Review: The Sound of Us & Steal My Breath Away by Sarah Castille

 The Sound of Us (Havencrest U #1)

 

 A Star is Born meets Good Girl Complex in this angsty, deeply emotional, heated romance perfect for fans of Colleen Hoover. 

They say music is a universal language…Skye Jordan thought she had it all figured out. Eighteen months ago, she was in college and dreaming of a basketball career. But in a split second her world fell apart. Now she’s back at Westfield U, broke and desperate. She has no use for sexy, bad boy musicians who kiss her senseless. . . until she lands an internship at the radio station where he works.

DJ Dante Romano has lost every person close to his heart. All he has is his music. Consumed by guilt and driven by vengeance, he has no time for love, and yet the fiery new intern who shares his passion and feels his pain tempts him like no other. For Dante, Skye is off limits. And yet from the moment he meets her, he can’t turn away.Soon their scorching attraction develops into something deeper. 

Together they could make beautiful music, but will their untold secrets force them apart?

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What I thought about The Sound of Us

Skye Jordan had dreams of playing basketball, but those dreams are lost, sending her back to college. She needs a job and finds one at the local radio station with DJ Dante Romano. He's got working through some things of his own and this brings Dante and Skye together as they try to figure out what they want in themselves, in their lives and in a partner.

Music form the backdrop of this story through the radio station and as a coping mechanism to provide solace to their respective past circumstances. Even though Skye and Dante should stay away from each other as coworkers, they can't help themselves. They have a somewhat dysfunctional relationship, with Dante using his past trauma when he needs an excuse and Skye enabling him. Pretty much the usual new-adult themes of moving from young adult to adulthood and dealing with everything that comes with it. After some inst-attraction, there's some steamy moments between Skye and Dante to spice things up.Somewhere along the way, they give each other what they need.

This was an okay story for me. I like the music backdrop, but I thought both characters were immature and that made it hard to love them. The first half was a bit slow as well, so I didn't get invested in these two characters like I want to in a romance. Overall, just okay story but it may appeal more to a younger reader.

Steal My Breath Away (Havencrest U #2)

 

New York Times bestselling author Sarah Castille brings another angsty, deeply emotional, heated romance that blends Ana Huang’s Twisted Games with Katherine Center’s The Bodyguard.

Emotions run high, but the tempo thrums higher as music, heat, and angst collide between a singer and her bodyguard.

Haley Chapman has struggled against rules all her life. As the daughter of a senator, she’s expected to finish her college degree, but music is her one true love―the only outlet she has for her wild, impulsive feelings.

When Haley becomes the target of a brazen kidnapping attempt linked to her mother’s high-profile Senate career, the Senator insists on round-the-clock protection. Having a security detail follow her around college feels like overkill, but the Senator has the perfect solution.

Ace Murphy was her brother’s best friend, and a former Air Force pilot, now working in personal security as a celebrity bodyguard. He was also Hailey’s teenage crush and the man who abandoned her when she needed him most, breaking her fragile heart.

Now, as Ace poses as her boyfriend on campus, their personalities clash. He may be her protector but to Haley, Ace is just another obstacle to her freedom and a painful reminder of the past. But as the threats escalate, their forced proximity ignites a connection they can’t ignore—one that could either save them or break them all over again.

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What I thought about Steal My Breath Away

In this second book in the Havencrest U series from Sarah Castille, Ace plays bodyguard to his best friend's sister Haley when she goes to college. There's some history between them, with Haley crushing on Ace in her younger life. The story is told in dual point-of-views and with a dual timeline so that the reader can understand what happened in their past.

As with the first book in this series, I found these characters to be a bit immature. Haley is naive and Ace is closed off, which doesn't make for a good pairing, but their past connection through Haley's brother keeps them tethered together.

I found Haley's circumstances a little difficult to believe as her mother is a political figure with someone after her, and therefore, Haley needs a bodyguard. There's an insta-attraction between Haley and Ace that takes a while to get sorted as they do the push-you-away / pull-you-back-in game. I've been disappointed in the lack of maturity of these characters in both books in this series, and I know that this author can do much better, so I hope if there are more installments, that the main characters would have some modicum of maturity.

Overall, the typical bodyguard story, complicated with second chance romance and forced proximity between Haley and Ace. I was rooting for them, but the story was a bit predictable, so that took the wind out of this reader's sails. 

 

Review: Rush Week by Michelle Brandon

 

An irresistible, juicy contemporary novel based on the TikTok phenomenon #BamaRushTok—about four sorority sisters brought back to the top-tier house they ruled at the University of Alabama, when secrets they’d thought long buried threaten to resurface.

Four sorority sisters. Each with dark secrets. They must stop the unexpected opening of a time capsule created as part of a sorority rush ritual that was supposed to hold their deepest secrets buried forever...

