Review for Turn Tables by Stacey Rouke

Turn Tables by Stacey Rourke

Blurb: 

Between private jets, designer labels, and lavish resorts, Tandy Owens should be having the time of her life. Her celebrity author best friend is getting married and all of Hollywood’s elite have turned out for the event. Unfortunately, Tandy’s mood is far from celebratory.

For over a year her heart has been torn between two men: Matthew Cruz, the brilliant, well-educated entrepreneur who makes her feel like a queen, and Mateo, his womanizing musician alter ego, who is known for collecting platinum records, and the panties of his sexual conquests. Matthew assures her that Mateo’s antics are all a show. Even so, with her being the only one to witness his softer side, Tandy begins to wonder which persona is truly the act.

In the sizzling heat of Miami, Tandy reaches the breaking point with their secretive romance, and finds herself asking if a hidden love is truly worth fighting for?

Review:
Turn Tables is the second book in the Reel Romance Series by Stacey Rourke. I loved the first book Adapted to Film. And this book was just as good. 

I've said it every time I post about Stacey Rourke, I love her writing style. It just reads beautifully and it always has a little bit of humor and sarcasm. Reel Romance Series is a refreshing series by Stacey Rourke so far. Its a light-hearted romance with the author's own unique style and spin. I loved the characters in Turn Tables. But the friendship between Aubrey and Tandy will forever be my favorite pairing and they are #FriendshipGoals. (I know... just... just... okay?)

Turn Tables has everything - A wedding, drama, sarcasm, friendship, romance and a big ass teddy bear. (You will have to read it to find out ;) )

Overall - Perfect summer read set in the sizzling heat of Miami.

Series Review for Creatura Series by Nely Cab

Creatura by Nely Cab

Blurb:

When seventeen year-old Isis Martin is having trouble sleeping due to perturbing dreams of a horrific growling beast, she decides to confront her fear. But what Isis discovers is something other than a menacing entity.

The human-like creature offers Isis assurance that he is not a figment of her imagination. Unwilling to accept his avowal, Isis sets his words to contest by asking the entity to prove himself—a dare, he readily welcomes.

It is in her dreams that Isis innocently stumbles upon the silent existence of the divine lineage of those that man has long forgotten.

In a quaint town, deep in south Texas, this story leads Isis onto the path of impermissible love and captivating life-changing truths. Isis Martin's journey is sure to leave any reader ravenous for more.

Fruit of Misfortune by Nely Cab

Blurb:

Isis' goals for the future included things like attending and graduating college. However, becoming a monster wasn't part of the plan. Isis and her boyfriend, David, are on the brink of a horrible transformation and they are eager to stop it. Together, they set out on a quest to Greece to find Isis' biological father—the only person that may be able to help them. Their journey comes to an abrupt stop before it even begins when Isis falls ill, and Eros, David's best friend, arrives in Athens, unannounced and curious…with a plan of his own.

The hunt for her father leads Isis on the turbulent path of deceit, death, and demons as she anticipates the dawning of the beast that stirs inside her.

Marker of Hope by Nely Cab

Blurb:

Who will save her from herself?
Upon her return from Greece with three new friends and a broken heart, Isis' hunger for human flesh is stronger than ever. She's a miserable mess after losing David following her betrayal. Her mutation into Creatura is all but over when she receives the surprise of her life, compelling her to seek out David's family. Only, they've broken all ties with her, and she doesn't know how to reach them.
Turpis, the demonic beings that attacked Isis in Greece, have tracked her whereabouts. Now, in order to fend for her life, Isis must join forces with deities she doesn't trust.
Is Isis truly the Marker of Hope as she's believed to be, or will she lose the battle to her starving inner beast and demons, obliterating humankind from existence? Find out in the epic finale of the best-selling CREATURA SERIES.

Series Review:

So I've reviewed Creatura like ages back. You can check it out HERE. And I've reviewed the prequel to the series called Prelude as well HERE. 

Now that those are out of the way. Back to the series review.

So if you've read the review for book one (Creatura) you know I loved it. It was full of romance, mystery and a little bit of mythology. Creatura was so full of promise to be an epic series but for some reason it fell just short of it.

Fruit of Misfortune picked up just after the major cliffhanger in Creatura. It started out great but it didn't really keep up with Creatura. Then it just kind of went down from there. There were some high points in the follow up two books and the plot was intriguing. But there were a few instances and a few things that the books could have avoided.

