In Deeper by Kella McKinnon

So it's safe to say that Criss is certifiable and needs to be admitted. The man is crazy. To be honest, Brie is a little crazy too. She just doesn't acknowledge it yet.

The phrase of this novel is: "How many sins can love forgive?" and I feel like this book answered that question and then some. As it relates to the story line, it was a few of what I expected with some of it's own twists. It was cliche riddled and ridiculous in it's representation of the Honduras cartel but it was also quite entertaining to see them reason through all the chaos Criss single-handedly caused. Especially towards the end.

This time, we had purpose and a solid reason to end the past and embrace the future but I can't help but to highlight the fact that the journey was extremely far-fetched and unrealistic. Occasionally, it crossed the line into impossible and ridiculous.

There is gun slinging pregnant women in labour and even more hot and cold from the one and only Cristos Vicario. I actually found myself reenacting the, 'Waking up in Vegas' music video from Katy Perry, a few times. Yes, it had really cheesy moments.

On the plus side, I got to know Cristos this go and found that he shares the same spot as Brielle in my eyes. Just with a touch of crazy! I connected with him more and it was interesting, to say the least, to be in his loony bin of thoughts. The fact that he was MacGyver/Jason Bourne in one didn't go unnoticed either. After all, it was the epitome of all the unrealistic and ridiculously fictional scenes. I actually wished we focused more on the billionaire aspect, because his profile didn't fit with any crime related activities and both of their needs to justify his criminal ways only made them seem naive.

Brielle kept her wit and humour that I came to love from the previous novel and though it didn't last long, she got a backbone for a good two weeks at least. A lot was laid open in this installment but I was over the old and more interested in the present. Funny how these series work sometimes :)

There was a whole lot of drama, action and activities to keep you in the present without needing the escape of the past.

The level of direct conversation remained the same, but this time they were filled with some substance, as we got to know more about Criss, at the expense of Brie's side of the family. We finally met what's remaining of the Dalton's but one was silent and the other did not meet me expectations.

The insightful and relative quotes at the beginning of each chapter served to ease my tension or make me a little apprehensive based on the subject and once again, I went highlighter crazy!

I was more committed and interested in this novel than the previous, as I got comfortable with Criss's crazy and Brie's lack of self control, preservation or esteem when it came to Criss. It became raw and uninhibited. If you remove all the money being tossed around and the wild wild west gun slinging, it was the remnants of an every day relationship, where no matter how bad it gets, you kept going back for more.

I am sad to see Criss go but I can say that I enjoyed this installment more than the last and I hope we can at least get an update novella in the upcoming future. Even Evan's story perhaps? Who knows :)

P.S. Chapter 15 is where all the magic happens! :)

- Buy 'In Deeper' by Kella McKinnon on Amazon today!

Scare Crow By Julie Hockley

You know what pisses me off? When I spend an entire novel, waiting for those good moments, only to have them when my kindle reads 96%, leaving the ending as my beginning. You know what hurts even more? When I have to admit that it made the story line and progression a tad brilliant and original and fueled my anticipation for a follow up.

I don't know what to do with myself now because I spent a year waiting on the release of this novel, only to have the first 90% filled with things I could care less about. I have never read a novel where the main characters managed to stay apart throughout the entirety of the novel, only to make the biggest ripples in the world of organized crime and when they finally do come together, you ask me to wait another year for the fireworks.

You know what I love though? When I feel like my opinions were heard and taken into consideration; even if they weren't. After reading this novel and my review of 'Crow's Row' (http://litjungle.blogspot.com/2013/07/crows-row-by-julie-hockley.html), I felt like Mrs. Hockley, read my review and gave me everything I requested. There was dual POV, former love interest, a clearer understanding of Spider and Carly; more depth, interest and realistic adaptations of the underworld and even Cam seemed more like the leader of all things deemed organized crime. It was perfectly imperfect and I have no idea how she gave me everything I asked for but still kept me longing.

I know which Cameron I like and I hope he's here to stay. He was confident, grounded, cocky, ruthless, calculating and everything I would come to expect of his role. He was the perfect criminal and I love that we got to know him better, which in turn, helped us to decipher the puzzles that are Spider and Carly.

Emmy. Sighz. I don't know what to do with this chick! One minute I am rooting and campaigning for her and the next all I can see is the naive saint, trying to save everyone and slowly killing herself in the process. She however, had her moments and I loved her business acumen. She was her father's child when she needed to broker a deal.

