Book Review: In The Unlikely Event - LJ Shen

Title: In The Unlikely Event
Author: LJ Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Standalone
Release Date: November 18, 2019

Sometimes you meet people who are out of this world, so you make them a part of yours.

A one-night stand born from vengeance in a foreign land.
An explosive chemistry neither of us could deny.
We signed a contract on the back of a Boar’s Head Pub napkin that said if we ever met again, we would drop everything and be together.
Eight years and thousands of miles later, he’s here.
In New York.
And he’s America’s music obsession.
The intangible Irish poet who brings record executives to their knees.
The blizzard in my perfect, unshaken snow globe.
Last time we spoke, he was a beggar with no intention of becoming a king.
But a king he became, and now I’m his servant.
I’m not the same broken princess Malachy Doherty put back together with his callused hands.
I have a career I love.
A boyfriend I adore.
An apartment, a roommate, a life.
I changed. He changed, too.
But Mal kept the napkin.
Question is, will I keep my word?

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L.J. Shen is a USA Today, Washington Post and Amazon #1 best-selling author of contemporary, New Adult and YA romance. Her books have been sold to nineteen different countries.

She lives in California with her husband, son, cat and eccentric fashion choices, and enjoys good wine, bad reality TV shows and catching sun rays with her lazy cat.



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I don't know what to make of this story. LJ Shen definitely upped and went over herself on this one. This may be different from the typical stories she writes but it doesn't mean that it is any less good.

I like the back and forth of the past and the present. The story was well presented and timeline is just right. I may not understand instalove but it doesn't mean I don't get to enjoy a love so pure it wrecks you for someone else. I liked that all the characters, regardless how small, had their own spotlight and have been a vital part of the plot. Everything was placed in such a way that it does make sense. The multiple POVs are just hilarious to watch as well. At least it also gets you into perspective of what is happening. Like seeing a 360 picture. And those twist? Just when you thought you figured it out, she comes smacking your face with a plot twist so fast you wouldn't even know what hits you.

LJ Shen writes good heroines. Those that you want to hate but can't. The one who's weak and strong at the same time. I like Rory's fierceness and her ability to love and forgive. She may not have made the best decisions in life but she does own up to what she do without having to blame others. Mal on the other hand is just as perfectly broken. He fights for what he wants head on regardless of the consequences. He loves fiercely and protects those he loves to the core.

I'm giving this a 4.5 stars. It's almost there, it's kind of missing something but I couldn't put my finger on it. But this is definitely a good read.

Book Blitz: Pretty Reckless - LJ Shen

Pretty Reckless, an all-new standalone high school, bully romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is available now!

We were supposed to be best friends

But turned out to be worst enemies…

Penn

They say revenge is a dish best served cold.

I’d had four years to stew on what Daria Followhill did to me, and now my heart is completely iced.

I took her first kiss.

She took the only thing I loved.

I was poor.

She was rich.

The good thing about circumstances? They can change. Fast.

Now, I’m her parents’ latest shiny project.

Her housemate. Her tormentor. The captain of the rival football team she hates so much.

Yeah, baby girl, say it—I’m your foster brother.

There’s a price to pay for ruining the only good thing in my life, and she’s about to shell out some serious tears.

Daria Followhill thinks she is THE queen. I’m about to prove to her that she’s nothing but a spoiled princess.

Daria

Everyone loves a good-old, unapologetic punk.

But being a bitch? Oh, you get slammed for every snarky comment, cynical eye roll, and foot you put in your adversaries’ way.

The thing about stiletto heels is that they make a hell of a dent when you walk all over the people who try to hurt you.

In Penn Scully’s case, I pierced his heart until he bled out, then left it in a trash can on a bright summer day.

Four years ago, he asked me to save all of my firsts for him.

Now he lives across the hall, and there’s nothing I want more than to be his last everything.

His parting words when he gave me his heart were that nothing in this world is free.

Now? Now he is making me pay.

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Excerpt:

“I don’t want you transferring into my school,” I hiss out. Melody would gladly file a transfer request, and Principal Prichard would salivate over the chance to snatch him up for our football team.

“That won’t be a problem. You guys suck so much ass, you have shit-breath.”

“Still smells better than poverty. You’re poor, right? Your sister was just bullshitting about being rich.”

When someone hits me with a stick, I run over them with a tank. I’m so mean to him I want to throw up. I hate this part of being me. The striking harder at all costs part.

“Just to make things clear.” I put the brush down, batting my lashes. “You’re not my step-sibling, foster brother, or a part of the family. You’re a stray dog. Last of the litter, most unlikely to be adopted, and a charity case.”

