Review: The Invitation by Adriana Locke

The Invitation by Adriana Locke
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was provided an ARC of this book via the author and Valentine PR, all opinions are my own.

This was hilarious! I love a good enemies to lovers, and this did not disappoint. Ripley and Georgia have known each other since senior year of high school. Something happened that made them fight like cats and dogs every time they see each other, which is fairly often as their best friends are engaged. Georgia's best friend needs a female lead in a reality dating show when the actors she hired pull out at the last minute. Unfortunately, Ripley has been slated as her date to film the pilot. Both of them are too stubborn to back out, and they both have their reasons for wanting to make the show a success. As they "fake" date for the cameras and actually talk to each other for once, they finally get to know each other and begin to wonder why they have been fighting all these years.

This had great banter and it was so fun getting to know Ripley and Georgia. They both have some baggage to work through, but they are there for each other. They also both get to the bottom of why they started fighting all the time back in high school. I always appreciate when couples actually talk about what is bothering them and support each other.

As with all of the books in the Brewer family series, you can read this as a standalone. If you want to get to know the rest of the family, I highly recommend reading the other books in the series and to understand what is going on with their dad as those events have taken place in other books and are only mentioned briefly here.

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Review: Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand

Song of Ash and Moonlight by Claire Legrand
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

I was provided an audio ARC of this book via Netgalley, all opinions are my own.

This installment follows Farrin, who if you have read book 1 you will remember as the oldest of the Ashborne sisters.  The first book followed Gemma, and if the trilogy follows this trend I expect the next book to follow Mara, the third sister.  That being said I don't feel like you can really read this as a stand alone, you really need to read the first book in the series, as it sets up events in this book and introduces you to many of the characters.

This was hard for me to get through as the main character was very hard for me to connect with.  She was so angry all of the time.  The audiobook is just shy of 23 hours, so you really need someone you can root for.  I felt like she never wanted to solve the problems and only wanted to whine and wallow in her own issues and block everyone from moving forward.  She never actually had any suggestions to move the plot forward and always acted emotionally, admitting that she let her emotions get the best of her in every situation.  That being said this is very romance heavy and I found that the romance between Farrin and Ryder lacked chemistry.  She is always so mean and distrusting of him that I found it hard to believe their attraction and affection.

I liked the plot and the setting, but the length of the book and the lack of connection with the characters really had me putting this book down more often than I wanted to pick it up.  I really enjoyed the fantasy elements when we get them, the creatures and lore are really unique in this series.  Much like the first book this is more character driven and there are long periods where the characters are interacting or having inner monologues and the plot isn't advancing.  Then there are periods of fast paced action where alot happens all at once and you learn quite a bit of information.  I'm interested to see how the series concludes as I actually enjoy the plot, and if Mara is the focus I think she will make and interested main character.  

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