"this is an open diary. this gives my insides a voice through visuals and poetry; this is me spilled out on paper."
Youtuber, philanthropist, CEO, and aut"this is an open diary. this gives my insides a voice through visuals and poetry; this is me spilled out on paper."
Youtuber, philanthropist, CEO, and author Connor Franta second memoir delves into his personal life, from dealing with depression, anxiety, love and heartbreak.
The book is aesthetically pleasing with its layout of photos interweaving between poems, essays, short stories. There are a few poignant and inspiring quotes and encouragements for life philosophy from living in the moment, balancing being selfish and selfless, to random act of kindness. Sharing some of his personal life, you get a glimpse into the last 2 years.
The writing itself is simple enough yet there's a raw openness to it. There were certain parts of the book where I felt like he barely scratched the surface but some things are kept private. Especially when he's in the business of disclosure through social media. There's a somber tone to the book and overall I enjoyed his thoughts and journey. ...more
What an intense ride! If this was a movie, I don't think I could loosen my grip on the armrest and my arm would be sore after. If I could say4.5 stars
What an intense ride! If this was a movie, I don't think I could loosen my grip on the armrest and my arm would be sore after. If I could say one thing to sum up the book, it'd be coming round full circles, especially for John, Xhex and Darius.
I loved John Matthew the first time he was introduced. He had that innocent and gentle way about him. Xhex is a hard core kickass heroine, one I would not want to mess with after seeing her assassination skills.
John and Xhex was drawn to one another when they first laid eyes on each other in ZeroSum. They were indeed meant for each other. They both have a pretty brutal past and issues they have to overcome.
“You’re not half the male you could be because of what was done to you. You’re twice what anyone else is because you survived.”
The beauty of the relationship is seeing them hold each other up in this book. John was such a wonderful hero. He didn't disappoint me in the least. Xhex was pretty clear she didn't deserve a happy ending but when you have someone such as John in your life, it's hard not to second guess your decision.
The flashbacks to Darius connected the dots and the strands of life that are intertwined. The few surprises here and there with the Chosen and Payne kept things interesting. The paranormal investigators bits made me scratch my head a little. Yes, the identity of who they found was revealed but is there a significance to it? Or is it just filler?
What broke my heart in this is the distance between Blay and Qhuinn. I just want their HEA. I know I'll get there but it seems forever away!
There's more development on Lash, I was actually kind of creeped out at one point. Such evil evil power.
Overall, I really enjoyed this, it kept me flipping pages to find out what's happening next. ...more
This wasn't a perfect book by all means and not my favorite compared to the previous BDB books so far. I liked the new characters introd3.5 to 4 stars
This wasn't a perfect book by all means and not my favorite compared to the previous BDB books so far. I liked the new characters introduced that posed a threat to the Brotherhood and the king. But then the plot was rather anticlimactic at the end. I was waiting for some big blowout or something that'll extend the plot in a major way but it fell rather flat.
Now to the other storylines...
Manny and Payne: I love reading about Butch/V/Jane but it was unfair to Manny and Payne as there wasn't that much focus on them. I hadn't liked Manny before but he grew on me. The connection he had with Butch wasn't as surprising since I had already guessed what's what when (view spoiler)[he said his father used to be a surgeon and had a ways with the ladies (hide spoiler)]. I liked his protective nature, but honestly, what hero isn't protective of his female? Payne didn't seem as kickass as she was when she was on the Other Side. I still liked her character though, she stood up for herself and what she wanted, especially going head to head with a brother like Vishous.
V/Jane/Butch: I love getting more page time with them! I love Butch for what he did, knowing that it hurt him too. Totally a male of worth. V hasn't really gotten over his traumatic past and his emotions or lack of ability to verbally express his emotions aside from violence drove a wedge in his relationship with Jane. I think I was more invested in V&Jane, which again, felt unfair to Manny & Payne. The thing that confused me most was the part that said (view spoiler)[V & Jane never got mated... Huh??!??!?! Doesn't V have Jane's name tattooed on his upper back, which is how you tell a Brother is mated?? (hide spoiler)]
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Qhuinn/Blay/Saxton/Layla: -It hurts me to see Qhuinn and Blay not talk to each other. Qhuinn finally started to figure himself out and what he wants, even though it may be too little too late. And um hello... his dream/vision? Whaaattt?! That sure threw a wrench into things. -I like Saxton. Surprise! I didn't think I would but I do. Even though he knows Blay's true feelings, he's still willing to risk it. He's following his heart and I can't blame him. -It'll be interesting to see what develops with Layla considering she's now more outspoken. Am I still rooting for Qhuay? Heck yeah. But I'll have to see how the WARDen works out this storyline.
