Review: The Scorpio Races

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Every year, in October, I take a trip to Thisby. I wait for the water horses to come out of the sea. I wait for the training, the tourists, the November cakes.
I wait.
And I wait.
And I wait.

And every year, in October, I fall in love with all of Thisby. I let it grow around me. I let it whisper into my ears and I let the salty air fill my nose and I hear the drums of the Scorpio Races.
Every year.

Every year, October brings my favorite characters back to me.

This year was no different. It is no different.

Because The Scorpio Races is the kind of story that lives in you. It's the kind of story that you find yourself never wanting to leave. It's the kind of story that makes you feel at home.

I find myself enamored with Kate Connelly. Puck Connelly. Sean Kendrick. Dove. Corr. Finn. Gabe. Tommy Falk and his pretty mouth. The Grattons. And Mutt Malvern. I find myself completely taken in when I walk the streets of Skarmouth. I find myself saying two hail marys and a colombo because I was right awful this week and Father Mooneyham just isn't believing me properly.

I find myself looking for my race colors.
I find myself looking for the red stallion with a lone rider on its back.
I find myself looking for more.

And when it's all said and done, and my time on Thisby comes to a close, I find myself wanting to open the book back to the beginning and start again.

(REVIEW from 10/30/2018)
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Review: The Day the Jerk Started Falling

The Day the Jerk Started Falling by Max Monroe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

This is the side of the story we didn't get in the first book. This is Ollie's chance to speak his truth.
And boy does he speak his truth in a no holding back kind of way. He lays it all out there and makes you see him.
And not like that, you pervs.

You get to see how Ollie's mind works, you get to see this love story unfold from his pov, you get the moment he fell.
Which makes sense, given the title.

But it's those inside secrets, those little things he did, the behind the scenes manipulations just to be near Lucky that'll have you swooning.

And his story is a good one, ladies and gents. He'll leave you rushing through an airport, finding a rental car, and speeding through lands unknown just for a chance to be with him. Just for a chance to explore the love you know you feel. Just for a chance to be more than the story of boyfriends past.

The Day the Jerk Started Falling is everything you want in a male POV. The good, the bad, the ugly. It's all there.
And you're only going to fall for Ollie just a bit harder than you did before.

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Review: The Day I Stopped Falling for Jerks

The Day I Stopped Falling for Jerks by Max Monroe
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"Nah. I'm more of a when I like what I see, I have to at least get a taste kind of guy."

And thus begins the downfall of Lucky Wright.
Okay, maybe it didn't really begin there, but we all know Lucky didn't stand a chance against the sexy Aussie, Oliver Arsen. I know I didn't stand a chance. He's all swoony and fun and charismatic. You know, all the things you want in a bloke.

Yeah, I may have picked up some Aussie lingo while reading these books. I couldn't help it. A bloke? A sheila? Come on! That's way better than guy and girl or dude and chick or what have you.

Anyway, this story is told in podcast form, which I found to be rather interesting and fun. She's talking to the reader. Directly. Fourth wall stuff there, folks. But I LOVED it. It's direct, Lucky is fun and intelligent, and a take no prisoners kind of gal. Sheila. Whatever.

I love her. I love her red hair, her knack for applying enough sunscreen to make me feel good about the bottles I use during the summer, and I love how she pushes Ollie away even when it is so very clear she wants that man.

And Ollie. Oh, I love him in this story (but the real swoons don't happen until we get his side--I devoured these books, by the way. I put this one down and picked up the next immediately) and his jealousy and his devil may care attitude. It's all written perfectly.

And then those details. The things they should have said and didn't, the moves they should have made yet resisted, the accidents that were perfectly timed.

It all came together perfectly. Because Max Monroe has this ability to spin a story, make you feel like you're there, and leave you wanting nothing beyond that HEA.

I'm not sure where this review was headed honestly. I just know the book is fantastic, but you'll want to have The Day the Jerk Started Falling already downloaded and ready to go. Because Ollie needs his chance to tell his story. Their story.

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Review: Dangerous Exes

Dangerous Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"I would justify every damn thing in the world for another taste of you."

God. Yes. This is the follow-up to Dirty Exes. If you haven't read Dirty Exes and you don't want to know who this book is about, I suggest you turn away. Turn away now.

But if you also know that RVD is going to give you a story you'll love and you don't care who this book is about because you just want all the words ever, then continue.

We left Dirty Exes with a disgruntled Jessie. His world has fallen apart all because of his ex. Or did it fall apart because of Isla?
Who knows.

What Jessie does know is that he is going to take Isla down so she can feel the way he feels.

