ARC Review: Rev It Up by Julie Ann Walker



Rev It Up (Black Knights, Inc. #3)
by Julie Ann Walker

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble

E-book 352 pages

Goodreads

Blurb:
Soldier. Hero. Ladies’ Man. He’s the one who broke her heart...

Career soldier Jake “The Snake” Sommers has made a few mistakes in his life, but none so terrible as forsaking the only woman he’s ever loved. But he’s finally conquered his inner demon, the one that thirsted only for blood. So, now he’s back. And he’s not leaving without Michelle. Unfortunately, her enemy has other plans. Plans to see her dead.

Mother. Warrior. Lover. She’s the one he left behind...

Michelle Carter has never forgiven Jake for abandoning her all those years ago. Now he’s suddenly back, after she’s finally begun to make a life for herself. But her safe, orderly world is about be blown apart. With a psychotic Las Vegas mobster gunning for her, she has no choice but to turn to Jake. Only there’s more at stake than her life. As they all head for a showdown, something that was never meant to be revealed is suddenly thrown into the light. And with a secret this hot, there’s bound to be an explosion.
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Review:

Rev It Up was the book I was looking forward to reading in The Black Knights Inc. Series. The synopsis is the one I liked best. I love reading books with a hero and heroine having a past and the hero coming back to get his second chance at love.

The story felt rush and at times was predictable. It does not flow right.

I lost interest in Jake when he started crying in the beginning when Michelle told him she did not love him. But then I did start getting interested in him again when he did show a jealous side when she has a date with another man and when he went all caveman on her when he wanted to take her to his hotel to talk. Then again it did feel like these scenes were just there to show a Jealous, Alpha male hero. I did not feel his protectiveness around her at times. He is staying in her house to protect her. She wakes up in the middle of the night because she heard a noise. When she runs into Jake he is checking some box on top the refrigerator that belong to her deceased husband Preacher and Jakes best friend who died in combat while with him. She lets him know she heard a noise but instead of checking it out right away he is talking to her about the box he found then he goes and check out what caused the noise.

Michelle has a huge secret that I kind of figured out in the prologue. I was just waiting when that secret would come out and the hospital scene I knew that was going to be the moment. The hospital scene is pretty intense when Jake finds out.

I was happy to read less of the different dialogue that was in the first two books but still would of enjoyed it more if the story flowed better.

I do not think I will continue this series. The yummy covers and great synopsis on the back would of for sure got my attention and would of bought. I gave all three books in the series a chance and the writing style is not for me.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

　

ARC Review: In Rides Trouble by Julie Ann Walker

In Rides Trouble (Black Knights Inc. #2)

by Julie Ann Walker

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

E-book 323 pages

Purchase Links: Amazon Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Blurb:

Rebel with a Cause

Becky "Rebel" Reichert never actually goes looking for trouble. It just has a tendency to find her. Like the day Frank Knight showed up at her door, wanting to use her motorcycle shop as a cover for his elite special ops team. But Becky prides herself on being able to hang with the big boys-she can weld, drive, and shoot just as well as any of them.

Man with a Mission

Munitions, missiles, and mayhem are Frank's way of life. The last thing the ex-SEAL wants is for one brash blonde to come within fifty feet of anything that goes boom. Yet it's just his rotten luck when she ends up in a hostage situation at sea. Come hell or high water, he will get her back-whether she says she needs him or not.

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Review:

I really wanted to like In Rides Trouble and was hoping it was going to be better than Hell On Wheels, but it was not as good as I wanted it to be. I started off enjoying In Rides Trouble as it starts off with a bang and could not turn my e-reader fast enough, but then once the boat scene was done, Becky, Frank and Bill were home the story started dragging. It did pick back up towards the end.

Loved the prologue as it shows how the bike shop became Black Knights cover and the first time Frank and Becky meet. I love the fact that Becky is a kick butt heroine who can hold her own during a fight and loves motorcycles.

The Plot is great and loved how it is Just Frank and her brother Bill coming to Becky’s rescue and not the others. There is an edge of your seat moment during the boat scene.

I was not big on some of the characters descriptions. Franks biceps are compared to bowling bowls, his legs compared to a catchers thighs. The guy on the boat of the good guys is compared to Mr. Clean because of his bald head.

