marlissa Cunningham: Catalyst

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/235671217-catalyst

Book Blurb:

"Elissa, you are the worst princess I have ever met, and by far, my favorite."

In a land divided by centuries of war and distrust, an elven princess and a human prince are the last hope for peace — or the spark that ignites another war.

Princess Elissa of Treiaul has never fit the mold of royal perfection. She prefers the forest to the throne room, her bow to the delicate trappings of court life. But when Prince Hayward of Aasleagh arrives to negotiate a fragile peace treaty, she’s ordered to play the gracious host to the human she’s been raised to despise.

Hayward is no stranger to being underestimated — the youngest of his brothers and a seasoned soldier, he’s spent his life carving out a place for himself. He enters elven territory with low expectations and party of men mostly chosen by his father who he doesn’t trust, prepared to endure the cold shoulder of a princess who sees him as the enemy.

But what neither of them anticipates is the undeniable pull between them. Their sharp words turn into lingering glances, and every clash of wills ignites something far more dangerous than hatred. As their chemistry simmers, Hayward becomes the unexpected catalyst for Elissa to embrace her wild heart and for her people to see the looming human threat for what it truly is.

With tensions rising and kingdoms on the brink of war, their forbidden connection might either shatter the fragile hope of peace — or forge a love powerful enough to change the fate of their realms forever.

This romantasy debut is a tale of passion, prejudice, and the power of choosing love in a world that demands war.

Tropes:

*Indie Author  *Romantasy *Insta Lust  *Insta Love *Spice *Curvy FMC *Feisty FMC

*Royalty *Politics *betrayal *forced proximity *Fantasy *Fae FMC x Human MMC 

*first in series --> read in order *magic *Banter *animal side kick (FMC)

Thoughts:

Prince Hayward (human MMC) arrives to the Fae lands on a diplomatic mission to meet with the Fae King and discuss peace talks, he is escorted by men from his own kingdom but his father picked out most of his group and he doesn't trust them.  Upon entering Fae lands he is greeted by the beautiful Princess Elissa (Fae FMC) and escorted back to her home to meet with her father the king.

Another reason for coming to the Fae kingdom is to see if a marriage between himself and the eldest daughter could be potentially a good match for their kingdoms, as the youngest son (not the heir or the spare) he has mostly been looked down upon in his own home and isn't fully against the idea... he's just not quite sure he needs to settle down right yet.

Hayward is I guess supposed to be charming... but to me he felt more on the arrogant side as gods gift to everyone (especially the ladies).  He did grow on me by the end of the book but I wasn't fully sold on him.  Also wasn't a fan of the way he is described looking at the princess and her assets... and it's all the time... come on man get it together I thought you were there to discuss politics with the king too! 

This was easy to read and listen to.  This does have more modern dialogue so kind of took me out of the fantasy world for me at times.

Because we didn't have much back story on anything in the human or fae kingdom I didn't feel fully invested in what turned out to be more something happening in the back ground of this story.

While there is some chemistry between Hayward and Elissa I don't feel that anything they did during their week together would lead them to know much more than surface layer stuff... I mean they have room to grow as a couple for sure and will check out book 2 to see what happens next.

For me personally this book had so much spice it began to over power any plot happening.

There are a few secrets revealed during the book that I would like to find out more about... like Hayward and his super fast healing abilities. 

I'm going to try to find this book the right kind of audience

If you are looking for epic world building with a lengthy back story on characters that isn't present in this book.  

The book briefly covers that there is potential for war between the humans and Fae but doesn't really explain why... they mention that the Fae lands have more resources (like water and gems) so maybe this is part of it?  but it isn't really discussed at length at any point in the story.

While Hayward is there basically as a political diplomat this is more in the back ground of this story it pops up occasionally to remind us that he was sent there for that reason too. 

If you are looking for a slow burn romance --> this is very insta lust and love, I'm not even sure if they knew each other a full day before they are learning the curves of each others bodies if you know you know.

This did have some witty banter throughout so you witty banter lovers will appreciate that

The Princess is strong and is probably one of the Fae's best fighters she knows how to use a bow & arrow and helps the prince with a few really dangerous situations, I do love a baddie!

