#BookReview Tempting Faith by Susan Mallery

 

This novel by Susan Mallery seems to be a hidden treasure! Most of Susan Mallery’s books have thousands of reviews on them, and this one has barely been touched on most platforms!

Tempting Faith is an absolutely adorable story about Faith and Cort. Faith runs a sanctuary for large cats (which is the BEST job I’ve ever heard in any book I’ve ever read) and Cort is an ex-agent who has memory loss about his last mission. These two fall for each other over the length of the novel, all the while Cort is protecting Faith and her sanctuary from some evil men who want her super cute, white tiger cubs.

This book is super sweet and hits all of my musts for romances. Sexy characters, awesome side characters (who doesn’t want a giant cat as their house cat?) and a demanding plot. Sure, Faith and Cort had some moments where they complained a fair bit about how their lives weren’t fair, but they were still fun characters! I think they were meant for each other, in some strange way. I did think some decisions were changed rather rapidly, and without explanation, but I liked how it all turned out.

I think this book is more of a binge-worthy book. It’s fast paced and relatively short. I’d definitely recommend this book if you like romance or a unique spin on the genre! I haven’t read many books regarding big cats and taking care of them, so I really liked that aspect of it! That being said, it’s not very complex so if you want a big, demanding plot full of mystery and expansive plots then this book won’t be for you!

Overall, I loved this book! I want to read more by Susan Mallery and I’m glad I found this book first. It’s a hidden gem that most readers don’t seem to realize exists!

Five out of five stars!

 

Find this book on Goodreads.

Purchase this book on: Amazon.com or Amazon.ca.

Find out more about this author on the Goodreads Author Page for Susan Mallery. Or on her website, http://www.susanmallery.com/ , or on Twitter @SusanMallery.

 

If you read this review, give me a shout out on Twitter! @ReviewAlholic

And if you liked this review, check out another you might enjoy! #BookReview Saving the CEO by Jenny Holiday

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#BookReview The Gaucho’s Lady by Genevieve Turner

 

The Guacho’s Lady was the cutest, sweetest, most adorable historical romance I’ve read this year!

I won’t lie, when I first started this book I was a little wary. Historical romances have been hit or miss for me, but somehow Genevieve Turner craved a beautifully written tale that really had me hooked. Seriously, I couldn’t put the book down. I had to for about twenty minutes to drive home and it was absolute torture! I managed to find time to binge the rest of this super cute book so I didn’t have to wait to know how my new fave characters ended up.

So, onto the good part!

This is a historical romance following Eliana and Juan. Juan is a Gaucho, who Eliana enlists to help “kidnap” her and whisk her away from a potentially horrible marriage. As she runs away from her Father and this wicked husband-to-be, the pair begin to grow on each other. Juan has his own difficult past, with a deceased wife and child that are haunting his thoughts. The pure, innocent Eliana has her eyes open to a new world with Juan! And, of course, there’s a little bit of an adventure along the way!

I would highly recommend this book if you love romance books that aren’t just purely romance (but are mostly romance). The world building and little side adventures that happen along the way were a nice touch! Juan and Eliana’s romantic story is a little typical (fearless hero with a tragic back story and a pure, innocent lady who needs to be shown the world) but it worked so well! Seeing both characters change and grow within the story made that trope turn into a fabulous plot point instead of a ‘con’.

Another nice point about this book is that it talks about Argentina. I don’t know about other readers, but that’s not a setting I read about very often! While it’s a small little thing to notice about a book, I like it when books open up new worlds and introduce us to other cultures. I don’t know if the book is wildly accurate, but it may open some readers up to learning more!

To sum of some of the ‘touchy’ points for some readers, here’s an attempted spoiler free list:
1. Marriage of convenience
2. Death of wife/unborn child (don’t worry, it’s not graphic or described – it’s just in passing, but it’s still sad)
3. Super, sheltered, innocent virgin

To me, those points weren’t necessarily a bad part – but I’ve seen many readers out there who despise those tropes. So, if you’re one of those readers, you’ve been warned!

If I had to list the best parts of this book, it would be as followed:
1. A man who knows consent! OMG Juan cares about his lady and wants to only have sexy time when they both want it AND wants to consider her feelings. Do you know how nice that is to see in literature?! 10 stars for that alone!
2. Headstrong, ‘feminist’ woman. She knows what she wants and doesn’t necessarily want to be submissive. I like that she had her own mind and was willing to learn, change and adapt.

My two cons are as followed:
1. The word “mound”. Yes, an entire word is one of my two cons. That’s my version of “moist”. Is it a con for the story? No. But I just don’t like the sound of it. What can I say? I’m picky.
2. Juan teaching Eliana the ways of ‘sexy time’ was a little cheesey. I understand why it happened and it was cute and silly, but I found it to be just past the amount of cheese I wanted. It also didn’t take away from the story, but for me…well, I don’t know what would have been better.

My overall opinion on this book is that it’s amazing! It was fun, cute and absolutely lovely! I love a good romance story that whisks me away to another world and has a lovely, fulfilled ending. If I get the chance, I absolutely am picking up more stories by Genevieve Turner.

