Hey guys! Check out a few of my favorite opening lines…

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn Goodreads / Amazon
Aristotle & Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by  Benjamin Alire Sáenz Goodreads / Amazon
The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay Goodreads / Amazon
The Rook by Daniel O’Malley Goodreads / Amazon
The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater Goodreads / Amazon

There is so much awesome packed into Big Boy by Ruthie Knox that I’m not even sure where to start. A novella with less than 70 pages left me completely blown away by the characterization, setting and plot. This sucker might be short, but it is nothing if not excellent.

Plain, train, automobile…of all the different modes of transportation, which do you think is the sexiest? If you answered train: you are correct. (Your hint was the big ass train on the book cover.) Forget about the reality of trains for a minute and think about the idea of them. I think back to a time when woman wore smart little hats and men actually polished their shoes. The idea of trains is timeless, classy…and if you pick up Big Boy, really really sexy.

Mandy met a guy on an online dating service and ends up with a standing monthly date with a stranger – she doesn’t even know the guy’s real name! So, before you start thinking that this sounds totally sketchy, wait for the best part. The role-playing! And not in a creepy be-my-daddy-spank-my-leather kind of way. In a very cool vintagey throwback way with high-waisted pants, pocket squares and flapper fringe. Even smearing on coal dust for authenticity isn’t out of the question. You WISH your booty calls were this awesome.

Eventually though, all good things come to an end. Their fantasy world explodes when it intersects with real life – in come the secrets, kids and all the other things they can no longer hide from.

But what happens if Mandy isn’t ready to give up her stranger, even without the fantasy? I mean, Jesus. Who would give up a guy who wants to dress up like a newsboy from the 1950s to get it on in an old train car? (Be honest, now.)

I was so invested in the characters in Big Boy, you guys. I wanted so badly for them to be together – really together. Sometimes the writing really gripped at me.

I’m grateful—so grateful—that he doesn’t act as though we’ve never met. Which, it occurs to me, is setting the bar a little low.

Seriously. I love how nothing in this story makes any logical sense – but it all comes together so beautifully anyway. This is a seriously wonderful story, in a very Calgon-take-me-away kind of way where trains make booty calls classy and all you want is for two strangers to fall in love.

To Sum it Up:

• This wonderful, touching, complicated story is all wrapped into a small little novella, you guys. Short, cheap and WORTH IT.
• Trains, man. They can make anything seem classy and old-world. I absolutely adore how atmospheric Big Boy is.
• Sexiness aside, there is still a lot of substance to be found in the real lives of our characters.

Check out Big Boy by Ruthie Knox on Goodreads / Amazon (Seriously, the ebook is $2.10! If I haven’t convinced you this story is worth a couple bucks, I must not be very good at this…)

Other Reviews:
Angieville
Under the Covers Book Blog
Fiction Vixen
Harlequin Junkie
Delighted Reader

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I picked up Pivot Point by Kasie West. I’ve been a little lukewarm with most young adult paranormals lately. Even though I was intrigued by the synopsis, I wasn’t expecting this read to change my losing streak with the genre. Well y’all,  Pivot Point showed me! I ended up reading it in one sitting, dying to see how things would turn out.

I found the blend of genres fascinating. Paranormal, contemporary, mystery, suspense, romance…everything is weaved together masterfully. Seriously, I was impressed by the firm handle Kasie West had on the plot despite all the various components. When Pivot Point begins, Addison Coleman is living in a supernatural compound. Her ability allows her to take a choice/decision and see into the future at the results of both possible outcomes. How cool is that? I ended up really digging the paranormal abilities weaved into the story.

So, Addie’s parents hit her with the big D for divorce news and she chooses to move out of the compound with her dad into the land of us common folk. (Or does she?) The book skips back and forth between Addie’s life with her dad at a normal school and continued life in the supernatural compound. In one world, she falls for a really awesome non-douchebag named Trevor…in the other, she is pursued by a Class-A douche. As both lives continue to progress, some MAJOR CRAP goes down and she is forced into making a choice. She has to decide between how she really wants to live and what she really can’t live without.

You guys, I fell for Addie in a big way. I also have quite a soft spot for the non-douche (I guess I could actually use his name, huh? Trevor). BUT…believe it or not, this plot is not just an excuse for an incredibly convoluted love triangle (we all know the jerk is a jerk, so seriously don’t get turned off by the mention of two guys). There is actual mystery and suspense surrounding a murder back at the compound. Addie ends up pretty involved in trying to help her dad solve the case. By the time things started coming to a head in Pivot Point, I was seriously on the edge of my seat.