This was a more low stakes, cozy romantasy with lots of spicy fireworks 

If you get the Audiobook like I did the narrators did a great job bringing the book to life it was Duet narration with RL Hemm and Luke Persiani. 

have you read this one?  What did you think?

Cindy Steel: The One With The Kiss Cam

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/198638176-the-one-with-the-kiss-cam

Book Blurb:

It was just one date.

My friend told me I needed more fun in my life, so I reluctantly said yes. Fun wasn’t exactly in my wheelhouse. After watching my own mother’s love life implode time and time again it’s only natural that I have a few rules to protect myself.

Actually, it’s just one rule…
Avoid relationships with men so I don’t get attached.

I wasn’t worried. Getting attached has never been a big problem for me. This guy was just a warm body in a chair. I was here for the basketball game. I was absolutely NOT here for my date.

Or the kiss cam.
Or the kiss.
Or the impromptu evening with the one man who seems bent on throwing my tidy world off of its axis.

But when my life takes a nose dive, he’s also the man who seems bent on proving to me that good men do exist, dreams can come true, and sometimes throwing out the rule book is when the magic really starts to happen.

Tropes:

*Rom-Com *Closed Door *Strangers --> more *Friends --> more *Kiss Cam 

*a night to remember *2nd chance for romance *Golden Retriever MMC *He falls first

*family drama *State Challenge Utah *Hallmark vibes 

Thoughts:

Nora against her better judgement decides to take her friends advice and go out on a date... she says yes to going to a basketball game which is fine... but the date turns into a total disaster pretty quickly the guy is a self centered toolbag.

Thankfully there is a handsome guy sitting on the other side they spend their evening flirting and when her "date" goes to get another snack and the kiss cam centers on her and her handsome stranger... then keeps coming back to them they decide "why not" and go in for a kiss... shortly after after her date makes a move that makes her uncomfortable and her Knight in the next seat says he will take her home.

They go on to have a night to remember but after go their separate ways while they share social media with each other Nora figures it would be better to forget that night where she felt all of her dreams could come true, he has a girlfriend now and her life is the opposite of dream like with her mounting debt and her child like mother constantly coming to her to bail her out of her financial problems.... doesn't her mom realize she isn't in a financially sound place either?  

Nora is selfless, a hard worker and a people pleaser she started working at a young age to help her mom and support her younger sisters so they wouldn't have their dreams crushed too.  She had to drop out of school but she still has dreams of returning something is bound to turn around for her soon... surprisingly it comes in the form of getting a job at her aunts cleaning company.

When she arrives at work she ends up in the elevator with her handsome stranger Duke and his friends that she met at the basketball game a few years earlier at this point... maybe he won't remember her.

Naturally he does he never forgot her either and he and his friends run a company... that she happens to be cleaning for... great just when she thought things couldn't get any lower now she's going to have to clean way later so she doesn't run into him after hours... but of course she does.

Duke (MMC) happens to mention that his company is doing an internship program for a period of time that pays they are selecting three interns to work for them and prepare a project... if they win at the end they will be hired and it comes with a college scholarship... Even though she knows it would probably be a bad idea it's something she can't refuse she needs this.

Even though Duke is now her essentially her boss, he's drawn to Nora and can't help but seek her out to spend time with her, they grow closer together and when Nora finds out that he's suddenly single could she throw caution to the wind and go for what she truly wants for once?  

To add additional drama one of the other interns selected is a mean girl and upset that Duke has noticed Nora and not herself she begins to taunt Nora it would be a shame if HR Found out about any inappropriate relationships.

This book was so cute, a little corny throughout but over all a light fun and cozy read, I enjoyed this one and happy I found it for my 50 states challenge for Utah.  

Some negatives for this book:

-Nora talked about setting better boundaries with her mom but if she called would give in and pay for her past due bills

-The MMC is so sweet but later in the book makes a comment about his 3 year relationship being "the rebound" it just seems out of character

-the FMC talks about doing a lot for her mom & sisters... but the mom is the only one she interacts with in the book, what are the sisters doing?  Do they know what she gave up for them?

