Category Archives: Books

Book Review: Ball & Chain (Book 8 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 24, 2014 | Leave a comment
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Now, I’ve to agree with most of the reviews I’ve read about this book before & after reading it. The duo took the supporting roles here – clearly, this was more of a Nick O’ Flaherty book than Ty and Zane and I’m a bit disappointed. It’s like the screen time were focused more on Nick and Kelly (Abbott) and their budding relationship. Gosh, I keep on hoping that the other half of the book would focus more on Ty and Zane but the whole thing was like a Sidewinder love story. And the last few pages was focused more on Nick! OMG! The final proposal of Ty when Zane finally said yes was sweet and I don’t know – my heart goes to Ty because he was so sweet, sincere and all! I just love this guy.

Home from their unexpected deployment, the former members of Marine Force Recon team Sidewinder rejoin their loved ones and try to pick up the pieces of the lives they were forced to leave behind. Ty Grady comes home to Zane Garrett, only to find that everything around him has changed—even the men he went to war with. He barely has time to adjust before his brother, Deuce, asks Ty to be his best man. But that isn’t all Deuce asks Ty to do, and Ty must call for backup to deal with the business issues of Deuce’s future father-in-law.

Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott join Ty and Zane at the wedding on an island in Scotland, thinking they’re there to assuage Deuce’s paranoia. But when bodies start dropping and boats start sinking, the four men get more involved with the festivities than they’d ever planned to.

With the clock ticking and the killer just as stuck on the isolated island as they are, Ty and Zane must navigate a veritable minefield of family, friends, and foes to stop the whole island from being destroyed (source)

In this book, there’s too much happening. Too many suspects, too many twist and turn and too many dying! Oh, did I say too many pages for Nick (you see, I love Nick but this isn’t supposed to be his book! Cmon’ now Abi!) Oh well, I’m just glad that we still have Ball & Chain to linger over the impending goodbye of Ty & Zane’s adventure. Gosh, I don’t think I’m ready for the last book – I mean, I don’t think I’m ready to let go of them just yet. Let me cry my eyes out first… see you in the ninth book!

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Point Of Retreat (Slammed Book 2) – Colleen Hoover

Posted on May 23, 2014 | Leave a comment
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There are some who are pretty disappointed with this book but I think this one’s actually better than the first book. I love how the first book made us like Will and Layken but this book made me fall in love even more with their story. Not only that, we’re treated more with Kel, Caulder, Eddie, Gavin, Sheree and the feisty Keirsten!

Hardships and heartache brought them together…now it will tear them apart.Layken and Will have proved their love can get them through anything; until someone from Will’s past re-emerges, leaving Layken questioning the very foundation on which their relationship was built. Will is forced to face the ultimate challenge…how to prove his love for a girl who refuses to stop ‘carving pumpkins. (source)

Point Of Retreat was told through Will’s perspective after the death of Layken’s mom and into the progress of their relationship. My, I just love this two! In the first book, I was swooning over Will and loving his character so much, this time – I’m over the moon with Layken. That’s a bit odd right? Considering that Will’s character the one telling the story. I also love that this was funnier than the first one. Some may call it a bit cheesy but really, I’m such a sucker for cheesy lines these days! I can’t believe that after raving about the Beautiful Disaster series – I’ve my new favorite couple again (well next to Ty and Zane ofcourse). You see, Will and Layken are realistic characters and somewhere, a couple like them existed! I’m so butterflying inlove with this character. Their interaction’s such a joy to read! I think I’d reread this book sooner than I expected! It’s nice when an accompanying book surpassed its predecessor! I’m totally putting Colleen Hoover to my always-watch-out author list from now on.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Touch & Geaux (Book 7 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 23, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This book was totally heartbreaking to read. I don’t think I’d be able to reread it anytime soon. I’m not used to Ty and Zane fighting this much after reading the first 6 books in the series. Here, a lot of secrets have been revealed and a lot of bad, bad guys are after Ty, Zane and the rest of their crew (Sidewinder!)

