ARC Review: Hell Hath No Fury by Jamie Brenner

Hell Hath No Fury

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 6)

The moment has finally come!  The last installment in the Gin Lovers serial.  If you haven't been reading this along, like me, then I think you're missing out.  The world Ms. Brenner created is addictive and alluring.  After the past few episodes, I was very excited to read this last one.

The events leading up to this book, and then everything that happens in this last episode, had me biting my nails and pulling my hair.  This series is full of intrigue.  I admit there were times reading this episode that I didn't know which way the author was going to go with the ending and our main love interest.  But rest assured there is a HEA.

Basically Jake is going to jail and the only one that can do something to save him is Charlotte.  She has the big fish the cops need to drop the charges against Jake.  And yes, that would be her husband.  Incredible how much Charlotte has changed throughout this serial and has come out of her shell and sharpened her claws.  She is feisty but smart, knows when to push and when to let things go.

We get a resolution with all the characters in the series and I was happy with everything.  Obviously the one I was most anxious about was Jake and Charlotte.  But this was actually my reason for giving this 4 stars instead of 5.  Rafferty, who has been Charlotte's silent ally in the house, was showing feelings for her in this one.  To bring this up this far into the story I thought was unnecessary.  It had me scared that out of nowhere Charlotte would end up with someone that she didn't have feelings for.  And on that same token, how could Rafferty stir anything in Charlotte when she's in love with Jake and doing everything she can to help him?  OK rant over.

That one minor thing aside, I think this serial is a must read.  If you are not into serial books, then make sure you pick up a copy of the full length book which will include all the episodes, which comes out in February.

I was so excited to know how it ended but now I know I'm going to miss reading it!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Dangerous Games by Jamie Brenner

Dangerous Games

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 5)

This serial just keeps getting better and better.  Every new episode has me biting my nails and on the edge of my seat.  I can't wait to see how it's all going to turn out.

DANGEROUS GAMES, much like the last installment, was full of intrigue and revelations.  Things are moving full speed ahead and getting more tangled by the minute.

Jake Larkin might be going to jail, Mae might be marrying, and Charlotte...well, she's in the worst spot of them all right now.  Married and not able to trust her husband but with little choice on what to do about it.  Loving Jake and trying as best as she can to save him.

It almost brought me to tears and the writing was so well done that for the amount of time that it took me to read this, I was living in this world.  I think that's what I'm liking the most about it.  Other than the danger and mystery and overall sex appeal of the era this is set in, I love how the writing just flows and involves you, draws you in and holds your attention until you finish it.

Of course, then you are only just so much more anxious to get to the next installment to find out what happens next.  Great endings for each one!  Now bring on the last chapter!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Vice or Virtue by Jamie Brenner

Vice or Virtue

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 4)

If this serial had been published as a full length book to begin with, this is where I would scream "Now we are talking!".  Why?  Because everything is coming to a head, all the different strands of individual plots are entangled and have now created a perfect storm and chaos.

Jake is trying to make more money by going deeper into his bootlegging businesses so he can offer Charlotte enough money and security that she could leave her husband and still support her mother.  I have to say that their star crossed lovers story warms my heart.  Everytime they are in danger or have another obstacle to face, I keep sitting here rooting for them to succeed or not get caught.  I love how they are both fearless and single minded in what they want and will stop at nothing to get there.

Then there's Mae, now being forced to straighten up her life, ends up engaged!  And what an unexpected and unlikely alliance there.  I am curious to see how this will affect the final plot and what role he will be playing.  Can't be anything good.

Charlotte's husband, William, really ticked me off in this book.  His high handed behavior with everyone makes me despise him.  He's got Charlotte trapped in her own home and his sister being forced into a marriage so he can access his inheritance.

The level of mystery and intrigue in this book escalates, what with Charlotte sneaking behind her husband's back so she can see Jake and the cops closing in on getting names to shut down the speakeasy.  As well as a heart stopping ending!  Ms. Brenner, I did not see that coming!  I can't wait to see what happens next.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Society Sinners by Jamie Brenner

Society Sinners

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 3)

Again, the author takes us on a journey back in time and we find ourselves back in 1920s New York.  How amazing of a job she does at making me feel immersed in this world. 

And ohhh how the plot thickens!  This installment in the Gin Lovers serial brings a lot more betrayal.  Seems like everyone is getting themselves in trouble and entangling with people that will lead them to their own ruin.

Starting with Charlotte's husband who is starting to show his ugly colors, with his sister and with his wife.  I was extremely upset with him when Charlotte went to him for help with her mother. 

Charlotte again seems to be the good girl that has to sacrifice but with enough of bad girl in her to still seek her thrills.  I am anxious to see how she keeps growing and how she keeps defying her husband.  I can't wait to see her playing all these high members of society at their own games.

The relationship between Charlotte and Jake feels pretty well cemented, but they will have to jump through some big obstacles to end up together.  Especially after the ending of this installment.  Definitely left me wanting more.

These just keep getting better and better.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Little White Lies by Jamie Brenner

Little White Lies

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 2)

LITTLE WHITE LIES is Charlotte Delacourte's baby steps into experiencing the life that she wants.  Dressing a little more daring, dancing a bit around town.  She is also the pillar and only thing keeping her sister in law from being in big trouble.

There is so much on Charlotte's shoulders that I feel all that weight is going to cause her to explode at some point, probably soon.  Responsibilities all over the place, with her husband, her sister in law, her society friends.  This was not exactly what Charlotte signed up by marrying into the Delacourte family, at least not what she expected.

And all those things that are missing in her life, she is starting to feel and starting to explore and I am anxious to explore with her.  I also think that the author is doing a great job at painting the picture of this world without dumping a bunch of information all at once.  It's slowly all coming together, like any great movie should play out.

The characters are becoming more and more addictive.  I want to know more about them and found myself glued to the pages of this one as some things were heating up and others were crumbling down.  I just wanted more and more.

This episode was definitely a bit more fun and upbeat but ohhhhh the cruelty!!!  The ending of this episode might have you crying for the next book in the series!  Good thing the wait isn't long!

Favorite Quote:

"It's tough be alone on the shelf...It's worse to fall in love by yourself. The one I love, yes, the one I love, Oh, the one I love...belongs to somebody else."

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: The Gin Lovers by Jamie Brenner

3.5 Feathers

The Gin Lovers

by Jamie Brenner

(The Gin Lovers # 1)

Fascinating and captivating.  I have a feeling that this serial will become addictive because it brings such originality when things are starting to all blend in together.  THE GIN LOVERS really was like nothing I've read and more like a good movie.

The setting?  New York.  The era?  1920s.  Glamour, high society and their drama, the Prohibition and a great set of characters.  I'm completely intrigued by the story.  Charlotte Delacorte had married into a society family and has lived for a few years with her husband, William, according to society's rules.  Now that her mother-in-law passed away she is expected to pick up where she left off and be an example to follow and the image of the family, while helping her husband to keep his sister in line.

But it's hard to do all that while juggling a husband who is obviously hiding something, a sister-in-law who is in love with a cocktail waitress, and her own urges to be young and free like people around her seem to be.

The setup in this book was a bit slow but I think it was a great backdrop for what we will be expecting of the serial from here on out.  Jazz, speakeasy and flapper dresses.  Dancing and drinking and climbing out of windows.  Trying to be good while wanting to be bad.  Especially when she meets Jake Larkin.

I did find this story to be longer than other serials I've read before, this was more novella length, which I found a lot more enjoyable and hope to see it continue throughout the serial.

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon