Deadly Pursuit by Nicole James

⚠ This review contains a minor teaser!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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• BLURB •

Ex-Navy SEAL Chris Draper is CEO and founder of the Texas based company, Tri Star Security, an ex-military rescue and protection service. Clients turn to Tri Star when no one else can help them. When Tri Star’s office manager, Lani Cantrell goes missing, a Mexican Cartel is the prime suspect. Chris and his team will pull out all stops to find and rescue her before she’s killed in retaliation for her brother’s deeds. The dangerous mission will require the team to cross international borders and use all the special ops skills and tactical training they have.

For Chris, maintaining a calm, detached, professional demeanor is everything, but Lani is more than an employee, she’s the love of his life, and this job is personal.

He’ll tear apart the cartel and burn the city to the ground to save his woman.

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• MY REVIEW •

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“You ready to jump in the deep end with me, babe? You ready for that?”

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This had spice and all things nice! It’s an edge-of-your-seat military romance with an overall surprisingly playful atmosphere. If there’s one thing that James does well when writing romance stories, is the way she creates her characters with such personality that instantly has you perking up with interest. Each one of the characters introduced in this book, whether main or secondary have left an impressionable mark.

James can write from any romance sub-genre and it will immediately suck you in. This first book in her new military romance series has set the tone for what you can expect in the next books to come. I’m going to need advance copies of books two, three, four, and onwards because I was left wanting more.

It’s fast-paced with constant developments. The storytelling is told from a third person narrative and switches between the protagonists POVs. If you’re familiar with James’ type of romance, then it’ll be no surprise to see some laugh-out-loud banter, some cheeky flirtation, and some seriously sweet relationships that ultimately balances out the grittiness, the action and suspense, and the darkness that some of her characters endure in this story.

Although the majority of this story is light-hearted, there are some serious content that may be triggering for some readers such as, kidnapping, rape, violence and abuse that results in PTSD. It also brings up matters of drug and human trafficking. This book is intended for readers 18+ only.

There’s such a contrast of settings and unexpected subplots within this story that felt somewhat disjointed in certain parts, but it does eventually fuse together by the end and ensures Chris and Lani’s story come full-circle. It’s an emotional journey that I was invested in from start to finish. With the military backdrop as the base of the world-building of this series it’s obvious James has done her research. There’s intricate details and jargon that could easily have gone over my head but I needed have worried as it’s effortless to follow and similar to its heroine, I came away learning something new. 😜😄

All in all, it’s an amazing introduction to Tri Star Securities. Whilst I would’ve loved to have seen a more fleshed-out story, with how things concluded and seeing the premise for the second book, it’s looking to be an interconnected series of standalones where the world-building gets more vivid and complex as more books follow. If you enjoy military romance reads with a workplace romance trope, then I recommend you add this one to your TBR. The characters have amazing chemistry and there’s just enough spice in Chris and Lani’s romance to keep things heated between them. For me, the friendships are definitely a big highlight, adding not only an entertaining group dynamic but a strong support system as well.

I found the cast of characters truly likable and I loved seeing their gradual character growth and getting to know some of their backstories. With a fierce, intelligent heroine, and charming alpha heroes who exude strong protective vibes, this book just about made me feel all tingly with giddiness. It can easily be read in one sitting and will leave you sighing in happy contentment. I’m eager for book two!

RATING: ⭐⭐⭐⭐

Thank you Nicole James and Give Me Books PR for the opportunity to read an advance copy! 🧡

🔔 Interested in reading Deadly Pursuit? Grab your copy here: Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon AU

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💀 More books by Nicole James!

Evil Dead MC Series

Evil Dead MC Series by Nicole James

Brothers Ink Tattoo Series

Brothers Ink Tattoo by Nicole James

Royal Bastards MC Series

Book One: Club Princess by Nicole James

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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Stroke Of Midnight by K. Webster

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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— BLURB —

Money can buy anything. And anyone. As the head of the Constantine family, I’m used to people bowing to my will. Cruel, rigid, unyielding—I’m all those things. When I discover the one woman who doesn’t wither under my gaze, but instead smiles right back at me, I’m intrigued.

Ash Elliott needs cash, and I make her trade in crudeness and degradation for it. I crave her tears, her moans. I pay for each one. And every time, she comes back for more. When she challenges me with an offer of her own, I have to decide if I’m willing to give her far more than cold hard cash.

But love can have deadly consequences when it comes from a Constantine. At the stroke of midnight, that choice may be lost for both of us.

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— MY REVIEW —

What’s better than a fairytale inspired story or retelling? A dark fairytale story or retelling! The fact that Stroke of Midnight is a Cinderella story, just had me even more excited to read it! 😊

But I hadn’t encountered a lot of things when I started this book. The blurb certainly tells you a loose outline, but soon discovered it was so much more that what I was expecting. I think this book will be eaten up by romance readers who love some kinky BDSM in their reads. 

I’m an avid romance reader but I have to admit romance books that contain BDSM are usually ones I steer clear of because they’re not my type of story. But I would never discredit these books, authors who write them, or the readers who enjoy them. To each their own.

I have to point out that there’s also a relatively sizable age gap between our protagonists. It’s a trope I’m slowly reading a lot more of these days but even then I tend to be picky about which ones I read. I find that if the age difference isn’t as noticeable when the characters converse, then it’s not going to be an issue. With Stroke of Midnight, the age difference is practically one of the focal points in the story. If it’s not mentioned by the characters themselves, it’s displayed in the way they behave towards one another. It’s a bit of a hit and miss for me because it was either funny to witness or at times a cringy reminder. 🙈

For someone like me who’s just venturing towards this romance trope, I was taken aback in the beginning, but the further I read on, it became the norm with Winston and Ash that I eventually shrugged it off and accepted it. Although I may have huffed at the fact that being in your thirties is considered “old”. But I suppose when the heroine is still a teenager then yeah… I can see why it may seem old in comparison. Lol. 🤦‍♀️😂

If you like the following themes in your romance books, then you’ll be sure to enjoy this one!

