#REVIEW: Take Me Back - 3 STARS

Take Me Back by Kelli Maine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TAKE ME BACK is the second novella in the Give & Take series, the fourth book overall. It begins where TAKEN BY STORM ends, but with Rachael as the main character. It follows the obsession that Rachael has with Ingrid, a deceased woman who once lived on Turtle Tear Island. She becomes bound and determined to discover what Ingrid is trying to "tell" her from the grave and it ends up affecting Rachael's work and personal life in many ways.

TAKE ME BACK was a quick read that fell a bit flat for me. I had a hard time staying interested in the story as there was not much that was new. It just felt like more of the same from the last book, TAKEN BY STORM.

I was happy to be reading about Rachael and Merrick again as I do love their relationship. However, their reactions to each other in TAKE ME BACK seemed a bit over-dramatic. They were quick to fight and then quick to make up, which made their sex scenes seem tacked on and not always right for the moment.

Getting to know more about the history of Ingrid and Turtle Tear Island was what was interesting in this novella. It's a sweet story and I love that it gave Rachael an insight to the island's past, which in turn connected her more to her present.

I most likely will not be continuing on with this series as I am still struggling to find the same intensity that I loved in the first book, TAKEN. I do plan to read more of Kelli Maine's work, though, as I truly enjoy the way she writes. Perhaps her next series (DOLLS & DOMS) will give me more of what I came to love about her writing when I read her first book.

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews by MissyGirl

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#Review: Taken by Storm

Taken by Storm by Kelli Maine
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

TAKEN BY STORM is focused mostly on the relationship of 2 characters, MJ and Maddie. Although they have different parents, they were raised in the same house and were close friends growing up. As they grew into adults, their feelings for each other developed and an intense love affair began.... until the day Maddie left, with no explanation. The story begins the day she returns.

This is the second full novel in the Give & Take series. I highly recommend reading the first full novel (TAKEN) and the first novella (NO TAKE BACKS) before reading TAKEN BY STORM as they contain HUGE cliffhangers that will lead you right into MJ and Maddie's story. Otherwise, you might find yourself a bit lost as to who everyone is. Because of that, I can't say too much about these characters or I will be giving away some pretty big surprises in the previous books!

I struggled with TAKEN BY STORM for many reasons. The first is that it was hugely different from the first book, TAKEN. It lacked TAKEN's intensity and darkness, which I expected to continue throughout the series. TAKEN BY STORM was sort of sweet and fluffy, a bit too much for my taste as I caught myself rolling my eyes every now and then.

I had a hard time connecting with MJ and Maddie and I often questioned their struggles when the solutions seemed so obvious. Their sexual relationship didn't pull me in either, and I was tempted to skim some of their scenes a few times.

About halfway through TAKEN BY STORM, a paranormal element was introduced. It felt like it came out of nowhere and didn't really flow well with the story after a while. I kept wanting it to either be explained or not be focused on so much. (It eventually is explained, by the way. But by then I was too pulled out of the main story and had a hard time keeping focus on everything that was going on.)

What I did like was catching up with Merrick and Rachael, who were the main characters in TAKEN. I noticed that the story seemed to pick up for me every time they were "in the room" as I could actually feel their connection with each other. They seem to have a passion and intensity that MJ and Maddie lack. I also liked that there were a few surprises in TAKEN BY STORM that were completely unexpected. I had no idea they were coming and I was pleasantly surprised by that.

Overall, I was disappointed in TAKEN BY STORM. It was a book I was highly anticipating as TAKEN was a 5 star read for me. The next novella (TAKE ME BACK) focuses a bit more on Merrick and Rachael so I plan on continuing the series in hopes of getting back to some of the magic that was created in book one!

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews by MissyGirl

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#Review: Come As You Are

Come As You Are by Theresa Weir
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

"My secrets were the reason the day my father died was both the worst and the best day of my life."

Molly is the daughter of the renowned psychology professor at the University of Minnesota. The story begins as she hosts a houseful of people, mourning the death of her father. Unable to listen to one more person go on and on about how wonderful her father was, Molly takes off, literally running down the street to the nearest bar. She meets a sexy stranger and leaves with him, ready for a one-night stand. From here on, we begin to uncover the secrets that surround Molly's life and see how each decision she makes is based on events in her past.

Growing up as a teen in the 90's, the title "Come As You Are" immediately evokes images of Kurt Cobain moaning the lyrics of his band's song (with the same title) in an MTV music video. Readers who share this memory will be delighted to know that COME AS YOU ARE is connected to that song. It is discussed throughout the book, along with the life and death of Kurt Cobain, himself.

Molly, a big Kurt Cobain fan, is a product of her environment. She surrounds herself with people she can keep at a distance and who won't ask too many questions. I truly felt for Molly. She deals with so much in her life and is stronger than she gives herself credit for. Her emotions are very real and so spot-on. I think I would have reacted the same way she did in most instances. This is what connected me to her most, though I've never shared her life experiences.

The reason for 3 out of 5 stars is that COME AS YOU ARE, a book that should have taken me 1-2 days to read, took me 5 days to read. It wasn't long, but I didn't feel a strong urge to keep turning the pages. It was something I could put down and come back to. Also, most of the secondary characters are not in the story much and I felt COME AS YOU ARE would have benefitted from more character development throughout. I'm happy to have read it, though, because there were some true surprises and poignant moments that I really enjoyed. I recommend it for fans of New Adult Romance.

✳✳ Copy provided by the author/publisher for an honest review.

✳✳ Reviewed on I ♥ Bookie Nookie Reviews by MissyGirl

BUY IT NOW! - Amazon