Stronger (Breaking Free #3.5) by A.M. Arthur

Here's the blurb!

Learning to trust can bring a lifetime of joy. 

As happily-married beta couple Serge and Dex Freel await the birth of their first child, Serge can’t help but think back to the rocky start of his and Dex’s relationship. After a party introduction from a mutual friend, a tentative friendship blooms into something much stronger. Marred by misunderstandings, personal prejudices, and Serge’s own inability to trust, they nearly go their separate ways more than once—and almost lose their chance at the beautiful life they’ll build together. 

But Dex’s alpha-like stubbornness and Serge’s desperate need to care for others brings them back together over and over, until both men realize they’re truly stronger together than apart. But their happily-ever-after is hard-won and other friendships are tested, before Serge finally takes a chance on giving his heart to Dex and trusting the other man not to break it into unfixable pieces—and trust is not something Serge gives easily. 

Serge and Dex are characters we see through the Breaking Free series often enough, and it makes me happy to have a bit more backstory to them, and to finally know Serge's backstory and how he fell for Dex.

This short novella is a roller coaster of feels that ends leaving such a warm, cozy feeling that I can assure will make you glad you got it

Heard (Breaking Free #3) by A.M. Arthur

Here's the blurb!

An omega who can’t speak meets an alpha who won’t listen….

Karter Jenks is a first-year constable who’s still trying to prove himself to his superiors, so he isn’t looking for a mate right now. Soon, sure, but he also knows he has work to do to change his alphahole tendencies around omega rights. The Kell Iverson trial opened his eyes to how cruelly some omegas are treated, and Karter doesn’t want to follow in his authoritarian father’s footsteps when he finds his mate. And he absolutely does not expect a homeless omega vagrant and burglary suspect to be his bondmate.

Jax Orris escaped a life of captivity and pain to save himself and his infant son. Living as vagrants isn’t ideal, but it’s better than trusting the authorities who landed Jax in hell to begin with. When their hiding place is discovered, Jax is shocked to feel the mating bond with the young alpha who’s been tracking him—and even more shocked when the constable doesn’t immediately arrest him for his crimes. It helps him trust Karter enough to accept his help in keeping himself and his son safe from the men Jax escaped.

Jax’s story horrifies Karter, and he vows to protect his omega from further harm—but first he has to get his stubborn, angry omega to trust him. Trust is no longer in Jax’s nature, but he can’t deny his connection to the young alpha eager to please him. Jax never thought he’d want another alpha to touch him, much less mate with him, but Karter’s gentle patience breaks down the walls Jax erected around his heart after the death of his first mate. As Jax’s next heat approaches, the investigation into his captivity uncovers surprising connections to several previous cases, and the danger to everyone involved increases. Can he trust Karter to protect him, or will Jax’s past destroy their chance for a happily ever after?

When we first met Karter, I felt like he was such an "alphahole" he wouldn't be seen much of, so I was quite surprised to find him as one of the main characters of book three of the series! His co-protagonist is Jax, a very muscle-y cinnamon roll with lots of baggage, a months old baby and with the added extra of being mute. I loved how things worked out for them.

This is the sweetest book in the series by far, but please don't make me pick a favorite.

Seen (Breaking Free #2) by A.M. Arthur

Here's the blurb!

Hell is a six-by-six jail cell and no hope for the future. 

Kell Iverson has never raised his hand against another person in his entire life—and yet somehow he’s been arrested and charged with the murder of his alpha mate Krause. Sure, Krause brutalized him on a daily basis, and Kell hated his mate, but he never wanted the man dead. Not fighting the charge and accepting his fate is the easiest path—except Kell doesn’t think he’ll survive a week in prison, and he doesn’t want to disappoint his younger brother Braun by giving up. He also doesn’t expect to recognize the lawyer who shows up to defend him. 

Ronin Cross was barely eighteen when he felt the mating bond with then-fourteen-year-old Kell, but his family moved away before Ronin could decide what to do. For the last ten years, he hasn’t forgotten teenage Kell, hasn’t mated, and now he’s in Sansbury Province to defend adult Kell from a capital murder charge. The mating bond is still there, but now isn’t the time to pursue anything with his fragile, battered, emotionally-damaged client. 

