Saturday, March 25, 2017

Whatcha Reading? (91)



A new Saturday post where you can share with us what you are currently (or just finished) reading and I will share my brief thoughts on books that I read during the previous week.




Mar 19th - 25th:



Dark Mafia Prince by Annika Martin

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads
Rating = 4 Stars


  • Definitely on the darker side -- it's not going to appeal to every reader!
  • Hero (and his three brothers) were assumed dead when their parents were killed years ago
    • A rival family -- and his father's best friend -- murdered them and took control
    • In reality, the three boys were separated -- the two youngest sent away, always with the hope they'd die, and the oldest, Aleksio, went on the run with one of his father's men
  • Now Aleksio has found his middle brother and together the two are determined to find their long lost youngest brother by any means necessary
  • The heroine, Mira, was good friends with Aleksio growing up and took it hard when he and his family were all killed. She's surprised to find him alive -- and even more so when she finds out the truth of what happened all those years ago . . . 
  • I don't wish to give everything away, but there's a lot of suspense and mystery and the plot moves quickly (without the reader ever feeling lost), setting up for the overall series arc
  • In the hands of another author, this story, and this hero, could have been garbage (He's set on cutting off her finger to send to her father for blackmail, and it's only a near miss that it's not done in the end)
    • Like I said -- dark. I know many are going to look at this and think "Ew, no thanks" and that's fine. For me, the writing, the plot, and the yes, the chemistry between these two (consensual, I assure you) worked for me
  • Definitely need to read 2 and 3 to find out how the story ends


Find all my tweeted quotes HERE


At Attention by Annabeth Albert

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads
Releases April 10th
Rating = 4 1/2 Stars
April Royal Pick


  • Apollo
    • Older (30s)
    • Widowed with twin daughters
    • Navy SEAL, now working training from base rather than deployed missions
  • Dylan
    • Younger (20s)
    • The younger brother to Dustin, Apollo's best friend and fellow SEAL
    • Had a crush on Apollo in his teens
    • Works with children -- day camp and after school program type of things
  • The original plan is that while Apollo's mother (main support system while he's working) is taking a summer vacation, Dylan will stay with Apollo and watch the girls
  • Emotions on Apollo's part as he still deals with grief and struggles with the idea of starting something with another partner, as well as "But he's my friend's younger brother and that's a no-no!"
  • Loved these two together
    • Taking care of the kids and things, spending time together after bedtime
  • Hot. As. Hell.
  • Must resist reading my ARC of 3 (June release) which is Maddox and Ben's story!


Find all my tweeted quotes HERE
My review will go up next week!


Down for the Count by Christine Bell

Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads
Rating = 2 Stars


Was flipping through my Kindle one night, trying to decide what to read -- I wanted a break from ARCs until I could get a review drafted (I don't like to do back-to-back ARCs in case I mess up review details or something) -- and I landed on this older title that I had.


Meh. It was quick, I finished it within 2 hours. There were a few fun quotes (see my Twitter link below). But really, nothing about this one stuck with me and I skimmed quite often. There was nothing that annoyed me or made me rage -- I was simply bored and as soon as I finished it, that was it, I couldn't tell you what I just read if my life depended on it. It happens sometimes.


I'm not writing Bell of yet, maybe it was this book and my mood, not all on her writing in general.


Find all my tweeted quotes HERE


Deadly Heat by Cynthia Eden


Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Audio
Goodreads
Audiobook from Overdrive
Narrators = Justine Eyre
Narration rating = 3 1/2 Stars
Rating = 4 1/2 Stars
April Royal Pick


  • First off -- a bit of a dark/gritty romantic suspense
    • You get some POV from the killer, for example
  • Definitely high suspense and action
    • Also the mystery of figuring out who the killer is
      • I was kept guessing, for what it's worth, but after I was like "Oooh, I should have seen that coming...." so I think Eden did a good job
  • Lora is a firefighter
  • Keanton is FBI, working in a special division that tracks down serials (killers, rapists, arsonists, etc)
  • He's in town because of leads on a serial arsonist/killer
  • Lora's connected to them all somehow, but how? Not that she's the killer, but she's a link
  • What I loved was that the plot and story kept my attention fully AND the romance did as well
    • Even better, this one is hot as hell, no mild sex scenes here
  • Will definitely be reading more from Eden, this was only my second (previous was years ago, a PNR novella, I think, which I liked okay)
  • Narrator: Wasn't my favorite but wasn't terrible; about average
    • I'll listen again since I assume she does the next book as well


The Governess Affair by Courtney Milan


Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads
FREE!
Rating = 4 Stars



  • Another older one from the TBR; my first time reading Milan's historicals (love her NA) and it won't be my last.
  • Quick read
    • First two chapters or so were a bit slow
    • Picked up after she flipped him off (go girl!)
      • Really enjoyed the last 60% or so of this novella
  • Their wedding night tho! The exchange of the pins to give her control and trust! *swoon* Loved that entire scene.
  • Loved their correspondence after that
  • Good start to the series, I'll definitely be reading the rest of the books. Luckily I have most on my Kindle already and, I think, my library has the others.

Find all my tweeted quotes HERE




Currently Listening To:




Currently Reading:



Kindle | NOOK | Kobo
Goodreads
Out 4/11
Almost finished!

4 Stars, review to come



Kindle
Goodreads
Finally reached the infamous four-some. :)









So what are YOU currently reading? 



Enjoy!


Until Next Time,


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  *TBQ's Book Palace is a member of both the Amazon and Barnes and Nobles affiliates program. By using the links provided to buy products from either website, I receive a very small percentage of the order. To read my full disclosure on the matter, please see this post!

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