After having their faces plastered across the news during a high-profile case, FBI Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have become more useful to the Bureau posing for photo ops than working undercover. Just as Zane is beginning to consider retirement a viable option, Ty receives a distress call from a friend, leading them to a city rife with echoes from the past.

New Orleans wears its history on its streets, and it’s the one place Ty’s face could get him killed. Surrounded by trouble as soon as they land, Ty and Zane are swiftly confronted with a past from which Ty can’t hide—one with a surprising connection to Zane’s.

As threats close in from all directions, both men must come to terms with the lives they’ve led and the lies they’ve told. They soon discover that not all their secrets are out yet, and nothing lasts forever.

So at the beginning, Zane’s about to propose for Ty to marry him but they have to fly to New Orleans ASAP for some emergency. Turns out, that emergency’s a highly traumatic journey to their past! Ouch! I’m hurting by simply remembering everything that happened in the book! It was the Sidewinder reunion commemorating the birthday of their fallen comrades. The revelations of Ty are just beyond! Zane was beyond mad thinking if he really knows Ty or if what Ty have shown him all this time was simply a ploy to do his mission?! Ouch again! I admit that Ty was I the wrong here. He’s crazy shit but surely, they could talk some sense into this right? LOL. Oh well, it’s just crazy – everything that happened to this book was just crazy and I don’t know. It’s painful, beyond painful! The best thing that I loved about this was the ending – it was bittersweet moment for both of them! Awee – this book hurts but at the end of the day (err…the novel) I still love both of ‘em. Abigail, please don’t do this again…

 Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Shock & Awe (Book 1 of Sidewinder Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 23, 2014 | Leave a comment

18005253From the Cut & Run series, we’ve got here a couple springing from the Sidewinder team. Nick O’Flaherty and Kelly Abbott finally discovered that they have something that they could share more. The story picked up after the events in Touch & Geaux (Cut & Run Series Book #8) and it was just a quick narration of both men deciding whether they should be pursuing what their hearts was telling them or just remain friends / brothers-in-combat.

After barely surviving a shootout in New Orleans, Sidewinder medic Kelly Abbott has to suffer through a month of recovery before he can return home to Colorado. He’s not surprised when fellow Sidewinder Nick O’Flaherty stays with him in New Orleans. Nor is he surprised when Nick travels home with him to help him get back on his feet—after all, years on the same Marine Force Recon team bonded the men in ways that only bleeding for a brother can. He’s very surprised, though, when Nick humors his moment of curiosity and kisses him.

Nick knows all of Kelly’s quirks and caprices, so the kiss was a low-risk move on his part . . . or so he thought. But what should’ve been a simple moment unleashes a flood of confusing emotions and urges that neither man is prepared to address.

Now, Kelly and Nick must figure out what they mean to each other—friends and brothers in arms, or something even deeper?—before the past can come back to ruin their tenuous future (source)

Shock & Awe to put it simply is a walking sex novella. Really, it’s just sex, sex and sex and less talk. It’s funny (especially Kelly – oh my, he’s kinky! Lol) and it does not require too much thinking. Kelly’s just so adorable especially whenever he’s demanding Nick to kiss him. And I just love his stubbornness – the guy’s horny every time! LOL

Really, you just gotta read the whole thing to peek at the fire that started between them and then go read “Ball & Chain (Cut & Run series Book #8)” to read more of the progress in their relationship.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Slammed – Colleen Hoover

Posted on May 22, 2014 | 1 comment

13372690I am totally in love with this book! (I feel like I’ve been saying this line after every book I’ve finished! LOL). But hey, I guess that means I’ve gotten myself some great reads then. This book is so original and fresh and I love that there are no millionaire / billionaire / uber-handsome demigod characters or something of the sort here.

Following the unexpected death of her father, 18-year-old Layken is forced to be the rock for both her mother and younger brother. Outwardly, she appears resilient and tenacious, but inwardly, she’s losing hope.

