4.5 stars; wonderful!
933473
This author's writing sucked me right in to a 24 hour fantasy fest! I was enthralled from the beginning with the time travel aspect of it and the missing boy.

Not my usual fare but I sure loved it! the Hero and Heroine were a perfect couple together. They both needed each other. I did NOT see coming the surprise she threw in towards the end. Already looking at this author's other books!
607973
Wow! I literally just finished this book and, in spite of the late hour, I feel compelled to review. What a wonderful book, in so many ways! First, and foremost, it was SO incredibly sexy - kinky, definitely, but more than that. To the more traditional reader of M/M romance: this may not be the book for you. But if you're looking for heat with heart, this is the book. Second, it was such a sweet story, even though it was wonderfully hot. A coming of age/finding yourself story that left me warm, fuzzy, and definitely overheated. What a pleasure (and it hardly hurt that the writing was excellent, by the way)!

MILD SPOILERS FOLLOW:

Sam has been stuck between a rock and a hard place since his mother's death. He's struggling to get through nursing school, settling for less than good sex (an understatement) and quickies in the bathroom with a "straight" classmate who has nothing but contempt for him, living with his aunt and uncle in suburbia, and working at their pharmacy for peanuts. They pay for his school, but they give him no emotional support - his only bright spot is his friend, Emma, who has the family Sam desperately wishes he had.

Enter Mitch, making a delivery to the pharmacy in his big rig. He spots Sam dancing to a tune on his iPhone, and they end up having sex in the empty trailer. But it's a revelation to Sam - the sex is great and there's something more: kindness. That would have been the end of it for these two, but Sam leaves his beloved iPhone on the truck and Mitch, good guy that he is, returns it. The experience with Mitch is a wakeup call for Sam, and soon Sam's situation at home worsens and he calls Mitch again and tells the older man he wants to leave town with him.

Sam and Mitch travel cross-country and, without spoiling anything major here, they each confront their own demons. For Sam, the demons have to do with his lack of self-confidence and fear of his sexual desires...and kinky they are! Not the gross-out kinky stuff, but definitely edgy (submission (not quite BDSM, though), threesomes, voyeurism, and, with Mitch's encouragement, sex toys). For Mitch, the demon comes in the form of his best friend and former you-know-what buddy. Surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), the path to happiness is similar for both Sam and Mitch. And yes, there is a HEA, and a very sweet, Hollywood one at that!

Hot sex, sweet and sometimes heart-wrenching romance, and excellent writing, free from the usual editing gaffes. A pleasure from start to finish and -- *fans self* -- probably the hottest M/M slash book I have read to date!

Shira Anthony (a.k.a. Sarah Alexander)
Author of "From the Depths"
23155
Reality comes back to life in this book by touching on loneliness, self-awareness, and surviving in a world where domestic violence is all-too-real. There's a lot of raw material in here that could be considered triggering for some though I do not believe it is nearly as 'dark' a read as the first book in the series, Saving Ella, though it does contain dark subject matter including a violent attack on our female protagonist.

There are some mixed feelings about whether or not one needs to have read Saving Ella to read Fighting Back and I feel that I got more out of it from having read the first book prior to picking up this one. It is not essential that you read it to enjoy this story though. I read it through while trying to imagine how I would feel if I had only been given this book to read as a stand-alone rather than both books to get the full scope of the series and yes, I could have easily enjoyed this story without having read about Ella and Jax first.

This book is perfectly capable of standing on its own. The story is about characters connected to those found in Saving Ella, but the reader is introduced to those characters again in a way that makes it easy to figure out who relates to who and in what ways. I liked having read the first book before starting this one only because it was like getting to become reacquainted with old friends again. I got to say a new hello to Jax and Ella -this book does take place immediately after the end of Saving Ella- as well as Rebecca and Charlie who we met in that first story. Many other characters crop up in the book too who are made more charming because they are recurring characters in this shared world.

I'd recommend reading them in sequence for that reason alone.

That being said, I feel that the writing in this book is more solid on a technical level. It's got that same maturity to it that Saving Ella had without any of the construct issues that tossed me out of the story.

I read this one in one sitting, too!