Can I skip Tohr's book and go straight to finding out? :P
What I miss from this book was the non-presence of the rest of the Brothers. There were mentions of names and Wrath and Rhage got a few lines, but other than that, there wasn't enough of them for my liking! I need glimpses into their lives, even a little one, outside of the fighting and training....more
What can I say about this one? There's one thing I learned when reading this series. Expect the unexpected.
Considering Zsadist's past and what 5 stars
What can I say about this one? There's one thing I learned when reading this series. Expect the unexpected.
Considering Zsadist's past and what he went through, I couldn't imagine any of the Brothers going through something just as bad, but Vishous's past revealed a torture and cruelty inflicted upon him by none other than his own father. The identity of his mother was surprising, yet not surprising as it actually made sense.
Vishous (V) has never been close to another person, until he met Butch. Their friendship and closeness is one of a kind. Their love for each other is also what strengthens what their destinies hold. The light and the dark. With Butch mated to Marissa, it was hard for V to watch. Then one night while fighting a lesser who just killed a vampire civilian, V was mortally wounded and rushed to a human hospital where he was operated on by Dr. Jane Whitcomb. Jane discovered an anomaly to V's heart and wants to learn more about him, not knowing what he truly is. What I love about Jane is that she's not wishy-washy... about ANYTHING. What she wants, she'll work for to get it.
V couldn't be exposed to the human world so the Brothers took actions to get him back, and that included a kidnapping of the good doctor. The Brothers had never met the likes of Jane. She stood toe to toe with each one of them and never back down. She is definitely a female who is worthy of a Brother. V fell for her and he fell hard and fast. The scene when she gave him a bed bath... yeah...
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Actually, all of the scenes involving them were hot, funny, and some were even beautiful. V was eager to learn more about her and that means giving information and pieces of himself that no one else ever knew of. However, the Scribe Virgin had other plans for V and that did not involve Jane.
There was continual development on John, I cannot wait for his story!! We get a transition to Phury's book as well. I hope he can move on, because honestly, it was depressing to read about him still yearning for something he can't have. There was no insights into the lessers world, and the book focused more on the Brotherhood side, which was fine with me.
The ending certainly threw me for a loop. I truly felt their heartaches, and their joys. I almost felt like V got cheated. As unconventional as that happy ever after is, it still worked for me and may take some getting used to. V is happy, so I'm happy.
Throughout the series, fate and destiny play a big part in what happens to the Brothers and their females. Everything happens for a reason, and I hope that what happened with Jane and Vishous have a bigger role to play. ...more
For me, the romance in the book between Phury and Cormia didn't take the forefront attention4 hazy stars
I can still see through the haze of red smoke!
For me, the romance in the book between Phury and Cormia didn't take the forefront attention. It held my interest only because I felt really bad for Cormia and I wanted to see her happy. At first, I thought she was weak and timid, but she definitely proved me wrong with the change in her once she came out of her shell. I love the friendship she developed with Bella and John Matthew. As a Chosen, Cormia knew of nothing outside the whiteness of the environment where her, her Chosen sisters and the Scribe Virgin lived. Once mated to Phury, she was brought over to the human/vampire side. There she discovered the magic of colors and vividness of life. Anyone would be scared and feel out of their element in a new and strange world, but Cormia had courage as big and bold as the strength of the Brothers.