Enter Will Cooper: The attractive, 21-year-old new neighbor with an intriguing passion for slam poetry and a unique sense of humor. Within days of their introduction, Will and Layken form an intense emotional connection, leaving Layken with a renewed sense of hope.

Not long after an intense, heart-stopping first date, they are slammed to the core when a shocking revelation forces their new relationship to a sudden halt. Daily interactions become impossibly painful as they struggle to find a balance between the feelings that pull them together, and the secret that keeps them apart. (source)

First off, It was written in such a way that would make you relate more with the characters. In Slammed, it was Layken’s character who narrates the story and boy, the book have this heavy emotional premise that you’d think it’d drag along the story but it didn’t! It was beautifully written and the whole thing about the Slam (poetry performance of some sort) was just as beautiful as the story. I am in love with Will’s character – His virtue’s admirable and being responsible and all – my heart’s breaking for him but I’m also proud of him. Layken on the other hand acts like a typical teenager but I enjoy getting to know her character more because she’s really a strong-willed person and does know what she wants in life. I like that the characters aren’t as perfect as they are written in some books like they have superpowers of some sort.

In Slammed, we readers are thrown into a situation where most would crumble and break down and it was nice how Layken and Will were able to cope up with life and become responsible despite their very young age. I even cried in this book several times. Oh well, I’m such a crybaby. Or perhaps I could just easily relate since both my parents have passed away as well.

After reading the whole thing, I feel like revisiting the old me who loves writing poems, copla and even songs. Yes, I was inspired by the idea of the book but more than anything else, I got inspired by the character themselves. Will and Layken are totally hard to forget…

 Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

 

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Book Review: Stars & Stripes (Book 6 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 22, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This book would have to be the sweetest and funniest in the series! This was also the book where both of our character finally came out to their respective families! Yay! Exciting times!

Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have managed the impossible: a few months of peace and quiet. After nearly a year of personal and professional turmoil, they’re living together conflict-free, work is going smoothly, and they’re both happy, healthy, and home every night before dark. But anyone who knows them knows that can’t possibly last.

When an emergency call from home upsets the balance of their carefully arranged world, Ty and Zane must juggle family drama with a perplexing crime to save a helpless victim before time runs out.

From the mountains of West Virginia to a remote Texas horse ranch harboring more than just livestock and childhood memories, Ty and Zane must face their fears—and their families—to overcome an unlikely enemy and bring peace back into their newly shared world

From the beginning until the end, I find myself grinning from ear to ear. The text jokes their sharing at the office was just HI-llarious I’m laughing my a$$ of for real! I also loved how they now have Smith & Wesson (the two evil cats of Julian Cross) in their care and “conspiring” against Zane. LOL. That was just funny! Oh, you just gotta love Ty’s grandpa right? The coming out scene with Ty’s family quite touching to be honest! I love how they totally accepted Zane in the family and I was tearing up because Ty have been keeping that secret for like the longest time now!!! I’m so glad for both of them!

Then we have Zane’s wealthy family in Texas and his Monster Mom! I just love how everyone (except his Mom) notices how Zane’s so happy with Ty! Ty’s just hilarious and gave some of the best punch lines here! Gosh, I’m totally waving Team Ty’s flag here yeah? LOL. I just love how both of them complimented each other so much! I somehow wished that they were actually real!!!!!!! Or yes, please – I’ve been dying to post something here about it – they have to make this series into a film! I swear. Oh hell, If I have the money in the world. I’d do it in a heartbeat! This book’s a complete package of some sort. It’s funny, romantic, action-packed with a very nice finish! Oh, I love you Abigail Roux!

 Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

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Book Review: Armed & Dangerous (Book 5 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux

Posted on May 21, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This is the first solo effort of Abigail Roux in the Cut & Run series and I’ve to say that she’s done a damn good job on keeping the fans hungry for more Ty and Zane adventure! This book was LOVE! We meet new characters – a version of Ty (if I may say) by the name of Julian Cross! And some big revelations as well as some sweet-sweet moments from Meow Mix and Lone Star!

