Books are like Air ...

08/19/2013 --Seriously just awful. I could say more, but won't.I would seriously rethink the "one-click". Just because you can, doesn't mean you should. Not for this one anyway. I returned it.

08/18/2013 --Overall Rating = 4.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 5 / 3 = 4 StarsWriter’s Voice = 4 StarsCharacter Development = 4 StarsStory Appreciation = 4.5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$3.99 on Amazon]Best book I've read by this author. I've liked them all, but this one hits a soft spot with me. Here is a guy who went to jail and came out a better man. He's trying to figure it all out. He is pretty self aware now, but is it enough. Then, we have Bobbie Jo. She has loved Shane as deeply and for as long as she can remember. But she also remembers the pain of their breakup. How terribly they hurt each other with words and actions neither meant. This is the start of this book and it just gets better. A great Sunday afternoon summertime read. I recommend it!!On to #3Happy Reading!!

08/17/2013 --Overall Rating = 3.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb /Book Title = 3 / 3 / 3 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3.5 StarsCharacter Development = 3.5 StarsStory Appreciation = 4 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars -- [$Free on Amazon!]This is the second book I've read by this author and I liked it. I like her style and I like a sports theme. One thing though ... do you remember an old [very old] television program called "Petticoat Junction"? There were three sisters, a blonde, a brunette and a redhead. Their names were Billy Jo, Betty Jo, and Bobby Jo. Very corny then, way too corny now. I had trouble keeping the names straight while reading this one. I think I read too quickly for these types of name issues. Maybe we could have had nicknames or something? I get what she was trying to do, but it was a bit too much for this reader.I liked this one enough to read the next in this series. I'll be looking for more by this author. This book was free. I just checked and it is still free. Definitely worth the time.Happy Reading!

***09/03/2013 Full Review now Posted***08/14/2013 --Overall Rating = 3.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 4 / 1 = 2.5 StarsWriter’s Voice = 4 StarsCharacter Development = 4 StarsStory Appreciation = 4 StarsWorth the Chili = 3 Stars -- [$7.49 on Amazon when released 09/24/2013]I was in the mood for a Holiday romance. I liked this book, but the whole Holiday thing was a bust. I think the last chapter or so had some Holiday but the rest of the book wasn’t cheerful much. It is the story about two brothers, both in love with the same woman. One brother dies. Both were soldiers in the Middle East. You can imagine the rest. No spoiler needed, this is in the blurb.A few things I really liked about this book:1 – I liked this author's voice. I hadn’t read her before and I was very pleased. She tells a solid story. Her characters are multidimensional. You want to immediately pick up another and read more of her. She is the real deal.2 – The characters. Raine could have so easily been a whiny, bitchy character. She wasn’t. She was just a normal widow trying to get through the heartache of moving on without her husband. She didn’t have a clue what she should do. She only knew she didn’t want to do anything but curl up a bit longer and escape. Jake, Jesse and Raine were friends. Had been friends as long as each could remember. Raine was Jesse’s wife, but she loved them both. She could get along so much better with Jesse. Jesse is gone. Jake can still make her think about him in ways she probably shouldn’t. Jake and Raine are so full of guilt for the way they each think of the other. You’ve heard stories like this so many times. Even so, Juliana Stone does a nice job. We like these people and we want them to work things out. We feel their pain, their anxiety and then their joy. 3 – She portrays the struggle to survive after losing a loved one in the war very well. Realistic. I was crying along with Raine at one point.Now, for a few things I wasn’t crazy about:1 – Okay, I seriously only had Holiday in the last two or so chapters. I feel rather grumpy about that. This wasn’t a happy, comedic romp. It is a pretty dramatic tale about survivors guilt, about the struggle to peel away the grief and move on. If you want a happy Holiday book, this isn’t it. It really isn’t much of a Holiday book at all, hence the low rating for the book title and cover.2 – I think the price may be a deal breaker for some. This was a first time author read for me. If I hadn’t been awarded an ARC, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t have paid the almost $8 price for the book. Too many good books out there much less than this. Unfortunately, I think others may feel the same. Having read it, I think it should come in at $4 and be okay. It will go for about twice that. Oh, well…This was a solid read for me by a new author. I immediately started reading the first in this series and pulled down a few others. One is free right now on Amazon. I like this authors storytelling. She creates some really nice characters. I’ll be on the lookout for more by her.I was Very Happy Reading this one. I hope you are too!ARC received from SOURCEBOOKS Casablanca via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