-MMC what he does in the epilogue... just no 👎

-FMC is so stubborn it becomes pretty repetitive --> she's stressed out about her student loan, lack of money and having a wayward mom who makes poor choices with men who use her and leave --> she doesn't want to accept help... from anyone.

Skye Daniels: Beneath Our Stars

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/256289641-beneath-our-stars

Book Blurb:

Some people are written into your life long before you meet them.

Annabelle Prescott has spent years carrying a grief no one seems willing to talk about.

Behind the privilege, perfect grades, and carefully planned future is a girl searching for something she can't quite name. She never expected to find it when three scholarship students walked into her elite private school.

Jax is steady, patient, and impossible not to love.

Caleb is guarded, complicated, and hiding more than he'll ever admit.

Kassie becomes the best friend she never knew she needed.

Together, they build a friendship that feels more like home than any place they've ever known.

Spanning a decade, Beneath Our Stars follows four lives forever changed by friendship, first love, devastating loss, and the promises that continue to shape them long after graduation. As they chase dreams, face unimaginable heartbreak, and discover that healing is never a straight path, they'll learn that some people become part of your soul—and loving them changes you forever.

Heartfelt, unforgettable, and deeply emotional, Beneath Our Stars is a coming-of-age romance about grief, healing, found family, enduring love, and the hope that even in life's darkest moments, the stars can still guide you home.

Tropes:

*Indie Author *Friends to More *Small town romance *covers a large period of time

*Emotional *Found family *Spice *Family drama *grief  *Second chances *Slow burn 

Thoughts:

From the beginning you know this book is going to put you through a roller coaster of emotions... I wish I had grabbed tissues to be honest because this book had be full blown ugly crying during several chapters... because of this I decided to read this alone in my room later at night.

I loved how we start with this group of friends from the beginning when they meet in high school our FMC Bells is from a wealthy family she has a twin sister but her sister has always been more of a social butterfly and spends her time with the popular kids while she doesn't mind hanging out with her sisters friends from time to time she's thrilled to have some new faces at the school when Jax, Caleb and Kassie arrived to the school all receiving a scholarship to the school it's harder for them to fit in since they are foster kids just trying to live day to day and do what they can to improve their lives.  Bells befriends the new kids right away no questions asked.

The group of four become pretty inseperable even though the other kids are initially not fully trusting of her intentions towards them Bells wins them over easily with her kind and non-judgemental nature.  

Even though Bells and her new friends backgrounds were different all of these kids have had to grow up fast dealing with their own life events that changed how they viewed everything around them in this way it's clear to see that their friendship was inevitable even with guards and walls up around their hearts.

This story continues to cover many years of this friend group through their life changes, the sweet feelings of first love, making big moves,  how even if you are close friends life happens and sometimes you grow apart but this makes things even better when you find each other again.  Most importantly throughout this is that this group of friends are there for each other when they are most needed.

Part two showed so much bravery and love in the face of the unknown, because the author did such a great job making us fall in love with our group of kids in the first part this second part felt that much more emotional... seriously I was sobbing through most of it and I don't usually like reading tear jerkers but I knew I would be missing out on something special if I didn't read this book.

Part three: was like a rainbow after the storm, while your heart is breaking in the second part this next part focuses on grief, emotional healing, and feelings of how to move on when you feel like your whole world has stopped.  

Where there is a great loss you know there was great love, I appreciated that this story showed the reality of grief it doesn't go away automatically and everyone grieves on their own time line it's nothing anyone can rush.  

Loving someone new doesn't make your past love mean less it just means that your heart is so big that you have the capacity to love many people in different ways.  

I don't want to give too much more away but this was a beautifully written book and I thank the author for the opportunity to read this early copy 💓.

Have you read this one?  What did you think? 

C.M. Stunich: Devil's Day Party

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/51813790-devils-day-party

Book Blurb:

I crashed my shitty yellow VW Beetle into Calix’s Aston Martin.
To be fair, he deserved it.
But Calix and his friends, Barron and Raz, they don’t see it that way.

