matutinereviews

[matutinereviews]

2017 better be nice to my mom

[matutinereviews]

May you find the book that brightens your day.

[matutinereviews]

Hello Tumblr, My name is Lenny

Wow, I finally did it. I got myself together and created a blog for book reviews.

Now if you know anything about me, you know that I have a slight(okay, EXTREME) reading addiction. I’ve been in need of some motivation in order to get myself together and create a blog to post book reviews. I plan to review some books from NetGalley and similar, and some that I’ve bought or gotten from the library.

Get Ready for this: ABOUT ME

I love taking my dog on car rides. He is 6 years young and may just be the love of my life. His name is Echo and he is my king tbh.

I’ve got the best of both worlds cause I also have two cats. There’s Crusoe:

and Molochai:

While my pets take up the majority of my life, I’m also in college. I’m not really sure what degree I want to pursue, but I’m thinking maybe something in Criminal Justice & Criminology or Criminalistics or Forensics or a whole bunch of other things that sound cool. I lose myself in graphic design and would be happy doing it for the rest of my life.

I also love baking. If you need a killer recipe for Pumpkin White Chocolate Cookies, hit me up ✌🏻

[matutinereviews]

Review: Hilo: A Stepbrother Sports Romance

Hilo: A Stepbrother Sports Romance by Claire Donovan

My rating: 4 of 5 stars New Adult Romance *Mature Content* 156 pages Summer Wind Publishing LLC Available Now Source: ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honesty review

THE STORY (from Goodreads) Maybe there is something special between Adam and me, but that doesn't mean we're guaranteed a happily ever after. Love and romance aren't always forever. *** Brooklyn *** I'm a spirited, athletic community college student from New Jersey, traveling to attend my mother's Hawaiian wedding to a wealthy land developer. If I meet a hunky man who piques my interest while I'm on the beach or in the pool, I might just take a chance... You know the rest... when I hook-up with a gorgeous bronze surf instructor any caution remaining in me drops straight to the bottom of the sea... I'm an eager audience for his sweet words. I'm convinced he adores my show-stopping red hair and my unsinkable style, on both land and water... His lagoon blue eyes bedazzle me so completely that the word regret loses all meaning for me... Until later that same night when I discover his father is the man marrying my mother... And that he's escorting a tall gorgeous blond in a strapless sheath dress to the rehearsal dinner... And that he still has enough brass in his balls to hit on me at the wedding reception...! When I feel his molten arms around my waist, my blood heats up so quickly that I vent steam whiter than his dinner jacket into the blue night... Just who does my new stepbrother Adam Seabrook think he is? He even makes it impossible for me to scream at him in frustration. How can I, when our lips are locked together as tight as a chowder clam? My best solution is to put a wide ocean between us. But my plan isn't dialing down my summery heat even one degree... My heart argues: Give Adam a chance. My head answers: No stepbrother deserves a first chance, much less a second...

MY THOUGHTS Hilo is set in Hawaii, following a forbidden romance between Brooklyn and Adam. Brooklyn, from New Jersey, travels to Hawaii to attend her mother's wedding. Before the wedding, she has a run-in with Adam and his best friend, Dean-O. They chemistry between them is sizzling, even from the very start. In just the span of one day, they connect on an unbelievable level through put-put golf and a steamy surf lesson, which is cut short by an encounter with a dangerous sea creature. That night is when they discover that they are soon-to-be related. Adam is perfectly fine with this revelation, but Brooklyn has a harder time coming to terms. Throughout the book, Brooklyn opens her heart for Adam and the two overcome for than they bargained for. I'll admit, I'm a sucker for these taboo kinds of stories. I love the cliché forbidden romance, but this one was far from cliché. Adam had substance. He was funny, charming, driven, and--my favorite--he wasn't a jerk. I also loved how Brooklyn wasn't some hopeless girl that fell to her knees to the first guy that shows her attention; she has a backbone, which a lot of heroines lack. There are a few steamy scenes, so beware of that when you're looking at this book. They were very well written and weren't too erotic. The perfect balance between romantic and sexy. *Beware of Spoilers* Now some critique: 1. There were some flat (minor) characters thrown in there that just didn't seem to have a purpose. I loved Dean-O, with his humor and tendency to stare at Brooklyn's chest, but he had an actual purpose. There were some characters like Ryan and others from her internship that didn't help move the story along and didn't really belong. 2. Adam and Brooklyn's relationship was underdeveloped. It wasn't abnormal that the beginning of their relationship was a whirlwind, but for Brooklyn to believe she was in love after a few days? That didn't hook me. It's a valid concept, but wasn't built upon enough to fit in the story. There also isn't a lot of development throughout the rest of the book. I was put off a little when they are engaged and with-child within 4 months. It didn't feel like their relationship was at that point yet. Their relationship was written well enough that it didn't frustrate me to the point of putting the book down, but there were a few eye rolls. 3. I also would've liked to know more about Hilo, SQUID, and the conflict surrounding it. This was very rushed towards the end, fit into only a few pages. This would benefit from being built upon in order to provide a full understanding of what's going on and why. (I LOVED the fight scene between Brooklyn and Isabelle when they're in the office.) *End of Spoilers* Overall, this was a quick read and I loved it. Some of the content could've been better, but was pleasant to read through anyways. This is the first book I've read by Claire Donovan and I'm excited to read more by her (I'm very excited to see that Hilo is a part of a series, which I plan to read). Rate: 5/5 View all my reviews