08/11/2013 --Overall Rating = 10 Stars [I wish this silly system would let me award more than 5 Stars]Book Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 5 / 3 = 4 StarsWriter’s Voice = 5 StarsCharacter Development = 5 StarsStory Appreciation = 5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [ARC and not sure how much it will be when released September 13 -- but worth whatever it is!]This book is probably my favorite so far this year. For me, it had everything I look for. It is unique, it pulls deep emotion from the reader and it is complex enough to keep you interested and thinking long after you finish it. It wasn't what I expected at all.A few things I especially liked:1 -- Number one for me has to be the amazing voice of this author. It will all branch from here. She created incredibly simple, but complex characters. In them, she answers the question .. "where do old rock stars go?" I've always thought that to write the music and play the tune, takes a talent like none other. But, after they no longer "top the charts", what do they do with this incredible talent? I may not particularly like the song, but can always appreciate the sensitivity, the single moment given a voice and the courage to put yourself out there for others to hear. She gives these thoughts of mine a story - like she was in my head.2 -- Grief is the most complex emotion. We can feel this in small doses and huge, all encompassing, can't move or go another day doses. The journey Tree took as she navigated her grief was well told. Believable. A similar journey was taken by Adrian, but for a more self imposed reason. They had to find their new purpose. All paths led me to you ... How many times have we thought this of another heard in song? This is that story.3 -- Relationships are complex. Even those we think simple, are complex. They are strong, but each can be crumbled easily with enough impetus. Love is the glue. Love is demonstrated in many ways. She gives us examples of this throughout this story.4 -- Not what I expected at all. I thought I'd be reading "another one of those new adult books; one just like another with the names changed to protect ...". I was so terribly wrong. This book was just amazing. I think those who are into all the new adult and want the normal simple read they usually present, will be disappointed. Those who want more and can appreciate a unique story that pulls the emotion from the reader, will be most pleasantly surprised. I loved this book. LOVED IT!!Were there things I thought could be better:1 -- Well, nothing is perfect. I wasn't hot on the cover. It attracted me, but I think it gives the reader a feeling this will be "another New Adult" read and they may be disappointed in this book. This book is much more. It is the story of relationships, the evolution of grief, the journey to reinvent yourself or re-purpose ones' self. Much more than the normal New Adult story [or most of those in that category that I've read]. If you don't expect such eloquence, and want a simpler read, you may not like this one as much as I did. I'm always on the look out for something different. I had no idea I'd find it here when I started.2 -- There were a few moments where this was a slower go. You weren't quite sure what was going on or what to expect and you may get a bit lost. It all works out in the end. I say this as probably one of the least patient readers around. Most people will be okay, but if you are similar to me, this may be something you'll note too. Please be patient. This one is just beautiful if you stay with it. The slow doesn't last long at all. The prose are so worth your effort.I can't say enough good about this book. It is absolutely amazing. I read tons of books. I think I'm at 200 so far this year. This is my BEST Book of the Year so far and I've not said that yet in 2013. It made me cry, it made me empathize, it made me wonder and to think. Where are the "old Rock Stars?" Could any of them had a story like? God, I hope so. I hope it works out for them like it did for Adrian. I believe in awarding the effort and talent.Happy Reading!DEEP thanks to the author and PENGUIN GROUP Berkley,NAL / Signet Romance, DAW -- for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

08/09/2013 --Overall Rating = 1.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 2 / 1 / 2 = 1.5 StarsWriter’s Voice = 1.5 StarsCharacter Development = 2 StarsStory Appreciation = 1.5 StarsWorth the Chili = 2 Stars [$2.99 on Amazon]I have no idea why I finished this book. Maybe, because I've enjoyed other books by this author in the past, or maybe because I was traveling and just didn't have the time to mess with starting another. Don't know, but a few hours I'm never going to get back in this lifetime.I can appreciate Lynda was giving the fans what they asked for ... a longer book. I just don't think her execution of a longer story worked for me.A few thing that just didn't work for me ...1 -- The primary setting for this book is high school. Now, a Lynda Chance book will always have an "over the top" alpha, but in high school? It all came across as a bit much. Hannah didn't have very observant parents or she wouldn't have stuck around for more than Act I of this relationship. If it had been set in college, it may have worked better for me. High school just left me with a very bad feeling. It's fiction. Yep, I get it, but it still has to sit well with the reader. It didn't for me.2 -- The story fell apart, or maybe there just wasn't much of one, but it took up a whole lot of real estate but said very little. A longer book means more story, more character development, not just blah, blah, blah. This is the killer for me. As much as I didn't like the setting, the lack of any real story ... ??3 -- Okay, so far we have a poor setting, poor story development, now we move to character development. Remember, this is high school. We could have had some issues or situations, but we didn't really. I would say there was only the base, minimal character development.4 -- The book blurb or the author summary. Is there really one? I think you are buying this on the author's name alone. I know I did. I wish I'd waited to see what people had to say first. I may not have bought it.I can honestly say, there really was very little I did appreciate about this book. Not sure what else to say at this point. Maybe ... save your money?I hope you have better luck with this one.Maybe Happy Reading, but didn't happen for this reader!

