Month: November 2018

Reverse Harem, Reviews

Two Kingdoms (The Dark Side #3) by Kristy Cunning

autumnbookreads

37541298

∴ Two Kingdoms (The Dark Side #3) by Kristy Cunning ∴

Synopsis:

I’m getting a little tired of completing my goals, only to have the bar raised too substantially for me to transition at a productive pace…
I started off as a sad little ghost with an impossible crush on four really hot, Gothic guys with some attitude problems. Now I’m The Apocalypse, they’re the Four Horsemen, and Lucifer is my fucked up daddy. Now my additional goals look like this?

Goal #9: Make a deal with the Devil without getting cheated, manipulated, or tricked.

Goal #10: Make my boys love me and take over the world…okay…so maybe just that first part. That second part sounds like it could take too much ambition, and I just don’t have the drive for that.

Goal #11: Make cookies.

Goal #12: Call dibs on my favorite color.

Goal #13: Find out if my siblings or my father killed me and my boys…

**Sexual Content
**Dark humor
**Reverse Harem
**Language warning

2.5 🍁s

“Yes. It is selfless to love so fiercely you’d trade your own life for one—or all—of theirs,” he agrees. “There’s no doubt you’ll always put them before yourself. But it’s also selfish, because you love them too much to suffer through the agony of losing even one. You’d rather die.”

DNF 78%
MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I knew going in that this book would not be as good as the first two, but dang… that was rough. The first 30% or so was good, but after that, this book steadily went downhill. It felt like the story was getting dragged out and nothing exciting was happening. I held on, hoping it would get better, but after a while, even Paca’s usually appealing personality wasn’t enough to make me want to hold on. I got sick and tired of Paca’s mistrust of her father and as soon as Jahl was mentioned and it started to look like he was going to be the “big bad”, I knew I was out. Out of all the options this author had to choose as the end all villain, she chose a mindless evil beast? Really?! I don’t find that appealing in any way.

Paca- I couldn’t care less about this saving the world plot line and I feel like it takes away from Paca’s character. Did we suddenly forget what Apocalypse means? The end of the world, right? So why are we all the sudden trying to have her save it? It makes no sense. Paca is supposed to be EVIL. She is literally the daughter of the devil. In my mind, it cheapened Paca’s character and made her less authentic because saving the world would be completely out of character for her.

Paca’s Harem- Usually, I go into a character-by-character analysis. But with this book, the boys played so little of a role that I don’t have anything to write about them individually. The plot completely drowned them out and they became annoying background noise after a while.

The Angels- I thought when they showed up that the plot was about to finally start getting interesting, but NOPE. They came off flat, annoying, and were just a flat out waste of my time reading about. The angels didn’t add any drama/tension to the plot and I wanted them to go away almost as soon as they appeared.

Lucifer- I used to be really interested in him and his plot line with Paca. In this book though, the back and forth between them just got annoying and I couldn’t deal with it any more.

Harold- I would just like to comment that I WAS RIGHT! I said that Harold couldn’t be trusted in my review of the first book. Just thought I’d put that out there.

Overall, this book just fell completely flat. I honestly don’t know what the author was thinking. This series had so much potential and I hate that this book went the way it did. I don’t like it when the author introduces the “villain” in the third book. It ruins the story in my mind. I think it’s just time I move on…

Other Books in the Series:

5 🍁s ~ Four Psychos (The Dark Side #1) by Kristy Cunning

5 🍁s ~ Three Trials (The Dark Side #2) by Kristy Cunning

Favorites, Reverse Harem, Reviews

A Portrait of Pain (Seraph Black #4) by Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

36271694

∴ A Portrait of Pain (Seraph Black #4) by Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

“I had to understand that grief would be a constant in my life, and that it would be different every time it returned to me: the same face hidden beneath a brand new hat. I needed to say goodbye to this chapter of my life, to the grief that had clawed at me, to the threat that had stalked me through the shadows …”

Seraph Black’s entire world has changed. There are no more secrets in her life, but knowledge comes at a price. Memories take their toll. Reality demands a due.
The silent shadow of her past has stepped into the light and revealed himself. He has lost everything, and the only thing left for him to do is to make sure that she loses everything as well.
Survival is a complicated game, but her pairs are determined to become experts at it before they run out of time. If only they knew about the brand of pain in her portraits that was never there before, because something is seriously wrong.
Her visions are changing.
People are dying.
The world is turning on its head once again.

