Review: Beast by C.M. Seabrook

Beast by C.M. Seabrook
My rating: 3 of 5 stars
Published: April 2019

 

Abbott Savage is very mercurial. But one constant in his life has been his love for London. He loves her so much that he knows he's not right for her. Giving her to his best friend, Kyle. Now Kyle has died and London is pregnant with his child. What is Abbott to do? He doesn't want anyone else to take care of London, but he has so many demons in his past, he's not sure if he can take care of her himself.

Thank you to C.M. Seabrook for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I wish I would have known that this was part of a series, now I want to read the rest of the Savage's stories.

Abbott is also known as The Beast of Port Clover. He's a boxer, who uses his fists inside and outside of the ring. The only constant in his life is London. She's been in his life for most of it and knows his heart better than anyone. Can Abbott put his life of debauchery aside in order to get the girl he's always wanted? In this book, I really felt for Abbott. His heart is damaged from his own doing and he doesn't see that it can be healed.

I will definitely go and read the rest of this series.

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book and series, or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

When Do You Start the Rating Process For Reviews?

So I posed a question to a group I’m in on Facebook about when you feel you know how many stars you are going to give a book.  Some people said they had to wait until the very end, some said a few chapters in, and some don’t rate at all.  

For me, when I’m about a third of the way through, I think I can get a sense of how I’m feeling. Of course that could change as I continue to read, but usually I stick with the rating at that time.  For me the first thing that goes into my rating scale is how I’m feeling while reading the book.  If I start reading, and I don’t want to do anything else, but find out what is going to happen, then the book is definitely going to be a 5 star rating for me, unless something kills it in the end.  I four star book is one that is also hard to put down, but there is just a little something missing.  Most books I rate get either 3 or 4 stars.  Three is for a book that I read, I enjoyed it mostly, but it didn’t really spark any excitement in me.  2 stars is for a book that I finish, but something is horribly wrong with the writing, like run on sentences or weird wording, something that distracted me from the overall story.  I rarely give out a one star, usually this is for books I don’t finish that I’m not going to attempt to read again.  

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

When I’m rating a book, I do take in consideration, that someone has spent days, months, and in some cases, years, trying to get their story out into the universe. I’ve tried myself a few times to write a book, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for me.  I have a few ideas, but nothing that I’ve ever sat down to formulate properly.  

So, here’s my question to you, when do you start rating your books?  Do all books start off with 5 stars and you take away as you go along?  Do you start with a blank slate and rate as you go along?  Or, do you wait until the very end and then give a rating?  Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Happy Reading!! 📚📖📰📜

Review: You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn

You'd Be Mine by Erin Hahn
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars
Published: April 2019
 

 
Clay Coolidge and Annie Mathers are country singers. Clay is kind of a bad boy and the only way his record label has agreed to keep him on, is if Annie agrees to go on tour with him for the summer. Annie is a great singer, but her parents were in the business and she's not sure if she wants to follow in their footsteps. But when Clay shows up on her doorstep, she feels like she has no choice but to join him. Being on tour the two learn things about each other, they don't like to share with the world. Will this tour help them to find the healing they are both needing, or will it just make things worse.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

You'd Be Mine is a cute love story about two very young country singers. Annie is the daughter of a famous country couple who died. She doesn't want to be compared to her mother at all, which is why she has chosen to stay out of the spotlight for so long. Clay has his own demons in his closet and is a bad boy in the business. The fans swoon over his songs and his gorgeousness, but they don't know the person behind the music. Annie sees Clay and that scares him.

This is the first book I've read by Erin Hahn, and I look forward to reading more of her books. This one was cute. Since most of the characters in this book were under 21, I don't know if I would categorize this as a YA book. The underlying subject matter deals with drug overdose, suicide, and death through war.


View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

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.

View all my reviews


To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Review: The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves

The Girl He Used to Know by Tracey Garvis Graves
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Published: April 2019

Annika Rose is a beautiful woman living in downtown Chicago. She is 32 years old and she is pretty happy with her life. When she is reunited with Jonathan, her first boyfriend who had disappeared from her life 10 years ago, her world is turned upside down. She has grown so much since the last time she saw Jonathan, but she still has feelings for him. When they decide to give things another try, Annika and Jonathan learn more about themselves and each other than ever before. Will love win this time, and is Annika really different from the girl he used to know.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Heros & Heartbreakers for the opportunity to read and review this book.

I've said it many times on my social media while reading this book, that I devoured it. This book grabs you right from the start and draws you in for the long haul. Full of things that will make you laugh, make you cry and even make you gasp. Once I started reading this book I couldn't put it down. I had to find out what was going to happen.

In the story you find out that Annika is a little quirky and that is because she is on the Autism Spectrum. I could really relate to this part of the story, since I have a child on the spectrum myself. There are some people who will accept the quirky habits and learn more about the person and there are others who are cruel and who just won't understand.

The story starts when Jonathan runs into Annika after 10 years in the grocery store. The story flashes back and forth from current day, which is 2001 in the book, to 10 years previously when Jonathan and Annika first met and the development of their relationship. I think this is a book everyone will enjoy.

  

View all my reviews

To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

Winning Wednesday--Bookish Giveaways!!

Happy Wednesday Everyone!!  I have so many amazing giveaways to share with you this week.  From books to trips around the world.  Look carefully at the dates when the contest ends.  Some are ending very soon.  Let's get started.

Enter for you chance to win an $100 Amazon Gift Card.   Brought to you by the Swords & Spaceships Newsletter on BookRiot.  Swords and Spaceships is the bi-weekly sci-fi/fantasy literture newsletter.  You must sign up for the newsletter in order to win. 

Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 30th

Enter for your chance to win big in LitRing's Always In My Heart Giveaway just in time for Mother's Day.  Win the items pictured.  

Open Internationally--Ends April 12th

Enter for your chance to win a trip to the South of France.  You could win 

$300 towards a luxury hotel stay courtesy of Trip Hop

$250 towards travel courtesy of Bright Cellars

$150 towards Bastide's beauty & lifestyle collection that celebrates the extraordinary artisans and terroir of Aix-en-Provence.

5 tickets towards upcoming Alice's Table workshops featuring the South of France Collection

Brought to you by TripHop

Open to US Residents only(except Alaska, Hawaii, Rhode Island & DC)--Ends April 13th

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 25 advanced copies of the books above.  Call Your Daughter Home by Deb Spera and The Woman in the White Kimono by Ana Johns.  Brought to you by Harper Collins

Open to US Residents Only--Ends today April 10th at midnight.

Enter for your chance to win the prizes pictured in LitRing's It's Raining Books Giveaway.  

Open Internationally--Ends April 11th.

 Enter for your chance to win a signed audio book of Call Me By Your Name by Andre Aciman.  Read by the movie's star Armie Hammer.  Brought to you by Macmillan.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 15th

Enter for your chance to win a trip to the Bahamas.  Imagine reading your books on the warm sand under an umbrella!!!  Win 5 days/4 nights at the Melia Nassau Beach All Inclusive Resort plus $1800 in airfare voucher. Brought to you by Shefinds

Open to US Residents Only(except Alaska & Hawaii)--Ends April 30th

Enter for your chance to win a signed copy of The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern.  Brought to you by Read It Forward. Open to US Residents only--Hurry Ends tonight at midnight April 10th

Enter for your chance to win a trip for 2 to Mexico for a Foodie Getaway.  Grand Prize winner gets:

Three-night stay for two guests at The Cape, a Thompson Hotel, in Cabo San Lucas

Dinner for two at chef Enrique Olvera's signature on-site restaurant, Manta

Intimate cooking class for two with Manta's executive chef, Abisai Sanchez

Intimate and educational mezcal tasting for two with The Cape's in-house mezcalero, Daniel Quezada

$750 for travel expenses

Brought to you by PureWow

Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 30th

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 5 signed advanced copies of Last Summer by Kerry Lonsdale.  Brought to you by the author.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 11th

Enter for your chance to win a copy of  A Danger to Herself and Others by Alyssa Sheinmel.  Brought to you by Sourcebooks. There is not information about when this giveaway ends, so enter today!!

Enter for your chance to win an Advanced Copy of Tell Me Everything by Cambria Brockman. Brought to you by Penguin Random House.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 11th

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 3 copies of My Lovely Wife by Samantha Downing.  Brought to you by PureWow.  This contest is on Instagram, so you will have to have an account & friends to enter.  Open to US Residents only--Ends April 12th

Enter for your chance to win 1 of 50 Advanced Copies of Fix Her Up by Tessa Bailey.  Brought to you by Harper Collins.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 15th

Enter for your chance to win an audiobook digital download of I Know Who You Are by Alice Feeney, read by Stephanie Racine!  Brought to you by Macmillan.  Open to US Residents Only--Ends April 23rd

Enter for your chance to win the all new Waterproof Kindle Paperwhite.  Brought to you by BookDoggy  Ends on April 20th. 

Enter for your chance to win all 20 of Linda Fairstein's Alex Cooper Crime Novels, including her latest Blood Oath.  Brought to you by Linda Fairstein Ends May 1st.

Good luck!! "May the odds be ever in your favor!"  

**What 'Cha Readin'? is not responsible for any of these giveaways.  Please read the official rules on each giveaway for more information.**

Audio Book Review: Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson

 

Allegedly by Tiffany D. Jackson
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Published:  January 2017

Mary Addison was nine years old when she allegedly killed 3 month old, Alyssa Richardson. Now, it's 6 years later and Mary finds herself pregnant with her own child. She doesn't want anyone to take the baby from her, but who would allow a baby killer to keep a baby. Mary is now living in a group home for juvenile girls. When she turns 18, who knows what is going to happen with her. She has always been a smart girl and is determined to turn her life around and make something of herself, for her and Bean(what she calls the baby). Mary doesn't talk much, but when she finds a way that may help her to keep the baby, she starts talking about that night and filling in gaps that the police were always missing in the story. Will Mary be able to walk away from these charges for good, or will they stick?

I have heard a lot of raving about this book, so I had to pick it up. This is the first book by Tiffany D. Jackson and it was amazing. I can't wait to read the rest of her books which I hear are just as good if not better.

Does a nine year old little girl have the ability and know-how to kill another child? Many people had different ideas about the type of child that Mary was. She was very quiet and very smart and took care of her mother. But did Mary really kill Alyssa? She loved Alyssa and Mrs. Richardson, so why would she hurt the baby? All through the book, you have a soft place in your heart for Mary. I was dying to find out what really happened that night according to Mary, and it took a while to get to that part.

Looking at Mary's life through the group home and back and forth from present day to the night of the accident and the investigation following you have to make your own decision about what truly happened and who is to blame. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and can't wait to read more from Tiffany D. Jackson.

View all my reviews


To learn more about this book or to order a copy, click the book cover below:

 

Add the book to your Goodreads Shelf: