Nikki reviews: TANGLED by Emma Chase

Title: TANGLED
Series: Tangled #1
Author: EMMA CHASE

~Synopsis~

Drew Evans is a winner. Handsome and arrogant,he makes multimillion dollar business deals and seduces New York’s most beautiful women with just a smile. He has loyal friends and an indulgent family. So why has he been shuttered in his apartment for seven days, miserable and depressed?

He’ll tell you he has the flu.

But we all know that’s not really true.

Katherine Brooks is brilliant, beautiful and ambitious. She refuses to let anything - or anyone - derail her path to success. When Kate is hired as the new associate at Drew’s father’s investment banking firm, every aspect of the dashing playboy’s life is thrown into a tailspin. The professional competition she brings is unnerving, his attraction to her is distracting, his failure to entice her into his bed is exasperating.

Then, just when Drew is on the cusp of having everything he wants, his overblown confidence threatens to ruin it all. Will he be able untangle his feelings of lust and tenderness, frustration and fulfillment? Will he rise to the most important challenge of his life?

Can Drew Evans win at love?

Tangled is not your mother’s romance novel. It is an outrageous, passionate, witty narrative about a man who knows a lot about women…just not as much as he thinks he knows. As he tells his story, Drew learns the one thing he never wanted in life, is the only thing he can’t live without

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~Review~

"Do you see that unshowered, unshaven heap on the couch? The guy in the dirty gray T-shirt and ripped sweat pants?

That's me, Drew Evans.

I'm not usually like this. I mean, that really isn't me."

Those were the opening lines of the novel. I really, really loved the way this novel was written. Emma Chase is a friggin genius for thinking of writing some parts of this novel in a "voice-over" narration. And from a guy's POV, goodness!

I read this book on its release day when I was on medical leave (girl stuff, ick!) from work for three continuous hours (well, including tweeting about the book). I think that was one of the fastest reads of my life. I swear I couldn't stop and it felt like I was racing with Drew's brain until the end. Haha! Not a single nanosecond did I feel bored with this story. It's super fun hanging around Drew's thoughts! Not to mention, super hot too! ;)

The day after, I went back to work and was tweeting sporadically about this novel that I've read that I can't seem to get out of my head. Then out of nowhere I started thinking, "wait! there was a movie I've watched that has the same opening narration. What movie was it?!!!". It took me a while and a lot of random Google searches (you wouldn't wanna know what key words I used in the search engine) before I found out the movie title! I thought I'll be spending my whole afternoon (get this people, I was at work that time. Hahaha!) looking for it. But I was successful with that little mission, hooray! I was thinking about the movie LIMITLESS!

"You see that guy?
That was me not so long ago. What kind of guy without a drug or alcohol problem looks this way? Only a writer. Strangely enough nobody believed that I actually had a book contract."

Those are the opening lines in the movie. You getting what I'm trying to say here? It probably doesn't matter to you, but it fascinates me because I loved that movie and now I loved Tangled (not the movie) too! And I find it awesome because it feels like Drew's right beside you talking directly to you!  

Now, since that movie reference is out of the way I can proceed with my blabbing!

The story is about a good-looking, sexy as hell investment banker named Andrew Evans. He goes by the name Drew. He's involved in buy-and-sell-businesses business or some shit like that. He's got a bright and funny mind. He was once a player and never been in love. Until Katherine Brooks.

“... a guy can't become a man until he's met the right woman.” - Drew

Did I mention I love Drew Evans? No? Good god I didn't?! Well hell, I love Drew Evans! He is my ultimate book boyfriend since I finished the book! Who wouldn't want a guy like him? Not just because he is so yummy he could have been the sole ingredient in a whole cook book series (cook books can have series too right?) and ultra rich (he's driving an Aston Martin V12 btw *drools*), but definitely because he is soooo hilariously cute! Yes, cute! What, I can't use that to describe a steamy hot guy?! And the fact that he's so into his niece makes my heart melt and my skin tingly. This makes him just sooo... perfect? Ugh.

On the other hand, Drew is an asshat! But he is just too lovable to account that. I'm a girl and I shouldn't be agreeing with his take on things especially on his thoughts involving girls. Take this for example:

“Once I’m done, I’m DONE. I’m not the kind of guy who rides the same roller coaster twice… Don’t look at me that way. I’m not a bad guy. I don’t lie; I don’t sandbag women with flowery words about a future together and love at first sight… Okay, maybe that’s not exactly true. But I can’t help it if they see me, fuck me and suddenly want to bear my children.”