For Kell, the term “kind alpha” is a contradiction, because he’s never known one. He went from abusive father to abusive mate, and for twenty-four years, he’s simply done what he’s told. But Ronin asks Kell what he wants. What he likes. Ronin sees him, and it’s both confusing and delightful. But Kell is facing prison time at best, execution at worst, and as his trial date looms, he can’t indulge in a fantasy that will never come true…or can he?

The flow between Saved and this book was so flawless, I'm glad I read them back on back, because if I had had to wait fot the release I would have gone mad. This book was so exciting, I couldn't bear to put it down!
Kell had lived such a hellish life, it felt wonderful to see how things would en up for him with Ronin, what had happened to Branson, and a glimpse of what happened to Tarek and Braun after Saved finished.

I would gush further, but I'm not sure if I could keep on going wihout spoiling anything. I will say, though, that the trial was really exciting.

Saved (Breaking Free #1) by A.M. Arthur

Here's the blurb!

He didn’t want an alpha to save him, but fate had other ideas… 

Braun Etting was raised to know his place as an omega by his alpha father’s cruel words and fast fists, and he expects nothing but violence from the alpha who may one day mate him. His older brother Kell mated a cruel alpha who abuses him daily, and Braun is terrified of that seemingly inevitable future. When Braun’s father dies in a car crash, leaving Braun an orphan, he’s sent to a halfway house for omegas. But on his fourth night there, he witnesses a horrifying crime that sends him fleeing to the streets alone—and edging into his first heat. 

Tarek Bloom is settled in his workaholic, single lifestyle, even if it is somewhat embarrassing to be a twenty-eight year-old unmated alpha. He enjoys his job as a constable, helping people and solving problems, so he isn’t prepared for his life to flip upside-down when he walks into his beta friend Dex’s apartment to help with “a problem.” 

The problem turns out to be an unmated, nearly in-heat omega orphan who Dex and his husband rescued off the street last night. The even bigger problem is that Tarek feels the mating bond for this terrified omega immediately—and he’s pretty sure the omega feels it, too. But Braun hates alphas as a general rule, and no way is he giving in to the bond. All mating leads to is violence and suffering, so no thank you. But Tarek’s gentle kindness slips under Braun’s emotional shields, and Braun begins to want. To dream. All Braun has ever known is violent alphas, but Tarek is determined to make Braun trust him—and to trust in the idea of their happily ever after. 

I had never read an omegaverse book before this, but for some reason the blurb got me and I decided to take the plunge. I'm so glad I did. It takes a bit to get used to the idea of the alpha/omega/beta dynamics, but the plot was really engaging and I couldn't put it down. Plus, I'm a sucker for hurt/comfort, and this series has it to spare. 
And the characters are so well thought of! I immediately felt a connection with Braun, and all his actions in regard to the situations he is in make so much sense! 

I need the second book for yesterday, and will not be at peace until I finish it!

Love on a Battlefield by Posy Roberts

Here's the blurb!

Not every compass points north.

Andrew Summers is forced to spend his vacations reliving Civil War battles with his father. He hates every minute, until a blue-eyed, red-haired boy behind enemy lines catches his eye.

Shep Wells would much rather travel the world than play at boring war reenactments. He never dreamed a Texan boy would capture his heart.

Real life and years separate them; Andrew is forced onto real battlefields, but for Shep the world is a playground. They’re opposites, but writing letters closes the distance, uncovering their hopes and dreams. When Shep visits Andrew, they get to see if the tug they’ve felt for years is the compass pointing the way home.

This is the first book by Posy Roberts I've read, and it left me wanting a bit more by her, to be honest.
This book is so sweet it most likely gave me cavities. Shep and Andrew go through a lot before being able to be together, and the hardships are so realistic that they hurt, but that makes their joy more sweeter. The story flows smoothly, no bumps or slow patches. It had such lovely flow I was a bit surprised when I noticed it was over. I finished it so fast!

A very addictive read, and a wonderful introduction to Posy as an author.
Disclaimer: I recieved this book as an ARC, but all opinions are my own. 

