Kandi Steiner

Secondo libro della serie “Red Zone Rivals”, scritto abbastanza bene nel complesso, ma una storia non propriamente originale che non mi ha soddisfatto del tutto.
I due protagonisti vengono abbastanza ben delineati ma, sia per la giovane età e la conseguente immaturità, mi hanno spesso irritato.
Di certo il genere young adult non è tra i miei preferiti ed è diventato piuttosto difficile imbattermi in libri di questa tipologia che mi soddisfino del tutto.
Troppe scene di sesso ed eccessivamente dettagliate tanto che ho saltato pagine e pagine di descrizioni inutili perché quelle lette, alla fine, risultano solo noiose e prive di qualsiasi vero calore.
Una vicenda semplice e del tutto scontata dove i personaggi di contorno appaiono solo come semplici figuranti anche quando avrebbero meritato, per il loro coinvolgimento diretto nella storia, una più specifica caratterizzazione per dare al tutto un maggior spessore.… (mehr)

I read SIncerely, Dane by Ilsa Madden Mills and this short story was such a sweet read.

This is a cute and fun novella that is part of anthology and I hope will eventually be a full length story. Dane and Piper went to school together from high school on and now that Dane’s twin bother is married to Piper’s best friend they end up spending a lot of time together. Piper has always crushed on Dane but believes he has her firmly placed in the friend zone that she just accepts their relationship as is until one night a text makes her think about more. Dane hasn’t had it easy in life, he derailed at one point, and his relationship with Ari fizzled out because deep down I truly believe he’s always felt like Piper was his. In this story Dane comes to Piper’s apartment dressed as a werewolves and so the chaos ensues. He recruits her to help with a scavenger hunt that ends with an epic ending/beginning. The tension between them was tangible, the chemistry off the charts, and the can they will they flowed off the pages. I rally hope we get more of their story!!… (mehr)

This book was an interesting book for me it made my heart go out to Amanda for all she has suffered and endured while thinking she was doing what was best for her kid at the time. She ends up pregnant at 15, marrying her high school boyfriend, and while she dreams of this wonderful life she knows it won’t be that way because he turns out to turn into an alcoholic. She keeps trying but the relationship is cruel and abusive yet she hangs on thinking she is doing right by her son. I was os proud of her for finally realizing she deserves so much more than what she endured and walks away trying to better herself. She carries a lot of guilt but she goes back to school takes control of her life back in order to move forward. She is strong and willing to do what she has to in order to make her life better but things change. She is older at the age of 47 and by happenstance she is reconnected with her son’s best friend, Greg. They both have feelings yet they know nothing can happen because it is wrong. Greg works hard yet when he sees Amanda again he has this urge to show her that life is made to be lived and they connect. This read was a great one about moving forward in life and going after the things that make you happy and while I enjoyed as I usually enjoy age gaps I don’t know it was strange for me. I understand age is numbers and everyone deserves their own happiness, yet going for your son’s best friend you have know since they were kids seems so strange to me. I understand 100% why David flew off the handle and isn’t ok with things going on between his mother and best friend. He is justified in being angry and I know he loves his mother wants her happy but I feel if Greg had been just a random stranger she met and happened to be younger I would have enjoyed it more but the best friend factor is weird. The storyline with finding ones own path and strength was beautiful and Greg was great showing her how to live.… (mehr)

THANKS TO author for Goodreads giveaway for a paperback of this book. A college romance between Zeke & Riley. They known each other since childhood. Zeke is Riley's brother Gavin's best friend. Riley grew up with the two learning football & soccer. Neither character is very likable. Fast forward to a terrible accident, angst, & an untold part of the accident story that drags on. Zeke & Riley end up being college roommates since she's the first female kicker on the college football team. Protectiveness turns to lust while Zeke tries to protect Riley from all the guys hitting on her. They come to a friends with benefits agreement that of course turns into more. I've read this book before only with a different sport featured. Plot holes, some disabilities brought up and never resolved, too much football jargon, & not really that much of a romance.… (mehr)