Aly's Miscellany

Cardinal's Rule

Cardinal's Rule - Tymber Dalton This was a total mindfuck for me... I don't know if I would have read it if I knew before hand.

Compromising Willa

Compromising Willa - Diana Quincy I really love this author. She has some glitches, but she gets better with every book.

Kidnapped for Christmas

Kidnapped for Christmas - Evangeline Anderson 3.5*
Buddy read with Jo

I liked it, though it was lacking in some points. I can't get over the fact that she did all that without a safe word!

Cut and Run

Cut and Run - Lara Adrian, Tina Folsom Maybe ~2.5... I think?

I don't really care about either stories. They have idiotic characters and I don't really care about the precog CIA agents.

I DNFd

North of Need

North of Need - Laura Kaye Buddy read with Jo

I didn't know what to rate it, but in the end I really loved the epilogue so 4* it is :)

Seducing Charlotte

Seducing Charlotte - Diana Quincy 3.5*
Fun read :)

Tempting Bella

Tempting Bella - Diana Quincy There were some blips but I totally loved it!

Hunt the Darkness

Hunt the Darkness - Alexandra Ivy I can't get into this one... I read about 25% and I don't care what happens, at all.

Claim (Bonds Book 2)

Claim (Bonds Book 2) - Sierra Cartwright This was soooo good. I couldn't put the book down, not joking!

Kennedy is an amazing dom and human being and I totally want him al for myself :D He is a bit pushy and he's excellent at being sneaky and seductive and, seriously, I want him all for myself :D

I liked that Mackenzie didn't let herself be pushed around by and didn't give in to his high-handed demands(I totally would have :D). She's a bit emotionally stunted, but in the end she sees the light.

The sex scenes were really hot. I could feel their chemistry from their first meeting. There were no awkward fumblings for them. With every scene they got closer, despite Mackenzie's wish that it wouldn't happen.

I can't wait for Ms. Cartwright to write Julien's story, I hope she does at least.

Bared

Bared - Stacey Kennedy Buddy read with Jo
It was better then the 1st book, but it still drove me a bit crazy...

In the 1st chapter the author completely murdered the male POV. There was no chance of revival and that's when I knew I had to take a break, read another book and come back to this one after. Reading an AMAZING historical romance really helped calm me down, otherwise this review would have gone differently.

I liked both characters, mostly. Cora is a selfless submissive who damages herself emotionally to help the man she has fallen in love with. Aidan is a great guy who has gone through an enormous loss and, after 5 years, still hasn't completely healed. It was great watching them together and seeing how they complemented each other.

There were some glitches, the heroine couldn't STOP talking about her frigging "loins" and the hero was obvious to some things happening around him, but all in all I didn't feel that I had to punch anyone in the face, so it was a win :D

The Affair: Week 8 - Never Let Go

The Affair: Week 8  - Never Let Go - Beth Kery Drama Llama ruled this part of the serial, even more then the other parts...
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I can't say I liked this story overall very much. On the other hand is was very good to vent my frustrations :D
Overall rating 3*

Claimed

Claimed - Stacey Kennedy Buddy read with Jo
Rating: 2.5* but I'm feeling generous and rounding it up


I’ll start with saying that when something annoys me in a book, I can’t stop myself from seeing all the crap that drives me nuts! That means that if I love a book, it could have grammatical and editorial mistakes and I wouldn’t see them… But if a book has that one thing that kicks me out of a story, it usually doesn’t end well.

