Electric Impulse (Love, Life and Sex #1) by Angel Hilson | An ARC | A Book Review

The author sent me a review request through the contact us link of this blog. I did agree to review the book and make room for this because this is an ARC. This is a story about a woman who have abandonment issues and who was dumped in front of a lot of people in a family gathering at his boyfriend's house. Then, she meets a real estate mogul in the club she works for and their attraction and chemistry is undeniable. Why this story is called Electric Impulse is explained in the book. It's about the flowers and bees. The real story why bees know which flowers are ripe with pollen is because of electric impulse. Not the flowers and the bees version that parents give to their children to explain sex. It's an electric field that somehow leads the bees to the flowers and then bees carry the nectar so the flowers could be fertilized. How electric impulse is relevant in the story? You will have to find out. I don't want to spoil anything.

So, Aria and Phoenix. These are the two main characters in this story. By the way, this is a steamy book, so read at your own risk. Anyway, these two cross paths and the attraction between them was very palpable. You can feel it in the air but Aria is already taken. Then, the unthinkable happened and her boyfriend dumped her. In some way, fate seems to intervene and these two meet again after that drunken behavior of Phoenix in the club. They hang out and the rest is obvious. 

It turns out, Aria has a lot of things that she did not know about Phoenix and when they were revealed, it was a total shock to her. She felt like she was being played. I too was surprised at the twists in the story. I never expected that Phoenix had secrets but then again, the story would be so boring without those curve balls right. They were just so unexpected that I was totally surprised and speechless, just like Aria when she found out.

The story is not exactly new but the way it was written was very engaging that I couldn't put it down. I had to finish it. There was this unseen force or electric field that urge me to just get on and finish the story. There's no stopping it. I also like that the story seems to backtrack. It did no start with the present but rather from six months ago when main character became undone or at a pivotal point in her life. At some point, some chapters of the present are inserted in between. It was a clever way of arranging the chapters which in a way explains why I was glued and just couldn't let go of the story. It gives me snippets of some thing that's about to happen but then doesn't exactly give me a clue on what it was. The anticipation building was absolutely done perfectly and was the key in making me finish the book in one go. The force was just irresistible. I was rendered powerless and can't do anything but succumbed to it until I reach the final pages. 

So, I give the story 4.5/5 bees. Again, the story is not new but the way it was written was doubtlessly refreshing. It was probably the best thing about the story. How the chapters were paced and arranged was so clever. It keeps the readers anticipating and in suspense but still keeping to the story. I was never at some point, confused or lost as to how the story goes even if the chapters were not done in order of occurrence. This isn't the first time I've seen it but it was the first that have I seen it done this way. I have read books before that was ordered differently but how it was done in this story was a different variation. Great job to the author for attempting that feat and had successfully done it. It was risky but was done perfectly and the timing of the events were not lost at all. 

I really liked what the author wrote below and I think if you want to curse someone this is the best way to do it. This curse will definitely give you good karma and will return to you a thousand fold, which of all the curses in the world you will not definitely feel sorry for. I would definitely want to be cursed this way too. Go on do it!  

I curse you with abundance that's so full and bursting at the seams, it allows you to be generous, kind and caring to those around you in need. 

I curse you with a happiness so deep and profound, that you beam, shining like the sun everywhere you go. 

And for every person that lays eyes on your brilliance, I curse them to be inspired to live as fully as you are.

-  Angel Hilson, Electric Impulse -

Thank you, Angel Hilson for the ARC. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the books in this series and find out what else do you have that will surprise me. Hopefully, you'd be able to maintain the same engagement that had me hooked on the story. I hope you could maintain the same pace and keep that electric field and have your readers finish your stories in one sitting. Congratulations on Electric Impulse!

And yes, I like this cover better than the other one.

Taken by Love (The Bradens at Trusty, Colorado #1) by Melissa Foster | A Book Review

Yes, this book is as hot as the cover. Parental guidance is advised. This is  for 18 years old and above. Taken by Love is a story of Luke Braden and Daisy Honey. It is set in Trusty, Colorado. A laid back farm and ranch town where gossip is the major past time but the people are also forgiving and have a strong sense of community.

This book described a typical small town setting. Almost everybody knows anyone and gossip spread around like wildfire. Where the story of your life can be the normal topic of dinner conversations. 

So far, of all the books of Melissa Foster that I have read, this one seemed to be the closest to real life. It mirrored a typical life in a small town.  It also mentioned about bullying and mean girls in high school. This book explained how a very smart and successful person can still be haunted by her insecure past. It made her doubt what she has accomplished and what she can do. This just exposed how scars from getting bullied can become a big part of a person. The experience was buried deep within but would only take a very light reminder to make it float back to the surface. This story is also an example that high school is not the end of the world. There is a totally whole new universe out there and those popular people in high school who thought they own the world, will be proven wrong.

I gave this book 4/5 stars. I wish this book was for young adults. There is a very good lesson to be learned here. Bullying is a menace. We have to keep educating people until it gets through their thick skull. I was bullied too in grade school that is why I can relate to books about this subject. I praise authors who make it an effort to talk about this giant white elephant that is not only an issue in the US but all over the world. Bullying has nothing to do with culture, it has to do with each individual person and what is happening at home. Most bullies are often ignored or spoiled at home. They lashed out at people they can boss around in school to assert some sort of control in their life.

We have silly parades and gossip that runs thick as rivers. But to those who really know Trusty, they realize that this small town is also known for forgiveness, and community.

- Melissa Foster, Taken by Love -

Other books by Melissa Foster:

Game of Love (The Remingtons #1)

Seized by Love: Luke Ryder (The Ryders #1)

Chasing Brynn (A Tempting Novel #2) by Agela Corbett | ARC | A Book Review

I started this blog January of this year. I had been planning to do this but never really gotten the chance to do it. There were a lot of things that got in the way which were more pressing. And I am thankfully that I am now able to do this. Reading books has always been my way of de-stressing. When real life seems to be so difficult and frustrating that it pulls me apart from different directions, books have kept me sane. Now, blogging serves as an outlet for me to sort of vent out my thoughts and feelings, especially when no one seems to care about my opinions or how I feel. At least, here I can say what I want or feel. Like thinking out loud.

Blogging is a subject in Chasing Brynn by Angela Corbett. Brynn, the main character in the story is a Psychology Major whose focus of study is sex. She wants to become a sex therapist. After hearing two girls talking about guys and body parts in a coffee shop, Brynn came up with an idea to write a blog. Not just any blog, but one giving advice on sex and all things relating to it. The blog is such a hit that people are curious and are starting to speculate as to who is behind it.

This book talks about sex and I am surprised that I was not in any way uncomfortable or scandalized at all. I think it was because it was written in a way of an advice. It felt like reading a sex advice column in a high-end magazine. It also helped that Brynn, the one giving the advice is an expert on the subject, both in academics and experience. I guess, it came out a lot like sex education in a more individualized way. A little less embarrassing compared to a lecture in a classroom or in an auditorium. The best thing is being able to ask questions and stay anonymous. 

The book also talked about finding a person who loves you for everything that you are. Not for what you can do in bed. Someone who would want you not for your looks but the whole you, with all your strengths and insecurities. It may seem fun to engage in meaningless sex but it is way greater if it is done out of love and with the person you trust with your heart.

I give the book 4/5 stars. 

Fear is nothing but deprivation that holds you paralyzed. No one should be chained there.

- Angela Corbett, Chasing Brynn -

Thank you again Angela Corbett for the ARC.