08/07/2013 --Overall Rating = 3.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 3 / 5 = 4 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3 StarsCharacter Development = 3 StarsStory Appreciation = 3.5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$2.99 on Amazon]Not the best book I've read, but definitely not the worst. I entertained me for a few hours, which fit the bill at the time. Some of this story was a bit farfetched which is pretty usual for the New Adult category. Nothing unique in anything contained therein.A passable few hours, but don't expect to be WOW'd. Just okay, my opinion only.Happy Reading!

08/05/2013 --Overall Rating = 3 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 2 / 3 / 3 = 2.5 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3 StarsCharacter Development = 3 StarsStory Appreciation = 3 StarsWorth the Chili = 4 Stars [$3.99 on Amazon]All relationships get messy at one time or another. This book had knots swimming in my stomach through the majority of it. I didn't enjoy reading the crumbling of this relationship and the bumbling of the H & h as they tried to work through it and work their way back to each other. Top this with a semi-cliff hanger ending and you spell frustration for this reader.A few things I liked in this one:1 -- The trials and tribulations incurred by this couple were beyond believable. I've lived situations similar to these. I was hoping they'd be smarter than my own experiences, but nope, they took some of the same paths. I was in knots reading this. Thinking about it gives me anxiety, so it may be a bit of time before I read #2. I think the thing that pissed me off the most ... All because someone who stated they didn't want a baby, maybe/maybe not changes their mind and gets twisted because the other party is caught cold and isn't dancing on clouds at the topic.2 -- I liked the characters. Or really, I liked Dean. I wasn't crazy about Liv. More on her later. Saying this, I'll also state there was little in the secondary arena. A pretty simple story that focused on the internal workings of a relationship and the two parties involved. In this it was simple. Also, in this, it was a bit boring. Developing some secondary distractions could have added so much more depth to this one. I think the writer has the talent to pull this off. I wonder why she didn't try to do this for us.3 -- Dean is a professor. I enjoyed how his role evolved in the story.Where where my issues?1 -- Liv just seemed to be in limbo. She couldn't seem to figure out what she needed out of anything. The author gives us the impression she is giving up her career or being flexible in her career for the sake of Dean's career, but this part of the story didn't ring true. She just seemed to lack ambition and confidence. She was rather clingy. I didn't see what she really added to the relationship.2 -- This story was all about the relationship. In the development of this, we [me] got bored. Enough already. No one seemed to be able to make a good decision. They are smart people and seemed to skate around issues. They'd talk, but not really. This was really one of their primary issues. I understand that, but it bored me.3 -- What's up with the cover and the title. It almost smacks of an erotica advertisement, but this is really more contemp fiction. I wouldn't even call it romance. A bare bit above the average for me.I didn't expect what I got with this one. It was okay, just not great nor did I get a more rounded story -- which is the expectation I had going in.Happy Reading!