The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler

Here's the blurb from Goodreads

The youngest of six talented sisters, Elyse d'Abreau was destined for stardom - until a boating accident took everything from her. Now, the most beautiful singer in Tobago can't sing. She can't even speak.

Seeking quiet solitude, Elyse accepts a friend's invitation to Atargatis Cove. Named for the mythical first mermaid, the Oregon seaside town is everything Elyse's home in the Caribbean isn't: an ocean too cold for swimming, parties too tame for singing, and people too polite to pry - except for one.

Christian Kane is a notorious playboy - insolent, arrogant, and completely charming. He's also the only person in Atargatis Cove who doesn't treat Elyse like a glass statue. He challenges her to express herself, and he admires the way she treats his younger brother, Sebastian, who believes Elyse is the legendary mermaid come to life.

When Christian needs a first mate for the Cove's high-stakes Pirate Regatta, Elyse reluctantly stows her fear of the sea and climbs aboard. The ocean isn't the only thing making waves, though - swept up in Christian's seductive tide and entranced by the Cove's charms, Elyse begins to wonder if a life of solitude isn't what she needs. But changing course again means facing her past. It means finding her inner voice. And scariest of all, it means opening her heart to a boy who's best known for breaking them...


Having a character who is newly disabled is an interesting twist, and one I came to like reading this book. Elyse comes to Atargatis Cove after losing her voice in an accident, and has to get used to a new life without singing: which means her dreams of being a singer are dead, and it naturally breaks her heart. Even worse, is being treated like you're made of crystal, with no one daring to say anything to you in fear the wrong thing. Having to overcome those things is kind of what makes me label Elyse as a strong woman, which is a nice change from only hearing that about kickass females who can battle. 

I love the way Christian gets to fall in love with Elyse without her voice, and how their romance isn't "I love you in spite of your muteness" and more like "I love you for who you are as a person, I don't care that you can speak". That is a great point to romance in my books. 

I also love Sebastian and his love for everything mermaids, and how that is, in a way, forcing people out of the manly vs girly binary people are fast to fall against. Sebastian is a cinnamon roll who must be protected at all costs, and both Christian and Elyse are fast to jump in his protection when heteronormativity threatens to bring him down.

With a brown, disabled main character who learns to love both others and herself, a love interest that is in no way ableist and the cutest little brother ever, my only complaint is that it can be a bit slow at times. Still an amazing book. 

Kidnapped by the Pirate by Keira Andrews

Here's the summary from Goodreads

Nathaniel Bainbridge is used to hiding, whether it’s concealing his struggles with reading or his forbidden desire for men. Under the thumb of his controlling father, the governor of Primrose Isle, he’s sailing to the fledging colony, where he’ll surrender to a respectable marriage for his family’s financial gain. Then pirates strike and he’s kidnapped for ransom by the Sea Hawk, a legendary villain of the New World.

Bitter and jaded, Hawk harbors futile dreams of leaving the sea for a quiet life, but men like him don’t deserve peace. He has a score to settle with Nathaniel’s father—the very man whose treachery forced him into piracy—and he’s sure Nathaniel is just as contemptible.

Yet as days pass in close quarters, Nathaniel’s feisty spirit and alluring innocence beguile and bewitch. Although Hawk knows he must keep his distance, the desire to teach Nathaniel the pleasure men can share grows uncontrollable. It’s not as though Hawk would ever feel anything for him besides lust…

Nathaniel realizes the fearsome Sea Hawk’s reputation is largely invented, and he sees the lonely man beneath the myth, willingly surrendering to his captor body and soul. As a pirate’s prisoner, he is finally free to be his true self. The crew has been promised the ransom Nathaniel will bring, yet as danger mounts and the time nears to give him up, Hawk’s biggest battle could be with his own heart.

I won this book in a contest, and I'm so happy about that. A fighter for the title of  "favorite queer pirate romance", this book has two very complex characters who meet for revenge and whose love is doomed because of fate and family... or is it? The fight for love between Nathaniel and Hawk is fierce, both against themselves and against the world. It was a bit too steamy for my liking at times, but the plot was too exciting to put it down for long. 