Not that it matters.
They’ve bullied me for years, and I’ve never known why.
At least today, they have something real to be pissed about.
All of which would be fine, if today was a normal day.
But it’s not. It’s far from normal.
My mantra has always been: this too, shall pass.

But not today.
Not the worst day of my life.
Hot bullies, busted cars, and pain.

Somebody kill me now.

Tropes:

*High school Bully Romance *enemies --> more *Why Choose *Spice 

*Kissing between F/F & M/M  *death *Dark Romance *Fantasy *Ground Hog Day vibes

*Time loop story *State Challenge Arkansas

Thoughts:

This is my first book by this author, I love the movie Groundhog Day and needed a book for my 50 states challenge set in Arkansas so figured I would give this one a go and I'm glad I did.

Karma (FMC) is stuck in a time loop situation for an unknown period of time to start with it's Devil's day which is taken very seriously in their town with a huge party thrown every year.  Our FMC goes to a wealthy private school but is not from a wealthy family and has been bullied by many of the other students including our MMC's Calix, Raz and Barron.

Karma's initial day begins with her waking up in her car after she has very clearly been involved in a car accident with one of her bullies Calix... he naturally is upset and he and his friends threaten Karma telling her not to bother showing up to the party tonight... they take her car and trash it as a prank and basically rub this in her face later at the party... basically her whole day just keeps getting worse she gets in an argument with her family, steals her mom's car and crashes... expecting her life to be over she's surprised when she wakes up in her car at the time of the accident from the day before only everyone else is acting like these events haven't happened before... what is going on?

It takes Karma a little time on repeat to get things together, depending on how she interacts with her friends, her bullies and her family depends on how her day will go sometimes she ends up locked in a room, finding out her friends secret, but no matter what happens usually there is an embarassing illicit video that gets leaked of her and Calix from the year before when they got together... even though there are supposed to be no phones at the party.  The other thing that happens is she can't seem to make it so that someone doesn't die at the end of her day before the reset occurs.

The MMC's are bullies so things are dark and they often treat Karma and others poorly, they are wealthy and run the school because they can.

While in this loops Karma figures the best way to know her enemy is to get closer to them... she begins to get closer to each guy in turn and over time finds out that maybe their strong emotions towards her isn't hate at all... but love another strong emotion. 

There are a few mysteries in this story surrounding Karma, who is releasing the illicit video?  she quickly figures out it isn't one of her three guys... but who else could it be and why would they do it?  She is at the bottom of the barrel already in the scheme of things as far as high school heirarchy goes.  The other mystery is how can she create a perfect day that doesn't end with anyones death?  It seems every time something is going right... something still goes very wrong. 

This book is of course repetitive throughout being as she is reliving the same day and just trying to recreate things that worked in prior days vs. trying new things to see what happens to change the day and try to figure out what she could potentially do differently to get out of this loop.  

Karma struggles as she gets to know the guys individually because now that she's been involved with each guy how could she possibly pick one over the other?  Would there ever be a day she could have all three?  She struggled as each day was starting from scratch with all of the guys.

I did struggle with some of Karma's decisions during some of her days... but I get that she's a teenager too so was acting her age by making some of these choices.  Being a high school bully romance there were times that I didn't like the lead characters much or their behaviors... but they did seem to have some growth towards the end. 

Check your trigger warnings if you read this one it a dark romance and there are a lot of darker elements in the story.

Have you read this one what did you think? 

Shayne McClendon: Breaking the Ice

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19039939-breaking-the-ice

Book Blurb:

This book is no longer available as a stand-alone.

Diesel LeBlanc notices MacKenzie Rhodes ice-skating on a pond in their hometown and decides he has to have her. He makes no secret of his desire – or the casual nature of it. He finally gets what he wants…on her terms…and heads off to live the fabulous life of a professional hockey player.

Years later, a chance meeting brings them together again and Diesel realizes she’s the one woman he was never able to forget. He’s ready to prove that he can be a man worthy of her heart.

Is she ready to trust him with the life she’s built?

