Short Take Reviews: Too Late (Colleen Hoover) and The Next Best Day (Sharon Sala)

 

Too Late

by Colleen Hoover

Content warning (highlight to view): sexual assault, abusive relationship, drug use, violence, mental illness

4.5 stars

Sloan will go through hell and back for those she loves. And she does so, every single day. Caught up with the alluring Asa Jackson, a notorious drug trafficker, Sloan has finally found a lifeline to cling to, even if it’s meant compromising her morals. She was in dire straits trying to pay for her brother’s care until she met Asa. But as Sloan became emotionally and economically reliant on him, he in turn developed a disturbing obsession with her—one that becomes increasingly dangerous every day.

When undercover DEA agent Carter enters the picture, Sloan’s surprised to feel an immediate attraction between them, despite knowing that if Asa finds out, he will kill him. And Asa has always been a step ahead of everyone in his life, including Sloan. No one has ever gotten in his way.

No one except Carter. Together, Sloan and Carter must find a way out before it’s too late.

What worked for me: This 2016 release from CoHo managed to sit on my shelf for almost 7 years before I picked it up. When I finally did, I could not put it down again. This is not swoony romance Colleen Hoover. This is dark and twisted Colleen Hoover. Told from three different points of view - Sloan, Carter, and Asa - and each one had me flipping pages as fast as I could. Asa was a villain you love to hate and while he may have been psychotic, he was also diabolical and freaking brilliant. His twisted games were so warped. The fast pace kept the tension high and even though this whole thing was over the top and veered into crazy town, I was 100% there for it. Colleen has her fans (raises my hand) and her detractors, but there's no denying she can write a story that feels unputdownable. 

But not so much: I suppose an argument could be made that Sloan was a weak heroine who went from using/depending on one man to latching on to another. And yes, there was some serious insta-connection/insta-love happening with Carter, but I was willing to go with it. I was so completely invested in this wild ride that my mantra was "bring on more crazy!"

The Next Best Day

by Sharon Sala

Content warning (highlight to view): school shooting, PTSD, death of a spouse (not on page)

3.75 stars

A fresh start for a young teacher to build the life she's dreamt of.
A second chance at romance for a single dad.
The warm and uplifting small-town community cheering them on.

After two back-to-back life-changing events, first grade teacher Katie McGrath left Albuquerque for a fresh start in Borden's Gap, Tennessee. She is finally back in the classroom where she belongs, but it will take a little while for her to heal and feel truly like herself. She'll need to dig deep to find the courage it takes to try again—in life and in love—but with some help from her neighbor Sam Youngblood and his adorable daughters who bring her out of her shell, her future is looking brighter than she dared imagine.

What worked for me: The first chapter was truly overwhelming, with both a left-at-the-altar moment and a school shooting at the elementary school where main character Katie was a first grade teacher. It was harrowing, intense, and hard to read. The second chapter, which dealt with the immediate aftermath, was just as heartbreaking. Things lightened up considerably when Katie moved to a small town in Tennessee for a fresh start. Her neighbor Sam, the chief of police, and his twin six-year-old daughters were taken with Katie from the start, and various members of the small community welcomed Katie with open arms. The relationship with Sam developed without a single hitch and twins Evie and Beth were adorable. Yeah, Sam fell into the too-good-to-be-true realm, but I didn't even care. He was thoughtful, compassionate, and just what Katie needed. 

But not so much: Two things. One, the overall feeling (and a lot of the dialogue) was way too saccharine for me. Sometimes it felt like these characters were straight out of the 1950's with the way they spoke. There were some serious issues addressed (like child abuse) and it was an odd juxtaposition to the otherwise super sweet tone. Secondly, the chapters from Katie's ex's point of view felt so out of place and unnecessary. They spanned almost the entire book and then stopped abruptly with no real resolution. Each chapter from the ex's POV pulled me out of Katie's story and left me wondering why they had been included.

Have you read either of these books?