Basically, it all comes down to the fact that Kasie West is pretty awesome. She rocked everything: the plot, world building and characterization. The way the stories weave together is so well done…and it all keeps you guessing until the very end. This is one of those rare times when you won’t be figuring out the end before you get there. Seriously. Just enjoy anticipating the “WTF? AHHHHHHH!” moment you have coming to you.

To Sum it Up:

• I enjoyed Pivot Point SO much more than I expected…this is one heck of a story, and it is a lot more than it seems.
• Kasie West has some serious skills, you guys. She had total control over everything in this story, and some of the strings she tugged at shocked the heck outta me.
• I’m not always the best at continuing series, but you better believe I will be ALL OVER this one! (Despite a little bit of disappointment, because this could have been wrapped up just fine as a stand-alone.)

Check out Pivot Point by Kasie West on Goodreads / Amazon

Other Reviews:
Cuddlebuggery Book Blog
Squeaky Books
The Quiet Concert
Rachel Reads
Chick Loves Lit

When Riptide offered me a review copy of Never a Hero by Marie Sexton, I immediately said YES PLEASE. She previously wrote a series set in Colorado that I really enjoyed – they were some of the first gay romance books I ever picked up…so I was more than willing to check out her newest release. While this is the 5th in a series, it still stands alone just fine and I really enjoyed reading it.

Owen Meade has basically made himself into a shut-in. He was born with only one arm and his WORTHLESS CRAPPY I HATE HER SO MUCH mother has pretty much convinced him that he is worthless. Then he gets a hot neighbor, the lucky dog. Bonus? Nick is a vet! Hot? check. Loves animals? check. Has no problem with Owen’s situation? check. So yeah, basically the perfect man, right? Um, not so much. Mr. Nick has some big scary issues of his own that come out later in Never a Hero. Two words: Game Changer.

When they first meet, Owen is pretty shocked that Nick doesn’t even bat an eye over his missing arm – and then he finds out Nick’s sister was born with the same condition. When I first read that in the synopsis, I figured that it would come off really goofy in the actual story. Like…what are the odds, right? Well, after reading the book and meeting Nick’s awesome sister – I don’t care how big a coincidence it was! I loved it and how everything came together.

I really loved the characters in Never a Hero. They were – by far – where the book most excelled. In the beginning, Owen is pretty lost and alone. He really needed a Nick in his life to give him a different perspective on the way he was living existing. (He also needed a Nick in his life to force him to get a little fresh air.) I really enjoyed seeing Owen stop freaking out so much about his arm every 2 seconds and start taking some chances.

Another thing I really loved? Just when it started looking like Owen and Nick’s relationship was all about Owen leaning on Nick? ENTER IN THE INTENSITY. All of a sudden, Nick is the one that is lost and alone and Owen has to decide if he is willing – or even able – to step up and be who Nick needs him to be. I was really happy that the entire book wasn’t filled with Owen being needy and Nick being the strong one. Turning the tables was an excellent move on Marie Sexton’s part.

Sigh. Even though there are coincidences and angst and truth bombs galore, I absolutely loved both Owen and Nick and I wanted them to get their HEA. If you’re all about the character-driven romance? Oh yeah, Never a Hero is the book for you.

To Sum it Up:

• I loved these characters. I was hardcore rooting for Nick and Owen both!
• The plot is constantly throwing out twists and issues and angst and…you get the picture. But when it came down to it, I was willing to get through whatever I had to in order to make sure my boys got it together in the end.
• I am definitely a Marie Sexton fan, y’all. She has written some of the best books I’ve come across in the m/m genre.

Check out Never a Hero by Marie Sexton on Goodreads / Amazon / Riptide Publishing

Other Reviews:
My Fiction Nook
A Girl, Books & Other Things
Delighted Reader

So yeah…like I mentioned in the video, I already owned – or at least had read – the majority of these, but sometimes you just gotta buy a book ’cause it’s purty!

North & South by Elizabeth Gaskell Goodreads / Amazon
The Madness Underneath by Maureen Johnson Goodreads / Amazon
The 10 PM Question by Kate De Goldi Goodreads / Amazon
All I Ever Wanted by Kristan Higgins Goodreads / Amazon
Touch Not the Cat by Mary Stewart Goodreads / Amazon
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte Goodreads / Amazon
A Lost Lady by Willa Cather Goodreads / Amazon

I’ve been looking forward to You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle since first hearing of it. I really liked Jennifer Castle’s debut, The Beginning of After, and I knew she was an author to watch. Although I didn’t absolutely unreservedly love this book, I did really enjoy the characters and how easy it was to sympathize with their situation.

Basically, five kids were picked to be reality stars. When they were in KINDERGARTEN. Dude, can you say “too-young-to-sign-on-the-dotted-line” five times fast? Anyway, the deal was that they’d be making a new documentary movie every five years from that point forward. So, now they’re sixteen and it’s showtime once again. Justine, who was the unexpected star of the first couple of movies, is now pretty meh about filming the movie. She feels like she hasn’t done anything worthwhile and she is pretty worried that she’ll just end up being a huge disappointment.