Character-wise, I absolutely adore Rebecca. She's charming, funny, and enough of an Every-Woman that readers of all ages can relate to her. All her quirks make her memorable in a way that I think is fabulous to see when it's so sad that our female characters often get washed away into the same molds over and over again in favor of making a more interesting male hero for the reader to adore. I love it when I can say that I liked the female protagonist more than the leading man! It makes me smile all over my face. She's my favorite pin-up girl now and I love that I thought of her as Betty Boop before hearing Charlie call her that.

Speaking of Charlie!

Charlie -our leading man- is also a really funny, unique blend of Alpha male and Every-Man which made it impossible for me not to love him. I never found him too overbearing or too much of anything really. He was just this great guy who has enough swagger to make you want to watch the way he works it! I would have let him sweep me off my feet...or potentially beat the you-know-what out of someone for me. I could go for either option where he's concerned.

There was so much chemistry between them that it felt as if I were reading a very natural relationship progression. It's more fast-paced than its predecessor in that sense though these characters carry different baggage than Jax and Ella. They also already had a past that came with them from the first book which made sense for them to move faster.

For me, the ending was perfect. I loved it. There was all that mess and madness I'd been missing. I didn't mind at all that it left me wanting more. I read so that I can be inspired to dream and what's more inspiring than being dared to ask "What happens next?"

I'd recommend this book highly since it's an obvious labor of love with just the right mix of drama and passion to fall into for a good read.

*Review based on a free copy provided for an honest opinion.*

Originally reviewed on behalf of This Redhead LOVES Books Blog.
3523497
The premise sounds similar to the familial setup of Gilmore Girls, and in a way it is the story of Lorelai, Christopher, and Rory through Rory's point of view. And thankfully the "Rory" in Natasha Friend's story is not as off-putting or unbelievably awkward-pretty as Alexis Bledel. FOR KEEPS is a gentle contemporary read, but the degree to which I was invested in Josie's story took me by delightful surprise.

Josie is a fabulously multifaceted character, with a strong and memorable voice. She's got snark and guts, even while grappling with her problem of her lack of trust in men. Above all, she is resilient: when bad things occur, she may hide and retract into her shell for a while, but we get to the point where we have faith in her healing soon.

The other characters also have good voices, quirky but never stereotypical, though I would have liked to have gotten to learn more about Kate. Kate is the central figure in Josie's life, but in between worrying about the proximity of her father's family, and her dealings with her crush, Josie-the-narrator unfortunately forgets to show us the strength and "width" of her relationship with her mother, instead assuming we know what it's like through generalized "telling" statements. The plot, also, is a bit on the weak side: the story starts off strong, with an incredible protagonist voice, but does quite reach its full potential on the scale of epicness.

In spite of those few issues I had with the book, though, I thoroughly enjoyed reading FOR KEEPS. It was my first Natasha Friend novel, but it's definitely a keeper for me, with my love for its well-voiced MC, and if Natasha's other books are anything like this one, I will have a new favorite author on the horizon.
2097621
Heres an easy summary for you: GO BUY THIS BOOK!  Its sweet without being overly so, sensual and sexy, a wonderful hurt/comfort story (for both main characters), and yes it did make me swoon :-)  A nice bonus was the bit of age gap between Tristan and West.

Both West and Tristan have had terrible loss in their past, Tristan his husband and Westwell, everyone.  They come together through a kind of unexpected meeting, and very slowly form first a tentative acquaintancewhich gradually moves on to friendship and eventually one heck of a lot more.  Things progress at an unhurried pace as West tries to spread his wings for the first time, craving his independence and wanting to make it on his own after years of support that he now feels stifled by.  Tristan is the one to allow West his space, respecting his needs and supporting him unconditionallyeven if they are just starting out as friends.

There is so much love, support, and tenderness to be found in these pages, along with grief to come to terms with and healing.  It was incredibly gratifying to see West come into his own, no to mention Tristan finally taking a chance to move on.  And the two of them together are a completely natural fit, their relationship easily developing and filled with emotion.

The angst level is just right, and the bit of tension introduced with Wests ex is well done without being excessively dramatic.  We also get to see characters from the first book of the series, which I love to see.  The themes of love, trust and healing flow smoothly throughout the story, and by the end that warm and fuzzy feeling was flowing quite strongly for me.