Phury... I liked Phury up to V's book because at that point, he was making me feel really depressed with his yearning for Bella. He was on a self-destructive path, fighting his inner demons and addictions. Phury has always been the most noble, the most loyal Brother. He would put others' needs before his own as proven by his sacrifice to rescue his twin Zsadist and also taking V's place as the Primale. That I admired in him. His inability to see what was in front of him, however, frustrated me to no end! I wanted to shake and smack some sense into him. His addictions had the better of him and it took a serious life altering spiral to make him turn things around. I hated to see him so tormented and not knowing what to do. He redeemed himself once he figured his true feelings and the fact that he was going to lose Cormia.
I wouldn't really categorize this as paranormal romance as the romance part was only seen in the last couple of chapters of the book. It read more as paranormal/suspense for me. I really enjoyed the other plots with John, Blay and Qhuinn. As well as Rehvenge and the new development of the Omega and his son. The secondary plots really drove the story forward for me, which is what the 4 stars rating is for.
I'm not an experienced M/M reader by any means. As a matter of fact, the only M/M romance I've ever read is from Suzanne Brockmann's Troubleshooters series. After this book, Blay and Qhuinn certainly piqued my interest.
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I must read on to eventually get to their story. I guess you can call me a self confessed addict of this series too! ...more
They made this book for me. To be honest, they saved this book from being a 3 stars.
When I first started this one,5 stars for Butch and Vishous, true?
They made this book for me. To be honest, they saved this book from being a 3 stars.
When I first started this one, I was excited for Butch's story. I didn't really like him in the first book but he grew on me in book 2 & 3. I had no idea what to expect except from what I read in the synopsis. Butch was going to be in some major life or death trouble, and Marissa was needed to help bring him back. What transpired among Butch, the Brotherhood, the lessers TOTALLY. BLEW. MY. MIND. Didn't even see that one coming.
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Butch and Vishous... MY BOYS!! I LOVE LOVE LOVE THEM. There was such a deep bond between them and we get to find out why. Heck, their connection was stronger than what I felt between Butch and Marissa.
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Marissa, on the other hand... not so much.
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She's the only heroine so far in this series that I didn't feel a connection to or relate to. She got some issues and insecurities, which is fine but I felt like she held Butch back too often. And I hated that she made him hurt and doubt his worthiness of her. I was frustrated with her for the first two-thirds of the book and was only able to tolerate her for the last part, only because Butch loves her! I still think he deserves better.
Butch, though, is one of a kind. Not only is he part of the Brotherhood, he's also the only HUMAN male accepted into the vampire world. Butch had always felt like he's drifting along in his world. There was nothing to live for. He did whatever he wanted as a cop but there was no purpose to it. Until he fallen into the vampire world where he felt like he belonged but didn't know why. And as the book progresses, there's more to him that makes him special as more things get revealed.
I like to be a participant in a book, trying to guess and foreshadow certain pieces. With this one, I stopped trying to predict what's going on and just went along for the ride. And what a ride it was! Even to the end, it was one bombshell after another. My jaw dropped and loud gasps happened on several occasions.
Now I'm going to jump right into Vishous's book. I hope I can root for his romance more.
Phewwww. My head and emotions are all over the place after this. I'm sad, happy, shocked, and tired all at the same time. Let me start off thou5 stars
Phewwww. My head and emotions are all over the place after this. I'm sad, happy, shocked, and tired all at the same time. Let me start off though by saying that the books in this series just get better and better. This one was darker and emotionally heavier than the first two novels. I can't really say much without revealing spoilers and I rather not ruin any. There were a few surprises and plot twists along the way, which make you want to keep reading. I was beyond excited when my suspicion of John was confirmed. I love reading about his development.
We learn about how Zsadist (Z) got his blood slave markings and scars. My heart bled for both Zsadist and his brother Phury. There was such a strong bond between them that when one is in pain, the other also hurt. And when a writer can make you feel the depth of those emotions with words, they've done their job. I also liked the fact that Miss Ward can focus on a couple in each book and still propel the main storyline forward.
Zsadist and Bella had a connection from the last book. Z tried hard to stay away from her but since Bella had already endured a horrible nightmare after being taken captive by a lesser who became obsessed with her, he had to try and protect her.
I loved watching as their relationship grew even though Z fought tooth and nail, thinking he wasn't good enough. But Bella is no weak female. She knew what she wanted and she fought hard too to get it.
