The Final Hour by London Miller

That was the perfect conclusion to the Mishca and Lauren story line. It's been a while since I read the previous novels in this series and though we are left with a lot of unanswered questions, I think the solutions to their past unraveled and progressed wonderfully, even if it occasionally became a tad too easy.

For every good plot execution, there was some underlying, questionable executions and though their past have been put to rest, their future is anything but stable.

We focused on the Bratva and Mishca's involvement and duties, as oppose to his relationship with Lauren and his "family". With the exception of their wedding, the romantic elements were few as was the sex scenes. This, I didn't mind, because there was so much going on that took precedence over who was poking who.

We got the opportunity to explore Klaus and Luka's character and though I have some clarity, I am also confused. I understand their personalities and thirst for blood but I really want to know more about the Albanian-Russian enforcer and the Russian mercenary. Especially the question of who is Klaus's next target.

This novel was more about closure via mind games with a relative amount of violence. Minus the club scene. That was just brutal! I loved the moments Mishca spent in police custody, battling with Agent Green and the time spent on the court proceedings. I could feel the emotions on both side from desperation to anxiety.

We learnt more about Mishca than any other character which led me to understand his stance on the Bratva and living a life of organized crime. I will never fully understand Lauren, especially with her earlier inclinations, but she stood by her man in the roughest of times and it was interesting to see her in the role of a Bratva queen as she adjusted to the problems as they arise.

Everyone had a role to play and I am sad that we had to lose a major character. When I figured it out, I was fairly surprised but it had a stronger impact when everyone was made aware and decisions had to be made. So you can imagine how badly I now wanna know Luca's secret.

There was a ton of grammatical and spelling errors that led me to believe that I might have an unedited copy but I edit it myself as I read and it did not detract from the engaging story line and delivery that had me up till early morning fighting sleep to see what would happen in the final hour.

London Miller has always gave us good and intriguing stories on the Russians and their associates and this time was no different. There was drama, love, lies, culture and history as far back as necessary. It was detailed in it's delivery and never left me wanting for more when an issue was closed. Unfortunately, I have to patiently wait for the next installment and I can't wait to dive deeper into Klaus and Luka's crazy world!

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22710714-the-final-hour

Collin By Sandi Lynn

'Collin' was an easy going story with a host of serious issues and the most fleeting and fairy tale solutions. My ongoing issue with Sandi Lynn novels, is how she always take serious issues and spend as little time on them then throw money at the problem and give us a happy ending.

Hailey, despite her faults, was treated like that crazy stalker chick from 'Forever Black' and Amelia moved from self righteous, to brave, to annoying and then right back to self righteous.

The first 30% of the story was told so fast and I just wanted to slow it down. It was nice there for a while, as I guess and spell who would steal his heart and that pizza girl freaked me out while making me die with laughter (it really does sound better abbreviated).

Anyhoo ... Collin is the fun, alcoholic of the family, even if no one wants to acknowledge it, but the boy is two shots away from being Ellery's dad. I am sure he would have liver failure if he got his heart broken again. Yes, his story isn't told to completion in this novel and I look forward to the repercussions in the upcoming novel.

Though I am glad for the diversity in using another love interest, even if breaks from the keep it all in the family thing they usually have going, Amelia takes some getting used to. I don't understand or connect with any of the characters at the end of this novel because it feels like I was being read a statement instead of partaking in a story. Maybe it's the tone, progression or modern day Saints that was portrayed, but I didn't believe or connect with the characters and their different stories. Connor, Ellery and Julia included. I even forgot about Peyton, Henry and James. They were so faded and uninteresting.

We even lost a main character in this novel and it didn't impact me the way it should have. It wasn't sad, reflective or contemplative. It just happened and we moved on. As for Amelia and her host of issues, I think it needed the same amount of time and dedication that this death warranted, in order to make an impact within the story.

You might read my review and think that I hate this novel but I didn't. I quite enjoyed it and read it in one day with little breaks. I think if you are looking for a quick, easy read with not much complexity, then this is it.