To make things worse, the five “stars” have mostly drifted apart. Justine, Keira, Rory, Felix and Nate have all changed, and those changes aren’t leaving most of them exactly chomping at the bit to be on camera…so at least Justine isn’t alone in that. From parental abandonments to betrayals and misunderstandings, these kids have some major issues to work out. Too bad they’ll be doing it with a massive audience. Awkward.

The whole reality movie aspect of You Look Different in Real Life is what really drew me in – and I’m sure that’ll be the case for a lot of people. I mean, dude. We are all about the reality TV in this country. Even though Project Runway and Duck Dynasty are about as far as I go these days…it is pretty much pick a channel, any channel. Chances are you’ll come across a camera following somebody around. (OMG, I just got the best idea ever. Project Runway/Duck Dynasty mash-up! I would die.)

So anyway, it was not hard at all to imagine intrusive producers and annoying cameras following around a bunch of teenagers. Jennifer Castle definitely had a smart hook for this book! Getting invested in the characters was a lot easier when you were rooting for them to succeed so they wouldn’t  humiliate themselves on an international scale. It also, for me at least, made me think about how awful it would have been for me to have to dissect my life in front of America when I was a teenager. THE HORROR, YOU GUYS.

I really loved the themes that were explored throughout You Look Different in Real Life. The focus is mostly on Justine, since she is the narrator. She had issues with Rory to work out, there were some pretty ugly friend betrayal issues simmering between them, and hashing that out was NOT easy. I’m really glad – because Lord knows forgiveness isn’t one of the biggest virtues in the teenage arsenal. There was also jealousy (poor Felix wants to be a star!) and Keira went through a lot, learning things about the mom that had previously abandoned her.

And, of course, when you’re dealing with five hormonal teenagers, there is some love in the air! To be honest, I was mostly take it or leave it when it came to the romance. I felt it was one of the weaker parts of the book. Luckily though, the story was strong enough without it. All the other issues Jennifer Castle explored were better written and more original.

Of all the various parts that make up You Look Different in Real Life, the reality movie aspect was definitely what shined the most. I absolutely love how relevant it is in today’s society and how well it was portrayed and explored throughout the book. Well done, Jennifer Castle! With two strong books already under her belt, I’ll be looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next for sure.

To Sum it Up:

• Five teenagers starring in a reality documentary? Awesome plot ideas, FTW!
• The romance was a little weak, but all the other various plot points were explored a lot more successfully and the way everything comes together is pretty great.
• I am definitely a card carrying member of the Jennifer Castle fan club, y’all. She can rock some awesome characterization.

Check out You Look Different in Real Life by Jennifer Castle on Goodreads / Amazon

Other Reviews:
Chick Loves Lit
Midnight Book Girl
Mostly YA Lit
Proud Book Nerd

After reading and enjoying Samantha Young in the past, I’ve been looking forward to Down London Road for months. Well, I am here to tell you, several hours of crying, laughing and squealing like a lunatic later…it completely blew me away! This is definitely one of the better contemporary romances I have read lately.

Jo has a tough family life and hides behind some pretty strong walls so that no one can penetrate down to see how awful her life really is. She basically lives for her brother Cole. Until Cameron comes into the picture. First, he is just another hot toolbag that looks at her like she’s dirt. Then he accidentally gets a peek into an episode of Real Life: Johanna Walker and things start changing. For the sexier. (Like combusting just from a kiss on the forehead sexier.)

So basically, Down London Road is a companion novel to On Dublin Street (for the record, it stands alone just fine). As much as I loved On Dublin Street, it has been long enough since I read it that I really didn’t remember anything about Jo. So, I read the synopsis and about how she seeks out rich guys to date and  thought “ugh.” That’s right, you  guys. I WAS A JUDGEY MCJUDGERSON. So when I started the book and Cam acted the same way, I couldn’t even be mad at the schlub. I was, however, equally as ashamed. Jo is a freakin’ awesome character.

I LOVE THESE PEOPLE. All the characters, you guys. I especially love them together. From Jo and Cole interacting with Braden’s family to simpler one-on-one conversations: it was all fabulous. Basically, Samantha Young rocks the dialogue like crazy. There were plenty of hot looks and so on but the words alone were enough to amp up the sexual tension. I loved that. I’m sure there are other authors that are equally successful at bringing on the sexy via dialogue alone – I just can’t think of any of them right now because I’m still in my Down London Road happy place.

