Nephilim Falling by Felicia Beasley

Nephilim Falling by Felicia Beasley left me with contradictory feelings.

My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

The book is well-written and fast-paced which is a plus, in my humble opinion. It's written in first person POV, with all but one chapter done in main character, Lex's voice. The book is listed under Mystery, Thriller, Suspense on Amazon, but I would consider it Urban Fanstasy. As you can see, it does have a pretty cool cover!

The story grabbed me pretty quickly with its strong start. The first chapter is action-packed and gripping. Shortly thereafter, it started to lose me a bit, and I had trouble reconnecting with the characters and story. I did manage to get back into it about half-way through, but none of it really lived up to that first chapter for me. 

The biggest drawback for me, and one of the reasons I began to disconnect, was the number of similarities to other popular tales. What could've been a really good story began to feel like a combination of several others. There are several pop culture references throughout the story, which I usually like. Seeing if I can catch them keeps it interesting and adds to the book for me. But when scenes and people/places start feeling like I've read it before - and I start remembering where I've read it - it's a bit disappointing, especially when a story holds so much promise. 

I haven't read any of this author's other works, so I don't know if this is a common thing, but I sincerely hope not. Without being familiar with her other books, I'm left rather ambivalent about whether I would recommend this one. 

If you like Urban Fantasy and want to give this one a chance, it's available on Amazon and I've included a link for your convenience. 

Amazon US

Thanks for joining me!

Momma

Tied to Him by Tia Siren

I finished Tia Siren's Tied to Him this morning and had to take some time to think about how I feel about this one. I've enjoyed every book that I've read by this author, but this one just didn't do it for me. Let's get on with the technical stuff and I'll explain.

My Rating: 3 out 5 stars
The book is well-written and fast-paced, written in first person, dual POV. It's BDSM light and the heat level is scorching, so definitely 18+ readers. And take a look at that cover! Can we say Hot!

As stated, I've enjoyed several of Tia Siren's books and I love her writing style and characters... Until this one. I just could not connect with Charles and Elizabeth. I think the biggest problem for me was that I didn't really like either of them. Charles is an alpha male, and we all know that alphas can be jerks, but he's a bit more jerk than I care for. The redeeming quality for most alphas is that their love for that special someone brings out their sensitive side. I didn't get that with Charles. And Elizabeth is just a such a spoiled brat that I felt like shaking her at times. I did like that she stood up to Charles, in and out of the bedroom, but her "free-spirit" personality was just a bit much for me.

The story is BDSM light, so some bondage and spanking, that kind of thing, but not too far over the top for those that don't like full-blown BDSM tales. And thank heavens, she didn't call him Daddy! So, kudos, Ms. Siren for not resorting to the whole daddy trope, even though he is considerably older than her. There is a lot of sex in this one, and I do mean a lot. So much so that it left little room to feel an actual romance blossoming. The attraction was obvious, but two people being sexually attracted to each other does not mean love or romance.

I did start to warm up to this pair at the end of the book, and I liked the way the couple interacted at that point, but I kind of felt like I was missing something. I would've liked to have had a bit more story showing their feelings blossoming and growing. I know most people want and expect a happily ever after ending, but I think I would've been happier with this one had it been what it felt like to me, a fling that would be looked back on with a smile.

Oh, and one more thing, I sincerely hope that the movie quote at the end was a joke that I didn't get because that line did not come from the movie mentioned. I don't normally nitpick on that kind of thing, but the book and movie that particular quote is from is one that is near and dear to me, so it stood out.

This in no way is meant to tear the author down, as I've said, I love her work. It's just my honest opinion on this particular book. So, read the blurb and if it sounds like your thing, please, support the author and pick up a copy. The book is available on Amazon and I'm including the link here for your convenience.

Amazon US

Thanks for joining me!

Momma

Shacking Up by Helena Hunting

I just finished Helena Hunting's newest book, Shacking Up.

My Rating: 3 out 5 stars. 

The book is a romantic comedy, written in first person, dual POV. It is very well-written, the story has good flow, the characters are interesting. There is a fairly high steam level, so definitely 18+ on that front.

