'Bad Romeo'', Leisa Rayven

Goodreads * Amazon UK * Amazon

Book Summary: When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time. 

Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks

This book just doesn't sit right with me. Just... doesn't. I was hoping for something really good looking at how people were excited about it. At least for something bearable... And first pages of the book got me hooked but then... like a huge SLAM of the door on my face... what's going on here?

I disliked both main characters. They were irritating, self and sex obsessed. Ethan had hurt Cassie in the past (erm... will I ever know what happened, in details, please?) and she still chases after him... because her body wants him. But he treats her horribly all the time... and she still chases him. Enough.for.me.

Also, I've found the way of narration a bit confusing when we were jumping from past to present tense... and from present to past again... 

This book was so frustrating I had to put it down. Twice. I had to force myself to finish it.

To be honest, I think that Leisa Rayven missed her chance to write a very good and beautiful book. Her writing style is nice and I hope one day I'll read her again, but not in this series.

The story around this toxic relationship filled with poor sexual "tension" just made me angry, sad and a bit disgusted.

and a *half*

received via NetGalley for an honest review

Swoonuary! A Valentine's Day Special with the Bookish Groupies - means February is about LOVE

Hello beautiful ladies, and welcome to the Bookish Groupies first annual event, Swoonuary! 

Are you in the mood for a sugary sweet romance? What about a contemporary so cute, you're left squealing like a school girl? If you are, then perfect, because that is what Swoonuary is all about! After reading quite a bit of fantasy and science fiction lately, the girls and I are ready to dive back into the land of hook ups & heartbreaks, happily ever afters, and happily never fucking again . . . well the last part might be something I'm looking for, but you get the idea. All month long, we've decided to read both romance & contemporary novels in Lieu of Valentines day, the day for all things cheesy. But what fun what it be if we didn't have other bloggers join us? That's where you all come in . . . 

To read more CLICK HERE :)

I was invited to this event by Tika and I'm very happy to take part in it :) You can do that too! February is this one month a year when everyone is talking about love... so why not read about love? I'm very excited to finally cross some cute'n'sweet (or sometimes sweet'n'sour) romance books out from my to-read lists :)

What I'm planning to read:

Summer series by Jenny Han

I own the complete trilogy in Polish so I've decided to give it a go in February. I think it will be a light and relaxing read after all my exams and perfect for the season (although it's still winter :))

Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven

It's unfortunately on my DNF list so I've decided to pick it up again this month. Hopefully I'll finish this time.

The Right Side of Mr. Wrong by Jane Linfoot

which I've received from Isabell for a guest review. I've been slacking on reading it because of my exams so I think now it's the right time to speed up my reading :)

And hopefully I'll read even more than that :)

'Cora's Christmas Kiss' by Alison May

Goodreads * Amazon * Amazon UK

Choc Lit

Book summary: Can you expect a perfect Christmas after the year from hell?

Cora and Liam have both experienced horrible years that have led them to the same unlikely place – spending December working in the Grotto at Golding’s department store.

Under the cover of a Father Christmas fat suit and an extremely unflattering reindeer costume, they find comfort in sharing their tales of woe during their bleak staffroom lunch breaks.

But is their new-found friendship just for Christmas? Or have they created something deeper, something that could carry them through to a hopeful new year?

Another heart-warming Christmas novella from Alison May! Keep your eyes peeled for characters you may recognise from Alison’s previous novella, Holly’s Christmas Kiss

'Cora's Christmas Kiss' is a second book in "Christmas Kisses" series by Alison May. I've read it as a stand alone and I didn't have any problems with that because the story is separate. It's a rather short read (179 pages) and it's good about it - it's straight to the point without unnecessary descriptions which makes it a relaxing, fast, festive read. 

Cora and Liam are working together as Father Christmas and his helper Reindeer at a department store. During their breaks they're telling each other a story about their past year which according to them was a total disaster. It's easy to follow both stories as they're marked by month and year so it doesnt get confusing for the reader. Although I knew main characters will get together in the end, their adventures throughout the year made me turn page after page wanting to know more about what happened to them later! 

This book is sometimes amusing, sometimes touching - overall it's a good festive read, heart-warming and perfect for Christmas - New Years season. If you're still looking for a last minute Christmas read I'd recommend this one - it's short but full of surprise and relax.

'Thoughtless' by S.C. Stephens

BEFORE READING MY REVIEW: I've read Thoughtless in my native language - Polish. I am willing to think that our translation a bit flattened the original story and especially general atmosphere of the book.

Book Summary: "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 that 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."

Thoughtless? Yes. Keira was thoughtless. And a bit annoying. Her indecision and choices she "tried to make" made her a character I didn't really like. I was eagerly waiting for her romance to be discovered by Denny. At some point, while I thought she's ready to take responsibility for her actions, the plot with "let's be friends" between Kellan and her totally destroyed me.

Despite the fact that the story is really long I feel like the author was rushing and just touching some things, showing problems with which characters dealt in a flat and superficial way. If the book was 200 pages shorter and had deeper insight into Keira's, Kellan's and Denny's emotions and situation, I would even consider giving it 5 stars.

However, Thoughtless is a light and engaging read, even if the constant drinking-morning-coffee scene was annoying. I will definitely read the second part of the series, hopefully something unexpected will happen there.