Job Found: gray scrubs

I found a job. And I start my official orientation in a few hours...so no time to expand. 5AM comes too early for these late night. But I am now officially working as a CNA. You guessed it, in gray scrubs.

 

 

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Book Review: Need by Sherri Hayes

 

Need (Finding Anna #2) by Sherri Hayes (Goodreads Author)

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Summary via Goodreads: As Brianna comes to terms with the realization that she is no longer a slave, she must figure out what she wants for her life. Forgetting her past isn’t an option. It is an integral part of who she is now, and it will forever shape her view of life. The one thing she knows is that she cannot imagine her life without the man who saved her, but can she be what he needs?

Stephan never imagined falling in love with the woman he rescued, but the thought of her no longer being part of his life is physically painful. The scars from her past continue to haunt her, and he is helpless to stop them. All he can do is try to help her work through the traumas of her past. Can he be everything she needs and help her move on?

The two must figure out how to navigate not only their relationship with each other, but also the outside world. A friend from Brianna’s past shows up where she least expects them, and Uncle Richard continues to enforce his well-meaning agenda to get Brianna more traditional help. As forces, both friend and foe, threaten to tear them apart, Stephan and Brianna have to navigate the turbulent waters and find what they need in each other.




4 Stars

My Thoughts: If you've read my freakout review of book one, you know that Slave made me an emotional, confused, crazy wreck. Need didn't have quite the same effect on me, because I'm a little more familiar with this genre now. However, that's not to say that Need didn't deliver, because Need delivered in a huge --yet-- different way.

The highlight of this book was two things: 1) seeing Stephen and Brianna push slowly towards growing their relationship, 2) and seeing Brianna adjust and embrace her freedom.

Stephen is one of the most patient and gentle characters that I've ever read, especially when dealing with Brianna and her fears. And though Brianna has improved a lot, she is still deeply broken and scared. He works hard to help her readjust to society, pushing her some, but also knowing her limits. More than that, seeing him introduce her to a 'real' loving relationships was moving. Like make my heartmelt in a puddle sweet. He makes her talk through her fears and builds her trust. This book steps up the sexual moments from the first, but it wasn't anything over the top. Instead, Stephen goes at the perfect pace with Brianna and it just made me love him all the more.

Brianna still has a ways to go, but she does grow a lot throughout Need. She becomes more comfortable with herself and with Stephen. It warmed my heart when she would go to him, or approach him with questions/concerns -- she was pushing past her fears into trust. We get more references to Brianna's past, which aren't overly detailed -- thank God, I don't think I could handle that -- but still show some harsh abuse. It makes my heart hurt to read about the details. And I feel very protective over her as a character. Which of course, makes her triumphs and growths all the better.

The only thing that didn't set right with me was one punishment scene. It wasn't necessarily harsh, but it mad me extremely angry with Stephen's character. Minor Spoiler ---> The texting him every hour didn't really bother me. However, the making her sleep on the floor just didn't seem beneficial. It felt overbearing, and like she was "below" him. It just didnt set well me.<---End Spoiler But Brianna becoming more comfortable with Stephen and with being around him as a result made me quickly move past my irritation with Stephen.

Need is a quick, emotional read. Like the first book, it does end on a cliffy, but I felt overall happy with the general outcome of this book. It stirs up some deep emotions and represents the genre with great characters, twist, and a lovely plot build. Besides Stephen is one of he sweetest doms (but still has his alpha moments) that I've ever read, you don't wanna miss out on that :)

*This copy was kindly provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Announcement: In Her Wake by K.A. Tucker

Fans of K.A. Tucker's Ten Tiny Breaths, we have a SUPER exciting announcement: On September 1, 2014, Atria is releasing a PREQUEL NOVELLA to Ten Tiny Breaths that tells the story from Trent's point of view! It's called IN HER WAKE, and we cannot wait one more breath to read it!

About IN HER WAKE: Cole Reynolds had it all. And then one night he makes a bad choice... and loses everything.When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he'd be able to lean on his best friends. The best friends that have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they're gone. Worse, there's the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys. Everyone assures him that they know it wasn't intentional and yet he can't ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. The all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won't so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip of what once was important-college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It's not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness. And there's only one person who can give that to him... Are you as excited about this as we are?? And...this is going to be available at the great price of $.99!!

 




And while you're at it, pre-order the gorgeous paperback of FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE, hitting bookstores on 4/1!


Amazon * Barnes and Noble * Indiebound * BooksaMillion * Simon & Schuster

 

About FOUR SECONDS TO LOSE: Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine year old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that. Twenty-two-year old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting anddancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her doesn’t need to complicate her life with romance. Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.  

 

 







ABOUT K.A. TUCKER: Born in small-town Ontario, Kathleen published her first book at the age of six with the help of her elementary school librarian and a box of crayons. She is a voracious reader and the farthest thing from a genre-snob, loving everything from High Fantasy to Chick Lit. Kathleen currently resides in a quaint small town outside of Toronto with her husband, two beautiful girls, and an exhausting brood of four-legged creatures.

 

 

 

LINKS:

Blog: http://www.katucker.blogspot.ca/
Website: http://www.katuckerbooks.com/
Author Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/#!/K.A.Tucker.Author?fref=ts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kathleenatucker
Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4866520.K_A_Tucker
FOUR SECONDS TO LOSEGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17571140-four-seconds-to-lose?ac=1
Atria: http://imprints.simonandschuster.biz/atria

 

 

 

 

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Book Review: Unintentional Virgin by A.J. Bennett

Unintentional Virgin by A.J. Bennett

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3 Stars



If you're looking for a fun, quick read with some sexual tension and a bit of steam give Unintentional Virgin a go.

