Reviewing: Doll-baby

Doll-baby

By: Laura Lane McNeal

What It's About!

A big-hearted coming-of-age debut set in civil rights-era New Orleans—a novel of Southern eccentricity and secrets

When Ibby Bell’s father dies unexpectedly in the summer of 1964, her mother unceremoniously deposits Ibby with her eccentric grandmother Fannie and throws in her father’s urn for good measure. Fannie’s New Orleans house is like no place Ibby has ever been—and Fannie, who has a tendency to end up in the local asylum—is like no one she has ever met. Fortunately, Fannie’s black cook, Queenie, and her smart-mouthed daughter, Dollbaby, take it upon themselves to initiate Ibby into the ways of the South, both its grand traditions and its darkest secrets.

For Fannie’s own family history is fraught with tragedy, hidden behind the closed rooms in her ornate Uptown mansion. It will take Ibby’s arrival to begin to unlock the mysteries there. And it will take Queenie and Dollbaby’s hard-won wisdom to show Ibby that family can sometimes be found in the least expected places.

For fans of Saving CeeCee Honeycutt and The Help, Dollbaby brings to life the charm and unrest of 1960s New Orleans through the eyes of a young girl learning to understand race for the first time.

By turns uplifting and funny, poignant and full of verve, Dollbaby is a novel readers will take to their hearts.

My Thoughts!

I received this book through Net Galley in turn for an honest review.

It was rather odd finding this book in the New Adult category, but I'm glad that I did. This book was already winning when I started reading and I found that the story was based in New Orleans. (My Favorite Place In The World) I noticed that in some of the reviews some compared Doll-baby to The Help. This book was far better than The Help. The only reason it didn't get five stars in my personal rating was because I didn't find a memorable quote to take with me. The story was great. I liked the ending. I would suggest it to others. Great Read!

For more of my reviews..please check out my blog!

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Reviewing: Stupid Girl

Stupid Girl

By: Cindy Miles

What It's About!

Only fools fall in love...

After her senior year of high school leaves behind nothing but heartache, Olivia Beaumont is sure of this: She’s no stupid girl. She sets out for Winston College, promising herself that she will remain focused on her first and only love – astronomy. But all it takes is cocky sophomore Brax Jenkins and an accidental collision with a football, to throw her entire year off course. 

A quick-tempered Southie who escaped the inner city streets of Boston to pitch for Winston, Brax is known to play way more fields than just the baseball diamond. So, when his name is drawn to take part in his fraternity’s hazing dare, Brax eagerly accepts the mission to take Olivia’s virginity. But he doesn’t plan on falling hard for the sweet and sassy Texas girl who sees right through his bad-boy persona. 

As Olivia and Brax battle their feelings for each other, echoes of the past year begin to surface. A boy who once turned Olivia’s whole world upside down reappears, and “harmless” pranks wreak havoc. Pretty soon the aspiring astronomer is on the verge of revealing her most difficult, heartbreaking secret. All the while, Brax must wrestle with the irrevocable dare, and Olivia struggles against all logic as she does the one thing only a stupid girl would do: fall in love.

My Thoughts!

I received this book through Net Galley in turn for an honest review.

I stayed hooked on this book pretty from the beginning. I enjoyed how easy it was to stay focused and connected with the characters. I liked Olivia, because she was different. She was sure of who she was as a person. She didn't judge people by their outward appearance and didn't make quick judgments at face value. Brax had some issues with being possessive and a bit overbearing, but I think Olivia needed a little protecting after her past boyfriend. She worked for everything she had and always put her family first. I respect that in a heroine. Now this book would have had a higher rating if I had some memorable quotes to take with me. Also the whole Boston accent explanation at the end of Brax's speaking was very annoying. We get it. He's from Boston. He has a major accent. I'm pretty sure everyone can hear it as we read and imagine. We don't need it spelled out every.single.time. So good book. Light read. I'm open to reading more from Cindy Miles in the future. 

For more of my reviews... Check out my blog!
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Reviewing: A Shade of Blood

A Shade of Blood

By: Bella Forrest

What It's About!

