Tag: NetGalley (Page 29 of 37)

Own the Wind by Kristen Ashley

May 23, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. Also: Kristen Ashley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Too hot to handle…Tabitha Allen grew up in the thick of Chaos–the Chaos Motorcycle Club, that is. Her father is Chaos’ leader, and the club has always had her back. But one rider was different from the start. When Tabby was running wild, Shy Cage was there. When tragedy tore her life apart, he helped her piece it back together. And now, Tabby’s thinking about much more than friendship…Tabby is everything Shy’s ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. She’s beautiful, smart, and as his friend’s daughter, untouchable. Shy never expected more than friendship, so when Tabby indicates she wants more–much more—he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): This is the first book by Ashley published through Grand Central with Amy Pierpont editing. It is a much tighter book than those I’ve read previously and there is less of the run on sentences (which I kind of missed actually). All of the sentences made sense and the copy editing was very clean. The book fell down for me a little at the end but that was about plot rather than anything else – it kind of fizzled for me rather than ending with a grand finale. I did love Shy and Tabby together and their interactions were the best parts of the book

“Do you wanna know why it’s you?” I asked quietly, my hand gliding up his arm to his chest.
“Don’t wanna piss you off, Tab, but I don’t give a fuck. I’m happy just rejoicin’ that it is.”

Dare You To by Katie McGarry

May 22, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I picked this one up from NetGalley. I loved Pushing the Limits last year and was so looking forward to where this author would take Beth… and Isaiah. I had read the first chapter in the back of Pushing the Limits so I had a fair idea that Isaiah wasn’t the hero. He’s the hero in the next book. Cannot Wait.

What it’s about (from Goodreads): “I dare you…”If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk’s home life, they’d send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom’s freedom and her own happiness. That’s how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn’t want her and going to a school that doesn’t understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn’t get her, but does….Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can’t tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn’t be less interested in him.But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won’t let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all….

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I loved this. On Goodreads, it says the book is just over 300 pages but on my reader it was showing up at just over 600. Who knows why. But regardless of the actual length, the book was a pleasure to read. I really like Ms. McGarry’s writing style. I like the alternating POV chapters, from both Beth’s and then Ryan’s perspectives. The present tense fit the immediacy of the book too.

Never a Hero by Marie Sexton

May 16, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received an ARC from NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Everyone deserves a hero.Owen Meade is desperately in need of a hero. Raised by a mother who made him ashamed of his stutter, his sexual orientation, and his congenitally amputated arm, Owen lives like a hermit in his Tucker Springs apartment. But then hunky veterinarian Nick Reynolds moves in downstairs. Nick is sexy and confident, and makes Owen comfortable with himself in a way nobody ever has. He also introduces Owen to his firecracker of a little sister, who was born with a similar congenital amputation but never let it stand in her way. When she signs the two of them up for piano lessons—and insists that they play together in a recital—Owen can’t find a way to say no. Especially since it gives him a good excuse to spend more time with Nick.Owen knows he’s falling hard for his neighbor, but every time he gets close, Nick inexplicably pulls away. Battling his mother’s scorn and Nick’s secrets, Owen soon realizes that instead of waiting for a hero, it’s time to be one—for himself and for Nick.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Let’s start with what I liked. I thought (with the exception of Owen’s mother) that issues of disability were well handled in the novel. Owen has a congenital amputation of his left arm below the elbow. Because of how he was raised (more on that later) he is very sensitive about it and is basically a shut in. After he meets Nick and also Nick’s sister June (who has a congenital amputation of her right arm), he is shown a new-to-him way of dealing with his disability and Nick’s direct speech opens Owen’s eyes as to why many people seem uncomfortable – not that they think he’s a freak but they’re not sure what to do and default to ignoring it rather than risk offence. Through his relationship with Nick, Owen finds his world has opened up and his focus changes. I’m no expert, but it seemed to me to that disability was handled pretty well in the book.

