Review Request Status: Closed

I just want to take a minute to make a formal post about my current status on reviews. I have now closed my doors to review requests for the period of time it takes me to get through the books I have accepted for review recently. For all requests I get from now until the time I open back up, I will refer those authors to my review policy for them to keep an eye on my status to watch for it to be open.

There is one exception to this recent status change. As stated near the top of the policy, while I’m closed to book review requests, I will still be open to requests for shorter story stories. This is stories of a couple thousand words. This does not include novella length work or longer “in-between” short stories. That’s a little vague on the lengths I know, but it’s hard to pinpoint a cut off. So, if you’re looking for a review of a short story, please use your best judgement and I’ll see if it works for me

Thank you to all the authors who’ve considered me for reviewing their book so far, and for all those in the future. I enjoy getting to review books because I enjoy reading. I also enjoy being able to help out authors find an audience and get feedback on a book, and I think it’s great if I can get some readers to take interest in a book or two.

For those interested in requesting, still, for short stories, here’s a link to my review policy. You can also find it above, under the Review tab.

REVIEW POLICY

#Review: Picture Perfect, by Alessandra Thomas

Title: Picture Perfect (Picturing Perfect #1)
Author: Alessandra Thomas
Rating: 5/5 Stars

“(This book contains sex and adult language.)

Fashion design major Cat Mitchell has a closet full of gorgeous clothes – and not a single thing fits. After two years of runway modeling for easy cash, an accident shattered her lower leg bone and her self-esteem in just one swift fall. Ten months of no exercise, prescription steroids, comfort eating and yoga pants meant returning to campus as a size twelve instead of her former size two.

When her gorgeous long-time friend with benefits sees her for the first time after her accident and snubs her in front of all her friends, Cat’s self-image hits rock bottom. Her sorority sisters all insist that she looks gorgeous, but all Cat sees is the roll of her stomach when she sits down, or the dimpling at the back of her thighs that wasn’t there last year. Cat’s therapist prescribes something radical to stop the downward spiral – nude modeling for a nearby college’s human form drawing classes…” (read the full description over on Goodreads)

Something about this book caught my attention early on. With just the blurb along, I had a feeling that this book would be different than most of what I’ve been seeing lately. I wasn’t mistaken.

Picture Perfect is about a young woman coping with a life-changing event. She gained weight after an accident and the way she lives and views herself in life is altered drastically. While this is also a romance, there’s much more to the novel. Some of the concepts brought up range from being comfortable in your own skin, acknowledging what an actual ideal weight is, and more important than some other things, people can change in a variety of ways.

When I started this book, while I was excited, I had a slight worry that I wouldn’t be able to get into it because of a whiny main character. Cat was not whiny, big plus. I’ve read a few books in the past that have gotten annoying to continue reading due to a main character always whining about an issue like weight, that that type of voice has me putting down the book and moving along. As I said, Cat isn’t like that. She’s troubled, and she doesn’t have great self-esteem, but she’s not a whiner. At the heart of it, Cat is a strong woman who just needs a little push and a reason to find herself in this low point.

Nate’s also a great character. Really, most of the characters encountered in this book were great. Again, I wasn’t disappointed with Nate’s character. I’ve gotten a little jaded with seeing the stereotypical troubled, slightly abusive bad-boy love interest, that the female character melts into a puddle for. Nate’s refreshing. He’s a nice guy. I’m not saying he’s perfect, no character should be perfect, but he’s a little something different than most “book boyfriends” that I’ve run across.

Oh, and did I mention that there are a few sexy scenes? Well, there are. While some readers might be turned off from having “semi-graphic” (by that I really just mean that it’s described with a very mild erotic flavor, not that it’s creepy or over the top) sex scenes, I feel that it was a great tool to show Cat’s development over the course of the novel. I won’t get into specifics, but I’ll just say that through sex, one can explore the body and find comfort in one way or another.

So, yes, I enjoyed this novel. It was what I was expecting and more, to be honest. There’s a second novel coming out soon, which stars Cat’s roommate, Joey, who I didn’t really mention in here, but she’s fun and I’m looking forward to reading her story.

You can grab a copy of Picture Perfect from:

Amazon | B&N

About the Author:

Alessandra Thomas is a New Adult writer who swears she was in her twenties yesterday. Since that’s sadly untrue, she spends her time looking back on her college years fondly, and writing sexy stories about guys and girls falling in love and really living life for the first time.

When she’s not writing, you can find her with a spoonful of ice cream in one hand and the newest New Adult release in the other.

Picture Perfect is Aless’s first New Adult novel. She had so much fun writing it that it definitely won’t be her last.

Find out more:

• Website
• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon Author Page

Review: Sweet Treats, by Suzy Ayers

Title: Sweet Treats
Author: Suzy Ayers
Rating: 5/5 Stars

“Follows Cristal Blue…
These 4 erotic tales involve a happily ever after or a happily for now. The last one is a sweet surprise that follows up on Cristal Blue.

Romp through these stories and enjoy the sexy sweetness with them.

Each story intertwines and contains explicit and graphic sex, as well as light BSDM themes. For Adults 18+

Warning there is: anal sex, rough sex, short ménage, interracial sex, M/F, M/F/F and love. So if your not interested turn away, otherwise enjoy.” (description from Goodreads)

Sweet Treats is a short collection of stories by Suzy Ayers that act as a follow-up to her short story Cristal Blue. I enjoyed that story, and was also pleased to read this collection.

As with Cristal Blue, Ayers has written some hot scenes in Sweet Treats. She’s even upped the sexiness by throwing some ménage and other elements into the encounters. What else does the reader get from these stories? The great thing about them is that minor characters from Cristal Blue get their own stories now. It was great to explore who they were and see them in action.

