Review: Bloodstone

Bloodstone by Nancy Holzner

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Better...oh so much better. I'm finally starting to connect with these characters! Alas! Miracles do happen! I understood Vicky better this time around. It was also nice seeing so much of Kane even if he spent most of that time in wolf form. His presence comforts me and makes Vicky more human. I also love Mab! She was such a strong presence even when she was dying! The action scenes still don't do much for me. Vicky almost always annoys me at those. I can't really put my finger on it but there's just something missing when she fights...Maybe, like her, I seem to think her wins are mostly just dumb luck. For someone who spent seven years training...she seems to flail around a lot. I'm pleased to say this one passed most of my criteria for a good book:

There's plenty action but it's mingled with sweet family moments.
The characters are more relatable and approachable.
The bad guys seem to become more and more evil and stronger.
The writing style is enjoyable


Anyway, overall it's a better book than the other two.



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Review: A Family Affair

A Family Affair by Karen Chance

My rating: 5 of 5 stars



Wonderful! Although I have to admit anything that has Pritkin gains a 5 star rating instantly! How awesome is he? He makes a deal with his father to hunt and kill a bad ass demon in turn of Rosier not trying to kill Cassie ever again. It works..sort of. While Prtikin is away fulfilling his part of the deal, Rosier is trying to kill Cassie one more time before the deal takes effect. Demons are tricky that way! I loved to read the last pages of this short...Cassie in Pritkin's arms was breathtaking!



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Review: Hellforged

Hellforged by Nancy Holzner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Better but still something missing...I still can't relate at all with the main character. I read about her feelings, about her life and her friends...but I can't care enough about her to actually feel anxious when something happens to her. Usually I really enter the main character's life but I simply cannot connect with Vicky. I read about her almost getting killed and I don't care. I understand it would be pretty bad since she's the main character but I'm not sorry either. The same with the other characters.
I was more upset when Daniel (who dated her for 3 months and kissed her breathless when she was leaving for Wales) traded her for a news reporter while she was gone than when she got stuck in the demon realm and was beaten almost to death.
That's how the main story fascinates me. And if you're thinking that the romance it's actually the best part of this book...sorry but you're wrong. It's what? Ten/Eleven pages max? Not much romantic either.

Overall it continues to disappoint me.



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Review: Deadtown

Deadtown by Nancy Holzner

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Overall I liked it but was not much impressed. The story didn't grip me, the main character is likable but not relatable and the romantic interests aren't much better. It felt somewhat incomplete for a first novel. I think it should have been more. More interesting, more action-packed and heart-stopping. Only one thing that this book had in spades...prejudice. Against the so-called monsters and even against norms (humans). The rest actually fades from my mind as I write and that's never a good sign. A good book stays with you for hours, even days sometimes. It's entertaining enough for me to continue this series with the books I already own but probably not good enough to keep me interested in waiting for the next book to come out.



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Review: Divine Misdemeanors

Divine Misdemeanors by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



Less action than the other books. No court business either. A lot of sex but not as much. Overall it seems much less intense.
It's still a good book but it didn't catch my attention like the others. It also felt kind of unfinished. The whole book was about the murders of lesser fey and in less than two paragraphs the killers were dead and everything solved.
Barithus's attitude was also unsettling. He seems to want more power and be in charge. He doesn't like Merry's choice about giving up the crown either. I'm guessing Merry will still see a lot more of this recent behavior in the next book. Mistral is kinda of a let down too.
Of all the babies fathers, Mistral seems to be the only one not actually worth keeping. I didn't liked him much before and the feeling keeps growing.
Sholto and Rhys seem to be getting higher on my list. Sholto was already king and although he is supposed to actually have more rights than the others because he's actually married to Merry he's nice and shares well. It's a nice surprise. I like him more and more. Also hope to read about him more often.
Rhys is wonderful. He doesn't crowd her much, shares well and you can see plainly that he loves her in all the small gestures. He's not bossy unless he absolutely has to and that's a nice change from Doyle and Frost.
Galen is growing up. I love seeing him come into himself. He's more powerful but doesn't let it get to his head. He's still overprotective of Merry but he's nice so it's actually sweet to watch.

Bottom line is I'll probably read the rest of this series if the author actually bothers finishing it. Considering that this book was published 3 years ago...it's likely she'll take many more years to present us with another Merry Gentry book.



