Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Mia's Return

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 Mia’s Return: A Vampire Ménage Urban Fantasy Romance (Destiny's Trinities 2) 
  
Alex has a past he’d rather no one learns about…until Mia returns.
Ten years ago Alexander hungered for Mia Menendez and for a single day they had indulged that passion before tragedy struck. Now Mia is back, but she thinks Alexander died ten years ago, and no man has been able to stir her heart since. The truth could kill her.
Wyatt Whitacker, demon hunter, hates Alexander and all his kind. But one look at Mia and her pulse-stopping curves and his scarred, angry heart begins to melt and his body to rouse in ways he’s long forgotten.
The bonding has begun...

 Review

****The author via NetGalley provided me with a complimentary copy for my honest review****
Mia's Return is the second novella in the Destiny's Trinities series.
Mia has always loved Alexander, fantasized about his touch even before she was experienced enough to be touched. Alexander always kept his distance, Mia was too good for him. He got himself wrapped up in the criminal games that would put her at too much risk. Not to mention, her brother would have him killed for touching her. When his criminal working catch up to him, Mia gets the news that Alexander has been killed, so why is she seeing him 10 years later in a crowded elevator? Her life is further changed when she meets a mysterious, handsome and scarred man named Wyatt who reveals Alexander's secrets, and has an important role to play of his own.
Mia's return is much better than the first one. I really feel strongly that these novellas would be so much better if they weren't so rushed. The bonding is rushed, the sex is rushed, the action and fact finding is rushed. There is just too much story to cram onto so few pages. Luckily my problem with not enough character development in the first one wasn't as bad here, there was more focus on the characters since the world building was already established. The other characters are all fun but so so for me, however I loved Wyatt. Unfortunately, we didn't meet him till 50% in but he is by far my favorite character. The story is an interesting one, a creative world of trinities and a war brewing but the dialogue and actions sometime feel cheesy. The writing bothered me because it would transition from choppy, almost reading like a manual to elaborate and almost like it was written in another time. I definitely enjoyed this one more than the first. I was really hoping to love these since the genre fits me perfectly.



Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Viva Zapata & the Magic 8-Ball

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 Viva Zapata & the Magic 8-Ball: A motivational tale of personal transformation with humor, adventure, and friendship. 
 
Four women face their flaws, fears, and futures when they meet in person for the first time for a girl's weekend in Las Vegas. Each gets a bit more than they bargained for as they get to know one another over three days in Sin City. Truths come out to prompt change as they learn that life is less about the cards in their hands than the way they play the game.
In the end they realize that there is more about them alike than different and that anything is possible with friends who support their journeys. Three days, a Mexican revolutionary, and a Magic 8-ball that came along for the ride later, they each leave Las Vegas different than when they arrived.

Sometimes what happens in Vegas can't stay. 

Reviews

I'm not going to summarize the book because I can't do it without giving away some major spoiler and I don't want to ruin the book.Full disclosure I bought this book when I went to a convention and added it to my TBR pile, I figured I would read it when I could but then the author was looking for a PA and we started talking. Before I agreed to become her PA I read this book to make sure I could get behind it. Before I even finished the book I knew I wanted to help this author because it was that good. These four women have become friends online and although they bonded they didn't reveal all their deepest secrets and fears. It's not until Abi, Dani, Margo and Meredith are together that they fully open up about what they really want and need. These women are all flawed characters, they each have insecurities and these little things that they carry with them are things that every woman can relate to. I loved how they supported each other, yes while there was some friction they were saying and doing things because they genuinely cared for one another. I loved this book and it is an inspirational story that makes you think about not only yourself but also your friendships.