Review: Dazzled By Jane Harvey-Berrick

October 16, 2019

Dazzled

Author: Jane Harvey-Berrick

Publish Date: September 10th 2013

Publisher: Harvey-Berrick Publishing

Genre: New Adult

⭐⭐

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synopsis 2 - Review: Dazzled By Jane Harvey-Berrick

When Hollywood calls, is the price for fame too high?

Miles Stephens is a young actor from London. Out of work, unemployable, and fired from his last job, he gets the chance to star in a break-out role in a big-time Hollywood film.

The film is a great success, propelling him to worldwide Hollywood fame – but it’s not all it’s cracked up to be, and the pressure starts to get to Miles.

Throughout, he is supported by his friend, Clare, the girl next door whom he grew up with – and who is secretly in love with him.

Miles finds out that fame and fortune isn’t everything he’d dreamed about

synopsis 1 1 - Review: Dazzled By Jane Harvey-Berrick

It’s always going to be a difficult task to go against the grain of what appears to be a much-loved popular book. I know reading is very much a personal thing, but I feel I need to get my views on paper. I felt I needed a break from the thrillers/police procedurals/fantasy novels that I love so I randomly picked a romance novel from my goodreads TBR. Alas I started reading Dazzled. On first sight it looked like a cute, quick fun read. It was penned as a New Adult novel, and I’m afraid after reading it I felt quite concerned at the message that it was portraying to girls of that age. Author’s that write within this genre I believe, have a duty of care to write with the correct voice that is appropriate to the audience. I concluded that certain characters were alarmingly problematic.

This was the story of Clare and Miles. Clare as described by the author was the fat/chubby, larger than life, boring, innately average and inconsequential girl that was an English Literature student. Her life was written so that it highlighted just what an average life she led in comparison to Miles. Her inner monologue was worrying, in regard to how she viewed herself, her life and in general herself worth. She struggled to find a partner because she was so hung up on her best friend that didn’t view her as anything other than his friend. I don’t know, maybe use some of the brain cells that the author says she has and lay the guy some hints, at the end of the day no-one is a mind reader. It’s the 21^st century and girls can take the lead on such things you know! If Miles was the guy that you have wanted since forever grab the bull by the horns, life’s too short.

Miles. Well on the other hand the author wrote him to stand on a pedestal. He was drop dead gorgeous, his hair was perfect, he had the perfect body, okay he wasn’t that sharp and had dyslexia. I think a little more research on how dyslexia presents itself would have made it more genuine and authentic instead of it sounding like Clare was patronising him constantly. Now he didn’t have much luck with partners either, but he didn’t seem to view Clare as anything other than his best mate, not until the last 20% of the book when VERY suddenly he changed his tune and now he thought she was red hot.

Now Miles is a struggling actor but through good representation manages to bag the role of his life. He heads out to LA and he begins to live the Hollywood life. But wait, it’s not what he expected it to be…the actors/actresses are fickle, image is everything and all they seem to care about is the dollars. Yep, don’t expect to ever walk out your door again without being harassed. He asks Clare to join him out there and she witnesses first hand just how fickle everything is. She tries to support him the best she can, but she struggles to accept how Hollywood wants to change everything that is about him. She loves him as he is. The vanity begins, and he has to change his diet, has to start a rigorous gym routine and has to think very carefully about what he is going to say before he says it. He changes into the “stunningly perfect gorgeous man” that is too perfect for mere mortals…ffs no human is above another, and this inner monologue is just breeding further hateful thoughts that make individuals of that age focus too much on body image. The skinny and equally perfect actresses come out of the woodwork. Now Clare believes she won’t bag her perfect man, even though she always told herself he wasn’t good enough for her.

The only thing I really feel redeemed Clare for me as a character was the fact she had a relatable body of the average woman. She was a healthy size, not fat, not chubby. She enjoyed junk food and didn’t give a fuck about what anyone else thought about her body.