Five years after they thought they’d said goodbye forever, a group of sorority sisters find themselves back at the University of Alabama for Rush Week. Some return to rekindle their friendships, and others to keep long silent secrets from being exhumed. Unbeknownst to them at the time, the infamous “Spill Book” they wrote confessions in as a trust (hazing) exercise over the years was placed into a time capsule—now it’s been stolen, and the anonymous thief is threatening to expose them all on Bid Day.

Rush Week is a juicy, wild, drama-packed novel filled with good—and not so good—girls behaving badly, dark humor, and sexy scandals. As the sisters navigate their present and not-so-distant past, unbreakable bonds of friendship are put to the test, and regrettable mistakes threaten to change everything if exposed. But perhaps if they confess their sins to each other, they can begin to mend not only themselves, but their sisterhood— before the world finds out just how wicked they are. 

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What I thought about Rush Week

Four sorority sisters return to their alma mater to circumvent the reading of the infamous "Spill Book" that could ruin them all!  Sounds like a terrific premise for story, and I was hooked as soon as I read the description.  

The story is told in multiple point of views, and with a now-and-then timeline, so it takes a little bit of time and effort to be sure whose voice you are reading.  That was the first problem I had with this book.  The content was exciting as they describe how much this scandal this Spill Book can bring to them, but I had to work to figure out who exactly was telling the story.

These characters, Taylor, Annabelle, Brooklyn and Asana aren't the most likable characters either with all their privilege, but they may appeal to the Tiktok crowd.  I really thought that the opening of the time capsule seemed to be happening too soon and that some of this was far-fetched, but I decided I'd stay on the ride. 

Overall, I liked the story content, but found that the pacing was a bit slow and dragged things down for me and the unlikable characters annoyed me.  I did like the incorporation of today's technology and social media.  

 

 

Release Day Review: He Falls First (Colburn Bros #1) by Jill Shalvis

 

No one is going to convince her to fall in love again...

Ryder Colburn has his hands full running the family business and caring for the ailing father who’s a virtual stranger from the cold, heavy-handed man he used to be. He’s got zero free time for hobbies or women. Or so he thinks until one walks into his life… and the path of an oncoming car.

Ryder doesn’t mind playing the hero for the skittish, scarred chef Penny. Maybe it’s the secrets in her eyes or the scar on her chin. Whatever the reason, he’s compelled to get closer.

Penny’s learned her lesson and now she’s paying the price. That’s why she’s sharing a dilapidated house in a tiny California town with her feisty grandmother and tween brother living off the leftovers from her catering job. It’s a far cry from her dream life. But who needs dreams… or love… or sex when there’s amateur plumbing projects to tackle and breakfast casseroles to bake?

One thing’s for sure, she’s never falling in love again. Not even with the sexy, snarky contractor who keeps testing the walls she’s built.

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What I thought about He Falls First

Penny is recovering from a difficult relationship that has her swearing off all men and relationships, that is until Ryder Colburn shows up in her world.  He's sweet and kind and interested in Penny -- but she's not ready.

The story is built around the "legend" of seeing three shooting stars that will foretell someone falling in love. I won't spoil it, but the legend brings a cute aspect to this story that will just have your heart melting!  The Colburn brothers are just adorable in that manly, sexy way that make romance novels a reader's choice!  Swoony, gorgeous men with character! Yum!

 There isn't any doubt that Ryder and Penny are made for each other -- it's just a matter of time before they get there, with a little help from friends and family. 

The secondary characters are interesting too, especially the Colburn patriarch who is dealing with health issues of his own, and Penny's family of grandmother and younger brother.  This author knows how to construct a family that works together to get through life. 

 You can't go wrong with a Jill Shalvis romance. The main characters are guaranteed to be likable and the story is entertaining and sweet! I enjoyed He Falls First and I'm looking forward to the rest of the Colburn brothers stories!

 

Read more about this author on her website at

 https://www.jillshalvis.com/

 

 

  

Just a little update...

 

Hello fellow readers and followers of this blog,

 I know there have been few reviews over the past two or three months, and I hope to be picking up the pace back to providing weekly reviews of what I've been reading.  Life came along and smacked me sideways, and I'm just getting my feet back on the ground, although they may be slightly unsteady at the moment.  

I'm happy to return to my reading with some really sweet romance titles. They've been soothing my soul right now as there is nothing like an entertaining romance, where the characters are just meant to be! 

 So thanks for your patience!  

Watch for some giveaways too!  It's time to clean out the bookshelves and I know I have a few titles to share with you all!

 Happy Reading!  Tradermare 

Review: The Christmas Ring by Karen Kingsbury

 

Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

While searching for her family's long-lost heirloom ring, military widow Vanessa Mayfield meets handsome antique dealer Ben Miller. The two are drawn to each other and forge a friendship that soon becomes a deep and breathtaking romance. But neither are sure that what they've found can last.