Tropes:

*Novella *Hockey Romance *2nd chance for romance *Spice *hidden secrets

*State Challenge North Dakota  

Thoughts:

I grabbed this one for my kindle as I've been doing the 50 states reading challenge and needed a book set in North Dakota.

To start with we have Mackenzie (FMC) who has had a tough time in life growing up with two neglectful parents and helping to raise her younger brother's and sisters she's put all of her own dreams on hold to make sure she's there for them.  

Back in town while on break from College handsome Diesel (MMC) notices Kenzie ice skating at first not realizing it's the girl he went to school with for years... she is gorgeous and has grown into her curves.  Being the ladies man he is he pursues Kenzie and goes to the local bar she works at night after night trying to wear her down.

Kenzie at first continues to push Diesel away but one night frustrated and feeling alone she ends up stranded on the side of the road and they have a night to remember and go their seperate ways... MacKenzie ends up with a big memory from that night while Diesel goes on to get drafted after college into the NHL.

Kenzie now living in Boston with her younger brother and working a zillion hours a week on top of going to night school and dealing with other things doesn't have time for romance... but it's been several years and now Diesel has been traded to the team in Boston he finds her at the bar she works at and it's just like he never left her he's always thought about her while they were apart and now is a second chance.  

Will stubborn Kenzie allow herself to fall for Diesel completely?  he could have any woman he wanted what would he want with her?  Will Diesel be able to convince her that they are meant to be? 

This was a quick read at a bit over 100 pages, I feel like I might have missed part of their relationship development at times due to unknown time jumps at the beginning like she didn't want anything to do with him then he's telling him to take her home with him?? 

Due to the shorter length it also feels like some of the dialog was weird like it feels like too much personal information is just dumped in sections where it didn't make sense because our FMC is more guarded but next thing you know she's sharing her childhood trauma with him.  This also goes for the secret being revealed it seemed that everything was just fine right away.

The plot that was there was ok and I don't mind spice, but I felt the spice almost over powered the plot.  

This was a short hockey romance there really wasn't any hockey involved in this so if you enjoy sports romance with sports this won't be for you --> basically it's just used to say what a great job Diesel has as an NHL star later in the book.

Have you read this one?  What did you think?

Madison Score: Wild About You

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/255690557-wild-about-you

Book Blurb:

Trouble just moved in next door.

Veterinarian Cassie Thompson wants one simple thing: to completely start over. New town. New job. New family. That’s not asking too much, is it?

It’s almost as if the universe is conspiring in her favor when an escaped tiger—yes, you read that right—and the two half-sisters she just discovered lead her to a fresh start.

She’s ready to start rebuilding her life one Maryland crab cake at a time. It would be smooth sailing if it weren’t for the rapidly escalating neighbor war with her grumpy lumberjack of a landlord.

Noah Reed has no time for distractions—especially not a spunky, house-stealing veterinarian who can’t seem to stop making suggestions for saving his mother’s exotic animal sanctuary. He has work to do, tenants who can’t seem to stop clogging their toilets, and a literal ton of emotional baggage that he’ll get around to addressing someday.

Cassie would rather neuter a rabid chihuahua than get entangled with another life-ruining jerk. But when one night—and one girthy bottle of wine—changes everything, their contentious professional relationship gets a lot more personal.

With the fate of the sanctuary and Cassie’s career hanging in the balance, these neighbors with benefits will have to put aside their differences and their begrudging mutual attraction.

Tropes:

*Hambright PR ALC *Small Town Romance *family secrets *Family Drama

 *Strangers --> more *Forced Proximity *toxic ex *Handy Man MMC 

*Veterinarian FMC *Starting over *Spice *banter *Pet side kick

*Grumpy/Sunshine *Mental Health rep *Hallmark vibes *opposites attract

*State Challenge Maryland (Repeat)

Thoughts:

I received this as an ALC and thank the author and Hambright PR for the early listen copy!

This starts with Cassie (FMC) a veterinarian who is starting over after leaving a toxic relationship in California she moves to Maryland, she grew up there and she is on a bit of a trip of self discovery she knew she was adopted but recently hired a private detective to see if her birth mother could be located, unfortunately she finds her mother has passed away but she does have 2 half sisters and she decides to make a brief stop in the small town of Astor Hollow (in Maryland pretty close to where she grew up) to see if she can meet her long lost sisters.

