Tag: Tasha’s Reviews

Buddy Review: Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward

Posted January 29, 2019 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Buddy Review: Blood Kiss by J.R. WardBlood Kiss
by J.R. Ward
Series: Black Dagger Legacy #1
Published by Random House, Signet on December 1, 2015
Genres: Paranormal, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 397
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
three-stars
Reading Challenges:2019 A-Z Challenge, 2019 GoodReads Challenge

The legacy of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues in a spin-off series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author…

Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for herself, think for herself…be herself. It’s a good plan, until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge, Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having serious problems in his own life.

And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate. Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire program, and the erotic pull between them grows irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never anticipated—and left wondering whether she’s strong enough to claim her own power…on the field, and off.

Rowena: Our first book club book of the year is Blood Kiss by J.R. Ward, which is the first book in the Black Dagger Brotherhood spin-off series, Black Dagger Legacy. In this series, we’ll be meeting new characters who are training to become soldiers in the Black Dagger army to help the brothers fight the war against the Lessers who threaten their very existence. First up, Paradise and Craeg. So let’s get this show on the road, ladies.

What did you guys think?

Tasha: I really enjoyed the story of Craeg and Paradise and the whole Training Program. Marissa’s story with Butch and her relationship with her brother Havers wasn’t one I was all that interested in. But I know it all came together in the end.

Shy: I thought it was ok. A lot of missing pieces for me (I guess it’s probably because it’s a spin-off from another series?)

I dig Craeg and his back story and thought it made sense with why he’s so cutthroat and why he goes off half-cocked. I don’t know how I feel about Paradise. I feel like her character was just way too sheltered and then to have her go through training… I don’t know it just didn’t work for me.

I liked Butch and Marissa, they made more sense to me lol.

Tasha: So Butch and Marissa are from the original Black Dagger Brotherhood series and I’ve read the first 9 books (out of 17) of the series. I can see where you’d feel like something was missing.

I saw the aristocrats and the glymera as “the ton” from our historical reads. The women are basically raised to needlepoint, play musical instruments and host parties. And they couldn’t be in the company of other men without a proper escort or chaperone. That’s how I pictured Paradise’s upbringing. But what about her dad, Abalone? I so adored him!! As the Kings first advisor and of royal bloodline, he was such an understanding father. He didn’t come off as snobby and I really liked that he supported Paradise in whatever she decided to do. He wasn’t in the least worried about what their peers had to say.

Shy: Thanks Tasha, I figured it had to be tied to another series because of the way some parts were written.

I love Paradises dad, especially his response to Paradise and Craeg.

Rowena: I enjoyed this one a lot more than I thought I would. I could have done without a lot of the Butch and Marissa stuff because having them sharing the spotlight with Craeg and Paradise took away from Craeg and Paradise. I get that this is a spin-off but why not let the new characters shine? How in the world are they supposed to shine when the older characters are everywhere? Aside from that, I did really enjoy this one.

I thought the training sessions and seeing the trainees bond together was interesting and even though I know that I’ll probably not read anything else from this author, I rather enjoyed getting to know each trainee. I liked all of them….except Anslam. LOL.

Tasha: I’m with Wena…more Craeg & Paradise, less Butch & Marissa. I mean, they had a whole book to themselves already.

The re-read for me was okay and I found myself more annoyed with the side story (Butch & Marissa) this time around. I don’t know if I want to continue on with this series and see what happens with Xan, but who knows. At least this time, I can expect a side story of someone from the original BDB series.

My rating for this 3.5 outta 5 stars.

Rowena: I enjoyed the romance between Craeg and Paradise, I just wish we’d gotten more of them. There’s a lot going on with this book but it was really easy for me to pick up on who the bad guys were and that almost never happens with me. I need the bad guys to knock on my door and introduce themselves normally but not this time around. Haha.

There is a lot to like about this story and even more to look forward to with this series but there were also things that I could have done without so for me? This one gets 3.5 out of 5 too.

Shy: I think Paradise and Craeg’s story was ok, not really my favorite. It just felt both predictable and things didn’t add up (but I think that’s more because I’m new to this entire series). I just felt like a lot of it was cliché between Paradise and Craeg. I wish they were a lot more interesting or just… I don’t know, more lol.

I still stand by Butch and Marissa, they helped make this story more enjoyable for someone like me who has no idea about the back story of this series. I know you both are annoyed with them mixing into this story but I’m glad they did reappear in this book.

