Little Lies by H. Hunting

 

3.5 Star

Kodiak and Lavender spent years as friends.  When he did the unthinkable everything stopped between them.  When they are thrusted back together will they be able to work out their differences?

I really liked this book.  It was a spinoff of Helena Hunting’s Pucked series and many of those characters made an appearance in this book through their grown-up children.  I kind of hoping this is a series to see where some of the other “kids” end up.  As for this book, Kodiak irritated me so much which he was supposed to, but I never felt he really redeemed himself.  Even in the end when he is being told which teams were looking at him, he was still freaking out and being very codependent.  Lavender gives him an ultimatum and that forces him to follow his dream and not just her.  I got really angry at one point over how Lavender was treated by her family and felt like they encouraged her anxiety so they could keep her safe and feel needed.  Encouraged might be the wrong word but it is the closest I can come up with.  You won’t need to have read the original series to understand what is going on in this book they will just provide context.  Overall, I enjoyed what I read and will check out another book if it is released.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder

 

5 Star

Yelena is prepared to die for the murder she committed.  It didn’t matter if it was justified or not, she is still a murder.  She is next for the noose when the Commander of Ixia is in need of a new food taster.  The rule of the country is the position must be offered to the next to die.  Yelena figures it’s worth it to stay alive.  With this new position she risks assassination by anyone who wants her dead as well as the commander.  With all the secrets she carries she’s not sure if she made the right decision or if it would have been better to take the noose.

This story was amazing.  I loved seeing the relationship change and grow between Yelena and Valek.  As well as her relationships with Ari and Janco.  It was interesting that it is considered a romance, but the romance doesn’t really happen until the very end.  Finding out about all of Yelena’s secrets was a journey I enjoyed reading.  The world building in the book was spot on.  It was interesting and complex.  I am looking forward to seeing how the next book turns out.

Book 1 Chronicles of Ixia

Marrying Caroline by Susan Stoker

 

Caroline is finally getting to marry Wolf.  They’ve had a wild ride so far so they were hoping for somewhat quiet wedding even if it is large.  But as everything else in their relationship plans don’t go the way they wanted them too.

This book can’t be read before you read the first three books.  I loved reading the scene about the Budweiser pin and why Caroline needs to take Wolf’s pin.  I also really liked the way Caroline was trying to make Cookie feel ok with a tiny wedding to Fiona as he really wanted a big bash but Fiona couldn’t handle it.  Overall, it was a cute story to see where everyone is.

Book 3.5 SEAL of Protection

Promo: H. Hunting

 

"H. Hunting delivers what must be the most beautifully written, and certainly emotional New Adult books of the year.”
- LJ Shen, USA Today bestselling author

From New York Times bestselling author Helena Hunting writing as H. Hunting, comes a beautifully written and emotional new adult romance, Little Lies, available now!

I don’t want you.
You mean nothing to me.
I never loved you.
I turned my words into swords.
And I cut her down.
Shoved the blade in and watched her fall.
I said I’d never hurt her, and I did.
Years later, I’m faced with all the little lies, the untruths, the false realities, the damage I inflicted, when all I wanted was to indulge my obsession.
Lavender Waters is the princess in the tower. Even her name is the thing fairy tales are made of.
I used to be the one who saved her.
Over and over again.
But I don’t want to save her anymore.
I just want to pretend the lies are still the truth.

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About Helena Hunting

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of PUCKED, Helena Hunting lives on the outskirts of Toronto with her incredibly tolerant family and two moderately intolerant cats. She writes contemporary romance ranging from new adult angst to romantic sports comedy.

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Protecting Fiona by Susan Stoker

 

3 Star

Hunter “Cookie” Knox’s team was sent into the jungle to rescue a woman from a well-respected family.  When they get to her they find another American.  They can’t leave her, so they get her out but now have someone who has been trafficked 3 months ago and has been passed around and drugged.  Fiona was not expecting to get out of Mexico.  When her captors brought in another woman, she just thought it as another day until some men came to rescue her.  She almost didn’t say anything and would have been left behind.  With everything she had been through she didn’t want to slow them down while dealing with drug withdrawal.  When they all are states side again, she’s not sure what she’s going to do as she lost her job, her apartments, and her life.  Cookie is determined to help her get back on her feet.  When the SEALs are sent on a mission, she’s left alone for the first time and doesn’t handle it well.  Will the team be able to get to her in time? 

This book started out really good.  I was loving it but like I’ve said for other books Susan Stoker has written about rape she doesn’t handle after the rescue well.  With this book you need to suspend your expectation of help and care.  Instead of going directly back to base and sorting everything out half the team goes to a safe house with Fiona.  They patch her up and help her with the withdrawal she’s going through but it doesn’t sound like any medical personnel actually looked at her.  They also didn’t have anyone talk to her about what she went through until she had a mental break and ran away.  I don’t think starting a relationship with someone who was sex trafficked is someone you should start dating without extensive therapy.  I really liked Cookie and Fiona I just wish her mental health was handled better.  It’s not a horrible book but isn’t one of my favorites.

Book 3 SEAL of Protection

Protecting Alabama by Susan Stoker

 

5 Star

Alabama has struggled her entire life.  When she met Christopher “Abe” Powers she wasn’t sure what to make of him.  He was making all sorts of promises but everyone else has let her down so why should he be any different.  Christopher got his nickname because he won’t tolerate lies.  When their paths cross he thinks he’s found the one but Alabama is hesitant to rely on anyone.  When she’s accused of stealing from her work will he believe her and stand by her or will he let her down like so many people before him have?

I absolutely loved this book.  Alabama’s story is so sad, and she definitely deserved some happy.  I loved seeing Alabama and Abe together.  They have a very intense and quick relationship, and I was definitely hoping for the best for them.  The big conflict in the story was an interesting conflict.  There were actually moments reading parts of it that made me cry and made me hate Abe.  One of the things I loved best is the fact that Alabama didn’t just forgive Abe for being a massive ass.  He had to earn her trust back and even though all of the SEAL team were friends with Abe first they all stepped up to help Alabama to make sure she wasn’t alone.  This was an awesome addition to the series.

Book 2 SEAL of Protection

The Answer is ... Reflections on my Life by Alex Trebek

 

3 Star

Alex Trebek talks about his life.  What shaped his life and lead him to Jeopardy.  

Don't hate me for not loving this book.  I am a very picky nonfiction reader.  It has to be engaging and on a topic I enjoy and usually young adult.  This book came highly recommended so I thought I would give it a shot since I love Alex Trebek.  It was an ok book.  Each chapter was a snap shot of an experience in his life.  It jumped around in his timeline which means I was constantly trying to figure out the answers to some of the information he put in like his parents separating.  Did they divorce or just separate.  It was several chapters later he talked about visiting his mom in the US and eventually she moved to Florida.  It was all very interesting and some people will absolutely love learning about his life from him.  I like my biographies and autobiographies to be more linear.  I was born here and then this happened ect. This was not how the book was laid out and so it didn't work well for me.  It was still an interesting story and I did finish it because I wanted to keep reading it just wasn't the best biography/autobiography I've read.