Definitely a worthy read. I thank my luck for working in my favor for once, as contests haven't worked out well for me during my life. 

Earl of Wainthorpe (Wicked Earls' Club) by Collette Cameron

Here's the blurb

He didn't gamble on losing his heart when he won her at the gaming tables.

Pierce, the Earl of Wainthorpe has finally thwarted his worst enemy. Except he can't revel in his victory after winning his foe's ward in a winner-takes-all wager. If Pierce refuses to assume Bianca Salisbury's guardianship, the fiery-haired beauty with a matching temper may very well find herself sold to the highest bidder.

The shameful secret she guards makes it impossible to love a rogue.

Desperate to escape her blackguard cousin, Bianca Salisbury ventures to London to find a husband or employment. Instead, she's bartered to a notorious rakehell. She either risks being compromised and accepts The Earl of Wainthorpe's protection, or flees him and her guardian. But without money and a place to go, she fears she'll face the same tragic fate as her mother.

The wicked Earl's Club is a series written by multiple authors, one book per author, that tells the story of a reforming rake falling in love. This is the book by Collette Cameron, that tells the story of Pierce and Bianca. 

This book is absolutely lovely! Both Pierce and Bianca are well rounded characters, with their own demons to explain their actions. With plenty of funny and cute moments, this book is a wonderful way to spend the time. 

My only complaint could be that it was a mite too fast for my taste, but that isn't a real deterrent to me recommending it. All in all, I am yet to read a book by Collette Cameron I do not like. 

Let There Be Love (Sled Dog #1) by Melissa Storm

Here's the blurb

Lauren Dalton’s world shattered the day her father died. Now she’s willing to move four-thousand miles away from the only home she’s ever known in hopes of discovering the truth about his hidden past.

Shane Ramsey’s reputation says all anyone needs to know. He’s an amazing racer, but a terrible person. When an injury leaves him unable to work his dogs, he must swallow his pride and accept help for the sake of his team.Will Shane open his home and his heart to the young woman who already shares his greatest love? Will Lauren find her place—and the truth about her family’s past—in helping the cantankerous Shane? 

This book was really nice. I came to it with a chip on my shoulder because I bought it, and about two or three weeks later the author started giving it away for free, and that annoyance  had me putting off this book until I felt guilty about it. 

Lauren and Shane are both wonderfully complex characters, with complicated back stories and deep feelings about what they care for. Although Shane could have used more softening up in the pages (most of his change was kind of in a timeskip), as I think his personality change was way too abrupt, and the jump from friends to lovers even more so. 

However, I was a most bothered by Lauren's relationship with Barbara. I understand the reason for her reaction (choosing to forgive for herself), but I find the "always forgive bad parents who seek redemption" trope to be sad, especially when being forgiving can come to great emotional cost to a child, and could allow the parent to cause more harm. I think her character was set to be absolutely pitiful in a way that would allow for Lauren's forgiveness to be acceptable. And Barbara's actions were horribly selfish, in every single point. Even if Lauren could forgive her, she's a character I came to hate in a chapter or less.

Although I had a bit of a lengthy complaint, that doesn't mean I didn't find the book to be enjoyable, it means I am done with abusive parents being forgiven by virtue of belonging to the genetic code of the child. Shoutout to Edward Dalton, a deserving, wonderful literary dad.

An Angel for Emily by Jude Deveraux

Here's the summary from Goodreads

Emily Jane Todd has just found her guardian angel. Actually, the small-town librarian had just been stood up by her fiancé when she ran into the errant angel with her car. And while he appears to be unscathed, "Michael" continues to insist that his pedigree is quite legitimate. Emily just hopes his brain hasn't been scrambled in the accident; besides, she's not inclined to believe that an angel could be so dangerously sexy. 
Yet Michael quickly reveals the most astounding things about her, and makes her laugh in a way she never has before. What's more, he declares that he's been sent to save her. At this point, the only rescue Emily has in mind is her upcoming marriage, and she's ready to bid her most attractive angel good-bye. But when he lets slip that he also looks at souls -- and hers is a rare beauty -- Emily's ready to risk heaven in his arms. Their journey will break every angelic and earthly rule before it yields her one wish: a love divine.