Penn takes a step toward me, and my heart is fighting its way out of my ribcage. The closer he gets, the more I realize that my heart might succeed. Penn’s eyes remind me of a snake’s. Mesmerizing, but inhuman altogether. They weren’t like that before.

His scent messes with my head. I want to reach out and caress his face. Kiss his wounds better. Beg for forgiveness. Curse him. Push him away. Cry on his shoulder for what we’ve done. For how it ended. For what we became afterwards, because I’m full of crap and he is totally empty.

We ruined ourselves the day of our first kiss.

Penn looks down at me. Time stops. It feels like the world is losing gravity, falling into a bottomless depth in space when he clasps my chin with his thumb and finger, lifting my head up. I can’t breathe. I’m not sure I want to, either. My towel drops to the floor with a thud, even though I secured it over my chest. I realize that he tugged at it intentionally. I’m naked. My body, my soul, my heart. All my walls are down. Somewhere in my head, a red alarm blasts and my inhibitions are getting armed, ready to fight back. I’m trying to decode his expression. He is amused, irritated, and…playful? The mixture of emotions doesn’t make any sense.

“Mess with me, Followhill, and I will ruin you.”

“Not if I ruin you first.”

About LJ Shen:

L.J. Shen is an International #1 best-selling author of Contemporary Romance and New Adult novels. She lives in Northern California with her husband, young son and chubby cat.

Before she’d settled down, L.J. (who thinks referring to herself in the third person is really silly, by the way) traveled the world, and collected friends from all across the globe. Friends who’d be happy to report that she is a rubbish companion, always forgets people's’ birthdays and never sends Christmas cards.

She enjoys the simple things in life, like spending time with her family and friends, reading, HBO, Netflix and internet-stalking Stephen James. She reads between three to five books a week and firmly believes Crocs shoes and mullets should be outlawed.

Connect with L.J. Shen:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorljshen/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/lj_shen

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Stay up to date with L.J. Shen by signing up for her mailing list:

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Website: http://www.authorljshen.com/

Book Blitz: Dirty Headlines - LJ Shen

Title Dirty Headlines
Author LJ Shen
Genre Contemporary Romance
Publish date September 07, 2018



Célian Laurent.
Manhattan royalty.
Notorious playboy.
Heir to a media empire.
…And my new boss.

I could have impressed him, if not for last month’s unforgettable one-night stand.
I left it with more than orgasms and a pleasant memory—namely, his wallet.
Now he’s staring me down like I’m the dirt under his Italian loafers, and I’m supposed to take it.
But the thing about being Judith “Jude” Humphry is I have nothing to lose.
Brooklyn girl.
Infamously quirky.
Heir to a stack of medical bills and a tattered couch.
When he looks at me from across the room, I see the glint in his eyes, and that makes us rivals.
He knows it.
So do I.
Every day in the newsroom is a battle.
Every night in his bed, war.
But it’s my heart at stake, and I fear I’ll be raising the white flag.




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LJ Shen did it again. Smooth and discreet. You wouldn't know what hits you until you're there crumbling.

Although it may be a typical Alpha male story, its twists and flow of events makes it unique in its own way. The twist may not be so shocking, but a still a twist that you wouldn't expect. I liked how things are not really touch and go. It has its ups and downs and shows that not everything are resolved with just flowers and chocolates overnight. It grips to my heart and tugs my tear ducts. I also loved that it something didn't I expected didn't really happen. It would've gutted me more. (I'm referring to Rob but would not want to spoil anything)

Jude (or JoJo) and her Chucks has a way in making you fall in love with her. She has a big fight in her. And despite her situation she didn't become bitter the way other would've been. I like her positive disposition and the way she takes all that life throws at her. It's also a plus point that she loves her Dad so dearly. Célian on the other hand, sets the bar so high. He's ambitious and driven. When he focuses on what he wants, he goes and gets it. I love how he cherishes her sister and the people who treated him as family. Although he may be perceived as a heartless douche, his passion and compassion for people who have been there for him is evident. He also knows how to take care of his people and despite the hard demeanor and bossiness, his staff still loves him.

I'd give this a five out of five stars because it touched my heart the way I wanted to feel.

