Basically me the entire time while I read this book:
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And to sum up my feelings for this hero:
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Okay to be honest I picked this up f2 Stars!
Basically me the entire time while I read this book:
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And to sum up my feelings for this hero:
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Okay to be honest I picked this up for the whole forbidden romance thing going on based on the blurb and call me guilty on that account. I knew I was headed for disaster when the book starts off with the hero having sex on a Sunday morning service in his church. Did I also mention he was totally banging his pastor's wife on that very holy morning? It doesn't get any sinner than that!
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There were just so many things going on in this book that didn't work for me and made absolute NO SENSE at all to why they happened. Actually I thought the first half was pretty okay but when bad things happened, it all just went downhill for me.
Main reason -> Sevin. First he seems very convinced that he loves Evangeline and they were willing to run away together so that he doesn't have to marry her sister, Elle. But the minute shit happens, it was almost like that proclamation of love never existed. Nope, he went on to marry Elle. Well okay, fine by me.
But what I can't believe was his attitude years after Elle died. He was PISSED at Evangeline leaving him during those years ago. LIKE HOW DARE HE!!! He acted like some damn martyr and as if he had the right to be mad at her. May I add he never even bothered about her when he was with Elle all those years?!
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And then there was Nancy. Who I could have done absolute without in this story. She served no purpose at all and I don't know what Sevin was thinking when he kept her around for so long even after reuniting with Evangeline. I wouldn't be half as convinced by his love at all!! But nope, Evangeline came back and SHE was the one who had to grovel his forgiveness no less.
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Sorry but this was not my cuppa at all. And thanks to Jennifer for enduring my rants while I read this one! ...more
"Maybe we are lost, and some of us just don't want to be found."
When Allison and I stumbled across the sign up for this read, we bot4 - 4.5 STARS!
"Maybe we are lost, and some of us just don't want to be found."
When Allison and I stumbled across the sign up for this read, we both knew we just had to take a chance with this one. To say I'm surprised by how much I really enjoyed this read would be an understatement because I went in with close to zero expectations as I've never read anything from this author before. While this book screams dark from the cover itself to the blurb that makes you shudder a little, the story was so much more than the dark elements. Beneath all that dark layers is a treasure of one profound love story.
Leigh is a troubled woman who ran away from her home, her family and left everything behind, she craves for the pain during pleasure and she can't get enough of it. But after meeting Gabriel Hart, he was not just another of those men who would gave her what she wanted when she offered. Gabriel is a war veteran who is suffering from pain, physically and mentally; he's just as broken as she is. Together these two realised that sometimes, you just need to be lost before you find yourselves again.
"How do you know me so well?" "Maybe I've always known you, and we were just waiting to be found."
There are definitely some trigger elements in this book that will shun readers away (non-consent rape, lack of self-love) but I think if you can get past that, you'll find yourself mesmerized by these multi-layered characters. The author had such a way with words that left me a little breathless as I read them. There's just something so hauntingly beautiful with this read that I can't really put into words. It's the kind where you find yourself immersed in this world filled with darkness but yet you take comfort in the glimmer of light and hope amidst it.
"The wounded, the broken, the struggling, the hopeful...the lost. We find beauty in poison, and we love the bitter taste."
The only mini struggle I had with this was that it was a tad lengthy read but overall, I was still blown away by this author's work. I'm definitely looking forward to read more from him and would recommend this book if you're looking for an emotionally gripping dark read that's gritty but still able to dish out a solid love story with a swoon-worthy hero!
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The Lost is a standalone dark read in the Crow City series.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Everytime I pick up a LH Cosway book, I just know that I can expect something differe4 STARS! ★★★★
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"Break the rules, Karla. Just this once."
Everytime I pick up a LH Cosway book, I just know that I can expect something different each time. Reading her stories is just as good as living through her characters' lives and I find myself easily whisked away into their world. With endearing flawed characters and a pair of star-crossed lovers taking center stage, LH Cosway delivers yet another stunning read that will leave your heart pounding.
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Karla Sheehan and Lee Cross are two people leading very different lives; one who upholds the law while the other breaks it. Right off the bat from their first interaction, there was just no denying the sparks between them. Lee is a sexy flirt that can be intense at times but yet he also has this sweet, protective side of him. It's no surprise that a strong heroine like Karla would be tempted by this incorrigible sexy man!