It wasn't bad. Emily was a kind, nice, girl next door kind of character, who suddenly comes by an angel called Michael (who isn't archangel Michael) who want to protect her from a mysterious evil. Michael was kind of exasperating at times, and it was so focused on the relationship between Emily and Michael and Emil and Donald that you could almost forget there was an evil they were supposed to be looking for. 

It was overall enjoyable, but I had higher expectations. 

Kind Ella for the Charming Duke by Bridget Barton

Here's the blurb from Goodreads

Following the death of her beloved father, Ella Winfield is devastated when her mother, a woman with untamed social aspirations, hastily marries the Earl of Dandridge. He is a humorless man, and one whom Ella does not trust for a moment. Leaving her beloved Longton Manor behind, Ella is cast adrift in the large and unwelcoming Dandridge Hall, despite her desperate plea that her mother need not marry at all.

The Earl's daughters, Lady Patience and Lady Georgiana, are spoiled and manner less young ladies, used to their own way in all things and fiercely competitive with one another. But when the Duke of Hillington is reported to be searching for a suitable bride, the tension between the sisters reaches new heights. With Ella's simple beauty, intelligence, and fine manners, the Earl seeks to hide her away from the world and, more importantly, the Duke of Hillington himself.

When he determines that Ella not attend a masquerade ball to which the whole family has been invited, Ella takes it upon herself to attend in disguise and spy on the ambitious little family for her own amusement. When she finds herself in anonymous conversation with the Duke himself, she realizes that there is more to him than a man who would seek nothing more than a pretty bride with a large dowry. He is open and amusing and she finds herself quite captivated.

Rufus Darnley, the Duke of Hillington, cannot shake from his mind the curious and exciting young woman who appeared at his masquerade ball uninvited, and he can no longer find any enthusiasm for his search for a wife with whom he might provide an heir to the Duchy. When he finds the discarded mask of the mysterious woman who left the ball without a word, he holds on to the hope that he might one day discover her true identity.

As the Earl of Dandridge plots the most appalling schemes to keep the Duke interested in his own daughters, Ella Winfield must do what she can to stop the man she is fast becoming attracted to from being steered in the direction of either Lady Patience or Lady Georgiana, all without being discovered by the family who have, one by one, turned their backs upon her.



I really liked this book. Ella is a wonderful main character, a sensible young girl who is practical and a bit adventurous at the same time. She ends up in a horrid situation because of her mother, but tries everything in her power to make her situation bearable. I loved the variation on the "best friend character" that's always present in Barton's books, as this time it is not another girl if the same social status as Ella, and in case of the duke it isn't a man of the same age as him. The only reason for not giving this book five stars is because the extended epilogue isn't part of the book, and it took me a bit to find it in the web (it's free and it's lovely, but having to look for it elsewhere was a bit annoying).

It has certainly unseated A Bride for the Betrayed Earl as my favorite by Bridget Barton.

Regifted: Three holiday romances by D.J. Jamison

here's the blurb from Goodreads

This box set includes three previously published holiday romances by DJ Jamison: Winter Blom, Chance for Christmas, and Yours For The Holiday. 

Winter Blom: Lane Cross works construction to pay the bills, and makes metal art to … also pay the bills. As a single dad, the enjoyment of his art has taken a backseat to making ends meet. And his love life has taken a back seat to caring for his son, especially when Zach, age 6, sabotages every babysitting attempt Lane makes. Then Lane meets news intern Andy Blom. The man’s Swedish name meaning bloom is perfect for him: Andy is refreshingly sweet and vibrant. But when Lane moves too fast, will he scare away the surprisingly innocent young man – or will Andy’s journalistic ethics end them before they ever begin? 

Chance for Christmas: Chance Rasmussen returns to Ashe, Kansas, eight years after his high school crush humiliated him with a sext that went viral. He's low on holiday spirit with his personal ghost of Christmas past haunting him, but when his BFF asks him to attend a party as her fake date, he reluctantly agrees. The last person he expects to see there is Joe Stewart, the compassionate prosecutor he hero-worshipped during the lowest point of his life. The spark of attraction is still there, but Chance isn't planning to stay in Ashe past the holidays and the specter of his past still looms large between them. Can they find a way to build a future together or will Joe only have Chance for Christmas? 