Reawaken is a story I can highly recommend, it was a 5-star read for me and is definitely re-read material.  Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalonebut Im pretty sure if you haven't read the first story, Regret, yet then youll surely want to once you're done.  This book is meant for readers 18+ for adult language and sizzling sexual content.
1353078
Even better than the first! And thats saying a lot because I really loved the first book. Like the first installment, it is well written, the plot is engaging and fast moving, and the characters continue to develop, further enveloping me in their unique worlds. I just love Piper. Shes quick thinking and she stands on her own two feet among the physically and magically superior daemons. Yes, she needs help at times, but I find that refreshing. The characters have limited strength and power and at times they must rely on others to survive. Despite what other reviewers think, all-powerful characters are boring and a cop out and, to my delight, the author doesnt go there. And though I have much love for Piper, I still have plenty to spare for Ash. I really got to know Ash in this book and I absolutely adore him and simply couldn't get enough of him! The relationship between Ash and Piper deepened in a very satisfying way and Im practically salivating for more! The author can definitely do steamy scenes!

There isn't nearly as much Lyre in this book, which didn't bother me, but may disappoint some readers who took a strong liking to him in book one. Conflict is piled on even higher in this installment, making for an even more exciting  and darker  story. Readers who prefer lighter fare may find the heavy conflict loaded on the main characters off putting. There are torture scenes, but they are brief. I thought Pipers reaction to torture was realistic (she starting cracking under the weight of it), but I was a bit skeptical of how quickly Ash moved on from it, especially since he was subjected to it for weeks. But I suppose he didn't have the luxury of time to let it all sink in  they weren't safe yet. There were moments of coincidental convenience that helped the main characters out of sticky situations, but I found myself easily willing to suspend my disbelief. The story is THAT engaging.

A final warning to those considering investing their time in this series  the romance is secondary to the plot. Some fans of the paranormal genre are all about the romance. If you are one of those readers, you may be disappointed. I was not. I love romance in my stories, but I rarely enjoy romance novels. This series has my kind of romance  a slow-burning romance born of conflict that grows as the characters fight together and learn to trust one another in order to survive. The romance between Ash and Piper is passionate and physical (kudos to the writer for showing, not telling!) and I could literally feel their need for one another, but they aren't stupid enough to forget their circumstances. The plot moves too fast for that!

This series continues to get stronger. The plot, the characters, and the worlds are all strongly built, engaging, and unique in their own ways. I am thoroughly invested and recommend this series to lovers of the genre. I cant wait for book three!
2641760
Filled with palpable characters, emotions, and situations! A wonderful book!
3920371
Our Review, by LITERAL ADDICTION's Pack Alpha - Chelle:
*Copy gifted in exchange for an honest review
I utterly enjoyed this book. It seemed to be exactly what I needed at the time, and kept my interest from beginning to end.
It should be noted that I hadn't read the previous 2 installments of the Grim series before reading this for review, and that was O.K. Sorta. The book was absolutely fine as a standalone, but now I have 2 more books that I've bumped up in my TBRSoon list. :)
Storm Warned had one of those despicable villains that you love to hate, heroes and heroines that you cheer on every step of the way, an interesting and beautifully built world with some very cool intricacies, and a supporting cast that will definitely make you want more.
Liam is a tortured hero. He had a bad break in life and it caused him to put aside his dreams and secret himself away. You can't help but feel for him, and while there were times I sort of wanted to shake him, it all played out beautifully. Caris was fun, feisty and independent, a true counterpoint to his misery. The two of them together blended harmoniously to create a beautiful melody of love (yes that was a terrible punish statement, as the storyline very heavily revolves around music, something I absolutely adored!!).
I am really looking forward to reading more in Ms. Harper's Grim world, and I definitely recommend Storm Warned if you're in the mood for some Fae.
1126646
I really really loved this  book.  There were some places in the book that made me feel like this is a new author or one of the authors first books just due to the wording or how the sentence was structured (shoot, I don't really know how to explain it), but honestly, the issues were few ( and really they actually weren't issues I just wanted to be honest re: how the story read because it may bother some people) but the story and characters more than made up for everything else. I seriously LOVED THIS BOOK. Oh, the characters felt so real and its now a favorite of mine. I can't wait to jump into the next one. So I'm not going to explain everything that happened or really talk about the story or plot (because I'm sure someone else will or has already done so), but this book really blew me away and hopefully I've helped someone decide whether to read this book or not with my opinion.  These are definitely some of the best written characters I've read in quite some time.  I can't explain it well, but it was just a fantastic book! No really!
2770780
This sequel to DISARM has been on my TBR list for a while, and let me be perfectly clear: ARREST was well worth the wait! I really didn't expect the sequel to top the first novel in the series, but for some reason I was even more riveted this time around. Perhaps it's because I was already so invested in Elsie and Henry as a couple from DISARM, but I was literally swooning with delight from page one and felt so deeply for these characters! So much so that I had to literally force myself to put the novel down to tend to "real life."  (Always a good sign). I've never read a "marriage in crisis" story quite like this before, but this book has all the qualities I look for in a satisfying, emotionally-charged romance novel--endearingly flawed couple who have an intense connection and share a rich history, and a well-developed storyline chock full of drama, turmoil, romantic angst and sizzling sexual encounters. June's dialogue is punchy and true-to-life, and her romantic narrative is simply stellar--it's fueled with emotion and teeming with complexity and depth, and she masterfully infuses her prose with beautiful, descriptive language to engage the reader's senses, heighten the emotion/sensuality, and bring her characters to full, vibrant life!