A huge crux of the story will have the readers experiencing the ins and outs of the police scene where Karla always find herself crossing paths with the Cross brothers. The romance is a slow burn but the sizzling chemistry was always present when Karla and Lee are in close proximity. The atmosphere surrounding this read can be quite intense at times because all those hidden glances and sexual tension were just begging to explode already.
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What I really loved about this read (and in every LH Cosway read) is simply her characters. There wasn't anything extravagant about the plotline but it was her imperfect characters and their dynamics that stole the show for me here. Karla and Lee may be two people who share different beliefs about the world they live in but when they're together, they've allowed each other to view it a little differently. There's always more beyond the black and white of the world.
Admittedly I wasn't too sure where the story was heading in during the first half but the second half of the read got me back on the saddle which I really enjoyed. LH Cosway delivers yet another captivating read with Hearts of Blue that is filled with alluring characters which you can't resist falling in love with. The Cross brothers surely stole my attention already and I can't wait to get their stories next!
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ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
I'm probably one of few minority on this one because this book just didn't work for me and hardly held my interest. I felt that the plot2.5 STARS! ★★☆
I'm probably one of few minority on this one because this book just didn't work for me and hardly held my interest. I felt that the plot was heavily under-developed and I couldn't find myself connecting to any of the characters at all. While I understood what motivated Tyler to be a priest and tried to be more empathetic, I just couldn't buy into his convictions. I didn't feel the 'struggle' he had by trying to deny the attraction which pretty much ruined the taboo aspect for me.
The heroine, Poppy on the other hand struck my nerve by 'confessing' her so-called sins that made her look she was playing the victim card which I couldn't sympathize at all. I didn't understand her intentions for those confessions (or dare I say, seduction) and she just came off as someone who was just manipulative and cheap.
In turn, I felt like both of them came off as these two-dimensional characters and sad to say, I didn't feel any sort of connections between these two. I ended up skimming a lot through the book. The only saving grace of this read is probably the steamy scenes but yeah, that was about it for me. I just needed more other than hot steamy scenes, y'know? But that's just my opinion and others may love it better than I did, so don't take my opinion as it is :)
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"I hadn't been looking for trouble, but it seemed that now that I'd found it, I wasn't running from it, either."
After reading 4 STARS! ★★★★
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"I hadn't been looking for trouble, but it seemed that now that I'd found it, I wasn't running from it, either."
After reading and enjoying the first one in this series, I was already dying to read more from the Capital Confessions. Needing my fix of this sub-genre, I was not disappointed by how this read panned out and am already dying for the third book in the series now!
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From the first book, we briefly met Blair Reynolds, daughter to a powerful senator in DC and who is Jackie's half-sister. Playing with Trouble will be her story and finding love when she least expects it.
Bearing the name of Reynolds since young, Blair has always been expected to be the perfect daughter to uphold her father's name and keeping herself out from any scandals that could jeopardize her father's campaign. All of that went to hell the moment her marriage got cancelled when she found out her fiance cheated on her with his best man. Determined to start afresh, Blair attends law school but what she didn't expect was trouble that comes in the form of a certain cocky law professor.
Having left his private practice in Chicago, Graydon Canter currently finds himself in a one-year stint of teaching in D.C law school. However this new law professor comes with some baggage and hidden demons in his past. Moving to D.C. is his first step to starting anew but when his world clashes in with one Blair Reynolds, he finds himself playing with fire.
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Having loved the first one, I went into this read thinking I was going to get something similar but I was pleasantly surprised by how different this was. While the first was more sexy and exciting, the second one here had a more serious undertone and tad more angsty especially with Gray dealing with his past demons. Blair herself had quite a handful too as she navigates through law school while being in the public eye for her failed marriage which caused a strain within her family.
Blair is definitely my favorite among the sisters so far in this series, I liked how her character developed along the way and realizing that she wants more for herself than what everyone expects her to be. I was just cheering on for this woman when she stood up against her family and even Gray who can be quite a pussy at times in their relationship. I admit that it was quite a nice change to see the heroine being the more ballsy one.
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Another thing I loved about this series is the relationship buildup between both MCs; they're never rushed with a lot of sexy flirting between these two that keeps you interested. Although the instalust was evident since the beginning, both Blair and Gray kept each other at arms length due to their student/teacher relationship but the sexual undercurrent was electrifying in most of their scenes together. The forbidden nature of their romance also gave the read that extra edge which I liked.