I think I just went in with a lot of expectations after I read Creatura and that's why I felt that the books let me down a little. It was a really good read. Don't get me wrong. But it wasn't the read I was expecting.

A little underwhelmed.

Turn Tables by Stacey Rourke

Happy Release Day Stacey Rourke!! Turn Tables is now LIVE everywhere!!

Turn Tables by Stacey Rourke

Genre: Contemporary Romance, RomCom

Hosted by: Lady Amber’s PR

Blurb: 

Between private jets, designer labels, and lavish resorts, Tandy Owens should be having the time of her life. Her celebrity author best friend is getting married and all of Hollywood’s elite have turned out for the event. Unfortunately, Tandy’s mood is far from celebratory.

For over a year her heart has been torn between two men: Matthew Cruz, the brilliant, well-educated entrepreneur who makes her feel like a queen, and Mateo, his womanizing musician alter ego, who is known for collecting platinum records, and the panties of his sexual conquests. Matthew assures her that Mateo’s antics are all a show. Even so, with her being the only one to witness his softer side, Tandy begins to wonder which persona is truly the act.

In the sizzling heat of Miami, Tandy reaches the breaking point with their secretive romance, and finds herself asking if a hidden love is truly worth fighting for?

Come Join the Facebook Release Party: 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1863106267244995/

RONE Award Winner for Best YA Paranormal Work of 2012 for Embrace, a Gryphon Series Novel;
Young Adult and Teen Reader voted Author of the Year 2012
Turning Pages Magazine Winner for Best YA book of 2013 &;
Best Teen Book of 2013

Stacey Rourke is the author of the award winning YA Gryphon Series, the chillingly suspenseful Legends Saga, and the romantic comedy Adapted for Film. She lives in Michigan with her husband, two beautiful daughters, and two giant dogs. She loves to travel, has an unhealthy shoe addiction, and considers herself blessed to make a career out of talking to the imaginary people that live in her head.



Visit her at www.staceyrourke.com
diaryofasemi-crazyauthor.blogspot.com


Facebook at www.facebook.com/staceyrourkeauthor
or on Twitter or instagram at Rourkewrites.
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1OJcVNO
Buy Links:
Adapted for Film: http://amzn.to/2lUincj
Turn Tables: http://amzn.to/2ldDMZO

 

Review for Ultraxenopia by M.A. Phipps

Ultraxenopia by M.A. Phipps

Blurb:

BOOK ONE IN THE YOUNG ADULT DYSTOPIAN TRILOGY PROJECT W. A. R.


Don't stand out. Blend in. Remain invisible. Those are the rules I lived by - the rules I thought would keep me alive.

I was wrong.

Wynter Reeves is a law-abiding citizen of the State, a willing conformist whose daily life is haunted by terrorism and oppression. With the constant threat of death hanging over her like a shadow, she forces herself to live by a strict set of rules, all in the hope of ensuring she is never noticed. However, on her twenty-first birthday, as she prepares to take the placement exam that will determine her future within society, she begins to show symptoms of a rare and debilitating illness - ultimately attracting the attention of the State. Taken into the custody of the feared research facility known as the DSD, her worst nightmare becomes reality.

Ripped away from the life she knew, Wynter is forced to become the test subject of the mysterious Dr. Richter. Through him, she learns the true and terrifying nature of her condition: a disease called Ultraxenopia.

Review:

I read this book as a part of a Blind Date with a Book (more on this in another post). I honestly was really excited when I started the book, it felt new and wonderful. I love dystopian books and this seemed to have a fantastic premise.

"Don’t stand out. Blend in. Remain invisible."

That line had me hooked! And the cover! I LOVED the cover! Ultraxenopia started out well, but somewhere in the middle I lost interest. I would have shelved it as DNF but I was way too invested in what happens at that point. There are two main things that bugged me. First was that the world building felt incomplete. Like this is a new dystopian world that we are being introduced to and there's not much explanation as to what happened and why. In some places there are some explanations, but they seem hasty. I felt like I picked up the second book in the series or I missed a prequel novella that explains everything. The other thing that bothered me was the characters. For some reason I felt that I didn't get to really know them. And it bothered me because there is such great potential for them there. I wish that the book was more fleshed out and had less inner monologues. 

I wish there was more is what I keep coming back to. I really do think there's a good scope for this story and it does have the potential to grow and become very popular. It just needs more!

Ugh I feel weird after writing this review. I've avoided it for weeks now. I'm going to go watch some feel good shows. K?

oxox

TJ