In this book, it all started with the name. What is it with authors and picking stupid unappealing names for characters? Seriously, can someone explain it to me? It’s like they think of the weirdest, most stupid name they could come up with, and then use it! It’s not even the 1st time it has happened in the last months! I wouldn’t be this fucking annoyed if it were the 1st time. Ms. Kennedy went on and named the poor spineless girl(I’ll get to it in after this rant) Presley and every fucking time I read that name I read Parsley! Do you know how fun it is to think of seasoning plants when reading sex scenes? Let me tell you: NOT AT ALL!
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Furthermore, she made her female character a Mary Sue and her male character an assuming asshole. Parsley, I men Presley, does whatever the guy tells her, whatever anyone tells her. I mean, she frigging apologized for freaking out and leaving his bed and his house after waking up disoriented after a scene. He didn’t ask her if she wanted to spend the night, he just deposited her in his bed and then went to sleep. Entangled with her. Any normal woman would panic when not remembering how she go there and then leave. That’s what she did. It would have been ok if he asked her WHY she left or anything about it, but the asshole goes to her place of work with his boxers in a bunch and (kind of) has a fit there and tells her to apologize. The f-idiot does it! I’m stopping now, otherwise I’ll continue for a few other hundred paragraphs about this issue…

I can't stop myself and I'm giving another example. It contains spoilers! Another example of her milksop ways is the scene where her cheating ex boyfriend comes to her work(yes, another asshole) and starts spouting about her lifestyle choices, she decides that the best course of action will be:
A. She screams to bring attention and get rid of the guy
B. Calls the cops
C. Knees him in the balls and runs and maybe does A. or B.
D. Gets into a crazy dude's car, a more powerful guy then her in a confining space, so that he doesn't bring more attention to them.
Yes, our heroine chooses D. She gets into his car and tires reasoning with him and then, when that doesn't work, starts insulting him. I swear, this chick is dumber then a rock!
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The things that made me finish the book and give the 2nd one a chance were the secondary characters(his friend Mary and I’d love a novella or something with the dude’s last serious sub, her relationship sounded fascinating) and the sex scenes. Ms Kennedy writes amazing sex. She can really pull you into the scene there and you (mostly) forget about the stupid name(or try very hard, at least until the hero calles her by name) and the very enormous character flaws.

The Affair: Week 7 - Can't Stop Thinking Of You

The Affair: Week 7 - Can't Stop Thinking Of You - Beth Kery I am starting to really get into this serial, unfortunatley there's only 1 instalment left :))
I love how they start to trust each other more and they are more open and communicate more. The sex is hot, even though it a few very cretin euphemisms make an appearance.

Crave (Bonds Book 1)

Crave (Bonds Book 1) - Sierra Cartwright 3.5*
I liked the story. The idea of that, almost, no bondries weekend was great. I loved Reece from the start, Sarah wasn't bad but there was something that held me back.

The reason why I didn't give it a 4.5* was because we never found out WHY Sarah felt she was loosing herself or why she thought Reece wouldn't understand and talk with her. She just ran and left the poor dude panicking thinking that something happened to her. That lowered the rating 1* for me. I absolutely hate it when couple doesn't have an open communication, especially when shoved so blatantly in my face.

I can't wait to see the stories of Reece's other 3 friends *hint, hint*

Mistaken by Fate

Mistaken by Fate - Katee Robert 4*
Buddy read with Sarah

I strongly dislike the name Ridley!I can't get over the choice of having a chick named thusly(I always wanted to use "thusly" in a sentence :D)...

Besides the name thing(*shakes head in puzzlement*) it was a nice story. I liked how they re-connected, it was shocking enough that it had me really wanting to know what happened next. Garrett was a wuss for running from her like that, but, in the end, he got his balls back. The ending felt a bit rushed, nevertheless I liked the story enough to want to read the next one; I can't decide who I want to have a story more: Will(Garrett's twin brother) or Sara(their younger sister).

Take Me to Paradise

Take Me to Paradise - Olivia Cunning 3.5*
I really like Brian, but Myrna... not so much. I think I could say I tolerate her. in this novella she was kind of obnoxious and desperate but Brian balances her out with his sweetness and romantic side.
The sex was phenomenal! These guys are trying to beat Sed in the love of sex in public places. I'm not joking.

Currently reading

On His Knees (Stronghold Book 3)
Golden Angel
Cleopatra's Moon
Vicky Alvear Shecter