Book Review : Crushed (Redemption #2) by Lauren Layne

Crushed
Redemption #2
Lauren Layne
Ebook, 240 pages
14th April 2015 by Flirt

Goodreads Ratings : 4.3/5
My Rating : 4/5

Lauren Layne’s latest novel about the healing power of redemption tells the story of a crush gone wickedly wrong, proving that what you want isn’t always what you need.
 
Growing up in New York, Michael St. Claire never expected to spend his twenties wearing cowboy boots. But that was before he learned about his real father, a total stranger with a family in Cedar Grove, Texas. Once in the Lone Star State, Michael meets Kristin Bellamy, who is exquisitely refined and everything Michael always thought he wanted in a woman. The only problem is that Kristin is dating Michael’s new half brother, Devon.
 
Kristin’s mouthy, curvy sister Chloe has always been in love with Devon Patterson. So when Michael offers to help Chloe break up Devon and Kristin, Chloe agrees to a deal that seems too good to be true. Before long, Chloe finally gets her man, only to make a startling discovery: She no longer wants the guy she had to fight for—she wants the one who stood by her side. 
 
After all he and Chloe have been through, Michael swears he’s damaged goods. Can Chloe convince him that love is worth the risk?
 

From Goodreads

I know ive said it before in my past reviews but i need to say this again. I really really really love Lauren Layne's writing. 

Sex, Love and Stilettos and The Best Mistake are one of my all time favorite series by Lauren Layne, always has been. And its suffice to say that this Redemption series did not disappoint either. The writing style is so very different, though. Where SLS and TBM are all funny, flirty and so contemporary, Redemption is almost the opposite. Almost.

Crushed tells the story of the heartbroken Michael from Broken, how he nurse his brokenheart back to life with the help of the ever so funny and sarcastic Chloe. Gosh Chloe i love her to bits !!!! Shes just so awesome with her cool-ass attitude and witty remarks. All through this book, i was being emphasized on Chloe's crazy curls and that made me picture her as Brave's Merida you know. All through the book. Even on the sexual scenes. Merida the kid. Yep. (I can never watch Brave the same way anymore tsk)

Its been almost a year i think since i last read the first book of the series (Broken) so I have to be honest here about not exactly remembering who Michael is and what role he plays on Broken. But its all good. I like the whole plot and characters and oooooh the ending (the make-up part) !!!! Its not the big gesture kind of ending but its nice and fluffy and cuuuuuuute.

Like i said, this one isnt a disappointment. Totally.

GAHHH I CANT WAIT FOR THE OXFORD SERIES !!! IM PRACTICALLY BURNING FROM ANTICIPATION HERE !!!!

”…I don’t think it’s about who loves you first. It’s about who loves you best. And that’s me.”  - Chloe Bellamy, Crushed

Book Review : Three Weeks with Lady X by Eloisa James

Three Weeks with Lady X
Desperate Duchess by the Numbers #1; Desperate Duchess #7

Eloisa James

Ebook, 384 pages

25th March 2014 by Avon

Goodreads Ratings : 4.10/5

My Ratings : 3/5

Having made a fortune, Thorn Dautry, the powerful bastard son of a duke, decides that he needs a wife. But to marry a lady, Thorn must acquire a gleaming, civilized façade, the specialty of Lady Xenobia India.

Exquisite, head-strong, and independent, India vows to make Thorn marriageable in just three weeks.

But neither Thorn nor India anticipate the forbidden passion that explodes between them.

Thorn will stop at nothing to make India his. Failure is not an option. 

But there is only one thing that will make India his—the one thing Thorn can't afford to lose...

His fierce and lawless heart.


The hero of Three Weeks With Lady X is Tobias, the illegitimate son of the Duke of Villiers. Tobias appears in the last two books as a young boy.

From Goodreads

I think its safe to say that i like the second book more than the first one in the series.

Its not that i didnt enjoy it at all. I did, but i cant help to think that its a bit draggy and irritating at some points. Maybe because I was in a rush while reading this since i was going back and forth over this book and my biology book (biology exams coming in two days thats why)

The book was highly enjoyable at first (the rest was still enjoyable but not as much as the first few chapters) and i have a lot of respect towards Lady Xenobia considering shes witty and intelligent. Even Thorn was charming. But something happened within the pages and i got irritated. Their sexual sexcapades annoyed me, specifically. 

On the bright side, I really really really love it when Rose came in. The whole Thorn and Rose thing melts my heart. Guys with kids is a major turn-on, i swear (Reminds me of Drew from Emma Chase's Tangled and his awesome niece awwww)

I think this is just another 'its-not-you-its-me' situation, you know ? Like if I were to read this at a different time and different situation, maybe i would like it better than i did now. 
Who knows?

“His intended probably wouldn't appreciate the comparison, but Thorn had the notion that she was like a rescued hound, one that would adoringly follow her new master in return for some kindness. That was absurd, given that she was as beautiful as a wild rose, with hair like a Botticelli angel. By all rights, she should be arrogantly aware of her dominion over men. But instead she had a desperate look about her eyes, as if she needed saving.

It was a fair trade, in his estimation. Her beauty in return for his protection.”  - Eloisa James, Three with Lady X

Book Review : Four Nights with the Duke (Desperate Duchess by the Numbers #2)

Four Nights with the Duke
Desperate Duchesses by the Numbers, #2; Desperate Duchesses, #8
Eloisa James
Ebook, 384 pages
31st March 2015 by Avon Books

Goodreads Ratings : 4.16/5
My Rating : 4/5

As a young girl, Emilia Gwendolyn Carrington told the annoying future Duke of Pindar that she would marry any man in the world before him—so years later she is horrified to realize that she has nowhere else to turn.

Evander Septimus Brody has his own reasons for agreeing to Mia's audacious proposal, but there's one thing he won't give his inconvenient wife: himself.

Instead, he offers Mia a devil's bargain...he will spend four nights a year with her. Four nights, and nothing more. And those only when she begs for them.

Which Mia will never do.

Now Vander faces the most crucial challenge of his life: he must seduce his own wife in order to win her heart—and no matter what it takes, this is the one battle he can't afford to lose.

From Goodreads

After a stressful physics exam, i decided to unwind myself with a book -- Eloisa James' Four Nights with a Duke specifically, and enjoy it, I did !!! I even finished it in 4hours time (the reading-deprived struggle is real ok)

Its a historical romance (i think???? it was set somewhere in 1800 ) with the whole Duke-Duchess thing going on, as the title itself suggest. Truth be told, i love this book. I love all the main characters -- Mia is secretly a bestselling romance author under a pseudonym (which is cool because on every start of the chapters she wrote notes for her upcoming book), and Evan the Duke is swoon-worthy as well ( or atleast thats how imagined him to be) with an interesting attitude. The fact that they have a history of their own 13 years before they wed each other makes it even more interesting. And their banters are awesome too !!! (i have a soft spot for books with good banters so thats why)

I got hooked from the beginning of the book right till the end, no kidding. Like the moment I finished reading the prologue, i knew i was going to enjoy this one tremendously. I actually went all tingly while reading this and i squealed a lot i swear bcs of the excitement. Of course there are a few flaws, but i love it nonetheless. This book reminds me of Lisa Kleypas' Wallflower series and Sarah MacLean's Love by Numbers because of the whole British ranks, so if youre any fan of Sarah MacLean, Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn, youre going to love this book as well (because i did)

"When I call you my duchess, I meant that you were mine to love, to hold, to make love to. That means -- That means everything to me" - Vander, Four Nights with the Duke