Talk Nerdy Book Blog

TagContemporary Romance

Collaboration (Backlash, #1) by Michelle Lynn and Nevaeh Lee

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
April 7, 2014
C

Series: Backlash*

Release Date: January 24th, 2014

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
This is not your typical rock star romance. For one, the “rock star” is a rapper. And not just any rapper. Trace is the hottest ticket in the music industry right now, regardless of which definition of “hot” you choose.

Taryn Starr is not the girl-next-door who unknowingly meets a celebrity. Known as “America’s Sweetheart,” the reigning country music princess and world-renowned superstar knows exactly who Trace is … or does she?

Their worlds collide when the musicians whose paths were never destined to cross are forced by their joint record label to collaborate on a song. The sparks fly and ignite a fire that blazes hotter with every minute they spend together – for better or worse. One thing’s for certain, the two media magnets can’t deny their explosive chemistry, but will life in the spotlight ultimately bring Trace and Taryn together or force them apart?

This contemporary romance new adult novel is for mature audiences. The language alone would make a sailor blush (the guy’s a rapper, remember?) so 18+ only, please.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
• Black main and supporting characters
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Drug addiction
• Violence
• Blackmail
• Abortion
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW and OM drama
– An OM in the Heroine’s band wants to date her
– An ex-boyfriend from the Heroine’s high school blackmails the Heroine
– The Hero constantly goes to after-parties with OW who want to sleep with him. One night he gets really drunk and passes out on his bed, he wakes up and finds an OW in bed with him–he’s 100% sure he didn’t sleep with her though.
– A different OW claims that she’s pregnant with the Hero’s child and goes to the media. The child ends up not being his, but it could have been. The Hero met (and slept) with the OW before he met the Heroine.
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have many separations between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.5/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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The Do-Over by MK Schiller

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
March 26, 2014
T

Series: Standalone

Release Date: October 7th, 2013

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Arrogant womanizer Kyle Manchester hates blind dates; however, when best friend, Brad calls in a favor, insisting Kyle take out his girlfriend’s sister, Kyle reluctantly agrees. Attorney Lanie Carmichael’s appearance is no surprise. She is dowdy, awkward, and dressed in so many layers she resembles a wedding cake, but not in an edible way. Her brazen attitude though, astonishes him, especially when she explains she has no interest in gorgeous Kyle. Lanie Carmichael is in love with Brad, and wants Kyle’s assistance in winning his best friend’s heart.

Kyle gradually accepts, justifying that the mystery of Lanie has sparked his natural, thirsty curiosity. As an ambitious journalist, he also can’t resist the Pulitzer worthy scoop she offers him. However, as Lanie sheds more layers, both emotionally and physically, Kyle begins to examine his life choices, and his true feelings for this enigmatic girl. With Kyle’s support, Lanie begins to unravel the secrets of her past, and the deep pain that has quietly defined her life. As they each learn more about themselves and each other, both question how a relationship built on fraudulent lies between two broken people could ever survive.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Abortion
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Heroine fancies herself in love with the Hero’s best friend
– The Hero is a mega player and sleeps around a lot
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

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Blue Lines (Assassins, #5) by Toni Aleo

By Sarah
In 2-stars, Book Review
March 24, 2014
B

Series: Assassins*

Release Date: December 9th, 2013

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Opposites do more than just attract in Toni Aleo’s latest Nashville Assassins novel about a very bad boy and the good girl he can’t resist.

The instant Piper Allen sees Erik Titov, she wants him—wants his rock-hard body, sure, but the strength and mystery that lies behind that superstar hockey jock demeanor, too. So when he sidles up to her at a bar and slinks his arm around her waist, she’s lost. What follows is the wildest night of her life . . . followed by inevitable heartbreak the next morning. And then, a few weeks later, a very big surprise: two blue lines on a pregnancy test.

Only a check to the head could make Erik fall for a nice girl like Piper. But since their crazy-sexy night together, he’s been trying to forget about her alluring body by falling into bed with every woman in Nashville, and it’s not working. So when Piper shows up at his house with a baby-bomb to drop, it doesn’t take much for Erik to suggest the nuclear option: marriage. While it’s supposed to be all for show, the second they say “I do,” the ice between them starts to melt into sizzling steam.

Includes a special message from the editor, as well as excerpts from these Loveswept titles: Taking Shots, Trying to Score, and Empty Net.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Physical abuse
• Emotional abuse
• Objectification of women
• No OTT sad parts
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Not Safe
• No cheating
• Does have OW/OM drama
– The Hero wanted to sleep with the Heroine’s (horrible) twin in past books
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Hero and Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine
– The Hero was not celibate during his separation from the Heroine; they met up again 6+ months later.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 2.5/5 stars

*Each novel in the series is Standalone

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Ruin, A Series by Rachel Van Dyken

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Series Review
March 21, 2014
R

About the Series

I’ve devoured this series. I’m crazy in love with Wes and Kiersten’s story! The main theme in the series is fear and conquering the fear fostered throughout all these different characters’ life-altering challenges. But as Wes always says, “Do it afraid.”

The review of the series includes reviews on each of the following books (listed in order of release):

Note: Each book in the series is Standalone (except for the novella Fearless, which is an extended epilogue to the first book in the series, Ruin).

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A Girl By Any Other Name by MK Schiller

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
March 14, 2014
A

Series: Standalone

Release Date: January 17th, 2014

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Everyone tells him he needs to move on, but how can a man function without his heart?