It not only gives you updates from the past but it shows everyone's future and allows you to reconnect with all the characters that we loved from this series. The focus was broader than Collin and Amelia, so though they got lost as a couple and individuals, I still had a good time keeping up with the Black's and their host of friends and acquaintances.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21842955-collin

Blonde Date: An Ivy Years Novella By Sarina Bowen

I've never given much thought to the Katie's or Andy, but this novella placed them on my radar. 'Blonde Date' follows Katie Vickery (blonde Katie/K1) and Andy (Bridger's dorm neighbour) on a sorority mandated date. It turns out there is more to blonde Katie than meets the eyes and Andy is just that. Andy. What you see is what you get.

Though it was just a couple hours spent on Sorority Row; drinking and socializing, there is more to this novella than Katie's need for a date and Andy's dreams coming through.We got background information on both lead characters and Dash, as well as, twists, drama and a little adult entertainment.

'Blonde Date' opened me to the possibility of reading a full length novel about both Katie and Andy. Now that I have gotten the opportunity, I wanna know more about blonde Katie and all the pressures that seem to accompany her world. She is more than bandannas on doors and sorority row.

Andy got his time in the spotlight but it's Andy, so the only difference was being privy to his thoughts. I've never thought of him as a nerd, lacking in self-confidence but I liked when he spazz out and over analyzed Katie's signals. There is something about this novella that doesn't try to place them on a pedestal. It keeps them genuine. Katie is a hottie and Andy isn't a 100 on the hot meter but he is one of the good guys and even them deserve their time in the sun.

Thing is, though I enjoyed date night and exam day, I could see these two going their separate ways and remaining friends. A one night stand and fling? Maybe. But the fact that Katie kept Dash as a constant reminder and Dash revealed his true feelings towards Katie, I can see them getting back together. I don't wanna break Andy's heart, but maybe K1 isn't the girl for him in the long run; though we all gotta have our first :)

Dash's POV was welcomed and helped solidify my original thought that just maybe that spark will ignite again, because Andy and Katie are missing one element that Dash and Katie have in common.

As always, Sarina keeps the sex as PG as possible because they are college kids, who are just learning their crafts, sex included and it was actually quite hilarious to get both their accounts of this sexual experience.

If your looking for a quick read while you transition through novels, or just want something light and fluffy, then look no further. 'Blonde Date' is just the right read. It's short, to the point and has enough elements to keep you interested and leave you wanting more. Your're re-introduced to Dash, Katie and Andy; then your gifted a sneak peek at Graham and Rikker's story. Other than a full length novel on this triangle, what more could you ask for?

***ARC provided by author in exchange for an honest review.***

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22692381-blonde-date

Ruthless People By J.J. McAvoy

I expected this novel to be a good one and I wasn't disappointed. Liam and Melody had rocky starts in the personality department and while Melody didn't redeem herself, I got to understand and acclimate to her character as the story progressed.

I think everyone in this story with the exception of Olivia and Coraline are ruthless. They can act with the best of them but this family loves blood, chaos and drama. They thrive on it! While Liam eventually broke his mold to accommodate Melody, she stayed true to her character until the end. There is no clear cut reception to this story because their are different stages to their madness. In the beginning, I was a little skeptic, because Melody is not easy to like, as she was the only character that came out guns blazing and stayed that way. Even when she disconnects from the world, she's remains cocky, self-righteous and nonchalant about everything and everyone with the exception of Liam and Evelyn.

Liam's character is like an oxymoron. He shocks me with his decisions and he baffles me even more when he clicks the switch that turns him into a sociopath. I just can't see him as one. He at times seem almost preppy but then in an instant he's killing six year old girls so they don't grow up into "La femme Nikita" and retaliate against his family.  I expected a struggle for dominance but really, one of them gave up before the struggle even began.

If not for Liam's need to love, I could see this story having zero romantic tones. The romance actually takes a back seat to all the criminal affairs. Still, you can't discount that they make a really good team and somewhere along the line, I found myself riding their power wave. They actually make you feel like they are untouchable.