Ranty Review: Blood to Dust by L.J. Shen

I don't often go all ranty in my reviews. In fact, when I really didn't enjoy a book I often don't bother reviewing it on the blog. I'll add a few lines on Goodreads and move on. But I got kind of carried away with this one and I figured why not just go ahead and share it. 

So, L.J. Shen is one of the authors I've seen around for a long time and kept meaning to try. I know her Sinners of Saint series is popular (I see Vicious talked about a lot) so maybe I just started with the wrong book. Or not. Because even though Blood to Dust has a high average rating on Goodreads (3.93) it just was not for me. I spent most of the book in various states of: 

And when I'd finished the whole cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs book and went to Goodreads, to find others to vent with and talk about the level of crazy, all I found was one five star review after another. And all I could think was:

So allow me to get all ranty and share my rather disjointed thoughts on Blood to Dust. And, uh... enjoy.

BLOOD TO DUST

by L.J. Shen

Published: July 17, 2016

Genres: Dark Romance, Contemporary

His name is Beat, and I should hate him.

Bound, blindfolded and bruised, I'm tied in his basement, waiting for the men who stripped me from clothes and humanity to collect his debt to them. Me.

His name is Nate and I should hate him, but I don't.

I'm not supposed to know his real name, even worse, I'm not supposed to care. He is nothing to me but means to an end. The plan is simple: break free, collect the pieces of my broken soul, kill the bastards and run away.

His name is Nathaniel Thomas Vela, and I've never seen his face, though I hear that it's beautiful.

Behind the rugged and handsome exterior, there's a quiet murderer, a killer who thinks guns are for pussies and ends people with his bare hands.

His name doesn't matter, neither does his face, but what does matter is my heart. And right now, sadly, it's his. 

M Y   T H O U G H T S

As soon as I finished this one I logged on to Goodreads to find some reviews that mirrored my thoughts. Some others who spent much of the book rolling their eyes and thinking, "You've got to be kidding me." So color me surprised when instead I found one five-star review after another filled with heaps of praise. Uh, okay, I guess it's just me?

This was my first by Shen so maybe this kind of over-the-top, check the believability at the door is just her style. But it apparently isn't mine because I couldn't get past all the inconsistencies and wtf-ness of it all.

The female main character came from an upper-class, wealthy family and was now a badass, drug dealing, in your face, killer. Uh, how did that happen exactly? How did she learn the drug trade and become versed in weaponry, street smarts, and strategy? Was there an online course she took that wasn't mentioned?

All I really knew about the male main character was that he was from the wrong side of the tracks and wasn't long out of prison. For protecting his mother from the abusive father, of course. Oh, and he was totally not interested in women since he got out of prison... until he meets up with our girl, Prescott, of course. Not that he ever called her Prescott. These two had more nicknames for each other than I could keep track of. I should have turned it into a drinking game: Another nickname? Take a shot!

The bad guys were almost cartoonish and the violence was so over-the-top graphic that it was just too much. There was rough sex, graphic violence, plot holes, character decisions/actions that made zero sense... I just keep coming back to the same phrase: over-the-top. The whole crazy mess was over-the-top.

I'm all for dark romance. I don't mind some violence. I'll even give some leeway on plot because it's fiction. But when it's this messy, this ludicrous, and this OTT, I just can't. I think it's safe to say this was my first - and last - by Shen.

WHAT'S THE LAST BOOK YOU READ THAT WAS JUST TOO OVER-THE-TOP?

Reviews: King, Tyrant, Lawless, Soulless | The King Series Books 1-4 by T.M. Frazier

 I read the first four books in T.M. Frazier's King series in July and I was hooked. I'd been itching for something dark and gritty and Frazier certainly delivered that. These stories focus on men who choose to live life on their on terms, outside the law. They definitely fall into the realm of anti-heroes. These books are big on drama with plenty of action and intensity, but Frazier counters all of that with surprisingly emotional relationships and characters that forge strong connections, romantic and otherwise.