08/01/2013 --Overall Rating = 4 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 2 / 5 = 3.5 StarsWriter’s Voice = 4 StarsCharacter Development = 4 StarsStory Appreciation = 3.5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$5.99 on Amazon ... classic]Searock, a friend of mine, has this on a shelf marked "gorgeous". Mary B. recently read and rated this book 5 Stars. She wrote a lovely review stating, "I can't say enough about how much I adore this author's style, and particularly this book. She really gets inside her characters heads and writes from that perspective - a true talent that is so rare among writers." I would agree with both of these Ladies. I thought it about time I gave this one a try. I ADORE a Beauty and the Beast feel. This book has it in spades!I broke my teeth on historical romances. I started reading them in the mid to late 70's. When romances were first available, there really wasn't much more than historical romances. How I missed this author, I'm not sure. Since reading, or rather half way through this book, I've purchased all the ebooks available of her work. They are going on vacation with me.I consider the older authors who've outlasted some of the fads and who weren't serials classic. When you read the blurb, you think you've read this one before. You would be wrong. This author combines multiple theme's and makes this story her own. We have innocent deception that backfires and the resulting conundrum. How can you be jealous of yourself? The "ugly" beast-like suitor, who really isn't ... ugly or beast like, but you have to scratch more than the surface to know this. The beautiful young lady who is so much more than her appearance - if they would only look a bit deeper... And woven throughout we have the power of scent.This really is a wonderful read. I got angry with the story in places because of the conflicting emotions it pulled from me. There were places where it lost me in the prose -- I had to reread. I think those, "smack" in your face, simpleton reads have spoiled us, so when we have to work a bit harder or concentrate a bit more, it takes a bit for us to remind our brains to engage. And, like with most historical romances, it drags just a bit in the middle.I'm going to read another by this author right now. I love the way she strings words together and her unusual take on the usual.Happy Reading!

07/27/2013 --Overall Rating = 4 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 5 / 3.5 / 5 = 4.5 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3.5 StarsCharacter Development = 3.5 StarsStory Appreciation = 4 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$2.99 on Amazon]I am a book cover whore. I admit it. This one sold me with the cover and the title. I'm not sure why. I've noted other, better, but I really liked this one.The story has been likened to Colleen Hoover's Slammed series. I think it reminded me more of "Confessions of an Angry Girl". I loved CoaAG. LOVED it.In this one, the characters were "nicer" or less angsty [is this even a word?]. I liked it. I've been in a NA mood and so many of them sound the same. This one kind of did too, because I'm making comparisons. Even so, it was still pretty good.Give it a go. You may like it, maybe not. I'd love to see your review to hear what you have to say. This is the second I've read from this author. I'm sure I'll read more as time goes on. She puts together a pretty okay story. AND -- THIS COVER ROCKED!!Happy Reading!

07/27/2013 --Overall Rating = 4 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 3.5 / 5 = 4.2 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3.5 StarsCharacter Development = 4 StarsStory Appreciation = 4 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$2.99 on Amazon]Did you see Bec's fantabulous review of this book? If you missed it, here is the link: http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/598888900I especially liked when she said, "... what makes this so different is the incredible depth of emotions we as readers are allowed to experience with the central characters."After reading this in her review, I just had to read it too. Immediately. Have I read better? Yes. But, I thought this story well put together. It does make you feel. You do want Jess and Gabe to figure it all out. You are invested in their future. Will they end up together? It really doesn't matter, if these two really great people are happy.Bec's - my friend, I get it. Thank you for your wonderful review which pushed this to my "get the hell out of my way now, cause I'm reading this puppy TODAY!" pile. This is what reviewing is all about. Tell me how this impacted you. Give me a snipit of the paradigm you are coming from. Tell me in wonderful prose -- not in all the pictures I have to decipher and may not be able to identify with. LOVE IT!! She wins my, BEST REVIEW of the WEEK AWARD; July 21.I think you'll like this book. I'll read the next in this series and will pay attention to this author. I hope you like it and if you do, I'll be watching for you to tell me why.Happy Reading!!

07/23/2013 --Overall Rating = 3.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 4 / 2.5 / 5 = 4 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3.5 StarsCharacter Development = 4 StarsStory Appreciation = 4.5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$2.99 on Amazon]This book is the third in this series. I liked it as much as the second and more than the first.A few things I really liked:1 -- This author can create some pretty good characters. You get into the story through them. They are pretty realistic and aren't over the top angsty. Easy to identify with.2 -- I wasn't so sure about the whole "new reporter writes an expose'" thing, but it worked in the end. I actually read the second book in this series first and enjoyed it. They can be read as stand alone without missing a beat. However, I then read the first one and didn't really like it as much. If it had been the first, I may not have read any others. So, I didn't know what to think. In the end, it all worked out and I was good. Another enjoyable story.3 -- The cover, the book title, they both worked for me. I can get all caught up in how a book will be marketed. I think this is super important with all the self-pubd books out there and few spend much time on it. Anyone can throw a hot guy or girl on the cover in a bit of muscle or lace and think they have a book. I've been suckered more than once. I rather like a bit of different. This cover was nice. I pulled my attention. The title fits the book very well.Only a few things I didn't like:1 -- These are light reads. They aren't terribly deep, but I think with a bit more effort the author could take them there. I'd love to see what she does with it. I bet she would knock it out of the park. Just wondering.2 -- There were a few typo's in this one. More than I saw in the other two. Weren't a huge factor for me, but they may be for someone. Something to note.3 -- The book blurb really didn't pull me. I had read the others and liked the authors voice or I probably wouldn't have given this one another glance.Overall, an enjoyable read. This isn't a GREAT book, it is pretty average, but enjoyable. I do think this author could do a longer more involved plot well. She can create a pretty good character. I think she shorts herself with these "fluffy" reads.Give this author a go. I think you'll like her. If you like Molly O'Keefe, Rachel Gibson or Jill Shalvis, you may just like these.Happy Reading!