Quick Summary

Karma's goal before she turns twenty is to lose her virginity. Living with her two dads, not working a job, and dealing with a judgmental mom, has done a number on Karma's self esteem though. Best friend Eva to the rescue with a planned club night, where Karma can find her a man.

Not having much luck with guys in the past, Karma is surprised when the good-looking, tatted bouncer at the club is actually interested in her. Only problem? The tough as nails, ex-boxer cannot justify taking Karma's virginity in an one night stand. He's momma raised him better than that. Not able to let the gorgeous girl walk out of his life or leave disappointed, Jax strikes up a deal with Karma instead. If she spends three weeks dating and getting to actually know him, then they'll have sex.

Jax and Karma

The fact that Jax actually acted like a gentleman was SO refreshing. And made me instantly love his character. Especially, when we got a glimpse of his past and his family. Karma is crazy and fun. She has her shy moments, but she mostly speaks her mind very openly. Which caused for a lot of smiles and some laughs. And the two of them had some hot chemistry together along with tons of sweet moments. Since it was dual POV, it was great having a chance to be inside Jax's and Karma's head to see their feelings.

The Message


A.J. Bennett did a wonderful job on interweaving some great messages throughout Karma's story. Loved seeing Karma face her fears and deal with body image issues. For me, these were very relatable problems. And the "lessons" were not overly pushed on the reader, but there for the reader to gleam if they are open. Additionally, it was nice that story wasn't just about sex but actually had some backbone and meat to the plot.

The Facts & The Flow


I found some elements of this story hard to believe, and not just the guy acted like a gentlemen. I actually think that their are some decent guys remaining out there *crosses fingers*. More so, the details about different action scenes were a little fuzzy to me. Not in that I didn't understand, it was drawn out clearly, but just the reactions. Does anyone really give an armful of blood, PASS OUT, wake up right after and feel fine? This is just from personal experience though, I give blood a lot and almost always feel like a dog after. There was a couple other moments like that, let's be honest I was nitpicking tiny details, but it kinda bothered me. The flow of the story felt kinda choppy at points. And I felt like the transitions from one moment to the next were a little rough. However, if you look past the flow (cause the detail thing is apparently my own twitch), there is a solid story and group of characters.



Unintentional Virgin is a quick read, that will have you chuckling and routing for Karma from the start. With fun characters and emotional message, the plot is fast paced with a fair dose of action. A great read!




*Thanks to NetGalley and Indie Inked for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

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Book Review: Days of Blood & Starlight by Laini Taylor

 

Days of Blood & Starlight (Daughter of Smoke & Bone #2) by Laini Taylor

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5 Stars

“A dream dirty and bruised is better than no dream at all.”

Days of Blood and Starlight again showcases Taylor's distinct talent for prose. The way this books flows and reads is a masterpiece in and of itself. Almost lyrical, but still very real and to the point, her writing easily captivates. Add in unique characters and plot, and this series can easily be described as one of the best YA fantasy books around. No question.

The Sequel
Even though I have read Daughter of Smoke and Bone, it has been a little while. And diving back into Karou's world in Days of Blood and Starlight was challenging. Laini Taylor created such a diverse and interesting world that it took a while for my brain to adjust. However, the author did give enough hints and "recaps" for me to piece together and recall my memory. Taylor is still a weaver, and the plot slowly unfolds like a puzzle as each individual piece is placed. And then built upon in a later chapter till you finally have the whole picture.

The Romance (Zuzana and Mik)
Days of Blood and Starlight was very light on the romance. That would be the biggest difference from the first, and it was something that I missed a lot. There is an abundance of serious moments filled with action and times sorrow. Appropriate for this book, but heavy at times none the less. Zuzana and Mik did provide some breaks from this heaviness with laughter and a bit of romance. Both Zuzana and Mik are some of my favorite characters. I enjoyed every scene that they were in, laughed a lot, and just generally loved them both. (Can't wait to read their novella.)

The Action(Karou and Akiva)
Even though this isn't a romance, the novel still pulls at heart strings. Seeing this bleak world so full of pain and hate is gutting. The monsters and angels both have vile and frightening moments. Even at times gory. Karou and Akiva are on opposite sides of the war, both wanting redemption. Both fighting and doing their part for their side, even at times when it hurts themselves. Both characters are well developed, broken, but still holding on to hope.


I've not discussed much in the way of plot. But just like the first, Days of Blood and Starlight is book that is best opened without much previous knowledge and with an open mind. Everything about this book is magical from the writing to the plot. Days of Blood and Starlight was just as enchanting as the first, but the plot had a darker edge. Monsters, Angels, Wars, Death, Revenge, Life, Love, Hope, Friendship, Magic. This series weaves an intense journey highlighting the difference between hope and despair.


*Thanks to NetGalley and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers for providing this copy in exchange for an honest review.

 

| Review of Daughter of Smoke & Bone |

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TTT: Popular Authors That I've Not Read (yet)

 

Meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish.

The sad thing -- or not so sad thing -- is that I own all of these book (with the exception of Jenny Han's). My name is Jenna and I've a book buying addiction. Wait, you do too? Whew, glad I'm not alone. Now just to get these awesome books read. Ten popular authors that I've yet to read:

YA:

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Veronica Roth

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Colleen Houck

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Jenny Han

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Tahereh Mafi

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Veronica Rossi

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Huntley Fitzpatrick

Non YA:

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Krista Ritchie, Becca Ritchie

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Emma Chase

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Sylvia Day

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Gillian Flynn

I know, I know. There are some great ones here. Which one of these should I pick up first?

 

 

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