Short-Take Reviews: Getting Schooled and Gentleman Sinner


GETTING SCHOOLED
Emma Chase
Publication date: June 26, 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: Kindle
Source: OverDrive app

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON








S Y N O P S I S

Garrett Daniels has this whole life thing figured out.
The cocky, charismatic former high school star quarterback is an idolized football coach and "cool" teacher in the hometown where he's not just a golden boy—he's platinum. He has good friends, a great house on the lake, and the best damn sidekick a man could ask for: Snoopy, the albino beagle.

Then...Callie Carpenter comes home.
And knocks him right on his tight end zone.

Callie has a pretty sweet life herself...on the other side of the country. But circumstances—that she'd prefer to never speak of again—have brought her back home, helping out her parents and substitute teaching at her old high school.

Now she's facing bickering, raging hormones, constant gossip, awkward weirdness, and drama galore...and that's just the teachers.

When Garrett offers to show his former high school sweetheart the secrets of his winning teacher ways, Callie jumps at the chance—and then has to stop herself from jumping him.

Good friends are all they can ever be.
Or...these teachers just might end up getting schooled—hard—by love.


M Y   T H O U G H T S

Sometimes I want a romance without all the drama and all the angst. And that’s what Emma Chase delivers.  Garrett and Callie were the real deal in high school – young but very much in love. Circumstances had them parting ways while attending college across the country from one another, but when Callie returned home to help care for her parents it was obvious from the start that all the old feelings were still there. I loved so many aspects of this story: Callie and Garrett were incredibly likable, the humor was so on point that I was literally laughing out loud, the second-chance romance aspect was spot-on, and I loved the way both Garrett and Callie were so committed to their teaching careers and their students. There were a few unexpected emotional moments that were woven into the story perfectly but for the most part this was 100% feel-good romance.
4/5 STARS


GENTLEMAN SINNER
Jodi Ellen Malpas
Publication date: February 5, 2019 
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Source: Library Loan

⭐⭐⭐









S Y N O P S I S

Izzy White knows of the darkness in this world. After all, she escaped it long ago. Determined not to let her past beat her, Izzy has a secure, stable life with a job she loves in nursing. But one act of kindness will completely upend everything she's so carefully built-putting her right back in the crosshairs of danger she's been so desperate to avoid.

When Theo Kane shows up like a knight in shining armor, Izzy can't help thinking she's been saved from one threat and exposed to another. His imposing physique, the harsh lines of his face, and the wariness of everyone who comes close are just a few clues to Theo Kane's notorious reputation. The man is positively terrifying. But with Izzy, he's tender and a complete gentleman, and her fascination with the mysterious beast of a man becomes too powerful for her to walk away.

As Theo's demons come to light, running becomes even more impossible. And yet staying together could doom them both.


M Y   T H O U G H T S

This was one of those okay reads that was entertaining enough while I was reading it but ultimately not anything particularly new or memorable. Theo saves Izzy from an attack and then proceeds to hardcore pursue her. An intense relationship develops but Izzy has a past she won’t reveal and Theo has secrets he won’t discuss. Oooh, drama! Then there are all the Fifty Shades similarities. Theo is a damaged anti-hero that cannot stand to be touched, he’s uber-rich and has a driver/bodyguard, he’s all stalkery and even showed up at Izzy’s girls getaway (from London to Las Vegas) to keep tabs on her after only knowing her for a matter of days, the relationship got intense quickly, etcetera, etcetera. Even so, the over the top drama kept the story moving and the craziness was entertaining. All in all, it felt like a story that’s been told many times before so I’m not sure I’ll be picking up more from Malpas. 
3/5 STARS


HAVE YOU READ EITHER OF THESE BOOKS? 




WWW Wednesday #48 | April 10, 2019


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

    
     
   
The Unhoneymooners - Christina Lauren
I actually haven't cracked the cover yet but I'll be starting this one tonight. I'm dying to dive right in but my entire day is full with work and then an appointment so it'll have to wait until this evening. Gah!
This is a combination post-apocalyptic/zombie/romance and really what more can I say? LOL I'm about 80% through the audiobook and even though it's kind of ridiculous it's also totally entertaining. The two guys are full-on caveman alpha protective which induces much eye-rolling but, like I said... also entertaining.

