Sugar Honey Iced Tea

Me after reading the blurb:Me after finishing this book:But, let's go back to the very beginning...Hot Ink is a (too) short, (kind of) cute read. It is (partly) about ink. What it's not (imo, at least) is hot.It started off just fine, though. Mina is in the "Hot Ink" tattoo shop, in the middle of her session with Eric. She's in pain, he's hot... damn, I'd swoon if I were her. Black hair. Blue eyes. Have I mentioned hot? Great beginning!Anyway, Mina's friend Karen is keeping her company, and - since she's a photographer - suggests taking some photos of Mina's tattoo once it's done. During the second photo shoot, Eric shows up, they end up posing together for Hot Ink ads, and... as the saying goes - the rest is history.Well, not exactly.Mina is twenty four, works as a bank teller, considers herself boring and feels too old for her age. She's also a legal guardian of her fourteen year old sister Jess, who's in a wheelchair.Eric is... let's get back to that later.Actually, now's the perfect time for the likes/dislikes list of mine. So...What I liked about Hot Ink* Jess - her character is awesome. She's not a whiny teenager, angry with the whole world because of her disability. She's not even shoved aside and only mentioned from time to time. Jess is real. A true fighter, an amazing girl and such a great addition to the story.* Eric - he's a great guy. He's hot. He's got awesome tattoos. He's... too good to be true.* I finished the book in about two hours (wait, maybe this should go in the "dislikes"?).What I disliked about Hot Ink* Mina - sadly. Don't get me wrong, she's great. Considerate, devoted sister. Good friend. Compassionate soul. But...It's all about her. Her POV. Her struggle. Her thoughts. Guys don't stick around once they find out Jess is her priority, and she doesn't have time for a relationship. Eric will be the same. Once she tells him that, he'll never call again. Wait, maybe he doesn't want a relationship. Maybe he thinks she's easy and just wants a one night stand. Wait... no, he's still there. Maybe once she explains...Assume. Assume. Assume.* Eric - as much as I did like him, he's more of a side character here. We never get to really know him. There are some bits and pieces, but definitely not enough, and definitely not what you'd expect to find in a hero of a story.* The story is slow paced, and I liked that part. What I didn't like about it came when I was around 70% mark. Eric and Mina were making out and... clit and pussy were mentioned for the very first time. I was okay with that, but then it was all about clit and pussy for the next several pages, and I was like . Is this the same story??? It just felt weird.* Since it's a short read, there's the first full sex scene at around 90%. It's over, I turn a page and - 4 months later.Even that (kind of) epilogue just managed to give me a toothache. It's too sweet, and feels like it's all "Yes, dear, whatever you like, we will never disagree or (God forbid) fight, ever".Man, I miss those badass hunks sometimes.So, there you go. You should read it, maybe you'll even enjoy it...Unfortunately, it's not what I was hoping for, and it's definitely not something that could make me jump for joy.

ARC courtesy of Pocket Books via Edelweiss

ARC courtesy of Pocket Star via Edelweiss

*sigh*Dear friends, this is what happened...It's a story about Robbie and Zoey. About twenty five years of friendship. About love. Fear. Happiness. Life. About (most wonderful) second chances. About all the ways there are to fix each other. And promises. A lot of promises."Will you promise to be my friend when school starts?""Promise you won’t let me fail Algebra.""Promise you’ll tell me if I have food in my teeth.""Promise when you’re a famous musician, you’ll write a song for me.""Promise you’ll always be my friend, no matter where we go or who we grow up to be."“Life moves fast, things change. Sometimes I think our only job on this planet is to hold on so we don’t get thrown off the ride.”For such a short read, it's packed with emotions, sex, memories, dreams, tears, laughter, joy...I only wish it were longer. I wanted to stay there, in the world of Zoey and Robbie, play those songs and smile.Fix You is such a wonderful, wonderful surprise.Read it, you guys!"It felt as if his life passed before his eyes as a million images flew through his mind.Of a pretty little girl with sad eyes, pretending to know how to play basketball so he’d keep her company.Of that same girl as a teenager, closing her eyes as he kissed her under the pine trees.Of the look of shock in her ice-blue eyes when she pressed her body to his the first time they danced and realized how much he wanted her.Of her mischievous gaze, her face covered with shaving cream as they wrestled in the bathroom.Of her trying to hide a black eye while swallowing her pride and asking if she could come back home.Of those same eyes, puffy from too many shed tears, as she told him she had cancer.All his life, it was her eyes—Zoey’s beautiful blue eyes—that called to him, spoke to his heart. A tune jiggled and a song played. Her song."