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Review: Swallowing Darkness

Swallowing Darkness by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



The best book of this series so far. I haven't read the last one published but this one is very good. The ending is great, Frost came back, Merry's men are all alive and well and Cel is finally dead. Ash and Holly are not so bad after all. That was refreshing...I was kinda thinking they were going to be brutes but they ended up being sweet.
I didn't expect her to have to give up her crown to save Frost but I'm not surprised she did. It's good to have him back. I missed him.
War is brewing in Faerie. I can't say I'm excited. I'm more stressed than anything else.
I hope everything ends well but I'm not really sure I'll get my wish...Seems like this situation is too messy to end perfectly.



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Review: A Lick of Frost

A Lick of Frost by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Good points for the pregnancy. Very bad points for Frost's disappearance. I am not happy with that! And I am so sorry for Rhys. He tries so hard but seems so lonely. I pity him. I think that if he was a real person he would kick my ass for this but it's true. It's obvious Merry really loves Darkness. Frost seems to be second in her heart. Galen is her teenage crush and they love each other even if it's a different love but Rhys really did get the short straw on this. It's kinda awful because he knew her as a teenage and even asked for her hand to her father. Seems like Rhys and Galen were the only ones who saw her as woman instead of a princess or a way to the throne. In a way they loved her first but were relegated to a secondary role with the appearance of Darkness and Frost. Mistral being one of the fathers of her babies kinda shocks me. I don't dislike him exactly but I don't really like him either. Sholto, even if they were together only once, I understand. She needs strong men around her but also one's who are ultimately delicate. Galen and Sholto are good in that aspect. Rhys is always trying to make her laugh. Doyle, Frost and Mistral end up being the strong ones. They seem to balance each other out and that's good for her. I am however very afraid for the rest of her men. Let's hope all ends well.



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Review: Mistral's Kiss

Mistral's Kiss by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Well that escalated quickly. WTH was that with the Wild Hunt? Freaky! And the incident with Meredith's men in the dead garden? Way too intense for me.

Most importantly...Cel is free. Let the games begin. This should be fun. There certainly weren't enough attempts on Meredith's life. It was getting boring. NOT.

It's actually getting a little repetitive but she's back in LA with a lot of new guards. Let's see some change!



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Review: A Stroke of Midnight

A Stroke of Midnight by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



It gets freakier and freakier. It's probably a bad sign that I really like it, right? I didn't know I had it in me. Threesomes, love, pain, voyeurism, torture...I could say you have a little for everyone and it's partly true but I think one more sensible can't exactly stomach the creepiest parts. I know I have some hard time with it and I've grown accustomed.

The magic part of it all though...now that's overwhelming in it's beauty and power. It's my favourite parts of the books along moments with Darkness, Frost, Gale and Rhys. The others while lovely don't exactly meet my standards while they have been there from the beginning and are all so sweet and complex.

The Queen is still oh so creepy and oh so evil. I really dislike her. I understand her role in the books but it bothers me so much to have Merry at her beck and call. Sometimes I just wish Merry could kill her and be done with it.

Cel. What to say about him. Probably the most evil presence I felt in a book. He's been chained since the 1st or 2nd book but his presence is so noticeable. Every attempt on Merry's life comes from him. Makes one really wonder what will happen when he is actually released from those chains.





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Review: Seduced by Moonlight

Seduced by Moonlight by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Ok these books get weirder and weirder but I don't seem to be able to stop reading...I'm addicted! But it really does bother me all the trades of blood, sex and flesh the main character does. It's her main bargain coin, I understand, but it's kinda creepy. It does take a lot of courage to have sex, one of the most intimate acts shared, with creatures that she doesn't know and doesn't even like sometimes. I shudder to think about this but I think I would have died in her world a long time ago. I'm glad she manages it but also sad she has to.



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Review: A Caress of Twilight

A Caress of Twilight by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



This series is so weird and so cool at the same time. I'm laughing my a** off most of the time! It's so damn entertaining!

The sex scenes are...wow. Erotic and exciting. Then suddenly something weird and sometimes even upsetting happens. Looks almost like a damn roller coaster.

I could spend half an hour trying to explain it but one just has to read it to understand what I'm talking about.

Again I advise: this book is not recommended for people who can't stomach explicit sex. Blood also appears. Sometimes in sex, sometimes not.



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Review: A Kiss of Shadows

A Kiss of Shadows by Laurell K. Hamilton

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Way more sex that I'm used to. Literally! And weird. So damn weird. But entertaining. And the main story is good enough to maintain one's interest. I'm curious about what will happen next. The magic concept is unexpected. I like it a lot.

Not recommended for people who don't like explicit sex. There is a lot of it!



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Review: Grave Memory

Grave Memory by Kalayna Price

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Here I was all happy about the fact this series didn't had the now obnoxiously normal love triangle like other YA books...and surprise! Obnoxious love triangle! Thank you for proving me wrong!

