Saturday, March 31, 2018

[Update Post] Bookish Bingo: Spring 2018

My sign up post here!

These are the books that I read in the month of MAR that crossed some of the spots from the bingo:

That's it for now. Not any bingo yet, but I hope to have more than one for the next month.

Thursday, March 29, 2018

[Series Review] Hart's Boardwalk, by: Samantha Young

Hart's Boardwalk #1

THE ONE REAL THING

by: Samantha Young
Publication Date: September 6th, 2016
Read Date: March 24th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 382

 

Welcome to Hartwell, a quiet seaside escape where uncovering old secrets could lead one woman to discover the meaning of a love that lasts…

While Doctor Jessica Huntington engages with the inmates at the women’s correctional facility where she works, she’s always careful to avoid emotional attachments in her personal life. Loss and betrayal taught her that lesson long ago. But when she comes across a set of old love letters in the prison’s library and visits the picturesque town of Hartwell to deliver them to their intended recipient, she finds herself unable to resist the town’s charm—and her attraction to the sexy owner of a local bar proves equally hard to deny.

Since his divorce from his unfaithful ex-wife, Cooper Lawson has focused on what really matters: his family and the boardwalk pub they’ve owned for generations. But the first time Jessica steps into his bar, Cooper is beyond tempted to risk his heart on her. Yet as their attraction grows hotter and Jessica remains stubbornly closed off, he begins to realize it will take more than just passion to convince her there’s only one real thing in life worth fighting for….

Hart's Boardwalk #2

EVERY LITTLE THING

by: Samantha Young
Publication Date: March 7th, 2017
Read Date: March 26th, 2018
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Adult
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 352

 

Hartwell, Delaware—the perfect place to get away from it all, and find what you never knew you needed…

Bailey Hartwell has many reasons to feel content—her successful business, a close circle of friends, and her steady boyfriend…even if their romance feels staid after ten years without a serious commitment. The only challenge in her life comes in the form of sexy businessman Vaughn Tremaine. She thinks the ex-New Yorker acts superior and that he considers her a small-town nobody. But when Bailey’s blindsided by a betrayal, she’s shocked to discover Vaughn is actually a decent guy.

Vaughn admires Bailey’s free spirit, independence, and loyalty. As his passion for her has grown, his antagonism toward her has only worsened. Every little thing Bailey does seduces him. But when Vaughn’s painful emotional past makes him walk away in fear he will hurt her, it opens an old wound in Bailey, and she uncharacteristically retreats.

Once Vaughn begins to realize he’s made the biggest mistake of his life, he has no choice but to fight like he’s never fought before to convince Bailey that the love they’ve found together only comes around once in a lifetime.

overall rating


After sitting awhile thinking of what to read as a review for these books, I conclude that I am disappointed. I read the series On Dublin Street by this same author and it was so good that I had to continue reading more of her books. I was let down, but I think is my fault. I was looking to feel like when I read the other series. I was thinking that I was going to have the same feeling of... I don't even know what to call it. The thing is that it did not happen and that is why my review is kind of pointless, but I want to give my point.

Hart's Boardwalk is the setting, which is in Hartwell, Delaware. For the descriptions and all, the place is heaven. It has a legend of being a romantic place. A place in where you'll find your true love and be forever happy. So when Jessica arrives to Hartwell, her life literally does a 180 spin. She finds love, friendship, and a new happy life. A different case is for Bailey because she is Hartwell's sweetheart. She has been living there since forever, but still, her life did a 180 when she notices that her life isn't as happy as she thought it was. Cooper never thought to open a door for a stranger would lead him to fall in love again. Vaughn never thought to accept what he was feeling since he arrived to Hartwell and saw Bailey for the first time. These four people found friendship among themselves and a beautiful place to live happily ever after. Hartwell followed through with the legend.

Jess and Coop's story was slightly better than Bailey and Vaughn's, I have to say. I love the first two-quarters of the book, hated the third quarter of it, and accepted the last quarter of it all. I hated how some things came out of nowhere and where never brought up into the light again (in both books). I hated how other plots (of other characters) would develop, but there are not more books. I hated the whole speculation of the main characters about the secondary ones, but we never get real details. I hated how exactly the first book ended because let's be serious, that epilogue was NOT an epilogue. Everything felt forced at the end like done in a rush. I liked better the end for the second book, but it was so plain that I got mad.