In A Shade Of Blood, Bella Forrest transports you deeper into a unique, enthralling and beautifully sensitive story. Prepare to be lost in its pages…

When Sofia Claremont was kidnapped to a sunless island, uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet, she believed she’d forever be a captive of its dark ruler, Derek Novak.

Now, after months of surviving an endless night, the morning sun may soon rise again for Sofia. Something has possessed Derek’s heart and he offers her a gift no human slave has ever been given in the history of his cursed island: escape. 

High school, prom and a chance to move on with her life now await her. 

But will she be able to forget the horrors that steal her sleep away at night? … and the feelings that haunt her for that tormented prince of darkness?

My Thoughts!

I purchased this book through Amazon almost instantly after reading the first one. I was honestly a bit disappointed. I thought that maybe this book would help me have a better relationship with the characters as they developed. I didn't. Ben was a bit pushy and selfish. Derek didn't really have me cheering in his corner either. I wasn't rooting for any of them. Although the vampires shared some glimpses into their past to try to have us understand them and their actions a bit better, I still couldn't connect. The twist with her dad...I totally saw coming. So the element of surprise wasn't there. I didn't find any memorable quotes to outshine other books. Unfortunately, the cliff hanger ending didn't keep me hooked. This is the last book I will have read in the series. 

For more of my revews...check out my blog:
thelatenightlamp.blogspot.com

Reviewing: A Shade of Vampire

A Shade of Vampire

By: Bella Forrest

What It's About!

On the evening of Sofia Claremont's seventeenth birthday, she is sucked into a nightmare from which she cannot wake.

A quiet evening walk along a beach brings her face to face with a dangerous pale creature that craves much more than her blood.

She is kidnapped to an island where the sun is eternally forbidden to shine.
An island uncharted by any map and ruled by the most powerful vampire coven on the planet. She wakes here as a slave, a captive in chains.

Sofia's life takes a thrilling and terrifying turn when she is the one selected out of hundreds of girls to join the harem of Derek Novak, the dark royal Prince.

Despite his addiction to power and obsessive thirst for her blood, Sofia soon realizes that the safest place on the island is within his quarters, and she must do all within her power to win him over if she is to survive even one more night.

My Thoughts!

This book had high reviews and actually popped up on my newfeed through facebook. Readers compared it to Twilight so I decided to give it a try. I think I paid 99 cents for it. No it's not my favorite book out there, but it wasn't horrible. It kept my attention and the different idea of "The Shade" was interesting. The characters weren't that memorable,but with the way the book ended I have to find out what happens next. 

For more of my reviews...check out my blog:
thelatenightlamp.blogspot.com

Reviewing: The Mean Girl Apologies

The Mean Girl Apologies

By: Stephanie Monahan

What It's About!

You know that catchy song you keep hearing on the radio? It’s about you.

Natalie Jamison has spent five years trying to forget the girl she was in high school: popular, pretty…and, okay, mean. Now in her twenties and living once again in her small town, she’s right back where she was: following Queen Bee Amber and keeping secrets from her best friend, Sarah.

Secrets like Jack Moreland.

Everyone knows Jack Moreland—his new album, Good Enough, is everywhere. He’s famous. Impossibly handsome. Completely untouchable. But what none of Natalie’s old clique knows is that in high school, Natalie and Jack fell in love. And their secret relationship was incredible, painful—and earth-shattering enough to inspire an entire album.

Facing friends and enemies isn’t easy, but Natalie will go to great lengths to prove she is good enough—to her friends, to herself, and most of all, to the small-town boy turned worldwide heartthrob she never forgot.

My Thoughts!

I received this book through Net Galley in turn for an honest review.

I just finished this book and I had mixed feelings on the rating. I enjoyed the read, but there were a lot of grammar errors. Like tons. Yet...I appreciated the easy flow of the book. I am definitely open to reading more of what Stephanie Monahan puts out there.