The final story in this collection was a direct continuation of Cristal Blue and possibly my favorite in Sweet Treats. It’s told mostly from the POV of the male lead from Cristal Blue, and was a great way to keep that story line going. No spoilers though, I’ll just say that it was a welcomed continuation and I’m glad I didn’t hesitate to pick up this collection.

Would you like a copy of  Sweet Treats? You can grab a copy from:

Amazon | Smashwords | B&N

About the Author:

I grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and a lot of my romance novels are based in the New England area. I’m a wife and currently a stay at home mom.

I write romance across many genres including: Fantasy, Paranormal and Erotic. I have some erotic short stories that twist into happily ever after’s. My writing is focused around love, although not always in the conventional way.

I love to read and devour books at a rapid pace. I’m also passionate about music; you’ll find me singing everywhere. I’m that mom in the SUV singing next to you. When I remember, I practice yoga. I love to laugh and be surrounded by people who make me laugh. My other creative outlet is cooking.

Find more from:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon Author Page
• Smashwords Author Page

 

Review: Cristal Blue, by Suzy Ayers

Title: Cristal Blue
Author: Suzy Ayers
Rating: 5/5 Stars

“Word count 5023
Cristal Blue is a one night stand kind of girl, who picks up her willing victims at the bar she works at.

It’s been far too long since she’s found a man to bend at her will, to please her. And it doesn’t seem like tonight, Valentine’s Day, she will find anyone either. Everyone will be out with their sweethearts. Hmmm…yum who is this eye candy?

Tonight though, this Mistress is surprised to find herself losing her hardened edge…

–See the title Sweet Treats for her happily ever after.–

Contains explicit and graphic sex as well as light BSDM themes. 18+” (description from Goodreads)

If you’re looking for a sexy read with a well-written power struggle, Cristal Blue might be the story for you.

Ayers sets up the character Cristal Blue as the dominant in all her sexual encounters, but things don’t go as planned this particular night, Valentine’s Day. The guy she brings home with her affects her in ways that challenge her normal role in the bedroom. While there’s a power struggle between who’s dominant during the encounter, there’s also the struggle between what Cristal normally wants and what her body is allowing to take place. That made the story that much more enjoyable for me.

There’s not much more to say about this because it’s short and I’d be spoiling the rest for you, but it’s made me check out more of Ayers works, and I’m currently reading (and enjoying) her follow-up to Cristal Blue, Sweet Treats.

If you’d like to read this story, you can find it for FREE from the following stores:
*free at the time of posting*

Amazon | Smashwords | B&N

About the Author:

I grew up on Cape Cod, Massachusetts and a lot of my romance novels are based in the New England area. I’m a wife and currently a stay at home mom.

I write romance across many genres including: Fantasy, Paranormal and Erotic. I have some erotic short stories that twist into happily ever after’s. My writing is focused around love, although not always in the conventional way.

I love to read and devour books at a rapid pace. I’m also passionate about music; you’ll find me singing everywhere. I’m that mom in the SUV singing next to you. When I remember, I practice yoga. I love to laugh and be surrounded by people who make me laugh. My other creative outlet is cooking.

Find more from:

• Twitter
• Facebook
• Goodreads
• Amazon Author Page
• Smashwords Author Page

Review: Unelmoija, by Elle Boca

Title: Unelmoija, The Dreamshifter
Author: Elle Boca
Rating: 3.5/5 Stars

“While her mother is out of town dealing with a difficult situation she leaves Amy, her teenage daughter alone in Miami. The girl discovers something startling about her family and that she is a member of a human like race with special powers. Little does she know that even among those people her powers are so unique someone may want to kill her.

*Note: Unlike most of what I read/review on here, this story is yet to be published, or have an upcoming date. I’ve received an advanced copy for review. Keep an eye out for more information on it’s availability in the future. 

I’m always interested in picking up work by new, or soon to be new, published authors. When Elle Boca came to me with this story and i’s premise, I took the chance at it. I’m glad I did. Boca has a great story here, especially for a début.

Unelmoija is the start of what I feel can be a great series, and in finishing it was wanted to read more. Boca sets the reader up with characters that are likable. Some are a bit mysterious and this adds to the overall story as it unfolds. I especially liked the paranormal element to Amy’s race, the “parahumans.” While it might not be the most creative name, Amy’s ability in particular was something that intrigued me. I won’t reveal what it is because it’ll be better for a reader to see it first hand, but it’s something I’d like to see explored more in the future, and I have no doubt that it’ll come into play. To go along with the parahuman’s power is the mention that there must be a balance in using their abilities. I found the various ways in which this is accomplished to add to the story.

While I enjoyed the story, there were some things that didn’t work for me as a reader. The dialogue at times was a bit rough around the edges. For the most part it flowed right on through, but it could get a little repetitive in what was being said or lacked in certain ways. Something else that fell flat at times was the language use. Synonyms could have added a bit to the reading. I recall one sentence in which the same noun was used multiple times , when I feel that changing it up a little with another word could have been beneficial.

I can’t get into detail about this next part, but I feel it needs a vague mention. The ending, which I always try to avoid discussing, was a little awkward. To me it just stopped in mid-paragraph, or at the very least, in mid-scene. The story was wrapping up, so that wasn’t an issue. It leads into a (possible) next story. But when I was reading, I felt that I was missing, maybe, a few more sentences to finish it all up.

Despite some issues I had with this story, I can see great potential is the story that Boca presents to us. Amy’s life is an interesting one, and I can see how it can soon get much more interesting, even possibly to an epic proportion later on with some hints at what this race of parahumans is capable of.

About the Author

You can find Elle Boca over on Twitter.