That's What I'm Talking About
I generally review romance, paranormal and urban fantasy. I tend to pick review books that I want to read, so generally my reviews will be positive. I always give my honest opinion: good, bad, and indifferent.
Note: on my blog I use a letter grading system. I've listed the ratings below. For sites with stars, I have listed the equivalent rating. If I didn't finish the book, I will not rate it with stars.
A+ Personal Favorite (5 stars)
A Loved It (4.5 or 5 stars)
A- Enjoyed A Lot (4 or 4.5 stars)
B+ Liked It A Lot (4 stars)
B Liked It -- Recommend (4 stars)
B- Liked It -- But I had a few small issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C+ Liked It -- But I had issues (3 or 3.5 stars)
C Finished It -- Liked some, didn't like some (3 stars)
C- Finished It -- Liked a little, didn't like a lot (2 or 2.5 stars)
D Not A Big Fan (2 stars)
E Don’t Waste Your Time (1 star)
----
TW: Reading this book was like watching a Train Wreck
DNF: Did Not Finish
updated July 9, 2015
Currently reading
Review: Chasing Christmas Eve by Jill Shalvis
Colbie Albright is the best-selling author of a hit book series, with a blockbuster movie releasing on Christmas Day. Family and work always come first for Colbie, and she’s hit a wall causing a severe case of writer’s block. Escaping to San Francisco, she finds herself in the arms of a sexy stranger.
Spencer Baldwin is a wealthy, intelligent, good-looking entrepreneur who owns the hottest building in a trendy part of San Fransisco. He hides who he really is, trusting only a select few close friends. But when he accidentally knocks a beautiful stranger into a fountain, he is drawn to her in an inexplicable way. With only three weeks to explore this attraction, Spencer finds himself pulled out of his demanding world for the first time in his life.
Chasing Christmas Eve is another wonderful, feel good romance in Ms. Shalvis’s Heartbreaker Bay series. Spence and Colbie are two peas-in-a-pod and fit perfectly together. Both are a bit quirky, introverted, and hiding from their larger-than-life personas. I love that they start on even ground, even though they don’t know it. Their mutual attraction is genuine and the friendship that grows so quickly is based on the “real” parts inside each - not the famous or wealthy parts. Their characters feel so true and relatable, even though they have these pieces of themselves that are so extraordinary, and this is what makes the story so enjoyable.
While their relationship blossoms easily, both lead complicated lives, and I appreciate that part isn’t glossed over. Both struggle to balance the demands of work and family (for Colbie) with having a personal life, yet because they want to make it work, they find ways to be together. The only negative I found in the story is how easily things fell into place for Colbie once she returned home, but it wasn’t so obnoxious that I took issue with it.
I enjoyed seeing all the regulars from the series, and loved the big secret revealed about one in particular. This group of friends is special, and I grow to love them a bit more with each book. Ms. Shalvis has created a wonderful, enjoyable world filled with some of my favorite characters, and I continue to look forward to reading more.
My Rating: A- Enjoyed A Lot
Review copy provided by publisher
Originally posted at That's What I'm Talking About