• Age gap
• Erotica/ BDSM
• Office Romance
• Dark fairy tale retelling
• The whole sugar daddy kink!

In saying all that — I did surprisingly find this book entertaining to read. I was hooked on the aspect of the whole Pretty Woman, make-me-an-offer bit, which I think is initially what kept me engaged… that, and the fact that I enjoyed seeing Winston and Ash’s nonstop bantering. It kept me chuckling and turning the pages! 

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“He’s a villain who looks the part of a golden prince.”

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I’m not going to lie, I had trouble deciding what to rate it. I have a love/ hate relationship with this book. As I mentioned earlier, this is not my usual type of romance read. I know there’s a massive fanbase for this romance trope. Based on some similar ones I have come across (and DNFed) in the past, this one managed to have a lightness added to an otherwise dark romance.     

But before I go further, I have to mention it contains sensitive subject matter that may be triggering for some readers. It contains violence, sexual harassment and assault. So please keep that in mind when deciding to start this novel.

Another issue I have to bring up is that it ends on a cliffhanger. It’s not a deal breaker for me, but I know plenty of readers who have issues with it considering it’s not mentioned at all in the blurb (which would’ve been nice). Unless you specifically check on Goodreads, you won’t know that it’s not a standalone until you’re already well into reading it. Sigh.

K. Webster is a new-to-me author, so I had no idea what her writing style would be like. Despite the romance tropes in this book, I did get invested in seeing how things would pan out for Winston and Ash (especially with how things concluded), so I’m looking forward to the next book!

It’s a relatively well-paced storytelling and told from both their POVs. A definite modern, twisted take on the classic fairy tale.

A handful of shifty secondary characters to look forward to. The villainous stepmother and her disturbingly cruel spawns is just the start of it. But there’s also some cool characters included to keep the scale from tipping entirely to the evil side. Hehe.

Winston and Ash, as weird as their relationship is, do have zingy chemistry. Their conversations more than anything is what I enjoyed reading the most. For the majority of the time I wasn’t a fan of Ash’s immature personality and naivety, but it does display a dynamic between Winston and herself… and she is a stereotypical teenager so… 🤷‍♀️

*whispers* I would’ve rated this book a little higher if Ash’s actions didn’t bother me as much. Her heart is in a good place and she has clear opinions but her decisions don’t necessarily reflect that. 

Successful, powerful Winston has the world at his feet, but I also questioned his decisions when it came to Ash’s welfare. He just didn’t make a big enough impact on me as the guy you don’t want to mess with. Know what I mean? 

I can only hope the sequel we’ll get to really see his full potential as a Constantine, and see a lot more growth from Ash. There’s so much potential and possibilities with their story. 

I’m a sucker for fairy tale stories where the hero is so affected by the heroine that he gradually changes from the cold-hearted man into one full of love and emotion. Winston and Ash have that potential of a love story.

In my honest opinion Stroke of Midnight would be an absolute smash for readers who like these specific types of romance stories. I can totally see its appeal. It’s not my usual preference but I did end up liking it for the most part and I would recommend it to readers looking into this romance sub-genre.  A nice quick read you can finish in one sitting too! 😊

RATING: ♥♥♥¾

Thank you to K. Webster and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💙

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Happy reading, guys! As always, catch you in my next one! Xo

Addictive by K.E. Osborn

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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— BLURB —

My past was destructive.
It haunts my dreams.
The moment I embraced my addiction, I knew my life would change dramatically.

As the VP of the Houston Defiance MC, my job is to stand tall. Contain the demons clawing from the inside, begging to escape from within. But when I embrace my bloodlust, nothing can tame my wrath.

Zero took me in as part of his family – a bond unbreakable.
I should care about the no-touch rules.
And the fact they are in place on his sister.

But the draw to Prinie is addictive, destructive, exhilarating.
And I am all too aware that I’m dangerous.
She needs to see that too.

Her brother loathes the idea of us. Honestly, I put up a fight too.
But maybe fighting my addiction to her is impossible?
When chaos strikes the club, we’ll turn to each other.
But chaos can just as easily rip us both to shreds.

From International Bestselling Author KE Osborn comes the second book in the Houston Defiance MC Series.

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— MY REVIEW —

After reading the first book in the series and how it ended, I knew I had to read Wraith’s story.

Addictive was not at all what I was expecting! 😱

The story is so much more than a simple MC romance. Wraith has such a broken past that he can’t seem to escape from no matter how hard he tries. It’s disturbing, tragic and completely heartbreaking to read about. I really didn’t know what I was getting into but the minute Wraith’s story begins to unravel, you start getting that uneasy feeling as you read on knowing it’s not going to be so pretty.

This book is not for the fainthearted. It delves into serious subject matter that can be triggering for anyone. It contains detailed violence, addiction, drug and sexual abuse. It can be a difficult topic to read about, so please keep in mind before starting this book.

Whilst I thoroughly enjoyed reading this story, there was a lot to take in. Most of it is set in a dark, gritty atmosphere with constant problems arising, not only for Wraith and Prinie’s relationship, but for the MC itself. It keeps you on the edge of your seat and I’m not going to lie, I might’ve had moments of panic at what could possibly happen next. Eeep. 🙈

It’s unpredictable and oh-so suspenseful that that alone was what kept me reading. The constant questions and second-guessing added extra excitement to this forbidden/ hate to love MC romance.  

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“I have to do better. I need to be better.”

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The first book gave an unbelievable introduction to the world-building of the Houston Defiance MC, and Addictive effortlessly expanded it further. You get an insight to more of the other brothers in the club, the group dynamics and the relationships that have formed.

There are secondary characters I’m eager to see more of and hope they get their own book in the future. I love that all these bikers have history and it comes through in moments when they give sound advice to Wraith.   