I think authors need to give more thought to how they write their characters but still deliver justice to how they imagine them to be. Unfortunately, we now live in a world where social media is king, and it has a lasting impact on our youth. We live in a world where Instagram highlights our flaws but what they don’t realise is that no-one’s life is Instagram perfect. I just think the comparisons between the two characters were uneven and would love to see more strong characters not ones that constantly thought they were too average, and too insignificant.

savonne - Review: Dazzled By Jane Harvey-Berrick

Review: Learning to Live (Learning #1) by R.D. Cole

June 19, 2019

Learning to Live

Author: R.D. Cole

Publication Date: August 28th 2013

Genre: New Adult

Pages: 294

Publisher: Self-Published

Synopsis

Being alive and living are not always the same.

Trudy Love is used to being on her own and has rarely been shown affection. Between growing up in foster care and her abusive boyfriend she has no idea what life can be. At 19 she goes through something no one should ever experience and is left alone once again. Six months later she moves to Mobile, Alabama where she meets someone whose eyes bring back memories of the one person she misses everyday. Too late she finds herself caught in a storm of emotions that are unwanted, but she’s determined to fight them off.

Jaxon Coleman has a good life, and for him to attend one of the finest Med schools in the country and follow in his dad’s foot steps is a dream come true. However, dreams can change in life and when he meets Trudy he knows his will never be the same. Jax knows she has secrets she is unwilling to share, but he’s never given up on something he wants and he wants Tru.

Can Trudy stop resisting her feelings and welcome the chance to live a different life than she pictured or will her defiance and haunted past eventually take her out of Jax’s reach?

After tragedy living is not easy, but with the right person it can be learned.

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My Review

This is a sweet coming of age story. It’s about letting go of the past without forgetting the important lessons it has taught you along the way. It’s about finding yourself through trauma, despair and tragic loss. The main storyline evoked emotion in me firstly as a mother but also a fellow woman. The sadness of it will tear you open.

Tru Love is the heroine to beat ALL heroines.

Trudy Love is an imperfectly perfect character. She has been dealt a shitty set of cards – firstly being put into the care system at the age of 6 after her parents were more interested in where their next hit was coming from. Drugs were their priority, not their precious child. This moved on to having the WORST boyfriend any girl could ever have. Brad. Shitty shitty Brad. He was an extremely abusive character who appeared to get off on Tru’s fear and often capatilsed on it. I loathed him. He shared her around, he beat her, he demoralised him and finally she took the only thing she held dear to her…I hated him.

Tru brought herself back from the brink. She was back to having no-one again. She knew she needed to rediscover herself again, be her own person, not owned by someone. She learned that part of living life is being able to move on past the raw and open wounds but also being able to say “I deserve to live a happy life.” I LOVED that she learned from her abusers and now could take some of the biggest guys down…She was now defending other girls honor as well as her own. Tru Love is by far my absolute favourite heroine because she didn’t just drown in her grief and the feelings that life wasn’t fair – she actively worked her ass off to change and become a stronger version of herself.

The Complex family of Jazz & Jax

Wow…what a multi-diverse family they are. Jax’s parents couldn’t conceive again after he was born so they adopted children, one being a wheelchair bound beautiful girl – loved the inclusion of disabilities. This was a family that truly loved one another and would do anything to support the others. Their interaction was cute and playful and they all seemed to have an unbreakable bond. Jazz was a lovely girl but she would end up getting slapped a few times with how cheery and awake she was in the morning. Jax – gawd, how pleasing is it just to come across a guy that knows exactly what he wants and just goes for it. No games, no tricks just pure tru Love.

The pace was a bit slow in places for me, but overall it was nice, quick and sweet read. It wasn’t a 5 star read for me because the plot was predictable. I had worked out the person responsible pretty early on. I would have liked more twists and turns, maybe a bit more angst (I LOVE a book that makes me cry).