Warning: As the characters in this series are maturing, so is the content. Not suitable for persons younger than 17 years.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

Let me just start off by saying that I am absolutely in love with this series. It was phenomenal and I can’t believe it’s over. I don’t want it to be over and hopefully we will get to see more from these characters in the future. I am so grateful that I picked this series up and I am so disappointed that I didn’t do it sooner. It deserves all of the stars and more. The plot is just so unique and different from anything I have ever read. The characters are just fantastic. Each of them contribute something different to the story and each of them are essential. This series has so many misfits that work together and just fit to create something truly beautiful. Seraph is so great and cares about everyone around her. She has been through so much and has been able to hold herself together and emerge stronger in the end. She has such a big heart and is everything I could ask for in a leading female character. Noah, Cabe, Silas, and Miro will forever go down as some of my favorite male characters. They are each great separately and together they are beyond words. You never want one of your favorite series to end but I can’t even be mad that this series did because it ended on such a high note and so perfect. Thank you Jane Washington for creating something so beautiful and for writing something that I will cherish forever.

Other Books in the Series:

5 🍁s ~ Charcoal Tears (Seraph Black #1) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ Watercolour Smile (Seraph Black #2) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ Lead Heart (Seraph Black #3) by Jane Washington

Favorites, Reverse Harem, Reviews

Lead Heart (Seraph Black #3) by Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

36271688

∴ Lead Heart (Seraph Black #3) by Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

“The paint dripped off me like a liquid coat and I inhaled the toxic fumes, sucking the undiluted scent into my lungs. My pupils dilated as I sank into the vision of a pain so absolute, it went beyond pain. It should have rendered me unconscious, it should have affected my ability, it felt like it should have killed me. As it was, the pain distracted me so badly that I was unable to focus on any other details. I painted turquoise wounds that wept turquoise blood onto the paper floor, and when I was finished, I painted more. I painted the walls, the floor, the back of the door and the boarded-up windows. I covered the room in wounds and fumes, and then I curled up in the middle of the mess, weeping my heart into my paint-covered hands.”

The past few months have reduced Seraph Black to a permanent state of fight, and now it is all that she knows. She is fighting her friends and family to go off on a suicide mission to rescue Silas, she is fighting the fragmented memories that clamour for recognition inside her mind, and she is fighting a guilt so magnificent… it might just force her to betray the very people that have sacrificed so much to keep her safe.

She had asked for space, and it had been given to her in the most heart-rending of ways, leaving only one of the four brothers remaining by her side.

Miro Quillan is her last hope.

Without him, she may never get her pairs back.

Warning: While this book is intended for a young adult audience, it is not recommended for persons younger than 15 years, due to some themes.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

“It wasn’t simple friendship, love, lust or any kind of relatable human emotion. To part from them would hollow out my person: I would warp into another human being entirely, and not a human being that I would be proud of, because the power inside me would take over, just as Danny’s power had taken over him.”

Wow. Just wow. Let me start off by saying that if I could give this book more stars, I would. This series is so great and deserves all of the stars in the universe. I didn’t think it could get any better after the last book, but I was wrong. The plot is just phenomenal with twist after twist that you never see coming and leaves you reeling. The story and the overarching plot just keeps getting bigger and bigger and I find myself falling deeper and deeper in love with this series as it goes on. I think that the next book is the last one (crossing my fingers that I’m wrong) and I will be devastated when it is over.

The characters are so great and unique. Each of the boys are different but somehow are always what Seraph needs and are there for her when she needs it most. It warms my heart to read about them and it is gut-wrenching when one of them is hurt. Seraph’s relationships with the boys is gradually changing and I love watching them each grow closer and closer to each other. I love the drama between them all and how Seraph tries to resist her connection to all of them but just can’t stay away.