Bane and Ruby meet the first time by accidental kiss (if you want an explanation of that, you'll have to read the book 😉), then they meet officially through mutual friends. Through a variety of circumstances, Ruby agrees to live in Bane's penthouse and pet sit some rather unusual critters while he's out of the country. What follows is several weeks of calls and texts filled with flirting and sexual innuendo. The conversations between Bane and Ruby are witty and amusing, and Ruby does tend to get herself into some funny situations, which keeps the story from lagging too much. Once things do finally heat up with this pair, the story picks up and is quite enjoyable, it just seemed to take its time getting there. 

The main characters are likable and I liked Ruby's best gal pal, Amie. I can't say the same for much of Bane's social circle, and found it a bit odd that for such a sweet guy, he was completely surrounded by... Well, jerks, for lack of more appropriate word (or at least one that is family friendly). Of course, much of the book tends to poke a bit at the elite, old money crowd, which most of the characters are from. 

Overall, if you're into the instalove theme with a quick and dirty story that is so prevalent today, then this is not the book for you. It does get steamy, but it's certainly not instalove, or even fairly quick love, for that matter. The author does have a good writing style, and she is obviously talented, so I would check out more of her work. In fact, there seemed to be more than meets the eye with Amie and Armstrong's relationship, and I found myself very curious about those two throughout this story. If the author would see fit to write that one, I would happily check it out. Hint, Hint!

Shacking Up is available for purchase at the following links, so if wit, a bit of fun, and a slow build romance is your thing, check it out.

Amazon US

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Thanks for joining me!

Momma

Fourth Fight by Mary Abshire

Let's set the scene. I started Fourth Fight (Book 4 in the Heaven Sent series) by Mary Abshire around 11pm last night, thinking I would read for a bit and then get some sleep. WRONG! Having read several books by this author, including the first three books in this series, I should've known better. I finished the last page around 4am and my mind is still reeling.

For the technical stuff:

My rating: 5 out 5 stars

The book is well-written and fast-paced. It is written in third person POV with chapters alternating between the main characters. The steam level picks up in this one. It's not over the top and doesn't take away from the story, but the book is definitely 18+ in that respect. The story is gripping and gritty, and a definite page turner. 

For a quick recap of the series (as spoiler free as possible), Andrew is sent back from Heaven as punishment for his promiscuity. While back on Earth, his job is to kill specific demons who are disguised as humans. The troubled Emily joins him in his quest and the action begins. The two hunt a different demon in each book and each demon has a different profession, which makes each case that much more interesting. 

In this fourth book in the series, the relationship between Andrew and Emily has heated up and the two have grown closer. Emily's capacity for charging head-first into trouble gets her in way over her head and Andrew has a big decision to make. The reappearance of the colorful Troy, as always, adds a bit of spice to the story. Over the course of this series, I've grown to love these characters and Emily's ordeal in this one is absolutely heart-wrenching. Andrew is left with doubts about her future safety and has an important decision to make. 

As I've come to expect from this author, the story is full of emotions. Andrew has a touch of innocence about him that is so endearing and then will say something that leaves you with a gasp and an "I can't believe he just said that!" With Emily being a bit jaded, it makes for an interesting contrast between these two. Their dialogue and interactions are oh, so sweet at times, humorous at others, and quite provocative at other times. 

I won't give spoilers, so I'll just say that the end of this one left me with an "Oh, no! She didn't just do that!" (No joke, I woke my husband when I exclaimed those exact words at 4am). So, now I'm left with need to read the next in the series - RIGHT NOW! Thank Goodness it's available. 

I highly recommend this whole series to anyone who enjoys a good PNR with action and suspense. 

Mary Abshire's books are available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Kobo, as well as a few others. I'm including some links here for your convenience. Be sure to check her out, you won't be disappointed!

Amazon.com

Barnes & Noble

Kobo

Thanks for joining me!

Momma

Administrative Duties by S. I. Hayes

I just finished reading Administrative Duties by S. I. Hayes, and all I can say is Wow!

I'll start this review with a disclaimer - I did edit this book for the author. That being said, I don't have to like a story to edit it. Grammar is grammar, after all, but not liking the story was not an issue here.