I want to read more of these characters that were left on a cliff, but I'm not really sure if I would continue the series. I was let down (even if it was my fault) and I don't think that's enough encouragement for me to read more IF/WHEN there's more of it. This is my piece.

Thursday Tracks [84]

Ohhh! You know, and if you don't you'll know now, that I LOVE, love, LoVe music. Just as I live and breathe words, I live and breathe music. Those two things are just part of me as any other organ in my body. As you can see in my Music page, I hear music while reading! My Thursdays are dedicated to music thanks to this feature! Created to share what song, album, playlist, artist I got stuck in my head every week. 
Now, this week song is...

DADDY ISSUES

Artist: The Neighbourhood
Album: Wiped Out!


favorite part of the lyrics:  Take you like a drug, I taste you on my tongue.
song linked to: On Dublin Street series, by Samantha Young 

Hear me next Thursday!

Wednesday, March 28, 2018

Waiting on Wednesday [134]

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. This week's pre-publication "can't-wait-to-read" selection is:

BEFORE I LET YOU GO

by: Kelly Rimmer
Publication Date: April 1st, 2018
Genre: Fiction, Contemporary

 

Your sister needs you. But her child needs you more... 

As children, Lexie and Annie were incredibly close. Bonded by the death of their beloved father and their mother's swift remarriage, they weathered the storms of life together. When Lexie leaves home to follow her dream, Annie is forced to turn to her leather-bound journal as the only place she can confide her deepest secrets and fears...

As adults, sisters Lexie and Annie could not be more different. Lexie is a doctor, successful in her practice and happily engaged. Annie is addicted to heroin - a thief, a liar, and unable to remain clean despite the fact that she is pregnant. When Annie's newborn baby is in danger of being placed in foster care, Annie picks up the phone to beg her sister for help. Will Lexie agree to help and take in her young niece? And how will Annie survive, losing the only thing in her life worth living for?

Sunday, March 25, 2018

[Series Review] On Dublin Street, by: Samantha Young


ON DUBLIN STREET SERIES

by: Samantha Young
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult

overall rating


Once upon a time, I bought the first book of this series on a bargain sale, put it on my bookshelf and never looked at it again. Until recently, this series was always on the back burner. I was looking for something to read and get my mind away from other matters (aka reality) and I picked On Dublin Street. I have no regrets at all.

ON DUBLIN STREET

Publication Date: December 31st, 2012
Read Date: March 17th, 2018
Format: Paperback
Pages: 336

 

Jocelyn "Joss" Butler is a wonderful character. Full of secrets and treating everyone at arm's length. She doesn't want anyone to close to her, but when the Carmichael family digs in, there's no other way to run to. Joss needs to find a flatmate and Ellie was the perfect one. But Ellie has a brother that makes Joss' skin tingle, the good way. She really wants to stay away from him, but Braden Carmichael has other plans.

He wipes out an arrangement. Their chemistry is off charts, so why not take advantage of it? They become friends with benefits, but Braden's plans are to infiltrate himself more and more in Joss' life until she gives in. Joss wants to run, so bad, but Braden and Ellie are basically the best that has happened in her life, so the decision is tough.

Yes, the chemistry is off that charts. Yes, Joss was frustrating to read because I just wanted to knock some sense into her. Yes, I fell in love with Braden as fast as he did for Joss. Yes, sometimes Braden was stubborn too. Yes, I love all this book that I'm still trying to overcome the whole series hangover. Yes, I recommend you to read this first because you will not stop here, you will continue the series until you finish.

DOWN LONDON ROAD

Publication Date: May 7th, 2013
Read Date: March 17th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 384

 

I was so taken aback when I noticed that this book was about Johanna "Jo" Walker. She was such a secondary character in the first book, so I never thought she was going to be the main in this book. But I still loved it.

What everyone thinks of Jo is that she is a whore, slut or prostitute. She basically dates rich men to support her crumbling family. What they don't know is that she works her ass off for her family. Two jobs, back to back. She is practically raising her little brother, Cole. Her mother is an alcoholic and her father is a no-show since before Cole can remember. When fate decides to play in her life, Cameron "Cam" MacCabe swoops in out of nowhere. He moves to the flat under her and finds himself helping her in whatever she needs because he is truer to his feelings for her and she for him. Sounds familiar, right?

Jo is a fighter and I really loved that about her. She doesn't like to accept help from others because she wants to do it herself, but she knows when to ask for help. Cam is a giver. He might not be rich as all Jo's exes, but he gives anything he has to make Jo and Cole happy. It is a giver that I loved this book as much as the first one.

BEFORE JAMAICA LANE

Publication Date: January 7th, 2014
Read Date: March 18th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 432

 

Olivia was a character that appeared out of nowhere, but with good reasons. I don't want to spoiler much from the second book, but let's say that Jo has a lot to do with Olivia appearing in Scotland. Now, Nate was a secondary character in the book before this one. He is Cam's best friend. We see these two interact quite a lot in the book before, so it was kind of obvious that this one was about them.

Nate is a manwhore. Said by himself and his friends. He doesn't want to settle, he has suffered much before so he really doesn't need a relationship. Then Olivia came to Scotland. An American chick that knows all of Nate's quirks. Someone that Nate can geek with. Someone that Nate connects to a deeper level. Olivia is man-shy. She suffered her mom's sickness and death, and now she wants to live life but does not know how. Nate is there for her, step by step. These two connected so much that when Nate noticed that things were starting to be more than a friendship, he cut it off. The biggest mistake he could ever make. Now, he has to romance again Olivia. He got his head out of his ass and is ready to be everything that Olivia needs.

Nate was a character created after my own heart. I swear. I'm an Olivia and I need my Nate. I understood all the references and I geek with them. I also would love someone to love me as much as Nate loves Olivia. Getting our own head out of our ass to make happy someone that deserves it is hard. So I applaud Nate. And Olivia has the guts to give a second chance and that is also not easy. I really loved this book (something that you will keep hearing in every little review of every book in this series).

CASTLE HILL

Publication Date: December 3rd, 2013
Read Date: March 17th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 97 pages

 

This was a cute short story of our very first couple, Joss & Braden. This is short chapters of their life after their book. We can read about the wedding, the honeymoon and the first few weeks as a married couple.

There's a phrase that goes something like this: Love, marriage, then the baby carriage. So, getting pregnant after the wedding might not have been Joss' wonderful plan, but it happened so she has to put on her big girl panties on. I have to say that Braden's reaction was not my favorite one, but as much as Joss needs to grow up, so does he. But growing up together is way much better.

I was really glad at the end of this little short novella. You'll love it if you read the first book in this series.

FALL FROM INDIA PLACE

Publication Date: June 3rd, 2014
Read Date: March 28th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 352

 

Oh my! I cried. I cried with Hannah and Marco's story. I felt their pain at a deeper level and I was so damn happy to read their happy ending and how good everything was going in the next books.

If you read the books before this one, then you might know how everything started with these two. What you didn't know what the fallout. Once upon a time love found his way into India Place, but it was not the correct moment and everything went to shit. After years, Hannah and Marco didn't have a good end. Until fate came in and they run into each other and India Place comes to the surface again. Marco has to erase the horrible fallout and draw a new happy one for Hannah. But, can Hannah let go of that moment? Is seriously sad.

I have to admit that the plot twist of Marco's story could be seen from a mile away, but the plot twist in Hannah's story was not. I suffered for Hannah. Hiding a big secret as this one was something not easy. I applaud these two to man-up and made their own story and not letting the past get in the way. I also have to say that I love Cole in this book. I read about him like I never did in Jo's book. Is different to read about him from the POV of a sister than a best friend. Also, kudos to Marco. Becuase his American accent was as sexier as the Scotland ones from the other male main characters, which I seriously fell in love with.

It is weird to see characters grow up in a series and then reading about their own stories in their own books. Watching them in the background to surface as beautiful creatures. I loved this book and I knew for a fact that I was going to love the next one because it was Cole's.