07/21/2013 --Overall Rating = 2 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 2.5 / 3 / 3.5 = 3 StarsWriter’s Voice = 2 StarsCharacter Development = 3 StarsStory Appreciation = 2 StarsWorth the Chili = 2 Stars [$Free for me on Amazon, normally $2.99]Cheese to the 10th power. Okay, this was definitely a case of "glad I read this series out of order." I read the 2nd in this series and really enjoyed it. Read this one and if I had read this one first, I would not have read any of the others.I appreciate the authors passion in writing this per her dedication. However, it was a bit overdone in places and lacked real depth or believability in character development. I was glad it was over. I do know the second kicks butt and I've started the third, am about 20% in and it seems pretty good too. Time will tell.You may like this cheesy tale. It was something I could have missed and been perfectly okay.Happy Reading!

07/21/2013 -- YIPPIE - CHI - AYE ... you know the rest. Got the ARC!!Next on my reading list!!

07/20/2013 --Overall Rating = 4 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 3 / 3.5 / 2.5 = 3 StarsWriter’s Voice = 3.5 StarsCharacter Development = 4 StarsStory Appreciation = 5 StarsWorth the Chili = 5 Stars [$Free for me on Amazon!!]I started reading this series completely out of order with this one. I really liked this book. I think the author did her homework and offered up a story about a wounded war vet and his struggles to overcome. His wounds, for the most part, are invisible to the human eye. These are the most difficult to impact and understand.What things did I like?1 -- The storyline mentioned above. A wounded war hero home from Afghanistan. What a terrible place and it seems to impact anyone who is there serving and not in a positive way. I really liked how this author portrayed Nix. He was honest in his dealings with others. He was a right SOB and made no excuses, or few excuses. Emily was just the perfect contrast. She had the silver spoon, but had learned how limiting this can be in the "real" world. She was trying hard to make her way. I liked these two together.2 -- I think, for a simple story, the characters were very well developed. When I think of Nix, I think honesty. When I think Emily, I think accepting. This story wasn't incredibly long, but the author spent a good deal of time developing these characters. The plot was pretty simple. Put it all together and you have an enjoyable read.3 -- Harley and all he represented. He is a service animal. Nix uses him to overcome issues dealing with his emotions. To think how helpful these animals are. To think, our tax dollars used to help veterans, won't help fund these incredible animals to assist. The author makes this point and I appreciate it.Were there things I didn't like?1 -- The title tells me nothing. The cover isn't great. If I hadn't had the opportunity to get this one free, and if I hadn't have seen some of the really good reviews of others, I may have not looked twice. I'm very glad I gave this one a shot.2 -- This book could have been a bit longer. It was that good, but there were places where I thought, 50 more pages could have made a huge difference in the execution of this one. It was good. It could have been even better.3 -- Nothing else really. A very enjoyable read.I added this one to my favorites list. I think it will be one I read again. What greater compliment can be paid?Happy Reading!!

07/19/2013 --Overall Rating = 1.5 StarsBook Cover / Book Blurb / Book Title = 2 / 3 / 1 = 2 StarsWriter’s Voice = 1 StarsCharacter Development = 3 StarsStory Appreciation = 1 StarsWorth the Chili = 1 Star [$0.99 on Amazon after price drop]This one just didn't work for me. I thought the plot just asinine; start to finish. I've liked others by this author, so think this is just a case where I just couldn't connect. On any level.Oh, well ...You may be happy with this one. Hope you are. Me? Not so much.