Left alone in Baltimore after his unpredictable lover bails, Special Agent Zane Garrett takes his frustration out on everything in his path until he is ordered to Chicago to back up an undercover operative. When he gets there, though, he finds himself face to face with his wayward partner, Special Agent Ty Grady. They have to deal with the uncertainty lingering between them while they work to retrieve their intended mark, a retired hit man and CIA wet-works operative named Julian Cross.

Ty, once a marine and now an FBI hotshot, has a penchant for being unpredictable, a trait Zane can vouch for. Zane is a man who once lived for his job but has come to realize his heartbreaking past doesn’t have to overshadow his future. They’re partners, friends, lovers, and the go-to team for unusual cases. With Cross and his innocuous boyfriend, Cameron Jacobs, in tow, Ty and Zane must navigate the obstacles of a cross-country trek, including TSA pat-downs, blizzards, their uncooperative prisoners, CIA kill teams, a desperate lack of sleep or caffeine, and each other. Ty and Zane are determined to get Julian Cross to DC in one piece, but it’s starting to look like it might be the last thing they do.

Now this effort of Abigail Roux’s crazy good! First, can I just say how relieved I am that Zane was finally part of Ty’s black ops (even as a mere back up) and he was able to finally give the gift he bought for Ty in Book 3.  Awwee… that compass pendant!!! Yes!

“Why a compass?” Ty asked. He hadn’t taken his eyes off Zane’s yet.
Zane smiled and ran his thumb across the pendant. “Because you gave me direction when I was lost. You showed me the way.” He looked up to meet Ty’s eyes. “You’re like my very own compass.”

Ty’s still my man here – the crazy, the sweet man I’ve come to know and Zane’s still the understanding guy who gladly tolerated his lover. Gosh, I swear these two are dynamites! The confrontation between Nick O’Flaherty and Zane went smoothly though and what a revelation from Nick! I was aghast upon learning one of Ty’s secret. Oh, my heart broke from what they’ve been through. I’m also glad that Zane’s all very understanding and Ty loving him was just awwee-worthy.

The other couple (Julian Cross & Cameron Jacobs) was  getting on my nerves especially Julian but after reading Warrior’s Cross (their story in the Cut and Run network) I think I finally understood them.

Now Ty’s always delivering the funny banters here and the hot sex’s still there! Yay! I’m just glad that they are really getting to know each other more – I love the progress in their relationship and Zane being sweet and all like Ty. *sigh* I just love these two.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

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Book Review: Walking Disaster – Jamie McGuire

Posted on May 20, 2014 | Leave a comment

Published April 2nd 2013 by Atria Books

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Walking Disaster narrated everything that happened in Beautiful Disaster but this time, it was told from Travis perspective. Both books are nearly identical (except for this book’s epilogue) so if you want to start reading the series – you can start with either although I highly suggest you start with Beautiful Disaster.

I actually find Travis’s perspective more interesting than Abby’s ( although I was totally raving about the first book after reading it). Here, we see everything through the mind of Travis and his rough, bad-ass boy facade. And of-course, we don’t have Abby’s quite annoying habit of being stupid. It’s also a given that we see more of the Maddox Family – learn more about them especially the things that made them stronger. In this book, you will also discover the history behind Pigeon (Travis’s nickname to Abby).

You see, I’ve raved about Beautiful Disaster like crazy but If I’ve read this one first, I think I will find this much more fun. As  interesting as it was, it gets kinda repetitive but I still enjoyed it. So if you’re like uber-addicted now with these two – you better get a copy of this book.

Rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars

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Book Review: Divide & Conquer (Book 4 Of Cut & Run Series) – Abigail Roux & Madeleine Urban

Posted on May 20, 2014 | Leave a comment
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This is the last book that both Abigail and Madeleine co-authored and as usual, the book still has its magic! In Divide & Conquer, Baltimore, Maryland, is a city in alarming distress. Rising violence is fanning the flames of public outrage, and all law enforcement agencies, including the FBI, are catching blame. Thus the FBI’s latest ideas to improve public relations: a municipal softball league and workshops for community leaders. But the new commitments just mean more time Special Agents Ty Grady and Zane Garrett have to spend apart when they’re happily exploring how to be more than by-the-book partners.