I am so grateful that I picked this series up and so disappointed that I didn’t do it sooner. I know that it will always have a special place in my heart. I just can’t wait to read the next book!

Other Books in the Series:

5 🍁s ~ Charcoal Tears (Seraph Black #1) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ Watercolour Smile (Seraph Black #2) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ A Portrait of Pain (Seraph Black #4) by Jane Washington

Favorites, Reverse Harem, Reviews

Watercolour Smile (Seraph Black #2) by Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

36271679

∴ Watercolour Smile (Seraph Black #2) by Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

“Maybe I was stupid to have agreed to this, but when all of the options that you have in life are dangerous ones, you can only choose to do something reckless, or turn a blind eye and allow the cards to fall as they may… and I was sick of being blind.”

Seraph Black has endured a vicious stalker, a change of schools, a bonding, a triple-murder, and more than her fair share of uncomfortable situations; but it seems like the world isn’t done with her yet. The messenger is back with a systematic vengeance that knocks her flat, and not even her self-proclaimed secret-keepers are prepared for how far he is willing to go to get what he wants.

She is walking on eggshells, trying to keep everyone at a distance. Especially those that are closest to her. Unfortunately, there is one person who keeps slipping through the cracks: Silas Quillan, the gift in her life that keeps on taking. Every time she turns around, he’s taking something else from her: her choices, her privacy, her freedom, her sanity… and if she’s not careful, the the next victim might just be her heart.

Warning: While this book is intended for a young adult audience, it is not recommended for persons younger than 15 years, due to some disturbing themes.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

I am absolutely in love with this series. There is plot twist after plot twist that left me reeling. I can never guess what is going to happen next and that is something that is very rare to come by especially in YA books in particular. You never know who the actual enemy is and every person is a friend and an enemy at the same time during this book. I still don’t have a clue what is going on and the picture just keeps getting bigger and bigger.

I love Seraph as a character. She is so strong and how she deals with all of the stuff going on in her life is beyond me. I love each of the male characters too. They just get better and better in my eyes as the series goes on. We delve into their personalities more and more and I love each and every one of them. They are each different and unique but somehow strangely fit into what Seraph needs.

I feel sometimes the author is just expecting us to understand all of Seraph’s feelings which is impossible. I kind of can’t understand how this series is labeled as a reverse harem because it seems like Seraph is only really romantically interested in one of the men from her pairs (Silas). Sometimes I think that it is possible that she wants all of them but Seraph isn’t always clear on her feelings for any of them. It is confusing at the best of times and I can’t tell if she is going to end up with all of them romantically or one of them or none of them.

The book ended on a massive cliffhanger that I can’t even begin to comprehend and I can’t wait to read the next book!

Other Books in the Series:

5 🍁s ~ Charcoal Tears (Seraph Black #1) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ Lead Heart (Seraph Black #3) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ A Portrait of Pain (Seraph Black #4) by Jane Washington

Favorites, Reverse Harem, Reviews

Charcoal Tears (Seraph Black #1) by Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

36271664

∴ Charcoal Tears (Seraph Black #1) by Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

“You see, there is safety in simplicity… in a life of simple peace, where the electricity doesn’t dance across the backs of my eyelids, and the sparks don’t slither over my consciousness. Only asinine peace, where my paintings don’t seem to paint themselves, leaving me with terrible feelings of premonition and a chill beneath my fingernails.”

Seraph Black used to think that she was prepared for anything. She could last days without eating and she always walked away from the violent altercations with her father relatively unharmed. She survived working at the club and the drive to school every day in her mother’s rust-bucket of a car… but it all changed when Noah and Cabe came bulldozing into her life, careless of the precious secrets they picked apart in their quest to take over her world. She was even less prepared for the mysterious Miro and Silas, and nothing could have prepared her for the bond. The connection. The reason for it all.

Someone wanted her to stay away from her new friends, but she wasn’t willing to do that.

Everyone had secrets.

She wanted to know theirs. They wanted to own hers.

And the stalker?

He seemed to know everything already.

🍁🍁🍁🍁🍁

“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”

I absolutely loved this book! I finished it in one sitting because I couldn’t put it down! The plot is so unique and different from anything I’ve ever read. I loved the reverse harem and how it didn’t feel like a reverse harem. Each of the male characters are different and each of their personalities are drastically different. Noah is intense and very in the moment. Cabe is warm and a constant sunshine. Miro is sophisticated and intelligent. Silas is dark and mysterious. I enjoyed how each of them would do anything for Seraph and how each of them watched over her even when she didn’t know it. I love Seraph’s relationships with each of the guys and how they are different. I loved how we were constantly in the dark and how I had to constantly figure out what was happening. It made the book very unpredictable which I was thankful for. I am so glad that I picked this book. It deserves all of the stars and more and I can’t wait to read the next one.

Other Books in the Series:

5 🍁s ~ Watercolour Smile (Seraph Black #2) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ Lead Heart (Seraph Black #3) by Jane Washington

5 🍁s ~ A Portrait of Pain (Seraph Black #4) by Jane Washington

Reverse Harem, Reviews

Seduction (Curse of the Gods #3) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

36165362

∴ Seduction (Curse of the Gods #3) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

Willa Knight: Dweller? Sol? Accidental evolutionary hiccup?

Willa has never been a particularly useful dweller: she isn’t very good at chores, she isn’t very good at worshipping, she isn’t very good at not having opinions, and she isn’t very good with rules—but none of that matters anymore.
The rules are changing.
The dwellers are trying to make their own way in the world, and Willa can’t seem to help getting tangled up in their plans.
Luckily, she has the Abcurse brothers to help her out—until she doesn’t, and suddenly she’s alone again in a world on the brink of chaos. With the Abcurses gone, she’ll have to rely on her wits, and her sister Emmy, to stay under the radar and survive.
Because someone wants her dead.

But, really, what else is new?

3.5 🍁s

“I love you, too, Willa-toy. I don’t know what I’d do without you. Life—immortality—none of it meant anything until you tripped in and started setting things on fire.”

MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I did not like Persuasion and I did not rate it very highly. In my review, I said that I am a very character driven person and that the characters kind of took a backseat to the plot. I had a really hard time getting through the last book and I debated for a while on if I would read this book or not. I consulted the girls over at Reverse Harem Revolution and they convinced me to begrudgingly continue.
I must say, this book had everything the last book lacked. All of the things I was upset about were resolved. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late. I made myself read this book and, by the time all of the scenes I wanted started happening, I couldn’t bring myself to care. I felt no emotion what-so-ever towards the scenes or the characters. I can see the good qualities in these characters, but I just don’t connect with them anymore. In fact, when Willa “died” I didn’t care in the slightest bit and I wasn’t concerned for her character in any way.
I believe that Persuasion ruined this series for me and I’m not going to force myself to read the next book. Maybe after a little time away, I will feel differently. One of the girls at Reverse Harem Revolution did say that the series is much better when you don’t binge read them. For now, I am just going to back away from this series.

Other Books in the Series:

4.5 🍁s ~ Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

2.5 🍁s ~ Persuasion (Curse of the Gods #2) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

Reverse Harem, Reviews

Persuasion (Curse of the Gods #2) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

34881966

∴ Persuasion (Curse of the Gods #2) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

Willa Knight: Dweller? Bad-ass? Notorious pet to five magical beings?

In Blesswood, there are rules, and someone is trying to teach her how to follow them. The only problem is Willa. Which shouldn’t be anything new, since she has been a problem since birth—something her pseudo-sister Emmy would agree on.

So it definitely shouldn’t be new … but it is.

Because things are starting to happen that have never happened before.

Things are starting to get …chaotic.

2.5 🍁s

“Hugging is flirting?” I asked, my voice muffled against his back. “I didn’t start this. This isn’t my fault. It feels nice to touch you guys because you kidnapped my soul. I’m actually hugging my soul right now. This is a private moment. Butt out.”