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At the rate I'm enjoying this series, they're starting to become some of my guilty pleasure reads! There was no unnecessary drama that puts me off and easily an enjoyable sexy read that packs some great angst and wit. My only minor issue would be that the last portion of the read tied up a little too quickly for me and would have loved more grovelling on Gray's part.
Not to mention that after the author teased us with Blair's little sister, Kate and her past, I'm officially dying for the next book now!! I can already tell that the third book will be heading into another direction and I'm in love with how diverse this series is whilst keeping in within this exciting political setting.
Definitely recommend this series to everyone if you're looking for something sexy and angsty in this political romance genre!
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Playing With Trouble is the second book in the Capital Confessions series and can be read as a standalone.
ARC kindly provided by Berkeley via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
I'm gonna put this on hold a while because I'm not feeling this read right now. I don't want to push through a book and have it rated badOn-hold @ 44%
I'm gonna put this on hold a while because I'm not feeling this read right now. I don't want to push through a book and have it rated badly if I'm just not into it at the moment. There are quite a couple of things that left me feeling a little iffy as of now (the past/present timeline seemed rather unnecessary IMHO) but the misconception of it being jarringly similar to How to Get Away with Murder has been recently cleared up to me by another fellow reader. This is most likely a case of pure coincidence.
That being said, if you're a fan of the TV series then perhaps you might very much enjoy this one because it brings out the similar vibes and have a good balance between the legal and romance aspect. I'll attempt to pick this one up again when I'm in the right mindset :)
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review....more
"You won't trust me with your secrets, so how can I trust you with mine?"
Diamonds is just one of those books that took me by s4 STARS! ★★★★
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"You won't trust me with your secrets, so how can I trust you with mine?"
Diamonds is just one of those books that took me by surprise despite having these characters that are far from my ideal preferences; leading a rich and glamorous life, having everything at their beck and call. I'll admit that I had my reservations after reading the blurb because I wasn't sure if I wanted to read a series about a potential gold-digger, let alone a teen heroine but I swear that shiny cover pulled me in. And boy oh boy, I'm so glad I took that chance as I was left gobsmacked by the end of it and I almost pissed in excitement seeing how everything started to unfold!
If there's one thing I learnt after dipping into her Avoiding series, it's this: If anyone can write one helluva trainwreck of a story well, it's KA Linde. She's the only author I know who's an expert in driving her readers insane by making her characters do the unthinkable and there is just no telling which way the story can go at all. If you think you had it right, you're most probably wrong. It goes without saying that Kyla Linde does non-traditional, controversial romance like it's her second nature, it's no surprise that she's deemed the Queen of Angst.
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Diamonds centers around 17-year old Bryna "Bri" Turner; daughter of a renowned director and living with her stepmother, she's nothing short of wealthy and drop-dead gorgeous who's got everyone on her leash. Bri is a typical Queen B with a huge capital B; guys want to have her, girls wanna be her. She's been attached to Gates, her best friend who turned into famous young actor. But one night out at a club, she met Jude, a much older handsome stranger who gave her the attention she craved for and thus begin a forbidden affair that set off the wheels in motion for the trainwreck to come.
I'm just gonna flat out say this: Bryna is indeed an unlikeable heroine. I'm sitting here cracking my head thinking if I have anything nice to say about her but the truth is, I don't. But did that deter me from enjoying this read? Amazingly not. THIS is where Kyla Linde works her magic on her readers because she creates these characters that you'll love to hate and hate to love. Bryna may have been a A-class b*tch but make no mistake, she owns it like she means it. Now that's something I admired because in the context of this plot, the author has totally nailed the characterization. The fact that if an author can make me like a character I was sure I'd hate, that truly takes some mad skills and she did just that.
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Nothing makes me more giddy when a book catches me off-guard and although I saw the trainwreck coming from a mile away, the author still managed to pull the rug under me by slapping me with a huge revelation at the end! Thank goodness for the teaser chapter of the sequel, Gold and I'm antsy to see what's next for everyone. Now with all the cards laid out, who will be the first one to strike?
