The Darkest Touch by Gena Showalter

Hey everyone,

I adore Gena Showalter’s Lord of the Underworld series and have always had a tiny soft spot for Torin. None of which explains why it has taken me so long to read The Darkest Touch, but I’m reading it now and thats the important thing!

The book:

Fierce immortal warrior. Host to the demon of Disease. Torin’s every touch causes sickness and death—and a worldwide plague. Carnal pleasure is utterly forbidden, and though he has always overcome temptation with an iron will, his control is about to shatter.

She is Keeley Cael. The Red Queen. When the powerful beauty with shocking vulnerabilities escapes from a centuries-long imprisonment, the desire that simmers between her and Torin is scorching. His touch could mean the end for her, but resisting her is the hardest battle he’s ever fought—and the only battle he fears he can’t win. 

My thoughts:

I never realised how funny Torin was before this book. It felt like his character came alive; he wasn’t just the tormented one who couldn’t touch anyone. I mean I basically fell in love with Torin because he was the tortured one unable to touch anyone, but in this book I learnt he was so much more. He has a wonderful sense of humour, he can be selfish, is often impulsive and nearly always protective of those he loves.

“Princess, your temper tantrums make you as defective as an open-ended condom.”

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

Hey everyone,

Today I’m reviewing an audiobook, it feels like ages since I’ve listened to a book, so my holiday in Spain felt like the perfect time to start The Duff. Now I’ll be honest I mainly brought this book because I wanted to watch the movie, that and I had a bunch of credits left on Audible.

The book:

Seventeen-year-old Bianca Piper may not be the prettiest girl in her high school, but she has a loyal group of friends, a biting wit, and a spot-on BS detector. She's also way too smart to fall for the charms of man-slut and slimy school hottie Wesley Rush, who calls Bianca the Duff—the designated ugly fat friend—of her crew.

But things aren't so great at home and Bianca, desperate for a distraction, ends up kissing Wesley. Worse, she likes it. Eager for escape, Bianca throws herself into a closeted enemies-with-benefits relationship with him.

Until it all goes horribly awry. It turns out Wesley isn't such a bad listener, and his life is pretty screwed up, too. Suddenly Bianca realizes with absolute horror that she's falling for the guy she thought she hated more than anyone. 

My thoughts:

I found The Duff an interesting if at times irritating read. The reason for this conflict was mainly down to the main character, Bianca Piper. In many ways I loved her independence, her loyalty to her friends and family and her honesty. She wasn’t afraid to be different than those around her, to form her own opinion rather than trusting the word of others.

“I shook my head. "Don’t bother making excuses," I said. "Don’t waste your time because, the fact is, I am the Duff. But so is everyone else in the world. We’re all fucking Duffs.”

The World As He Sees It by A. M. Arthur

Hey everyone,

I said the reviews would be coming in thick and fast didn’t I? Well here we go with another contemporary M/M romance, in fact I’ll let you in on a little secret, I read The World As He Sees It by A. M. Arthur and Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger on the same day. I blame it on the plane journey! My friends and family would blame it on my addiction to books and reading.

The book:

Love knows no limits…but fear could keep them from seeing it.

Gabe lives a double life. As Gabriel Henson, he works multiple jobs to support his remorseless, alcoholic mother. As Tony Ryder, he does internet porn for extra cash and regular safe sex without complications. 

Yet when he encounters a scared young man freaking out in a night club, he’s compelled to reach out. Ever since then, the memory of that young man has haunted him.

Tristan Lavelle lives his life thirty minutes at a time. After a traumatic brain injury three years ago, he gets through his day recording his life in spiral notebooks and sticky note reminders. 

A month after Tristan’s embarrassingly public meltdown, another chance meeting with Gabe sparks a warm, emotionally fulfilling email relationship. Both men crave more, but fear of the next step stands between them. 

Until Tristan gets the opportunity to take part in a clinical trial that could improve his memory—if the side effects don’t kill him. But for Tristan, the possibility of a real life with Gabe is worth any risk…

My thoughts:

Small disclaimer to start, I was sent The World As He Sees It by Samhain publishing in return for an honest review. If your like me when you read those disclaimers you always assume the reviewer has been just let little bit more generous in their comments and rating. Maybe I’m a massive cynic or maybe its human nature. Yet I can honestly say, hand on heart that The World As He Sees It is one of the best books I’ve read this year. Then again it contains so many of my favourite tropes so the odds were in its favour.

“What sort of desperation had sent Tristan into the bar alone, knowing sooner or later he’d forget where he was and why?

And why the hell can’t I stop thinking about him?” 

Just A Bit Wrong by Alessandra Hazard

Hey everyone,

If you’ve been reading my blog for a while, or follow me on Goodreads, you’ll know I’m a huge Alessandra Hazard fan. I’ve been avidly reading her Straight Guys series since it began, so it isn't any surprise that I devoured Just a Bit Wrong on the day it was released.

The book:

Zach Hardaway is one of the best physiotherapists in Europe.

Tristan DuVal is a young soccer star with a groin injury. 

They despise each other from the moment they meet. 

As far as Zach is concerned, Tristan is a rich, spoiled brat who is too used to getting his own way.

As far as Tristan is concerned, Zach is a bossy, presumptuous prick. 

Tristan hates Zach. He does. The problem is, he also wants to shove Zach against the nearest wall and climb him like a tree.

My thoughts:

I really disliked Tristan in Gabriel and Jared book Just a Bit Unhealthy so when I heard the next book was going to be about him I was intrigued but hesitant. I mean the guy had been a manipulative arse to his brother throughout the previous book so I questioned whether he had any redeeming qualities. Luckily Alessandra Hazard did it again and made me fall in love with a flawed, selfish, manipulative character.

“He said softly, ‘if you don’t fire him, somone might accidentally find out that you’re fucking my brother. That would be such a shame. His career would be ruined’.”

The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton

Hey everyone,

So I’m not reviewing a romance book today. In fact its probably as far from a romance as one can get, however, through the course of reading The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton, I realised I had quite a few things I wanted to say. So without further ado, lets start the review (and yes I did intend for that to rhyme).

The book:

"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed...”

On a brisk autumn day in 1686, eighteen-year-old Nella Oortman arrives in Amsterdam to begin a new life as the wife of illustrious merchant trader Johannes Brandt. But her new home, while splendorous, is not welcoming. Johannes is kind yet distant, always locked in his study or at his warehouse office-leaving Nella alone with his sister, the sharp-tongued and forbidding Marin.

But Nella's world changes when Johannes presents her with an extraordinary wedding gift: a cabinet-sized replica of their home. To furnish her gift, Nella engages the services of a miniaturist-an elusive and enigmatic artist whose tiny creations mirror their real-life counterparts in eerie and unexpected ways . . .

Johannes' gift helps Nella to pierce the closed world of the Brandt household. But as she uncovers its unusual secrets, she begins to understand-and fear-the escalating dangers that await them all. In this repressively pious society where gold is worshipped second only to God, to be different is a threat to the moral fabric of society, and not even a man as rich as Johannes is safe. Only one person seems to see the fate that awaits them. Is the miniaturist the key to their salvation . . . or the architect of their destruction?

My thoughts:

If you follow me on Instagram (Bookstagram) you might have noticed that this book has been in my photos for a few weeks. This is partly due to the beautiful cover that I loved photographing and also because The Miniaturist by Jessie Burton took me a while to read. Normally I zoom through book, roughly reading three or four books a week on average. Yet for some reason I just couldn’t get my teeth into this one and I’m not entirely sure why.

“ To be reduced by her own mother caused her a new sort of distress, and grief for her father was replaced by a sort of grief for herself ”

Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger

Hey everyone,

Firstly I want to apologise for how long its been since I lasted put up a blog post. The only reason I can give is life got in the way, now that its calmed down a bit I’m back to blogging on a regular basis because a) I missed it and b) I’ve read so many good books recently with no one to share them with! The woes of having friends who don’t read the same books as you.

On to the review of Almost Like Being in Love by Steve Kluger.

The book:

A high school jock and nerd fall in love senior year, only to part after an amazing summer of discovery to attend their respective colleges. They keep in touch at first, but then slowly drift apart.

Flash forward twenty years.

Travis and Craig both have great lives, careers, and loves. But something is missing .... Travis is the first to figure it out. He's still in love with Craig, and come what may, he's going after the boy who captured his heart, even if it means forsaking his job, making a fool of himself, and entering the great unknown. Told in narrative, letters, checklists, and more, this is the must-read novel for anyone who's wondered what ever happened to that first great love.

My thoughts:

For roughly the first 100 pages I was a little confused and a lot intrigued. This was mainly down to the writing style of the book as rather than being told through description and dialogue Steve Kluger as told the story of Travis and Craig through letters, attorney notes, diary entries, emails and more. Yet although it was confusing to start with, in the end it became part the books charm. Overall I think it made the reader closer to the characters and the struggles they were facing.

“TRAVIS: I never said I like boys!

GORDO: Ever beat off to Penthouse?

TRAVIS: No.

GORDO: Ever collect baseball cards?

TRAVIS: No.

GORDO: How old is Barbra Streisand?

TRAVIS: 36. Three weeks ago.

GORDO: What do you need—a fucking blueprint?”