Review of Reviving Haven

Reviving Haven
by Cory Cyr


Squeeeeee!!! OK.... so where to begin??. Oh I got it, Latch McKay!!! I don't really need to say anymore than that, but I will. Cory Cyr, oh how I love the way your mind works. I think I may even need a re-read of this, because I couldn't put it down. I was probably half desirous by the time I finished in the wee hours of the morning, but I couldn't not finish it in one sitting. 5 Stars for me all the way. Haven and Latch are combustible and the comic relief of Wezzie was great. I'm crossing my fingers that may be we'll get a taste of Weezie and Keenan's story. Please Please!


Haven Wells is a 37 year old reclusive Bookstore owner with some serious self esteem issues and relationship issues. Being in a long term relationship that was abusive and toxic Haven found a way out but still harbors a lot of pain from that time in her life. She's content with her life living vicariously through fictional characters and her amazingly funny roommate Weezie. (Side note: I want a BFF like Weezie, where do sign up for that) When Weezie convinces Haven to step out and have some fun, she reluctantly agrees. When Haven notices a guy across the room she's already let the liquid courage take over for the night and she's agreeing to things she never thought she would. 


Latch McKay is 25 years old and a successful video game designer.  Latch notices her right away and he can't look away. With all of his charm (oh let's not forget the accent) there is no doubt there will be an explosion of chemistry. Haven thinks a fling is all that is in the cards with Latch, but he has other plans. There are a lot of twists throughout that will keep you flipping the page. Latch and Haven go to some dark places, but I promise you will not be disappointed with the outcome and the hotness ;). Enjoy!!!


~Shannon

Review of Deciding Tomorrow (These Days #3)

Deciding Tomorrow (These Days #3)

by Renee Ericson

Wow!! I just absolutely love this series. Big round of applause for Renee Ericson. 5 Stars all the way. I had cheek aches from smiling through this whole book. If you have not read Books 1 and 2 then do so ASAP, so you can feel all warm and fuzzy inside like me. The character growth from book 1 to 3 was great. You really had this connection to Ruby and Brent. I have to say the epilogue had me misty in a good way. I look forward to good things to come from this author.

Ruby and Brent are perfect. It's refreshing to have a "nice" guy for a change. Book 3 starts right where we left off in book 2. After a chance run in Ruby and Brent spend a great weekend together reminiscing that spark old familiar feelings. Promising to give their relationship another try Ruby makes a trip to L.A. to visit Brent a week later and things move quickly toward togetherness. With years of hurt and secrets that separate their time apart there is bound to be  some obstacles to overcome. 

You can't help but love Brent. He is just so likeable. Ruby grew on me big time in this book, because I was not happy with her at the end of book 1 and borderline frosty to her in book 2. I've now forgiven her and we can all now be friends in their HEA. :) Grab all three of these up and enjoy.

~Shannon

Review of A Novel Obsession (Novel Series, #1)

A Novel Obsession (Novel Series, #1)

by Jeff Joseph

Jeff Joseph gifted me a copy of this book in exchange for my review. I  have to say I really think he has something here with this plot. There were some twists that I definitely did not see coming and I am anxious to grab book two in the series to see where this goes. I give it 3.5 stars. I know for me saying I really liked it 3.5 doesn't seem very high but I will explain my reasoning. The plot was good and I think there is a lot to say about keeping your readers guessing, but my only hang up was the dialogue. The characters spoke way to formally and for the "average joe" reader you don't find that kind of dialogue relatable. I know I myself would never say to a friend "I had the most glorious romantic evening, I was so happy and fulfilled." It really makes the characters seem much older than they are supposed to be. I realize a lot of the grammar, dialogue and vocabulary used was due to the fact that the heroine was a English teacher and the hero was a Novelist, but I still felt slightly detached from their chemistry. That being said, once I put my dictionary down to understand some of the wording, I found the story and plot line very intriguing. If the dialogue had been a little more "youthful" I would have easily given this a 4 Star review. 

Abby is a small town English teacher who has a slight obsession with well renowned novelist Daniel Shepherd. When Abby sends a well written from the heart fan letter to Daniel requesting he come speak to her English class she has little hope that Daniel will actually read it. Abby has a hard time coping with the reality that is her life and tends to live in the fantasy world found only in romance novels. Daniel has a way with words that gives Abby hope that there truly is the perfect guy out there for her, and in Abby's mind that person is Daniel.

Daniel is feeling detached from himself. He's struggling to find the inspiration to write what he is so well known for. Daniel has gone down a spiral of self pity and can't find a reason to write anymore. Secluding himself from the hustle and bustle he's grown to detest, he finds himself sifting through the ever inappropriate fan mail he's had piling up. When he comes across an eloquently written letter from a small town high school teacher Daniel instantly is inspired by her word of appreciation for his literary work. He sets out a goal to find Abby and see if there truly is that perfect someone out there.

There are so many twists and turns in this story that you really do breeze through trying to figure out where this will all lead. I'm anxious to see how Abby and Daniel's chemistry pans out in book two. There are sure to be some surprises from Bill and possibly Rick (still mind boggled by that one). Grab this one up and let me know what you think!