3.5 Stars

Cake by Nicole Reed

May 20, 2019

Cake by Nicole Reed
Published by Createspace Independent Pub on 2013-08
ISBN: 9781491068113
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary
Pages: 248
Format: eBook
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Would you be willing to make a mess of your life to get exactly what you want?Kylie Lord has known Trent Moss and Dray Savage since college. Trent, the smart and kind-hearted humanitarian has had her heart from the moment they met, but someone else always had his. Dray is an arrogant professional football player who happens to be Trent's best friend and Kylie's nemesis “with benefits.”Three years after graduation, Kylie is commanding the world with a successful business; however, she lacks the one thing she wants and the one thing she can never have. That is, until one fateful day when Kylie decides to go after all of her forbidden fantasies and risk everything.Two men, completely different and poles apart, but together they are her idea of perfection. One can only offer her tonight and the other forever, but can Kylie settle for just one man, or can she have her cake and eat it too?

Kylie Lord has known adoptive brother’s, Trent and Dray for a long time. Nearly as long as she has been in love with Trent. Drey, however, has been nothing short of an asshole to her. Drey lays on thick the sexual innuendos and just triggers her rage. They tolerate each other for the sake of Trent. She can’t imagine a time where Drey would ever treat her with respect. That all changes when Drey suffers a serious concussion and Trent encourages Kylie to be by his side, seeing as he can’t. Trent is the humanitarian that is currently in Africa, improving water supplies for impoverished communities.

Whilst Kylie helps Drey back to full health and fitness, things seem to irrevocably change between them. Her feelings alter, develop and then Trent returns home. She still loves Trent but can she have them both. Can she have her cake and eat it too?

I have read a few other love triangle novels and more often than not I’m hard to please because the female character usually fustrates me no end with their indecision. Kylie Lord, owns a boutique and is financially stable and responsible. It was good to read about a slightly more mature female character that hasn’t needed to rely on a boyfriend. The one sticking point for me in regards to her character was, how long until this point that she waited around for a guy that essentially seen her as a sister. Like, why? Live your life have fun, You can’t make someone want you. Drey, was a nice guy that disguised his feelings in banter that Kylie took as meanness. He didn’t tell her that he was interested, due to two reasons. 1- That she was waiting for Trent and 2 – because both the brothers had no idea how to engage in a healthy romantic relationship, having never experienced it as children, being passed from foster family to foster family. Brilliant complimentary characters, Kylie’s best friend Madison had a whole lot of Drama herself but the bond between them was heartwarming. My favourite character had to be Kylie’s aunt who was dying of breast cancer, who not only imparted little pearls of wisdom and some awesome witty comebacks. I CRIED. (That’s all I’m saying.)

“I once heard that love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend”

The book is set in Atlanta and you get a feel from the dialogue and descriptions of the area what it is like to live there. It set up the story nicely.

I really hate to bring this one up, but for me it really is a big one. I don’t know if I had an earlier edition of the book or not bad I did find some of the writing was poor. Grammar was all over the shop at times and sometimes I had to go back over a passage as some of it didn’t initially make sense. I don’t like bashing authors, I really don’t, I know how much hardwork goes into producing it but I do feel editing services would have greatly helped.

Apart from the spelling and grammar issue there wasn’t anything really that I hated about the story. The only knit picky things are, how Kylie was happy to wait around for a man that he himself stated, loved like a sister. I also didn’t really feel an emotional connection to Trent. His emergence into the story was very late on so didn’t really see the amazing connection that they apparently had. Also what was the end story between Madison and Nick Andrews, that really seemed to be a loose end that was tied up at the end.

The book was fun, would I recommend it to friends, not sure. The humor and the angst was enough to keep me entertained. Lots of people seemed to love this so maybe its just me.

Book Review: Thoughtless by S.C Stephens

May 16, 2019

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
Published by Simon and Schuster on August 16, 2012
ISBN: 9781476717494
Genres: Fiction, Romance, New Adult, Contemporary, Women, General
Pages: 608
Format: Paperback
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From the #1 New York Times bestselling author S.C. Stephens comes a powerful and emotional contemporary romance featuring a young woman in a new city who finds herself torn between her handsome, reliable boyfriend and a sexy local rock star.
For almost two years now, Kiera’s boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she’s ever wanted: loving, tender, and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together—Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university—everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart. Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he’s purely a friend she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes…and none of them will ever be the same.

S.C Stephens is the leader in making you feel happy, deeply sad and down- right rage inducing angry!

The story basically starts off with Kiera moving to Seattle to be with her boyfriend Denny, who has recently accepted an internship in the city. This is where she meets the Rock god, Kellan.

Denny is unexpectedly forced away for 2 months for work, which leaves Kiera upset and distraught at being left in a strange city all alone. Her “friendship” with Kellan turns into something more with “ innocent” flirting, that one night leads to a sexual drunken encounter with Kellan.

Kellan goes through the emotions of cold, sarcastic and back to loving again after their encounter. Denny is now home and Kiera falls back into his arms. This is the first place I wanted to scream at her! I mean seriously! Even at this point you all knew that Kellan felt more for her than his usual one nighters.

Kellan is heartbroken and decides to leave as he just can’t watch Denny and Kiera together. She begs him to stay selfishly. This leads to an explosive sex scene in the espresso stand. The chemistry is palpable between them, but Kiera leaves him cold, when she leaves him for Denny, AGAIN!

Do You Want me Inside you again?
Kellan Kyle

The back and forth friendly flirting takes up a large chunk of the book until Anna, Kiera’s sister turns up for the weekend.

Anna is attracted to Kellan and Kiera fizzles with silent rage. She doesn’t know why? Seriously, uh I don’t know?? Maybe because you are in love with him, you stupid girl! They all go out clubbing, Denny leaves her alone on the dancefloor and she is approached by Kellan. Dirty Dancing doesn’t have a look in. Sexy gyrating leads to Kiera trying to strip the clothing off him. This was so fucking hot!! Kellan escapes away from her as Denny re-emerges.

Kiera made a huge mistake here in my opinion. She went home and had sex with Denny but mentally it was Kellan she was with. Does this not tell her something?? Jeeee-Whizz that girl can be thick!

This all blows everything to a head where Kellan calls it off, but in Kiera’s mind Kellan slept with her sister that night. Talk about a cluster fuck? Kellan starts “dating” again. Yeah, ok if your idea of dating is sleeping with a different girl every night.

Everything comes to a head when Keira can take no more and blows at him at Pete’s bar. She slaps him very hard after a crude comment. Kellan finally breaks down in the back room after an intense exchanging of words.

“I’m so in love with you, Kiera. I’ve missed you so much. I’m so sorry. I’m sorry i say awful thing to you. I’m sorry I lied about your sister. I never touched her. I promised you I wouldn’t. I couldn’t let you know..how much I adore you…how much you hurt me”

You think it’s a happy ever after there, right? WRONG!! She goes between the two still back and forth. I really felt every emotion that Kellan felt. I bawled like a little girl for him, I felt pure rage for him. I wanted to smack the living daylights out of her.

She picked Kellan. Then she picked Denny. GOD GIRL GET IT TOGETHER!! Until finally Denny found out. Not from Keira telling him either. The showdown led to Keira protecting Kellan from a blow from Denny which she took, this led her to a stay in hospital.

Denny leaves her. Kellan leaves her. Although, I felt she deserved it, I was sad for Kellan, you could obviously see that Keira was his world.

Anyway, Keira moves into a new flat. She’s lost without Kellan. She is the depths of depression. She finally realises she loves him. Only took you how long?? Anna takes her to a show and her heart breaks at the melancholy of Kellan’s singing. She finally convinces him that its him she wants, forever.

So, this book grabbed my heart and pulled it clean out of my chest and stamped all over it. So far this is the only book to make me majorly cry and hurt for the characters. I love Kellan!! He is the man whore of all man whores. The hottest fictional rock god of all time. Keira, well I believe she was a naive girl who probably felt lost and confused in her feelings for both men. I could of given this book 10 stars. I need a minute!

One Week Girlfriend (#1) by Monica Murphy

May 12, 2019

One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy
Published by Random House Publishing Group on January 10, 2013
ISBN: 9780988369443
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Contemporary, Coming of Age, Women
Pages: 290
Format: eBook
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Breakout sensation Monica Murphy takes the romance genre by storm with the deeply emotional, completely addicting story of Drew and Fable. Temporary. That’s the word I’d use to describe my life right now. I’m temporarily working double shifts—at least until I can break free. I’m temporarily raising my little brother—since apparently our actual mother doesn’t give a crap about either of us. And I always end up as nothing but the temporary girlfriend—the flavor of the week for every guy who’s heard the rumor that I give it up so easily. At least Drew Callahan, college football legend and local golden boy, is upfront about it. He needs someone to play the part of his girlfriend for one week. In exchange for cash. As if that’s not weird enough, ever since he brought me into his world, nothing really makes sense. Everyone hates me. Everyone wants something from him. And yet the only thing Drew seems to want is . . . me. I don’t know what to believe anymore. Drew is sweet, sexy, and hiding way more secrets than I am. All I know is, I want to be there for him—permanently.
Praise for One Week Girlfriend
“A sweet and sexy read with a dash of angst. It will hook you from page one!”—Under the Covers
“The author had me hooked within the opening pages. What a great debut novel by Monica Murphy! . . . All I have to say is pick up the book and be prepared for the roller coaster you are about to get on. . . . You will not want to miss this book and this author.”—Shh Moms Reading
“I chose this book to be the book. The perfect book that would make the world stop for a few hours and suck me into another universe completely. The perfect book that would make my heart race and stop all at the same time. This book is that book! This book is perfect!”—The Obsessive Reader
“A deep and thought provoking story . . . Be on the lookout for Monica Murphy because I’m sure you’ll be hearing more great things from her!”—Mostly YA Book Obsessed
“A delicious read, hot romance, complicated characters and intense drama.”—Literary Cravings
“An emotional and heartbreaking storyline . . . Monica Murphy pulls the reader in and won’t let go.”—The Reading Cafe
“An amazing read! . . . [I] can’t wait to continue the emotional journey of Drew and Fable.”—A Bookish Escape

Drew Callaghan is an obviously traumatised hero, Fabel has the weight of the world on shoulders, what with looking after her 13 year old brother, Owen and her alchoholic mother. She works every job she can to make ends meet. Drew on the other hand comes from a different life- doesn’t need to struggle, money comes easy, been able to attend school and play football and can have any woman he choses…or is he able to? Why is Drew so emotionally closed off? Why does Fabel have such a reputation as a whore, is it wholly accurate?

Thanksgiving is approaching and Drew is emotionally torn about going home for the holidays. He approaches Fabel and they come to an arrangement, she and he will pretend to be a couple for 7 days, for a price. Fabel can’t no afford to take Drew up on his offer, it would provide her family with a bit more security for a few months.

It’s pretty obvious from the get go that Drew has some pretty dark secrets. As a reader I think its pretty obvious what those secrets are, and when it comes out the level of cringe I felt was off the scales.

Honestly, I don’t quite know how we got to this point. I hated him on sight. I did this only for the money. I thought he was a fucked up mess. I still think he’s a fucked up mess. But so am I. And he’s so beautiful, so thoughtful, so vulnerable. We can be a mess together. I want to heal him. I know I can heal him.

I rated this 4/5 stars….wow, I felt every emotion under the sun- from turmoil, giddiness to absolute pure hatred. Why did I leave it so long to read this book, bravo Monica Murphy. I really couldn’t put this one down and look forward to reading the next installment. Character development was good, the secret was a little bit predictable – I had worked out what was troubling Drew but still loved the story and the chemistry between the two main characters. The ending had my screaming WHY over and over

“Like souls find each other, you know. As corny as it sounds, I’m starting to believe we were brought together for a reason.” ~ Fable