Half way through this novel, we started to get other characters POVs but I am on the fence as to their significance. Yes, it's a different view and thoughts from the family but importance was lacking. I didn't mind getting in their heads but their issues had no bearing on the current story line.

There is sex, love, family, power, drugs and murder. Everything you were promised on the cover. What stood out most though was the title. You can't sleep on these two because they are forever scheming and manipulating everyone, including each other. Every time I think they are redeemed and becoming less power hungry, I realize that they are just planning their next scheme.

The sex isn't as explosive or passionate as I thought it would be but it's not very detailed either so you are quick to get back to the wave of crimes they have planned. In retrospect, not even the criminal acts were given much light either, unless Liam are Melody were suiting up. We weren't always apart of the plan and found ourselves watching the mayhem with the rest of the family.

I found that their banters with their family and men were what made this story interesting and gave us those funny moments.

There is a noticeable amount of grammatical errors and normally when a book captures me enough, I can probably dismiss it but this story is from a publishing house with a professional editor, so I don't think they should be so glaringly obvious.

I had expected more Italian and Irish culture but it was more All-American. I've never read about the Irish or their mobs before so I would have loved to seen more Irish culture and dialect.

Novels with language barriers normally leave me running to Google translate, so I was glad for the key at the end and the ease in navigating between the translation page and the rest of the story.

'Ruthless People' isn't one of those stories that come with a lot for you to gush about. It is precise, to the point and grabs your attention from beginning to end. If you blink, you might miss something and everything and everybody are chess pieces.

They are murders, thieves and liars with no intention of ever slowing down. They love what they do and NOTHING will change that. It's gruesome and leaves you questioning their sanity and the subject of ethics and moral, because they have none.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22237407-ruthless-people

The Prince's Ex By Nadene Seiters

I am not one of those people who like trilogies but some stories need more than one installment and 'The Prince's Ex' is one of them. Was it rushed? Not until we got to the end but I think that has more to do with my love for the characters and not being ready to let them go.

I will admit that I was a little apprehensive when this story began because it didn't hit the ground running. It took some time to build and I judged the book by it's title and expected fluff and pageantry. I was in for a rude awakening because it was not what I expected and became more realistic as it progressed.

Some will see Amelia (pretty name btw) as a gold digger and I would have to say she's on the line but she's also honest. She knows what she wants and seems obsessed with the moving of money that I am actually surprised she wasn't a Trader. I like that she didn't move from the Prince's ex to the commoner's wife and it was good to see her date and have different relationships before she found the one that worked for her. I also like that the man was the one with more on the line and how they navigated those issues when they arrived.

Amelia is one of those character that has to grow on you because she makes no apologies for her faults and wants and while her back story is a sad one, you'd never know. This story is narrated more like a third party account but all I could hear was Amelia's voice; despite her shortcomings and blatant need for financial stability, you want to see this story through her eyes. I will admit that at times I thought he deserved better but Amelia proved that, given the chance, she can be that better thing he needs in his life.

The dynamic duo of Tina and Amelia made this book quirky, fun and full of good times. It's a hoot whenever those two are together and their time spent in that coffee shop made for quite the comedic relief. If I could, I would rename this book 'Coffee Shop Chronicles' but I don't know how i'd tie in that cover because it is too hot to not stay!

I hate when reviews give away too much information because then a novel loses some of it's mystic so I pride myself on keeping as much a secret as is possible and because Amelia had to go through a few frogs to her real prince, i'll refrain from using a name so as to not give away who the winner of her heart was, so from here on, his name shall be "Him" :)

"Him" was everything you could ever want in a man and though I picked up on a  few of his secrets early, I will admit that some threw me for a loop. Still, he remained intelligent, sweet, understanding and quite frankly one of the best book boyfriends I've seen in a while, without having to negotiate for her life or visiting each other in a hospital or jail cell. They didn't even break up and that's gotta be worth a nod in contemporary romance these days!