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Overall Diamonds is easily a fast-paced, entertaining and angsty read that will get you hooked from start to end. Her writing is like crack because once I got on it, I couldn't get down from the high. A word of caution is that the book does have some themes of (view spoiler)[infidelity, cheating and underage (but consented) sex that brings out the taboo feels (hide spoiler)], so if those are breaking points for you, I suggest you stay away. But if you'd know KA Linde by now, you should know that she will push boundaries, she will frustrate her readers but in the end, you still can't help but ride on this crazy intense train and love the hell outta it.
If you're a fan of this author's Avoiding series, I would urge you to give this a shot because it got the same elements; completely angst-ridden that will leave everyone divided between all the men in this series. It's like Team Jack/Ramsey/John all over again but we've got some new contenders and each to their own had me loving and hating them equally ;)
Also is it July 7th already?!
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Diamonds is the first instalment of the All that Glitters series. The sequel, Gold is due on July 7th, 2015.
"She was a vortex. I’d avoided getting swallowed up in her once, and now, more than ever, I needed to avoid it again."
Having r4 STARS! ★★★★
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"She was a vortex. I’d avoided getting swallowed up in her once, and now, more than ever, I needed to avoid it again."
Having read and loving her Songs of Submission series, CD Reiss certainly doesn't come by as a foreign name to me in the erotica genre. Jonathan Drazen still remains as one of my top favorite dominant alpha-male and she never disappoints with her sensual reads that are intense yet emotional. While ShutterGirl is a departure from her usual writings and ventures into the contemporary territory, naturally I was a little apprehensive but slowly I found that fear dissipating as I allowed myself to be hypnotised by CD Reiss's poetic writing.
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ShutterGirl is a contemporary romance story set in the glitz and glamorous world of Hollywood. Laine Cartwright is a paparazzi who's at the top of the pack, armed with a camera as her weapon of choice. Coming from a rough childhood and being passed from one foster house to another, all she's ever known is to survive. Los Angeles is her battleground and along with her step-brother, they lived on the thrill of chasing the juiciest stories around.
Michael Greydon is America's golden boy and hailing from a family of celebrities, he's a Hollywood-material actor who is on-track with the stardom path set out for him. Always living by the set of rules and staying out of trouble, he tries to avoid being in the center of attention...until one fateful night.
A night where the red velvet ropes drop and the paparazzi behind the camera shows her face, Laine and Michael reunites with each other after being revealed that they were high-school mates but circumstances had left them separated with a lasting impact. Two individuals from polar opposites background and even after ten years later, they both still find themselves at the extreme ends of this glamorous industry. But they can't deny the attraction...even when it comes at the cost of fame.
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There were a number of things I enjoyed about this read and the main highlight for me is being CD Reiss's writing. Now I've only read her SoS series and while her scorching intense scenes took the spotlight for me from that series, I've never really given much emphasis on her writing. With Shuttergirl instead, I started to notice her elegant writing prose and had me highlighting like crazy across the read. Right down to the nitty gritty deets of the Hollywood scene itself, I found myself latching onto these rich details that made me feel like I was walking down the streets of L.A. itself.
The plot itself was also quite a refreshing one for me being a star-crossed lovers prose done with a different twist. It's also a second-chance romance aside having the "forbidden love" aspect with Laine & Michael being on the opposite ends of the vicious food chain that is the Hollywood industry. A paparazzi being romantically linked to renowned actor, that's just calling for a PR disaster. It wasn't insta-love between these two which I appreciated because the author really took the time to lay out a strong foundation for both characters as she merges their past and present quite brilliantly that eventually builds into a really solid story for me.
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It didn't bother me that for a majority portion of the book, both MCs weren't officially a couple. Also for those of you expecting a handful of steamy scenes like this author usually brings with her erotica genre, consider yourself warned. You won't be getting any dominant Drazen steamy-filled scenes here but rest assured, the undercurrent of sexual tension between these two was undeniable. Personally that appealed to me because it got me all antsy and dying for more while I continuously root for this couple.
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However, it did fall short for me when I felt the story dragged at certain places. Sometimes it also felt like some scenes were leading up to something great but it didn't just quite hit the mark. The last 20% of the read also went into another direction that came off a little rushed for me and while I thought the ending was quite swoon-worthy, I was really hoping for a proper epilogue for these two.
Overall Shuttergirl took me by surprise seeing how this is different from CD Reiss's usual work. Her alluring writing took the spotlight and became much more prominent here, not to mention it really fleshed out the character depth which I highly enjoyed. The lack of smut didn't even faze me because I was just invested with these characters and their story. I'm definitely looking forward to CD Reiss writing more contemporary fiction from now on because she can certainly bag this genre alongside her erotica ones.
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ShutterGirl is a standalone contemporary romance read.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"It’s not so much that I love rain. I just have a healthy respect for what it does. People hate it, but the world needs rain.3.5 STARS! ★★★☆
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"It’s not so much that I love rain. I just have a healthy respect for what it does. People hate it, but the world needs rain.”
It's no lie that KA Tucker is one of my top favorite NA authors and after reading her Ten Tiny Breaths series, I almost made it my personal mission to read anything this lady writes. As always with her reads, they're beautifully written and this was no different but somewhow I was left feeling very neutral about this one. In short, I enjoyed it but it just didn't wow-ed me like I did with her previous works.
I was a little wary going into this one since I skipped out on Burying Water but I had buddies who assured me that it could be read as a standalone. Luckily this rang true as I didn't find myself lost while caught up in this read but there will be appearances of MCs from the first instalment. Becoming Rain revolves around Clara Bertelli, an undercover agent who was handpicked for a new case that involves taking down a huge car theft ring in Portland. The only way to get inside is through the notorious criminal named Rust and her target? His nephew, Luke Boone.
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Getting Luke's attention wasn't as easy as Clara envisioned and through her numerous attempts of being close proximity to him, they start to do the dance and soon realized that there is more than meets the eye. And when the cop starts falling for the bad boy criminal, it's only a matter of time before the lines are blurred and realise how far one is willing to cross it for love.
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I appreciated how the author stepped out from her niche and ventured into the adult romantic suspense genre with this one, having it focused a lot more on the suspense factor over the romance. It was a nice change but at times I did find the plot to be a little dragged out at some parts. However, there were times that the suspense really got me hooked and kept me at the edge of my seat. The dual POVs also helped as we got to see the constant struggle of attraction they had for each other but in an overall manner, I still had issues that their whole relationship almost came about almost too easily without much obstacles and everything was tied up nice and quick at the end.
Overall Becoming Rain had the great elements of a romance suspense read plus with Tucker's seamless writing, I think fans of her work and Burying Water would equally enjoy this one. Still an enjoyable one for me but just not my favorite from her.
ARC kindly provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. ...more
When it comes to mafia reads, there is no doubt that JM Darhower is one of the que4 STARS! ★★★★
"The only good Barsanti is a dead Barsanti."
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When it comes to mafia reads, there is no doubt that JM Darhower is one of the queen of mafia writings especially with her Sempre series that managed to deliver a storyline so riveting and thrilling that had me glued to my Kindle all day long. By Any Other Name is no exception to her ability to once again transports her readers back into the dark world of the mafia, leaving us to deal with the violent acts that plagued the streets of whilst allowing us to witness the tragic fate of the young star-crossed lovers who were born into this mess.
The story revolves around the Galante's and the Barsanti's; two of the most powerful mafia families in the streets of NYC. What used to be a strong friendship between these two had turned into a deadly rivalry after a tragic event in the early years. Now the remnants of that has left both families vowing to take revenge and neither will stop until one has been completely obliterated.
"Their families didn't just carry animosity- they were mortal enemies, hell-bent on destroying each other. The two of them were a disaster waiting to happen."
A chance encounter of being stuck in an elevator brought Genna, the sole daughter of the Galante and Matty, the firstborn son of the Barsanti together where they shared an undeniable connection. They hit it off later during a couple of drinks but unbeknownst to each other, they're each their own mortal enemy. When the truth is out, it proves to be a battle of the heart wants what it can't have and with family loyalty that stands in their way, ultimately which would triumph?
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"I risk coming here, because one of us has to take that risk. One of us has to be willing to take the chance."
I'm a complete sucker for these modern Romeo & Juliet storylines and coupled with the fact that it's done in a mafia-based setting, I found myself knee in deep with this story at every turn. There was a good balance of romance and suspense that didn't leave a dull moment at all. I could feel the trepidation radiating off me while watching these two risking and fighting for their chance at love despite the circumstances that were attached to their family names.
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There was definitely some insta-feelings going on in this read but I didn't find it to be completely off-putting as things did move at a gradual pace between these two. What kinda sets this apart with the Sempre series is that this one focuses more on the forbidden romance aspect over the mafia plotline. There was no escaping from the brutal scenes that came along with the ride as we delved into this gritty world, but I was hoping to have a more detailed backstory of the war waged between these two families. I wanted to understand what really drove these two into a blood-shedding vengeance.
