Book Reviews - The Reading Cat

AMONG ASH AND EMBER - DANI RENÉ

6/6/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

This is, hands down, Dani René’s best work to date. HANDS DOWN. This story had it all, and the emotions had me a mess for most of it. It’s also important to note that I read this book twice, and the second time was just as impactful as the first, even though I knew what would happen... that is no easy feat at all, and shows the power of the writing in this book.

One thing that stuck out to me was the coherence and consistency of the flower and burning metaphors. The writing was poetic, the book read as a beautiful whole and unified piece, and is one of, heck, it IS René’s best compositions. There is no way you can read this book and be unmoved.

It’s books like these that make you realize the power of words. The most impactful moments in the book were a handful of words. But the weight and power those few words had? Unimaginable. René has tapped into something real and something heartfelt with this book, and it took my breath away.

Among Ash and Ember flowed so well while reading it. The words just string together so effortlessly and with such musicality that you cannot bring yourself to put the book down. What a great book by René that will stay with me for a long time.

IVY'S POISON - INDIA R. ADAMS

5/3/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you India R. Adams!

This was Adams’ first dark romance book. Let me repeat that. THIS WAS ADAMS’ FORST DARK ROMANCE BOOK. Okay, just wanted to make sure you got that, because as I was reading, I would forget. It was THAT well done. It had darkness, heck a lot of it, but it was also sexy, alluring with its subtleties and shocking with its twists. And most importantly, the characters were captivating and believable. It had everything I look for in a good, heck, a great dark romance.

Bors and Ivy are complicated to say the least. They are both SO much more than what you see at first glance. They have incredible depth, countless daemons, and yet still cary that glimmer of light within them - the India R. Adams signature.

The other Adams signature? Subject matter that is usually kept in the dark, but that must be brought to light for awareness. We unfortunately don’t live in this rose-coloured world we think we do. Horrible things happen right under our noses and we have no idea. Adams is trying to rip off those rose tinted glasses we have glued to our faces and make a change in this world.

Well that took a deep plunge! Anyways, if you LOVE sexy assassins, feisty heroines, lust-filled scenes and riveting action, this is for you!

BEAUTIFULLY BRUTAL - DANI RENÉ

4/4/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ½

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Dani René!

What a great start to the series! Whatever pre-conception about what you think this will be, throw it out the window. You will be surprised by the twists, the turns, the darkness and the sweetness.

Lance and Giuliana are bot conventional. René does not write a trope. She creates her own story. She steps outside the box and writes a book that breaks the rules of “formula romance”. The story is unique and refreshing.

This is a story about lust and the forbidden. Be prepared for a buttload of delicious angst! Nothing is as simple as it seams and the line between good and evil is not as crisp and theorized.

I loved reading this book! Dani René is inventive and takes risks in this book that I believe paid off! I definitely recommend this book!

ENTHRALLED - GIANA DARLING

4/1/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ½

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it! Thank you Giana Darling!

Wow! So many twists and turns in this book. As soon as you think you have one thing figured out, Darling flips the plot on its head and leaves you all dazed wondering what just happened.

Darling truly pushed her style of writing in the book. It was flourishing with metaphors and poetic passages. As always, I loved the references to Greek mythology and how they were carried out from the beginning of the story until the end. How to make Cat happy? Coherence and consistency.

I truly think this was Darling’s best novel in regards to character development. Cosima was such an interesting journey as a character. She is layered and complex. Heck, the whole PLOT is complex. My mind is still realign from what I just read!

So, of you like unpredictable and unputdownable dark romance, READ THIS.

ACHE - S.M. SOTO

3/25/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you SM Soto!

I love it when a book enraptures me like this. When the book is so good I just can’t put it down. When a book is so good I hold in my pee because, well, that’s time wasted which I could spend reading the book. Needless to say I read this beauty in one sitting.

This book tackled difficult subject matter, but just because it is difficult and many dont’t WANT to talk about it, it doesn’t mean it doesn’t NEED to be addressed. Thank you, SM Soto, for your bravery in writing this story; on deciding to share it with the world.

At the end of this book, I felt emotionally drained. I just wanted to stare at my ceiling wishing I could see the stars. My heart was heavy, but light at the same time. It was an odd contradiction, but a beautiful one.

Bea and Liam, god, just writing their names right now gave me chills. They are special, their love was written in the stars. I’m going to permit myself to quote one of my favorite rappers right now:

“the darkest nights make the brightest stars” - Witt Lowry

And Bea and Liam? They are some of the brightest.

I definitely recommend this book. I think everyone should read it. It won’t be easy to get through it, but it will be worth it

malum : part 1 - amo jones

3/5/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you Amo Jones!

My first thought is WOW. There was so much in this book I NEVER saw coming. Jones has the ability to twist plots into directions you never thought were possible. She is the master of her craft and impressive to read.

When I finished this book last night, I simply stared at the ceiling of my bedroom for a solid few minutes, just to absorb what the frig I had just read. To process everything and get over one of the most gut-wrenching scenes I have ever read. Yes, I freaking cried okay? I do NOT cry. Pass the wine and ice cream.

Amo Jones never ceases to surprise me with the evolution of her writing. With each book she grows into a greater author. She pushes the boundaries and the quality of her words increases. There were So many beautiful lines. Beautiful metaphors. And the way she just spins on a dime and brings us back into a completely other ambiance with one line, how much CONTROL she has, just... no words.

I love how every Amo Jones plot is its own Gordian knot. With every attempt at unraveling it, we are faced with even more questions, and when we think we have it all figured out, she comes in like Alexander the Great and slices it in half, surprising us all. (I like history okay, don't judge)

So if you didn't get the gist yet, READ THIS BOOK.

LOVE AND CHAOS - S.M. SOTO

3/1/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you S.M. Soto!

I am speechless. This is a big book. It's a big book because there is SO much that happens in it. So much beauty, so much ugliness, so much light, and so much darkness. This book is a wild ride of emotional turmoil and I loved every. single. word. Soto nearly made me cry on a public bus. A CROWDED public bus.

Soto's talent is undeniable. She will write the sweetest scene and follow it with the most riveting and suspenseful scene you've ever read. She will make your heart palpitate, and you will have to keep reminding yourself that you are simply reading words on a page. Her ability to create ambiance and powerful imagery blows my mind.

Underneath all the ugliness of this book, there is a shining beacon who is Sophia. She is the strongest and most kind-hearted character, but she is also full of surprises. She may be one of my favourite female characters ever. I got sidetracked for a second, but this is what I wanted to say : there is a true message at the end of this book. One that brings to light that human trafficking needs to be stopped. (Yes, that is when I started NEARLY crying on the bus)

If you have yet to read the Creed and Sophia trilogy, now is your chance because all three are released!

Vice - dani rené

2/28/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it! Thank you Dani René!

René took the BDSM genre to a whole new level with this one. It wasn’t your classic Dom finds sub, Dom falls for sub, Dom and sub live happily ever after. No. It was complex, there were multiple players, it was emotional and captivating.

This was more than just BDSM. This was a story about self-discovery and self-affirmation. It was about acknowledging what you want and standing up for what you want. It was about allowing yourself to be TRUE to yourself. To be YOU. And that was beautiful.

Not only does René captivate us with her beautiful theme and words, but this was some of the hottest stuff I’ve ever read from her. Umm, stuff that you tilt your kindle to make sure no one is reading over your shoulder cause you’re on a public bus. Yeah, THAT hot *smirk*

This book was the perfect conclusion to the Sins of Seven series, but I doubt it will be the end for these characters.

pride - j.d. hollyfield

2/27/2019

★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it. Thank you J.D. Hollyfield!

This is just the second book in the Elite Seven series and all I have to say is WOW! This story is complex, and I cannot even imagine the amount of planning it took to coordinate all the stories! It is utterly mind-blowing!

Okay, back to Pride. I loved the twists and turns of this book! The characters jump right off the pages and have such chemistry, it is undeniable! Hollyfield takes student-teacher to a WHOLE new level, and I loved it!

The only little knick is that the overall story is similar to Lust, in the sense of the structure, but I was thoroughly entertained by both. Hollyfield captivated me from the first page until the very last, and left me needing the next one!

Red Waters - India R. Adams

2/25/2019

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

I received an ARC of this book from the author and I voluntarily reviewed it! Thank you India R. Adams!

Adams is a true author. A true wordsmith. One who will pull every emotion out of you with her words. One who writes in her own original style that is mellifluous and soothing, yet thought-provoking and gut-wrenching. A true artist in her craft.

Red Waters is the third installment in the Tainted Water series, and it took the plot and story to the next level. I've mentioned in past reviews that Adams likes to play with the gray areas, and with this book, she pushed the envelope on that aspect. She pushes the reader to look at both sides of the story. She pushes us to fall for the characters who seam ink black but are in fact a collection of gray layers - complex and captivating.

Adams tackles difficult subject matter with Red Waters. She attempts to bring to light the horrors of the world, and how widespread they are. She brings to light how they are THERE, hidden in plain sight. Adams is truly inspirational in her drive to bring awareness to such atrocities, and she does it with such beautiful words and grace. She does it with dignity and respect.

If you have yet to read an India R. Adams book, I suggest you do ASAP. She will take you on a wild ride where she will be the puppet master to your emotions.