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

     

My Favorite Half-Night Stand - Christina Lauren
While I was reading My Favorite Half-Night Stand I made an off-hand comment that I wasn't loving it quite as much as previous CLo books and that seemed to prompt a bunch of comments bemoaning the fact that I disliked it. I was like, huh?? I never said that! LOL So to clarify: I really did enjoy Half-Night Stand! No, it wasn't my favorite by Christina Lauren but it was still a good read!
Ask me to pick a favorite between The Kiss Quotient and The Bride Test and I'll tell you that it's impossible! Loved this one! I read it lightning fast (for me) and by yesterday I could hardly stop reading. I think I read the entire second half of the book yesterday. I loved Esme, I loved Khai... yes, there were times I wished they had talked more and given explanations for what they were saying and doing (it would have helped alleviate some misunderstandings) but even so... ♥♥♥.

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
  
  
Oh boy, I'm not even sure. No telling what I'll be in the mood for after The Unhoneymooners but these three are definite possibilities.

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

The Sunday Post #149


The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Caffeinated Book Reviewer.
It's a chance to share news - a post to recap the past week on your blog, 
showcase books and things we have received, and share news about what is
coming up on your blog in the week ahead. You can find the info here:


It's been a thoroughly uneventful week. So much so that I took off a half-day on Friday. I had grand plans of running some errands but in reality I came home and took a long nap. #noregrets

For the second week in a row I managed five posts which is so not my norm. Spoiler alert: it won't be happening a third week. :)

And I leave you with another 80's favorite...



WHAT I READ IN THE LAST WEEK:

     

So sweet and funny and sexy. I need more Emma Chase in my life.

Sad to see the series end but the epilogue was priceless.


WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING: 

        
My Favorite Half-Night Stand - Christina Lauren
I'm at the 90% point (if not more) and will finish this one this afternoon. I'm enjoying it well enough but I will say this hasn't been my favorite by CLo. I'll share my thoughts in a review next week.

All I keep thinking is, Kylie Scott has come a long way, baby. LOL Both guys are instantly in lust/love with the woman - and I'm talking in a matter of hours - and going all caveman about it. At this point I'm continuing to listen for the sheer absurdity and the (unintentional) laughs. 😂


KINDLE BOOKS: 
     
    






How was your week? Any new books? Any news to share? 
I'd love to hear about it!

March Wrap-Up


WHAT HAPPENED IN MARCH
  • I was featured at Deanna Reads Books in her brand new Meet The Blogger feature. Thanks for having me, Deanna! 
  • I went to a hockey game. The home team lost but still... hockey.
  • The whole family gathered to celebrate my mom's birthday. She makes 74 look good. :)
  • I started a six week beginners yoga course and learned that I have no flexibility.
  • My mom had out-patient surgery and stayed with us overnight. She had the honor of being our first overnight guest since moving into the new house. There was no prize involved.
WHAT I READ IN MARCH


I read/listened to ten books in March which is up from the seven I read in February. Go me! I had two 5-star reads in March and that never happens. I save my 5-star ratings for those very special books that make a true and lasting impact on me. I hand those out like gold and typically have a couple each year. They're like rainbow-colored princess unicorns with sprinkles on top - so having two in one month was kind of blowing my mind. No big surprise that one of those was from Taylor Jenkins Reid. The woman is like my writing spirit animal.

Josh & Hazel's Guide to Not Dating by Christina Lauren | 4.5/5 stars
Built* (Saints of Denver #1) by Jay Crownover | 3.5/5 stars
A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas | 4/5 stars
Gentleman Sinner by Jodi Ellen Malpas | 3/5 stars
Charged* (Saints of Denver #2) by Jay Crownover | 3.5/5 stars
Riveted* (Saints of Denver #3) by Jay Crownover | 3.5/5 stars
* denotes audiobook

FORMATS
5 physical books
1 e-book
4 audio books
2 ARCs

TOP OF THE HEAP
Daisy Jones & The Six, The Girl He Used to Know

THE BOTTOM OF THE HEAP
Gentleman Sinner
Not bad but just... meh.