And that's how you get this friends-to-enemies-to-lovers story that will have your heart beating fast and your eyes devouring words at a top rate speed.

Isla and Jessie are filled with tension. Sexual tension, to be specific. Yeah, sure, they're also a bit high strung and they like things to go according to plan, but the sexual tension between these two is palpable. I could feel it on my skin. I could smell it in the air around me. I wanted these two together more than I wanted my next breath.

And it's so freaking good. So. Good.

"I don't want to hold your heart...I don't even want to own it. I just want you to share it with me."

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Review: Dirty Exes

Dirty Exes by Rachel Van Dyken
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Rachel Van Dyken does it again. She pulled me in and didn't let go. I devoured this book. And that's coming from someone who has been in a serious book funk.

I downloaded this in KU because it also gave the audio option. And I love all the things Teddy Hamilton gets his voice on, so I knew this would be a win.
But when I wasn't able to listen, I still sat down, kindle on, reading the words on the pages. It may have been Teddy who lured me in, but it was this crazy world RVD built that left me with the inability to put the book down.

Two days.

I would have been finished sooner, but life and work got in my way. And I love sleep about as much as I love books.

So, I just fell head over heels in love with Blaire and Colin and Jessie and Isla. Head. Over. Heels.

Isla and Blaire are besties who started a business designed to take down cheating exes.
When they land a larger than life client, they know they have to be perfect in this job.

But when the past barrels face-first into Blaire, she's left stunned and in a bit of a whirlwind.

He's the one that got away, but what if she finds herself falling for someone else? What happens then?

And Colin, oh, Colin. I love that man with the man bun and the snake tattoo. He's freaking hilarious and I want one for myself. PLEASE?!

I didn't want the story to end. Lucky for me--and you--RVD carries on in Dangerous Exes where you find out what happens to a few of the other characters.

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Review: Manic

Manic by J.A. Huss
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Three years.

It's been three years since I was first introduced to this world and I cannot believe I haven't been back.
Although, in many ways, I guess I have been back.
I've been back by way of Spencer and Five and Mr & Mrs and all of those books that are spin-offs, but aren't spin-offs.
I've been back.

And yet, I haven't.

There's something special about Manic. This STURGIS contract and Rook and Ronin and Spencer and Ford. #FuckingFord. This is about the time everyone falls for Ford.
But I'm over here asking about that sexy, tattooed, biker, artist hottie who definitely needs me on his arm.

I'm visiting with The Team. The original Team. The Ronin, Ford, and Spencer Team.
The Hacker, The Guns, and The Liar.

Why have I waited so long to come back to LoDo? Why have I waited to revisit Fort Collins?

I'm continuing. I'm not sure how many books I need to read to make this whole thing happen, but it's happening.

And it's happening now.

#TeamSpencer #CallMeMRSSpencerShrike #SpencerMotherFuckingShrike #ShrikeBikes

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Review: Cards of Love: The Moon

Cards of Love: The Moon by Sierra Simone
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Good lord, I just thought I was prepared for what this novella would be.
And then she proved me all wrong and blew my mind in the process.

Merlin. Yeah, I've wanted his story for quite some time now. I've been patient. I've been hiding out, waiting for the perfect time, and it is finally here.

The story of Merlin and Nimue is one for the ages. It's a love that transcends time. It is powerful and all consuming.

And you're not going to be able to put it down once you get started.

Told in the haunting manner I've come to expect of Sierra Simone, Cards of Love: The Moon is the perfect novella to keep you in or bring you back to New Camelot.

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Review: Not Until You

Not Until You by Corinne Michaels
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I'm 1000% certain I wasn't in the right frame of mind to read this book, but it just didn't click for me.
The story was good, but I just couldn't connect with the characters.

Nicole is one of the four crazy ladies that you've met in previous books (We Own Tonight, One Last Time) and she is definitely the one who pushes boundaries and doesn't give a flying fuck what you think of her. And I LOVE those things about her. LOVE. THEM. She pushes her friends out of their comfort zones. But when it comes to pushing out of hers? Nope. No thank you, she hides. Runs and hides and refuses to feel.

Callum Huxley. Swoon. He's gorgeous, he's sexy, he's arrogant, and I'm pretty sure he's perfect for Nicole. He knows it, Nicole's friends know it. He just has to prove it to her.

See. Characters are gonna be fantastic. Storyline is spot on. It was me!

So, despite my "meh" reaction to these two, I'm definitely gonna grab the next. Corinne Michaels has never done me wrong and I won't drop her because I was having an off book week.

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