I 100% recommend this book to those who love romance, historical romances, light-hearted and fun stories (even though there is some “darker” content suggested), and who want a bingable story.

Five out of five stars!!

I do owe a GIANT thank you to the author Emma Barry who recommended this book to me and gave me the opportunity to read it. Without her, I wouldn’t have realized how amazing this book was!

 

Check out this book on:

Goodreads

Amazon.com

Amazon.ca

Kobo

Barnes & Nobles

Coles/Indigo/Chapters

 

Check out the author, Genevieve Turner, on:

Goodreads – Author Page

Twitter – @GenTurner5

 

Leave me a comment below, give me a shout out on Twitter – @reviewalholic or tell me on Facebook – Briar’s Reviews to let me know if you read this review and what I should read next!

#BookReview Three Months to Forever by Hudson Lin

 

I have instantly found a new author to binge read! Hudson Lin has created one fantastic novel that has blown my mind!

Three Months to Forever is a short yet sweet novel about two impressive men falling in love in in Hong Kong. Add in the fact that Canada is also a big part of this book, and you have me instantly hooked! Hudson Lin really did these communities justice with this book, since it is beautifully crafted and respects the cultures.

If I had to compare it, I’d say it was a beautiful Romeo and Juliet -esque story with a splash of Fifty Shades of Grey (but way better, of course). It is R rated though, due to the incredibly sexy scenes Hudson depicts throughout the book. I did find the dominance aspect of the book to be a little repetitive (since it seems to be in every book these days), but that didn’t make me want to put the book down.

One major part of this book was the relationship between Sai and his parents. I think the book managed to pull this relationship off and explain the subtleties in an understanding tone. I felt like I understood how Sai felt, even if I hadn’t experienced a similar relationship before. I also really liked that there was some ethical issues being discussed. Bringing light to some of the darker sides of business within a romance novel was a nice change within this genre!

It’s a fast paced book and follows a very typical narrative, but it still felt so different and real. It’s rare to find a good book that opens itself up to so many different communities AND that’s a good read. I’d highly recommend it, especially if you love romance! It’s high tier reading, and it’s not too long so you can easily binge it.

This book is worth every single penny! I want more by Hudson Lin ASAP and I want more readers to be picking up this author’s book! What a gem! This book deserves all of the stars!

Five out of five stars!

I received a free copy of this book from the author Hudson Lin in exchange for an honest review.

 

Find out more about this book and Hudson Lin on:

Goodreads – Three Months to Forever

http://www.hudsonlin.com/

Twitter – @hudsonlinwrites

Amazon.com – Three Months to Forever

Amazon.ca – Three Months to Forever

 

Are you going to read this book? Do you have another suggestion for a book you want to be featured on this blog? Give me a shout out on Twitter! @ReviewAlholic

#BookReview Once Upon an Ever After by Angela N. Blount

This memoir about Angeli and her long distance Southern boyfriend Vincent is an amazing read. I wasn’t sure about how much sense it would make to me, considering that this is a side novel to the original Once Upon a Road Trip (that I hadn’t read). Surprisingly, this novel was easy to follow and I didn’t need to read the first book (but I would really like to now!).

Kooky best friends, sneaking out to stay together and relationship woes are all featured in this book, and portray what a real relationship looks like: not perfection. This memoir made me fall in love with this love story, and felt very real and not fake (like some fiction novels make love and relationships out to be).

I would love to hear more about Anjeli and Vincent! The story telling is wonderful and doesn’t make you question what’s going on. It seemed very real and not forced. It was a believable story.

If anything, the author could have included more “action”, or situations the characters went through. I felt cheated for more interaction between Vincent, Anjeli and her family and friends. The story seemed a bit to short for me, but still great (since this isn’t the main novel about Vincent and Anjeli, and more of a set of side stories).

I did like this novel! But I wanted a bit more out of it. Overall, it was a good read I would recommend to others!

Four out of five stars!

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

Also I loved that my copy was signed! I love signed copies!

 

What book has made you swoon lately? Comment below!
Check out another review you might enjoy: #BookReview – Apocalypse the Memoir by CS Oliver

Give me a shoutout on twitter using the hashtags #BriarsReviews #OnceUponAnEverAfter  @ReviewAlholic

#BookReview Light My Fire by Katie MacAlister

 

Aisling Grey is by far my favourite of all of the women in this dragon universe by Katie MacAlister! She is cute, sassy and the perfect female lead for this comedic, fantastical romance!

Drake and Aisling are definitely the “perfect” pair, at least in my eyes. Their relationship is definitely not “normal” by any means, but they work well together! As characters, they have the perfect mix of getting along, sexiness, and generalized drama and sassiness. I honestly couldn’t see this pair with anybody else! However Katie made this pair, she did really well!

Aisling is becoming a Guardian, while her lover is a dragon. They have since “mated”, so the story builds and gets more interesting from here. This is the second last book in the series for now, but I do hope we get more! Since I’ve read most of the dragon books, I can say she appears in future books but she isn’t the lead.