There continued to be ridiculously fake situations and solutions but it's a work of fiction and I have decided to give it some slack. It bothers me but I can live with it.

The characters of  Emily and Cameron were strengthened, especially as individuals. I can imagine that the next book will be filled with tons of upset but I am anticipating the logic for solving all these problems. I wanna see their work as a team.

While you read this novel, you will be annoyed and questioning the relevance of all the business talk. It literally took me finishing this novel and then analyzing it as a whole to understand and appreciate the creative concepts. Some of you might never even agree. There is no sex and romantic fallacies. There is hardcore scheming and puzzle solving, as everyone finds their footing and places, behind the line in the sand.

While I have high hopes for the upcoming the novel, I wouldn't be surprised if many didn't agree or like this one, especially with the wait. It's one of those novels that your either gonna like or dislike. I liked it after I sat with it for a while and though it has it's faults; prospective ends, answered questions and seeing all I wanted from book 1, made me overlook these faults in hope of a superb ending.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/21898444-scare-crow

Tug By K.J. Bel

Disclaimer: I'm normally more thorough in my research when I want to begin reading a new novel but for some reason I added this novel to my TBR list without checking to see if this was a new standalone or a spin off. Turns out, it's a spin off and I didn't find this out until I read and finished my draft for this review. So it's safe to say that this is my introduction to Tug, Tori and Brady. While I now know that they have a past, that was given in details, I still can't change my review because below is my true thoughts from what I read without this new knowledge.

There is a range of emotions involved in reading 'Tug', from hate to indifference and just plain 'ol frustration. There is too many crazy, unbalanced people in this story and the story line contain more drama than a script of the 'Real Housewives of Atlanta'. Yes, Tug is a douche but I never expected to leave this novel unsure of Maria and tired of the drama with the other characters.

Brady is a little too convenient for my liking, as he lives life on the line of right and wrong and seems to always come out the good guy, while Tug can't seem to get anything right and always end up losing and sacrificing the most in the end. It's all a continuous cycle with Tori in the middle and she being crazy doesn't excuse her. As for Liv and Harrison, Liv is an idiot and Harrison is a pig.

Maria threads the line of naive and eventually untrustworthy, to the point where I just decide to give up on them all. They are confused, which in turn makes you unable to build solid relationships with the characters while keeping a certain level of empathy. I especially hate the fact that I read an entire novel just to have an avoidable upset at the end that makes me question everything I spent my time reading. Also, not that I excuse his behavior but Maria is sort of a bitch with that final decision. An ungrateful one at that. Though it's not clear, it doesn't look good either.

Tug's character is possibly bi-polar but neither him nor the author knows it yet. It's either that or he's just a douche. I'll like to think it's an illness. You will hate him and eventually tolerate him but I never loved him.

I think this story keeps itself interesting occasionally, more so than not, but there is so much drama towards the end that I am pissed I even bother. I'd prefer to just read book 2 and get the updates and solutions.

I believe that all the characters in this novel are doom to be miserable and never fully able to live in the light because there is too many dark and gray areas. While I don't know anything about the US/Mexico border, I doubt it is used as frequently as they do without raising suspicion and this crew uses it like a bus route.

The sex in this novel isn't inspirational but then the focus was on the unrequited love, new love and new relationships being built. It's surely not your usual romance and there is no HEA. These friends also don't mind stepping on you to get to your man if it's convenient.

Their back story is strange, common and different all in one. There are no loving parents and while they all have mommy issues, they don't rely heavily on it. If not for their sporadic reminders of their mom and dad crimes, I'd forget that they had a Lifetime movie upbringing.

There is a certain level of confusion for me in reading this novel and it might show in my review, because even though I understand the story, had no problem with the progression and was entertained for the most part, I felt like the ending killed it all for me and made me want to go over the novel to see what the reader's hustle might be.

Even with a few glitches, it's a good read but you have to be willing to put your emotions aside to garner anything from it. I was unable to do that so I feel duped like I read all that for nothing. Honestly, I didn't see nor understand the change in the wind that lined us up for a book 2 but I guess we are trying to get as close to reality as possible and splitting novels seem to be all the rage these days.

Also, after finding out that this triangle stretched across two other books, I'd like to think that the author might have gotten a little more creative in her efforts to tee us up for a book 2.

- https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22594706-tug