Yours For The Holiday: Remy Wells is in no mood to share a room with his brother's best friend during a holiday stay. Jason Hendricks has always treated him like a little brother to tease and taunt, all the more embarrassing because Remy has secretly crushed on the jerk since puberty. But when Jason confides he's bisexual, Remy realizes the crush he loves to hate could be the perfect rebound. 

Two of the books in this set are from the Ashe Sentinel Connections universe, but each romance introduces new characters and can be read on its own. 


Definitely worth it.
Winter Blom: the story of Andy, a young adult in his first (unpaid) internship falling for a widowed man with a son. A bit fast for me in the falling for each other part, but overall really cute.
Chance for Christmas: super adorable. I loved the way Chance's trauma was dealt with, and Joe's character is really nice, and quite different than what I'm used to see by DJ Jamison. Really liked it.
Yours for the Holiday: my absolute favorite of the three. The way Remy and Jason slowly learn to trust each other in a way that goes beyond the relationship of frenimity they'd kept so far is so sweet, and the general hardships they go through are so relatable it makes the story all the more endearing. Totally loved it 

I totally recommend this set. If you don't feel like getting all the books, then at the very least get Yours for the Holiday. 
Note: I have read all the previous Ashe Sentinel books, but both Chance for Christmas and Winter Blom can be easily read as standalones, and are easy to understand as such. 

Sing Roses For Me by Ben Marney

Here's the blurb from Goodreads

A tragic love story methodically woven around a fallen country music star, a beautiful dancer, a 13 year old child genius and a powerful, psychopathic judge. 

A friend pulls out a Ouija board and asks you to play. It's just a game, right? But when the Ouija board reveals a secret you've never disclosed, then "the spirit" asks you to warn his living sister that she is about to be murdered. What would you do? This is the scenario that tragically entangles the lives of Max Allen, Carla Cecil and Bradford Doss. 

Max is a disgraced fallen country music star trying to survive his ignominy by escaping to the islands to find a new direction and purpose for his life. In the islands, he meets and falls in love with, Michelle, a beautiful cruise ship dancer. Bradford Doss, is a revered Texas State Court Judge. He is also a serial murderer. Carla Cecil, is a child genius. At 13 she is the youngest person to ever attend Rice University, the spirit's living sister and tragically... the judges next prey.

So not my cup of tea. First, the timeline is a mess. You can't gauge what is happening when in comparison to what happens to the other characters. Also, it jumps from character narratives, so you can be seeing a scene in the present from a point of view and the next chapter you are seeing events in another place, another point in the timeline, and another narrator. And it can go from 100 to 0 as far as excitement goes really quick. Literally jump from a close murder scene to a peaceful beach in the caribbean and you have no idea how it is all related.

Second, it takes at least half the book to reach the moment told in the blurb. I spent half the book waiting for the board to come out, and after it did I was too tired of the rest of the things to take much of the excitement in. All the messy timeline made it very unsurprising when things finally started happening, and as we knew what was happening from moment one (they hide nothing in the mess) there are no surprises left. 

Three, I found it slightly disturbing that most of the relationships in the book (healthy and unhealthy both) were between a young attractive woman and an older man. Like in one of those the male met the girl as a child, time skip, she is barely legal and he's in love with her, though he's about 8 to 10 years older. Of course, relationship ensues. Max, same story, but he's in his late 40's and she's in her early 20's. I just think it's icky that it's EVERY relationship that's actually portrayed in the book. 

Based on the blurb, it had serious potential. I'm kind of sad of how it actually went. 

The Lion and the Crow by Eli Easton

Here's the summary from Goodreads

In medieval England, duty is everything, personal honor is more valued than life itself, and homosexuality is not tolerated by the church or society. 

Sir Christian Brandon was raised in a household where he was hated for his unusual beauty and for his parentage. Being smaller than his six brutish half-brothers, he learned to survive by using his wits and his gift for strategy, earning him the nickname the Crow. 