The growth in the relationship and characters of the Brotherhood were also prominent in the book. The bromance between Vishous and Butch... I really love those two roomies. And Phury. Oh Phury, I just want to hug you. And Tohr and Wellsie... Man... OK, it's an understatement to say that my heart was put through the wringer after this. I should take a break from the series but who am I kidding, I crave to read about these brothers. So onward we go!
One more thing, that epilogue... heart... melted. ...more
I was so wrapped up in this book and the development not only in the main storyline characters (4 stars
Hello, my name is Quynh, and I'm a BDB addict.
I was so wrapped up in this book and the development not only in the main storyline characters (Rhage and Mary) but also on the secondary characters and relationships that are intertwined. It's a busy time of year but any time I have free, this book was in my hands.
Rhage has been living with a curse for hundred of years now and no one dare to go near him when his curse is released. On the night of his recovery from this curse, he met Mary, who has a voice that soothes his soul. It was rather amusing to read their first encounter.
Mary is also burdened with an illness that she's been fighting for a while, which has now returned. After their first meeting, Rhage is unable to forget about her so he's determined to have her. Mary knows she isn't what Rhage usually goes after so she questions his pursuit to get to know her.
There's a quite a dance of two steps forward, one step back between them. At times, I wanted to shake Mary, but it's understandable to see where she's coming from. Rhage though, was utterly smitten and I just love him. He fought so hard for Mary even when she was fighting her own emotions.
The battle between the Brotherhood and the lesser continues and other stories are developing that make you want more. Which means I now have to jump into book 3 (Zsadist and Bella, yay!) right away to find out what happens next!
OK. I see what all the fuss and hype is all about now so I'll just cut to the chase.
What I like about this book:
☑ it has heart ☑ it has humour4.5 stars
OK. I see what all the fuss and hype is all about now so I'll just cut to the chase.
What I like about this book:
☑ it has heart ☑ it has humour ☑ awesome characters (main and secondary) ☑ larger than life men (really... mmm) and sometimes, kinda scary, but that's good when they're on your side ☑ scrumptiously protective alpha hero ☑ scrumptiously sexy vampires ☑ hero who's possessive of the heroine without it getting annoying ☑ heroine who doesn't back down ☑ swoon-worthy moments ☑ OMG moments (especially with Darius... I literally squealed near the end *no spoilers allowed*)
Basically, I was NEVER bored while reading this. It was action packed right from the beginning. The urban setting and world building behind the vampires versus the lesser society was intriguing. The love scenes were steamy. The dialogue was quick and great.
This has got to be a favorite series of mine, right next to JD Robb's In Death series, which is my obsession. Each and every I-Team book have b5 stars
This has got to be a favorite series of mine, right next to JD Robb's In Death series, which is my obsession. Each and every I-Team book have been compelling with intricately woven plot and characters development.
The prologue here EASILY deserves 5+++ stars. I think to appreciate the depth of emotions in the first couple of chapters, it'd be wise to read First Strike first to see the connection between Javier and Laura.
Spoiler from First Strike: They met in Dubai for a whirlwind weekend of no strings attached sex. They departed hoping for more. A second chance. But that chance disintegrated when Laura was abducted by terrorists on live television. Believed her to be dead, Javier vowed to bring down the man who killed her.
Fast forward to 2 years, we learn Laura is indeed alive, but held in a nightmare by her captors with no escape. Until the night she heard American voices coming to capture the terrorist. Laura found her voice too and was rescued by a "tall SEAL" not knowing it was Javier.
Once back on American soil, Laura is still suffering with nightmares and memories of her captivity, all the while testifying to put the man responsible behind bars. But that doesn't end there. With death threats thrown against her, Laura is trying to get back to her life as normally as one can after such an ordeal but she also hold a secret that no one can find out.
We meet Javier again as he takes a leave of absence to recover from an attack where he lost some of his men. We get to see Nate West again as they are close friends. These friend connections bring Laura and Javier together. As they get to know each other once again, Laura slowly opens herself up, letting Javier into her secrets. With the danger forced upon Laura, Javier takes it upon himself to become her bodyguard. As the story unravels, there's twists and turns that keep you guessing who is the good guy or bad guy.