I give it 2.5 stars

Final Grades

Rowena: 3.5 out of 5
Shy: 2.5 out of 5
Tasha: 3.5 out of 5

Black Dagger Legacy Series

three-stars

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Buddy Review: Mystery Man by Kristen Ashley

Posted January 17, 2019 by Rowena in Reviews | 8 Comments

Buddy Review: Mystery Man by Kristen AshleyMystery Man
by Kristen Ashley
Series: Dream Man #1
Published by Hachette, Forever on July 11, 2011
Genres: Contemporary, Romance
Point of View:First Person
Pages: 494
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
one-half-stars

Night time is the right time...

Gwendolyn Kidd has met the man of her dreams. He's hot, he's sexy, and what started as a no-names-exchanged night of passion has blossomed into a year and a half-long pleasure fest. Sure, it's a little strange that he only appears in her bed at night, but Gwen is so sure he's the one, she just can't turn him away...

Hawk Delgado knows more about Gwen than she could ever imagine. She's gorgeous, headstrong, and skittish about relationships. But Hawk is facing his own demons, demons that keep him from connecting with anyone. Yet when Gwen is drawn into Denver's lethal underground scene, Hawk's protective nature comes out full force. The problem is, when Gwen gets a dose of Hawk's Alpha attitude in the daylight, she's not so sure he's the one anymore....

Rowena: Time got away from me last month so I’m just now getting around to posting our December review of Mystery Man from Kristen Ashley (sorry guys!)

We’re just going to jump right in guys. So what did you guys think? Yay or nay?

Shy: I’m so sorry to say that this book is terrible. Did no one proofread this mess? Less than a paragraph in, I knew this was going to be torture. Her writing style is painfully redundant, I felt like I was reading an adult version of Dr. Seuss. I am Sam, Sam I Am. I just couldn’t get past her writing. Then the nerve to have ole sweet pea as a book author.

Rowena: Ha! Welcome to the world of Kristen Ashley. She was a self-published author before she was picked up by Forever (her traditional publisher) but yes, you’re right. Kristen Ashley writes super long romances with huge chunks of unnecessary shit. Too bad for this book, my gripe was more focused on the characters and how idiotic, condescending and just outright stupid they were.

What about you, Tash? What did you think? I think of the three of us, Tash was the only one that liked this one.

Tasha: This was my second go of this book and I wasn’t as excited. I actually liked the book, just maybe not as much as the first time around. Gwen got on my nerves, her “mystery man” was borderline psycho but the whole story with the bikers, the law enforcement guys, her issues, his issues….it was a good read!

I probably liked it more because this was the first book I read where the girls come together and have their night to hang out and talk about whatever. It reminded me of our monthly book discussions and how we all do pretty much the same thing. Of course, we talk about our book but then we pretty much catch up and share the latest news with our lives. I LOVE IT!!

And the other reason I liked the book? It called to my inner naughty girl. The fact that a total stranger comes to her bed in the middle of the night totally rocks her world and leaves her sated is kinda of HOT & SEXY to me (don’t judge me, LOL). On Fantasy Island, I wouldn’t mind a mysterious stud hooking me up on the daily. As long as it was the SAME guy, of course.

Enough about me, let’s get back to the book…I think Gwen got on my nerves because all the hot guys wanted her. And the way she kept bouncing back & forth into the arms of the next gent who was willing to catch her, was so annoying, SMH. Hawk was irritating me too. I mean, there’s Alpha and then there’s Psycho Alpha. Hawk was the latter. It’s like he was two people, almost. Daytime Hawk- broody, bossy, jerk, all business; Nighttime Hawk- mysterious, sexy, freakin’ love machine. Gwen had to learn to accept both sides of this man.

I’m a fan of Kristen Ashley and I agree, her material can be really “wordy” and lots of unnecessary stuff gets in there, but I like her stories. This book actually led me to some amazing reads in this series.

Rowena: I did enjoy Gwen’s squad and how they had her back no matter what. I loved that Hawk’s assistant got in on that action as well and was able to share her input on Hawk’s background.

Sure, it was the same guy that was sneaking into her room and banging her three ways till Sunday but dude, out of all of those times, she couldn’t ask him for his name? I didn’t like how alpha Hawk was because there were a lot of consent issues where he was concerned. There were far too many times when Gwen would be like, NO YOU CAN’T DO THIS and Hawk would just bulldoze over those feelings because he knew better than her. He annoyed the shit out of me and even in the end, I couldn’t stand him so there was really no saving this book for me.

