21.5.18

Sabotage, Scotland, and Romance: Fair Game & Under a Storm-Swept Sky (Reviews!)


Fair Game by Taylor Lunsford
Release Date: April 23, 2018 
Publisher: Entangled: Amara
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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In her designer shoes and power suits, Vivien Monroe couldn’t be more out of place in the video game company she inherited from her eccentric father. Not only does she have to sort out her father’s last request and deal with a younger sister she barely knows, she has to go toe-to-toe with her father’s protégé—a man who makes her think about the last thing she should be thinking about right now.

With his thick-framed glasses and graphic tees, Liam Hale is the exact opposite of what she needs right now. His relaxed, out-of-the-box attitude reminds her too much of her father’s more exasperating quirks, but his dedication and quiet stubbornness begin to drive her crazy in a completely different way.

All Vivien wants is to get back to her life in New York, but someone is stealing the company’s best game ideas, and an FBI agent is sniffing around. She’ll save her father’s legacy for her sister and then she’s out of there—if she can leave Liam behind.

Review: 

I requested Fair Game on a whim. I hadn't heard anything about Taylor Lunsford and/or Fair Game before, but the synopsis had me intrigued. A video game company seemed like a unique setting, and I wanted to know more about the FBI agent. Why were they snooping around?! 

The Result? I can't believe I waited so long to read Fair Game, as it is SO GOOD! Addicting as well as fast paced, Fair Game introduces not only a swoony romance but also strong, kick-a$$ characters AND an exciting, suspenseful mystery! 

On the surface, Vivien seems like the ultimate ice queen. She's cold and uninviting. She doesn't want to make small talk and, most importantly, she doesn't want to dwell on the past. While I wanted her to give her family and the company a chance, I could completely understand her actions. I would've been just as angry as Vivien was if I was in her shoes. It wasn't cool what her father did after her mother died, pulling away from Vivien while in the process becoming closer and closer to her sister. I think it would be easy to develop resentment. As the book progresses, however, Vivien begins to loosen up (thanks to Liam!), and I adored the "new" Vivien. She was just as tough and fearless as before, but she now had some more heart, some more compassion. She focused on fixing past relationships with her sister and best friend and she even dove into some new relationships. It wasn't an instantaneous fix, and that's what made it more believable, in my opinion. Vivien is someone you can't help but root for. I wanted her to find her family as well as peace, and if she found romance on the way...well, I wouldn't be complaining. 

The best way to describe Liam? An adorable and sexy nerd! As soon as he was introduced, I knew I was going to love him. I loved how passionate he was about his work, especially when it came to keeping the company the way Vivien's father envisioned it. He was a trustworthy guy, one you would want on your side no matter what. I also adored how nerdy he could get. He loved his video games - that's for sure - and he wasn't willing to hide that love for anyone even someone as icy as Vivian.  What I liked the most about Liam, however, was how positive and go-with-the-flow he was. He was always willing to see the best in everyone. Some people wouldn't have tried so hard with Vivien, but her personality and the wall she had built didn't detour him. 

Fair Game mainly focuses on Vivien's return to Texas. She had a lot on her plate, such as finding a new CEO, discovering who was leaking their new games to other companies, and dealing with all the people that get in her way in the process. I'll admit that I was slightly worried about the video game focus. I've never been big on video games, and I don't know the first thing about them; however, my lack of knowledge didn't hinder my enjoyment one bit. Vivien turned out to be the same way I was. Additionally, I loved the mole storyline. It was suspenseful, and while the bad guy was apparent from the start, it didn't dull my enjoyment one bit. Instead, the mystery focused on finding the evidence, which was harder to find then one would expect. I also liked how Taylor used the mole storyline to increase Vivien's interest in the company and her family. I enjoyed seeing Vivien became so determined to save the day, slowly understanding why Liam and her sister would do anything for the company in the process. Last but not least, the romance between Liam and Vivien? One of the best parts! I loved how they started as frenemies and slowly morphed into something else, as not only did it bring about some excellent tension but also some great banter. They had an easy, natural relationship as the book progressed. 