Frazier's style is graphic (both sex and violence) but it's also fiction, and at the end of the day I was entertained, which was what I was after.

    

KING (King #1)

Doe was a girl with no memories. King was fresh out of prison. Their story was far from conventional but I ate it up. Doe was lost, afraid, and her future seemed as empty as her past. Her first encounter with King forged a connection between them and while their relationship got off to a rocky start (he basically kept her because her friend stole from him) it was soon obvious that these two people were like two halves of a whole. King lived life on his own terms (on the wrong side of the law) and was completely unapologetic. This wasn’t a man looking for redemption or to turn his life around. He was badass to the core and lived on the edge. As Doe’s past and King’s endgame drew to its conclusion, I was completely riveted. Frazier took the story darker and grittier that I anticipated but it’s exactly what I was in the mood for. King’s friend Preppy provided some unexpected lightness and humor and it was impossible not to love him (in all his twisted glory). The cliffhanger ending had me picking up the next book immediately. 4 STARS

TYRANT (King #2)

King ended with one heck of a cliffhanger so when I started Tyrant I was desperate for answers. Doe was back at home in a life she didn’t recognize. Learning who she was held less appeal since she’d created a new life with King. But there were complications that meant she couldn’t just walk away from her old life and return to King. Her memories returning brought fear instead of relief and she was desperate to find a way out of her current situation. It said a lot that this girl was so willing to walk away (actually run) from a comfortable, sheltered existence and get back to a life with an outlaw who lived life on his own terms. Doe and King’s story played out in a dramatic and violent fashion and I was so there for it. Admittedly, Frazier’s brand of dark romance isn’t for everyone (graphic violence, drug use, taboo subject matter), but if you’re in the mood for something gritty (of if dark and twisted is just your jam), I definitely recommend Frazier’s King series. 4 STARS

    

LAWLESS (King #3)

Lawless was Bear’s story, a character that appeared in both of the previous two books in the King series. Where King had always forged his own path and been something of a loner outlaw, Bear was born into the MC. It’s the life he’d always known but it had changed. When a girl he met years ago came to him for help, he found someone he was willing to put above the club. Bear went through hell in the previous book (Tyrant) and he wasn’t in a good place when Thia found  him. Her circumstances at home meant she had to grow up fast and take on a lot of responsibility but now she was in over her head and needed help. Bear was intense but loyal to a fault and he committed to making things right for Thia – even if it meant going against his own club, and his own family. I loved the way Bear was willing to put it all on the line and the sacrifice he was willing to make was staggering. Once again, Frazier ended right at a pivotal moment and I would have been ready to pull my hair out if I didn’t already have the next book ready to go. 4 STARS

SOULLESS (King #4)

Soulless was the conclusion to Bear and Thai’s story and it didn’t disappoint. Bear now had a target on his back and the MC, his former brothers, was gunning for him. A person from his past also complicated matters and he was still making personal sacrifices to keep Thia safe. Bear knew that a war was coming and he, along with King, was prepared for battle. The whole series has been a little over the top but Soulless took that extra step and was just shy of Crazy Town. There was kidnapping, violence, traitors, and shocking twists. It was a wild story and I just hung on for the ride. As I’ve said before, Frazier’s brand of dark and gritty story telling isn’t for everyone. She pushes the boundaries and then decides to go even further. But I’ve grown attached to these wrong-side-of-the-law characters and can’t wait to continue the series. 4 STARS

HAVE YOU READ THIS SERIES?

DO YOU ENJOY DARKER THEMES?

Review: The Boy & His Ribbon by Pepper Winters

The Boy & His Ribbon 
Pepper Winters
Publication date: April 1, 2018
Series: The Ribbon Duet #1
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Dark Romance

"What do you do when you meet your soul mate? No wait...that's too easy. What do you do when you meet your soul mate and have to spend a lifetime loving him in secret?
I'll tell you what you do.
You lie."

