Off Limits by Vivian Ward:
Release Date: September 26th, 2017
Source: Paperback I purchased
My rating: 3 stars
I purchased this from the author when I got to meet her last year at the Kinky in Kansas City Convention. It was the one that sounded most like my type of story. Honestly, it was mostly a quick, easy read. Had several of the issues that I notice with self-published books a lot. For the most part, it gave me some confidence to continue working on my own writing and try to get my own stories out as well. It had some original parts to it, some things that definitely set it apart from similar stories. Definitely a short and sweet review on this one.
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
My only rule? Never get involved with the dancers.
I’m in charge at The Pink Pouch, and my rules are simple: keep the girls safe and never sleep with them. Watching sexy, curvy women dance is every man’s dream, and mine’s no different.
But when Melanie walks in, everything that has been forbidden is more desirable now than ever before.
I’ve known her since she was just a girl wearing her seashell bikini top, but she’s traded in seashells for tassled pasties; yet, I’m the one hanging from a string. The more I watch her hips sway around the pole, the more I realize that I’m completely screwed.
Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut:
Release Date: 1969
Source: Paperback I purchased
My rating: 3 stars
So, occasionally I try to pick up classics and give them a try, since I don't feel I read that many in school. This one was recommended to me because it has aliens in it, maybe. This is also my first Vonnegut book. Personally, I'm going to say I wasn't that impressed. The first chapter made me think there was no way I'd get through it. But the second chapter at least was better. The story got interesting, and probably the fact that I'd watched the World War I documentary that Peter Jackson did while I was reading this helped me to be in the mood to read a war story. While I wasn't impressed, it did at least keep my attention. There was one thing the author kept repeating, "So it goes", and that got a bit annoying. The weirdest thing of all, is that the parts with the aliens reminded me of dreams I've had. Maybe that means I've been taken by aliens?
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
Prisoner of war, optometrist, time-traveller - these are the life roles of Billy Pilgrim, hero of this miraculously moving, bitter and funny story of innocence faced with apocalypse. Slaughterhouse 5 is one of the world's great anti-war books. Centring on the infamous fire-bombing of Dresden in the Second World War, Billy Pilgrim's odyssey through time reflects the journey of our own fractured lives as we search for meaning in what we are afraid to know.
Moonlight Sins (de Vincent #1) by Jennifer L. Armentrout:
Release Date: January 30th, 2018
Source: Stripped cover from bookstore
My rating: 4 stars
I decided to go ahead and read this one for two reasons. For one thing, the third book in the series was coming out and so it made me remember I had this copy. For the second, I decided to put it as one of my books to read for a challenge I did in February. As with every JLA book, once I picked it up, I couldn't put it down. First there was the Taylor guy that she had the awesome one night stand with at the beginning, and then when we found out who he was. Then, Lucian, kinda love him. But I couldn't decide if Gabe was being serious or just trying to make Lucian jealous. There were a lot of twists and turns at the end, and some people that weren't what you'd thought. It was a great read, and I can't wait to read on in the series, very interested in Gabe's story!
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout delivers the unforgettable story of a woman whose new life has just begun—but may end in murder . . .
Julia Hughes has always played it safe until she learned a very painful lesson. Now Julia’s starting over with a job in the Louisiana bayou—and a scorching encounter with a stranger, only to discover he’s Lucian de Vincent . . . her new employer. The de Vincent brothers share a massive fortune and a dark reputation. Julia cares for their troubled sister, but a menacing presence in the mansion—and the ever-present temptation of Lucian—prove dangerously distracting.
Lucian’s grandmother claimed de Vincent men fall in love once—and hard. Apparently, it’s Lucian’s turn. Julia’s compassionate care of his twin makes Lucian want to lay himself bare. But some secrets are better for Julia not to know.
The recent “suicide” of Lucian’s father is the latest in a string of deaths on the estate. Someone is eliminating the de Vincents. And the best way to get to Lucian may be through Julia. . . .
One in a Million (Lucky Harbor #12) by Jill Shalvis:
Release Date: October 14th, 2014
Source: Purchased Audible audiobook
My rating: 4 stars
This was my first book by this author, and while I had some issues with it, I definitely enjoyed it enough that I am going to want to read more. Sometimes I have trouble listening to books that are in third person, especially romance, I kind of like the first person better. I think I'd have liked this even better with two narrators, one for the male and one for the female parts. Not that the narrator was bad, I just think the book might have been better. But I guess when it is in third person, you don't always need the two people to read. Some of the sexy parts were a little cringe-worthy for me, I guess just compared to the really steamy stuff I usually read. I did totally get what the main character mentioned about always feeling like a third wheel, with parents, etc. Because that's totally my life!
Towards the end, the really final issue, I was a little mad that she didn't give him a chance to explain, because she knew he had a son, and should have at least thought that was a possibility. And then, I feel like his proposal was a little soon, but okay. Again, my steamy romances may give me a little more time with that? I did get the friends bit, really is similar to the short story I'm working on.
Here is the blurb from Goodreads:
As the brains behind wedding site TyingTheKnot.com, Callie sees it all: from the ring to the dress, the smiles... to the tears. It's that last part that keeps her single and not looking. Getting left at the altar will do that to a girl. But when Callie returns to her old hometown, she finds that her sweet high school crush is sexier than ever. And he makes it hard to remember why she's sworn off love...
Tanner is a deep-sea diver with a wild, adrenaline-junkie past-and now his teenage son is back in his life. How can Tanner be a role model when he's still paying for his own mistakes? It's hard enough that gorgeous Callie has appeared in town like a beautiful dream, challenging his best-laid plans to keep his heart on lockdown. Though there's something about being around her again that makes him feel like he can be the man she—and his son—deserve. Little Lucky Harbor holds their past; can it hold a beautiful new future?