They are friends first then lovers and though we spent more time with her suitors than we did with her choice, I felt like I knew him well enough and am actually appalled at myself that I too overlooked him in the beginning.

For all those sex fiends, you can forget it. There is no graphic, detailed sex scenes and no one is being slapped or tied. It's clean fun with a few sexy undertones.

If you're unable to connect with the story, that's fine but I find that most women, especially of the single variety, can relate to this novel because it's a more real account of life in the single lane with a few unrealistic elements to give the novel dynamics. On the surface, it's remains an every day story with an every day couple in a small town with too many ears, nosy yoga classes and a little coffee shop that holds all their secrets :)

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22041511-the-prince-s-ex

The Laws of Kings By Jennifer Loren

With every novel there are good and bad moments and this one is no different. The problem with this one is that not all the moments are in sync with the story line or the reader. If I hadn't ever read a book by Jennifer Loren then I would probably not be so inclined to read a next but I know she normally has rocky starts but eventually finds her footing.

There are extremely corny moments of action, confrontation and love. My eyes got a work out occasionally from all the MacGyver moments that had me rolling them uncontrollable. They even got his kits -_-

There is a constant and delicate balance between too much information and not enough conviction. There are tons of unnecessary conversations and as to when they fell in love? I don't know.

Dace's team seem to be the original 'A team' as they channel everything action packed and corny from 80's action-adventure sitcoms. This story had two parts and I liked both. Dace the mercenary was just as entertaining and corny as Dace the mob prince but I mostly like Dace when he's just kicking back with Austin.

There is something about the characters of this novel that I adore, especially when they aren't trying to kill each other. Everyone has their signature traits that differentiate and assist the story line. Michael holds little to no interest for me but Sage makes me take a second look at this complicated but heartbroken man; Ettore is elusive but interesting; Antony is hilarious and just the right guy to have around for everything while Dace is the perfect leader who never wants and also never actually leads.

There are many elements to this story but unfortunately not all of them gel. While there are good and bad moments the story line isn't cohesive at times and their are a few discrepancies with the flow but I still enjoyed the overall body of work even when I knew what to expect next.

Austin and Aaron are unexpected additions but I think they bring their own contribution to this plot. One thing I am looking forward to is Leandra and Austin together as Dace recovers. While I don't know if that will be happening, I think it would make for good entertainment.

There is a lot of violence and killing in this novel to the point where it borders on corny but I love that Dace doesn't second guess his decisions and though it's too late, I could see the Colletto boys as an unstoppable force, if they could just stop trying to kill each other for a minute.

I leave this story not knowing who to trust and not knowing who will be alive by the end of the next but I am also excited for the potentials that lay ahead.

There is a certain edge and roughness to this novel that doesn't lend to the softer side of romance so you might not be able to understand or know when love came into play but I like them so much as a couple that I don't even care. It's hot when a woman can take care of herself and there is no weak women in this novel.

It's a rocky start to a series but I have faith in this story and it's ability to get it all together for the next installment, so as to give us an action packed, drama filled, intellectually executed plan that will lead to an even better book 2.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22472427-the-laws-of-kings 

Coming In From the Cold By Sarina Bowen

If your in a book stump or just looking for a nice transition read, then look no further! This is my second novel by Sarina Bowen and I was just as satisfied with this attempt. It has an air of old school Mills and Boon romance novels but with a realistic and modern touch for it's characters and their issues.

You can know when an author has done her research and the fact that Sarina has a ski-crazy husband, lives in Vermont and raises chickens only strengthened the main character of Willow. It's not hard to see both Sarina and Willow in love with love. I don't know if this character was emulated from the author but it was a strong character that highlighted her personality and I had no problems developing empathy or concern for her, even when she was wrong and way too forgiving.

I did get annoyed with her occasionally, but for the most part, I liked the character of Willow and her friendship with Callie was endearing even though it only touched the surface. You can't help but to be comfortable with all the characters and their relationships because they really do try to stay away from drama.