The comedy in this book is spot on and amps it up from the last book. It definitely keeps the plot moving forward with lots of funny quirks, mixed in with the sexy Drake, super cute romance scenes and drama thrown in throughout. While the story does leave off in a place that feels like it doesn’t need to be continued, I wish it would! These characters bond way too well together for this to be the absolute end. Maybe, if we’re lucky, Katie will one day continue this series. So, cross your fingers!

I would definitely recommend this book to readers who love romance with a lot of comedy in it. The book doesn’t take itself too seriously, with an abundance of jokes (and a lot of Jim, the main source of comedy, present again) throughout the book. The book has many fantasy elements (obviously – dragons), but isn’t a purely dramatized novel. It’s very fun, is borderline PG-13, and has ooey, gooey romance that makes you squirm and giggle along the way.

Overall, I love this book! I’ve read it way too many times to count and I’ll keep reading it! It’s one of those books I like to read when I’m having a bad day because it’s just so much fun! Katie MacAlister is the QUEEN of dragon books!

Five out of five stars!

 

 

Check out this book on:

Goodreads

Amazon.com – Light My Fire

Amazon.ca – Light My Fire

 

Check out the entire Aisling Grey series (which is apart of the Dragon Sept series): on Goodreads.

Or find out more about Katie MacAlister, one of my fave authors, on:

Goodreads – Katie MacAlister

http://www.katiemacalister.com/

Twitter – @katiemacalister

 

If you enjoyed this review, check out more of my reviews of Katie MacAlister books:

#BookReview Men in Kilts by Katie MacAlister

#BookReview In The Company of Vampires by Katie MacAlister

#BookReview You Slay Me by Katie MacAlister

Comment below – what is your favourite type of fantasy books?

And if you enjoyed this review, check out my twitter for urgent updates! @ReviewAlholic

 

 

 

#BookReview Dare to Dream by Hudson Lin from the Rogue Nights Anthology Collection

Due to time constraints, I was only able to read Hudson Lin’s story. But, if the rest of these stories are half as good as Dare to Dream by Hudson Lin, then this anthology is absolutely fantastic!

This story follows Diego and Derek, two laws students, and their growing bond. Diego is a DACA recipient who learns the importance of standing up for what you believe in. Not only is there some super sexy scenes between Diego and Derek (because, we all know how magical Hudson Lin is with her romance/sexy writing abilities) but there is a lot of character growth within this short story.

I would definitely recommend this anthology series – I’ve read many of the previous ones. The political themes that are mixed in with romance (and sometimes erotica) make this a unique set of stories that don’t fit the typical romance mold. Not all stories will work for all readers, but you are guaranteed to have at least one story you love or can relate to.

My biggest problem was that this story was way too short! I want more from each of these stories!

Five out of five stars!

I received an advanced reader’s copy because I am apart of Hudson Lin’s ARC review team!

 

If you are interested in this book, you can locate it on:

Goodreads

Amazon.ca

Amazon.com

Kobo

Barnes & Nobles

Chapters/Indigo/Coles

 

Check out my other review of the Rogue anthology series:

#BookReview Rogue Hearts (Anthology) by Tamsen Parker, Amy Jo Cousins, and more

#BookReview Rogue Affair by Adriana Anders, Tamsen Parker and more!

#BookReview Rogue Desires by Tamsen Parker, Adriana Anders, Amy Jo Cousins and more!

 

Give me a shout out on Twitter and Facebook!

#BookReview Something Like Love by Sara Richardson

 

Time for a quick book review of a super, fantastic book that I am totally obsessed with!!!

 

Something Like Love was an excellent romance/drama novel!

I loved this book! Lately I have been craving a good romance novel, and this filled the void! Sara Richardson did an excellent job writing this book!

I very rarely found it boring. I can’t remember a time reading it where I felt the need to put it down. While it didn’t have me hooked at every single word, I craved to continue the story and know what was going to happen to Paige and Ben.

The novel moves smoothly and doesn’t have any chapters that seem out of place. All of the situations seem realistic and not like a cheesy soap opera. It was a good quality romance novel! I became super attached to Paige and Ben, and I already have multiple copies of other books by Sara Richardson physically on my to-be-read shelf at home for a rainy day! I can’t wait to pick up more, and I highly suggest this author and her books!

Her books aren’t rated R by any means-  they are super sweet and contemporary (with a hint of sexy cowboy). I’d highly recommend this book! It’s an absolute must read from this reviewer!

Overall, I loved it! I want to read the first novel in this series and continue on with the rest of the books.

Five out of five stars!

I received this book for free through Goodreads First Reads.

 

Check out this book on:

Goodreads – Something Like Love

Amazon.com – Something Like Love

Amazon.ca – Something Like Love

Check out Sara Richardson on:

Goodreads – Sara Richardson

http://www.sararichardson.com/

Twitter – @SaraR_Books

 

If you read this review, give me a shout out on Twitter! @ReviewAlholic

And comment below with your fave novel of all time!