Overall, Fair Game is an exciting new romance, perfect for fans who love their romance with a side of sabotage. This may be my first book by Taylor but it certainly won't be my last! 

4.5 stars!! 


Under a Storm-Swept Sky Beth Anne Miller 
Release Date: April 16, 2018 
Publisher: Entangled: Embrace 
Genre: Adult, Contemporary, Romance 
Source: ARC provided by publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review
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An eighty-mile trek across the rugged, stunning beauty of Scotland’s Isle of Skye isn't something I imagined myself doing. Ever. This isn't a trail for beginners. And I'm not a hiker.

But I have to finish it, even if it kills me. I have no choice.

With the ever-changing weather and relentless terrain, I’m in over my head.

Rory Sutherland, my guide on this adventure, is not happy. We clash with every mile, but we recognize a shared pain. Not only is the journey a struggle, but the tension between us is taut with unsaid words. And hope.

He’s broken. I’m damaged. Together, we’re about to make the perfect storm.

Review:  

Since I don't travel much I love reading books set in foreign locations. Therefore, as soon as I saw that Under a Storm-Swept Sky was set in Scotland, I added it to my TBR pile. 

The result? Emotional as well as heartwarming, Under a Storm-Swept Sky offers much more than just a stunning, wanderlust-inducing setting. Beth Anne Miller brings out the emotions in full force here, as Rory and Amelia make peace with their pasts and look toward the future. 

My favorite part about Under a Storm-Swept Sky? The setting of course! Scotland is one place I would love to visit, and that feeling is only stronger now that I've read Under a Storm-Swept Sky. In the book Beth does a fantastic job of fleshing out the Isle of Skye. The descriptions of the mountains, the lakes, and the small towns were drool-wrothy, and even though I'm not much of a hiking fan, Beth Anne made me want to sign up for a hiking experience similar to Amelia and Rory's! 

As for Amelia and Rory, they were likable and relatable. When the story first begins, Amelia and Rory are dealing with their own respective emotional baggage. While Rory struggles to move past an accident that shattered his childhood, Amelia is struggling with a car accident that landed her best friend in the hospital indefinitely but left her with barely a scratch. Through Amelia and Rory, Beth Anne Miller displays a surplus of emotions. Amelia, for one, is heartbroken. Even though she knows she shouldn't, she takes on full blame for the accident, and it's affected her life in so many ways. She's on a hike that she doesn't want to do, she's become distant, and she spends most of her time thinking about Carrie, her best friend. Rory, on the other hand, is constantly jerky, especially when it comes to Amelia. In the years since the accident, Rory has thrown himself into hiking and pushing himself to the extreme. When Amelia and Rory meet, sparks fly, and I loved seeing them come together and work through their issues. There were some rough times (they love fighting with each other, poking at each other's weaknesses) and good times, but no matter, I thought they were perfect for each other.  

The plot here focuses on the hike as well as Amelia and Rory's emotional journeys. I liked how Beth Anne Miller used the different parts of the hike to develop Amelia and Rory's characters, pushing both to become stronger and even a tad freer. I also liked the different side characters the hike brought along with it. Tommy, for example, was a riot. I loved that he could always see what Amelia and Rory couldn't. 

I did have one problem with Under a Storm-Swept Sky and that was the length. The first part of this book moved at a great speed. I found it easy to get through the chapters, and I enjoyed the alternating perspectives; however, at about half way, the book began to drag. It became repetitive, and I began to lose interest. I just wanted some more action, some more development. Instead, I felt that the hike was going to go on and on. I feel that if had been 100-150 pages shorter, it would've been a lot better. 

Regardless of that, Under a Storm-Swept Sky is an enjoyable read, perfect for fans of slow burn romances. 

3 stars!! 

1 comment:

  1. Oooo, the first book sounds really good! To be honest, the hot dude with ~glasses~ caught my eye. Yuuummm. 😋 I'm glad you enjoyed it! I'll definitely check it out.

    Great reviews! Have a lovely day, Lauren. =)

    Alyssa @ The Eater of Books!

    ReplyDelete

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