, and though things look perfect on the outside, distrust and jealousy are crumbling their romance.  Jaise has found the love she so desperately craves, but her son, Jabril, remains the No. 1 man in her life--for better or for worse.  And Chaunci, the independent, single mom who doesn't feel she needs a man, is contemplating taking the plunge into a deep love affair--but will the man she chooses have room in his life for her?  Add to this crafty cast Vera, a venomous new vixen who plays the game better than any of them, and you've got a season even more scintillating than the last.

3/5 stars (liked it)

I love that I already knew most of the women.  But even though all seem to be happily ever after in the end of the first book, not all is as it seems.  Milan and Kendu are having problems and it takes Milan most of the book to say "enough!"  Jaise is happily married to Belal but her son Jabril is such a screw-up that he gets between them.  Not just her son but the way Jaise keeps bailing him out.  Chaunci said "no" to Idris when he proposed and now she's regretting it.  Vera, I did not like her very much even at the end.  Overall a great drama and all the women are nasty to each-other!

Book Review: Millionaire Wives Club - Tu-Shonda Whitaker

Millionaire Wives Club - Tu-Shonda Whitaker

In Tu-Shonda L. Whitaker's steamiest novel yet, we meed the four deliciously dramatic, designer-clad divas from prime time's new hit reality show, The Millionaire Wives Club.

Evan:  Married to a pro-football star who isn't in love with her anymore, Evan is digging her freshly manicured nails in ever deeper as she fights to keep her husband who loves someone else.

Milan:  Half Dominican, half black, and beautifully exotic-looking, Milan is watching her has-been husband's fortune fade fast--while her romantic attachment to Evan's husband is heating up.

Jaise:  Divorce from a former boxing star who's now married to a white woman, Jaise is trying to raise her sixteen-year-old son on her own.  Will her huge alimony checks keep her from falling in love?

Chaunci:  Editor of the hottest black women's magazine, Chaunci is now engaged to the high-powered man who helped finance her magazine when she was just a struggling single mom.  But when a onetime passionate flame reignites, Chaunci may not be able to resist its charms.

When thses starlets' private lives run as wild as their emotions, their relationships with one another inevitably turn into high-profile cat-fights.  Through it all, the cameras never stop rolling on TV's guiltiest pleasures, where power-and diamonds-are always a girl's best friend.

3/5 stars (liked it)

This book is better than any soap opera I could watch on TV.  We get a first hand look at each woman and their lives behind closed doors are not what they appear on camera.  The camera crew are just as good as the women, Carl the camera man and Bridget the Producer both add into the drama.  Some things in the book really had me guess.  The twist on Jaise's love interest really surprised me.  The ending to the love triangle between Kendu, Evan and Milan was surprising.  Overall a fun book to read and I will definitely read more in the series.

Book Review: Seven Up - Janet Evanovich

Seven Up - Janet Evanovich

BLOWN UP

All New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum has to do is bring in semi-retired bail jumper Eddie DeChooch.  For an old man he's till got a knack for slipping out of sight--and raising hell.  How else can Stephanie explain the bullet-riddled corpse in Eddie's garden?  Who else would have a clue as to why two of Stephanie's friends suddenly vanished?  For answers Stephanie has the devil to pay: her mentor, Ranger.  The deal?  He'll give Stephanie all the help she needs--if she gives him everything he wants...

MESSED UP

As if things weren't complicated enough, Stephanie's just discovered her Grandma Mazur's own unmentionable alliance with Eddie.  Add a series of unnerving break-ins, not to mention the bombshell revelation leveled by Stephanie's estranged sister, and Stephanie's ready for some good news.  Unfortunately, a marriage proposal from Joe Morelli, the love of her life, isn't quite cutting it.  And now--murder, a randy paramour, a wily mobster, death threats, extortion, and a triple kidnapping aside--Stephanie's really got the urge to run for her life...

3/5 stars (liked it)

I love that I can pick one of these books up after not having read one for a while and really get into it.  Stephanie is very likable.  I love all the characters in the book series and love the ones that get introduced.  As always, Stephanie gets in over her head but she always manages to stay alive and solve the mystery.  Not just professional life but she has relationship problems and the ending surprised me.  Can't wait to read the next one.

Book Review: The Chemist - Stephanie Meyer

The Chemist - Stephanie Meyer

She used to work for the U.S. government, but very few people ever knew that.  An expert in her field, she was one of the darkest secrets of an agency so clandestine it doesn't even have a name.  And when they decided she was a liability, they came for her without warning.

Now she rarely stays in the same place or uses the same name for long.  They've killed the only other person she trusted, but something she knows still poses a threat.  They want her dead, and soon. 

When her former handler offers her a way out, she realizes it's her only chance to erase the giant target on her back.  But it means one last job for her ex-employers.  To her horror, the information she acquires only makes her situation more dangerous.

Resolving to meet the threat head-on, she prepares for the toughest fight of her life but finds herself falling for a man who can only complicate her likelihood of survival.  As she sees her choices being rapidly whittled down, she must apply her unique talents in ways she never dreamed of.

3/5 stars (liked it)

This book took me a very long time to ge into.  The beginning of the book was very slow and I think gave too much information on the main character, Alex.  It isn't until she meets Daniel that things really got interesting and then we meet Kevin and things really pick up.  I loved getting to know Daniel and Kevin.  Also loved the dogs in the story.  Overall it had a pretty predictable ending but I like the book.