REN
Ren was eight when he learned that love doesn't exist--that the one person who was supposed to adore him only cared how much he was worth.
His mother sold him and for two years, he lived in terror.
But then...he ran.
He thought he'd run on his own. Turned out, he took something of theirs by accident and it became the one thing he never wanted and the only thing he ever needed.

DELLA
I was young when I fell in love with him, when he switched from my world to my everything.
My parents bought him for cheap labour, just like they had with many other kids, and he had the scars to prove it.
At the start, he hated me, and I could understand why.
For years he was my worst enemy, fiercest protector, and dearest friend.
But by the end...he loved me.
The only problem was, he loved me in an entirely different way to the way I loved him.

And slowly, my secret drove us apart.

Ren was only ten years old when he escaped from a hellish existence of servitude and abuse. He had his freedom – but discovered he wasn’t totally free. He had unknowingly taken the daughter of his abusers. And he hated her for slowing him down, for the added responsibility. But those feelings changed and Della became everything to Ren. Uneducated but resourceful, responsible and wise beyond his years, Ren creates a life for the two of them that is unconventional but surprisingly stable.

I often found my heart swelling with warmth for my young, tiny friend and cracking in pain knowing this life we shared couldn’t go on forever. She would eventually need more. She would eventually outgrow me. - Ren

Ren was a complex character. Selfless, protective, willing to do anything to provide for Della and do his absolute best by her. But he is also a product of his past – sold by his mother for a paltry sum, bought by a sadistic man for labor, forced to fight for his very survival – and that past has left its mark on Ren. Knowing he was unwanted and unloved, experiencing only cruelty and abuse, he understandably trusts no one (beyond Della), is suspicious of everyone, and feels unworthy of love or even simple kindness. Ren was always happier removed from society, away from people, surrounded by nature in the woods. But for Della, he sacrificed even that.

She might have upset me, messed up my mind, and ruined my trust, but nothing could change the fact that where she was, I was happiest, and she was all I needed. - Ren

Told in dual points of view, The Boy and His Ribbon spans more than 15 years and follows the evolution of Ren and Della’s relationship from children to young adults and, in Ren’s case, adulthood. Their bond is close, their loyalty is unmatched, and their feelings change over time and morph into something beyond friendship, beyond companionship and beyond innocence. The boundaries of their relationship are tested and stretched - and they both suffer for it.

How many times do you think a person can survive a broken heart? I would like to know because Ren has successfully broken mine, repaired it, shattered mine, fixed it, crushed mine, and somehow glued it back together again and again. - Della

Ren and Della’s story required a certain suspension of disbelief. (Because really, could a 10 year old boy really single-handedly care for a baby and raise her on his own? Could he provide food and care by himself year after year?) And at times the prose drifted into melodrama. But neither of those things stopped me from falling for their story. Whether the focus was on their day to day existence in the woods or in an abandoned building, or on their ever-changing dynamic and how it was impacted by other people in their lives, I was hooked. Ren and Della are not ordinary characters and their story is not a typical story. It was emotional and angsty, sweet and heartwarming, forbidden and heartbreaking. Winters never took the easy way out, didn’t hesitate to make her characters hurt, and when I thought I knew what direction the story was going to take, she threw in a twist that I didn’t see coming.

How could you not fall in love with a boy like Ren Wild? How could you not fall in love with a boy who puts you first in everything, protects you at all costs, worships the ground you walk on, gives you things you didn’t know you wanted, who can hear your thoughts and see your fears? A boy who sacrificed so much without even telling you, leaving you heartbroken when you’re old enough to figure it out for yourself? - Della

The Boy & His Ribbon is a different kind of story. It doesn’t follow the usual tropes and conventions. But I liked the differences and the unpredictability – even while the angst was doing me in and hurting my heart. Even while the cliffhanger left me heartsick and desperate for answers. When you’re in the mood for something out of the ordinary, something emotional that will captivate you and have you questioning what’s right and wrong, pick up The Boy & His Ribbon and experience Ren and Della’s story for yourself.

4/5 STARS

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary.