REVIEW: Melancholy by Bella Jewel

Melancholy by Bella Jewel
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was gifted a copy of this book for an honest review and must stress that you should read the first book – Precarious – before you read this book to get a feel for some scenes and people in the books.

We were introduced to both Maddox and Santana in Precarious. Maddox is the Club President of the Jokers’ Wrath MC. He saved Santana a few years back, got her off drugs and cleaned her up and protected her, all the while keeping his love for her hidden from her.

In Precarious, Maddox… the man slut that he is… does something stupid that a house “bunny” rats out to Santana that causes Santana to leave the compound.

In Melancholy, Maddox and Santana’s story is told in flashback paragraphs.
Santana is in denial of her feelings for Maddox and believes she loves a “good boy” who, well, in my opinion, is a scuzzbucket (is that even a word?). But once again, Maddox comes to her rescue. He always comes to her rescue.

Melancholy is the journey of a hardcore biker who has a soft spot for the girl he watched grow into a young woman that he rescued from the streets who must admit to her about a lie that he’s had her believing since she got cleaned up because he was afraid she’d leave.

It’s also about Santana. We see her struggle with her love for Maddox and her resolve to find something that belongs to her that’s been missing.

As Maddox and Santana come to realize that the other is what they want, they must battle outside forces and human trafficking to get what they want and survive.

A fight or two, a gunfight, and lots of sex are included.

We are treated to some Krypt and Ash scenes and interactions with Maddox and Santana and crew.

I found myself enthralled with this second book and cannot wait for the next.
Thank you Bella Jewel for the gifted copy and for writing characters that make me want to come back for more.


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REVIEW: Precarious by Bella Jewel

Precarious by Bella Jewel
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

When I first decided to read this book it was because someone recommended this as a change for me from my sappy and paranormal romance stories. This is a story that gripped me from the beginning because I have never read anything like it. I've read other MC stories before, but this one was different and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This story is about Ash (Prison Guard) and Krypt (a.k.a. Beau - MC Club Vice President) and the Jokers' Wrath MC.

It has fights, guns, kidnappings, action, love, sex, and betrayal.

Yes, Krypt is your Alpha male to the core, but Ash is who kept me reading the book, even when she had me cringe when she did something so stupid that threatens her budding friendship with a young lady under the protection of the club president.

Pulling no punches, this book is not sappy, nor paranormal, but it was just what I needed.



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REVIEW: Withstanding Me (Breakneck, #2) by Crystal Spears

Withstanding Me by Crystal Spears
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

If you don't like reading about Biker Bad boys that ride hard, fight hard, love hard... then this book isn't for you (and neither is Seize me, Breakneck #1). As with Seize me, the author warns us at the beginning of the book about how dark these books are. She grabbed me at the honesty in that at the beginning of each book and it prepped me for what I was about to read.

I admit... I wanted to read this book because Greg Cage (from the Corps Security books by Harper Sloan) makes an appearance in this book briefly but I had to read Seize Me first to get to Withstanding Me.

ZZ, aka Mason - Big, bad Biker Boy whom became a dad at 13, swears off falling in love with a woman.
Storm - Won't sleep with ZZ as she's not looking to be a one night stand or some MC gal that gets passed around between the members of the club.

For the first half of the book or so, there are several POVs. While I found that I liked it, I kind of feel that Storm and ZZ got cheated a little out of their story. However, Braxx and Winter and Tatiana as well as some other surprises are in the story and the plot line got to me nearly as much as the sub-plot in the first book.

This was a quick read for me, but note that you really need to read Seize Me before you read this book as this is not a standalone book and if you read it as such, you will be lost.


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REVIEW: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Ugly Love = Ugly Cry --- just warning... you will need tissues and if MAYBE SOMEDAY is currently your favorite Colleen Hoover book, this one will make you rethink that.

"You make it so hard to breathe." - Miles to Tate, page 86, Ugly Love

First and foremost, this is not a LOVE TRIANGLE... those of you that have read the synopsis and think that... really should read the book first before you say that.

Now... where was I... oh yeah... Miles and Tate.

Tate moves in with her brother when she moves up to San Fran to finish her education as well as work part time on the weekends as an ER nurse. She comes from a family of pilots. Her grandfather, her father, and her brother. All pilots. The night she arrives on her brother's doorstep, there's a very drunk and handsome man passed out in front of the apartment door.

Miles.... Miles, Miles, Miles... when we first meet Miles, he's the drunk and handsome man passed out in front of the apartment door.

Miles chapters start out six years prior and we learn of his first love. We learn of their trials and tribulations while being interwoven in the present of how his relationship with Tate evolves from neighbors to friends with benefits.

Because of what's happened in his past and the heartache he suffered, he isn't willing to move on yet. He can't.

This story, for me was beautifully written. No matter that Tate isn't promised a future with Miles, she doesn't give up on him for the longest time and then she realizes she wants more. But can Miles finally let go of the pain of six years ago and move on? That's the million dollar question.

We meet the protective big brother - Corbin - as well as Miles' best friend - Ian. But there is another character we meet that is a character all his own and that is Cap, the 80-year old elevator operator. He is there for both of them to dole out advice and one liners as well as to listen and for Tate, he becomes her best friend. She seeks solace with him when she can't sleep because of things with Miles.

I found myself laughing out loud and crying as well as ugly crying all throughout the book.

I had to ask myself several times until I found out the truth just how one could be so callous and yet so obviously have feelings for someone else the way that Miles does and when Colleen gets you to that point in the story, it all just clicks.

This is a love story. It's also one about loss and how one copes with it until the lightbulb turns on and they're ready to open up again.

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REVIEW: Seize Me by Crystal Spears

Seize Me by Crystal Spears
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book is not for the weak of heart. If you are looking for something that is sweet and lovey dovey and romantic and nothing bad happens, this is not the book for you.

This is a book about a girl who runs away from her life as a Russian Mafia Princess after her father kills her man right in front of her. It's about how she moves on to only become involved with drugs, guns, and the Prez of a Motorcyle Club.

She is all strength and bad ass when she needs to be and a mumbling mess at other times and her Prez is all over his Angel.

I do NOT recommend this book to just anyone. It has some real violent darkness to it that even I had a hard time reading. Because of this, I can only give it three stars. And it will not stop me from reading more of this MC or more of the author's books.

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REVIEW: The King by J.R. Ward

The King by J.R. Ward
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I really wanted to give this book five stars. Truly, I did, but the problem I had with this book was too many side plots and not enough of the Brothers.

Don't get me wrong, I found I enjoyed Assail and Sola as well as Trez, iAm, and Selena but there wasn't enough of the Brotherhood and the Lessers and the fighting for me. In fact (SPOILER HERE), there were only two MINOR instances of Lesser involvement and the Brotherhood only got involved after Trez called them to come clean up.

So about my review... well... what did I like? I loved reading about Wrath and his past and how his present was sort of paralleling in a way with the past. While Beth (SPOILER HERE) is not poisoned, it is because of her that people seek to remove him from the throne.

We see the true love and strength that Beth and Wrath have for each other and the lengths that they will go to for the other to make them happy. We see them both struggle with her Needing and whether or not to allow it as well as whether or not to have a baby.

I struggled with reading this book... it took me a month and the only books that do that are ones that I cannot get into. I grounded myself this weekend to finish this book and I'm glad I was able to focus on the story once I figured out why I couldn't get into this book.

Will the fact that I had such a hard time getting into this book stop me from reading other BDB books in the future, heck no. I love the Black Dagger Brotherhood and hope for many more books about them and their world. I just wish there was less side plot and more history of how Wrath came to be as well as more of the Brotherhood in this story.

Although it was implied that Blay and Quinn were in the house in several scenes, I cannot recall actually reading about them in the book.

And Layla and X'Cor... I'm sorry... but her sneaking out and him now knowing where the BDB are I am not happy with. Layla may think she was doing good to promise herself to X'Cor (SPOILER HERE) if he gave up his vengence to dethrone Wrath, but honestly the baby needs to be born and she needs to be gone from the mansion. End of.

However, I did fall in love with Trez and iAm and cannot wait to read more about them when their story comes out.

And that's my review in a nutshell.

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REVIEW: Lead by Kylie Scott

Lead by Kylie Scott
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

You know, I thought I loved "Lick" and "Play" but nothing could prepare me for the emotional roller coaster that is "Lead".

I didn't like Jimmy Ferris in "Lick" . I didn't want to know him, I didn't care about him, I thought he was a waste of space. I honestly did. Anyone who is that much of a self-absorbed alcoholic and drug abuser, I have no sympathy for. But, I didn't know his story... truly. Just what David shared in "Lick". Already knew his past wasn't pretty.

But, if you've read "Lick" (if you haven't... SPOILERAGE ALERT and GO READ IT RIGHT NOW), then you know that he went to rehab before the group relocated to Portland.

Well, Jimmy's out of rehab and the band is in Portland. They've hired Jimmy a new "sober" partner/assistant in the form of Lena. Lena doesn't take crap from anyone as was evident when the group were at Adrian's office and when Adrian gave her a hard time, she sassed him right back before he fired her. That had the gang sold on her.

Lena's past is something she doesn't like to dwell on. She left home after her ex cheated on her and hasn't been back since. She has no plans to attend her sister's wedding either.

Lena is there to keep Jimmy sober. She lives in the house with him. When things happen at Mal's mom's funeral, she begins to see the man behind the mask that Jimmy has had firmly in place. She knows he's flawed, but she falls for him.

When they return to Portland, her feelings intensify and it becomes harder for her to ignore. Jimmy begins to call her out on glancing at him and when she finally admits she has feelings for him, they come up with a plan for her to get out of the house and date.

When the plan works too well, jealousies come out to the point that she leaves and goes home while he goes to L.A..

How does this end? Ha... not tellin... Read on though for my thoughts.

I heart Malcolm, I really do. He brought the humor whole heartedly at times when I wanted to kick Lena or kick Jimmy. The gang was in full force to lend their support throughout the book, even Killer the puppy.

We see the Ferris brothers disagree, make up, and bond and I love that. I love that Jimmy and his flaws made me go from hating him/not really caring about him, to loving him and wanting him and Lena together.

Lena and her strength at being there for Jimmy at the funeral and then when things came ahead not once, but twice where the Ferris' boys mother was concerned, I believe, is what cracked through Jimmy's walls and Jimmy harbored feelings for Lena from the get go... I'm convinced of that.

I though "Play" was my favorite of the series because Mal makes me laugh and I adored his book, but Kylie redeemed Jimmy for me. You have to read the series to discover Jimmy and his flaws and you won't be disappointed. While Jimmy is always gonna be an addict, he owns up to that and doesn't hold back about it and instead gets through the day one day at a time and by the end of the book, he's got me in his corner.

And now we wait for Ben's story... and I'm hoping to see lots of Jimmy and Mal and David involved in there.

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