This book was… disappointing. I struggled through the majority of it and I debated dropping it multiple times. Alas, I held on, hoping it would get better. It did not. I was really sad about this because the girls over at Reverse Harem Revolution seem to really love this series and I have heard many of them say that it is the best RH out there.
While that might be the case for them, so far, it has not been for me. I am a very character driven person. I can read a book with absolutely no plot and I can still adore it if I love the characters (A Court of Frost and Starlight by Sarah J. Maas is a good example of this). While I do really like the characters in this series, it seems like they often take a backseat to the plot. There was really no development between Willa and her boys at all during this book. The “pact” that the boys made in the first book is still in full effect and I’m getting tired of it. I read the RH genre for the character relationships and the romance, not for the action/adventure plots. I have plenty of fantasy books on my TBR if I was looking for that.
I don’t know if I will be continuing this series or not. I am really turned off to it right now. Time will tell, I guess.

Other Books in the Series:

4.5 🍁s ~ Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

3.5 🍁s ~ Seduction (Curse of the Gods #3) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

Reverse Harem, Reviews

Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

autumnbookreads

33898320

∴ Trickery (Curse of the Gods #1) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington ∴

Synopsis:

Willa Knight: Dweller. Slave. Non-magical being.

In Minatsol, being a dweller means that you are literally no better than dirt. In fact, dirt might actually be more useful than Willa. Her life will be one of servitude to the sols, the magic-blessed beings who could one day be chosen to become gods.

At least her outer village is far removed from the cities of the sols, and she won’t ever be forced to present herself to them… Until one small mistake changes everything, and Willa is awarded a position to serve at Blesswood, the top sol academy in the world—a position that she definitely did not earn.

Under the sudden, watchful eye of the gods, she will be tasked to serve the Abcurse brothers, five sols built of arrogance, perfection and power. They are almost gods themselves, and under their service she is either going to end up sentenced to death, or else they are going to ruin her so badly that she will wish for it.

Either way, she is in trouble.

4.5 🍁s

“I’m sick of them. I never want to see them again. Except Aros; he smells nice. And Rome; because he’s so strong I’m pretty sure not even Rau can get past him. I don’t need the others. Except Siret. I’m pretty sure he hates me, but he’s really good at catching me like just before I face-plant into something. But the others, I don’t need them. Not at all.” I paused, my brow furrowing, my mouth pursing, and then I quickly blurted, “Except Coen and Yael. Coen is really good at making decisions, and if I leave out Yael he’ll probably hunt me down and haunt me-”
“That’s all of them,” Emmy interrupted smoothly.”

I really liked this book. It has been on my TBR since forever and I had been waiting for the final book to come out before I started the series. It was a long and hard wait because the girls over at Reverse Harem Revolution adore this series and say it is the best RH out there. After reading this book, I think they are going to be right. This was a phenomenal first book for this series and really set the stage for the future installments. The world building was top notch, the plot was thorough, and the pacing was spot on. And as far as the characters go, I loved them all. If this was only the start to the series, I can’t imagine how great the rest of it will be.
Willa was a very unique and different female lead. Her clumsiness and her overall attitude immediately drew me in. Her inner monologue constantly had me laughing and every decision she made only endeared her more to me. She was a very relatable lead. She never annoyed me and I was always on the edge of my seat to see what she would get herself into next. I highly enjoyed her antics and I can’t wait to read more from her perspective.
As far as the guys go, they were all great. Their personalities compelled me to keep reading and to find out how their relationship with Willa would progress. I love all of them already and I simply can’t wait to dive more into their individual characters.
Obviously, I will be continuing the series with Persuasion. I am really excited to dive more into this world and to spend some more time with these amazing characters.

Other Books in the Series:

2.5 🍁s ~ Persuasion (Curse of the Gods #2) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

3.5 🍁s ~ Seduction (Curse of the Gods #3) by Jaymin Eve & Jane Washington

Reverse Harem, Reviews, Romance

Refusing Kendall (White Trash Trilogy #2) by Brandy Slaven

autumnbookreads

41018958

∴ Refusing Kendall (White Trash Trilogy #2) by Brandy Slaven ∴

Synopsis:

Kendall and her quad are moving on to the next chapter of their life. They now face the demanding schedules of going to separate colleges and the boys’ new football stardom.
When circumstances and doubt threaten the relationship the five of them have built, it will become Kendall’s responsibility to hold them together. But what happens when her past comes back to haunt her? Rejoin Kendall’s world in this next installment of the White Trash Trilogy.

