Month: February 2018

Best Kind of Broken – A New Adult Romance

Posted on by Frances

For Thanksgiving last year, my family and I were able to visit my sister in the Washington, D.C. area. While enjoying our time together, she had mentioned she had some books that I might be interested in. I took a look at them, and noticing they were romances, I thought it wouldn’t hurt to read them. They are both paperbacks, which I have to get used to again, but she was willing to give them to me for free so that works!

The first book that I chose to read of the two was a book by Chelsea Fine, called Best Kind of Broken. It’s a new adult romance, a genre I don’t have a lot of experience with. I do know that this genre tends to be filled with a little more passion/sex so I hoped the book wouldn’t be bombarded with it. Thankfully, it wasn’t!

Anyway, before I share with you all my thoughts/review, here are the basics of this book:

Best Kind of Broken

By: Chelsea Fine

 

SOMETIMES MOVING ON MEANS MOVING IN

Pixie Marshall wishes every day she could turn back time and fix the past. But she can’t. And the damage is done. She’s hoping that a summer of free room and board working with her aunt at the Willow Inn will help her forget. Except there’s a problem: the resident handyman is none other than Levi Andrews. The handsome quarterback was once her friend-and maybe more–until everything changed in a life-shattering instant. She was hoping to avoid him, possibly forever. Now he’s right down the hall and stirring up feelings Pixie thought she’d long buried . . .

Levi can’t believe he’s living with the one person who holds all his painful memories. More than anything he wants to make things right, but a simple “sorry” won’t suffice–not when the tragedy that scarred them was his fault. Levi knows Pixie’s better off without him, but every part of him screams to touch her, protect her, wrap her in his arms, and kiss away the pain. Yet even though she’s so close, Pixie’s heart seems more unreachable than ever. Seeing those stunning green eyes again has made one thing perfectly clear–he can’t live without her.

 

What did I think?

This is a tale of two broken souls finding home in one another. After a tragic accident, two people are left scarred, guilty, and feeling like they’re left to blame. When they open up, both find acceptance, forgiveness, and the love they had before their worlds were turned upside down.

What I think worked well was the author did a fantastic job alternating between the male and female point of view, each chapter switching from one to the next. Writing in first person really helped me engage with the characters, feeling what they would/did feel. The storyline was well-written. I really felt like I was a part of the story. And reading the novel this way, it’s making me love first person point of view more and more. I might even try to write a novel this way!

The thing I didn’t like, which is why I only rated it four stars instead of five, was some of the language and scenes of sexual nature. Although, I don’t feel any of it was overdone, it was still enough for me to knock it down from perfect. New adult novels are known for this, as mentioned above, so if you’re interested in reading this, please do keep that in mind. And again, it wasn’t as bad as other new adult stories that are out there (from what I’ve heard).

Overall, yes, I rated it just four stars. It really was a great novel by a talented author. For those who like to read new adult romance, this would be perfect!

If you are interested in reading this book, you can find a copy of it here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EHMG34E/

 

 

Ash – A Thriller

Posted on by Frances

I finally found a book that has a name I absolutely love! When searching for my next thriller novel to read, I came across this one. Not only was the name awesome, but the storyline wasn’t bad! Before going into too many details, as in usual fashion, I’ll give you basic details of the book first. Here it is…

 

Ash – A Thriller (Asher Benson Book 1)

By: Jason Brant 

 

9 AM EST: A senator shoots himself on national television.

10:32 AM EST: An entire floor of government agents leap to their death from their office building.

12:57 PM EST: All the police officers inside a station murder each other.

And the day has just begun.

Lieutenant Asher Benson left Iraq with a traumatic brain injury, PTSD, and a Purple Heart. His doctors warned that the symptoms would be life altering. They had no idea. As his body healed, the thoughts of those around him began to echo through Ash’s mind, stretching the boundaries of his sanity.

Five years later, Ash is drowning the voices with copious amounts of booze and self-loathing.

When unidentified intelligence agents abduct him in broad daylight, Ash is thrust into a world of espionage and assassinations. A unique terrorist is operating on U.S. soil, and the government needs Ash, and the malady that has plagued him for half a decade, to find the killer.

*Ash is the first book in the Asher Benson thriller series, which is full of snarky humor and nonstop action.

 

Non-stop action is right! From scene one to the end, the main character, Asher Benson, is constantly on the move, for good and not so good reasons. And speaking of Asher Benson, those who know me know I love the name Asher. That is the name we gave our second son after all! It was truly neat to read a novel with an awesome name like that.

I have to say the humor was great. It’s not for everyone, though! But I found it comparable to Adam Sandler, which I like. Not all of it is clean so be careful on that!

Overall, I thought the book was well-written. The descriptions were great, the storyline flowed smoothly, and the whole premise is fascinating. We’re talking telepathy and using ‘the force’! Star Wars fans may like that. Pretty fancy! The novel takes place in and around Washington, D.C., which is a city I’ve come to really love, so that was another plus.

This was a novel I really enjoyed. For all the reasons above, I have rated it five stars. Though this is the first book I’ve read from Jason Brant, it probably won’t be the last. A job well done, Mr. Brant!

To get your hands on this book, please go here:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00HL7Y1X2/