Who really knows themselves in high school? Not many people do. Your constantly caught up in material things and self image. Instead of the future, it's all about the here and now. I hated girls like Natalie in high school, but I couldn't be mad at her. So many girls are forced into that please the pretty popular ones, just so they aren't the ones being made fun of. I didn't really have a lasting meaningful relationship in high school. Even when I did have one right out of school, I made mistakes. Tons of them. You hurt people in the process. Natalie got a second shot to make things right. Sometimes our first loves mean more than we think they do. Some of us get it right the first time. I'm glad Natalie got the chance to be happy. To be with the person she truly loved. And that Jack got closure and an old wound healed. I enjoyed their story. I didn't find any quotes that stuck with me and I doubt I will read it again, but I didn't regret my time reading it. 

Reviewing: Wounded Courage

Wounded Courage

By: S.M. Butler

What It's About!

He chose a military career...
Navy SEAL Eamon Murphy regrets never kissing his best friend's sister at graduation. Addison kept him twisted in knots growing up, with her vivacious smile and her gorgeous curves. He thought he was over her. But finding her at the wrong end of his gun three years later is only the beginning, and Murphy just might have to break all his rules to keep her safe.

She chose adventure...
Addison Hardy enrolled in her university's exchange program to prove she wasn't just the family black sheep. How was she to know her exotic French boyfriend would be the son of an international arms dealer? Or that his murder would land her in the custody of one brooding SEAL with a chip on his shoulder?

Now it might be too late for them to choose love.
Their chemistry is flammable--and potentially explosive--but there are complications, silly little things like Addison being arrested, Murphy's unwavering devotion to duty, and all her dead boyfriend's enemies out to kill her. But the final conflagration might not be at all what they're expecting.

My Thoughts!

I received this book through Net Galley in turn for an honest review.

I was really excited for this book. Especially because I read and connected with the first one. I have to say I was a bit let down. I just couldn't connect with Addison and Murphy. I didn't understand why she wouldn't cooperate with the seals. I mean it's not like they were strangers and she wasn't sure of their intentions. It was her brother and their lifelong good friend on the team that rescued her. The fact that she physically tried to fight them off and escape the navy seal compound was a bit laughable and unrealistic. Also the ending was farfetched too. No the book wasn't horribly written. Yes I read it. I wouldn't refer it to anyone or read it again. It didn't change me. I wasn't rooting for the couple. I liked the first book in the series much more. So I'm open to reading another book in the series. I just hope things get back on track. 

Reviewing: Crave

Crave

By: Violet Vaughn 

What It's About!

Casey Cassidy is a girl who gets what she wants.

Determined to get over Jason and find a man that wants a family, she moves to Breckenridge, Colorado.

Landing a job skiing every day, Casey finds Blaine Johnson - a wish come true. A hunky surfer turned ski instructor, he checks off every requirement on her list.

Except for the one she forgot to add.

Blaine has a secret. A secret so big it keeps intimacy smoldering, when Casey needs fire. No matter how hard she tries, the embers won’t ignite. Can she live without passion to get the family she craves?

When Jason comes to town, Casey questions everything she wished for. Their consuming love threatens to explode and ruin her dream. Will she have to choose between a family and the love of her life?

My Thoughts!

I received this through Net Galley in turn for an honest review...

It seems like Casey is always in relationship turmoil. She gets with a guy. Things go wrong. Then she runs back to her ex-boyfriend, Jason. Jason is seemingly the perfect guy. His only problem is he doesn't want to have children. Honestly I've found that very few young guys want kids. They usually grow to want them in the future. If they don't, that doesn't change them being the love of your life. Whether they want kids or not shouldn't change anything. I know it wouldn't matter to me, but maybe it's different with others. Anyway my problem is she kind-of picks up Jason then drops him when she doesn't need him anymore. She totally used him. He was like a sick puppy. She hooks up with him, then leaves him to go be a ski instructor somewhere.

The whole Blaine ordeal I figured out from the get-go. Not much mystery there. I mean affection shouldn't be an issue in an adult relationship. ESPECIALLY if you are talking of getting married. Hello?! Warning.Warning. Why didn't her internal alarm go off at that? So the book wasn't bad. It kept me interested. I just wasn't invested in the characters the way I should be. It didn't captivate me. It didn't change my way of thinking. I'm not better for reading it. I honestly don't think I would even remember it enough to refer it someone.