THE ONE THAT MADE ME RIDICULOUSLY HAPPY
Josh & Hazel's Guide To Not Dating

THE ONE THAT KEPT ME GUESSING
Watching You


WHAT HAPPENED ON THE BLOG
I had 24 blog posts in March (up from 18 in February) which I'm totally happy with. And my goal to step up my review game? Success. I posted six book reviews in March (just 4 in February). So I'm feeling pretty good about March... now if I can just keep it up in April. :)

WHAT I'M CURRENTLY READING
      
I'm 120 pages into My Favorite Half-Night Stand. I'm not connecting to the characters quite as quickly and easily as I have in other CLo books, but hopefully that will change as I get further into the story. I downloaded the audio version of Flesh by Kylie Scott on a whim yesterday. It's some kind of post-apocalyptic zombie tale that was originally released in 2012. I've barely started it so no real opinion yet. (Side note: This was the ever-so-slightly better cover out of the two options. The other was basically just a shot of a guy's hand on a girl's jeans-covered ass. Quite the toss-up, no? Abs or a hand on a butt. Oh, the dilemma. LOL)


WHAT WAS YOUR FAVORITE READ IN MARCH?

Review: I Want You Back by Lorelei James

I WANT YOU BACK 
Lorelei James
Publication date: April 2, 2019
Series: Want You #1
Genres: Adult, Contemporary Romance
Format: eARC
Source: Berkley and NetGalley

⭐⭐⭐⭐

GOODREADS  *  AMAZON








S Y N O P S I S

Former NHL star Jaxson Lund has returned to the Twin Cities, but he's at loose ends, unsure if he belongs at Lund Industries, or where he stands with Lucy, his ex-girlfriend and mother of his daughter, Mimi. Despite the signs she'd like to leave him in the penalty box, the attraction burning between them reinforces his determination to prove that he deserves a second chance...

Lucy Quade is in a good place with a steady job, a nice apartment, and a well-adjusted daughter, which is why she's hesitant when Jax insists on co-parenting. It's not that Lucy doesn't trust Jax...she's just unconvinced he can handle multiple responsibilities when he's been singularly focused on playing hockey. But when issues arise with Mimi, Lucy's shocked at how levelheaded and paternal he acts, giving her a glimpse of the Jax she used to know, the sexy, sweet man she fell for years ago.

Once Lucy lets her guard down, Jax goes all in to show her how good they are together, but will their past remain too large an obstacle to ever overcome?

M Y   T H O U G H T S

What I Liked:

Ø Jaxson. He may have gone off the rails previously, but he was a man who had faced his shortcomings and was intent on doing better and being better.
Ø Lucy. She was one tough cookie – smart and sassy – without being hard or bitter. She was understandably wary of Jaxson and his intentions, but she also allowed herself to recognize the man he was now instead of dwelling too much on the past.
Ø Low-drama, low-angst. Jax and Lucy’s story was written without over the top drama and I loved that it felt based in reality. These were adults who actually acted like adults while dealing with real-life situations, like co-parenting, addiction recovery, navigating a new relationship, child behavioral issues.
Ø The chemistry between Lucy and Jax. And I’m not even referring to sexual chemistry. These were two people who had a history together and it showed. They way they understood each other’s triggers and quirks, they way they were in-sync and could calm one another with a word or a touch. I loved that.
Ø The ending. It was such a full-circle moment and it just filled my heart and gave me all the good feels.

What Left Me Wanting:

Ø There were times when the dialogue didn’t quite ring true, particularly on the few occasions when it felt as if a character was giving a long speech instead of having a conversation.
Ø It was tricky at first to keep all the members of the Lund family straight. Between all the siblings and cousins it was a little confusing. I understand that I Want You Back is a spin-off from Need You series from James and many of these characters were featured in those books. But as someone who had  not read the original series, it too a while to sort everyone out.

Overall:

I’m a sucker for a second-chance romance and I Want You Back delivered that and more. I was totally on-board for this smart and sexy romance. The main characters were so inherently likable and I was completely invested. I’ll definitely be reading more from Lorelei James.

4/5 STARS

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



WWW Wednesday #47 | April 3, 2019


WWW Wednesdays is a meme hosted by Taking on a World of Words.
Just answer three questions and share what you're reading.


WHAT ARE YOU CURRENTLY READING?

    
    
My Favorite Half-Night Stand - Christina Lauren
This seems to be the Christina Lauren book that you either love or hate. The reviews are all over the place. I've only just started it (as in, I'm still in the first chapter) but I'm curious to see on which side I'll fall.