This is a story of survival and sacrifice, of remaking yourself when you feel like hope is gone. It's emotionally heavy, possibly the heaviest in the series, so be prepared for that when you start this one (I shed a few tears). But I assure you, once you start it, you can't put it down.
I love seeing all the other characters from the previous books. They make up their own family since their lives and work are so intertwined. Marc and Julian still crack me up.
The funniest moment though: Javier's meeting with Laura's family.
Pamela Clare is without a doubt my favorite romantic suspense author.
Nothing too profound here but it is my favorite book in the series so far. It's funny, quirky (quite actually, especially with the heroine), 4.5 stars
Nothing too profound here but it is my favorite book in the series so far. It's funny, quirky (quite actually, especially with the heroine), and a fast read. The things that came out of Kate's mouth had me laughing out loud a few times.
Kate and Griffin aren't strangers to each other. She's best friend with his sister, Holly. And he's known her forever. When Griffin returns to Sunshine, Idaho to recover from his injuries, he got more than what he expected to help him heal.
Kate always took care of those around her, her dad, her sister and her brother. It's part of who she is. When her childhood crush comes back to town, she decided to do something for herself. Even if it means doing something as crazy as seducing Griffin Reid.
Kate is adorably funny with her science facts she spouts off whenever she gets nervous. Griffin is yummy, and try as he might, he couldn't resist making Kate nervous. The family dynamics of the hero and heroine were great. I love little Tommy, he takes after his sister that one. The things that come from his mouth is quite funny as well.
This is a Jill Shalvis book, and anyone who has read her books know that they can prepare themselves for a good laugh with some sexy romance. Definitely recommend it.
I've been waiting for Tessa's book since I devoured through the first three novels of the series over the summer. I guess the common theme th4.5 stars
I've been waiting for Tessa's book since I devoured through the first three novels of the series over the summer. I guess the common theme through the entire series was secrets. Each book had them and finding out what each of them are makes you understand the characters more and why they hold these secrets.
Tessa Galloway always wanted a baby. Her marriage to a cheating husband ended after several years of futily trying to have that baby. Now single, while working with her three best friends to get their business off the ground, Tessa is looking for a sperm donor. Her expectations are high, and it's everything she saw in the man who walked into the pub one night.
John Brown aka Ian Browning only wants his children back. Living a life on the run and under the witness protection of the government isn't what Ian wants. Ever since he discovered his wife's body, murdered by members of a gang, he has drifted in and out of different cities and countries, trying to get custody of his children. He can't have any of that until he can prove that his life has stability. But how can a man with no home base, no job, and no wife be stable? He sets out to get each one and what better way than finding a job and a wife in the same place, with the same woman he set eyes on in the pub.
Tessa is good at reading people, specifically when they have something to hide. She's also good at hiding her own secret, one that even her three closest friends doesn't know about. She's straightforward about what she wants with John Brown even though that scared him off the first night they met. Now that he's back, courting her, Tessa thinks something must be up. There were tiny slip ups Ian made, but nothing that Tessa can put her finger on. Not only is her personal life unpredictable, but so is the future of the resort as members of a wedding consultant business arrive unexpectedly wanting to see a wedding happen on Barefoot Bay.
Seeing this opportunity basically dropped into his lap, Ian jumped at the chance and proposed (in a way) to get Tessa to marry him so he can have that "stability" the government was looking for and it's a chance to showcase the resort to gain more business. Two birds, one stone, right?
I haven't read a lot of 'marriage of convenience' storylines but this one worked for me. The romance seems to move a bit fast but there was a deadline hanging over both their heads. The pressure to succeed was paramount. You can tell that they care for each other within that short span of time. They each couldn't have one thing without giving up the other, so the internal fight Tessa and Ian had with themselves was believable, and so was their decisions.
The only thing I wanted more of was the interactions with the toddlers. I'm a sucker for babies and the little snippet we got was sooooooo utterly adorable I wanted to continue reading every scene with the twins in it. And I can't forget Elijah, especially when he smiled that first baby toothy grin.
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This was a very nice ending to a great series. I'm glad it's not the end exactly as Roxanne St. Claire plans to write more books for Barefoot Bay with a different theme.
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