Dane is an interesting one for me because while I liked him, I still don't understand him a 100%. I love his honesty and the fact that he was blunt and steadfast in his decisions. I even like that he went ape when he heard his diagnosis and that he remained genuine to his emotions throughout the novel.

I'll be the first to admit that on the surface this story doesn't bring much depth and is flying in fairy tale land but I loved the development and progression. I also like that a serious illness was highlighted without it being the big "C", cheesy or boring. I only wish we got to highlight it more but the amount we got was satisfactory and tastefully done.

The sex was basic without much of a steam factor but Sarina isn't known for her hot and heavy scenes. With her, it's more mellow and to the point. There is a time and place for everything and I think the sex in this novel is good enough for this novel.

The story line hits the ground running and doesn't stop until the end. I assume there will be a part two because so much is unresolved and while I was content with this novel, I am a little apprehensive as to if more drama will be thrown their way, even though they barely sweat their last hurdle.

There's not much to say about this novel because in the grand design of it all there isn't much conflict or moments that need to be picked apart. It's structured well and progressed seamlessly even when it became flat and stuck in a loop at the end.. It's all about love, understanding and hitting the slopes. Some will find it soft in the romance department but I find that if I need centering I can pick up a novel by Sarina Bowen to get the job done and this was no different.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20767664-coming-in-from-the-cold

Fearless By Rachel Van Dyken

If you hate overly romantic romance novels and you are unable to tolerate those overly happy couples who cry a lot and recite every romance Shakespeare ever written then this novella isn't for you. No matter that it's 100 pages.

I am one of those persons but I liked this novella because it was too short for me to find issues with how overly romantic they were and I really loved 'Ruin' and missed that magic that wasn't recreated in 'Toxic'. I finally understand that the feeling only comes with Wes and Kiersten's stories. Gabe and Saylor's story was a disappointment but with this novella restored my interest in this series.

Normally we get the rugged men or the rugged ones that transform into romantics but Wes is just a  natural born romantic that falls in no cliche but his own. I don't normally go for these types but there is something about Wes Michels that you can't help but love.

We continued to get the characters thoughts at the beginning of each chapter and I found some that actually made me stop and think. Wes is a poet and I am often times surprised as to his career field because it is really a clash with his personality. The man barfs rainbows and unicorns! Even Kiersten held her own especially when she started signing as Mrs. Michels. Guess it's done by osmosis :)

This installment basically gave you one of the most meaningful proposal and wedding while lining you up for what's to come in Lisa's novel 'Shame'.

Other than the most romantic and life altering events in the life of Wes and Kiersten and a few blast from Lisa's past, this was a short but sweet epilogue of sorts to 'Ruin'. While I understand the aim and the title, fear was on the back burner in this novella and the few times it was highlighted was in small doses for Kiersten and nightmares for Lisa.

It wasn't filled with many memories from 'Ruin'  I assume because of the depression that followed that installment but there were a few highlights of every one's current fears.

The sex is YA and not much to get excited about because this book is more about vintage romance novels as oppose to the erotica that plagues this generation of romance fiction.

It was short, sweet and memorable as we kept in touch with Wes and Kiersten as they try to conquer their fears together and move on to that next chapter of their life. It might be nauseating to some but they deserve it, After all, 'Ruin' was quite intense!

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20750028-fearless

Ignite Me By R.F. Allie

This novel has been out since February 2014 so I was shocked to see the amount of reviews it had on Goodreads, even though I was also weary of picking up the second copy, due to my disappointment with the first. However, I am here to say that this was an improvement that actually caught and held my interest as I went along. I couldn't even put it down in the last 5%.

Landon and Clea is not your conventional couple and I don't expect them to deal with the fall outs of this novel like your usual victims. A few things are still unclear but I connected with the characters this time and learnt to appreciate the many links that kept them together through the years.

Their wasn't an influx of arguments and break ups even though Clea tend to threaten Landon a lot with their relationship. The few arguments were crazy and needed basic communication but I like that they worked it out in their own time and unique ways that made them all a solid unit at the end. They didn't resort to irrational fights and struggles to build and keep the story going and weren't afraid to build and live from their happiness which is rare in stories of this genre.