And whilst this book didn’t have as much swoony moments as the first book had between Zero and Rayne, seeing any scene between Wraith and Prinie just made it all the more special because they were rare. I only wish there were more them! They have a complicated push and pull relationship and it’s helluva slow burn! You’ll be frustrated and you might even wail (not saying that I did… *cough*) but I found with all slow burn romances I’ve read, is that it is well worth the wait when you finally see them get together! 😉

Wraith and Prinie have quite a journey. It’s full of hurdles and it feels like the world is always against them but coming away from this read, you realize how much they both grow as individuals and as a couple. The character growth is extraordinary — especially from Wraith’s POV. With his scars and the constant battle he has with himself, you get to see how much he develops as a character. Ugh. *hand to heart* ❤

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“She’s my fucking kryptonite.”

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Prinie is young, yet she’s already lived such a life. Her struggles are relatable and you can’t help but sympathize for her. But I’m relieved to see Osborn created her as character who yes, is vulnerable but who also has a strength within her to overcome issues. She’s a persistent little firecracker! 

But what I loved most about their complicated relationship is they give each other strength and support despite the fact that they consistently bicker and banter, nevertheless when push comes to shove… they’ve got each other’s back. It’s palpable how much they care for another and for the people they consider family. 

The support of the MC is another highlight. These guys may not be all about openly sharing their feelings but they are supportive as hell! As I mentioned earlier, this story is not for the fainthearted, and a big chunk of it is full of darkness. But Osborn has added some lightheartedness in between to really give not only her characters, but the readers a breather.   

A beautiful story of family, growth, overcoming adversaries, and moving on from the past. A steady paced storytelling told perfectly from Wraith and Prinie’s POVs. It’s a story full of emotion that’ll have you sighing in contentment once you reach the last page. A great sequel and addition to the Houston Defiance MC series. 

Although each book centers around a different hero/ heroine, I recommend you read Explosive first because the books do interconnect. You’ll get a better grasp of the world and the relationships within.        

RATING: ♥♥♥♥/5

Thank you to K.E. Osborn and The Next Step PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! 💙

🔔 Interested in reading Addictive? Grab your copy here: Amazon

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Read my review for Explosive (Houston Defiance MC Book 1)

📒 Explosive by K.E. Osborn

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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Pretty When She Cries by A. Zavarelli

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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— BLURB —

Your first kiss is supposed to be sweet. Ours was baptized in fire.

I was the new girl trying to find her place.

Landon was the brooding neighbor I tutored over the summer.

I didn’t know he was a legend at Black Mountain Academy.

I didn’t know they worshipped him like a religion.

But I fell for him before I knew those things.

To me, he was just the tortured soul who drew me in like a magnet.

And then he did something so unspeakable, so unforgivable, it shattered me.

I ran away then because I was weak, but I’ve shed my tears.

He stole my heart and my dignity, and I’m here to take it back.

The only problem is… he’s not giving it up without a fight.

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— MY REVIEW —

Okay. So… I may just be a little bit obsessed with this book 😅 I’ve been waiting for a new book from Zavarelli in what feels like years (even though it’s not), and Pretty When She Cries completely and utterly filled that craving! This is why I adore Zavarelli’s books, because they are totally intense, all out soul-consuming works of fiction that has you thinking about for days on end after having read them!

I honestly thought I outgrew high school romances in my reads, but it turns out they just have to be as dark and twisted as this one for me to enjoy them again! 😜 Lol. I don’t think I’ve read a deep, juicy, rub-your-hands-together-and-plot-revenge style romance in all the years I’ve read romance books.

It has become one of my favourite reads of 2020 and it’s going straight to my list of all time favourite books! It has all the elements I love in a story —

• Gripping storyline from start to finish.
• Complex characters who’ll have your mind reeling.
• Unpredictability and suspense.
• World-building that’s constantly expanding.
• Evident character and relationship growth.
• A mixture of genres that work well together. In this case, there’s romance, a little bit of mystery, a little bit of crime and thriller, and a smidge of action.

Zavarelli has a way of writing such vivid, detailed stories with unique plots and characters that are three-dimensional.

Landon, right off the bat had an air of mystery about him because he rarely shared feelings and thoughts with anyone. With Kail, although a little shy and less extroverted than some of her peers, had a confidence about her. She knew who she was.

So when all hell breaks loose, you can’t help but see how things will unravel from there and see the ramifications of that certain event. I was invested the minute they first met. Like our hero/ heroine, I was just as intrigued by them as they were with each other. There’s an instant chemistry that had me perking up with interest. They are from completely different backgrounds and upbringings, yet whenever they were around each other, they clicked!

Be warned though, have tissues nearby. I must’ve gotten teary-eyed countless times throughout reading this. The emotions this story evoked in me is why I would (and have) recommended this book to my friends already, and any reader who likes reading romance fiction.

My heart broke for them both for almost the entirety of the book. They go through a roller coaster of life events that is jaw-dropping and almost hard to wrap your head around. The drama is strong with this one!

The unpredictability in this story is what’s really going to get you turning the pages. Just when you think you know what’s about to happen next or know a person’s motive — Baam! You don’t!

For a standalone romance, it packs a punch! Yes, there’s a lot of things happening but they were written out so well that everything included was for good reason. It’s an effortless read with constant buildup. P.S. I like that there was some diversity included. I’m not the type of reader who constantly needs or expects it but when it’s included and it’s done well, it’s definitely a plus.

Landon will have you wanting to just give him a big bear hug and never wanting to let go! And Kail will have you pounding your fist to your chest in solidarity, yelling “I got ya back, girl!” ✊

And in the midst of all the chaos, banter, revenge, and what-the-fuck moments, you’ll still be rooting for things to work out between them. Their relationship may be a constant push and pull but I guarantee their one-on-one scenes are… phew… intensely hot! 🔥🔥🔥

Pretty When She Cries kept me on the edge of my seat and reading until the sun rised. It touches base with relatable subjects (especially during your adolescence) such as diversity, social standing, body image, not to mention peer pressure and bullying. Whilst this is a work of fiction, it really delves into the harsh reality of the issues teenagers may go through during their years in school and the lasting effects and scarring it could leave on them.

Reading it, reminded me so much of what high school was like and just how much teens go through that parents may not even be aware of.

What I love about the characters in this book is that there was a great contrast of personalities. You have the obvious villainous, cruel characters that really rile you up, but then there’s also the characters that bring so much positivity and light. Kail has a great support system, and although she didn’t necessarily feel like they could help her in the way that she wants or needs, and didn’t want to burden them with her issues, they’re there and they’re constant, nevertheless.

Although this is Landon and Kailani’s story overall, in my opinion the secondary characters made just as much of an impact and played vital roles. I adore the bonds and friendships, especially the unlikely ones.      

And can I just say, this entire story reads like it’s made for the screen! 😍    

A very well thought-out storyline with suspense and intrigue. Zavarelli has brilliantly created an atmosphere of curiosity around Landon the second Kailani talks about him. Their story is told from dual points of view and the fact that it’s in first person, us readers are really riding out their experiences and feelings right along with them — the good, the bad, and the oh-so ugly!

It’s an upcoming release that is well worth the wait. I highly recommend you add this one to your TBR asap because this one’s end game, people! 🏈

RATING: ♥♥♥♥♥/5

Thank you to A. Zavarelli and Candi Kane PR for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

🔔 Interested in reading Pretty When She Cries? Grab your copy here: Amazon US  |  Amazon CA  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon AU

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Hope you enjoyed my review! As always, catch you in my next one! Xo

Explosive by K.E. Osborn

I feel like my next book review was a long time coming. But it’s here! This book legit got me out of a reading funk that I was in!

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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— BLURB —

I couldn’t walk away.
It’s not who I am.
The moment I saw Rayne broken and bloodied, I knew I wasn’t leaving without her.

As the president of the Houston Defiance MC, my job is to protect. And there’s no taming the rage building inside my body, screaming at me to shield her from the husband who’s beating her day in and day out.

Taking her was never in my plans, but plans change.
I don’t care if she’s married.
Or that her husband’s a cop.

Our connection is explosive, it’s dangerous, it’s intoxicating.
And I’m fast being swept up in her storm.
It’s something I can’t ignore.

I thought the enemy was clear, and I was ready to fight.
But maybe there’s a threat we didn’t see coming?
Maybe there’s someone closer to us than we ever could have imagined.
Someone who could be the destruction of us both.

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— MY REVIEW —

Eeep! Just found myself a brand spankin’ new-to-me MC author! 🙌🙌

I’m not gonna lie and I’m not ashamed to admit this… but I initially grab this book solely because of the cover! I mean, c’mon… Kevin Creekman *phoaaar* 🔥

Then, yeah ok, I read the blurb and it wowed me even more! Didn’t even need to think twice, I 1-clicked it right after that! #noregrets 😁

This book is a great example of why I love and am addicted to reading MC romances. Amazing world-building with a solid foundation of the MC, history told about the club and its members. Then you have the alpha male hero that oozes sex appeal, manliness, grit and just the right amount of charm that if his looks weren’t up to par (which I highly doubt anyways), then his personality would keep you engaged. Add in the hot ass bikes, some ink, some strong brotherhood, and boom — you got yourself a half of a worthy MC romance already.

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Prepare to meet Zero. Prepare to meet your end.

“Three… two… one… zero.”

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Zero just had an immediate appeal on me. His love of his family and the club is evident right from the beginning. He knows what he wants and where he belongs. His strong, confident demeanor makes him stand out in the crowd, yet he’s not afraid to share his emotions to those who mean the world to him. I love that when he makes mistakes, he makes sure that it never repeats itself.

And you can’t forget the heroine. In this case Rayne comes from a completely different world. She’s married to an abuser, and just when she’s at the brink of giving up, she’s saved by Zero’s sister Prinie, who in turn gets her brother involved too.

I’ve read numerous amounts of MC romances, some grittier and darker than others. Majority of them contain sensitive subject matter that may trigger some readers. I’m definitely giving you guys warning with Explosive. It contains severe domestic abuse. It’s detailed, so keep in mind when considering about picking this one up. It also contains horrific violence and drug content.

I’ll admit, as much as I was already enamored with Zero’s story from the get go, there was a scene that completely had me gasping in shock. I sensed it coming but I didn’t realize that the author would describe it so vividly. 🙈

But that scene (shocking as it was), also cemented not only this book but the author herself as one I would definitely enjoy reading from. I knew before I even reached halfway through that I would continue on with this series.

There’s a good amount of character development. You see not only the lead characters, but the secondary ones as well have backstory that gives you insight into who they are and how they’ve come to be now in the present.

Another reason why I love reading MC romances, is you get to see stories form other characters develop that may eventually come back around in the sequels. This book is no different. There’s a few secondary characters I’m already vying to see more of in this series.

But Explosive lives up to its book title. Both Zero and Rayne have lived difficult lives. Both suffering and both broken. The way they come together, you can see how well they click and heal one another — their interactions are fiery and always leaves you wanting more!

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“You saved me, Zero.”

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“You saved yourself, Rayne. I’m just here to help you along.”

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Their attraction may have been there from the start, but I appreciated the fact that the author didn’t get them together right away. Creating Zero as a character who has morals despite being in an MC will be just one of the reasons why I think readers will love him.

A steady paced storytelling, and told from dual POVs. There’s a lot going on in Houston Defiance MC with drama, trouble and angst at every corner. It’s an action-packed story — one that sets up the introduction to this series in a strong way.

Besides the brotherhood between the members, I enjoyed seeing the friendships that developed between the women in this world. It’s also a nice contrast to an otherwise male-driven environment. I love that they are cared for, protected and respected by the MC but that these ladies can hold their own!

Whilst this is a work of fiction and a romance story at that, I haven’t forgotten that Zero and Rayne’s story centers around a realistic, relatable and very serious topic. There’s some lighthearted banter here and there to break the intensity, but what makes an MC romance a winner for me besides the hero/ heroine, is the substance of the story. Zero and Rayne grow and evolve, and there’s a purpose to their actions.

I really can’t say enough great things about this book. It keeps you on your toes with suspense. I think fellow MC and dark romance readers will get a kick out of it. It’s one that’ll have you reeling about for days on end.

