A Bollywood Affair

Review:

Mili and Virat were married. Mili just happened to be 4 and Virat was 12. Virat's mom takes him and his brother Samir away to the city to live to escape their grandfather (you guessed right- he is an abusive asshole!). Virat and family go on with their lives, believing the marriage null and void. On the other hand, Mili and her grandmother continue to wait for Virat to acknowledge they exist.
Mili's main goal in live is to be a good, loving, and the best ever wife. I thought she was in love with being in love. How can you love someone you met when you were 4 (once) and never, ever saw them again? Yeah, no. While I admired Mili (going to the US for a couple of semesters), I was also frustrated with her. I thought she was a little too nice and trusting at times. The clumsy heroine trope was well satisfied too. I mean if she tripped/fell one more time my eyes would have been stuck in the back of my head.
Now Samir. Virat's 1/2 brother. I hated him. Now, in my books, I don't have to love the hero at first. It's okay if I dislike/hate at first because as the story goes on, I usually grow to at least like them. Samir was a disappointment because I didn't like him by the end of this book. Samir was the type of guy who dated and dated a lot. Women were purely things that he put his dick in. How dare the person you are having sex with confess FEELINGS for you! The nerve! Without knowing Mili she is a "sick bitch," and a "gold digging opportunist." Then of course they meet, he has doubts, realizes he was a fucking asshole (I wish) etc. I didn't like that he wasn't truthful to her before they were intimate.
I thought the end of the book was rushed. I did like Samir's family. I liked Virat, his wife Rima, and his mom. I liked the secondary story involving Sara.
I did enjoy this book (kind of) and would another one by author to see if all her heroines/hero are similar.
Ripped Bodice Bingo- takes place in multiple countries (would also work for road trip)

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1929966/a-bollywood-affair

Fire on the Ice

Review:

Blaze is a short track speed skater, Maisy is a figure skater. Every 4 years (I assume) the Snow and Ice Games (SIG) happen. 4 years ago at the last SIG, Blaze and Maisy had a red hot affair. Both are down for the same at this event.
There were some things I liked; the figure skating and speed skating and the last couple of chapters. 
Blaze was a unique character (she's bisexual, polygamous (and very open with who she is) which is something not really seen in romance- it did take some getting used to). Maisy on the other hand was more of a wallflower and didn't want to be. I wanted her to stand up to her parents/coach and do what she wanted. 
What I didn't: the first 3/4 of the book was sex and sex and more sex. There was no plot, no character development.
1st part: 1*
2nd part: 3*
Average: 2*
Ripped Bodice Bingo: F-F contemporary

 

 

 

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1925966/fire-on-the-ice

A Lily Among Thorns

Review:

This had a slow start for me. Serena fell in love with one of her father's footmen. She then opted to run away and join a brothel becoming a well known courtesan. Solomon visits the brothel with his "friends" and gives Serena his quarterly allowance which allows her a chance at a new life.
I did think Serena was cold and harsh at times. I also thought Solomon was maybe too perfect (he sews! he cooks! he plays!). However, I could see them together and I thought they fit. I liked the spy subplot and the secondary love story with Rene and Elijah. I would have liked a little more about Rene/Elijah. And also- did anything happen to Serena's father?
For Ripped Bodice Bingo- on the page atheist

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1922952/a-lily-among-thorns

Chase Me

Review:

Roxy is a struggling actress. Louis is a lawyer with a great job and from money. Louis also happens to be a manwhore. They meet when Roxy sings a song about his penis dressed in a bunny suit.
This was cute and I liked the banter. I didn't quite believe the romance, but I liked both characters.
Ripped Bodice Bingo- someone wears a costume.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1922003/chase-me

Rock Redemption

Review:

I'm not always a fan of second chance romances (and this one kinda is). Kit is best friends with Noah (and she loves him and he her). Noah, believing himself to be not worthy, orchestrates a betrayal (of sorts). He had something happen during his childhood that causes him to self medicate with women. Lots of them.
Noah was

[spoiler]

sexually abused as a child and his parents opted to ignore it and send him away to boarding school.

[/spoiler]

Instead of seeking out counseling, talking about it, he bottles it in- until it can't be dealt with in his usual way. I wanted more from him sooner then it came. He does eventually redeem himself, but it was pretty much towards the end of the book. I thought his treatment of Kit was super shitty. While I didn't like he was sleeping with other women, it technically wasn't cheating since they weren't a couple.
I was still in the story. NS can write!
Angst- check. Secret- check.
Ripped Bodice Bingo: Show Business square

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1922002/rock-redemption

The Rule of Luck

Review:

In this future, the Earth as we know it has been destroyed by climate change, earthquakes, the subsequent wars that followed. Humanity is ruled under one government. That government controls everything from life-span to fertility to calories. Humanity has colonized Mars and Venus. There is AI, cloning, and genetic modification.
I thought the concepts were interesting and I liked the writing. What I didn't like so much were the characters. Felicia is struck dumb and in lust by Alexei's perfection. Oh please no. I did like Felicia's tarot card reading and her luck gene (yes, that's a thing in this book). Alexei is an Alpha-hole extraordinaire. I think that title explains it all right there.
This would have been better had he been less of a possessive asshole and she less "stupid in lust" (my term for lack of a better descriptor). There's also the cheating.

[spoiler]

Yes, I know she really isn't that much into Roy. And I know he really is a spy for her mother. Roy also happens to be married with a baby on the way. His wife thinks he and Felicia are work friends. 

[/spoiler]

For Ripped Bodice Bingo- tarot square.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1918324/the-rule-of-luck

How to Win at Feminism

Review:

Well, hummm. Some of the satire/sarcasm worked and some of it didn't work for me. There are some things you can joke and laugh at. Other things not so much. This book has some LOL moments. It also had it's fair share of hell no not funny moments.
I did like the fake ads spread throughout. Pink Goats International was one of my favs.

Original post: RachelGoodbyeBorders.booklikes.com/post/1918141/how-to-win-at-feminism