Overall as the title puts it, By Any Other Name definitely captured the star-crossed lovers aspect well and be ready to put your heart on the line for Genna & Matty. The first instalment definitely leaves a lot to be answered but it was nothing short of heart-pounding and filled with passionate scenes. It does end with a mini cliffy which I'd say, is similar to Sempre's ending where it ends off with enough closure but still leaves you dying for the next one. I can't wait to see what's next for the Galante and Barsanti!
By Any Other Name is the first instalment in the Forbidden series.
ARC kindly provided by the author in exchange for an honest review.
"There are, in fact, only three ways to become a queen. Signing up isn't one of them."
**SPOILER FREE REVIEW (but involves major gushing of the entire series)**
It breaks my heart to write this review because it feels like I'm officially saying goodbye to a series I've come to love so much. This alluring world that Tiffany Reisz has created, these complex characters that I've admired; we've reached the final chapter of an amazing saga. The Queen marks the epic conclusion to the entire Original Sinners series that we've all been holding our breath for. And our Queen, the one and only Tiffany Reisz has delivered and brought this entire journey back to a full circle.
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The final instalment picks up from where we left off with The Virgin, the beautiful wedding that finally takes place for one very lucky couple. All our beloved characters have come together for one last time, reminiscence of the past begins. But one crucial piece of the puzzle still remains throughout the entire series...the year that Eleanor became Mistress Nora. The rise of the Red Queen in the Underground.
And so it begins. With a confession from Nora to her beloved Soren in the present day.
“Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” she began her confession.
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I'm not gonna lie, this was the story I've been WAITING for. Ever since picking up the very first book, The Siren, Nora has captivated me with her dominatrix ways. So to be able to finally witness the transformation of Eleanor to Mistress Nora, I couldn't ask for a better way to end this saga and our Queen delivered it in spades. Eventhough it may seemed that this book will focus primarily on Nora, more importantly we got to explore more in depth between the dynamics that make up Nora, Soren and Kingsley. Book after book, there's always still so much more that we've yet to learn. That is the absolute beauty of this series and the writing perfection to be expected from TR.
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The level of respect and love that Nora, Soren and Kingsley have for each other is one that astounds me and one that I will probably never encounter in any other books I'll read. Underneath all that kink and unconventional taboo relationship lies the greatest devotion you'll ever see shared between three people. This is the book that will piece all the bits together and fill in all the gaps in the past, to finally understand what defines these characters and made them who they are.
“This was how they were faithful to each other, by letting each other be faithful to their own hearts."
Everything comes back to one full circle but what really took the cake for me in this entire read was the last portion of it. Tiffany Reisz stripped down the final layer of Soren and bare to us this unmasked version of the powerful man we've never seen before. Needless to say, I weeped my way through that scene and goddamnit was it beautiful. I've never doubted his love for Nora and Kingsley but that final scene right there...it just solidifies everything I've come to love and admire in that man.
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You know the saying where great stories will live on forever? That rings true here with the Original Sinners. Even with the final chapter sealing the fate of this saga, I know for a fact that the series will stay on with me forever. Tiffany Reisz is a world-class storyteller and with every read she puts out, I can only expect greatness and never once has she failed on me yet. She doesn't even need to put out a heart-stopping read as a finale to win me over, she just needs to do what she does best: writing one helluva read.
“My endgame is the same endgame as in every game of chess."
The only thing that I could probably do without in this series was the introduction of Nico. He was probably the only character that hardly stuck with me and dare I say, quite forgettable. Regardless, this series was still perfect in my eyes.
In a true TR fashion and right down to the VERY LAST LINE, that woman never fails to surprise you. What a perfect brilliant way to end this amazing saga with just that final word. I bow down to you, my Queen. And thank you for giving us an unforgettable journey with the Sinners.
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The Queen is the final book in The White Year series and the conclusion to The Original Sinners series. It should be read in order and is also recommended to only read this series after finishing The Red Year series (Book 1 -4).
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
"It was a dark and stormy night...And I was leaving you. Forever."
Even after putting out 7 full-length novels, Tiffany Reis4.5 STARS! ★★★★☆
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"It was a dark and stormy night...And I was leaving you. Forever."