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“Cherry bomb, our journey is only just beginning.”

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RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

I feel like I’ve been in a reading slump for most of October, which is a shame considering I had thoughts what with Halloween and all that this would be the perfect time to be stuck indoors, snuggle in bed with a bunch of great reads for the month. But nope.

This book saved me from my reading slump lasting longer. If you’re a savage MC romance lover like yours truly, and haven’t discovered K.E. Osborn yet for yourself, this book is a good place to start! 😉 It’s actually gotten to check out her backlist and I’m already eyeing her Chicago Defiance MC series! *waggles eyebrows*

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Hope you enjoyed my review. Happy reading guys, and catch you in my next one! Xo

Dirty Desires by Nicole James

First read of October? Check! 😁

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

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— BLURB —

A twist of fate threw us together…

Gypsy—

I’m a Devil King; loyal to no one but my club, until she comes along and tests everything I thought I believed in.
When I do a favor for my imprisoned ex-president’s ol’ lady, I come face to face with the one-night-stand that’s haunted me for three years. She pulled a disappearing Cinderella act on me, vanishing with the dawn. I searched high and low for her, and now that I’ve found her—she’s the definition of off-limits. She’s an MC princess—my MC’s princess. And even if her father no longer runs things, she’s still forbidden with a capital F.
Tell that to my traitorous body that reacts every damn time she gets within sight of me.
They say no good deed goes unpunished, and I’m learning this golden haired beauty could be the death of me.

Though our chemistry blazes, every second I spend with her risks the brotherhood we’ve just repaired.

Tess—

I’ve never wanted anything to do with my father’s filthy MC, The Devil Kings. With daddy dearest in prison, my mother is falling apart. Her struggle with anxiety, drugs and money problems drag me back from the independence I crave. She needs my help and my father holds the key—literally.

But when he insists I get him information on the Devil Kings in exchange, I’m thrust into a world I want no part of. My father may be their EX-president, but I’m still considered an MC princess.

When my mother pulls in a favor and arranges an escort for me down to the prison, he walks in—a patched member of the Devil Kings MC—and a memory from a one-night stand we had three years ago.

But there’s a reason I ditched him the next morning; I want nothing to do with men like my father. Gypsy is everything I need to steer clear of—he’s an outlaw, a Devil King, dangerously sexy and loyal to his club.

As my mother’s world falls apart, my choice becomes clear.
But how do I choose between saving her and betraying the man I love?

•••

— MY REVIEW —

Ahhhhh! I loved reading this book! 😍😍😍

I’m just gonna say it straight out —

✔ Amazing storyline.
✔ Amazing characters (and mind you, oh so hot!) *phoaarr!*
✔ Amazing world building.
✔ Amazing secondary characters (Hayley is a hoot and half. I love her!)
✔ Amazing development.

Just fucking AMAZING! I wish this series didn’t have to end but I’m glad it ended with an absolute banger! I only wish this book was a little longer. I really didn’t want it to end.

Tess and Gypsy are quite a pair. A perfect fit. I thought no other Devil King could top Reno but I think Gypsy is a definite contender. I will for sure grab a paperback of this (and the other books in this series).

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“All my life I’ve sworn I wanted nothing to do with my father’s MC. And then you come along.” — Tess

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A must read for fellow MC romance lovers. Nicole James has done it again. She’s effortlessly gotten my attention well within the first chapter and followed all the way through with a strong plot, chemistry between her hero/ heroine, and some good ol’ suspense added in.

Nothing faltered. The pacing was steady and there wasn’t a damn moment that I didn’t soak up!

Some absolute highlights to look forward to:

Tess’ best friend Hayley! 😄 She is without a doubt THE BEST friend any girl could have. Not only is she upbeat, hilarious and 100% supportive, she is for sure a ride or die type of chick! 👊 She adds an uplifting element to the story and a nice contrast to the usual gritty world of an MC.

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“I’m pretty sure it’s in the BFF rulebook. Accompany your friend when she’s about to do stupid, dangerous shit. It’s right after Don’t let her date a biker.” — Hayley

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Appearances from the club is a given — but most importantly characters from the previous books like Rusty and Reno are present, and brotherly banter strong as ever! 

But what screamed at me was the visualization of the entire world. The way James has described her characters, from their physical appearances to their personality traits was so vivid, I could almost picture them as real-life people. By giving us past glimpses to how the club has grown and evolved since the past James has expanded her already existing world of the Devil Kings MC.

Tess and Gypsy’s forbidden (hmm.. “forbidden” might be too strong a word. I should say it’s more of a don’t-even-go-there) romance was the shit! Excuse my potty-mouth for this review but it was needed to express my feels! Lol. 🔥 They’ll have you invested and rooting for things to pan out for them.

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“Can’t promise you there won’t be bumps in the road, but I can promise you a hell of a ride.” — Gypsy

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Gypsy is the right balance of alpha male and gentleman. He’s strong, dependable, but not overly domineering like a lot of stereotypical alpha males. He stands out from the crowd just with his presence alone. He was caring and sweet (even before anything serious happened between him and Tess). I liked that he wasn’t pushy either with what he wanted.

Neither he or Tess are perfect people yet together they’re stronger, better and all round happier. 

Tess is spunky, feminine and confident in herself, but when she’s vulnerable, Gypsy is there to pick her up, keep her thinking positively and just makes you wanna swoon. You’ll wish it was you he was giving those soothing hugs and kisses to… trust me! (And FYI, anyone willing to go to WB Wizarding World, gets bonus points from me!)

Totally likable characters. There wasn’t a single moment where either one of them annoyed me with their antics — because there weren’t any! (But that’s not to say there isn’t any drama. There is!) 🙌

Ugh. Just go read it! It doesn’t disappoint! The entire series doesn’t disappoint! *flails arms*

This book is another phenomenal example as to why I consider Nicole James a queen of MC romances. She always gets you suckered in by the blurb and hot ass cover, then when you actually read the book, it exceeds any expectation you may have. I love the way she writes and if you haven’t read any of her books, then I highly recommend you rectify that, pronto!