ECHOES OF SCOTLAND STREET

Publication Date: October 7th, 2014
Read Date: March 18th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 331

 

Cole, Cole. He is the perfect good guy that actually looks like a bad boy. I was waiting for his story since he showed up in Jo's book. I knew that all that awful/wonderful childhood was going to shape a perfect man. BUT I am very mad that it was not in his POV. Seriously? I was looking up to read a POV from a man and you didn't give it to me? I was disappointed about that, but not about the story. Shannon was not like any other of the girls, but it was a fiery redhead and I identified myself with her.

Years ago, Shannon and Cole ran into each other. They forgot about each other until fate makes them face each other again. At this point, Shannon swore off from bad boys, which is what she thinks Cole is. A tattoed guy that has a look that might kill. She opens her mouth and judged Cole by his cover, but we knew better. Shannon did what Nate did in his book. She took her head out of her ass and confront the perfect of what Cole is. But of course, there were speed bumps in the way, but love is always the hero.

We are also introduced to the character of the next book. Logan, Shannon's brother, and first savior. I was thrilled to know his book was going to be a thing. I seriously was in love with Cole, but I wanted Logan.

VALENTINE

Publication Date: February 11th, 2015
Read Date: March 19th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 88

 

Six short stories of Valentine's day of all our favorite couples. There's so much sweet in this little book that chocolates were not needed. I appreciate that this book was made and if you read all these books then this one is a most.

MOONLIGHT ON NIGHTINGALE WAY

Publication Date: June 2nd, 2015
Read Date: March 21st, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 351

 

We needed this book... well, I needed this book. Logan is a fucking hero and I wanted his end to be happy. He saved Shannon, so he deserved a happiness as big as hers. He never thought that being released from prison was going to be better than when he got in. Fate had something very good for him stored. That's when his Grace comes in.

We all know about being the best neighbor's. We read Jo and Cam's story. But this story was on another level. These two didn't stand each other. He was living his life as fullest because he spent two years of his life in prison so he needed to catch up. Grace was trying to find peace, but her loud neighbor wouldn't let her. These two characters clash in not pretty ways. But when a fifteen-year-old girl appears out of nowhere in Logan's doorstep saying that is his daughter, Grace becomes the voice of reason and repairs everything that is broken. Grace's ways become everything that Logan needs, but he needs to figure that out alone.

I loved that Grace was a character that used her reason instead of her feelings and assumptions. I loved that if there was a problem, she would scrutinize it and then going to the direct source to confirm what is actually going on. I hated that Logan wouldn't think like her, but these two were perfect to each other, so the solution would always come. And with this book the series ended, it was so sad to see it go, but I was so happy with how everything came up to be.

ONE KING'S WAY

Publication Date: November 3rd, 2015
Read Date: March 22nd, 2018
Format: ebook
Pages: 158

 

If you read the first book, do you remember Craig? In the second book, we are told that he just quit and took off. We didn't get more info. Now, this novella is about him. What happened to him. What made him quit and took off.

Like Nate, Craig was a manwhore, but then he met Rain. Rain had a plan. Craig was not part of that plan and the guy was all over her because... voilá, he fell in love with her. There's more to this story and I don't want to spoiler.

I liked the story, but it was too short and out of nowhere. I needed to read this novella after the second book. I wanted a good epilogue. I wanted a glimpse into the future. Craig was a good mate. I wanted more of him.

STARS OVER CASTLE HILL

Publication Date: March 28th, 2017
Read Date: March 22th, 2018
Format: Kindle Edition
Pages: 139

 

If you are curious about this book. Right now I'm telling you that this book is not worth it. I didn't actually hate it, but I certainly did not love it. This book is a what if. What if so-and-so didn't happen? What if? What if?

Something I hate to think is about what-ifs, so this book was not for me. If you hate what ifs as I do, steer clear from this book. BUT if you really wanted to know the what if, then, by all means, read the book. The end is still happy, so that's why I didn't hate it. I'm just warning you.

OVERALL
I have to add in this portion that I did not read Ellie and Adam's book/novella because I felt like I didn't need it. I'm sure is super sweet and all, but from the background of the first book I could see their happy ending, so I didn't want to actually read it. Sorry.

I loved the series, okay? I really don't know what I should say. I really recommend it because the romance is really good, but the stories are way better.