He's got a good and strong point there, right ladies? It made you want to re-think some of your nasty thoughts, yes?

There are a lot like of those stuff in this book and if you want to dig deep into Drew's awesome mind, READ THE BOOK.

You hear me? Go to one of the links above and grab a copy and read the book until you die.

No, seriously: READ THE FREAKING BOOK!

If you're tired of some suicidal teens or kinky adults this is your chance to escape! This one's a fun read and the whole story's got a light-hearted vibe on it.

AND I AM TELLING YOU... After reading it? All the ladies, single or not, would want a piece of Drew Evans or more.

♥♥♥

Rating:

DIAMOND RECORD

About the Author

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother of two who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine. Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.
Author links: Twitter | Website | Goodreads | Facebook

Niks reviews: SINS & NEEDLES by Karina Halle

Sins & Needles

The Artists Trilogy #1

Karina Halle

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amazon | the book depository

~Synopsis~

Ellie Watt is used to starting over. The daughter of a grifting team, Ellie spent her childhood being used as a pawn in her parents' latest scam. Now she’s much older, wiser and ready to give her con artist life a rest. But returning to the dry desert town of Palm Valley, California means one more temptation than she bargained for – Camden McQueen. Once known as the high school weirdo, Camden is bigger and badder than the boy he used to be and a talented tattoo artist with his own thriving business. Ellie’s counting on Camden still being in love with her but what she’s not counting on is how easily unrequited love can turn into obsession over time. When Camden discovers Ellie’s plan to con him, he makes her a deal she doesn’t dare refuse, but her freedom comes with a price and it’s one that takes both Ellie and Camden down a dangerous road.

~Review~

WTH <<< my reaction when I was into the first 2 chapters.

WTH?!!! <<< my reaction as I progresses with the story.

WHATTHEFUCKINGHELL?!!!! <<< my reaction when Cam caught Ellie.

WTF IS THIS STORY?! I CAN'T! OHGODOHGODOHDEARGOD!!! <<< my reaction at the end.

So basically this book turned me into a psycho (nearing Javier's psychopathic level I think). This book is sick people! But I loved it anyhow! Well that makes me a sicko. WHAT.EVER!

At the start of the story I wasn't really following the plot. I am sick (literally with fever) so I think that also contributed to the slow processing of my brain. I had to pause and search for the meaning of grifting/grifter because, WTF, I am not a dictionary I do not know the meaning of every single word the human race has come up with! So to those people like me who are not afraid to accept the fact that we are no genius when it comes to word definitions, here is the meaning:

Grifting/grifter - petty swindling/swindler

Now that, that word is out of the way I can happily proceed with this nonsense I am writing. I already said that I loved this book right? But I'll say it again, I FREAKING LOVE THIS BOOK!!! Okay, that feels good. ;)

This is not the first book that I've read about bad people, drugs, blah blah blah. But fucking hell, conning a con is one hell of a new twist for me. You go Camden! :)

All the while, while reading this I keep picturing the scenes in my mind. It's like watching a movie seriously! Karina has done very well describing each scene. It could very well serve as a movie script! Oh yeah, I would love for this book to be turned into a movie or tv series. ;)

As I said, the story is not one of a kind but if you have time (which bookworms have a lot even if they really have not LOL) you should definitely read this! Your time will not be put into waste I promise you! Go go go grab a copy NOW!

You! What the fuck are you waiting for?! Read it!!! :D

And with that said, this made it to my 2013 favorite books list! :)

Rating:

DIAMOND AWARD

Niks reviews: ON EVERY STREET by Karina Halle

One Every Street

The Artists Trilogy #0.5

Karina Halle

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Purchase on:

Amazon

~Synopsis~

When young con artist Ellie Watt decides to call herself Eden White and go after the drug lord who ruined her as a child, she never expects to fall for one of his henchmen. But Javier Bernal is no ordinary man. Subtly dangerous and overwhelmingly seductive, Eden finds herself passionately in love with Javier, the very person she's set-up to betray. With her body and heart in a heated battle against her deep need for revenge, no one will walk away from this con a winner.

~Review~

Now now now. I hated Javier the psycho in the first book but after reading this novella I am not sure anymore. This is making me confused as a bird that hit an airplane windshield head-on!

Sweet baby ugly ducklings! Karina Halle why you doing this to us?! You are ruining your readers! Reading your comment on Goodreads, that writing this novella hurts. Well guess what? Reading it also hurts, it fucking hurts!!! And now it's confirmed, the books I love reading turned me into a masochist. Good lawd.

In this novella, readers were shown how conflicting Javier's character is. One minute I truly believe he loves Eden (Eden=Ellie, well physically), the other minute I think he's just obsessed like ducklings obsessed with following their mother (what is with me referring to avian stuff? Uhm, not sure). I am so torn! I want to believe that Javier has a heart capable of loving. That he's just as broken as Eden and Cam. But then, he'll do something that mortifies me and I'm back to square one. Ugh.

If Javier can't decide for himself I need to decide what I want to believe in right? So here goes: I think Javier is obsessed with the idea of being in love with Eden. There, there I said it but I have no way of confirming if what I believe in is really the truth. Every reader has been given an opportunity to interpret any story that they've read and this is how I interpret On Every Street. There is only one way that I can conclude my interpretation and that is to wait for this freaking trilogy to end. Dear goddess of the white swans, I can't wait for Shooting Scars!!! ;)

Rating:

DIAMOND AWARD

BOOK REVIEW: Flat-Out Matt by Jessica Park

 

Flat-Out Matt

Flat-Out Love Novella

Jessica Park

Matt is a junior at MIT. He’s geeky, he's witty, he's brilliant.

And he’s also very, very stupid.

When beautiful, cool, insightful Julie moves in with Matt’s family, why (oh why!) does he pretend to be his absent brother Finn for her alleged benefit? 

It seems harmless enough until her short-term stay becomes permanent. And until it snowballs into heart-squeezing insanity. And until he falls in love with Julie, and Julie falls in love with Finn. 

But … Matt is the right one for her. If only he can make Julie see it. Without telling her the truth, without shattering them all. Particularly his fragile sister Celeste, who may need Julie the most.

You saw Matt through Julie’s eyes in FLAT-OUT LOVE. Now go deeper into Matt’s world in this FLAT-OUT MATT novella. Live his side of the story, break when his heart breaks, and fall for the unlikely hero all over again.

Take an emotional skydive for two prequel chapters and seven Flat-Out Love chapters retold from his perspective, and then land with a brand-new steamy finale chapter from Julie.

Okay. So I rated Flat-Out Love a 2.5 rating last year because of the craziness of the plot. Pretending to be a person who is dead qualifies as crazy right? I am not going to change that rating ever because I really went through a hard time while reading that book. If you check my Twitter posts during the time I was reading the book you would have regarded me as nuts. I mean, I couldn't tell myself to calm the fuck down during those times. That book really had riled me up.

BUT the same story in Matt's POV gave it a whole lot more meaning to me. And so I am giving Flat-Out Matt a 5 fucking dog-eared pages rating. Yes, you read that right (and see the five crumpled shining dog-eared pages). Why? I am not quite sure why. Maybe because I already know the plot and that "unknown" feeling doesn't apply to this anymore. I already know how this would end (well not the exact ending but you know what I mean LOL) and that gave me the happy ending assurance. Not like when I was reading the first book and struggling not to swipe the damn screen until I find the damn ending. Haha! Another reason for loving Flat-Out Matt is Celeste. Who wouldn't love Celeste and the way she constructs her sentences?! That kid! Oh I love that kid! :)

Thank you Jessica Park for telling the story on Matt's POV. If you haven't made me fall in love with Matty in the first book, now you've made me “fall madly out-of-your-brains and heart-crushingly head-over-heels in love" with him!

This made it to my favorite-books shelf! So worth the dollars spent! :)

P.S. I am posting my favorite scene below! With Matt and Celeste of course. :)

“No, I do not want a muffin.”

Matt shook the bag wildly. “Just eat the muffin, okay?” he demanded. “You’re supposed to have breakfast!”

Celeste took the bag from his hand. “Goodness. If eating the muffin will help alleviate this display of emotionality, I will be happy to accommodate you and eat the muffin.” She paused. “I would be happier if you had not sat on it and if it were not undeniably compressed into a near pancake.”

“JUST EAT THE FREAKIN’ MUFFIN!” Matt flew through an intersection.

“It is my suspicion that by freakin’ you really mean fu—”

“How about we stop talking, okay?”

“Yes. Let’s. I will eat my subpar, unusually shaped muffin disc now.” She patted his shoulder. “And we will find Julie, and she will be perfectly fine.”

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