Oh, wow! This truly is the perfect gift!

 

It's December 1884, and the Mackenzie family gathers at the Kilmorgan Castle for the holidays

.And, when I say "family" I mean the whole family! Ian and Beth, Mac and Isabella, Cameron and Ainsley, Hart and Eleanor, Daniel, David Fleming, Ainsley's brothers, Eleanor's father, Isabella's mother and sister, Lloyd Fellows, plus all the children and dogs. Let's not forget those dogs.

 

I've enjoyed reading this novella immensely. Seeing the Mackenzies together, and dysfunctional as ever, is just... precious. Not to mention it's anything but boring.

Beth broke Ian's new Ming bowl, a child goes missing, there's one blackmail about to happen, a boxing match is organized, Hart Alec Graham Mackenzie is born... and there are some awesome presents exchanged.

 

It's lovely, emotional, romantic, witty... it's an amazing glimpse into the collective happily ever after for one of the most interesting families I've ever read about.

 

David blinked. "Praise from Hart Mackenzie? I must make a note in my diary."

"Kiss my fundament," Hart said dryly.

 

Read it! You know you wanna!

Okay, first ewww for the cover. Me no likey!Second - 27 pages??? Lucky me, the (longer) sequel is already published. Hope it'll turn out to be great!

A buddy read with my wonderful sweet Erika!Full review will be posted as soon as we manage to find the time to put it together!Blame it on the busy, busy holiday season!p.s. Yes, I am well aware I'm raping the exclamation mark - again!

It's okay. Quick, cute read. It's nothing to write home about.Surprisingly, the sex was pretty disappointing, and the weakest part of the book, imo.Full review will be posted next week.ARC courtesy of Harlequin via NetGalley

