Monday, December 30, 2019

Every New Year (Love at Last, #1) by Katrina Jackson Pre-Release Day Review


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Every New Year (Love at Last, #1) by Katrina Jackson
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When Ezra Posner was eighteen, he met Candace Garret and fell in love. 

When Candace met Ezra, she instantly knew he was the boy for her. 

In the middle of their first year at college, Candace and Ezra share a clumsy kiss that should have been the beginning of an epic love affair, but it's not. Instead, it begins a nearly two-decade journey of never quite getting the timing right for love. For almost every New Year's Eve after, Candace and Ezra stumble into one another's arms, but can’t manage to hold onto each other for more than a single night. They live with the expectant giddiness of being able to spend New Year's Eve with the person they love, always hoping that next year will be their year. Until eventually, their annual trysts ruin even the friendship that held them together. 

As 2019 ends, Candace and Ezra are both running away from their broken hearts. They board a plane hoping to finally move on from their relationship, only to run right into each other's arms. 

Every New Year is a friends-to-lovers romance that takes nearly twenty years to bloom. It's also the first in the Love At Last series, where happily ever afters might take some time to mature, but they're always worth the wait. 
It shouldn't be surprising to my long-time followers/readers that I loved another Katrina Jackson novel. If you're new here, welcome to the fandom. 

'Every New Year', is by far one of Katrina Jackson's most revealing novels to date. There were no holds barred on the emotional, angst part of this novel. There is so much push and pull that you want to knock the two character's heads together, or at least force them into a room together until they work out their differences. 

'Every New Year' centers on Candace and Ezra, two seemingly different people with one thing in common: their burning adoration/love for each other. It only took them 18 years to figure it out. 

I am a fan of angst/emotion in novels. I don't mind being taken through the wringer. But if this is not your thing, I'd pass on it. This novel is angst personified, but the ending is so satisfying.

I think this is one of Jackson's best novels to date, and I thought nothing would top Pink Slip, but here we are. The book is revealing, patient, and raw. It's unlike anything I've seen her do before. Though the inspiration was not a happy one, it does whatever she set out to do. It contains all the elements you've grown to know and love from Katrina; if you're already a long-time reader. There's still the erotic sex she's well known for, and the softness, and respect the characters always seem to have for each other.

This book is soft yet hard; it's gentle yet rough. It's love in all the ways that matter. Every New Year is a well-written, knockout of a novel; be prepared for the emotional one-two punch.

Monday, December 2, 2019

The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole Pre-Release Day Review


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The A.I. Who Loved Me by Alyssa Cole
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Listening Length: 5 hours and 18 minutes

A captivating romantic comedy with a thrilling sci-fi twist by award-winning author Alyssa Cole!

Trinity Jordan leads a quiet, normal life: working from home for the Hive, a multifunctional government research center, and recovering from the incident that sent her into a tailspin. But the life she’s trying to rebuild is plagued by mishaps when Li Wei, her neighbor’s super sexy and super strange nephew, moves in and turns things upside down. Li Wei’s behavior is downright odd—and the attraction building between them is even more so. When an emergency pulls his aunt away from the apartment complex, Trinity decides to keep an eye on him…and slowly discovers that nothing is what it seems. For one thing, Li Wei isn’t just the hot guy next door—he’s the hot A.I. next door. In fact, he’s so advanced that he blurs the line between man and machine. It’s up to Trinity to help him achieve his objective of learning to be human, but danger is mounting as they figure out whether he’s capable of the most illogical human behavior of all…falling in love.

*A special thanks to the author for this copy of this audible original.*


I'll start this review off by saying I don't like audiobooks. I know, I know. Why did I agree to listen to this? Well, for one it's Alyssa Cole, how do you tell her no? But I knew from seeing it around on Twitter that this book had a dynamic cast. I mean, Regina Hall? Yes, please. I was not let down.

Trinity Jordan lives in this high-functioning building that is nothing short of being just like the Jetsons. If you don't know who the Jetsons are, you're too young to be talking to me. Lol. I tease. Anyway, Trinity works for the Hive, or she did? Life is something else, and it gets crazier when her neighbor and friend's nephew, Li Wei, moves in next door.

Not only is he hot, but he's also an A.I.

I wasn't expecting to enjoy this story or to have as much fun with as I did. In a range of the audiobooks, I've listened to, albeit a short time period (I don't think I've given fictional audiobooks more than about 10-20 mins before I shut it off. It's the voices!)—this is upper-tier audio-book quality. Between the cast which is amazing by the way and the sound effects, this was an all-encompassing auditory experience. The production of this audiobook is outstanding. They really took care to make this story as realistic as possible and cheers to them for that. 

The story itself is engaging, funny, sexy and thrilling; particularly the end bit. I thought the sexy times between A.I. and human would be awkward, but it's both sexy and endearing. Cole's attention to detail in this section was anything short of amazing. 

Her voice is solid, and it really transcends the page. Regina did her due diligence to Trinity's character and I have to stan.

I highly recommend this. You will not be sorry. Two thumbs up.