3.75 🍁s

“You know that one moment when you’re watching figure skaters on ice, and the male partner throws the girl into the air, and everyone holds their breath waiting for her to fall? That’s what kissing Goose is like. Living in that one moment of wonder, hoping that there will always be another.”

MAJOR SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I liked this book, just not as much as I would have liked to. The first half of this book was great and I was enjoying it just as much as the first one. The second half however, I did not really enjoy. You know that feeling when the couple breaks up in a book and you are just aching for them to get back together? That was what the entire second half of this book felt like. It took a lot of my enjoyment away from the story.

Kendall- While I love her as a character, she frustrated me a few times during this book. She jumped to conclusions on things and she made a bunch of what I would consider stupid decisions. She knew she had someone stalking her and yet, she didn’t stop to question if doors randomly shutting, lights turning off, or items being moved, meant that someone was in her house? She kept making references in her head to the stupid girl that always dies in a horror movie, yet she was acting like that more often than not during this book.

Teagan- I’m not gonna lie, I still am a little pissed with him after this book. I know he didn’t actually kiss that girl back, but letting her do so and not stopping her immediately is almost just as bad in my mind. Given, he made a lot of strides towards the end of the book to make up for it, but I still don’t think he should be forgiven right off the bat. There is no excuse for him letting that happen.

Lucas- I still absolutely love Lucas. He is just so precious and he tries his hardest to make Kendall happy. He was always there for Kendall during this book and I really think their relationship wouldn’t survive without him there to calm things down.

Goose- I am still a little mad at Goose as well. Though, I am not as mad at him as I was at Teagan. Goose went through some things during this book and I don’t believe that he will act that way again. In the part we got from his point of view, I saw how much guilt he felt and I couldn’t help but let that go a long ways to making me forgive him.

Maverick- I love Maverick, but I wish that he would have put his foot down when the giant argument happened between Goose, Teagan, and Kendall. He should have spoken up and I don’t see how he can be so vocal about his opinion sometimes, yet when it counted, he was silent. I am not mad at him though because after the part in his point of view, I see why he remained silent. That doesn’t mean I think it was the best thing however.

Derrik- When Derrik made his reappearance, I think I stopped breathing for a second. I was shocked that he showed up and I was certain that he was there to cause trouble. Instead, he apologized which surprised me. Honestly, I thought that his apology was subpar at best and it really meant nothing to me. I have personally been bullied (not to the extent that Kendall was) and I can honestly say that it leaves a mark on you and no amount of words can erase what that person did. Derrik’s character was not redeemed in my eyes in any way and I hope he doesn’t reappear again.

What I Liked- I liked that this series was continued and we got to see more of Kendall and her guys’ relationship. In reality, the story doesn’t stop when the book is over and it was nice to see what happened after the end of the last book. It made this book a lot more realistic and, even though I hated it, watching Kendall and her group struggle through everyday life was refreshing and it made me feel for these characters more.

What I Didn’t Like- My thoughts above should make what I disliked very clear. I had a lot of problems with this book and I just didn’t enjoy a large portion of it.

Side Note- When I got to the back of the book, I realized that another RH story was referenced in this book. I love when an author advertises other books in their genre and I am really proud of Brandy Slaven for doing that for two books in a row now.

Overall, I still really like this series. I will be reading the next book when it is released (hopefully soon). I hope I enjoy it more than I did this one though.

Other Books in the Series:

4.75 🍁s ~ Reviving Kendall (White Trash Trilogy #1) by Brandy Slaven

Reverse Harem, Reviews, Romance

Reviving Kendall (White Trash Trilogy #1) by Brandy Slaven

autumnbookreads

37747771

∴ Reviving Kendall (White Trash Trilogy #1) by Brandy Slaven ∴

Synopsis:

“I’m not so sure that I’m strong enough to take yet another blow to the heart.”