Sir William Corbett, a large and fierce warrior known as the Lion, has pushed his unnatural desires down all his life. He’s determined to live up to his own ideal of a gallant knight. When he takes up a quest to rescue his sister from her abusive lord of a husband, he’s forced to enlist the help of Sir Christian. It’s a partnership that will test every strand of his moral fiber, and, eventually, his understanding of the meaning of duty, honor, and love.

This book makes me so happy, because not only does it have a cute romance story, but said story is historically accurate, really exciting, and very emotional. I have read it twice now, and I can't discount the possibility of another reread!

Definitely worth the time. Then again, it's by Eli Easton, so of course I love it. The lowest I've ever given her books are four stars, after all ;)

visita de David Díaz a la clase

David es director creativo en la agencia JWT, y fue a la clase a hacernos una presentación que él tituló Young Guns. Habló de lo que puede hacer un creativo en una agencia, y lo que es y hace un creativo.
Según David, un creativo....
- es creativo
- debe ignorar las tendencias, ya que lo que esta de moda hoy no necesariamente va a gustar mañana
- no deja de lado la estrategia, ya que si no logra vender no es creativo
- fracasa, es rechazado, pero no por eso debe dejar de lado el riesgo de "matar a Goose" o tener miedo al fracaso
- soluciona  problemas, ya que se ayuda a la gente mientras se ayuda a la marca.
- aprovecha cualquier oportunidad, ya que el que un trabajo sea pequeño no lo hace menos provechoso a la hora de crear

y como ultimo... que lo que se haga lo haga a uno feliz.

Hay consejos de los que dio que no solo aplican a lo que es creatividad publicitaria, sino que cabe aplicarlos en la vida en general. Se me hizo que la presentación de David fue entretenida, y llevadera al tiempo que fue provechosa. Considero que valió la pena.

All my broken pieces by Hollis Shiloh

Here's the summary from Goodreads:

Tim is a small wolf shifter, partially disabled, not good at confrontation, and very alone. Life isn't easy at a precinct where he's never been fully accepted. He spends far too much of his time trying not to overhear coworkers mocking him. His best friend (okay, pretty much his only friend) is a drug-addicted fox shifter. 

And Tim certainly knows better than to fall in love; that didn't work out so hot before. These days, he sticks to anonymous encounters. He doesn't believe in mates or true love, not for someone like him. 

But he's worked for the cops almost a decade now, and really, there's no reason at all why he should have to go through a stupid certification course. They didn't even have those when he started! 

Life takes an unexpected twist when one of his anonymous encounters turns out to be attending the same certification course. Levi is a big, sweet guy he'd never expected to see again. 

Tim doesn't want to let Levi see the flaws and cracks that anything more than a quick hookup would reveal. He certainly doesn't plan to spend any more time with the guy, much less get feelings for him... 

I swore I had reviewed this book a while ago, but it seems like I forgot....oops

Levi and Tim, such a cute couple. Tim is insecure, having a crooked back, chronic pain and having been shunned by his pack both because of his back and because of being gay. Having to do the certification course is the cherry on top of his problems, as he really doesn't want to deal with having a partner, a must of the program. Levi (the dream guy) pretty much comes as part of a package to make Tim's life better, if he allows himself to hope for that of course.
The plot is both exciting and cute at the same time. Definitely better than My Partner the Wolf (in my opinion), and making me rethink my stance about not reading that many books.

This book is a roller coaster of feelings from start to finish, and totally worth the time.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book.

A Beauty for the Scarred Duke by Bridget Barton

Here's the summary from Goodreads

As young girls, Lady Isabella Tate, daughter of the Earl of Upperton, and her friend, Esme, told each other terrifying tales of the monster. But not just any monster. This monster was alive and living in his old mansion behind a tangle of overgrown hawthorn trees in the very same county. This monster was none other than Elliot Covington, the Duke of Caldwell.