Even after putting out 7 full-length novels, Tiffany Reisz still leaves me in this stupor of awe after putting down her read. Every. Single. Time. Not to mention, my mind is now going wild with imagery of all my favorite men in kilts. I repeat, Kinglsey AND Søren in kilts. In the words of Eleanor, THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
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Okay those lovely imagery aside, The Virgin is no doubt yet another brilliant addition to The White Year series. You'd think by now after 7 books of these same characters, you are ready for what's to come but in true TR fashion, always expect the unexpected.
With each read, you'll always learn something new about your favorite sinners and there's just so much depth she brings to these multilayered characters. How is it possible that I've feel like I known these characters forever but yet be left surprised after each new read? It's amazing how well TR captures the complexity of human nature and nails the character dynamics perfectly each time that nothing will ever come close to her portrayal of taboo relationships.
I don't want to spoil much about The Virgin but here's what you can expect going into this read. 1) There will be a wedding in the present day. 2) The backstory of the year that Nora/Eleanor ran away from Søren. 3) The backstory of the year that Kingsley met Juliette. 4) Again, them men in kilts!!
The book starts off very similarly to the previous ones, being in the present day and this time we have our lovely threesome gathering around and reminiscing the time where both King and Nora left Søren. That's right, it was that dark year we've all been wondering about too since the early series and let me say, learning about this pivotal moment didn't disappoint me at all. The beauty of TR's work is that every scene has its purpose, it keeps giving an additional layer to the characters and just continues to enhance this already amazeballs series.
"There are five possible scenarios that would force you to run. I want you to be ready."
After the lack of Nora in The King, it was nice to have her back and reading about her time at her mum's convent where she ran away to, I thought it was refreshing that we got to see another side of Nora, the one without Søren. With the arrival of a young novice nun named Kyrie who seemed to have an affection for Nora, it does add the F/F flavour to this series which previously haven't been explored in depth. There were some amazing witty dialogues thrown in there between them but most of all, I truly felt the genuine love and care they had for each other.
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But if it's anyone who stole my heart in this read, hands down it will be Kingsley. I honestly didn't think I could learn more about this Frenchman since the last book but color me wrong. After reading about his pursuit of Juliette and his time in Haiti, my heart truly ached and swelled for this beautiful man. Their love story was achingly beautiful to read and after this one, I’m glad King found someone who is worthy of his love.
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In my eyes, Tiffany Reisz is a world-class storyteller and with every read she puts out, I can only expect greatness and never once has she failed on me yet. With her books, I find myself lost and immersed in this sinful world she has built and not to mention, her alluring and sexy as hell writing is one that had me devouring each word up. Her books can be a million pages long and it will still never be enough for me. My only mini issue on this one is that I wished we got more on Soren and his perspective of the night that Nora ran away from him. Or just generally more Soren, I'll take him any way I can get.
As I type this out, I can't believe we're only one book away from the end of this entire series. I can already anticipate the motha of breakdowns I will go through when I finally read The Queen. There better be a support group I can sign up on post-Sinners series because y'all can expect a terrible case of withdrawal that involves me going through a denial and grief stage by then. I'll never be ready for the end.
The Virgin is the third in The White Year series and should be read in order. It is also recommended to only read this series after finishing The Original Sinners series.
ARC kindly provided by Harlequin via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
“The truest test of love is not always ‘Will you fight for it?’. The real test of true love is often ‘Are you willing to give 5 STARS! ★★★★★
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“The truest test of love is not always ‘Will you fight for it?’. The real test of true love is often ‘Are you willing to give it up?’”
Yet another phenomenal story brought to us none other by Mistress Tiffany, I swear the lady can do no wrong with whatever she puts out. Her books are exactly the kind that I wished I could read slower to devour every word but an absolute page-turner that I could not flip the pages faster enough. You'd think by now I'd be ready for whatever she throws at us but I'll be damned because TR can still leave me speechless after every book.
The King similarly brings us back to the many years before The Original Sinners series, but this time we get the backstory of the infamous Kingsley Edge. It goes way back to the times after Kingsley and Soren parted ways since boarding school, the life he led after his near-death experience in La Legion and it totally shed a whole new light of the Kingsley we all thought we knew.
