Monday, September 18, 2017

Royal Attraction by Tiffany Truitt - Release Day Review

Alexandra Ryans’s life has been anything but normal. Some might even call it a fairy tale. As the daughter of the former U.S. ambassador to England, she grew up within the palace walls, best friends with the three young princes. Adored by the press and the British people. What more could a girl want?

If only the press knew the real story behind her relationships with the Dudley boys. Then, they’d really sell some papers.

Oliver Dudley, youngest son and third in line for the throne, loves everything about his life. The fame. The parties. The women. The utter lack of expectations and responsibilities that come with being last in the line of succession. But while the world thinks he has everything he wants, there's one thing he was never able to call his own—the beautiful and spunky American Aly Ryans. But how can he convince her when she hates everything about his life? And what is he willing to give up to get her?


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Royal Attraction is the perfect book for someone who loves royal romances but is looking for something a little different. Alexandra's relationship with the Dudley brothers is a really different take on the traditional tropes, and I thoroughly enjoyed it!

Let's start with Alex. I loved her character, mostly because she is incredibly flawed. She is haunted by her past mistakes and feels inadequate not because of her looks or anything but because she has a learning disability and I really appreciated that part of her. I liked the solace and friendship she has with the male characters in this story, like if they were the boys next door - except they are princes. The voice is hilarious and fraught with doubts and I enjoyed getting a look inside her mind.

Then there's Ollie. Oh, how I love Ollie. I love him more because he is like the boy next door, her best friend, and a prince, all in one. The way that he is portrayed as the playboy but not in a super vulgar way is refreshing. I liked that he struggles with the pressure of being a prince and being the younger brother, and why he does the things he does. I liked that the fact that he is a prince is also not really the main point, but rather a part of his internal and external conflicts. It's more focused on young adults coming-of-age than anything, with the added pressure of royal obligations.

This story is all about relationships, romantic or otherwise, and I thought they were all incredibly well-developed and adorable and great. The flashbacks to when they were children, then teenagers, did a lot to build upon a familial relationship that you immediately believe once Alex reunites with the Dudley brothers. The way the characters grow in the flashbacks, and then the way they grow in the present, is fantastic, and I think adds a depth that is sometimes lacking in other royal romance stories. You are really invested in these character's pasts and growth and friendships and just want them all to be happy.

Royal Attraction was an incredibly refreshing, romantic, hilarious story, with well-developed and believable characters that I fell in love with.
** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
Learn more about the author and her books here: https://www.facebook.com/authortiffanytruitt/

Tiffany Truitt lives with her Netflix and junk food in Virginia. She is a graduate from Longwood University with a Masters in Literature from Old Dominion University. Previously she has worked in the realm of Young Adult literature having written The Lost Souls Series, Because You Exist, and The Language of Silence.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine 

Tuesday, September 12, 2017

Fraternize by Rachel Van Dyken - Release Day Review

Emerson just made her dream come true as a professional cheerleader for her favorite pro football team. But even though the plus-size athlete is breaking down boundaries, she still has to contend with the massive rulebook. Carbs? Nope. Chocolate? Definitely not. Still, Emerson loves her curves, and she’ll rock the hell out of this job even if it kills her. Except for one mandate that is easier read than done…

No fraternizing with the players.

Problem one is Miller Quinton: Emerson’s first love, first sex, and the guy who still ignites her daydreams and R-rated fantasies. Thrown back together, Miller and Emerson feel the undeniable pull of passion again, even if the conflict that tore them apart seems insurmountable. Then there’s way-too-sexy Grant Sanchez. He has a serious reputation with the ladies, and when it comes to winning someone he wants, he doesn’t let anyone stand in his way.

Now Emerson is breaking every rule in the manual. But what she doesn’t know is that she’s part of a wicked little game—one that could steal both her dream and her heart.

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Fraternize is a great combination of a lot of things readers look for in romance  - love lost, love triangles, sassy female heroines, sports, and sexy times. However, it is unique in so many ways that it was a new and great reading experience, a refreshing new take on a sports romance!

I loved Emerson, and that she was insecure about her body but continued to pursue her passions until she made her dream come true. Despite these insecurities, she is such a sassy and strong female character. She is constantly battling between what happened in her past and what she wants for the future, and I thoroughly enjoyed following her on her journey. I thought that it approached Emerson's insecurities in a realistic way and I personally enjoyed that nutrition and realistic body image was a main part of the story. 

The real star of this book, what makes it great and makes it different, is the way the love triangle functions. Miller is Em's past love and she's never forgotten him, much like he's never forgotten her. They love each other as much as they hate each other, from things left unsaid, but the flashbacks of their relationship in high school are fan-tas-tic. I loved them so much (they are so cute, you guys). On the other hand, Sanchez is a completely different animal than Miller, and I loved, loved, loved the way he and the older Emerson interact. They become friends first, but friends in a different way than you do when you are a teenager, and I never thought that they book would take the path it did. The way all the relationships in this book develop, between Em and Sanchez, Em and Miller, and Miller and Sanchez, are all great and really make this book unique and special.

The chemistry is off the charts. The dialogue is hilarious and heartbreaking. And the characters will never cease to surprise you as they figure out what truly matters. A fun, unique sports romance.
** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review **
Check out more about Rachel Van Dyken and her books here: http://rachelvandykenauthor.com

Rachel Van Dyken is the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of regency and contemporary romances. When she's not writing you can find her drinking coffee at Starbucks and plotting her next book while watching The Bachelor.

She keeps her home in Idaho with her Husband, adorable son, and two snoring boxers! She loves to hear from readers!

Happy Reading!

Jasmine