Tori’s Mini Reviews: 

Need Me by Tessa Bailey
Romance Contemporary
RATING: C

The second story in Bailey’s Broke and Beautiful series centers around a student, her professor, and the forbidden love affair. Similar to book one, the storyline is engaging with a solid set up, strong characters, and bits of humor and heartbreak. While somewhat engaging, I didn’t connect with this couple so well. I found Honey to be selfish in her objective to seduce Ben. Not until the end does the fact he could be fired for her actions even enter her mind. Ben wasn’t exactly a prince either. His childhood soured him on relationships; especially ones that had the potential to destroy everything he has worked for. He lays a lot of his baggage at Honey’s feet. I also found his demeanor unsettling as he blew extremely hot and cold with Honey and says things that didn’t seem to jive with his persona. A melodramatic conflict pushes the couple towards their HEA, making me feel a little manipulated. Regardless, I look forward to book three because hints of Russell’s story look to be very interesting.

 Unrequited by Jen Frederick
Romance Contemporary
RATING: B

Fans of this series have waited impatiently for Finn’s story. Book three left readers sadly watching Finn’s slow meltdown into alcohol and women after his father passes away. Sweet and achy is a good way to describe this NA. Addiction, enabling, and the constraints we place on ourselves in regards to family are the key points that our protagonists are forced to reckon with as Finn finds himself attracted to his ex girlfriend’s younger sister. A delicious romance brews slowly as various subplots erupt to flesh out the on going issues faced by this couple both individually and as a couple. An interesting  turn of events places the main conflict in sharp relief, forcing a choice to be made. This series continues to mature both emotionally and physically and I look forward to the next on the series.

Center Mass by Lani Lynn Vale
Romance Suspense
RATING: C+

The first in a spin off of Vale’s The Heroes of the Dixie Wardens MC series bring us the boys of the Kilgore Swat Team and the women who bring them to their knees. Fans will enjoy seeing Tru’s sister, Reese, and Bailey’s brother, Luke, front and center in a romance suspense that pushes some boundaries reality wise but brings it home with the humor, dominant alpha men, and sensuality that Vale is known for. Reese and Luke are both in Kilgore healing from broken hearts. A chance meeting opens the door to a new life for the both of them if only their respective exes would move on already. Erotic sexual scenes blends well with the storyline as Vale builds the romance. Plenty of action and suspense round out the extremely convoluted conflict which I admit confused me. There was too many plot twists to keep up and by the end I was a little shell shocked. Regardless, Vale continues to entertain me with her strong heroines and heroes who above and beyond for the people they love.

The Revenge Playbook by Rachael Allen
Contemporary/YA
RATING: C

Allen’s debut teen contemporary  addresses the hero like worship that is gifted to high school football players and the social and emotional ramifications of that worshiping attitude. The yearly scavenger hunt is held at this small high school to usher out the senior players and haze the incoming ones has four new players who have decided to teach these players, the school, and the town itself a lesson they will never forget. Told in the first person, each girl’s POV is told in alternating chapters, explaining what happened to lead to this moment and how they each chose to deal with what happened to them. Emotionally light with bits of humor and romance to offset the underlying seriousness of the storyline; the voice in here is decidedly young and it shows through the girls dialogue and actions. I did find some aspects unbelievable. For example, some of Peyton’s school work is more appropriate for middle school then high school. Overall it was good though the scattered layout and overall youthful tone took a toll on this reader and made it hard to stay engaged.