Loving You is Easy by Wendy S. Marcus

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WARNING: This book contains scenes not appropriate for younger audiences.

Brooke is the perfect politician’s daughter, always looking out for her father’s political aspirations, even when it’s not easy. Shane is a blue-collared soldier who’s got his GED and when he’s injured feels as if he has little to offer Brooke. Especially when he’s done nothing but cause her problems by having private photos of Brooke leaked. Now he’s trying his best to fix things but Brooke is hurt, and she wants nothing more than to ignore him. But Shane can help her, he’s just got to convince her of that. Find the official description on Goodreads.

I honestly didn’t expect to see any of the letters between the two, much less the two that started their whole relationship. So that was a pleasant surprise. Especially because we got to see how they each see themselves. As well as getting to see a different style of writing. And the letters also allowed us to see how their relationship started and why.

I could honestly empathize with Brooke but didn’t feel her emotions as strongly as I’ve felt character’s emotions in other books. But it was still good to see her realistic, emotional reactions. Although I think she should have given Shane a bit more of a hard time.

We’re also given Shane’s point of view, which is extremely helpful to understand him as a character and why he can be a grouch or insisting on keeping the relationship between Brooke and he strictly away from the boyfriend/girlfriend position. It allows us to understand this reasoning and I don’t know about him but I was definitely calling him every name in the book for his decision and his reasoning. I feel that Shane was much more alive to me. The author clearly gives him several things that soldiers may deal with after coming home, especially injured, not that I know much more than what I’ve read or seen in movies or on tv. But it seemed like she kept things in line with those portrayals I’ve seen or read.

I felt a real frustration with Brooke’s parents, more so Brooke’s mother after we actually get some face time with her father. And throughout the book I felt some frustration, annoyance at the stupidity of some characters *cough cough* Shane as well as pride. While I don’t feel like I fully immersed into Loving You is Easy, I feel as if I got close to that level.

The ending was beautiful and I loved it. I feel like Wendy S. Marcus really hit it out of the park with the ending and it really brought things together nicely.

While Loving You is Easy was a good read, I didn't feel as if I could enter the book as easily or as deeply as some books I've read. It’s definitely a good read and one that deserves a chance at least. Loving You is Easy released December 9th, 2014.

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Risky Business by Melissa Cutler

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"And then she shut the door in his face, locked it, and walked away before he had a chance to spew more ugly French curses at her or cast any more angry bear glares her way." -Melissa Cutler, Risky Business

Allison is left struggling to provide for her daughter when her husband is arrested. However she's been a stay-at-home wife and hasn't any skills she can put to use in a real job. So when she gets Cloud Nine, a boat rental company, she can't say no...even though she's deadly afraid of the water. Theo was poised to buy Cloud Nine from Allison's ex-husband so when Allison arrives, he's noticeably annoyed.  But when they get to know each other, can they make it work? Or will Allison and Theo constantly butt heads? Find the official description on Goodreads.

I'm just going to say this now, but I loved this book! It was an amazing start to what seems like an amazing series, and I can't wait for the other books to be released.

The introduction we get to Allison certainly isn't her best moment, but it gives readers a look into the real Allison, and it's easy to fall in love with her. She's determined to support her daughter even if she has to face a fear that she's held for a very long time and is debilitating to her. She doesn't give up and it's great to see her grow and make friends throughout the book. Especially because it seems throughout the book as if she's creating a family, not related by blood but family all the same. And that creation of close bonds was also an amazing thing to witness as readers read through Risky Business.

Theo was a jerk occasionally and grumpy but we're given insights into him that allows us to see past this tough exterior into the real Theo. He has his reasons and his reasons for not wanting Allison there are solid and most importantly real. It was great to see that his reactions were that of any person who was close to achieving a dream and that is convinced they are going to lose everything. This struggle throughout the book was amazing to see and watch. Not to mention, he's Canadian. Us Canadians gotta stick together! And I got to use some of my French skills(although no worries, most of the times it's translated anyway. I just wanted to show off for myself, haha.)

Then there's the fact that Theo has a war wound but not one commonly thought of when thinking of war injuries. He has a mental injury and that can be just as debilitating and difficult to recover from as a physical one. Melissa Cutler definitely thought outside of the box with this injury and I was surprised but liked that she did so.

The drama was there but it wasn't in your face. It was more of a subtle thing. Although there were a few things that were obvious, many of the things were just smaller things that put together build upon each other to create one big, bad situation.

Melissa Cutler also used Risky Business to begin to make connections with the future books of the Bomb Squad series. There's one or two things that if you've read the synopsis' for the other books you can see are leading into those books. And it was fun to try and spot them.

Risky Business is a marvelous beginning to a new series by Melissa Cutler. It is being released August 19th, and I suggest that you go buy it!

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Red Julie by J.A. Whiting

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"She thought about how the accident victim had clutched at her, pulling on her jacket, and she shuddered." -J.A. Whiting, Red Julie

Olivia doesn't believe her aunt has died of a heart attack. And when she finds herself discovering a car accident with a rather strange encounter she's even more certain that her aunt was killed. But who did it? And why? They don't appreciate Olivia looking around and the question remains. Will she survive? Or will she become another victim of the killers? Find the official description on Goodreads.

At first the beginning of the book confused me. It wasn't what I was expecting and I didn't understand why it was there. But it didn't take long to realize that it was important and it would remain important throughout the book. 

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