The Duke of Caldwell, scarred for life in a fire which claimed the lives of those dearest to him has been hiding in his mansion for almost eighteen years. He knows he is a figure of fear and speculation in the county and chose many years before to live a life of self-imposed isolation. But he is the loneliest Duke in all of England. When the Earl of Upperton sells his daughter off as a bride for the disfigured Duke, Isabella has never been more terrified. Due to marry a man she has never met and always believed to be a monster, she truly believes her life is over.

But is life with the Duke really something to be afraid of? Will Isabella be able to get past her own prejudice and see the man beneath the scars? And will the Duke be able to let go of the pain and guilt that has swallowed him whole for almost two decades and find a new life with a new love?

It took me a while to read, because at the beginning of the book the only thing that truly labeled the duke as a monster was the fact that he was disfigured. The rest of the book was good, but it made me feel like Isabella was very vain, and I found it exasperating. Also, the fact that she couldn't get over the fact that not all of his face was handsome! Like, honestly, it doesn't seem like such a ridiculously huge scar, truth be told. For him to be self.conscious is reasonable, but I couldn't understand why she had such a hard time getting over it! Had there been a rumor about a beastly character to go with Elliot, then her fear would've been more believable.
Other than that, it was a sweet, enjoyable romance. Certainly cute, this time with a more realistic view of the lord's duties than in Bridget's previous books.

A bit tiring at times, but quite enjoyable as a whole.

Disclaimer: I received a free copy of this book

The Body in the Backyard by Hollis Shiloh

Here's the summary from Goodreads

Clarence Collin is pushing up daisies—in Abe's bed of zinnias! 

When the caustic critic of a TV gardening show winds up murdered in Abe's well-groomed backyard, both Abe and his hunky-but-irritating neighbor Gregory might be on the suspect list. 

Abe starts amateur sleuthing in self-defense...and to spend time with Gregory. When the two green thumbs look into their neighborhood's dirty little secrets, who knows what they'll dig up? 

An interesting change from the author, it is quite enjoyable. Abe isn't the regular criminal hero, being not young (I'm guessing in his 40's, but the author never says), very nervous, not always logical and cool and not very brave. That makes him more likeable, in my opinion. His ex cheated on him, and they got divorced, which also means his self esteem isn't much (which is one of the things I like so much about Hollis's books, that not all of the characters are confident badasses).  His detective partner, Gregory, is also a very human character, with flaws, strong points, obsessions.... I like him. 
The mystery itself is not evident, and you get to suspect everyone before you get to the criminal. Well written, quite enjoyable, and it leaves you guessing everytime you let the book go. 

If Hollis Shiloh ever decides to write mystery again, count me in!

Disclaimer: I received a copy of the book in exchange of an honest review

The Clockwork War by Katy Haye (Clockwork War #1)

Here's the summary from Goodreads

Imagine that Queen Elizabeth I never ruled. 
England and Scotland never unified. 
It’s 1845 and the two countries are once more at war. 

Mechanical genius Clara Lissing cares little for the war. She just wants to keep her five brothers safe. But when her youngest brother Tom enlists with the army everything she’s worked for starts to fall apart. 
Clara goes to London to work with Duke Murgatroyd building a device that will bring an end to the fighting. Clara is determined to do her duty, help win the war and send everyone’s brothers home to safety. 
But life in London brings with it the distracting presence of Gordy, Murgatroyd’s 18-year-old nephew. Gordy is a loose cog, twisting her clockwork life out of shape and making her think of things that aren’t work and duty. 
Then Clara discovers Murgatroyd’s true plans for the army, the city, and England itself. With war reaching to the heart of London, Clara and Gordy must match duty with determination if they’re to save a nation


I really liked this book. It was engaging and exciting, and I could hardly put it down. Clara is (to me) quite relatable, and I officially declare Gordy a cinnamon roll. Clara can be a bit dense sometimes, but given he fact that she's human and not that used to human company, generally prefering machines, it's understandable. I am really curious to know what really happened to princess Myrtle (and McAllister), as I'm sure it's a story worth hearing, and I hope it's touched in the next books.

You can get this copy in the Shattered Worlds anthology (which has 20 other novels!) or in paperback. I really hope I get to read the next one soon!

(I bought the anthology, but received a copy of this novel for review as well)