Beauties and The Book: 4 Star Review

Showing posts with label 4 Star Review. Show all posts

Saturday, February 4, 2017

New Release & Review - Defy by L.J. Shen - Jill Mac

Title: Defy

Series: Sinners of Saints #0.5

Author: L.J Shen

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Published: February 3, 2017

My name is Melody Greene, and I have a confession to make.

I slept with my student, a senior in high school.

Multiple times.

I had multiple orgasms.

In multiple positions.

I slept with my student and I enjoyed it.

I slept with my student and I’d do it all over again if I could turn back time.

My name is Melody Greene, and I got kicked out of my position as a teacher and did my walk of shame a la Cersei Lannister from the principal’s office, minutes after said principal threatened to call the cops on me.

My name is Melody Greene, and I did something bad because it made me feel good.

Here is why it was totally worth it.

Defy is a smutty, insta-love, insta-lust short novella. Defy is a prequel to Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1). It is recommended, but unnecessary, to read Defy before reading Vicious.

Jill's Review

✰✰✰✰

HOLY HOTNESS.

So LJ is quickly creepin up on my favorite authors list. I LOVE HER BOOKS. Defy was great. You're introduced to Jamie and Melody in book one of the Sinners of Saint series, Vicious. (if you didn't read Vicious yet what the hell are you waiting for?) So you know about their forbidden relationship but no details. AND I LOVE DETAILS. When I saw that Defy was coming out I was so excited because I love anything forbidden and god does LJ know how to do forbidden. You know what I love more than a forbidden book? AGE GAPS. I FREAKING LOVE AGE GAPS!!!
Back to the book. THIS BOOK WAS HOT. Jamie is effing delish. Honestly all of the hotholes are. I thought LJ did such a fabulous job in giving us the full story of these two. Even though it was short it didn't feel like I was reading a novella. I can't say it enough. The chemistry between Jamie and Melody was just uncontrollable. They honestly couldn't stay away from each other if they tried. I loved them so much that the whole book I completely forgot their ages and was just rooting for them the whole time. And Jamie. GODDDDD. I love alpha males esp with some asshole in them. Jamie is all alpha. Him and his dirty mouth are just to die for.

This book was great. You should absolutely read it. Even though it's a #0.5 in the series, you could definitely read Vicious first. Either way works. But no matter what you should read Vicious too because f**k, Vicious is just such a sexy asshole.

I'm aware that this review doesn't say much about the actual book, but that's because you should just experience it yourself. I promise its worth it.

LJ girlllll you are now a favorite of mine and I can't wait for the next hothole!

<3 Jill

"It was sexy and steamy and everything I've come to expect from this author." - Ariana, Steamy Reads Blog.

"Holy Heck this was Hot!! If I wasn't hooked on this series before I sure am now!! These boys just get dirtier, hotter, off the rails panty wetting hot!!" - Kitty Katz Crazy About Books.

"Forbidden romance has never been so well done! And this is a novella!" - Stephanie, Tied Up In Romance.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

L.J. Shen resides in sunny California with her husband, son, chubby cat and wild, wild dreams.

Her passion is to write badass stories, sushi, UFC and her awesome family and friends (not in this order, though. Obviously, sushi comes before writing. Oh, and also the family part.)

She spend the first half of her twenties traveling the world and is now paying all the fun with extra shifts in front of her MacBook. Feel free to contact her on her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her readers.

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Thursday, December 29, 2016

Sparrow by L.J. Shen ~ Review by Jill Mac

Troy Brennan

Every Southie in Boston knows that name. The son of a dead mobster. The heart-throb with steel-blue eyes. "The Fixer" who can make or break you in this city.

Oh, and my new husband.

Sparrow Raynes

That's me. No one seemed to remember my name up until he barged into my life.
But then he caged me.
Kidnapped me.
And killed every chance I had to run away from the place where we grew up.
Put simply, Troy Brennan clipped my wings.

I have dreams, big ones, but I doubt he'll ever let me chase them. I have no idea why he decided to take me as his wife. But I do know this: pissing off this man will not do me any good. At all.

Sparrow is a standalone, full-length novel. It contains graphic violence and adult situations some may find offensive.

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

This was my first LJ Shen book, and it will definitely not be my last. I really enjoyed this story. I have to admit in the beginning I was skeptical because I really wasn't sure what it was about. (Lately I've been starting books without reading a synopsis). But I was pleasantly surprised.

Troy and Red's relationship was anything but conventional. It was all types of *fucked up*. One thing I absolutely loved about this book was the kick ass heroine. I'm a sucker for a heroine who isn't weak. So one that fights a battle she knows she probably won't win is a quality I love. And speaking of strong characters, Troy was a delicious alpha. I love a good asshole hero and Troy was definitely that. (I mean this in the best way possible.)

All in all Sparrow was a great book. It had all the qualities of a great book. Dry humor, suspense, angst, and a whole lot of sexy!

Once I was hooked I didn't stop reading until the book was finished. When I saw the words "The end" I didn't want it to be over. I wanted more of both Troy and Red. I will absolutely be reading more of LJ Shen!

- Jill

L.J. Shen is a #1 Best-selling author of contemporary romance books. She lives in California with her husband, son and lazy cat.
When she's not writing, she enjoys reading a good book with a glass of wine and catching up on her favorite HBO and Netflix shows.

Yeah, she's a badass like that.

Keep up with L.J. on all platforms:
Newsletter Sign up ➜ http://goo.gl/FwfMzr
Facebook➜ https://goo.gl/fKCSo4
Twitter➜ https://goo.gl/ceV3RQ
Goodreads ➜ https://goo.gl/T4YU71
Website ➜ www.ljshen.com
Instagram➜ https://www.instagram.com/authorljshen/

Tuesday, February 23, 2016

Blog Tour & Review ~ RoomHate by Penelope Ward ~ Jill Mac

Swoon-worthy Justin Banks is FINALLY HERE in

RoomHate by Penelope Ward!

AVAILABLE ON ALL RETAILERS:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1WGimRX

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1PysqdM

iBooks: http://apple.co/1PgsvE7

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1POvSnW

Nook: http://bit.ly/1PLGnSL

Blurb

From New York Times Bestselling Author, Penelope Ward, comes a new standalone novel.

Sharing a summer house with a hot-as-hell roommate should be a dream come true, right?

Not when it’s Justin…the only person I’d ever loved…who now hates me.

When my grandmother died and left me half of the house on Aquidneck Island, there was a catch: the other half would go to the boy she helped raise.

The same boy who turned into the teenager whose heart I broke years ago.

The same teenager who’s now a man with a hard body and a hardass personality to match.

I hadn’t seen him in years, and now we’re living together because neither one of us is willing to give up the house.

The worst part? He didn’t come alone.

I’d soon realize there’s a thin line between love and hate. I could see through that smug smile. Beneath it all…the boy is still there. So is our connection.

The problem is…now that I can’t have Justin, I’ve never wanted him more.

Author's note – RoomHate is a full-length standalone novel. Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Jill's Reveiw

RoomHate was such a great story. After devouring Jake and Skylar's books, I became a fan of Penelope. When I saw RoomHate, I knew I had to read it.

God this book was so effing hot!! Everything about Justin was just incredibly sexy.

As the synopsis describes, RoomHate is the story of two close friends, who had a huge fallout. Years later they are each given partial rights to a house. Being together again after so many years just brings back so much emotion.

The relationship between Justin and Amelia was just a great one to witness. They clearly had some unresolved issues they needed to work on. Justin was obviously too hurt by whatever happened in the past, to even want to make a mends at first. It was really heartbreaking at times, because you so badly just want them to make up.

Though they were never together in the past sexually, god their relationship was so SEXUAL. I know that doesn't make sense, but like they was some serious pent up sexual tension between the two.

What I really enjoyed was the banter between the two. Though they had issues, and most of the time were bickering, they had an easiness. I don't want to compare it to a brother sister relationship, because it wasn't anything like that. More like really close friends that just need to have angry sex and love each other again!

RoomHate is the story of two friends who were never honest in what they really wanted. It is about forgiveness, pain, happiness and overcoming the past. It was such a roller coaster of emotions, but an amazing story to witness. A great friends to lovers, second chance book!

I really enjoyed Justin and Amelia's story!

<3 Jill Mac

RoomHate Excerpt

Copyright © 2016 by Penelope Ward

His eyes darted to the side, and he noticed me standing there. We just stared at each other. It was ironic, but the only times I could ever feel the remnants of our old connection were in fleeting moments of silent eye contact. Sometimes moments of silence spoke the loudest.

I left him alone again, making my way back down the hall and into the restaurant to tend to the customers I’d been ignoring.

Things really started to get busy. Without Jade working tonight, we were short-staffed, and I was having a hard time keeping up with the orders. Sandy’s had indoor and outdoor seating. Normally, I would only be working one section, but tonight I was going back and forth between the two.

It was nice out, so I knew they would have Justin performing outside. I kept glancing over to the small stage to see if he was there. It was past eight, and he hadn’t made an appearance yet.

Sometime close to eight-thirty, I was in the middle of serving a large party of ten when I first heard it: the chilling sound of a soulful voice that was not familiar in the least. He gave no introduction. No warning. He just started to sing out the first few words, followed by the strum of his guitar. The song that Justin had chosen to start with was a cover of Ain’t No Sunshine by Bill Withers.

The entire room soon quieted down, and all eyes were on the stunning blond male specimen with the spotlight shining down on him. Despite the fact that I was carrying a large round tray of dirty dishes, I couldn’t move. The vibration of his thick, smoky singing voice had completely paralyzed me, penetrating my body and soul.

Aside from the lone teardrop that fell the night he lost it on me during steak dinner, I hadn’t shed any more tears—until now. It was all too much. Hearing how different his voice sounded, how he’d trained it over the years, was a wake-up call as to how much I had missed. All of the hours of practice that must have gone into honing that beautiful voice, and I wasn’t there for any of it. The guilt, the emotions, the reality of a decade gone…everything started to pummel me at once. Not to mention the song—about a girl leaving. It probably had nothing to do with me, but in my mind, it sure as hell felt like it did.

About the Author:

Penelope Ward

Penelope Ward is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author. She grew up in Boston with five older brothers and spent most of her twenties as a television news anchor, before switching to a more family-friendly career. She is the proud mother of a beautiful 11-year-old girl with autism and a 9-year-old boy. Penelope and her family reside in Rhode Island.