That out of the way, let's get through the technical stuff.
My rating: 5 out of 5 stars
The book is written in first person, dual POV that alternates from chapter to chapter. There is one chapter from another person's point of view, but you'll understand why when you get there. (No spoilers here). The story is a May/December romance, covering almost the first year between publishing company owner, Cassandra, and her administrative assistant, Taniel. The story flows well and did hold my interest - Boy, did it hold my interest. The steam level is high, so this is most definitely for 18+ readers. The story flows well and the character development is good.

The story starts simply enough, and it's easy to see where the story is going... Or so I thought. A man in an open relationship finds the love of his life with a hook-up. In that, I was right, sort of, but there's so much more. I love a good May/December romance, and this one fits that bill. The difference here is that the roles are reversed here. We have the sexy older woman with the hot younger man, and they are most definitely hot together.

Sounds like your typical steamy romance, right? Wrong! It is steamy and there's plenty of romance, but then come the twists. What's a good romance without a bit of drama? I won't elaborate so as not to give spoilers, but I will say that the drama is so not what I expected. The emotions run the gamut with Cassandra and Taniel's story - there's a bit of funny, a lot of sexy, some truly oh-so-sweet moments, and some absolutely heartbreaking scenes.

Why do I give this book 5 stars? That one's easy. I am not a crier. In fact, it's a rare thing for a story to affect me as profoundly as this one did. As stated earlier, I edited this book for the author. At about 75% of the way through, I found myself so emotional and caught up that I completely forgot to edit. I had to go back once I finished reading to do the job that I had set out to do. I've enjoyed several of this author's books, and her talent for immersing a reader in the lives of her characters, but none have affected me quite as much as this one. Congratulations, Ms. Hayes, you got me right in the heart!

Administrative Duties releases on June 9th and is currently available for pre-order. The following books2read link will take you to your website of choice for purchase - and this is one purchase I would strongly recommend.

https://www.books2read.com/u/bP1kNY


Thanks for reading!
Remember to support an Indie author.

Momma

Who is Momma?

Start a blog, they said. It's easy, they said.

That was before I sat down to write a simple introduction. I love books and can talk about what I've
read all day long. Talking about myself, however, proves to be a bit tougher.

I suppose I'll start with the easy part. My name is Becky, but everyone (and I do mean everyone) calls me Momma. I can thank my daughter for that one, she's never introduced me by any other name. It stuck, so here I am, Momma to everyone I know.

My main reason for starting this blog is my ongoing battle with the dictators at Amazon, who arbitrarily remove reviews without giving an actual reason - Sorry, but "you broke a rule" doesn't cut it for me. But, that's a long story, best left to another day. Basically, it boils down to my blog, my words, no one gets to censor me.

I have lots of hobbies and interests, but the one that has been with me for as long as I can remember would be reading. From those first Little Golden Books that were read to me as a toddler, I've been hooked. There's just something about being able to escape into a good tale and getting lost in the story. I will read almost anything, with the exception of Sci-fi and outer space/alien tales (no offense, they just aren't my thing). I'm dating myself here, but before the days of e-readers, I've even been known to read an encyclopedia when I ran out other material. I was like a kid in a candy store when I was introduced to digital media.

What you'll find on this blog is exactly what my banner claims - No punches pulled, honest book reviews. I'm plain spoken and call it exactly as I read it. Love it or Hate it, you'll see it here. But, the one thing, I can guarantee is that I am always fair and if I agree to read and review, I will do just that. I don't skim and I never DNF. Of course, that's the OCD in me, I have to finish if I start it. I absolutely can not leave a book unfinished. But I digress, I am always fair and honest, stating what I like/dislike in a book. I don't accept any form of payment for reviews, as that would create bias, and I generally only accept books for review that I think I'll enjoy reading - that sometimes backfires, but the intent to like a book is always there. The payment for me is getting lost in tale and that little peek inside the author's imagination.

I also edit for a small handful of Indie authors, and when I do, I'll be happy to tell  you what I think about the book. Note that I do not get paid based on book sales for editing. That's a totally different thing (done in a lump sum) and all taken care of before the book is even available.



Thanks for joining me on this journey of other worlds and characters that we won't soon forget.

Momma
.