I enjoyed and appreciated the relationship dynamics even the ones that weren't Clea and Landon's. We got a completely different Evelyn that made me want a piece of her tale to see this woman who takes charge and crushes anything in her path.

Landon was still overly and irrationally jealous but I found it endearing at times, as well as, the continual use of proper words as oppose to the more frequently used dialects. It's good to know that the author didn't run out of proper wording and the tidbits of french that are usually scattered throughout the series. I liked their games to say 'I love you' and the deals they made that remained a secret between them. I even got a back story that led to an appreciation for Ryan and Jude's relationship. The tense moments of this story also helped to highlight a different side to Jude that we never saw before and I have to say that I like it!

There were still a few glaringly obvious issues from the previous novel like the really bad editing and grammar errors and the confusion when it came to similar names. This time, it was Clea mixing up her nieces name with a woman that is hell bent on ruining her life.

A few characters that I didn't expect from book 1 were back but they did their part without seeming insignificant and made quite the impact on the story. I found myself wanting the next chapters because of all the events we had lined up in this novel. It was one event after a next and they all helped transition this story to the end.

It was good to see the growth in all the relationships and the Parisian roots that a few of the characters have. Not as intense and serious as the first story, this one had a more laid back vibe for the most part and I loved to see the friendships surrounding Clea, as well as, the moments Landon stepped out of his comfort zone to try Clea's world and all it had to offer.

Unfortunately, we are still learning some of the basics about the characters but somehow it works in their favour. It's just another tool that helps us as readers to experience their growth and learn as they take their time to their different futures without all the curve balls of cheating, marriage and babies. They talk and I love that because it makes me as a reader feel included.

The sex was frequent but quite frankly didn't do much for me. I understand it's purpose but I could do without half of the detailed sex scenes. I was more a fan of the conversations and progression than I was of their time spent in the sack.

Yes, I wanted insight into a few major issues that were left dangling in the last installment, but we had flashbacks and kept moving as we dealt with the issues of the past, present and future. The ending of this novel is rather unclear but it surely lines us up for an interesting book 3. Though it's still not a 100% I can truly say that the story line and progression improved and I am intrigued as to the reactions the next installment promises.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18319805-ignite-me

The Fall By Sienna Lane & Amelia Rivers

I always joke about having a DNF list but I came really close this time. I wanted to give up after the first 5% but that was mostly because I have never read angels and demons before and the beginning didn't captivate me enough to wanna stay. Once again, my need to not have a DNF made me persevere. However, I literally had to force my way through to the end because this was cheesy, anticlimactic and felt more like a parody than a paranormal. The thing that surprised me also was that it had a lot of real religious elements that were manipulated in the most understated and uninspiring way.

This could have been an opportunity to learn about ancient religious prophecies regarding the Grigori and their offspring's the Nephilim, as they try to keep Addison a descendant of Enoch safe, while hoping to stop another Nephilim from releasing their fathers from Tartarus. Normally, I don't recall story lines because that's what blurbs are for but this one I think I had to for the rest of us who are not that religiously inclined and had to learn of this from a paranormal novel.

First of all, I thought this was going to be another vampire novel, so I had to recalibrate my expectations and I was even excited for a while to read my first angels and demons novel based off real historical events B.C. Imagine my disappointment :(

 The moment Archer and Addison met and start to keep company this story fizzles to YA romance. At one point, I wondered if we weren't going to bother with hell on earth. Literally. I think that if you are going to tackle a story of this caliber then the delivery has to be better than the equivalent of a teen movie. They were so modern to the point where it was unbelievable. I understand change but this was too much.

An example you say? ... here goes ... so this creature is suppose to be locked away for a millennia as pointed out by our "fierce" leader and somehow, his "spirit" has been floating around the atmosphere. Guess what his visual entertainment of choice was? ... Yup! You guessed it, 'Twilight'! Now c'mon ... is this a serious paranormal novel or just fun and laughs? I can't see not one but two authors agreeing on this point among others.