I am so pissed with Falin, the Winter Queen and ultimately Alexis. Yes, I know Falin is only following orders from the Queen but I really hate him right now.

The Queen...well she's just cold and scheming so I don't expect much from her. Hell I just want her to go away!

Alexis is becoming an idiot! At first her inability to do anything about Falin and the Queen was understandable. She didn't know what to expect, she was caught off guard and she didn't even knew she was fae. But NOW? Wake the hell up! Do something! So much talk about not wanting to be a pawn to anyone and she lets herself be moved as one. I don't get it. It's so frustrating!

I don't even...

Uh.


After all the tragedy, the suffering and struggle Alexis and Death went trough to save each other and be together...Death and Alexis get separated again!


AND THEN.

Alexis gets home and Falin just moved in by the Queen's orders.

WOW

I spent the whole book with my heart in my hands. The only happy time for me was when Death and Alexis were together. I just love him. They are so amazing together!

Suddenly Falin is there and everything went to hell for me again. Thank you.



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Review: Necrophilia Variations

Necrophilia Variations by Supervert

My rating: 1 of 5 stars



I admit I only read one sample chapter but I just couldn't bring myself to read it all. I can stomach a lot of things but...Eww.

Excerpt 1:

- a pediatrician started telling a story that had happened to him during his residency. A teenaged boy had been brought to the emergency room after trying to castrate himself. "Unfortunately," laughed the pediatrician, "he didn't understand that castration is not, in the technical sense, amputation."

An oncologist held out a bone from a turkey leg and let it drop into some cranberry sauce. "Did you reattach it?"

The pediatrician grimaced. "I couldn't. The boy's mother didn't bring it along. She couldn't bring herself to pick it up."

"She could have used a Pooper Scooper," said the radiologist.

"Or a pecker picker-upper," a male nurse suggested.

"Better yet," said the oncologist, picking the turkey bone out of the cranberry sauce, "she could have used shlong tongs to put it in a cock sock." He rolled the turkey bone inside a cocktail napkin and held it up.


Excerpt 2:

I don't know how to say it exactly. After I had necrophilia for the first time? After I did necrophilia? After I engaged in necrophilia for the first time? After I became a necrophile? But is one time enough to transform a man into a necrophile per se? If I did it with another male just once in my life, I wouldn't be considered a homosexual -- would I? So why should I be considered a necrophile if I did it with just one you-know-what? Then again, you only have to kill one person to be considered a murderer. Maybe necrophilia is like that. It only takes once.

I don't know. But I do know that the next day everything was different. It was like losing your virginity all over again. I felt changed. If having sex for the first time makes you feel more like a man, what does having sex with a you-know-what make you feel like? More alive. You can't hold an inert thing in your arms without experiencing a rush of pure vitality through your own system. It heightens your awareness of who and what you are. You feel strong, alive, and grateful -- grateful to have this portion of life that is yours and will soon be gone, like the object of your affections. That's how I felt, really, though I know it's not what you'd expect. You have this caricature of the grave-robbing pervert, a creepy nerd who is either too weird or too shy to do it with "real" girls. But that's not what it was like at all. It was very moving and emotional. There were tenderness and sympathy, if not love. I felt sorry for her, and I felt like just maybe she'd be grateful to me for providing her with a little warmth at a time when the rest of humanity had abandoned her.



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Review: Grave Dance

Grave Dance by Kalayna Price

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Overall Story

The world building in this book was much more clearer. The character development was better and we got to see a lot more about fae and their world(in my honest opinion they are mostly crazy!)

Most of the previous problems disappeared or are barely noticeable.

The Good:

Her family. Like I mentioned earlier, the author attacked with gusto the previous problems and Alexis lineage is much talked about. There is still some mystery though.

Her friends. I just love her friends! How they always try to keep her safe even when they have absolutely no idea what is going on, which let's be honest, it's pretty much all the time.

Death and Falin. Alexis chemistry with them is amazing. Falin annoyed me at first because he's way too bossy for me but I ultimately liked him. I'm actually surprised by this fact!

The Bad:

The Winter Queen. I think I was pissed at her pretty much throughout the whole book. Not that she's worse than any other fae queen I've read about. She isn't. But...Ah. She really gets under my skin!

Falin's Deception. I was expecting something like this since I found out he was fae. Sorry Alexis but it's true. Your own damn fault for not demanding more answers! (It's in this column but I'm not much upset I admit).


The murder plot really got to me. It's disgusting but so very sad. An impossible love story really carried to the limit! Wow. It kinda puts a damper on her romance with Death





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Review: Grave Witch

Grave Witch by Kalayna Price

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Overall Story

I liked it. It's intriguing and the world building is average. There are a lot of details but not nearly enough explaining for me to actually view it as good. The author seems to only expand our knowledge of the world when she absolutely has to for the story to move. It's not a bad thing, per se, just more like an annoying trait. However the little that appears is very good indeed. Makes us want to sweep these little things under the rug and just move on.

The Good:

The main character. Alexis is a powerful and strong-willed grave witch. What does that mean? Means she's a witch with the power to raise the shades of people who died and talk to them. She's also way too stubborn and reckless when it comes to save her friends lives. Fortunately she seems to be careful with who she trusts so not every thing is lost! and she's also feykin. How cool is that?

Romance

Despite having two major love interests for our Alexis, in my opinion, this book does NOT have a love triangle. Which is such a good thing!
I don't really know what to make of them: Death and Falin. They both have good and bad things I guess but they are mostly unknowns yet.
Way too many secrets for my liking.

The Bad:

The story ends somewhat abruptly. Death and Falin are not much talked about and it's given the idea that Alexis is more powerful that she even suspects but no more is revealed. Her family, for instance, is a complete mystery. We spend half the book guessing motives and the characters past.






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Review: A Sliver of Shadow

A Sliver of Shadow by Allison Pang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I was so happy with this book that I didn't even paused to write a review when I finished it yesterday. I simply grabbed the 3rd book and continued reading into the wee hours of the night.

This review is after reading the whole third book in what? 8 hours? Maybe less. I was so anxious to read what happened next. This book is awesome in that field. It amazes me how there's no time to take a deep breath between action scenes. One gets completely immersed in the story, the passion, the shining beauty of pretty much everything but also the dark side, the daemons, death and duplicity. Its richness of details overrides reality and it feels like you're there witnessing everything.
It's somewhat breathtaking.

And then there's the little disappointments...Things the author disregarded or simply overlooked. Abby's constant cowardice, as she called it, was somewhat expected and boring. Ion never went very far from what was expected of him as an incubus. Who actually surprised me was Talivar but even him was predictable at times. Phin too obnoxious in most situations...I don't know.

After reading the 1st book, one expects to always see better in the 2nd doesn't it? The level of writing was the same. Just not much sparkle the 2nd time you see it, you know? The story however was much addicting! It is worthy of one's time!



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Review: A Trace of Moonlight

A Trace of Moonlight by Allison Pang

My rating: 3 of 5 stars



So...my first thought after reading this book is something like: What the hell? Seriously? That's the best ending you could come up with? Abby spent the last two books saying she loved them both and you have her pregnant with Ion but still hand-fasted to Talivar? Really? What kind of ending is that?

She chooses to be human and not make a life in Faerie therefore refusing to become Talivar's Queen. The Seelie Queen (who's batshit crazy in my modest opinion) says that's impossible to ever break her connection with Faerie because she's pregnant(too bad she just assumes it's Talivar's kid not Ion's!). Abby returns to the mortal plane apparently without even talking to her father and reopens the market. Talivar comes with her. Ion shows up in her Dreaming, tells her she's having a little girl and he's the father. And BOOM it ends.

I'm sorry Ms Pang but I do not care one bit for that ending. She still doesn't ultimately chooses one of them. Seems like she's still somehow having them both. A woman who never talks once about having children suddenly gets pregnant and no more explanations are in order? No talking about if there's a shift of power or not? If she really is staying human with her child while the father is immortal? What exactly is the child anyway? Has a protectorate been chosen? Is Abby still supposed to be the Protectorate's TouchStone considering she's still working at the Pit and opening the market for Moira? Nothing actually is explained dammit!

The Tree is growing. The Paths have been re-established. Talivar is the Unseelie King and Moira is being groomed to replace her mother as the Seelie Queen. Ok but there are so many questions yet to be answered!

I'm rambling I know but I'm so damned unhappy right now! I think there are even more questions now then when I read the first book honestly!