There is a level of realism to this author's writing that is refreshingly unique, and her characters are simply unforgettable. Elsie is strong and independent, yet sweet and vulnerable at the same time, and she loves her chivalrous, long-suffering husband with every aching breath she takes. As for Henry, he is a hot, sexy, tortured Alpha hero--an ex-military man-turned rookie cop--who will capture the reader's heart...and then shatter it into a million tiny pieces. I rooted for these beleaguered newlyweds every second of the way, and these characters sure do seem to face some insurmountable odds before they finally get their HEA! But it's certainly not all doom and gloom in this book. June balances out the darker elements with plenty of flirtatious fun, sweetness and hot, erotic sex.

Bottom line: This second installment in the Disarm series is outstanding, and not to be missed. June is a very skilled, evocative storyteller and obviously has a very bright career ahead of her... She has set the bar very high with this book, but I look forward to reading SURRENDER, the next book in her DISARM series, at my earliest opportunity!
4976701
I loved this book!!!  I hope the remainder of the series is as quality as this.

The world building is pretty decent in this book, but what really draws me into any novel is believable, flawed characters.  Bleak is the lead, an often annoying drunk.  She has a loyal friend, Bren, although I'm not sure if I buy why he's so loyal.  There's an amazing cast of characters and relationships from the sweet friendship of Dash and Olenna, to the enigma that is Swinton and Fiore.  I'm excited to read book two, to learn more about other parts of this amazing world's, but mostly, to find out what happens to these interesting and real characters!
2857937
This book is wonderful! (And a quick read) It's a story of redemption and setting your pride aside for the good of others. It's also a story of grief and friendship that withstands everything.  As the book begins, you think you know how it will probably end, but as the story unfolds, you begin to second-guess whether or not you're right.  And you're not quite sure how things will weave together.  These two authors work together seamlessly. I'm itching to read more from them (both together and separately). I'm also anxious to learn more about Nikki and Matt and Becky and Ryan.
3420938
Finnikin of the Rock reminded me of my epic fantasy roots - this was the type of book that I read as a teen, the type of book that made me fall completely in love with reading. Well, I was not disappointed. Finnikin of the Rock was beautifully written and made me laugh, swoon and cry. Here's the details:

The negatives:

Figured out the twist.
This wasn't much of a negative because I didn't feel like Marchetta really did much to broadcast it (and honestly, I almost always seem to figure out the twists in books early on), but I had a feeling about one of the main twists in the book almost from the beginning. The sign of a great author, though, is when I figure out the twist and still can't wait to keep reading!! (Which was the case here.)

What I LOVED:

Strong characters.
Oh my! Was there a character in this book that I didn't love? I really don't think so. Evanjalin is an amazingly strong female character - full of fire and passion, and yet also displaying an amazing emotional depth. Her strength of character is pretty much universally admired (but not immediately - she has to earn then men's trust, which she does). The thing that struck me most about Evanjalin, though, was her constant sense of hope and perseverence. Sometimes things looked bleak, but she always believed with her whole heart that their people could be saved - and was willing to die trying if necessary. Finnikin is equally awesome. He's also strong, but he does have his flaws, making him a realistic and sympathetic character. Add in some amazing secondary characters (LOVED Finnikin's dad) and you have a recipe for an engaging story!