What do you think, Shy?

Shy: This book… I just couldn’t. Honestly, I hated it. How in the blue monkey hell do you go from phantom fuck (sorry excuse the language) to happy ever after? Its just weird and wrong and hell, desperate even. I guess I just personally have an issue with female characters that are ditsy, helpless and desperate lol. I’m sure this author has come a long way since this book but I’m not picking anything up by her any time soon. The only thing I liked about the book was the stepmom.

I tried really hard, Tasha, to find some sorta saving grace in this book that would help me fluff my review a little. However, you taught me valuable lesson years ago that it would be a disservice to the author to not give a genuine review lol

I just couldn’t with this book, I don’t think I ever hated an author’s writing so much. I’m all for living out my inner slut vicariously through a book, I get the no string attached but we should at least be on a first name basis (alias and all). This human would prefer to forego his government name and be called daddy? That, I get. But him creeping in and out of your house (and you didn’t even give him a key) at all hours of the night, you can’t speak to him, you don’t know his name smh. No, just hell nah.

Rowena: LOL, right??? She didn’t know shit about him and then when she finally does meet him? He knows EVERYTHING about her and is bossing her around, leaving her no room to make her own decisions but she didn’t think that was weird? GTFOH. Another issue I had with Hawk and just everything was his attitude toward Gwen’s past hurts. Like because she was just cheated on, her hurt over her sister’s betrayal wasn’t important, she should get over herself because at least her sister is still alive for her to be mad at? I mean, fuck you very much. Then after they break up and his Mom shows up and tries to guilt trip Gwen, like it was her fault and she’s supposed to fix things? Everyone can get all the way the fuck up out of here with that shit.

I give this a 1 out of 5 stars rating. What about you, Shy?

Shy: I don’t give it any stars, lol.

Tasha: Bwahahahahaha, this one gets 4 out of 5 stars from me.

Final Grade

Rowena: 1 out of 5
Shy: 0 out of 5
Tasha: 4 out of 5

Dream Man Series

So…did you read this book? Did you like it or hate it (like us)? Haha, share your thoughts in the comments!

one-half-stars

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Buddy Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya Banks

Posted November 20, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 0 Comments

Buddy Review: Highlander Most Wanted by Maya BanksHighlander Most Wanted
by Maya Banks
Narrator: Kirsten Potter
Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs #2
Also in this series: Never Seduce a Scot
Published by Random House, Ballantine on March 19, 2013
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 352
Format: eBook, Audiobook
Source: Purchased
Length: 9 hours, 48 minutes
Add It: Goodreads
four-stars

In Highlander Most Wanted, a reclusive woman content to live in the shadows shows a Highland warrior the true meaning of love.

Genevieve McInnes is locked behind the fortified walls of McHugh Keep, captive of a cruel laird who takes great pleasure in ruining her for any other man. Yet when Bowen Montgomery storms the gates on a mission of clan warfare, Genevieve finds that her spirit is bent but not broken. Still, her path toward freedom remains uncertain. Unable to bear the shame of returning to a family that believes her dead or to abandon others at the keep to an imposing new laird, Genevieve opts for the peaceful life of an abbess. But Bowen’s rugged sensuality stirs something deep inside her that longs to be awakened by his patient, gentle caress—something warm, wicked, and tempting.

Bowen seizes his enemy’s keep, unprepared for the brooding and reclusive woman who captures his heart. He’s enchanted by her fierce determination, her unusual beauty, and her quiet, unfailing strength. But wooing her will take more than a seasoned seducer’s skill. For loving Genevieve, he discovers, means giving her back the freedom that was stolen from her—even if it means losing her forever.

Highlander Most Wanted is the second book in Maya Banks’ Montgomery’s and Armstrongs series. It picks up right where the first book in this series, Never Seduce a Scot leaves off and that’s where Bowen and Teague Montgomery, along with Aidan and Brodie Armstrong march to the McHugh keep to seek revenge for the abduction and abuse of their sister, Eveline Montgomery.

Bowen is tasked with running Laird Patrick McHugh down and killing him before taking over the keep and all of the lands. He expected to come in, handle business and then check out but what he finds at the McHugh keep changes those plans. He finds a clan without leadership and a young woman who intrigues him.

Genevieve McInnis has lived through things no woman should live through and she has suffered so much in her short life and all she wants is freedom. She wants to live the rest of her life out in peace and she needs to get to an abbey to make sure that happens. She wasn’t expecting Bowen Montgomery to throw all of those plans out the window when she met him. But love doesn’t always ask your permission.

Rowena: Tasha, Shy, and I are back at it again with another group review of our book club book of the month. This month’s book was a continuation from last month’s book so let’s get to it, shall we?

Alright guys, what did you guys think? Yay or nay?

Tasha: Meh, it was okay this second time around for me. I’m a sucker for happy endings, so this gets a yay.

Rowena: You know, the first time that I read it (a couple of weeks ago), I really enjoyed it. I cried, my heart broke and I was super happy with the story and then I did a re-read of the book before book club and the book was a lot more problematic for me.

There were so many things that I didn’t buy reading it the second time around. But first, let’s discuss the characters. What did you think about Bowen and Genevieve?

I enjoyed both of their characters. Bowen was the knight in shining armor that Genevieve needed and Genevieve had gone through too many things for me to hate her. My karma wouldn’t let me hate her. LOL.

Tasha: I’m with you on Bowen. It was easy for me to like him. I mean, what wasn’t there to like. He was very handsome, came from a strong clan, close to his siblings and he seemed to be fair person. His character was pretty consistent.

My heart initially went out to Genevieve. I truly felt bad for her and all that was done to her. But as the story went on, there were some things about Genevieve that really got on my nerves.

Shy: My opinion is a little skewed because as much as I loved Bowen in the first book, I ready to gut him halfway into this book. It made me cringe at how much of an idiot Bowen was in this book.

Genevieve, omg I felt for her whole situation. Okay, maybe I wanted or needed to kick her upside her head a few times. Why in the hell did she feel the need to continuously help those aikaes (assholes) that constantly made her life hell? We’re all strong but at some point, I would have given in and skinned a few of them.

Like you both, there were just a few too many things that didn’t really make sense to me.

Rowena: My issues stemmed around the romance and the lack of resolution with the members of the McHugh clan.

After everything that Genevieve suffered at the hands of Ian McHugh, the constant rape and abuse that went on for over a year, I thought the romance with Bowen happened too fast to be believable. She had known Bowen for a matter of weeks before they started sleeping together and I just didn’t quite believe that nothing triggered her. It felt, to me, like she was healed by Bowen’s magic peen.

The other thing that bothered me was that nobody stood up for Genevieve the way that Graeme stood up for Eveline, especially after those awful women stoned her. It really bothered me that nothing of consequence was done before Bowen took her away to the Montgomery keep. My bloodthirsty ass wanted all of them bitches to pay.

Tasha: I guess that’s why I’m so mad at Genevieve. After all she suffered, why did she bother standing up for them? She didn’t owe them anything. Why didn’t she shoot her bows and arrows and drop assholes left and right? She didn’t have any problem laying Patrick out with her arrows? Why not everyone else?

Remember how upset I was at Graeme for letting his clan mistreat Eveline for so long? The thing is, those people were Graeme’s people. The McHughs weren’t Bowen’s people. These guys swooped in and took over their clan. Bowen didn’t know those people, he didn’t know if he could trust Genevieve. There was no way he could demand the bullying and name calling to stop. For Graeme, he was Laird. His people were obligated to obey him. I don’t think Bowen, Brodie, or Teague had it like that. Not yet, at least.

Rowena: Sure, it was a different situation but they certainly could have been handled it in exactly the same way. Bowen had proclaimed himself their Laird until Graeme came along to take over so for all intents and purposes, Bowen was the boss. His word was law, and he should have reprimanded and handed out consequences to all of those women and men for the treatment of an innocent woman. Especially the women that freaking stoned her. By then, he knew and was in love with her, he should have taken the time to flay those bitches alive for hurting Genevieve before they left for Montgomery keep. He was too busy healing her with his magic peen though.

Too many things didn’t add up for me that I don’t feel I could give this book a higher grade than 3.25 but I did enjoy the friendships between Gen and Taliesan, and Gen, Eveline and Rorie.

Tasha: LOL at magic peen.

Shy: LOL, Mr. I got the magic stick.

Exactly. He held the authority to be judge, jury and executioner. I didn’t understand why he tried to cut them the benefit of the doubt after glimpsing how vile they were toward Genevieve.

I will say what brought be back around to really loving the book was when she reunited with her family. OMG I love her dad and her mom. But I found myself so irritated with Bowen, I felt like he should have went with her the first time. I would have made up some bloody excuse, knowing all that she’s gone through and that you love her, no one would have faulted him for the extra assurance if we went. But no the ai kae waited for her to ride back in all her pregnant glory.

Tasha: Her being reunited with the family was very sweet of Bowen. I can only imagine how hard it was for him to reach out to them. But the ultimate for me was their reaction when they saw her. They cried tears of joy and embraced her. Ahhhhhhh, loved that part!!!

Final Grade

Shy: 4 out of 5
Tasha: 3.75-4 out of 5
Rowena: 3.25 out of 5

The Montgomery’s and Armstrong’s Series

four-stars

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Buddy Review: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks

Posted October 25, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 8 Comments

Buddy Review: Never Seduce a Scot by Maya BanksNever Seduce a Scot
by Maya Banks
Series: The Montgomery's and Armstrongs #1
Also in this series: Highlander Most Wanted
Published by Random House, Ballantine on September 25, 2012
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Peson
Pages: 372
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads

Eveline Armstrong is fiercely loved and protected by her powerful clan, but outsiders consider her “touched.” Beautiful, fey, with a level, intent gaze, she doesn’t speak. No one, not even her family, knows that she cannot hear. Content with her life of seclusion, Eveline has taught herself to read lips and allows the outside world to view her as daft. But when an arranged marriage into a rival clan makes Graeme Montgomery her husband, Eveline accepts her duty—unprepared for the delights to come. Graeme is a rugged warrior with a voice so deep and powerful that his new bride can hear it, and hands and kisses so tender and skilled that he stirs her deepest passions.

Graeme is intrigued by the mysterious Eveline, whose silent lips are ripe with temptation and whose bright, intelligent eyes can see into his soul. As intimacy deepens, he learns her secret. But when clan rivalries and dark deeds threaten the wife he has only begun to cherish, the Scottish warrior will move heaven and earth to save the woman who has awakened his heart to the beautiful song of a rare and magical love.

The Montgomery’s and the Armstrong’s have been feuding for as long as anyone can remember. Their families are fierce enemies and have grown up hating each other so when King Alexander gets fed up with the both of them, he forces an alliance by marriage between Laird of the Montgomery clan and the daughter of the Laird of the Armstrong clan and then…shenanigans.

Rowena: Welcome to our second book club buddy review. It’s our first review with Shy and we’re super happy to have her with us. This month’s book club choice was Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks and it was met with mad love from every single person in book club.

Alright guys, what did you guys think of Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks? Was this the first time that you guys read the book or was it a reread?

Shy: It was my first time reading Never Seduce a Scot and I loved it! It clever, witty and pretty funny.

Tasha: Even though this was a reread for me, I still enjoyed it as if it was my first time. There was a lot that I forgot and as the story went on, bits and pieces was coming back but not enough to ruin the ending.

Rowena: Like Shy, this was the first time that I had ever read the book and I thought it was the freaking bomb. From beginning to end, I was wrapped up in what was going on. My emotions were running high throughout the entire thing and I just thought the author did a really good job of engaging the reader.

Who wanted to fight all of the Montgomery women? I freaking did. I wanted to beat all of them over the head with that sword. What a bunch of meanies.

Tasha: That Kiersten chick was a total bitch to her from the beginning. I could not stand her. But I was most hurt by Nora’s actions. She was the one who ran the kitchen and the other Montgomery ladies kinda followed her lead. When Eveline decided to step out of her comfort zone and prove herself to them all, Nora completely took advantage and did poor Eveline wrong.

Shy: OMG I killed them at least 10 times while screaming Graeme you bloody bloke they’re abusing your Mrs!!! Those Montgomery women were so horrible (except Rory, she’s pretty funny). Eventually, I came to have a love-hate relationship with Nora (the head maid). I hated her up until her heartfelt apology, even then I wanted to punch her in the face.

Rowena: Same. I hated Kiersten right from the very first time she said “Armstrong bitch” to Eveline so I wasn’t surprised that I still hated her at the end. The bloodthirsty wench in me low key wanted Graeme to run her through with his sword but I consoled myself with the fact that Eveline won all of their lives in the end. But man, I was hit right in the gut when Eveline realized the depth of their hatred for her. When she realizes that all of her hard work to try to fit in with them was all for nothing. They were never going to accept her and man, I bawled like a baby for her.