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

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Read my reviews for the Devils Kings MC trilogy!

📕 Book One: Reno and Kara’s story

Dirty Deeds by Nicole James

📕 Book Two: Rusty and Ashlynn’s story

Dirty Deals by Nicole James

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Happy reading! Catch you in my next one! Xo

Illuminae by Amie Kaufman and Jay Kristoff

Another super late book review I’m finally posting. I don’t remember why I never posted this in the first place, but whatevs… It’s here now! 😊

Original post from my IG @booksofthemuggleborn

•••

— BLURB —

This morning, Kady thought breaking up with Ezra was the hardest thing she’d have to do. This afternoon, her planet was invaded.

The year is 2575, and two rival megacorporations are at war over a planet that’s little more than a speck at the edge of the universe. Now with enemy fire raining down on them, Kady and Ezra—who are barely even talking to each other—are forced to evacuate with a hostile warship in hot pursuit.

But their problems are just getting started. A plague has broken out and is mutating with terrifying results; the fleet’s AI may actually be their enemy; and nobody in charge will say what’s really going on. As Kady hacks into a web of data to find the truth, it’s clear the only person who can help her is the ex-boyfriend she swore she’d never speak to again.

Told through a fascinating dossier of hacked documents—including emails, maps, files, IMs, medical reports, interviews, and more—Illuminae is the first book in a heart-stopping trilogy about lives interrupted, the price of truth, and the courage of everyday heroes.

••• 

— MY REVIEW —

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⚠ WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS!

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This was my second sci-fi book ever read (The first was The Martian, which I loved!) So I seriously hoping it would be similar to that book in the sense that the “science-y” stuff is going to be easy to follow, that there was a bit of humor to break up all the technical aspect and based off of the synopsis a bit of romance.

Well… this book didn’t fail. I loveeeeed it! 🙌 I’ve been saying to just about anyone who would listen that if all science fiction books were as amazing as The Martian and Illuminae are then I could be reading a lot more from the genre! 😉

I think another thing that captured me with Illuminae is how quirky and different the book layout was. It wasn’t set out like your everyday typical book. Some of the pages were written to form images, some were written to make follow each line into a bigger picture. It’s hard to explain, all I can say is if you haven’t gotten a copy yet – do! Go to your local bookshop, look for it and just flip through it and you’ll see what I’m trying to say.

The book overall is set a journal/ records type format and put together into one big file, basically. So there’s emails between characters, logs recorded from certain days and interviews. It’s ridiculously jam-packed!

It’s very well created and it had me wanting to keep reading to find out what happened next. It was hard putting it down for the day.

I never saw full reviews on Illuminae prior to reading it so I wasn’t sure what people thought of it besides whether or not they liked it but I have to say halfway through the book I had a strong sense of Resident Evil-esque to the story line. Where the spaceship’s AI (aka AIDAN) is corrupted and pretty much turns evil and starts wanting to kill everyone on board but thinking he’s doing the right thing. Then you have half the crew and civilians on board infected with some kind of virus that’s also causing serious problems all over the ship. It’s one massive chaotic disaster that puts you on the edge of your seat.

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“Am I not merciful?” — AIDAN

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Reading about Kady and Ezra’s roller coaster relationship added a romantic touch to an otherwise sci-fi story line and it pretty revolves around them and wanting to keep each other safe. I loved reading their messages to one another. It’s probably the bits of the book I loved reading the most.

Besides the sci-fi aspect and the romance aspect – this book also provides us with comical relief in all the right places (usually involving Ezra because he’s a funny smartass). 😄

Downside to being introduced to super cool characters?

…

That was me the further I read. As much as I loved reading Kady and Ezra’s exchange of funny but sweet banter-filled emails, I knew it wouldn’t have lasted forever and I was right. Why do authors love making us fall for characters just to take them away from us?

Spoiler Alert: Ezra died! 🙈

Yep… and just like Kady, you don’t find out til it’s too late. Unless you’re one of the clever readers who analysed every detail of this book and probably saw signs early on.

*Side Note: Jay and Amie actually said that if you really pay attention to the details in the book, it gives off little clues on who certain characters are that are still unknown to us or hints of upcoming events.

Seriously, this book was one big fuuuuuuuck-with-your-mind type of story. It was so hard to put it down because I just didn’t know which direction the story is going.  I don’t know about other people who’ve read this but I didn’t see any of the plot twists happening. Not even a smidge! Maybe I need to reread it again and keep a lookout for those hints I mentioned earlier lol.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

Another highly recommended book. If you’re like me who usually only ever reads fantasy fiction, give this one a go. Trust me you won’t regret it and I guarantee you’ll love it enough to want to read Gemina (second book in the Illuminae series)!

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Happy reading, friends! Hope you’re all doing well. Catch you in my next one! Xo

Wildfire by C.L. Aire

•••

— BLURB —

In the void between the worlds something is shifting. The balance between the Elements is slipping and the darkness is growing.

A girls nightmare speaks of things yet to come, a battle against beings filled with shadows. A young man watches death approach, cold as the blade it rides. A rose blooms in the pale moonlight, a gentle breeze stirs in the stillness and yellow eyes watch over the city.
And destiny has linked them all…
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The earth will dress in blood and pain
And seas will scream beneath the rain
The tortured air will twist and turn
And in the fire, darkness burns

•••

— MY REVIEW —

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

Read at own risk!

3

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1

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I think it’s obvious from my previous book reviews that 99% of the books I read are from the Fantasy fiction genre. So when Claire asked if I would be interested in reading her book, I didn’t hesitate in saying yes!

I will be honest in saying when I checked the synopsis of her book on Goodreads, I found it to be a little vague. I knew the protagonist was a young female who sees visions in her dreams of what will happen in the future, and one in particular of Immortals is what sets this story. But other than that I didn’t know what to expect.

So it was all the more curious in reading this book.

I’ll admit it was a slow start for me. It took a little while to get into the story but once Cassie, Kieran and Gemma reached Harbour town I was right there with them.