I don't think there are any more Saints of Denver books coming so this will be a goodbye to all these characters. *sobs quietly* I'm about 80% through the audiobook and totally enjoying Poppy and Wheeler's story. Poppy seriously deserves a HEA!

WHAT DID YOU RECENTLY FINISH READING?

    

I Want You Back - Lorelei James
This was my first by Lorelei James and it was a solid second-chance romance. The main characters were so likable and while the guy had truly behaved like an ass in the past, he was determined to make amends and prove that he had changed. This was the first book in a spin-off series and I'm curious enough to go back and read the original series... at some point.


I just finished this one last night and enjoyed it so much. I loved Chase's Royally series and all the good stuff I loved from those books were evident here. Great dialogue, laugh-out-loud humor, romance, and a few emotional moments as well. Now if they could have just come up with a less cringe-worthy cover... LOL

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'LL READ NEXT?
  
    
Both of these release next month - just a week apart - so I'm pretty sure one of these will be next up. I'm thinking I can't go wrong no matter which one I choose! :)

What are you currently reading?
I wanna know! :)

Top Ten Tuesday: Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl.


This week's Top Ten Tuesday topic: 
Things That Make Me Pick Up a Book

We all have them. Those tropes or keywords or settings that make us all the more likely to pick up a particular book. Some are popular (boarding school settings seems to be one that many people love) and some are a lot more unique and individual. Here are my picks along with some of my favorite examples of each.


SECOND CHANCE ROMANCE
Yeah, this one is more broad in spectrum and less specific, but even so - I'm a sucker for a good second-chance romance. I like the thought of true love never really going away and that two people who are meant to be together will find a way.

    

LETTERS/EMAILS
I don't know why, but I really enjoy a story that is told either in part, or fully, through letters and/or emails. Maybe it's the romantic in me that gets a little swoony at the thought of someone taking the time to write a letter and put their feelings down on paper. 

  

YOUNG PERSON WITH GREAT RESPONSIBILTY/
MATURE FOR AGE
I find this comes into play more with a male character than a female character, but having a main character who is carrying a lot of responsibility on his shoulders at a young age is like an instant win for me. Whether he is handling the responsibility well, or buckling under the pressure, doesn't matter. I am so behind a character who takes on great responsibility either by choice or by circumstance. Same for a character who shows maturity beyond his years. Katie McGarry is a master at writing these types of characters.

    

MORALLY GRAY CHARACTERS
This one is pretty self explanatory but my interest always kicks up a notch when I hear that a story features a morally gray character. I mean, few people are all good or all bad. So when a book explores that I'm intrigued. My favorite is when a villain does something completely out of character or shows kindness.

    

FRIENDS TO LOVERS
It seems like most romance readers are all about the hate-to-love trope. But not me. Nope, I'm all about the best friends to lovers. I like seeing a couple who are already friends take their relationships to the next level. They already know they get along and that they're compatible. And when they realize that they now have feelings that go beyond friendship... I love it. :)

    

TRAPPED TOGETHER
Another favorite is when the couple in question find themselves trapped somewhere together. That forced togetherness is a big check mark for me.

    


FORBIDDEN/TABOO RELATIONSHIP
There are a lot of aspects that could make a relationship fall into the forbidden/taboo category. A boss/employee dynamic, a sketchy background (criminal history), one or both people are not single/available, etc. The forbidden aspect is definitely a draw (in fiction, not real life).

    

BAD BOY + GOOD GIRL
I know, I know. This is one trope that has been done to death. Clear back to Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights. It's overused and played out. But I'm still trash for it. 

    

AGE DIFFERENCE
This one sometimes gets lumped in with the forbidden relationship trope, but I'm not talking creepy under-age age differences here. These are legal, of age, consenting adults - but with an age gap. Maybe my personal experience plays into my love of this one (there is a 14 year age gap between my husband and me) but romances with an age difference are among my favorites.

    

SWEET, CINNAMON ROLL GUYS
Sure, I love a good alpha now and then, but I also have a soft spot for the sweet, cinnamon rolls. They guys who are kind. Who are listeners. Who aren't cocky or snarky or broody. But sweet and generous and give their hearts willingly. All together now... awww!

    


What makes you pick up a book?
Do we share any favorites?