Growing up, I’ve always lived on the wrong side of the tracks. I’m used to the stares, name calling, and disrespect. A tragic accident that leaves me short three of the only people I’ve ever loved, has me devastated enough to try to end my own life. Just when I think there’s no hope, I find a reason to live again, or four of them as a matter of fact. Lucas, Maverick, Teagan, and Goose. But what happens when those bonds are tested? I’m not so sure that I’m strong enough to take yet another blow to the heart. My name is Kendall Davis and what if my story doesn’t have a happy ending?

*This is the first book in a Contemporary Reverse Harem Trilogy.

*Recommended 17+ due to mature language and situations.

4.75 🍁s

But there’s no rule saying that your heart is only big enough to fit one person. You can’t help who you love. If it’s there, then it’s there, and if people can’t deal, then you don’t need those people in your life.”

SPOILERS THROUGHOUT:
I loved this book. It has been on my TBR for forever and I had been waiting for the final book to come out before reading it. As the months went on, whenever I would scroll through my to-read list and see this book, I was tempted to pick it up. Finally, I cracked and decided I just couldn’t wait for the final book anymore. Let me tell you, I am so glad I finally read this book. It was EVERYTHING I have been wanting to read and more.
Kendall- I loved her. She has gone through more pain in her life than any person deserves and I couldn’t help but connect with her. This book starts out with her in a really dark place and watching her grow and persevere was awe-inspiring. There were many times I teared up over what was happening to her and any progress she made in this book just warmed my heart.

Teagan- I loved Teagan (I feel like I am going to say that a lot when it comes to these characters). He was sweet, but he was also flirty and intense which is a really interesting combination. I liked the fact that he was the first of the group to talk to Kendall, yet he was also the last one that she connected with intimately. I thought that a was a really nice touch on Brandy Slaven’s part.

Lucas- Lucas constantly melted my heart throughout this book. I just wanted to hug him and give him all the love he deserves. He understood Kendall on a basic level and I appreciated the fact that he tried to be friends with her before dating her.

Goose- I felt like Goose was the least developed of the guys. That isn’t to say that he wasn’t developed at all, I just feel like I know him the least out of the guys. He filled the gentle giant role and that was really it. I wish there would have been a little more of him.

Maverick- I went on a little more of a roller coaster of emotions with Maverick than I did with the other guys. One minute, I would be loving his broody, intense ass, and the next, I would want to punch him in the face for something he said to Kendall. The banter and the power struggle between him and Kendall was a sight to see though and I enjoyed every moment of it.

Ryleigh- Ryleigh was an interesting surprise in this book. I did not expect to love her character so much. She was a great friend towards Kendall and I really think she had a big impact on Kendall getting through some of the stuff she did.

Lincoln- Lincoln was also an interesting surprise. Based on what I saw of his character, I am wondering if Brandy Slaven plans on writing his story. Maybe in a spin-off? I would certainly love to see that. It also makes me wonder if we might ever get to see a spin-off about Lucas’s other brothers. Maybe another reverse harem story is in the works?

Derrik- That piece of crap deserves everything he got. I hope that Kendall never has to see his good for nothing ass again.

What I Liked- I liked the fact that Kendall had already been in a reverse harem relationship before. Out of all the RH stories I have read, I have never seen that and it was refreshing. Kendall truly loved Will, Brian, and Casey and I loved how Kendall was not ashamed to admit it. I also liked the fact the boys didn’t bat an eye when Kendall told them.

What I Didn’t Like- Nothing. This book was pretty perfect. The only minor problem I had was with Goose’s character development (as mentioned above).

SIDE NOTE- I absolutely LOVED that Beauty in the Lies from Groupie by C.M. Stunich was mentioned. I am all for the advertising of other RH stories in your books.

Other Books in the Series:

3.75 🍁s ~ Refusing Kendall (White Trash Trilogy #2) by Brandy Slaven