I’m a big fan of fantasy books where the characters journey to other lands, so I was naturally hooked on the whole “travelling” aspect of Cassie’s story. I would have loved if a map was included in this book just because the places Cassie and her friends travel to seem so different from one another it would have been nice to see a physical image of the different towns they encounter and how much they would have travelled from Ar-ken.

Quick Update: The author has recently shared news that a world map of Tarraneia has been created. No word yet if it will be included in future copies of Wildfire but in the meantime please check it out on her Instagram here: Map of Tarraneia

Getting back to my review. I’m going to be a bit nitpicky and let you guys know my pros and cons of the characters and certain parts of the book:

Cassie is the main protagonist in this story and it was her dreams that led her and her friends to travel on this journey but I felt the first quarter of the book the lead was Gemma. I almost felt like this was Gemma’s story and her journey to stop the Immortals. I was very fascinated with her and her family’s culture/ lifestyle. They understood the world differently it almost seemed like there was something there that could be key in helping stop the destruction. I wouldn’t have minded if Gemma was the main protagonist just because I felt there was so much more to her, her brother and the mystery behind the Weeran people that I would have wanted to read more about.

Gemma might be my favourite from the three friends. She knows who she is and what she’s capable of. In my opinion the wisest of the friends.

Kieran on the other hand is the skeptic from the three. He doesn’t have dreams like Cassie and he’s not like Gemma who’s in touch with the lands so I felt like he was the most normal? and relatable character just because he was your everyday type of person.

I can’t say I like Cassie all that much for most of the book. She doesn’t seem to be good friend and her decision-making sucks! I think a lot of things that happened throughout their journey could have been avoided if she was more willing to speak up with her friends.I was frustrated with her a lot of the time and couldn’t help but roll my eyes. All I can say is she’s damn lucky there’s so many people willing to help her. 😛

Cassie in my opinion is the one who’s the most unsure of herself and what she could be capable of. Which is not a bad thing. The way things were developing in the book and especially how things ended, Cassie’s character development is sure to grow and I for one can’t wait to see her at her full potential.

When it comes to the storyline. I wished I could have seen a deeper connection between Cassie, Kieran and Gemma. They’re suppose to be the closest of friends but it didn’t come across that way. I saw a deeper friendship between Cassie, Anna and Jhi to be honest. I almost didn’t believe that they grew up together. But maybe all in due time we’ll see their closeness..?

I also thought certain scenes seem to end abruptly where I think it could’ve been delved into in more detail. I felt like I couldn’t even grasp what had happened and the next thing you know something new has transpired. The transition from one scene to the next could have been smoother.

Ok. Let’s get onto my favourite parts of the book. 😄

The part where they meet Ardian. He was the first character I instantly liked. I don’t know what it is about sweet-pie men captaining a ship *cough cough* (Hook from Once Upon A Time or Carswell Thorne from The Lunar Chronicles) but they always get me. 😉 His budding romance with Gemma was adorable but short-lived. I wanted more!! I really wished it lasted a little longer. It also had me thinking is this all we’ll see of Ardian? I’m hoping not.

Cassie falling in the hands of Jhi and Anna was a breath of fresh air. I love Anna and Jhi! They added an oomph to the storyline and introducing the “Mouse Hole” and “The Rat” gave the storyline another level of excitement for me. The side story of Anna and Jhi’s relationship was a treat to read. I’m a sucker for a bit (or a lot) of romance in my fantasy books so this definitely curbed my craving.

But besides romance, I love a good book that can totally take me by surprise and does Wildfire do that?

Yes. Yes it did.

I did not see it coming what happened with two certain characters in the end (*hint hint* Kieran and Jhi). The ending leaves us just when the real story begins so I’m really curious to know what will happen next, especially with Jhi. Who knew he would have some sort of power in him? I was shocked when he got stabbed in the neck I really thought he was another beloved character I was disappointed to see go. (But seriously! That neck stab was the last thing I was picturing would happen to him!)

Keiran coming back from the dead was another thing I didn’t see coming. But thinking about it now I probably should have, considering Cassie is a bit stubborn and of course she wasn’t going to lose another friend.

All in all I really liked the story. It was an easy read with short chapters (which is always a plus in my books). There’s so much potential in it to becoming an unbelievable fantasy fiction series. It has magic, it has action, friendship and a touch of romance mixed in. Everything I think makes for an awesome YA fantasy fiction book! I can’t wait for the next installment.

RATING: ♥♥♥½

Thank you to C.L. Aire for the opportunity to read an advanced copy! ❤

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Happy reading and catch you in my next one! Xo

Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo

•••

— BLURB —

Welcome to the world of the Grisha.

Kaz Brekker and his crew of deadly outcasts have just pulled off a heist so daring even they didn’t think they’d survive. But instead of divvying up a fat reward, they’re right back to fighting for their lives.

Double-crossed and badly weakened, the crew is low on resources, allies, and hope. As powerful forces from around the world descend on Ketterdam to root out the secrets of the dangerous drug known as jurda parem, old rivals and new enemies emerge to challenge Kaz’s cunning and test the team’s fragile loyalties.

A war will be waged on the city’s dark and twisting streets – a battle for revenge and redemption that will decide the fate of the Grisha world.

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— MY REVIEW —

I loved Six of Crows so the minute I finished it I went straight into Crooked Kingdom (which I highly recommend you do so you don’t torture yourself with a cliffhanger).

After Kaz and the crew survived the job at the Ice Court I was relieved! Everyone was alive and together and I was just one happy chappy.. but to find out the job was a scam?!?Ohh I knew Kaz would destroy Van Eck and anyone who was working with and I knew whatever his plan was it was going to be epic!

And I was right! Just like Six of Crows, Crooked Kingdom did not disappointed in the twists and turns and the unexpected.

If I thought I was on the edge of my seat reading Six of Crows, let’s just say I wasn’t even sitting down anymore for Crooked Kingdom. I was in panic-mode, anxious with sweaty palms reading this book. I was preparing myself for the worst. You guys know what. Death of a beloved character! Yup. It could happen at anytime and it certainly did here. I’m sad to say that I knew they wouldn’t all make it out alive but for one of them to die so suddenly by someone who wasn’t even one of the original bad guys in the book!?