ARC courtesy of Carina Press via NetGalley

"Good and evil, right and wrong, innocent and guilty. Stay in the right box and it would all work out in the end."...or would it?So, is this book perfect? No.Is it the best story ever? No.Does it have flaws? Hell, yes!But... what's most important - I don't give a damn! It made me laugh, cry, want to hug those two, and - definitely - slap some sense into them occasionally. No way could I, after all that, go for less than five shining stars!Unfortunately, I never seem to manage to write a decent review for the books I love.So, here goes nothing... This is a story about Daniel James Butler - a mid-level drug runner - and FBI Special Agent Miller Sutton.Actually, at the very beginning, they are just Mr. Butler and Special Agent Sutton. Nothing more. And, they'll have to go through a lot in order to become Danny and Miller you get to know later on.After being pulled over for running a red light, and arrested for possession of a firearm, Danny meets Miller for the first time. But Miller knows (all about) Danny already. What he wants - what FBI wants - is Danny's boss, Hinestroza. International drug smuggler. And, Danny will help him get what he wants... or die. One way or another. It's all the same, right? Who gives a shit about one low-life drug dealer, if he can help them catch their man?Oh, Miller..."All his life, Miller had preferred looking at people while he himself remained unobserved—from across the school yard, from behind a two-way mirror, from an unmarked surveillance car. From a distance."And there's a good reason, too. It's hard to face life full on when you're not comfortable in your own skin. When something's just... off. All the time. When you can't/don't have it in you to admit you may well know what that "something" is.When you've been engaged for five years, to a girl that's not what you need, and just keep piling up excuses to delay the wedding."It took Miller two weeks and seven jewelry stores to pick out the ring."Really, I felt sorry for Miller. He was even more than a bit annoying at the beginning. All that black and white talk. Right or wrong. No shades of gray. None.Danny, on the other hand, made me like him straight away. There's something about that guy that's just... magnetic. Scarred - both inside & out - and tattooed, he's doing his best to live with one single decision that turned his life around, and all its consequences. Especially the consequences.At first, it seems like Danny is yin to Miller's yang. But you keep seeing that white dot in Danny, and somehow it seems bigger and bigger. As much as Miller steps into those shades of gray he refused to acknowledge earlier.Once the two of them manage to become friends (of sorts), and it's obvious there's much more than "friendly" going on, the story gets really complicated.Will they have a chance? How could they? Will they get out of it alive? Where will Danny end up? What'll happen to Miller's fiancee? His job? How will they cope with the real world once the bubble bursts?“I want to be the man I was before I met you.”“It's too late for that. It's too late to go back,” Danny said, gentle but firm. “Now you have to decide the man you want to be from here on out.”..."But Danny was learning that finding what made you happy was only the beginning of the journey — figuring out how to keep it often proved to be the unreachable destination."By the 80% mark, I was thoroughly in love with Danny and Miller, and when Danny decided to do... that... I was sure my heart will just stop.But, I've got my HEA here, and it couldn't have happened to better guys. Well, not "better" better... oh, you know what I mean.I'd start rambling (again) at this point, so let me just tell you the most important facts.What really made this a five star read for me is this:* The story is incredibly realistic. Not a toothache-sweet moment in sight. * No stone is left unturned. You get all the hows and whys. You can see and feel their struggle, emotions that are all over the place, where they come from, what made them into the men they are... everything! Characterization is simply brilliant.* Those POV flashbacks at the beginning of each chapter are precious. Such a great way to show all the things that couldn't be told.* It's one of those books you want to reread right after you finish it.Not to mention that the title couldn't be more appropriate.You know what's in the spoiler section, right? Lots and lots of quotes. Hope you'll enjoy yourselves!Danny brought one hand up, passing his fingers over Miller's mouth. “Shhh,” he soothed. “It's all right, Miller. There's no reason for you to be jealous.” He pressed against Miller's lower lip with his thumb, his eyes gentle. “I never loved him.”“Danny,” Miller moaned, burying his face in Danny's neck. He knew what Danny was telling him, wished he could say something back, something that Danny would be able to hold onto when he left. But in the end Miller had to be content to tell Danny without words, rocking inside him, his body whispering all the things he could not say.“I'm still the same man you met in that interrogation room. The one you thought was a piece of shit. Nothing's changed.” Danny's voice was steady, but his eyes were broken....“Yes, it has. Everything's changed,” Miller said, emphasizing each word. “Including you. Including me.”“No, we haven't.” Danny pushed against Miller, sending him stumbling backward. “Look at us right now. Miller the FBI agent getting his answers, and Danny the criminal with a lifetime of bad deeds behind him. That's all we'll ever be.”...“That's not true. That's not who we are when we're together.”It took him two tries to dial the number he'd had memorized for a decade, his fingers shaking against the tiny buttons on the keypad. He held the phone to his ear, the ringing sounding far away as he stared at himself in the mirror. He looked at peace; he looked already gone.“I stayed to tell you that you're safe now,” Danny whispered. “You don't need to worry anymore.”“Is it over, Danny, between us?”Danny didn't answer, just leaned forward and kissed Miller's eyebrow, his cheek, the corner of his mouth, his trembling lower lip. “I love you,” Danny whispered and then he was up and gone.“It's always our mistakes, the things we aren't proud of, that are the first ones to stand up, ready to be counted. That's human nature and it's not going to change, not for me or for you, either.”Now that Miller's eyes were opening to the infinite variations within people who seemed so one-dimensional on the surface, he wondered if he'd ever stop being surprised by them, by their capacity for conflicting emotions and deeds.“I need you to be sure, Miller,” he said, his voice rough. “Because this is who I am. All the ugly parts of me are here to stay. I'm never going to outrun my past, not all of it. It's a package deal. So be sure, because this is who I am.”