You guys know that clunky foreshadowing is my number one pet peeve, and there definitely is some of that in Down London Road. Sorta. At the beginning of many of the chapters, there would be declarations along the lines of “All that sexual tension finally came to a head” or “All those feelings finally caused me to explode on Sunday.” You know, basically announcing what was about to happen in case you felt like skipping that chapter (ha). Instead of being annoyed by those like I normally would have been, I found myself reacting like a trained seal. “Oh goodie, *claps hands* snacks!” So, instead of rolling my eyes, I got super excited to read on. Samantha Young is one crafty lady.

Seriously – Down London Road is a must-read. I really did laugh, cry and fist pump my way through this entire book. The characterization is phenomenal and I can’t wait for more.

To Sum it Up:

• MY EMOTIONS. I was beyond invested in this story you guys, I was like a dude watching football. (I didn’t actually scream FOUL! at anyone though, for which we can all be grateful.)
• The dialogue was brilliant. Samantha Young has some fierce writing chops.
• This is definitely going on my list of go-to recommendations for people interested in the contemp romance genre.

Check out Down London Road by Samantha Young on Goodreads / Amazon

Other Reviews:
Smexy Books
Dear Author
Under the Covers Book Blog
Book Pushers
Book Binge

Today’s prompt at The Broke & the Bookish is the books you pick up when you need something light and fun. I have a TON of go-to comfort reading books, you guys. I re-read fairly often based on my mood. There isn’t a book on this list I haven’t read more than once (and the majority of them a lot more than that).

Also, once I finished this list and looked it over, I made an agreement with myself not to worry too much about how many of these books that I consider “light and fun” involve murder to some degree. I AM COMPLETELY NORMAL AND SANE.

1. The Bride Quartet by Nora Roberts. (How gorgeous are those covers?) These days, this series is probably the first thing I turn to when I need a pick-me-up. The books feature four best friends that run their own wedding business. Their deeply rooted camaraderie never fails to hit me in the feels – I absolutely love the way they’ve formed their own family. I absolutely adore all the men they fall in love with along the way as well. Sigh. I wonder if I have time for a re-read right now…

2. Anything by Jennifer Crusie. She is one of my comfort read picks from way back. Bet Me is one of my absolute favorite reads of all time, but the majority of her books are fabulous. Her characters are all quirky and bizarre and – most importantly – hilarious. Seriously, she’ll have you laughing before you know it. I get so invested in her characters that I can get a little emotional too, but that doesn’t stop these books from being super fun to read.

3. Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake by Sarah MacLean.  I love historical romance, and this is probably my favorite book in the genre. A spinster decides to take her life into her own hands and ends up tangling herself up with a renowned rake. (ha, tangled up. I crack myself up.) From smoking to fencing  to dueling – these characters make this book anything but boring!

4. The Blair Mallory duology by Linda Howard. HA. I laugh just thinking about these characters. They’re so funny that the books are a little on the silly side even though there are actual murders going on around them. If you like contemporary romantic suspense – seriously. Youhavegottoreadtheseimmediately. Blair Mallory is the smartest dumb blonde you will EVER meet.

5. Crocodile on the Sandbank by Elizabeth Peters. I am a sucker for strong female protagonists in historical fiction, you guys. Amelia Peabody leads  the bunch – I will never ever be able to get enough of this woman. And I know I’ve mentioned this several times on the blog, but what’s one more? If you like the Parasol Protectorate series, you should be arrested if you haven’t given this series a try as well. Amelia is both equally charming and equally deadly with a parasol!

6. Old School Nora Roberts trilogies. By “old school,” I mean the trilogies she wrote in the 90s and early 2000s. The Three Sisters Island and Irish Gallaghers trilogies are the two I’ve reread the most, but they’re all pretty good.

7. Slightly Scandalous by  Mary Balogh. I’ve mentioned this awesome historical romance series, the Bedwyn saga, several times. This is the third of the series, but it stands alone just fine.  It is definitely one of my two favorites out of all of them, and the other one takes place during a war, and even my twisted brain knows that isn’t “fun.” This is a take on the “fake engagement leads to love” trope – and it is done brilliantly.

8. Anne of Green Gables series by L.M. Montgomery. Talk about a comfort read from way back – Anne is my first book love, and she and Gilbert will always be the characters I turn to when I need to get lost in another time and place. It absolutely doesn’t get any better than this series.

9. The Wallflower Quartet by Lisa Kleypas. This series is so great – it shows four women who are having no luck on the marriage market banding together to find each other husbands. Watching them fall in love one by one is super fun and charming. From rakes to…well, more rakes.

10. Daddy Long Legs by Jean Webster. This has to be the sweetest book on the planet. Whether you’re 12 or 112, you should be able to fall head over heels for this one. (Plus, you can read it for free!)