Book Review: One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

February 3, 2015 by Ana

One of the Guys

One of the Guys by Lisa Aldin

Date of publication: February 10th 2015

Publisher: Spencer Hill Press

Goodreads: “Tomboy to the core, Toni Valentine understands guys. She’ll take horror movies, monster hunts and burping contests over manicures. So Toni is horrified when she’s sent to the Winston Academy for Girls, where she has to wear a skirt and learn to be a lady while the guys move on without her.
Then Toni meets Emma Elizabeth, a girl at school with boy troubles, and she volunteers one of her friends as a pretend date. Word spreads of Toni’s connections with boys, and she discovers that her new wealthy female classmates will pay big money for fake dates. Looking for a way to connect her old best friends with her new life at school, Toni and Emma start up Toni Valentine’s Rent-A-Gent Service.
But the business meets a scandal when Toni falls for one of her friends–the same guy who happens to be the most sought-after date. With everything she’s built on the line, Toni has to decide if she wants to save the business and her old life, or let go of being one of the guys for a chance at love.”

Review

*I received this book from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for a honest review*

I know some people have been having some issues getting into this book or liking the character according to some reviews I’ve read but for me One of the Guys is one of those cutesy books you’ll love to curl with on the sofa on those horrible rainy days. It was actually king of perfect. One of the guys is a coming of age book that will make you squirm sometimes because you just want to help the main character but mostly you’ll be smiling and grinning like an idiot.

One of the guys centers around Tonya Valentine, also known as simply Toni (McRib for her closest friends). She is a tomboy and has 3 best friends, all boys: Micah (Loch), Luke (Ollie) and Justin (Cowboy). They all have nicknames and throughout the book call themselves like that. They became friends after sighting what seemed like a monster on their town’s lake and have been since them gone “hunting” at time, trying to see and catch on film the legendary creature. When Toni feels like the group is destined to grow apart she wants to prolong what feels to her like their last night together. That’s when things take a wrong turn and land her in an all girls academy. There she meets Emma and after an incident they start their “rent-a-gent” business. And that’s where I’m ending my little repeat of the summary because you should just go read the book.

When I started reading the book and on the sixth page of the copy I had read “A massive belch escapes me.” I knew I would love what was coming. I enjoyed immensely Toni’s character. She never stopped being who she was. There were times she felt a little out of place but she never wanted to change herself. Emma tried and she did go with what Emma said sometimes (Halloween costumes and such) but inside, she was always Toni. During the book we find out Toni’s dad is dead and that she doesn’t like change. Some people might have some issues with the way Toni acts but I understand her: she likes the way things are and is afraid of the future, of what might change.

What really bothered me was Ollie’s attitude towards Toni. He was caught alongside Toni doing the prank that made Toni go to the Winston Academy. He blamed her throughout the whole book because of it. Now, come on! He wanted in, he could have done the same as Loch and Cowboy and just watch but he wanted to try it as well. He is as to blame as Toni. She might have given the idea but he chose to do it so to hell with him. I really liked when Toni finally hit him, I wanted to do so myself.

Now now, onto the important stuff: the romance! I loved loved loved Toni and Loch interaction. They are so cute and dense! They like each other but don’t have the nerve to do something. Eventually Loch makes the first move which makes Toni realise she actually loves him. GUYS THIS IS SO CUTE BELIEVE ME! Loch is kind of perfect.

I just wanted to know more about what happens in the future: how they deal with the relationship when they go to college and how the group’s dynamic is. Apart from that this is one of those fluffy books you’ll stare up to and reread when you feel down. One of the guys will definitely make you feel better and rise your spirits!

Favourite part: “‘I love you too,’ I blurt out. His mouth hangs open. I’ve stunned the poor guy.”

PS: Love the cover, so peaceful and relaxed!

4 Chibis

Book Review: College Bound by Lilia Ford

February 2, 2015 by sofyy1102

College Bound by Lilia Ford

Published: 13th October 2014

Publisher: Liliaford Romance LLC

Playlist: Crossfade – Cold; Cranberries – Zombie

Goodreads: ““I think you would be right for a position with quite specific requirements that would be hard to fill otherwise.”

After a vicious fight with her stepbrother and guardian, Natalie storms out of the family McMansion, never imagining that would be the last time she’d be allowed in the house. A string of truly rotten decisions follows, until she finds herself suspended from school, friendless, broke, and camping out at the convenience store where she works. Worst of all, her college applications are due!

Thanks to a helpful teacher and her own stupendous brilliance she manages to get into her top choice college. Unfortunately, dealing with the financial aid forms proves to be too much for her supersmarts and she is about to lose her spot because she cannot get the money together to pay the deposit.

Enter Gareth Boyd, an old family friend with an indecent proposal that will pay for everything—if she can meet his price.

Warning: This story features an eighteen-year-old heroine with a foul mouth and horrible judgment, a criminally unscrupulous man intent on taking advantage of her, and multiple scenes of bondage, spanking, ménage, and one potentially triggering scene of attempted rape. The novel is an erotic fantasy in which characters manipulate or disregard notions of proper consent in ways that would never be acceptable in real life. Adult Readers Only”

Review:

*I received a copy of this novel from NetGalley for an honest review.*

I was pretty uncertain about reading this book, but since Netgalley sent it to me (and I have to admit that I needed to read something spicy), I decided to give it a try.

Thank God I did it. I’m not a big fan of Erotica books, they are usually boring, tacky, silly and always about sex, sex, the romance is rushed and there’s never a real story behind it.

This book is my guilty pleasure, so what? Sue me. I loved this book and I won’t go back on my word.

At first I wasn’t very keen… the main character, Natalie is an idiotic, rude teenage girl, I didn’t like her. Even now I’m not sure I like… actually I hated all the characters on this book. But damn guys, this book is so utterly good, it pulls you in, compels you into reading it until the last damn page.

Natalie is an 18-year-old girl who get’s thrown out of her house by her bastard of a step-brother because someone published on the internet a video of her making out with two guys (this was the first thing I didn’t like about her.). It’s not that I don’t agree with women being with two guys, I mean, come on! These days guys have three-ways with two girls and no one bats an eye, so why can’t women do the same if they want to? The thing I didn’t agree with, was Natalie doing it in public. Even if she was with only a guy or girl I still think it’s gross to go at it in public, privacy is good, go for it, do it in private.

Anyway, after that, Natalie practically becomes homeless, until an a friend f hers, Gareth makes her a very “interesting” proposition. He wants her to become a love slave, not only to him, but also to Jamie, another really “interesting” dude, in exchange he will pay her college fees (Brown University).

The thing about this book is that all characters are fucked up in their own way. Even now I don’t know what is the thing about this book, only that I loved it and I want to forget it so I can read it again.

I must tell you that this book’s sex scenes are all disturbing if you’re used to reading stuff of love and flowers (me!!!), I’m used to more vanilla situations, where I can picture myself being the main character surrounded by love and sunshine. *hahaha-hardy-har-har*

Even if I couldn’t relate to Natalie or her situation, let’s called it situation cause it’s seems nicer, I was still able to read this book without wanting to shut down my computer and scream bloody murder.

Another thing I loved about College Bound was the writer. Lilia Ford writes wonderfully, not to mention that she is hilarious!!!

I couldn’t hold back my laughter in certain parts of the book, which scared my brother, because it’s almost 3 am and the house is super quiet. Have I mentioned that my laughter is kind of creepy? No? Okay, now you know it.

Guys, read this book if you’re into spicy romances. That’s all I can tell you.