Book Review: Bane - LJ Shen

Title Bane
Author LJ Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Series: Sinner of Saint, Book 4
Release Date: May 10, 2018




Bane
Naked surfer. Habitual pothead. A con, a liar, a thief and a fraud.
Last I heard, he was extorting the rich and screwing their wives for a living.
Which is why I’m more than a little surprised to find him at my threshold, looking for my friendship, my services, and most puzzling of all—looking humbled.
Thing is, I’m on a boycott. Literally—I cut boys from my life. Permanently.
Problem is, Bane is not a boy, he is all man, and I’m falling, crashing, drowning in his sweet, perfect lies.
Jesse Carter
Hot as hell, cold as ice.
I wasn’t aware of her existence until a fat, juicy deal landed in my lap.
She’s a part of it, a little plaything to kill some time.
She is collateral, a means to an end, and a side-bonus for striking a deal with her be
tycoon stepdad.
More than anything, Jesse Carter is a tough nut to crack.
Little does she know, I have the f** teeth for it.

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Bane is the fifth and I think last book for the Sinners of Saint series, and what a way to end it. Good job LJ Shen!

I've always loved my romance story to be bumpy and heartbreaking. For some reasons, I just enjoy it more than the happily ever after all the time. Maybe because I am a realist that I like it a little closer to reality. I loved the twist and how the bomb was dropped. The pace was good. Not too fast, but not draggy either. It also just the right amount of smut too. I also liked the fact that she didn't let the riches win. At least at one point, it showed that not every time that a rich kid get to get away with it. It gives me hope.

I've always adored BBFs who become a better person when they start to fall in love with their muse. And Bane is exactly that. I think Bane is my favorite Sinner. He is persistent with a heart. He lets Jesse bloom on her own and fight her own Battles. He doesn't feed her bullshit too. Jesse on the other hand is one though chick. Because of what happened to her, it takes a helluva lot of courage to stand up and take action.

Overall, I'm giving​ this a 5. Because, why not?

Book Review: Midnight Blue - LJ Shen

Title Midnight Blue
Author LJ Shen
Release Date January 18, 2018

It should have been easy.
I needed the money. He needed a babysitter to keep him from snorting himself to death.
I was cherry-picked especially for him. Responsible. Optimistic. Warm. Innocent.
The worst part is that I should have known better.
Alex Winslow. British rock star. Serial heartbreaker. Casanova with whiskey eyes.
“Don’t get near the devil in a leather jacket. He’ll chew you up and spit you out.”
Sounds familiar? That’s because it was a headline in a tabloid the second time he got arrested.
Guess what? I didn’t listen.
I signed the contract.
World tour. Three months. Four Continents. One hundred shows.
My name is Indigo Bellamy, and I sold my soul to a tattooed god.
Problem was, my soul wasn’t enough for Alex Winslow. He ended up taking my body, too.
Then he took my heart.
Then he took my all.

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LJ Shen broke my heart and sewn it in patches.

I've been looking for a good heart wrenching story to break my already broken heart being a massochist and all that. Although the story started a little slow for my liking, the twist made up for all of it. Man, does the twist really is a twist -- unexpected and gutting. I loved how the story progressed and how things were resolved. It is starting to get annoying when a story lacks conflict. I want something to grip into my heart and squeeze my eyes out to produce some liquid. Midnight Blue did that perfectly. It's both reality fiction rolled into one. It will give you a story about relationships: love, friendship and family. It feeds your soul something to make it move. It will empty you out and fill you back in.

I loved Indigo and her personality. She was someone I like myself to be. Fierce with a heart. Selfless and giving. She sacrifices for the people she loves yet know when to put her feet down and be firm. I love her principles and her views. She may be broken but, although others may disagree, doesn't really need a knight in shining armor to save her day. Alex may have been a shell of monster going thru the notions of existing, but he is definitely going in to my never ending list of book boboyfriends. Even if I am sober enough not to look for someone like him in real life, he is the bad boy every girl wants to save.

I am giving this five star patches. I'd like to say more but I'm afraid to spoil anything if I blab on further.

Book Review: Ruckus - LJ Shen

Title: Ruckus
Series: Sinners of Saint #2
Author: L.J. Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 26, 2017




Rosie

They say that life is a beautiful lie and death a painful truth. They're right.
No one has ever made me feel more alive than the guy who serves as a constant reminder that my clock is ticking.
He is my forbidden, shiny apple.
The striking fallacy to my blunt, raw, truth.
He is also my sister's ex-boyfriend.
One thing you should know before you judge me;
I saw him first. I craved him first. I loved him first.
Eleven years later, he waltzed into my life, demanding a second chance.
Dean Cole wants to be my bronze horseman. My white knight has finally arrived. Hopefully, he isn’t too late.