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If I didn't love Kingsley enough already, this book completely solidified my love for him. To be able to witness the person he was since he parted ways with Soren, my heart completely broke for him. There was just no questioning about his love for Soren since learning about their younger days in The Prince and all those strong emotions I had for them totally hit me like a freight train again.
“That night I felt like God put me on earth to show you why he created you like He did. You needed me as much as I needed you.”
I think one of the pivotal revelation from this read was how the 8th Circle was brought to life for this being the kingdom that Kingsley has built and knowing the motivation and the people behind it who drove this idea into a reality. No doubt it came with many obstacles but the biggest surprise for me was Sam's character. She was mostly in the background in the original series but I loved how much her role weighed in this one.
Honestly, I felt that Sam's character was actually a nice break from Nora and what's more comforting is that her spunky attitude reminded me a lot of Nora to the extent that I don't really feel her absence in this one. Sam herself was a mystery on its own with many layers that slowly peeled over throughout the read, I really loved her interactions with Kingsley and it was hard not to get affectionate with her character.
“But his Sam was always a creature of beautiful contradiction. She dressed like a man and yet was easily the most feminine woman he'd ever known.”
But above all, what made me fell so hard for this read is the dynamic between Soren and Kingsley. What they share is truly something that is undeniable and their love is the kind that you're willing to root for so hard even it means breaking all the rules and going against all odds. Just...GAH! It's heartbreaking and beautiful all the same, it sends my heart into an overdrive.
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Seriously there is no other series out there that portrays taboo/forbidden romance as amazing as this. TR's godsent writing plus this group of characters that have made a permanent residence in my heart, I would never find myself disappointed after putting each read down. I'm definitely excited to read The Virgin next and see what else TR has in store for us!
The King is the second in The White Year series and this series is recommended to be read after finishing The Original Sinners series....more
When I pick up a Tiffany Reisz book, I know I will never be left disappointed. And damn right bec5 STARS! ★★★★★
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“Once there lived…a priest.”
When I pick up a Tiffany Reisz book, I know I will never be left disappointed. And damn right because with The Saint, I couldn't even put it down for a minute as the queen of literary erotica that is TR has got me on a tight leash as I get reacquainted with The Original Sinners. There really is nothing that comes close to the Eighth Circle world that she has created and with her alluring writing that seemed so effortless, I simply cannot bring myself to rate anything less than 5 stars when it comes to her work.
“I wish I could give you everything you wanted. But even a good gift is a bad gift if given at the wrong time.”
Tuck up nicely kids because The Saint is going to be a bedtime story you'll wanna hear. We've always known that Nora led a troubled youth but we never got the full backstory of it. Told in alternating past/present mode, Nora reminisces and takes us back on the journey of how a young rebellious girl fell in love with that hot new priest in town. This is the story we've been all waiting for.
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If I didn't adore adult Nora enough already, I absolutely LOVED young Nora. Spunky and feisty little spitfire she was, it's no wonder a man as commanding as Søren couldn't let this girl out of his sight. I was swooped away by their smart yet playful interactions that sometimes even brought out a side of Søren that leaves you a little surprised.
“What's a dissertation?"
"If Satan gave you instructions for writing the book report from Hell, it would closely resemble those of a Ph.D. dissertation.”
Being able to see how their relationship evolved over the time with the introduction of Kingsley, it truly solidify my love for all these characters. It was such a nice touch finally being able to understand all the little references from the earlier series such as the back of the Rolls Royce and how the name Sutherlin came around, that for me was such an added bonus to an already amazing read.
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This is no ordinary love story that TR tells but it's just one that is so powerful and unique, one where doesn't leave me to question the moral aspects and to just embrace this one-of-a-kind love that leaves me with flutters and even moved me to tears! (view spoiler)[OMG Nora's birthday-orchestra scene with Soren! GAH MY FEELS!!! (hide spoiler)]. It probably leaves me sounding like a broken record but I cannot say it enough: TR's writing is on its league on its own, nothing comes close to it. It's so rare that I find myself soaking up every word and the brilliance and complexity of it all astounds me every single time.
The only thing that left me a little iffy is Nico's character and his intimacy with Nora but at this point of time, it's too early to say how he'll fit in nicely with the entire story arc. So I'm withholding judgement till the end of the series to see how it pans out because knowing TR, she just have tons of surprises up her sleeves. I cannot wait to read the rest of the series now!
The Saint is the first in The White Year series and is recommended to read after finishing The Original Sinners series....more
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