Addison is no virgin. All I want to ask her is why she was still a virgin because she could deep throat like no ones business and don't get me started on her constant need to lose said virginity after it being her BFF for more than 20 years. Still, separate her untimely love, instant training as an Eros and reaction to angel babies, I like Addison. She had fire, spunk and quite the personality to match her never ending stomach.

Archer is good at brooding and while I liked his character in the beginning, I am not a fan of him in love. I could spend this novel focused on the "fight" more than I could the romance. The fate of the world is in their hands and their busy fighting over guys who flirt with her in a bar -_-

All the other male characters had my interest, apart from Archer, unless he was stretching his powers. I would have loved to get to know them and their powers more intimately because this intrigued me more than the story line itself.

I expect angles and demons to have a fight that rival all others, but instead I was left bored and wanting it to end as it began. I keep putting "fight" in quotations because the big reveal and climax was very flat and I am assuming this story is all wrapped up based on their very HEA despite God's supposed dislike for this species. I haven't done more research to see if this particularly claim is true so I am gonna take this novel and Wikipedia's information at face value.

Also, the names, what's up with those? Lazarus and Archius? C'mon now! You can do better. The sex was also rather basic too. The man can probably bench press the Hulk and that's the best you can do? He even has telekinesis on his side! I don't know man, this novel just lacked inspiration, conviction and details. I am actually shocked that this was the effort of two authors because it was very unimaginative and uninspiring for a story that already had it's base in religious history.

Though I was able to get through this novel after almost 2 days it was a task. I was bored, unimpressed and all round annoyed that something that could and should be epic was so lackluster. Their powers and back stories alone could have made for an epic tale but all this reminded me of was a teen movie with a mix of the 'Supernatural' TV series.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18940798-the-fall

Entice By Rachel Van Dyken

Here I go being the odd one out again.

I still believe that this series got better from the first novel but that ending was pitiful and left me longing for an alternate. The prologue and first chapter to the next book has me rolling my eyes and over the dramatics and theatrics of it all but once again, I am interested to see what caused all those betrayals. There is so much build up in the beginning story line and then we get to the most flaccid ending.

At first, I thought the problem might be the couple dynamics, because Trace and Nixon were struggling in the beginning but then I find that I like Trace and Nixon together, especially as they battle the residual resentments from Trace moving on and Nixon faking his death. Mil and Chase however didn't have me convinced or move.

I don't know when they fell in love and the emotions backing them as a couple feels like it appeared out of thin air. They were so bland as a couple that I found myself craving Nixon and Tracey scenes more than Chase and Mil's. Also, let's talk about how the end of this installment focused on every one except Mil and Chase. Thought it was there book o.O

This novel needs a better sense of time also. I can't tell you how much time has passed since Tracey enrolled at Elite. All I know is, that they haven't had a break since and they have lost friends along the way.

The person that strike fear into every one reminds me of Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3, for those who are about that Marvel Comics life like myself; He was more a face of terror than terror itself. I understand setting us up for Tex's story but this ending unbelievable and flat especially from a man of his calibre and superstitious mindset.

Chase didn't portray the things I adored about him from book 1 and 2. He was suppose to be a "love sick puppy" over Mil but I just didn't believe him. His words, feelings and reactions held more impact when he was panting after Trace, than when he was discovering his love for Mil. He deserves better, Mil isn't it. I found myself missing the love triangle.

This novel continues to be YA mafia romance so expect more cliche "mafia" scenes and the continued absence of any police presence or good, on the brink of death, sex scenes. These mafia gods even fly commercial -_-

Mil was not tough and feisty as I expected. I liked the gun wheeling girl from the previous novels but this one just had really terrible flashbacks. She was more the abused 14 year old than the 20 year old mob boss. I don't even know what the point this novel was aiming to make. I am lost as to their Vegas visit and all the random acts of violence that followed.

