Audio Book Review: The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang

The Kiss Quotient by Helen Hoang
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: June 2018

Stella Lane is an econometrician for whom, math is the most important thing. For Stella, her relationships with people aren't as great. Nearing her 30s and at the top of her game at work, her parents are encouraging her to find a boyfriend. But Stella has been on a few dates and even had sex, but none of it interests her. She doesn't like to be touched or to be dirty, so that complicates matters as well. On top of all of that, she as Asperger's, a form of autism. In order to get better at sex and people, Stella decides to hire and escort. When she meets Michael, things are a lot different with him. Is it because she is paying him or is it something else?

I absolutely loved this book. So much so that I went out and bought the newest in the series, The Bride Test before I was even finished with this one.

As you may know, I have a child with Autism and reading books fiction or non-fiction that give me a little more insight into what is going on in his brain, always make me feel like I get to know him a little better. Stella doesn't always say and do the right things, but that is what makes her so lovable. I think everyone who reads this book will fall in love with Stella.

The Kiss Quotient had me wanting to know what was going to happen with Stella. Was she going to find the love she wanted? Was her relationship with Michael going to be just temporary? Will Michael stop helping Stella if he finds out about her labels? I laughed, and cried during while listening to this book. I was happy for Stella for going for what she wanted and making her own happiness.

I think I've found a new favorite author!! I will read everything she writes.


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Review: His Demand by Lisa Renee Jones

His Demand by Lisa Renee Jones
My rating: 2.5 of 5 stars
Published: February 2019
Series: Dirtier Duet #1
 

Gabe Maxwell doesn't like redheads or relationships, but when he meets Abigail, all of that goes out the window. But Abbie, as he likes to call her, isn't as sweet and innocent as she may seem. She has a past that could get both of them hurt. Abbie's ex is a billionaire and determined to make her life a living hell just to get what he wants. Gabe has enough of his own money to fight any man who wants to hurt Abbie or her family. But what Gabe doesn't know can hurt him and Abbie doesn't want to see that happen.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lisa Renee Jones for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I have read a few books by Lisa Renee Jones, but this one missed the mark for me. Most romance books I'm able to fly through in a couple of days, but this one I just couldn't.

I think the thing that bothered me most about this book is that Abbie kept saying how she shouldn't be with Gabe because of her past. Every chapter, this was the recurring theme. They both know they are bad for each other, but the connection is great, so they try to work it out. Their main focus in this book is the numerous problems that keep arising with Shannon's(Abbie's mom) animal shelter. Abbie's ex is so determined to take this property from her, that he makes lots of false accusations. But this is the only thing she has asked for in the divorce, so he doesn't know why it is so valuable to him.

The saving grace of this book is the end, that leaves you with a cliff-hanger to find out what his going to happen next. So I will read the next book in the series.

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Audiobook Review: The Party by Robyn Harding

The Party by Robyn Harding
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published: 2017

Being a teenager is hard. You believe that all the events that are taking place now are going to be the end all of your life, but it's just the beginning of life. For Hannah, she wants to be a part of the cool kids so bad, she decides to invite a couple to her modest 16th birthday party. Nothing extravagant, just a few teenage girls in the basement for pizza and sleepover, what could go wrong? But when an unfortunate accident leaves one girl badly injured, the whole school will be turned upside down.

Hannah and Ronnie had been friends when they were little. As they grew older, they grew apart. Now Ronnie is part of the popular crew at school and Hannah is dating a popular boy, but still has her more down to earth friends as well. When her two worlds come together at her birthday party, chaos ensues. Given the house rules, everyone at the birthday party breaks them. They drink, take drugs, invite boys over and Ronnie gets seriously injured. After the incident, Hannah is torn between wanting to retain her popularity and keeping her friendship with Ronnie.

What would you do if a child was seriously injured while in your care? What if their parents wanted to ruin you financially, no matter how the child felt about it?

For me, I wasn't sure whose side I was on in this book. I knew I was on the side of the kids. I was a young dumb kid at one point in my life, doing all the things these kids did at this sleepover. The kids understood that what they did was wrong and dumb and that they had to deal with the consequences of their actions. I don't think that I met any people who have turned on their friends the way the kids in this book do. If something happened to my child at a party, I don't know if I would try and get money out of the other family. I don't think I could do that. But I've never been in that situation.



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Audiobook Review: Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

Sweetbitter by Stephanie Danler

My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Published: 2016


Tess has just picked up her entire life in Ohio and decided to move to New York City. She has no plans, no job, but she knows she has to get away. When she arrives in New York, she already has a
place to live lined up, but she has to move quickly to find a job. She drops her resume at several coffee shops and restaurants and hopes for the best. When she come upon one of the best restaurants in the city. She's sure she won't have a shot with this place, but what is there to lose? She is pleasantly surprised when she is invited to train.

It took me a while to get through this book. Vacation was a big part of it and another part was that I just didn't find myself drawn to the story. I think those in the restaurant industry will appreciate this book. My husband, who isn't a reader, was intrigued by the story as I was listening to it once when he was in the car. The main reason I decided to pick up this book was because I was interested in the TV show on Starz after seeing the previews. I had to read the book first before I could watch the show.

So after a month, I finally got through the book. I'm not sure I would ever want to work at a restaurant after this. All the drinking, drugs and sex that goes on. It seems like everyone is sleeping with the everyone else and no one seems to care. I'm sure if I was younger this book would be more appealing to me.

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Review: Dares, Lies and Geminis by Kat Alexander

Dares, Lies and Geminis by Kat Alexander

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Published: May 2018

Tristana and Peter live as roommates in a boarding house in Virginia. When they first meet, there is an instant connection between the two. Tristana, though, is too involved in her work and Peter is still working out issues of his own after the death of his brother.

Seraphina is a club girl who likes going out and finding the bad boys. Men that are willing to cheat to have a piece of her. Nathan stand on the sideline and watches her, trying to figure out why she is doing this to herself. But he is always there to step in in case there is a problem.

Will these couples ever get their lives together in order to be much happier as partners instead of singles? Will Tristana be able to break out of her shell around Peter? Will Nathan ever reveal himself to Seraphina and tell her his true feelings?


Thank you to Kat Alexander for the opportunity to read and review this book. She is now on my list of authors whose books I'm going to get without reading the description.

I was hooked on this story from the start. The characters are intriguing and I could totally identify with Seraphina. I was very anxious to find out what was going to happen with these characters. Then about half way through the book BOOM!!! The atomic bomb was dropped on the whole story. Usually when reading book, you know a twist is going to come or you can guess what is going to happen next. I didn't see this coming at all!! From that point on, nothing in life mattered except finding out what was going to happen next.

I can't say much more without giving away spoilers, but if you like a romantic novel with a huge twist, pick up this book today. It released May 29, 2018.

Author Interview

WCR: Where is your favorite place to write?

KA: I have to be at my desk, in the quiet, with a cup of coffee within arm’s reach. No music, no television blaring in the background, no social media to distract me, phone muted. If I’m really into a scene, then outside noise doesn’t get to me. If I’m struggling, though, people better back up really slowly.

WCR: Which character from this book do you most identify with?

KA: This is going to sound bad, but Seraphina. She acts brave, but she’s really not. She puts on a good act, though. She can immerse herself into the character she needs to portray and pulls it off really well. That’s how I feel when I’m in social situations. Game face is on, yet I am totally uncomfortable around people I don’t know.

WCR: Besides your own, what is your favorite book(s)?

KA: Typical answer: there are so many!!! For real. However, my two most favorites are The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas and Katherine by Anya Seton. I recommend those two books to everyone.
With The Count, I love how well-played Edmund set up the chess pieces to gain the vengeance he deserved. Dumas must have taken a lot of time to orchestrate that book.
With Katherine, the book is a real-life account of a true love story. It’s beautiful. Then, to find out that the historical figures, Katherine Swynford and John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, are my nineteenth great-grandparents! that just makes this book so much more special to me. I appreciate all the research Seton must have done to make this book real and accurate


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Review: Vengeance by Zane

Vengeance by Zane
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Wicket is a world famous performer. She dazzles crowds wherever she goes and she's sold more albums than most artists. She is known to her friends, which are very few as Ladonna Sterling and even fewer know her as Caprice Tatum. When Caprice was 15 years old, she was brutally attacked by the people she trusted. Having been cut as a young girl by her mother her life hadn't been the easiest, but she never thought anything like that would happen. Now as she approaches her fortieth birthday she hopes to get vengeance against those who wronged her.

It has been a while since I've read one of Zane's books. I used to read her books a lot when I was in my early twenties. This book took quite a different turn that I wasn't expecting. There is always sex involved in her books, but this one was not the same.

Wicket has a lot of issues that have stemmed from her childhood. She has never gotten the kind of therapy necessary for the type of trauma she has experienced in her life. Now she has issues with intimacy and finds it difficult to connect with people in general. Sure her fame as a little to do with it, but trust is not something that comes easily.

The book started out slowly for me. But once Wicket made her big move, it started to pick up. This young lady had been through a lot of hardship in her life. Without those things, she may not have made it this far in her life, but no one should have to go through all of that to find happiness. Zane always made me look at events in my life to know that things can be much worse and for a lot of people out there they are.

Zane had a new book released earlier this year that I can't wait to read Three-Piece Meal: A Novel

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Review: Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones

Escaping Reality by Lisa Renee Jones
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Amy Bensen is on a plane to Denver to start a new life when she meets Liam Stone. From the moment she first lays eyes on him, there is something about him that she is instantly drawn to. Knowing she is on the run, will she be able to trust Liam in order to share a life with him, or will she always be on the run from a past she is uncertain about.

Thank you to NetGalley and Gallery Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Amy Bensen has only been Amy Bensen for a few hours. She received a notice from her handler that it was time to move on, since he had found her. Now she is on the way to a new city to start a new life and she has no idea how that is going to work. Having to look over her shoulder all of the time and always be on alert for someone lurking around a corner is no way to live. But this is the only way she has to survive now. Meeting Liam on the plane to Denver has her thinking about this man in a way she has never thought about anyone. Can he be someone she will be able to trust or is he a part of the people who are after her.

Amy is hiding a lot about her past. Some things she remembers and other details are foggy in her brain. Sexy billionaire Liam Stone, makes somethings disappear from Amy's mind, but only briefly. Their instant connection scares her.

This book reminded me a little of Fifty Shades of Grey. With the intensity of Liam Stone and his controlling personality, and of course the sex. Overall the book was interesting and I'm curious to see how it will all end for Liam and Amy. If she will find out what happened in her past and if she can start to live normal life again. Will she be able to do that with Liam, or will he be the person who keeps her from finding the truth?

The other books from the series are Infinite Possibilities, Forsaken, and Unbroken.



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Review: The Other Side of the Pillow by Zane

The Other Side of the Pillow by Zane
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

For most of the relationships Jemistry has been in, they have been abusive and she ends up hurt, physically and emotionally. After so many years of this she decides to take the rest of her life into her own hands and builds a wall around herself and stay single only have a few friends with benefits, to fill her needs. That is until she meets Tevin Harris. Will he be able to tear down the wall Jemistry has built around herself or will she repeat her past patterns of bailing on a relationship just when things seem to be going well?

I have read quite a few of Zane's book in the past, but it has been few years since I have read one. This I will say is now one of my favorites. The Other Side of the Pillow was a great love story that most women dream will be a part of their lives. To meet a man who is understanding of your past, butwill love you because of the future you will build together. Jemistry meets Tevin after she finishes reciting a poem called "Bitter". Shortly after they meet, though, she drops the two men she's been having casual sex with for the past couple of years.

The thing I liked best about this book, is that is gives you the hope that there is love out there for everybody sometimes in the place you leastexpect it. Learning to trust is not the easiest thing to do, but when you find someone you can trust completely then it's a magical thing. Tevin helped Jemistry to break down the wall she had built and learn to love again, but will the love and trust last.

Each chapter started with a quote about love, here are a few of my favorites:

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