⚠ WARNING WARNING WARNING ⚠

SPOILER ALERT!

I cried. No wait. I bawled my eyes out when Matthias was shot and he struggles himself back to Nina just so he could see her one last time! Like what?!?!? Why !?!?! 😭😭😭

Why would Leigh Bardugo kill off a character in the way? Why would she kill her readers along with him!? My heart sank. For Mathias and especially for Nina. I felt like I was there with her. Crying and begging for Mathias to stay alive.

What made me cry even more was when she accidently brought him back with her power except it wasn’t really him anymore it was more like his body being commanded by her. It was just one HUGE sad part of the book! 💔

Sure, it was almost the end but still..

And speaking of the end of the book. It’s been 4 days since I finished it and I’m still reeling from the lack of ending. In my opinion anyways. I felt it was unfinished. So many things lingered and left open.

1. Kaz and Inej were together – but not really. It wasn’t the result I was hoping for. It almost felt like the beginning of something between them rather than the big “fireworks” kiss that we’ve all been waiting for that should have after having gone through all of the things they went through. I don’t know. I just wished for more.
2. Nina’s exit out of the storyline felt cut off. Yeah her plans were to go back to Fjerda to bury Matias and try and help as much Fjerdan soldiers as she could but I figured at the very end we would at least hear from her. See if she made it. Something? Anything? But there wasn’t, so I felt like if Leigh wanted to she could keep going and write another book in the fabulous story. (Here’s to wishing again!)
3. Jesper: promising his father he would return to the farm once Wylan was settled back at his old home. But then they seem to be together too so how would that work? Was he just planning on visiting his dad or actually moving back? Because the way he said it to his dad it could be interpreted differently by each reader.
4. Another thing with Kaz and Inej. Kaz has plans to rule Ketterdam, starting with The Barrel. Inej has big plans to command her own ship and crew and free slaves but yet she asked Kaz to help her. Once again, how will that work? Will he stay at Ketterdam whilst she sails around and they’ll just write to each other? And then there’s the question of her parents. Kaz (that sweety!) had gotten Nikolai (that’s right, he made an appearance!) to help find her parents. Will Inej go back with them first?
5. The book ends with Pekka Rollins as the final chapter and point of view. This was the guy that Kaz wanted to destroy. I suppose when you look at it from a different perspective Kaz did finally destroy his life but the things he did to Kaz – that made him the way he is now you would think he would just kill Pekka in the end but he didn’t. It just makes you think, you know? Could Pekka return? Eventually?

There’s just so many unanswered questions and things left open. I want to know! It felt like an open ending which is worse than a cliffhanger because at least with cliffhangers there’s another book to read. Crooked Kingdom, as far as I know is IT! The book that was suppose to wrap the story up but I have more questions now than when the story initially began. Frustrating stuff right here! Haha. Or maybe I’m just overthinking everything. But these are questions that popped into my head the second I read the last page!

I love the bits of romance here and there whether between Nina and Mathias, Jesper and Wylan and yes of course between Kaz and Inej. I took whatever I could from those two but I was hungry for more. Lol!

There was the perfect amount of emotional heartfelt scenes, flashbacks and action that I was always hooked.

RATING: ♥♥♥♥½

This was such an easy read. Beautifully written story that draws you in instantly from start to finish. I’m still surprised how much I ended up loving these books considering The Grisha Trilogy was just average for me. If you haven’t fallen in love with each of the characters yet during Six of Crows then you would definitely be changing your mind after reading more about them in this one.

I wish I could give this one full rating like Six of Crows then it would really be a fist-pumping series. But all the questions rattling around in my head really took points of my rating. But I still think this is an unbelievable book. The entire duology has become one of my all time faves now. It’s caused me to have book hangover (not as massive as Maas’ books) but nevertheless I’m having withdrawals.

No Mourners. No Funerals.

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Happy reading, guys! Catch you in my next one! Xo

The Martian by Andy Weir

[Just so you know]: I read this book in October (2015) before I created my blog but I loved it so much I just had to include my review on here anyways. Let’s call it my “Better Review than Never” post. 😜

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— BLURB —

Six days ago, astronaut Mark Watney became one of the first people to walk on Mars.

Now, he’s sure he’ll be the first person to die there.

After a dust storm nearly kills him and forces his crew to evacuate while thinking him dead, Mark finds himself stranded and completely alone with no way to even signal Earth that he’s alive—and even if he could get word out, his supplies would be gone long before a rescue could arrive.

Chances are, though, he won’t have time to starve to death. The damaged machinery, unforgiving environment, or plain-old “human error” are much more likely to kill him first.

But Mark isn’t ready to give up yet. Drawing on his ingenuity, his engineering skills — and a relentless, dogged refusal to quit — he steadfastly confronts one seemingly insurmountable obstacle after the next. Will his resourcefulness be enough to overcome the impossible odds against him?

•••

— MY REVIEW —

This is my first real science fiction-ey book in a long time.

There’s a lot of technical language within the book and when you’re not a tech-head or into the details in science you may find it to be dragging or a little hard to get through but

I found the humor of the main character Mark Watney to be a relief when reading these parts. It almost seems like he’s talking to you about it and realises you’re not really getting it so he makes a joke or puts it in layman’s terms for you – which at the beginning took me by surprise (in a good way) and found myself smiling.

I tell you what though, once you’re deep into the story and you’re reading how Mark is trying to find ways to survive on mars alone for as long as possible, you can’t help but feel just as happy as him when something goes right but just as frustrated and angry when something doesn’t go to plan.

It’s a great fiction novel but the way it was written you would almost think it was based on true lives.

[Sidenote]: I also watched the movie after I read this book and I think it did it justice – but I recommend reading the book first!

RATING: ♥♥♥♥/5

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Thank you for stopping by. Hope you enjoyed my review. Catch you in my next one! Xo