Thinking that her visit to this small town won't be too much hassle... she just got here after all, but she runs into a problem in the way of Noah (MMC) he and a group of men are standing around trying to figure out how to get a Tiger back in it's travel cage... thinking that he is just an irresponsible exotic animal owner she is cranky but says she can help she doesn't want the animal to be hurt and if she can help she will.

Cassie goes with Noah to discover that he and his mother run a animal sanctuary and they are not responsible for the current condition of the emaciated Tiger they are truly trying to help, only lack of funding has caused harder times for the facility. Cassie as helpful as she is jumps in with her "big city" ideas for funding which grumpy lumbersnack Noah doesn't like one bit... she's been here 2 minutes why is she trying to boss people around.

Cassie meets up with her half sisters and finds that at least one of them is happy to get to know her, she has planned to spend just a few days there so she can meet with her sisters and move on to see if she can get a job at a zoo in the big city where she grew up... only of course a wrench goes in her plans as she finds out that her parents are actually selling her childhood home and moving to Arizona to be near their biological daughter who is going to be having their first grandchild soon.

While Cassie's sister in her adoptive family is awesome, their parents have always been kind of neglectful towards her only reaching out when they need something from her... but they did help hire her a great attorney so she could fight for equal distribution of wealth when her marriage dissolved... so that's something.

At this point with no real place to go Cassie begins to think maybe she could settle down in Astor Hollow she has been working with some of the animals at the sanctuary while in town and by word of mouth has helped on another local farm she was made aware of a home for sale and that the last vet retired and his building is still available... She just wants something that's hers that her jerk of an ex can't take from her after he ruined not just 1 but two of her career opportunities in California, if she never heard from this man again it would be too soon.

Cassie buys the house right next door to Noah our grump, he is less than thrilled but over time they both realize they have underlying issues for both of their guarded behaviors her with her controlling ex who left her for another (younger) woman and ruined her chances of finding a job locally, and Noah has a past trauma involving the death of his best friend (which we find out more about later in the story)

Noah and Cassie continue to tip toe around their growing attraction towards each other while still bickering throughout... something is gonna give soon! 

Noah while he is a grump starts to soften when he finds out more of her past and he is so sweet, protective and caring towards her.  I love a good grumpy x sunshine romance and this one delivered.

Cassie and her sisters as they grow closer together she discovers some old journals of her mothers and wonder if these will be the key to solving who her birth father is since none was listed on her birth record.  

I loved the small town everyone in everyone's business (But in a loving/caring way) feel!  

This is a cute small town romance with some comedic elements, enemies to more story, there was a bit of a mystery involved and family tension, drama, and secrets  I appreciated that both lead characters had some flaws it made it more relatable.  Her adoptive parents really go out of their way to exclude Cassie when she drops everything for them it was great seeing her stand up for herself and create some true boundaries with them.

Some drama also occurs with the ex as we find out that not only did her ex take advantage of her and was straight up terrible during their marriage but he's still trying to find her even though he has supposedly "moved on"... love how Noah stands up for our girl right when she needs someone by her side. 

I really enjoyed this one and the narrator Emma Wilder did a great job with both the male and female voices.

Some negatives for this book:  

A bit repetitive at times with Noah and his brooding mood related to self loathing and pushing everyone away

for the "3rd act" break up I really felt that Noah had made a huge break through being honest with her and opening up and she kind of just shut him down because she was tired of not being put first... he just told you why he couldn't at that time.

The ending felt a bit on the rushed side, I did appreciate the bonus ending scene to kind of wrap things up better though.  

Have you read this one?  What did you think?

Alexandra St. Pierre: Neurovance

 

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/245305487-neurovance

Book Blurb:

FORGETTING, PERFECTED.

Are you tired of being haunted by memories that hurt you?


Drained from every heartbreak?

Sick of wallowing in every failure?

Exhausted from replaying every word you wish you could take back?

