Burn for me by Ilona Andrews

Author: Ilona Andrews
Title: Burn for Me
Series: Hidden Legacy #1
Genre: Paranormal romance
Publisher: Avon

Links: Bokus / Book Depository / Goodreads

It's been ages since I read a paranormal romance and actually finished it. I know some people don't like this one and while I have some things that bothers me, I also really enjoyed this read. I listened to the audiobook and the narrator wasn't awesome, but I still managed to like this book, which is saying something.

Nevada is P.I. in an alternative Huston, Texas, where people has developed magical powers after injecting a serum and now, hundreds of years later, people are born with them instead. Power houses breed for power while regular people live their lives regardless of being magic or not. In either case, magic is a natural state of life in this world. Nevada is forced by the company that owns her family's business to find and bring in a powerful fire mage - something she's not so happy about. To the rescue comes Connor "Mad" Rogan, powerful, dangerous. Or, like, first he tortures her and then they strike an agreement.

This doesn't sound like the type of relationship one should root for, given my recent reads? But this is how it's done! Nevada is a strong, independent, loving, loyal, kickass woman whom I want to throw more adjectives at, because she's just great. She handles life like a boss, even though it kicks her in the face on multiple occasions. Rogan is a huge, rich, powerful - both in magic and influence - dude who's not used to take no for an answer.

So, what I liked about this book - the premise and the backstory made me intrigued, even though I wasn't really in the loop all the time (which is my feeble brain's fault, most likely, and not the book), the characters, the type of magic people could do, the multiple layers of feelings, people and moments.

I know what I'm listening to next - White hot!

4 of 5 blazing balls of luv

/ Denise

Beautiful Lawman by Sophie Jordan

Author: Sophie Jordan
Title: Beautiful Lawman
Series: Devil's Rock
Genre: Contemporary romance
Publisher: Avon

Links: Bokus / Book Depository / Goodreads

I didn't think I had read anything from Sophie Jordan before, but now I'm pretty sure she's written a series about dragon shifters and I've read at least two of those books. I think...
Anyway, we're not here to talk about those. I've finished the fourth installment of Devil's Rock - which incidentally were my first read of the series. It's intrigued me enough that I'll probably go back and listen to the previous ones, as well - I do like the sound of the first one.

So, this one is about Piper - a young woman from a family of criminals, jailed or dead ones. Everyone in their small town thinks she's trash like the rest of the Walsh-clan, which makes caring for her younger sister very hard, since no one except the slimy strip club-manager wants to hire her. The last thing she needs is getting involved with the town's sexiest lawman, Hale. Hale, who is golden-boy turned sheriff, who also judges her by her blood. If only she didn't get his blood boiling.

This book is mostly centered around Piper and Hale and mostly Piper's struggles trying to care for her sister. She's a tough one and rolls with the punches. It hurt seeing how she had to play the dumb girl to get people to back off, but I cheered when she sassed back. Hale is kind of an asshole at first - judging people by their families background is just plain wrong and douchy. But, it does happen, unfortunately.

I did love the way Hale and Piper just... fit. They just came together and even though it was a bit of a struggle at times, their lives just went together like bread and butter. The whole background story with her brother and the crime he was incarcerated for was a good way to move the story forward and prepare for the next installment.

3.5 of 5 lap dances

/ Denise

Pestilence by Laura Thalassa

Author: Laura Thalassa
Title: Pestilence
Genre: Apocalyptic romance 
Publisher: Independent

Links: Bokus / Book Depository / Goodreads

Yeah, this was... I don't really know how to feel about this. On the one hand, I liked the writing and the main story - The Four Horsemen coming to earth, killing everyone because of the wrath of God and a human falling for them.
Buuuut, the execution left somethings to be desired. Let's start with the good things:

Pestilence is hot -Yeah, seriously, that's a good thing.
Hate-to-love-trope - I love that.
Unfeeling to feeling - I liked the transition for Pestilence, from being an ethereal being, hating humans, to slowly falling in love with Sara, wanting to protect her from everything (even though he hurt her a few times, but details).
Trixie Skillz - dat horse, though.
Violence - okay, I don't specifically like violence, but I liked that the author didn't really skip the details. I mean, Pestilence "died" brutally multiple times.
Sexy times - Even though Sara called him "Pestilence" even in the more intimate situations, I kind of liked the whole virgin side of him. Fast learner, though. And he never forces her against her will (well, he does make her pee and get naked in front of him, but it's strictly platonic..?)

Okay, so on to the less positive stuff:

Divine intervention - Pestilence always said he had a mission and hinted that he didn't have a choice but kill humans. But he never explained why, except that God is involved and humans are despicable (except Sara, she cute). Is this because we'll be getting more books or what? I would have liked some more background story here.
Stockholm syndrome - Okay, so Sara tries to brutally murder him and he is vengeful and wants to make her suffer. He does accomplish this quite spectacularly. Sara still falls for him. She does have her guilt and questions herself a lot, but that doesn't seem to stop her from ogling him from day one.
Bare story - okay, so the story was quite bare, according to me. Things happen, but overall they really don't? I don't want to spoil too much, so I guess you'll have to find out for yourselves.
Feminism - you'd think this was a good thing, right? Well, no, this is a book that seems like it wants to be feminist and then just does and says things that are very counterproductive.

I'll probably read War when it comes out, because I'm interested in where the story is going and why God wants everyone dead, if they actually do want them dead.