~Shannon

Review of Hemlock Grove

Hemlock Grove

by Brian McGreevy

Review by Laura Leigh

3 Stars – I’m not going to lie… I picked up this book after watching the Netflix series. I really liked the show but was a little confused on what all went on so I thought the book might help clear up some of my unanswered questions. Now that I am finished reading it though I am even more confused than ever.

Brian McGreevy wrote both the book... and the script for the television show. Unlike its HBO counterpart, True Blood, the Hemlock Groves TV series stayed pretty much on track with the book. There was even direct dialogue (quite a bit of it) in the book that was also in the TV show. I really did like this aspect of the book. What I liked even more though was that you heard every central characters inner dialogue. You learned more about their past, more about why they did the things that they did and who they are as a person. It really brought the story to life in a way that the television show couldn’t. Now for the characteristics I didn’t like about the book: CONFUSION! PLOT HOLES! DEAD END STORY LINES!

I have never seen so many drawn out and long winded sentences. McGreevy is one of those people that loves to learn new five-dollar words and then find any reason to use them in a sentence. Does he know he is doing this? Is he just a braggart? All of the above? I’ll go with the latter. Seriously though, the main two characters in the story are 17 year old boys… They wouldn’t talk this way. And I really hadn’t planned on pulling out my dictionary to read my gothic horror novel.

One of the major story lines in the book is around “Ouroboros”. I won’t give anything away by explaining what this is… not only because I don’t want to ruin the book for you but also because I am still not sure what exactly it is!!! It kept getting brought up by each of the characters and then at the end it is not explained how it even fit into the story. I am mad just thinking about it. Also, there is someone narrating the story, in first person perspective, but we never find out who this person is! I’m not sure how they know everything that everybody is doing but somehow they do. Maybe it’s God? I really think God would be embarrassed to even be mentioned in this story, let alone narrating it.

To sum up this review (I guess you could call it a rant!), if I had only read the book and not seen the show I would have only given it 1, maybe 2, stars. It gets an extra star because the show is entertaining and Bill Skarsgard is pretty excellent eye candy *wink wink*.

Review of Scoring Wilder

Scoring Wilder

by R.S. Grey

I really enjoyed this one! 4 Stars on this warm / fuzzy read. There wasn't anything about the characters that you wouldn't like. No drama filled back and forth indecisiveness that makes you want to pull you hair out. This is really just a very quick, easy feel good read that you can't help but enjoy. 

Kinsley Bryant is a well known up and coming soccer star. She is starting her collegiate soccer career and has high hopes to land a spot for the Olympics. Starting off the season Kinsley learns that her team is getting coaching help from the well renowned professional soccer star Liam Wilder. Kinsley knows she isn't supposed to pursue a relationship with him but something keeps pulling them together. 

Liam Wilder has a reputation that proceeds him, not only on the soccer field but also in his personal life. Liam decides he needs a little PR help and volunteering to assist with a college soccer program seems like the best way to take the spot light off of him. Knowing the team he is assisting has just recruited the well known Kinsley Bryan, Liam is anxious to meet the young soccer star that shows so much potential. Liam wasn't banking on feeling a instant connection to her though, and with the spotlight on him to keep his nose clean or risk losing endorsement deals he'll have to ignore that connection or secretly begin a relationship that no one can know about.

If you're looking for an easy read that you feel really content with after this is it. Kinsley, Liam, Penn and Becca are all loveable characters that you feel the connection to.

~Shannon

Review of Three Years (Gypsy Brothers #5)

Three Years (Gypsy Brothers #5)

by Lili St. Germain

I received an ARC in exchange for my honest review. I am literally at a loss for words on how to even begin this review. I feel like I just ran a marathon reading this book as my emotions went every which way. 5 FREAKING HUGE STARS. I cannot get over how with each installment of this series the OMG and WTF factor triples. Three Years may have even quadrupled the craziness. NO Spoilers but I will say that there is no lack of suffering, revenge and lies in book 5. If you've read book 4 then you know we were left in quite a big cliffy. Well that cliffy was at the top of a mountain and book 5 would be the outcomes of the avalanche. I just can't help it with each book I am fist pumping in the air for Julz. I love it! Her drive, determination makes her one of my all time favorite heroines. I am also super pleased that this one was a little longer than Four Score. Check it out for sure  and you will not be disappointed. I am anxiously awaiting book #6 come on September. Three Years will be available on all major online stores starting July 20, 2014. I leave you with this quote from the book because it pretty sums it up.

"however bad you think this is going to be. It's going to be so. Much. Worse."

~Shannon

Review of Four Score (Gypsy Brothers, #4)

Four Score (Gypsy Brothers, #4)
by Lili St. Germain


4 Huge Stars!!! These keep getting better. Alright I sound like a broken record but I wish they were longer if this would have been a chapter or two longer I would have given it 5 Stars all the way.. I'm on the edge of my seat for the next one!!! At this point I'm not sure we're even close to a conclusion. There is far too much to clear up. I love Lili St. Germain and her insane Gypsy Brothers Series. This series is beyond crazy, dark and sexy. Juls is the heroine of all heroine's. There is no denying her drive and obsessions for revenge. Love it!!!!!


~Shannon