I knew the dialogue was going to be different as I read the first book in this series but at the beginning the dialogue seemed to be normal, then at some point it started reading like the first book. I was not big on reading “yepper”, “hafta“. “Cheese and Rice“ (I would of preferred just “What the heck“ or something else just not “Cheese and Rice“) and “Frickin ’Frackin’ great”. I do not mind words I do not know in a book as long as they flow with the writing. I had to look up a few words, and once I found out what they were I was just boggled at why not just write flamboyant instead of panache etc.. The words I had to look up were used by the same character(s) that are also using “yepper”, “hafta” etc.

The comparison to books, movies, actors, cartoons, objects are over used. I really felt I was going down memory lane. Feelings and actions were compared to Goonies, Johnny Depp, Oprah, Jack and the bean stalk, Dorothy, Sean Penn, Mighty Mouse and so much more. There was one comparison I had no clue what it was about.

Bill and Eve have a past together or something has happened I did not see coming. Things got pretty intense when he needed to talk to her to make sure she knows to keep quite about them rescuing them and not to blow their cover. Bills character is up in the air for me. I found him sexy in the beginning but then his over using of Pepto Bismol was what turned his sexiness off for me. He carries it around with him and it is not flattering.

I loved the bickering moments with Frank and Becky in Hell On Wheels. Was looking forward to reading their story and was disappointed. They really do not have a lot of face time together. More descriptions and inner thoughts than actual conversations. Frank does have his inner thought jealous moments and can be sweet. Loved how he would think of her by bringing her favorite must have dum-dum suckers.

I love the idea for this series with sounds like good plots and kick butt covers. But for me the dialogue does take away from the book. If some of the comparison to movies, books, actors, cartoons etc. were taken down a notch I think I would still be able to at least like it. I am still going forward with this series as I hope the next book with Jake will get my attention. I am curious enough to read his story.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

　
　
 

ARC Review: Hell On Wheels by Julie Ann Walker

Hell On Wheels (Black Knight, Inc. #1)

by Julie Ann Walker

Publisher:  Sourcebooks Casablanca

E-Book 380 pages

Purchase Links: Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Goodreads

Blurb:

He’s the bad boy she’s always wanted...

Nate “Ghost” Weller has loved Ali Morgan nearly half his life. But he’s done something so heinous he’s convinced she’ll never forgive him if she discovers the truth, so he keeps his feelings and his secrets to himself. Then she blows into town with a mother lode of bad guys on her tail and Nate can’t deny she’s in serious trouble. Unfortunately, he’s the only one who can help her.

She’s the good girl he’s kept at arm’s length...

Ali knows Nate as the most solemn, aloof man on the planet. Sadly, he’s also the sexiest. For years she’s avoided him, unable to stomach his dark scowls and brooding silences… especially when she secretly yearns for his touch. Now she must rely on him to save her from the malevolent shadows ghosting her every move. When the bullets explode, so does their passion. But can love really conquer all? Or are some things just too terrible to forgive?

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Review:

I love the concept of this series with Black Knight Inc. using a motorcycle shop as a cover. Hell On Wheels has some of my favorite things I love to read in a book, special ops heroes, motorcycles and a hero who has been in love with his best friend sister.  I was looking forward to this series with the amazing covers which I love, the idea for this series and Hell On Wheels synopsis sounded good but was a little disappointed with it. The plot idea is okay and liked it, but the dialogue and writing style  is different as it  does take a while to get use to it.

I felt bad for Nate “Ghost” Weller when his best friend died in a mission gone wrong and he had to tell his best friend parents and sister Ali that he died. Nate is suppose to be this Alpha Male brooding hero and he did have a few of those moments. The first half of the book he was just a Ghost, like his nickname, standing on the sidelines observing.

I did not feel any chemistry with Nate and Ali. There is more inner thoughts with them and not enough face to face time.

As for the secondary characters, Becky and Frank stole the spotlight. I was more interested in them. I could not wait for them to show up in a scene. I love reading a book with secondary characters but I do not want too much, I want little by little until I patiently wait for their story. All the characters have the same voice. Even though all the characters seem to have the same voice, I still enjoyed the bickering moments with Becky and Frank.

When I read any kind of romantic suspense I want more intensity. I felt this book was trying to have more humor in it. Do not get me wrong any book with some humor is good but it was not working in this book, especially with the use of words. It did not flow and I could not get any feelings on the characters. I love the idea of the motorcycle shop having a cat named Peanut. Who I just adored.

　

I will definitely read the rest of the series as Black Knight Inc shows a promising series and I look forward to seeing how the second book will be with Becky and Frank.