 

Dean

 
They say the brightest stars burn out the fastest. They’re right.
She sets my mind on fire.
All smart mouth, snarky attitude and a huge heart.
In a world where everything is dull, she shines like fucking Sirius.
Eleven years ago, fate tore us apart.
This time, I fucking dare it to try.
Getting to her is a battlefield, but man, that’s why they call me Ruckus.
Rosie LeBlanc is about to find out how hard I can fight.
And conquering her will be the sweetest victory.




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LJ Shen did it again. Ruckus has been sitting on my Kindle for a few days before I got the chance to devour Dean. And it was as good as it can get.

Out of all the HotHoles I’ve read so far, I think I love Dean’s story the most. I kind of predicted the twist at some point along the way but the big reveal was unexpected. I love the kind of stories that almost gives you whiplash because of its element of surprise. Something that’ll make you back pedal and question what you just read. I also liked how the timing and storyline was predictable and surprising at the same time. This almost made me miss my sleep. Almost. And that is just rare these days. The snippets of astronomical analogy added a flare of entertainment, at least for me, too.

Rosie and Millie’s relationship reminds me of my relationship with my sister. She is the Rosie to my Emilia. So it kind of spark something in me too. Add the fact that she’s sassy and feisty if she wanted to. And despite her weak physique, she is strong willed and a fighter. She stands up for what she wants. Dean is a different story altogether. His will power is something to admire. And his determination to win over the person he loved the most despite all the odds makes him all the more tempting. He would run havoc into your life and ironically, you’d gladly want him too. The darkness that seeps through his light makes him whole. Dean and Rosie also complemented each other. They’d been to hell and back, making them one of those #CoupleGoals. HotHoles appearances here and there didn’t hurt either.

I’d give this a 4.5 stars. I could’ve given it a 5 if it made me up all night to finish it in one sitting. But my eyelids still won at some point.

Book Review: Defy - LJ Shen

Defy is the second book of LJ Shen that I’ve read. A prequel to Vicious. If you haven’t read it yet, you can check my review here.  I was excited to read the prequel of the said book since I did enjoyed reading Vicious and Shen’s writing.

Defy is a lot shorter and fast-paced than Vicious. And since I read Vicious first, I kind of know where they’d end up in. I’m actually cool with that. I love witnessing how something will play out even if I know what the out come will be.

I loved how Jamie was portrayed in the story. A lot of “awwwww” moments. He may be just a boy, but at least he acts more like a man. He knows exactly what to say at the right time. On the other hand, Melody is just plain for me. Nothing really special about her. She seems to be a bit bland to me. Not really my type of heroine. Aside from her looks, I didn’t really see what’s attractive of her. there were things that actually happened to her that may have been hard to overcome, but I didn’t quite actually feel her “presence”.

The story was fun to read, but it could’ve been better. Although I had many “aww moment” with Jamie, I kind of feel that something is missing in the plot. Apart from one scene that actually showed them getting to know each other, I didn’t quite feel their “feelings” building up. One moment they were nothing more than prey and predator, the next they were madly in love with each other. But I liked what Jamie did for Melody. Something a book boyfriend would’ve done.

Overall I’d give this book a 4 out of 5 stars. I would’ve enjoyed it more if it detailed their love story more. Maybe I just wanted more of Jaime.

Cover Reveal: Defy - LJ Shen

Title: Defy
Series: Sinners of Saints #0.5
Author: L.J Shen
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 3, 2017

My name is Melody Greene, and I have a confession to make.

I slept with my student, a senior in high school.

Multiple times.

I had multiple orgasms.

In multiple positions.

I slept with my student and I enjoyed it.

I slept with my student and I’d do it all over again if I could turn back time.

My name is Melody Greene, and I got kicked out of my position as a teacher and did my walk of shame a la Cersei Lannister from the principal’s office, minutes after said principal threatened to call the cops on me.

My name is Melody Greene, and I did something bad because it made me feel good.

Here is why it was totally worth it.

Defy is a smutty, insta-love, insta-lust short novella. Defy is a prequel to Vicious (Sinners of Saint #1). It is recommended, but unnecessary, to read Defy before reading Vicious.

L.J. Shen resides in sunny California with her husband, son, chubby cat and wild, wild dreams.

Her passion is to write badass stories, sushi, UFC and her awesome family and friends (not in this order, though. Obviously, sushi comes before writing. Oh, and also the family part.)

She spend the first half of her twenties traveling the world and is now paying all the fun with extra shifts in front of her MacBook. Feel free to contact her on her Facebook page. She loves to hear from her readers.

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