A review copy kindly provided by the Author in exchange for an honest and fair review.

ARC courtesy of Random House via Edelweiss

ARC courtesy of publisher via NetGalley

Ooooookay.First of all, this story has an amazing potential. But...It's just too short, lacks proper development, and ends in a way that makes you keep flicking the pages because you're sure that can't be it.That said, the characters are likable, there's more than enough drama, and... it's predictable all the way.One (hot) ex-military guy, one (sexy as hell) tattooed mechanic, one hysterical ex (yep, a she)...All in all, it's one hell of a draft, and I'd really love to read a longer version of it.Sadly, that's so not gonna happen. :/

So, I've stumbled upon this book, read the blurb, realized it's way too familiar - remembered I'd read it at some point, aaaaand...Since "at some point" was long ago, and I wasn't too impressed with it, off you sweet shifters go to my "no rating" shelf, until I decide to get back to you. Or not.

*** Full review now posted ***Honestly, I'm not sure if I should even consider rating this book.There were some things I loved - Knight, to be exact.There were many things I wanted to skip, and just move on.There were some things I wanted to read more about - Knight, again.You know how much I love KA's work. Enjoy it, go back to it on regular basis, sometimes think I could never have enough of it.And then, there's Creed. It's just...*sigh*My first huge issue with this book has a lot to do with the series it's in. Knight was my very first KA read. Yes, I'm well aware that it did not work for many of the KA fans out there, but I loved it. By the time I finished reading, I was hooked and so happy there are more KA books for me to devour. And I just kept loving them since then.So, when I grabbed Creed, I was hoping for (hell, expecting) another anti-hero, that would make me rethink the whole my thing/not my thing list. Sadly, it never happened. There are many things Tucker Creed is. He's tough. He's badass. He's haunted by his past. He's too similar to all the other KA males. But, he most definitely is not an anti-hero.I kept thinking that maybe (just maybe) I'd feel differently if Creed were a stand-alone. If I could read it and not keep expecting it to overwhelm Knight's story. If Tucker Creed was just another KA badass hero, and it was okay for him not to have a single "unfinished" quality.Sadly, Creed is not a stand-alone, and I was incredibly underwhelmed by it all. Especially by the fact that Sylvie is more of a badass than Creed. And, speaking of Sylvie, another huge issue of mine is the heroine herself.When there was that talk about Sylvie being a badass, and nothing like the other KA heroines so far, I somehow pictured her like Jules (but slightly OTT). As Jules is one of my favorites, there goes another "I'm gonna love it" thought.Yes, Sylvie is a badass.Correction - Sylvie was a badass. She was a fuckin' badass (excuse my French), and she was so too fuckin' OTT it wasn't even funny. I couldn't, for the life of me, like her. I could understand her behavior, but I kept feeling detached. Just didn't work for me. Not the badass. Not the "How many times can I say fuck" thing. Not her (present) connection with Creed. Nada.Once Sylvie stopped being a badass, and went straight to the girlie behavior, things made even less sense for me. Yes, even Knight changed a bit for Anya, but he kept the most important parts of his personality. It didn't feel wrong. It was kind of cute, even.I felt like Sylvie changed completely, though. And, I was confused, disappointed and just wanted to finish reading the damn thing already.The third huge issue (surprisingly) is sex. I never felt the connection, the emotions, there wasn't even a hint of that (almost) desperate passion that always gets to me.Here, the sex was mechanic. Acrobatic. Nothing more. It was like watching the same bad porn. Over and over and over again.As much as I liked those flashbacks, and the way Creed kept looking after Sylvie and protecting her over the years, things started dragging at some point, and I just wanted to skim the pages and get it over with.What I most definitely liked is Knight and his relationship with Sylvie. But, then again, if they have that strong of a connection, how come she was never mentioned before? Not a word about her, and she'd spent years working for him??? Weird. Too weird.So, there you go.I will not rate this book. And, all I can say is - let's hope Raid will turn out to be everything Creed's not. That would most definitely help."Bottom of my soul."Bottom of mine, Knight. Bottom of mine.