Ten-year-old Caleb Tanner wants nothing to do with Sylvie Cranston, the annoying weird girl who moves next door to him and gets him in trouble for swearing. But at twelve, they become friends when he teaches her how to hook a fishing line and she shows him the value of a selfless act. At fourteen, he falls in love with her. 

At sixteen, she dies.

Or so he’s told. But Cal never believes it. Sylvie has become part of his soul. He knows her like the study beating of his own heart. He’d know if she was dead. Cal looks for her, prays for her and finally, he just waits for her.

Nine years later, she walks into the community college English class Cal is teaching. Only this girl claims her name is Sophie Becker and she doesn’t know him. Cal knows better. He’s determined to get the girl he loves back – and protect her from the danger that took her away all those years ago.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>

• Hero’s father died when he was a child
• Heroine’s mother was murdered and has a turbulent relationship with her father
• Hero still dealing grieving with the death of his best friend (who died when she was 17).
• Hero suffered gunshot wounds when his BFF died
• Hero is also convinced his BFF is alive
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• Does have OW drama (Hero has a friends-with-benefits situation going on)
• Does have a separation between the Hero and Heroine (Neither are celibate, but of course, Hero has a lot of ex-lovers, while the Heroine has only one.)
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4/5 stars

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A Girl Named Digit (Digit, #1) by Annabel Monaghan

By Sarah
In 3-stars, Book Review
March 11, 2014
A

Series: Digit

Release Date:  June 5th, 2012

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
“A first novel that combines adventure, mystery, love, and humour.” ~ Booklist

Farrah “Digit” Higgins has left her geek self behind in another school district so she can blend in with the popular crowd at Santa Monica High and actually enjoy her senior year.

But when Farrah, the daughter of a UCLA math professor, unknowingly cracks a terrorist group’s number sequence, her laid-back senior year gets a lot more interesting.

Soon she is personally investigating the case, on the run from terrorists, and faking her own kidnapping – all while trying to convince a young, hot FBI agent to take her seriously.

<strong>Ending</strong>

 Cliffhanger
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• Allusion to violence
• No OTT sad parts
<strong>Mature Themes</strong>
• Some kissing
• Alcohol use
• There’s an age difference between Heroine and love interest:
– Hero is 23
– Heroine is 17-going-on-18
• Hero is waiting until she’s 18, which she turns in a few months, to go any further.
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

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Nothing Left to Lose (Guarded Hearts, #1–2) by Kristy Moseley

By Sarah
In 4-stars, Book Review
March 3, 2014
N

Series: Guarded Hearts*

Release Date: November 5th, 2013

<strong>Synopsis:</strong>
Nothing Left Lose is a sexy New Adult romance dealing with love, lust, loss and grief. First uploaded on Wattpad, it surpassed 25 million reads before publication.

Due to heavy subject matter and sexual content, this book is recommended for ages 17 +

Annabelle Spencer’s life is every girl’s dream. She has wonderful parents, great friends, and of course the perfect boyfriend, Jack Roberts. That all changes on her sixteenth birthday when her life comes crashing down around her. Her dream night turns into a nightmare when Jack is murdered right in front of her, and she’s kidnapped by his murderer, Carter Thomas, a big time drug and arms dealer.

After five months of being with Carter, she’s found, but the experience has totally changed her. She’s no longer the happy-go-lucky girl that everyone used to know and love; she’s now cold, hard and suffers from night terrors. It appears that Carter broke not only her body, but her spirit too. A shadow of her former self, her slogan for life now: “If you don’t care about anything, then you have nothing to lose”.

Carter is currently serving time for the murder of Jack, a conviction that Anna helped secure. But his retrial is coming up because some key evidence appears to have been tampered with. Unbeknown to Anna, death threats are being received by her father, the Senator. it appears that Carter is still interested in Anna and will stop at nothing to get her back.

Ashton Taylor is brought in to protect her. He’s a newly qualified SWAT agent, a bright spark, the agency’s new golden boy. He is assigned undercover, posing as her boyfriend. His job is to help her through college and keep her safe until the end of the trial in eight months’ time.

For three years Anna has been the broken, damaged girl, refusing to feel emotion or pain, but can Ashton help her rebuild her life and finally deal with the grief of losing her childhood sweetheart? Will he be the one to make her see that life is, in fact, worth living and that not all men will hurt her?

All the while, the shadow of the trial looms over the both of them, taunting them, reminding them that it isn’t over yet. After all, Carter Thomas will stop at nothing to be reunited with his “Princess”.

<strong>Ending</strong>

HEA
<strong>Representation</strong>
No strong representations of the following:
• BIPOC characters
• LGBTQIA+ characters
• characters with a disability
And doesn’t address fatphobia
<strong>Possible Triggers</strong>
• The Heroine witnesses her boyfriend being brutally murdered (on page and memories)
• The Heroine was kidnapped, held hostage and repeatedly raped by her boyfriend’s murderer (flashbacks and memories)
• Heroine suffers severe PTSD from her kidnapping
• Heroine was impregnated by her rapist and suffered a miscarriage when he beat her (memory)
• Heroine is severely depressed (on page) and has attempted suicide twice (off page)
• Heroine was repeatedly threatened with a gun (memories and on page)
<strong>Safety Rating:</strong> Safe with Exceptions
• No cheating
• No descriptive sex scene with OW/OM
• Does have the Heroine pushing away
• Does have a separation between the Heroine and Hero
• See Ending for HEA status.
• See Possible Triggers for Abuse and OTT sad parts.

Rating: 4.25/5 stars

*Books one and two are companion novels, whereas the following books in the series are Standalone

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