Stolen Princess by Julia Sykes Book Review!!

 

Book review:

The saga continues and what a good saga it is! Book 2 in the Rapture & Ruin series, Stolen Princess, was just as entertaining as the first for me! I love the back and forth pull of Allie’s feelings for Max. She knows that she shouldn’t care about him so much but she can’t help how she feels.

I also appreciated Max’s turmoil throughout the book not wanting to damn Allie to a life centered around the mafia but also knowing he’ll never find another woman that he feels as strongly about as Allie.

 I love that Max continues to be the protector we all want to have. I love that Allie is persistent and won’t let things go. I like that she’s intrigued by Niko, but also still sees through his BS. 

In book 1, I felt like Allie was a little naive and through this book, I really feel like she’s starting to take her self appointed blinders off and see her world for what it really is. I hope in the final book we continue to see this growth in her character as a strong young woman fighting to find the truth and share her love with those she cares about. Max, on the other hand, at the end of this book has made me want to shake him. I am hoping he finds a way back to my good graces in book 3 as I am thoroughly frustrated with some of his choices in this book. Regardless, I cannot wait to read more about this book family and see how everything ends up!! Come on, book 3!!

Clam Jam by R.C. Bold Review!!

"I want to be someone's everything." "You already are." - R.C. Boldt, Clam Jam

I was lucky enough to win an ARC of this book and I'm glad I did because I enjoyed the read. It will be released on January 10th, 2017!  This book was somewhere around a 3.5 for me, but I decided to round up because the pros definitely outweighed the cons for me in this book.


**** There are SPOILERS in this review so continue to read only at your own risk!! ****


Maggie is our main leading lady of this story. She's been burned by men in the past and is in that place (that most of us have been in one time or another) where she's swearing off men at the beginning of the book. Enter art and his gigantic lie! He has seen Maggie from afar and has that ultimate, love at first sight experience. However, he knows she's recently been burned so the only way he'll be able to be a part of her life is through a strictly platonic relationship. Maggie's ideal roommate is a gay man and Ry's ideal anything is Maggie, so i.e. he "becomes" a gay man for her.

Because of this facade, they are able to really get to know each other and become close friends. I obviously don't agree with Ry lying and I can understand how badly it hurts Maggie and breaks her trust with him, but I can also see the value of really getting to know each other without the added pressure of dating and possibly feeling like you always have to put your best foot forward, so to speak.

Naturally, Ry and Maggie are the perfect couple from the beginning of the story and everyone but Maggie seems to see it. Her best friend Sarah picks up on it. Jack, the supposed boyfriend but really best friend of Ry, obviously knows it and has from the very beginning. Maggie is even introduced to TWO female ex's of Ry's plus met Ry's Mom who had no idea what she meant about her son "coming out" so by the end of this book,I was a little frustrated Maggie hadn't picked up on anything yet, or her BFF had told her (Ry or Sarah)! There was passion between Ry and Maggie that was undeniable. The story overall was very well written, albeit a little longer than I really thought necessary.

My favorite part of this book was the end and the sweet, thoughtful, perfect romantic comedy/drama movie type  experience Ry fave Maggie to win her back. I mean, really?! Who wouldn't swoon at that?! I love that he kept the letters and I loved the little part of his 'tell' that made Maggie feel like he really loved her.

My only complaint? I want to know more about Jack and Sarah!! They had good chemistry as well, but I know Jack gad to keep  the facade so I'm hoping those two get their happily ever after in a future book 2!