I spent most of the beginning to middle of the book pissed off at the Montgomery’s but boy did Graeme totally win me over when he gathered the entire clan together and was going to fight them all. When he lashes out with, “Is that a challenge?” I about swooned into a puddle of lust for him.

Tasha: Yeah, I’m glad Graeme finally stepped up and addressed his people. I also appreciated the fact he talked to his brothers Bowen and Teague about the situation first. They understood where their clan was coming from, but they also loved their brother and laird and needed to show their support.

Shy: I have to agree with you both, I felt for Eveline when she came to realize that she wouldn’t be accepted by the Montgomery clan no matter how hard she tried. I loved Graeme when he finally laid it all out and started putting the women in their place. I’ve always respected the brothers for standing by Graeme. I really enjoyed when one of the brothers drew their sword on Nora’s husband. I was like, “Yaaaaassss off with his head! Let em all know that your chain hangs low (Don’t ask, I scream the most random things while I’m reading/listening to books)”.

Rowena: This whole book was just satisfying. From all of the crap that we learn about Eveline, what she went through before she got to the Montgomery’s, what she went through when she got to the Montgomery’s and then seeing her really come into herself and live her truth out in the open, it was all just so satisfying to me. I have so much love for the Montgomery’s, Graeme and his siblings, Eveline and her family. The entire story completely worked for me. The romance was the bomb. Graeme and Eveline saving each other at different points of the book was the bomb. I can’t wait for more.

I give this a 4.75 out of 5 stars, what about you guys?

Shy: I give it 5 out of 5 stars.

Also, did you gals feel like Eveline’s family let her down? No one attempted to at least dig a little deeper? I wanted to punch her parents in their faces, especially her dad.

Rowena: I did feel that her family let her down but when we saw how bad they felt when the truth came out, it was hard for me to hold on to that since it was evident that they loved her. They were drowning in enough guilt.

Tasha: LMBO & I AGREE with everything that was said, hahaha!!!

Looking back, I don’t think Eveline’s parents had any real reason to think Ian was going to do any harm. The McHugh’s and the Armstrong’s were cool and had no beef. So when she expressed her concerns to her Dad, of course, he just brushed it off. BUT also, how did she approach her dad about Ian? I’m sure if she was really scared and went as far as to tell her Mom & brothers, they would’ve looked further into it. In a way, that freak accident saved her from being with the sick monster Ian.

And yeah, I can see how guilty they felt. Not only did they brush off her concerns, but the poor girl was also willing to play dumb and be called “addled & touched” then to go through with everything.

Eveline is a very brave & smart lass and I’m so happy for her & Graeme. This book gets a bright 5 stars rating from me. 🙂

Final Grade

Shy: 5 out of 5
Tasha: 5 out of 5
Ween: 4.75 out of 5

The Montgomery’s and Armstrong’s Series

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Buddy Review: The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan

Posted September 25, 2018 by Rowena in Reviews | 6 Comments

Buddy Review: The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie JordanThe Duke Buys a Bride
by Sophie Jordan
Series: The Rogue Files #3
Published by Harper Collins, Avon on July 24, 2018
Genres: Historical, Romance
Point of View:Alternating Third Person
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: Purchased
Add It: Goodreads
three-half-stars

A bride wasn’t in his plans . . .

The last thing Marcus, the Duke of Autenberry, expects to see after sleeping off a night’s drunken shenanigans is a woman being auctioned in the village square. Before he can think about the ramifications, he buys her, thinking he’s winning the girl her freedom. Instead, he discovers he’s bought a wife.

A duke wasn’t in hers . . .

Alyse Bell is almost rid of the shackles that bound her in a name-only marriage, but the day her friend promised to purchase her in a wife auction, he vanishes, leaving her to face a mob of unsavory bachelors intent on owning her body and soul. But the appearance of a wicked, wealthy stranger changes her path forever.

The road to ruin . . .

Marcus doesn’t know what to do with the impertinent chit who clearly isn’t duchess material! Insisting their marriage isn’t legitimate, they leave for his estate in Scotland, hoping to devise a plan to get rid of each other. However, on a journey fraught with misadventure, their attraction grows and Marcus realizes he’ll do anything to keep this fiery woman for his own.

I participate in a real-life book club that meets once a month to discuss a different romance novel with a bunch of my friends. It’s always a lot of fun but one of our members lives in Utah so she doesn’t get to meet up with us so we thought it would be great to still discuss the books with her. Each month, I’ll be doing a buddy review of our book club books with my book club homies Tasha and Shy. Please welcome my friends, everyone! 🙂 This month it’ll be just me and Tasha but next month, we’re hopeful that Shy will catch up and join us.

The first book that we’ll be reviewing together is The Duke Buys a Bride by Sophie Jordan, which is the third book in The Rogue Files series and it features Marcus Weatherton, the Duke of Autenberry as he purchases a wife at a street auction and falls in love with her on his way to Scotland.

Rowena: Alright Tash, let’s get this show on the road. What were your initial thoughts on this book?

Tasha: My initial thoughts…this was a frustrating read. I mean, the hero was really mean which made it hard for me to like him. As much as I wanted to like the heroine, she kept making me mad too, uggghhh. So yeah, frustrating, lol.

Rowena: I know what you mean. I thought that the premise of the story was really interesting. I mean, the hero buys the heroine at a street auction in an effort to free her and then while he’s escorting her to his home in Scotland so she can make a life of her own as his housekeeper, they grow close and fall in love but the hot and cold attitude that Marcus had where Alyse was concerned pissed me off. Every time he tried to throw the blame on Alyse for their attraction made me want to kick him in the balls. Hello?? It takes two to tango and his dumbass kept pissing me off. I was like, miss me with the bullshit sir. You like her, you want her, deal with it.

The part that pissed me off the most with Alyse was when they’re almost to Marcus’ house in the Highlands and Marcus is beat up and left for dead while Alyse is abducted. When Marcus gets to where she was taken and demands to get her back, she’s like, “Oh I release you, you are not obligated to me anymore” and he’s like, “I’m not going to leave you here. They beat me and left me for dead” and she’s all, “Oh, I’m sure they’re sorry they did that.”

WTF? Bitch are you for real? When that happened, I was ready for the book to be done.

Tasha: EXACTLY…THAT PART, RIGHT THERE!!! I believe they had already left his brothers castle where she had to stay until she got better. But the whole time she was sick, he was at her bedside like a lovesick puppy. Even then he was still in denial. He could’ve easily been done with her at that point, the way I see it but he was insistent upon taking her with him. Let’s not even get started on the event that took place in his room after she recovered from her illness. As soon as the ‘deed’ was done, he was quick to dismiss her and make it out to be as if it were her fault. Like you said, “it takes two to tango”. They’re both dumbasses, lol.

I think Marcus was just an arrogant prick who was used to getting his way. And Alyse was so naïve and as we Samoans say, “fiapoko” (know-it-all, smart-ass, etc.) haha!!

Rowena: Same. They were both so fiapoko! Also? I think that we would have benefitted from reading the other books in this series to really appreciate Marcus’ journey, at least I’m hoping that is the case because I felt like I was missing something throughout the whole book. Especially when we get to the brother’s house in Scotland so that Alyse can mend her illness. I’m like, so is someone going to fill us in on what the hell happened and why Marcus and his brother are estranged? Hello??? Is someone going to fill in the blanks on how Marcus’ sister in law went from being engaged to Marcus to married to his brother? Ehhh…

Overall, the actions of both the hero and the heroine had me rolling my eyes up and down the street so it’s hard for me to give this a higher grade than a 2.5 because while the writing style is completely readable, there was too much that pissed me off to warrant a higher grade. What about you? What would you grade this book and are you going to be reading the rest of the series or nah?

Tasha: You’re probably right. Maybe if I had read the previous books, I wouldn’t be so harsh towards Marcus. They did mention a little bit about Marcus being engaged to Poppy before she became his brother’s wife but not a lot. Yeah, I did get the feeling I was missing something and that something could’ve been found in the earlier books.

Would I go back and read this series from the beginning…..ummmm, I don’t think so. The writing itself was fine and I’ve read some really bad books. It’s because of the whole ‘bi-polar’ moments from Marcus and Alyse’s continuous dumb decisions, I cannot give this more than a 3 (and that’s being generous). Yes, the hero and heroine really frustrated me but in the end, I still got my HEA.

Final Grade

Rowena: 2.5 out of 5
Tasha: 3 out of 5

So there you have it guys, my very first book club discussion review with one of my good friends Tasha. Next month we’ll be discussing Never Seduce a Scot by Maya Banks. My sister Delene chose that book so nobody in our book club is at all surprised that we’re reading another historical romance. See you guys next month!

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The Rogue Files Series

three-half-stars

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