Lighting the Flames

Review:

A Hanukkah romance! Winter holidays in July!
I wanted to like this more than I did. The author's creation (with another person) is a website I adore (smartbitchestrashybooks.com). I liked Wendell's non-fiction books. This was her first romance.
I didn't really connect with Gen and Jeremy. I felt that they were immature. Definitely reads as a NA romance. 
What I did like was the Hanukkah aspect, I learned a bit.
For Ripped Bodice Bingo I am using this for the Summer Camp square- while I know this wasn't set exactly during a summer camp, it was set at location that hosts a yearly summer camp and both MC were attendants as children and staff as adults. The secondary characters were attendants/staff at previous summer camps (and now the special winter camp in which this is set).

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1774458/lighting-the-flames

Death Defying

Review:

This opens with how Tannis met Rico.  It had been hinted at, but it was good to read about her background.  Their first meeting explains so much of their friendship.  More about the Church, the Council, Meridian, Trakis Seven, Trakis One.  Callum's character was an interesting one.  He started out as an asshole, I didn't like him, but gradually eventually I did.  Tannis and Callum have a bit of a slow burn romance (if you count about a week).  There are new characters in this one and the death of 2.  I'm enjoying this series.  I like how each is about a couple, but there is a huge underlying story-line the connects each book.  I also love how the characters are in each one.  Think Firefly.  This is a chosen family.

Spoilers behind page break (mainly for my memory to help keep things straight).

For my memory
Book 3 ends as they (purposfully) were swallowed by the black hole by Trakis One (the prison planet). They discover Trakis One (the ship from earth). Tannis gets her Meridian treatment. "Meridian" are alien life forms; I was a bit confused about what exactly it *is*
Rico (vampire) + Skylar (Meridian-ite; for lack of a better word)- book 1
Al AKA Alex (former high priestess of the Church, now turned werewolf) + Jon (former assassin+werewolf) book 2; find out they are expecting in book 3.
Tannis (GM; human +snake DNA, captain) + Callum (Meridian-ite, the first to find it and have it "latch on." He has wings) Book 3
Daisy - GM- human with plant. She is green. She's very kind, but protective of her family.
Janey- red hair, computer Genius hates men, has a story (I think she killed her husband, ?abusive?)- murdered book 3
The Trog- AKA Tristan Starke, brother of Devil who is the leader of the Resistance. Murdered in book 3
Devlin- "joined" the crew in book 3

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1774317/death-defying

Calamity Jayne

Review:

Spoilers and a rant.

Was a Kindle freebie at one time.

Spoilers next 2 paragraphs.

 

 

 

Tressa is also known as Calamity because she is clumsy and a bit like the village idiot. She also lacks ambition and doesn't know what she wants to do with her life. I wanted to like her, I did. But, really? How can someone be so TSTL? Some clumsiness, is fine, but Tressa is extreme. Very extreme. She takes the WRONG car. She talks about how broke she is, but does she save money? Hell no! "Hey a girl can go without eating, but she must have a new pair of shoes at least monthly." She doesn't lock her car and has a gun stolen out of the glove box. She STILL doesn't lock her car and Joe surprises her from the backseat. I had to rant to my husband about this one. The envelope that was missing and she swore she didn't have- being in her work VEST the whole fucking time!

I also strongly disliked the love interest, Rick, or as Tressa calls him, Townsend. Rick is the one who came with the Tressa's nickname Calamity. He is the first one to suggest she was imaging a dead body. He clearly thinks she's an idiot. Sorry no. Tressa deserves better than that jackass. Manny had the perfect nickname for Rick: "Rick the Dick." 

So why did I keep reading? I liked the writing. I thought it was humorous, I admit to laughing out load a few times. I kept hoping, hoping Tressa would just stop being such an idiot. And easily distracted by a hot body. She does get a little better. I thought- maybe- a little- of her aimlessness/stupidity was just an act. Maybe? The secondary ones were fun- Joe and Hannah!
I won't be reading the next. I really don't like either main character - for different reasons. 
And then at the very end of the book:
"Enjoyed this book? Please leave a positive review and a 5 star rating on Amazon.com."
So, if I didn't like it, don't review it? Leave a rating? Only 5 star ones count? Excuse me?
I was thinking a 3*, because it kept me entertained and as I said above, I liked the writing. But now, after that? It's a 2. 

 

Ripped Bodice Bingo:  Damsel in Distress

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1773211/calamity-jayne

A Lady's Guide to Passion and Property

Review:

Lucy inherited her father's inn after his death. She is content to live, work, and care for Adam, a blind elderly man. But, her friends, believe she should sell the inn and get married. Enter Harry, ex-military, now spy. He is tasked with finding out Adam's story (after 20 years).
This one was okay. There were moments where I felt I was missing something (some of the relationships were already established- Nate and Miranda, the club are examples). I really didn't see the romance between Lucy and Harry. They didn't have much dialogue IMO. 
I did like and I also thought the romance between Nate and Miranda was better. It felt like they talked more than Harry and Lucy. I could see them together. Harry and Lucy? Nope. 
I liked the mystery of who Adam was (and one of the main characters as well), but I felt let down by that too. It was never really explained what happened to Penelope (I know what happened- but the why was left hanging). Penelope's offspring just found out they have family still living. Nothing happens with that. It was just wrapped up too quickly and too many loose ends. 
While I know this was the 2nd in a series (I haven't read the first one), because this had a new couple getting their HEA, I expected things to be wrapped up more than they were. Oh, and Harry found a glove in the woods that had been there 20 years (moved a pile of leaves and there it was!). And the hidden compartments in the coach I expected to have a place in the mystery/story. 

eARC courtesy of NetGalley and Kensington Books
Published July 3, 2018

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1772951/a-lady-s-guide-to-passion-and-property

Silver Shark

Review:

I liked this more than the first book in this series (Silent Blade). For the length, I thought this was well paced. Claire and Venturo are both fairly likable. My only issue is I would have liked more at the end. It felt rushed. Interesting world. Meli and Celino make an appearance in this one.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1771969/silver-shark

Suddenly You

Review:

This was a very enjoyable book. I liked the unconventional meeting (Amanda hires a prostitute on her 30th birthday, the madam sends someone that is not). I really liked that both are average, everyday people. I loved Amanda's intelligence and Jack for seeing that intelligence. Having said that, it was a little disappointing when Amanda would say something like, "Oh a woman can't do that." On one hand, I understood that, but on the other, it would have been nice if she had run with it. Luckily, Jack doesn't have that opinion.
I liked that this wasn't an insta-love story. It is an insta-lust with a gradual "falling in love." While I understood Amanda's not wanting to tell Jack something big, I also thought she was underestimating him. I'm not a huge fan of that plot-line. I also thought Charles was an amazing character for his support of Amanda.
One of the best lines ever:
"Good," he said softly. "Set the world afire. Just let me hand you the matches."

For Ripped Bodice Bingo, I am using this for the heroine older than the hero square.
It would also work for the carriage sex square.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1771579/suddenly-you

The Magpie Lord

Review:

This was enjoyable. My first historical, paranormal M/M (I think). I liked that Stephen and Lucian were completely opposite (Stephen is short and squat, Lucian tall and lean). It will be interesting how their relationship develops- there was no declaration of love in this one. In addition, the societal norms and their different stations/ranks. Lucian will be able to get away with far more due to his title and wealth. 
I liked that Stephen and other individuals were able to see that Lucian is not his father or his brother. I am curious about Merrick. And Stephen's partner Esther.
This works for "Birds are somehow involved" square for Ripped Bodice Bingo and, you guessed it, that's the square I'm using this for!

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1770597/the-magpie-lord