Even Luca wasn't his usual devious self leading up to the most unbelievable final fight scene. At this point, they should all just kill each other and put us out of our misery. They literally shoot first then ask questions later and I am getting tired of the repetitive themes. The ghost that is ever present, constant betrayal from a past that their parents set in motion and relationship epiphanies that's portrayed with the same urgency as brushing your teeth. It needs a new spin because we've read this before from this same series.

You might think from my above review that I might not have liked this novel but I was actually interested. My problem is the ending. It had a great build up that had me focused and wanting to know what Mil was hiding and what Chase,  Trace and Nixon's response would be to Chase being a  married man. In the end, it was just more gunshots, death and secrets from the past that's ripping this friendship to threads.

Book 4 has me interested but I hope that we get more than the usual. While chapter one has me scared and intrigued in one I can't wait to see if Tex is the shake up I am still looking for to give this series a higher rating than the one it's kept so far.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18465431-entice

Elect By Rachel Van Dyken

The mafia police has arrived and with him comes history, allegiance and most importantly ... redemption for all who seek it. Redemption is possible and it comes in the form of Luca Nicolassi. I don't know what to make of the man other than he is rather impulsive with a twisted sense of humor.

I have now even moved on to accept the Academy for the twisted mini country it provides. They rule and conquer through the walls of this school and they do it with such finesse that you fear them without even really knowing them. 'Elect' was much better than 'Elite' and brought more depth, personality and believable drama and guilt. I hurt for Chase and Nixon especially at Tracey's oblivious nature. She really is innocent and naive. This time, we get to know more about the characters, their feelings and natural responses and I like that the story was taken from Phoenix, Nixon and Chase's POV. I guess Tex is still the lackey.

Totally unexpected but Phoenix managed to shed a new light on himself. He is one of my crazies and I now wish I had spend more time getting to know him. The other big turn around for me was Nixon. Who is this selfless, hopeless, Shakespeare quoting romantic? He was the perfect man before everything else and exuded more than a cheesy, pierced guy in charge of a crime syndicate. He was fair, concise, smart, manipulative and a tad cliche but it worked in his favour.

The mind of Chase is a lovely place and I really do love this guy despite him continuously getting the short end of the stick. I understood him and sympathized with him the most and if not for the obvious route with Trace being Queen B and Nixon King to his stolen empire I could see Tracey and Chase as a couple.

As relationships go I have fallen into a comfortable role with them all. They have become more like a family of orphaned misfits and I once again ignore their age to focus on their wisdom and experience beyond their years. This novel was a lot more violent and calculated than the last and their personalities adjusted to the plot. I liked them more as next generation mafia as oppose to the ridiculously unrealistic catty college fights and grade school bullying.

Despite all the guns, deaths and threats this was still quite PG and still lacked that lust and steam needed between two people like Tracey and Nixon. I find that I liked Tracey more through Nixon and Chase's eyes but I especially loved Tracey in the eyes of Chase. She might be a terrible mafia princess but I see it growing on her and the cow references lessened!  She has adapted to the life wonderfully and I liked the B role she played in this installment. She played it well.

I got a better appreciation for this story and the characters and I was actually hooked to a few pages trying to see what the end will bring. I am satisfied but disappointed in the loss and realignments. At least I was right that Nixon seems to love being bad and that just made me love him even more! That scene with him threatening Chase in the car was real and one of my faves and I liked his conversations with Phoenix, however volatile.

The flashbacks to the past also helped to clarify the future and show all the guys in a different light. I wish we could have spent more time with Luca and Frank because old mafia is always funny and Sergio seems fulls of possibilities. The more I read is the more I wanted so it's safe to say this series is getting better with each installment.

Mil's character seems like the firecracker that this story needs to go forward and I can't wait to see her brand of crazy and what she has to carry to the table. I expect a shake up!

It still holds a touch of the Eagle Elite Academy but this novel was more mafia based as it right the wrongs and established the future. Alliances have been formed and an illusion of peace is presented but it was an interesting journey to that point and the love triangle only made it that more interesting. There was unrequited love and secrets that span years. It's more YA mafia but it was interesting and captivating at times.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18210033-elect