As Vanessa organizes her annual Columbus Cares Christmas Military Dance, she looks forward to her daughter's return from college. But Vanessa hasn't told Sadie about Ben. After all, Vanessa hadn't anticipated finding love again after losing her husband. And now she wrestles with feelings that are becoming hard to ignore.

Just as Ben is about to declare his love for Vanessa, he learns more about her missing Christmas ring: her great grandfather found it in France on D-Day, and engraved on the band is a single meaningful word. The details confirm a terrible truth, one that Ben cannot ignore.

Certain he now knows where Vanessa's ring is, Ben leaves town in a frantic rush. But can he stop a certain sale, or will Vanessa's ring be lost forever? Days before Christmas, when all seems hopeless, Ben and Vanessa learn an important eternal truth: Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

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 What I thought about the Christmas Ring

A young paratrooper finds a ring in the dirt on D-day and it becomes a family heirloom, until it's lost one day by it's current owner, A young widow named Vanessa Mayfield is devastated by the loss, and it's her faith and family that keeps her going in spite of the loss.  This is a very sweet holiday story, filled with love, spirituality and faith that how things work in mysterious ways.  

Vanessa meets Ben Miller while hunting antique shops for the missing ring. He makes a big impact on her, including giving her hope in finding a new love. I really liked how their relationship grew from something small to something meaningful. There is quite a bit of spirituality and bible quoting in this story and I found that it added greatly to its charm.  I've known many people who are guided by their faith in my life, and this story does a nice job of painting them in a wonderful light. The story is just the right size and doesn't drag things out, which I really appreciated.  The Christmas Ring is a perfect  holiday love story. 

 

Review: Hidden Nature by Nora Roberts

The #1 New York Times-bestselling author presents a novel about an injured cop who must fight to bring down a pair of twisted killers…

Natural Resources police officer, Sloan Cooper, and her partner had just taken down three men preying on hikers in the Western Maryland mountains. Driving back, she pulled in at a convenience store—and walked right into a robbery in progress. One gunshot from a jittery thief was about to change her world.

After being shocked back to life on the operating table, she has a long recovery ahead, so she moves back to her parents’ peaceful house in Heron’s Rest. As for the boyfriend who dumped her via text while she was in the hospital, good riddance.

She may be down, but she’s not out. So when a woman vanishes, leaving her car behind in a supermarket parking lot, Sloan searches online for similar cases. She finds them, spread across three states. Men and women, old and young—the missing seem to have nothing in common. And the abductions keep happening.

Luckily, the new man in her life shares her passion for solving this mystery. But it will take every ounce of endurance to get to the dark heart of this bizarre case—and she's willing to risk her life again if that's what it takes to stop the horror.

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What I thought about Hidden Nature

An almost fatal shooting changes a young policewoman's perspective on life and love in Hidden Nature. Her detecting and observation skills remain top-notch and come in handy when she's targeted by a serial killer.

This was a book that I had to read every free moment I had. I just loved Sloan -- she's tough and smart and doesn't engage in relationship drama. She's dedicated to her chosen career and when there's a suspicious disappearance, she takes it upon herself to investigate as she recovers. She moves back home, meets a man who surprises her, and works on this case on her own time. She's just that dedicated. Nash is a lovely partner for Sloan -- he's dealing with his own demons and is surprised by his feelings for Sloan. I couldn't help but root for them. The writing is top-notch as you might expect from this author.

I do wish the ending had more to it, that is my only (very mild) complaint. There was terrific build-up to Sloan's interaction with the serial killers that just could have been a little "more" for this reader. I do recommend Hidden Nature to readers looking for a very satisfying romantic suspense. I just loved it. 

 

Available Today! The Ghostwriter by Julie Clark

 

 

 

 

Ghostwriter Olivia Dumont has spent her entire professional life hiding the fact that she is the only child of legendary horror author Vincent Taylor, famous not only for his novels but for being the prime suspect in the brutal slaying of his siblings. On the brink of financial ruin, Olivia reluctantly agrees to ghostwrite her father's last book, not realising she will be forced to reckon with the ghosts that live at the centre of her family.

 

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What I thought about The Ghostwriter

 

It's family secrets on steroids in The Ghostwriter. Olivia Dumont is a ghostwriter that has lost her credibility and is shunned by her community. An offer comes in to write her father's story. Her father is a notable thriller author who has been under suspicion for killing his two siblings years ago. Since Olivia is broke, she decides to accept the offer, which leads her on a journey to uncover secrets and dissect her own relationship with her father.

This book grabbed me from the start and had me turning pages quickly. I like a book that I can sink into and The Ghostwriter hit the mark. There are plenty of twists and turns and just when you think you might know what really happened, things change. I like that about it. Kept me guessing until the end. It is more of a slow pace as pieces are revealed to the reader. There are multiple points of view and trips to the past as well. Overall, in spite of a slower pace, I liked this book and would recommend it to other mystery thriller readers.