The worldbuilding.
I think that Marchetta did a fantastic job with the worldbuilding in this book. I felt like I had a good understanding of the political structure (which was very important) and the fantastical elements of the book - most importantly, Evanjalin's dream walking. I do hope that I get to learn a bit more about the magic in the future books in this series, but I felt like this book had enough detail to keep me happy.

The romance.
I loved that the romance in this book was slow-building and that Finnikin had to overcome some personal hang-ups before he could truly admit his feelings for Evanjalin. This is the type of book that doesn't always necessarily have a happy ending (especially not in book #1 of a series), so I was definitely in suspense, waiting to see if things would work out for the couple I had come to love.

The mystery.
I said that I figured out one of the main twists, but I still enjoyed the journey to see if I was right. And there were plenty of other smaller surprises that kept me engaged and, often, surprised!! I also loved that this book didn't end on a cliffhanger - all of the central mysteries are solved. While I'm excited to read the next book, you could read this book as a standalone (but why wouldn't you want to read them all?!).

If you're a fan of epic fantasy, you should definitely pick this one up. I'm so glad that so many people recommended this one because I hadn't heard of it before my blogging days. Now I can't wait to read the whole series! 5/5 Stars
3911780
*4.5 stars. Warning: possible spoilers*

When Lydia McIntosh is back home in small Prairie Town, North Carolina for her grandmother's funeral. The stipulation of the will: she has to stay in Prairie Town for a minimum of 6 months to "give it a chance" before leaving for good. Sounds easy, right? Sure, except that she left as Jonathan and returns as the transgender Lydia.  Almost everyone is perfectly fine with it, except Lydia's mother. And then there's Lydia's crush, Callum who she still needs to tell.

With the random town bullies to deal with, your grandmother's funeral, and your non accepting mother you'd think it'd be enough to deal with. But problems keep pilling up and tensions keep mounting. However the wonderful romance that blooms between Lydia and Callum makes it all worthwhile.

I felt as though some things were redundant (which is why I gave this 4.5 instead of a full 5). For instance I read things like "I've always been Lydia inside", "this has always been me/who I am" a few times that I felt maybe it was there too many times, but overall it didn't take away from the story too much. I also know from having a family member who's an attorney that nothing gets solved in 2-3 hours of an arrest, but it is fiction so I can overlook it.

Since having 2 transgender friends, one man, one woman (one I only found out recently!), I liked the friendship vibe I got from the story. I felt like I knew Lydia and how mean some people were being to her. When one of my friends transitioned he was still a woman, so when he'd posted a photo online for throwback Thursday I went "Oh wow - I forgot he was__). And the other I was like, "really. I never even thought..." and she and I still hang out like she never told me. B/c it doesn't matter to me who she used to be. It matters who both of my friends are now. See, it doesn't matter, folks. It really IS who you were on the inside that matters. People love to say beauty or whatever is on the outside doesn't matter, but they hear the word transgender and loose their minds! Why?

What matters is how someone acts and Lydia was such a beautiful soul that her story was moving.
3860579
RESISTANCE has two things I really enjoy: a quest, and a relationship that develops naturally over time (yeah, I'm not a fan of insta-love!).

It doesn't take long for the quest to get underway. Circumstance throws Alphonse and Mairwyn together, and they end up fleeing from knights who are after a package that Alphonse is required to deliver. They believe they'll soon be able to return to their normal lives, but tragedy strikes and the only way to prevent an even greater horror is if they continue on what has become a much greater quest.

I love that Alphonse and Mairwyn don't get along initially! They're so different that of course they would "rub each other the wrong way"! They are well-defined characters, making it easy to imagine them as real people. I was very curious about Mairwyn's past, and I was rewarded when I reached the second half of the book and the point of view switched from Alphonse's to Mairwyn's.

I love the fantasy world the author has created. Names fit people from different areas, and the descriptions of mecha and crystal-powered technology are weaved subtly throughout the story, not distracting the reader with a large info-dump.

In a review I came across before I started reading RESISTANCE, the reviewer hinted that the second book continues the story with two of the secondary characters from this book. Toward the end of RESISTANCE I had picked out my two favourite secondary characters and was hoping madly that the next book would be about them. I've since discovered that it is! Yay, I'm so looking forward to it now!
3685414
I really enjoyed it, and I thought it was a great addition to this series. I have to admit that I was a little annoyed that two books would be spent on characters and events that happened hundreds of years before the "current" storyline (so many hints have been dropped about other worlds and characters that I want to meet, and I want to meet them now!) but I enjoyed it a lot more than I had been expecting. I was quickly pulled into the story, and I think that having two books is a strength--it's still about the same length as the others, but there's a lot more that can be done with the plot and the characters without making the reader feel like they've gone from zero to sixty.

The grammar and spelling are good, as I've come to expect of Shea. The storytelling is captivating, and the main characters are distinct, intriguing, and generally likeable. The story is fast-paced without feeling rushed, and most of the characterization is believable. I'm looking forward to the sequel, and I'm just adding it to the many things that I want that are happening in 2016.

It's an awesome book, and I highly suggest reading it, but it isn't perfect. I liked where Rakel started, and for the most part I liked the path she's taken. While I don't necessarily agree with the whole no-killing thing, it's an understandable--however disappointing--character trait for her to have. What would be interesting to see in the sequel is her having to struggle with those moral codes for the sake of the greater good. I will say that a lot of Shea's female leads in this series sort of feel the same (I haven't read "Wild Swans" so I can't take that one into consideration). The heroines tend to be dry, which I appreciate, but for me Elle is still the only one to stand out. I've liked all of them, but it would be nice to have someone like Phile the Robber Maiden be the lead. My only other thing about Rakel is that I'm wondering if someone is teaching her how to find in normal people combat, because that would really come in handy, and there's no way she automatically knows how. Just because you can make an ice spear doesn't mean you know how to use it.

One minor complaint is about the love interest--it took a while to figure out who it would be. I feel bad for complaining about that since it's obviously not the focus of this (or presumably the next) novel, but I went back and forth between Oskar and Halvor until Farrin made himself a serious contender and stole the focus. Farrin seems the most likely to me, but I have my reservations.

The only other thing is the purpose that the Chosen had in Verglas. The first one they described was weak, acknowledged as weak, and then established as a cover. But I still don't think that the apparent actual reason is all that much better. I mean, was invading the country really necessary? I'll bite at the fact that they need to get through Verglas to get at it, but the invasion itself seems a little pointless. Wouldn't it be easier--and cheaper--to send in a small group to sneak through and steal the object of interest? Because, all the reasons for why Verglas isn't a good starting place for their grand takeover still stand after everything is accomplished. That line of reasoning still seemed thrown together to me, and I'm not convinced.

But, all in all, a wonderful book. Definitely recommended for fans of Shea (and for new readers!) because it's an engaging addition. Also, I appreciate the presence of Gerta and Kai. No "Snow Queen" retelling is truly complete without them.
4614905
This story had all the things I love about a Jennifer Peel novel- great characters, plenty of emotion and angst, and a strong sense of community and friendship. The story starts with Andrew's arrival into Rachel and Drew's life, and while the situation of a dad suddenly invading a single mom's realm is one I've read in several books, the twist of Rachel being the twin sister and aunt-turned-mom increased the tension and complications. The author really delves into the myriad of emotions that Rachel experiences, and I think the first person POV helps the reader connect to what she's feeling. I had a hard time enjoying Andrew's character; I think I connected a little too well with Rachel's initial feelings of mistrust and anger, and when she warmed up to him, I was still giving him a hard time in my mind, especially with the decisions he was making in regards to their converging lives. He's charming and funny, and their romantic moments are swoony, but it's the way that Rachel continues to keep him on his toes that makes their relationship lively. She is 100% the advocate for Drew's happiness and well-being, and doesn't hesitate to remind Andrew of it. The pacing slowed a little for me partway through when Rachel's' thoughts got a little repetitive, but I didn't have to wait too long for another twist to make the plot surge forward. I'd recommend this book to all fans of clean contemporary romance!

(Thank you to the author for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review)