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Lusting For Covers #78

Lusting For Covers is a weekly meme hosted by TBQ's Book Palace.   Lusting For Covers is held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! Join in on the fun, head  over to TBQ's Book Palace and list your  Lusting For Covers  candidate

My Pick:

Rev It Up (Black Knights, Inc. #3)
by Julie Ann Walker
Release Date: Oct. 2012

Goodreads

Blurb:
Soldier. Hero. Ladies’ Man. He’s the one who broke her heart...

Career soldier Jake “The Snake” Sommers has made a few mistakes in his life, but none so terrible as forsaking the only woman he’s ever loved. But he’s finally conquered his inner demon, the one that thirsted only for blood. So, now he’s back. And he’s not leaving without Michelle. Unfortunately, her enemy has other plans. Plans to see her dead.

Mother. Warrior. Lover. She’s the one he left behind...

Michelle Carter has never forgiven Jake for abandoning her all those years ago. Now he’s suddenly back, after she’s finally begun to make a life for herself. But her safe, orderly world is about be blown apart. With a psychotic Las Vegas mobster gunning for her, she has no choice but to turn to Jake. Only there’s more at stake than her life. As they all head for a showdown, something that was never meant to be revealed is suddenly thrown into the light. And with a secret this hot, there’s bound to be an explosion.
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Why:

Who would not lust over this cover. Hell yeah this cover is SEXY!!! OMG a shirtless, tattoo, bad ass biker in leather pants...He is lick able...Just want to grab that sexy ass in his leathers. Now that I let that out, seriously love the cover. I am enjoying how the hero is showing his back with those sexy tatts. I wonder if he will be the baddest and sexiest.  All her covers are yummy but this is the only one that is shirtless and in leather.  This is a new series and author for me. I look forward to reading this series.  Her 1st book  Hell On Wheels  comes out Aug. 1, 2012 and 2nd book  In Rides Trouble comes out Sept. 1, 2012.

What is your Lusting For Cover candidate? Leave a comment with a link to the cover you are lusting  this week. Loved to see yours.

Lusting For Covers #76

Lusting For Covers is a weekly meme hosted by TBQ's Book Palace.   Lusting For Covers is held on Sunday, that allows bloggers to share their current cover obsession with fellow book lovers. It can be new, old, a reprint, or even a book that is not yet out-- it's all up to you! Join in on the fun, head  over to TBQ's Book Palace and list your  Lusting For Covers  candidate

My Pick:

Hell on Wheels (Black Knights, Inc. #1)
by Julie Ann Walker
Release Date: Aug. 1, 2012

Goodreads

Blurb:
He’s the bad boy she’s always wanted...

Nate “Ghost” Weller has loved Ali Morgan nearly half his life. But he’s done something so heinous he’s convinced she’ll never forgive him if she discovers the truth, so he keeps his feelings and his secrets to himself. Then she blows into town with a mother lode of bad guys on her tail and Nate can’t deny she’s in serious trouble. Unfortunately, he’s the only one who can help her.

She’s the good girl he’s kept at arm’s length...

Ali knows Nate as the most solemn, aloof man on the planet. Sadly, he’s also the sexiest. For years she’s avoided him, unable to stomach his dark scowls and brooding silences… especially when she secretly yearns for his touch. Now she must rely on him to save her from the malevolent shadows ghosting her every move. When the bullets explode, so does their passion. But can love really conquer all? Or are some things just too terrible to forgive?
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Why:
Anyone who knows me well you know I love all kinds of sexy shirtless covers. Even though this does not have a shirtless guy, I am still drooling over  the cover.  WOW is it sexy. I love how the hero model has a lean muscular body, holding his gun and wearing a tight fitted plain black T-shirt with his hung loose jeans. The way he is standing screams  powerful with alpha attitude. It is a bonus to have him standing in front of his motorcycle. I also like how the city is in the background. 

Love the cover more for the interesting blurb.  It has tons of stuff I like in books.  A Hero and Heroine that have feelings for each other in the past,  secrets, action and a hero that saves or has to protect the heroine from bad guys. I have never heard of this author but looks like some good reviews on goodreads. One reviewer wrote "Walker ranks right up there with authors like Lori Foster, Maya Banks, and Lora Leigh"  Lori, Maya and Lora are my fave authors so that is good enough reason for me to buy this book.

What is your Lusting For Cover candidate? Leave a comment with a link to the cover you are lusting  this week. Loved to see yours.