Flashback Friday: Donners of the Dead by Karina Halle

Title: Donners of the Dead
Author: Karina Halle
Genre: Historical Suspense Romance
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
Pub Date: February 2014
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

This will make the perfect book to read when I have a book hangover. It will cleanse my bookworm palate and leave me satisfied all at the same time. I also do not foresee it getting old for me any time soon.

Donners of the Dead is thrilling, well-written, and riveting. 

Flashback Review: Awaken by Nina Lane

Title: Awaken
Series: Spiral of Bliss #3
Author: Nina Lane
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Pub Date:  2014
Rating: 2 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Ugh. I am so thankful that is over. Writing this review is almost as painful as finishing the series. I don't think I can say anything new that I didn't already say in regards to the first two books. Book three is just more of the same that I encountered in the first two books. (See my reviews here and here).

Flashback Review: Allure by Nina Lane

Title: Allure
Series: Spiral of Bliss #2
Author: Nina Lane
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Pub Date: May 2014
Rating: 2.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

This was just okay for me. I have issues with the flow, as with the first book. There are moments when an event in history is mentioned, cuing a flashback only to not flash back. Other times there are flashbacks thrown in at seemingly random times. 

Flashback Review: Arouse by Nina Lane

Title: Arouse
Series: Spiral of Bliss #1
Author: Nina Lane
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Snow Queen Publishing
Pub Date: January 2014
Rating: 3 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

I was a little disappointed with this one. I feel like this is an attempt at being a Megan Hart novel with its "depressing love story with sex thrown in." It's something that can be done well but this time just feels forced. 

Flashback Friday Review: Before he Was Gone by Becky Wicks

Title: Before he Was Gone (Starstruck, #2)
Author: Becky Wicks
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Pub Date: August 2014
Rating: 4.5 Stars

Our thoughts...

Fun ~ Unique ~ Strong

  

Becky Wicks is a hidden gem in this world full of authors. This is my second book by her and I’m very impressed with her ability to create a story that really pulls the reader in from the start. Before He Was Gone is written from dual POVs which is something that I’m in love with these days. I feel like it gives the reader a more in-depth look into what is actually going on with the characters. I talk a lot about flat writers in my reviews, writers that don’t have the ability to catapult me from my busy life into the pages of their story. Beck Wicks IS NOT a flat writer.

Flashback Friday: Beautiful Stranger

Title: Beautiful Stranger (Beautiful Bastard #2)
Author: Christina Lauren
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Gallery Books
Pub Date: April 16, 2013
Rating: 5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

Sexy ~ Uninhibited ~ Tender

Flashback Friday: The Artists Trilogy by Karina Halle

Have you read The Artist Trilogy by WSJ, NYT, and USA Today Bestselling author Karina Halle? Check out this dark and gritty series with real characters, tough love, and plenty of suspense.

If you don't have time to read all of the reviews, we recommend reading the review for Shooting Scars.

Flashback Friday Review: Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian Highway by Sara Gran

Title: Claire DeWitt and the Bohemian 
          Highway
Author: Sara Gran
Genre: Noir Mystery
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin
Pub Date: June 2013
Rating: 4 Stars

Our thoughts...

Claire DeWitt lives a life lacking shame. Or perhaps, it is just the opposite. Perhaps she just wants us to believe she is shameless in order to allow her to believe it herself, to care less about herself and those around her.

Review: Savages by Don WInslow

Title: Savages
Author: Don Winslow
Genre: Suspense/Thriller
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Pub Date: July 2010
Rating: 5 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

 "...it's all fun and games until someone loses an I." 

This was my first encounter with Don Winslow and if his other novels are anything like Savages, I plan to devour them all.
Winslow's writing style is definitely one that people are going to either love or hate.

Review: One & Only by Viv Daniels

Title: One & Only
Author: Viv Daniels
Genre: New Adult
Publisher: Word for Word
Pub Date: October 2013
Rating: 4 Stars

Our thoughts...

  

This was a refreshing addition to the NA genre. The characters are smart, respectable, and not blind to the obvious. I never felt like hitting Tess or Dylan over the head and shouting, "Wake up, idiot!" What a relief that was! I feel like a common thread I've encountered lately is "smart girl being ridiculously stupid and blind."