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Review: A Brush of Darkness

A Brush of Darkness by Allison Pang

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



I don't think I've ever seen such a damaged main character before. Emotionally crippled yes but also physically challenged? not so much. And before someone starts throwing tomatoes at me...I'm not saying it's a bad thing. Just something I'm not used to. I usually stay clear of those kind of stories. They always end badly and make me cry like a baby. Also her incapabilities don't seem much because she almost never lets herself be affected by them.
It's actually interesting seeing Abby fall in love with a man (I'm using the word man loosely) who looks so perfect at 1st glance but ends up being having as many problems as her. It's romantic but also somewhat tragic. Especially after finding out he lied and betrayed her. And then almost died to save her. Much like a sappy love story except for the end because they don't get to be together.
The rest of the story is pretty awesome. It's exciting and complex. It also portraits an uncommon approach to the myth of angels, demons and faeries. For instance there is no Armageddon. Almost every book with angels and demons tend to have it or some semblance of it. This doesn't. Angels seem to vary from good to bad without the whole fallen concept. Lucifer and God don't seem to appear or even be mentioned. And apparently a fairy getting involved with an angel and having a baby is not very important.
I took a while to get used to it but after the adjustment period was over...I just let it roll. It's new and interesting and that's all one wants right?
I am surprised however to see our main character pass for so much in a 1st instalment, emotionally and physically. The woman is betrayed by the one she loves, gets kidnapped and almost killed. You almost expect to find the couple finally coming together to live happily ever-after. If that's the kind of ending you're expecting...yeah not gonna happen. It doesn't end badly. They both live. Just not like a couple. I am anxious to get my hands on the second book! Let's see how well it plays out, shall we?

PS: Sorry for the brief review but I don't have my notes and I have to go to work. I know it's just a jumble of thoughts but it's morning and that's the best I can do half asleep!



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Review: Firecracker

Firecracker by Charles R. Verhey

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



So the first thing to say here is: I liked it. A lot. It may not look like it in the rest of this review but I am glad to have finally read this. I found myself reacting all the time to this book and that my friends is rare. And when I say this I mean it in a good way...not when we feel like grabbing the book and throw it out the window or something.

The Good:

I felt a real connection with Li and Cass (in my mind I'm always calling her Cassie, sorry!). Not that I'm either a _______ (whatever Li is) or a pyro like Cass but for some unfathomable reason I liked them both very much. Miyuki is also very interesting but hey she's 600 years old. I'd probably be interesting too in those circumstances.
What I really liked though was the action! It was just so exciting all the time. Loved it!

And Cass is so insecure. I felt sorry for her and couldn't help wonder if all her bubbly exterior was just for show. I don't know. I feel anxious to read more about her and Li. I also connected to Voss. There isn't much to begin with but his presence was somewhat more felt than those of Kevin and Dr. Sheridan for instance. Doc and Kevin appear more but there are so little details about them one simply can't feel them.

The Bad:

I thought this damn book was a stand alone! I grew suspicious by the last 50 or so pages but went along anyway. So yeah. It's not a stand alone and no, there is no next installment of yet. I hate it when it's like this...I need a warning people! So I can mull this over and prepare myself for the inevitable boring wait. So thanks!

I also understand the whole mystery about, well pretty much everything, but it still pissed me off constantly throughout the book. Hell I was feeling an idiot and I had way more information than Cass. BUT after hearing the whole story from Miyuki I do think it was a good idea. Point more than taken after Toby's betrayal and death.

The ending was somewhat upsetting. From the author's point of view it made perfect sense. It raps things up with a nice little bow but leaves enough unfinished stuff to make a second installment. I get it. But it truly is a pain in the a** for the readers.

And now I'm gonna go to my little corner berating myself for not checking if there was a second book before reading this one!



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Review: The Case of the Missing Blahnik

The Case of the Missing Blahnik by Christine DeMaio-Rice

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Not much into chick-lit but it was interesting. Very Sex and the City. Very short. Not much development just a little something between books. Characters seem funny and charming.



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Review: Blindsight

Blindsight by Kait Nolan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



Free short-story. Never read the other previous novellas. Really enjoyed the writing and storyline. Characters actions were realistic and the romance wasn't overdone. Nice female lead. Will probably give it a shot with the rest of the series.



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Review: Dream Chaser

Dream Chaser by Sherrilyn Kenyon

My rating: 4 of 5 stars



So...I liked it enough to give a 4 star rating and not regret reading it but not enough to actually try to read the rest of the series by this author.

I find Sherrilyn Kenyon an awesome writer. And if insta-love and early sex scenes didn't bother me so much I think I might actually enjoy her books a lot more.

Now you ask how I can know about her style of creating stories if this is my first book from her...true. What I can tell you is that my sister is a huge fan of Kerrilyn and has most of her series. I was warned about these characteristics but I'm not one to refuse a challenge so I decided to go forward, read one and be done with it. Enabling me to fully mature my previous idea of her.

Honestly is not so bad as I thought. I was thinking it was all about romance and sex in less than 100 pages. It was a welcome surprise to find it was more like 400 pages. But it still has that component of insta-love. I just can't ignore that. I am so incredibly tired of this! I would have given it a 5 star rating otherwise.

For those who do not have a problem with insta-love and sudden sex scenes, please do take the time to read this book and perhaps the rest of these series. They seem to be worthy of your time.



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