Then the latest spate of crime explodes in their faces—literally—throwing the city, the Bureau, and Ty and Zane’s volatile partnership both in and out of the office into chaos. They’re hip-deep in trouble, trying to track down bombers and bank robbers in the dark with very few clues, and the only way to reach the light at the end of the tunnel together requires Ty and Zane to close their eyes and trust each other to the fiery end. [source]

Here, we see a lot of conflicts amongst our characters and we meet the Sidewinder team (Ty’s Recon team). The duo’s affection for each other is growing each day with them being assigned to deskwork after their successful undercover job from the last book. Here, the two are always on the brink of dying after getting the ire of the group terrorizing the city of Baltimore. This was also the part of the series when Ty finally came out to his team and getting the shock of his life when his bestfriend (Nick O’ Flaherty) in the team admitted loving him for a long time now and the sucker kissed him and Ty kissed him back and enjoyed it! WTF?! You see, (now this is getting spoiler-ish) Zane went blind for a time due to an explosion and Ty took care of him and in all fairness to Ty, he admitted the incident to him. Now would this be the reason for Zane not to say I LOVE YOU back to Ty? Now, you’ve got to read the whole thing! It’s maddening, it’s still swoony and you’d learn more about Ty and Zane and the Sidewinder team. Ugh, I’m still upset about the kiss but I guess I’m quite glad it happened…you gotta check it out peeps.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars!

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Book Review: Something Like Summer – Jay Bell

Posted on May 19, 2014 | Leave a comment

Published January 5th 2011 by Smashwords (first published January 1st 2010)

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I truly enjoyed reading this book. I loved all of its characters and its storyline. It started in 1996 as told by Benjamin Bentley, a gay high school student and his young love with the rich, “still in-denial” Tim Wyman.

Love, like everything in the universe, cannot be destroyed. But over time it can change.

The hot Texas nights were lonely for Ben before his heart began beating to the rhythm of two words; Tim Wyman. By all appearances, Tim had the perfect body and ideal life, but when a not-so-accidental collision brings them together, Ben discovers that the truth is rarely so simple. If winning Tim’s heart was an impossible quest, keeping it would prove even harder as family, society, and emotion threaten to tear them apart.

Something Like Summer is a love story spanning a decade and beyond as two boys discover what it means to be friends, lovers, and sometimes even enemies. (source)

The whole high school setting was really well-written. There wasn’t much conflicts in that aspect aside from the ones coming from our main characters themselves (Ben and Tim).

Overtime (in a span of 12 years, ) Ben and Tim broke up, found someone else, they meet again and someone actually got married!

I don’t know why but all throughout this book, my heart’s breaking for Tim’s character. His character was mostly sad, scared and vulnerable mainly because he’s an unwanted child to begin with despite his wealthy family. He practically raised himself. I totally understand why Ben felt the need to protect him.

The whole vibe of the latter part of the book gave me that odd sense of de javu as if I’m watching the movie P.S. I Love You all over again. I just wished though that the ending was a bit longer. I felt that it was rushed (though it works well) because I’m like WTF? So they’re not getting back together???! I’m on the last few pages!!! OMMMMGGGG!!!!!! I’m literally on panic mode!

Written with sincere honesty and relatable characters, you’re sure to enjoy this book and take the journey with Ben and Tim.

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

(Now this was the first book of what the author called “Season” / “Something Like…” series. The second book called Something Like Winter was written in Tim’s perspective and his own life journey. I’ve to see if I’d have the heart to read it since I’m still heartbroken for some reason – mainly for Tim – which is odd. Yeah, I guess I’m Team Tim )

And right now, I’m feeling totally giddy after finding out that Something Like Summer will have its own movie adaptation! OMG!!! #hyperventilating #jumping #screaming #crying #dying #Icant

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