Now, you don’t have to!

the NeuroExtractor™

Precision-engineered by Neurovance – the NeuroExtractor™ can redefine your mind.

Erase the moments that weigh you down.


Keep the ones that make you whole.

Seamless.

Painless.

Permanent .


A cleaner mind for a brighter life.

Neurovance .

Remember only what matters.

**The NeuroExtractor™ is a registered innovation of Neurovance Laboratories.
 Some memories may be incompatible with deletion. Side effects include relief, renewal, and clarity. **

Tropes:

*12 recs by 12 friends book #3  *Dark Romance *M/M Romance *Techno romance 

*Science Fiction *Dystopia *Friends to More *near future *light stalking *almost 600 pages

*1 virgin MMC *hot rich MMC *insta lust/love *Spice *State Challenge California (Repeat)

*action *danger *hidden identity *betrayal 

*check your trigger warnings lots of them included in this read

Thoughts:

This book really makes you think about if the the technology existed to erase or change memories what would happen if someone who wanted to use it for nefarious purposes could really wreak havoc on whomever they tried to use it on.

I had this book on my TBR but moved it up my list when I asked 12 friends for a book recommendation.  This was #3 for selection and I really enjoyed this one.

The book is in 3 segments and follows the lives of 3 different people:

Segment 1: starts current day it is fast paced and the end of this section leaves with a big cliff hanger like I got to find out what's going on next.

Segment 2: is in the past and we find out more about our characters and what led to the situation that happened in the first segment... when it comes together it's like... ok I get it now.

Segment 3: back to Current day and follows our leads as they make a plan for their own future... but will they ever be safe? 

Jay and Sebastian are childhood friends and sons of the co-owners of Neurovance a tech company that is working towards innovative technology dealing with memory manipulation/erasing memories.  Jay's father has unfortunately passed away, but Sebastian's father is very much alive... and he's like one of those evil super villains who has a lair in a volcano.

Milo is a clumsy guy, often called nerdy in the past and has been bullied while in school but has made quite an impression even before walking onto company property on our other MMC (not going to go too much into this as I don't want to give too much away).  After a whirlwind relationship they are all in but outside forces intervene with plans of their own.  

Luke the leader of the company is very demanding and cruel power has gone to his head and he wants more, more of everything and he doesn't care who he crushes to get there... he also has enough money to pay for his problems to just go away and if someone gets hurt in the process so be it, he wants to sell the memory removal technology to the military who wants to use it to supposedly "help" soldiers... but we all know that isn't the end goal.

There were many twists in this book, drama, and love shown in many different forms and it was beautiful really (even if some of that love was fast... I guess if you know you know). 

 I might have teared up a bit towards the end it was giving all the emotions.

Negatives for this book:

-This book was very insta lust/love which I'm not usually a fan of, our M/M couple did have a bit of time to get to know each other (like a week) but went into a hot and heavy relationship very shortly after it was almost like our one lead was in love with the other one already based on his essay  which leads me to my next issue with this book.

-Milo is made out to be such a sweet, wholesome, young man... that he feels way way younger which led to me feeling uncomfortable reading the spicy times (this could just be a me thing) he was supposed to be in his early 20's but read as way younger, he was frequently saying things like "wowzers" and "Jeebus" (etc...) says "tummy" and makes "grabby hands" motions like a young child would and it didn't help that our other guy kept calling him his "sweet boy." 

-Back to the insta lust/love situation I just struggled with this since I really felt they didn't know each other well enough for this level of feelings so quickly the relationship just felt underdeveloped to me. 

-While over all I enjoyed this book I felt the middle section slowed way down for pacing with them playing video games together and eating breakfast... I'm glad that ya'll are having fun guys but I just think some of these sections could have been edited down so the book wasn't almost 600 pages.

-The application essay Milo wrote that had people in tears, while it was a sweet read it wasn't something that I would have thought would catch so much attention, people were talking about it like it was the Gettysburg Address

-Why are people always having spicy times during a crisis, I guess this is just my anxiety kicking in but if people are coming soon to attack you and it's truly an unknown estimate of time... you don't have time for that!  get yourselves ready!!  

Have you read this book?  what did you think?