Untamed by Anna Cowan

May 13, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley. It’s been on my radar for a while now.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Outspoken and opinionated, Katherine Sutherland is ill at ease amongst the fine ladies of Regency London. She is more familiar with farmers and her blunt opinions and rough manners offend polite society. Yet when she hears the scandalous rumours involving her sister and the seductive Duke of Darlington, the fiercely loyal Katherine vows to save her sister’s marriage – whatever the cost.Intrigued by Katherine’s interference in his affairs, the manipulative Duke is soon fascinated. He engages in a daring deception and follows her back to her country home. Here, their intense connection shocks them both. But the Duke’s games have dangerous consequences, and the potential to throw both their lives into chaos…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): Have you ever had the experience of seeing something in your peripheral vision more clearly than when you look straight on? I had that a few times when reading this book. That sense of something just outside my grasp.While I had some problems with the story, there is also a lot to like. There is some lovely poetry in the writing.

This was the piano as she hadn’t even known it could be played – subdued passion that she was fairly sure wouldn’t be allowed in public. One melody tripped lightly ahead of the other, follow me. The second was slow; it would never catch the first but ran under it, as deep as an ocean.

She had never heard anything so beautiful.

There is also subtlety and cryptic phraseology from time to time. There are multiple and carefully woven plot threads. A little here, a little there. I felt, for most of the book, like I was playing a particularly elaborate game of cat’s cradle – it had the potential to be anywhere on the scale from a beautiful and magnificent creation to a crazy tangled mess.

True by Erin McCarthy

May 11, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) When Rory Macintosh’s roommates find out that their studious and shy friend has never been with a guy, they decide that, as an act of kindness they’ll help her lose her virginity by hiring confident, tattooed bad boy Tyler Mann to do the job…unbeknownst to Rory.Tyler knows he’s not good enough for Rory. She’s smart, doctor smart, while he’s barely scraping by at his EMT program, hoping to pull his younger brothers out of the hell their druggy mother has left them in. But he can’t resist taking up her roommates on an opportunity to get to know her better. There’s something about her honesty that keeps him coming back when he knows he shouldn’t…Torn between common sense and desire, the two find themselves caught up in a passionate relationship. But when Tyler’s broken family threatens to destroy his future, and hers, Rory will need to decide whether to cut her ties to his risky world or follow her heart, no matter what the cost…

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I have mixed feelings about this book. There were parts of it that resonated with me, parts which infuriated me and all manner of things in between. The writing is engaging and eminently readable. On the other hand, I thought the characterisations were sometimes thin and some plot threads didn’t really go anywhere. I’m finding this one hard to grade, I hope to have reached a decision by the time I finish writing the review.

Country Mouse & City Mouse by Amy Lane and Aleksandr Voinov

May 5, 2013 / Kaetrin

Why I read it: I received a review copy from the publisher so I’d understand the second book (which I got via NetGalley).

What it’s about: (from Goodreads) Owen may be a bit of a country mouse, but he’s loving his vacation in London. After a long day playing tourist, he’s on the hunt for some cheap beer and a good burger. Instead he finds a man hunting him, an arrogant prick with only one thing on the brain: the kind of meat that doesn’t come on a bun.Eighty-hour weeks at a trading desk don’t leave Malcolm Kavanagh much time for meaningful relationships. Besides, in his world, everything’s a competition-even sex. When his newest one-night-sub fails to show, Malcolm sets his sights on the pretty young Yank on the bar stool beside him.Owen’s all for an adventure with a native, but he’s not the pushover Malcolm thinks he is, and Malcolm’s not as shallow as he tries to be. They both soon learn that nothing’s too intimate to share with a stranger, and the strangest things happen when two people share the most important pieces of their hearts.

What worked for me (and what didn’t): I write this having finished Country Mouse and not having started City Mouse. This novella, clocking in at just under 80 pages, tells the story of the initial meeting and first weekend together of Owen and Malcolm. It ends in a hopeful HFN because, as can be expected, they really don’t know each other well enough for a believable HEA. I think in some ways the blurb and the title worked against me. I didn’t see Owen as particularly ‘country’. He was an American new to London but he didn’t react with fear to the big city. It’s not like he’d never seen traffic or high rise buildings. His own self reference as ‘a bit of a country mouse’ didn’t sit right to the way I saw him. And Malcolm isn’t the Dom the blurb led me to expect. Taking out those two items which did throw me off the scent a bit, I did enjoy this story. Once Malcolm and Owen had made it back to Malcolm’s penthouse, the characters started to shine and I began to get a handle on who these men are and why they could be so good together.