Review: Strip Back

Sunday 30 November 2014 No comments
Strip Back Strip Back by Ava Manello
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

3.5 Stars

Copy provided by the author in return for an honest review.

Well we're back seated front and centre with Naked Nights once again in this novella telling the story of the group's inception.

In this book, Eric tells us his story and it's a story of determination, loss and love. It's sweet, sad and passionate but most of all it brings us into the arms of Naked Nights right from the very beginning. We get to witness auditions by Jackal, Guido and Alex and also how Tiny and Alison fit into the group as Eric takes us through making his dream a reality; from seedy stripper to running his own group of performers.

As expected, this story sets out how Naked Nights was formed but for me it is a little bit too simplistic in its telling. I don't know if I would have preferred to read this before book 1, Strip Teaser, but I was expecting more twists and turns and background to the group's creation. This story focussed slightly more on Eric's love life with Christy than the Naked Nights but that is not a bad thing but it just left me wanting more from the story.

Writing novellas must be extremely difficult. How do you get across the story without it developing into a full blown book? This is exactly how I felt this story came across. Perhaps more would have taken the story out of the novella grouping but at the same time I felt it was more of a step by step guide to Eric and Christy's lives right up to the first performance of Naked Nights. I would prefer a full book on Eric and Christy and I hope that we get to read more about them in the future.

As always with Ava, this book was well written and entertaining. I look forward to reading more from the Naked Nights group and to get to know each of the remaining performers intimately!!!

Reviewed on behalf of Jezabell Girl & Friends...

http://jezabellgirlandfriends.com


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Review: Razorblade Kisses

Thursday 20 November 2014 No comments
Razorblade Kisses Razorblade Kisses by R.L. Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

5+++ Stars

If there's one book you have to read during 2015 it's Razorblade Kisses. This story is emotive, it's painful, it's stunning, it's hopeful but most of all it's beautifully told. From pain and desolation comes love and happiness but not without hurdles and cruelty beyond words.

Emery is 16 and living a life you'd never want a child to live. After getting arrested, she meets Rachel and they "click" and for the first time in 4 years, Emery has hope.

Escaping her home life, she turns her back on her sister and hopes that she too won't experience the horrors that she endured almost daily. With Rachel and Derrick's help and support, she leaves and becomes someone else, someone without a past and someone with the chance of living an abuse-free life.

Emery becomes Emily and heads to Nashville to live a new life with Rachel's cousin Noah she soon finds some semblance of happiness and also love; love for a man who doesn't hurt her but who she knows she will hurt.

Life is simple for a while and Emily finds peace that is until she is found and flees again, this time to Savannah and into a new life this time as Emma. It's in Savannah that she finds true happiness and true love and the man that tries to show her that she can find her HEA even though Emma knows that her heart will be broken once again and that living a life of deception with Tim isn't possible.

When tragedy strikes again Emma is forced to run once more but this time from herself and the pain she has inflicted on so many people who have helped her and trusted her. All she wants is to be forgotten and creating yet another persona for herself she waits to die. Erika has no-one, wants no-one and is no-one but will the first man she came to trust be able to save her from herself and her past?

I loved his story. It did portray horrors and sadly realistic truths but it was told sensitively and had obviously been well thought out. The bond between Rachel and Emery was truly heartfelt:
The click that sounded so long ago when they’d been arrested was for life; they belonged together like chocolate and peanut butter. It’s true what they say, sometimes the monsters win, but she’d battled hers and she’d survived.
I was so glad I took a chance on is book and its author. I've not read such a rewarding story in a while and whilst it was a painful read at times there was always hope and trust but most of all love.

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5 Star Review: City of Champions (A Gateway to Love, #2) by Chloe T. Barlow

Wednesday 5 November 2014 No comments
City of Champions (A Gateway to Love, #2)City of Champions by Chloe T. Barlow
My rating: 5 of 5 stars


This is a powerful read which covers an emotive subject. It starts extremely painfully and had me sobbing during the prologue but the story as a whole is amazing and focuses on a passion for life, love and happiness.

The story covers the lives of Jenna and Wyatt, a QB and someone Jenna has been following closely during his career. Now struggling with a shoulder injury, Wyatt must reevaluate his priorities. Does he risk surgery and his career or does he find alternatives and hope they his team will support his decision but will they be able to continue to accept his reluctance to commit his heart to the game.

4 Star Review: Middle of Knight (Jack & Jill #2) by Jewel E Ann

Tuesday 4 November 2014 No comments
Middle of Knight (Jack & Jill, #2)Middle of Knight by Jewel E. Ann
My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This series will make you laugh, cry and feel every emotion possible that falls in between love and loss.

As we read on, there’s more mystery surrounding Knight and Day but with each turning page, more secrets are revealed. Jillian and Jackson continue to live their new lives and this time Jackson finally acquires a love interest in Ryn, AJ’s 40 year old cleaner. As expected, this age difference brings about a whole host of questions and challenges but Jackson is determined to prove to Ryn that her age doesn’t alter his feelings for her. Their relationship isn’t a smooth one as a result, especially when Ryn’s background starts to affect the way Jackson treats her and he wonders if he’s right for her afterall.