2.75 of 5 immortal horses

/ Denise

All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue by Sophie Jordan

Author: Sophie Jordan
Title: All the Ways to Ruin a Rogue
Genre: Historical romance
Publisher: Avon

Links: Bokus / Book Depository / Goodreads

I can't say I loved this book, but it had me intrigued until the last page. I did like the story - how at childhood crush is, well, crushed when it comes to light that he's not so great, after all. And then a misunderstanding that's actually believable and they are so petty and funny and bickering all the time and you can almost touch the tension.

Okay, what was good? I really liked Aurelia. She tried to be independent, to not settle for any marriage even though she felt like a burden to her brother and his wife. She's a fantastic artist and that big misunderstanding years before peaked her interest in making caricatures of people. But not of anyone, just of people who deserves it (according to her). Max was also totally okay. He really has the whole "I'm-a-man-and-therefore-you-shall-do-as-I-say"-vibe, but Aurelia could handle it, so that's nice.

What wasn't so good? Weeeell... Max was a bit caveman at times - which, I know, this is a historical romance, I might be asking too much. But that man could not listen to anyone if his life so depended on it. He was very much into his rights as a man (but other times kind of sweet). The character development weren't marvelous, either and there weren't much of a story tbh. Like, I liked the story about their relationship but other than that, nothing really happened. Oh, except for the pond-incident. That was a good one. I also would have loved to find out more about Aurelia's sketches och Max's childhood.

Why should it be read? If you're looking for an easy, character-driven read with hot males and witty, capable women - you should read this.

3 of 5 drenched wigs

/ Denise

The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Author: Taylor Jenkins Reid
Title: The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo
Genre: Fiction/Historical
Publisher: Atria Books/Random House Audio

Links: Bokus / Book Depository / Goodreads

Jenkins Reid does know how to write problematic characters. Evelyn Hugo isn't in any way all that likable. All the same, I felt for her story and in the end, she had a place in my heart.

Why did that happen? Evelyn Hugo has had a long life filled with success and heartbreak. When she starts telling her story to Monique, the young journalist she insists on sharing it with, we slowly but surely get a glimpse of a strong woman with a great desire to be someone. She's manipulative, smart and knows how to use her looks to get what she wants. The stories about how and why she married her husbands make me mostly sad, because this isn't really a happy book. I like happy books, but just as Daisy Jones, Evelyn had me so interested in her story that I held on till the end. Which I'm very glad I did.

What's so good then? Like I said, this is not a happy book. Neither is it devastating. It's matter-of-fact and still filled with emotion. It contains a lot of food for thought. Like how women were and are perceived, LGBT-rights, love, friendship and family and how sometimes you make the wrong choices. How you grow old and then realize how much time you've wasted, even when you've succeeded in what you set out to do.

Monique didn't really interest me. I understand her part in the story, but I could have been without it. Still, Evelyn's story did get a whole different impact when told like this - rather than the book being told in present form. The ending was in part suspected, but did also surprise me. I also appreciated the short articles between the stories, as well. It really gave the feeling of what life Evelyn was living.

4 of 5 oscars

/ Denise

Söta, Röda Sommardrömmar av Christoffer Holst

Författare: Christoffer Holst
Titel: Söta, röda sommardrömmar
Genre: Feelgood/Deckare/Romance
Förlag: Lovereads
Länkar: Adlibris / Bokus / Goodreads

Det verkar som att så gott som alla böcker jag läser på svenska kommer från förlaget Lovereads, för jag läser ju väldigt sällan böcker på svenska numera. Och nu kommer jag här och meddelar att jag vanligtvis inte läser deckare, heller. Så har jag satt mig ner och läst en svensk deckare! Hur gick detta till?
Well, jag läser ju feelgood och jag gillar Christoffer Holst och titta på det där omslaget och själva begreppet feelgood-deckare fick mig att ge den en chans. Och om jag är glad för det!

Cilla Storm är journalist, men inte den luriga, pengakramande sorten. Hon är nyfiken, glad, rolig och omtänksam och lite konstig. Jag gillade henne nästan direkt. Grannen Rosie är lite av hur jag drömmer om att vara som pensionär och hennes son Adam är helt enkelt yummy. Eller ja, han är ju faktiskt mer än så. Polis. Men inte den hårda, misstänksamma sorten. Även han är ganska öppen och glad. Jag fick inte så mycket känn på honom, men jag hoppas att vi får lära känna dom allihop mer i Blå, blå höstvågor!

Vad handlar det om då? Jaha, jo, boken handlar om att Cilla har köpt en kolonilott på Bullholmen, en ö i Stockholms skärgård. Hon har blivit dumpad av sin pojkvän och vill bara komma bort från allt. Men den stillsamma, vindrickande sommaren hon tänkt sig blir avbruten när en ung kvinna hittas mördad. Cilla var den sista som såg henne vid liv och hon är ju som sagt lite för nyfiken för att låta saker vara.

Vad är det som är så bra då? Jamen, det är en mysig bok, helt enkelt. Inget blir för blaffigt, för mordigt, för pinsamt eller för konstigt. Konversationerna flyter, karaktärerna känns levande och Holst gör mig aldrig uttråkad med sina fina miljöbeskrivningar. Jag listade väl typ ut mysteriet där i mitten av slutet någonstans, men det gjorde inget, för jag hölls ändå i spänning hela tiden.

4 av 5 glas Cava

/ Denise