l j shen – Playground of Randomness

Tag: l j shen

07
Jan
2022

Fiction Friday: Book Review- Bad Cruz by L.J Shen

Bad Cruz by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I made the mistake of reading other reviews before posting mine just so I could get the female main character’s name right and now I have mixed feelings about my review. I see the obvious problems pointed out by other readers but for me personally I loved this book.
This was a light read that I did not take too seriously which is probably why I cannot personally find faults with it.
I did hate how the cruel people went along with life as normal because it just felt like everyone was a a##hole to Tenesse.
“Bad Cruz” is the story of Tenesse, who is the town’s bad girl simply because she made the mistake of getting pregnant at 16 (Did she make the child on her own???).
Tenesse’s sister is getting married to the brother of the town’s golden boy (and Tenesse’s enemy) Dr Cruz Costello.
The families are getting together to go on a cruise before the wedding but due to a mix-up, Dr Cruz Costello and Tenesse end up together on the wrong cruise ship.
I liked this book because I felt like it was a fun read. The relationship between Cruz and Tenesse was cute and I was rooting for them the entire way.
My only issue was that I wished that they had just left their entire ridiculous small town and moved away

02
Jul
2021

Fiction Friday: The Monster (Boston Belles #3) by L. J. Shen

categories: Books, Reviews

The Monster by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Throughout the Boston Belles series we all saw how Aisling had a huge crush on Sam for whatever reason while he treated her like something he found stuck on the bottom of his shoe. “The Monster” delves deeper into this crush and their background together.
When Aisling manages to sneak into Sam’s club despite him banning her, the result is an encounter that has lasting repercussions on both of them.
But both Sam and Aisling have their own demons and it isn’t long before their secrets threaten to tear apart both their worlds.
I really enjoyed getting a better look at Aisling’s inexplicable crush on Sam. I always saw her as a poor, sappy schoolgirl and “The Monster” really fleshes out her character.
This book was compelling and I couldn’t stop reading. I was torn between waiting to make it last as long as possible (I don’t know when the next L.J Shen book releases so I wanted to savor this one) and finishing it and finally getting some answers.
L. J Shen is brilliant with her spellbinding romances and this is no different.

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26
Mar
2021

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Devil Wears Black by L.J Shen

categories: Books, Reviews

The Devil Wears Black by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Maddie is a free-spirited, kind-hearted designer who doesn’t know how to say no. Her ex, Chase Black, is a cheating scoundrel who has no qualms about being a jerk.
So when Chase walks back into her life and demands that Maddie pretends to be his fiance, she takes great joy in refusing him. At first.
But eventually Maddie realizes Chase just wants to act out an engagement in order to please his dying father.
Maddie goes along with Chase’s plan in an attempt to help him and his family. But it isn’t long before she starts to develop genuine feelings for both him and his family.
This was very different from L. J Shen’s usual work however I enjoyed it regardless. This was so much less angsty but still very beautiful and well-written.
Chase Black is an asshole but it is hard not to root for him considering his messed-up past with his bro/cousin. Maddie reminded me of Jess from New Girl but she was adorable and I just wanted to see her get the happy ending she deserved.
If you are a fan of contemporary romance, give this a go.

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06
Nov
2020

Book Review: Playing With Fire by L.J Shen

categories: Books, Reviews

Playing with Fire by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

It took me a while to get into this novel but it was a nice sort of slow burn- sort of like West and Grace’s relationship.
West is running away from his past traumas and his method of escape involves drugs, alcohol and fighting for money.
Grace is trying to hide away from her past where she was involved in a fire that ruined her beauty. Her method of escape involves isolation, baseball caps and hoodies.
When West signs up to work with Grace at her best friend’s food truck, no one expects anything to happen between them. The town’s hottie bad boy and the girl burned so badly she looks like toast? Highly unlikely.
But the two strike up a friendship and the more time they spend together, the more they start to realize that they might not be that different after all.
“Playing with Fire” was a book I looked forward to for a while but was reluctant to approach because it seemed too angsty.
There is a whole lot of angst which is why I couldn’t binge read it the way I wanted to but I enjoyed reading this nonetheless.
This is one of L.J Shen’s finest work and if you want to cry and feel good thereafter, this is the book for you.

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19
Nov
2019

Release Blitz: In The Unlikely Event by L.J Shen

categories: Books

It’s here!!! I can’t keep calm because I have been waiting for this for months!

“The perfect blend of soul crushing angst, laugh out loud wit and heart melting romance.”–Helena Hunting, New York Times bestselling author

From USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author L.J. Shen comes a new, contemporary romance with heart-wrenching twists and laugh-out-loud moments. This standalone is like no other by this author. In The Unlikely Event is available now!

“Romance masterpiece” – Kylie Scott, New York Times bestselling author

In the Unlikely Event AMAZON

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?

ITUEavailablenowfb2

Download your copy today or read FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2KwmjeI

Amazon Worldwide: http://mybook.to/ITUE

Amazon Paperback: https://amzn.to/2CJDOUN

Add IN THE UNLIKELY EVENT to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2lSW5tE

A498343C-93B9-4792-966A-A7DE787F7A2F

LJShen

About LJ Shen

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.

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1

Twitter: http://bit.ly/36ELHZc

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo

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

http://bit.ly/36MnmAQ

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

08
Nov
2019

Title, Blurb and Cover Reveal: In The Unlikely Event by L.J Shen

categories: Books

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

In the Unlikely Event, an all-new must-read contemporary romance from USA Today bestselling author L.J. Shen, is coming November 19th and we have the gorgeous cover! I’ve heard nothing but great things about this book so I cannot wait to read it!

In the Unlikely Event AMAZON

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?

Add to GoodReads: http://bit.ly/2lSW5tE

Be notified FIRST when In the Unlikely Event goes live: http://bit.ly/2umcYPg

Cover designed by Hang Le

About LJ Shen

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.

LJ Shen prof pic

Connect with L.J. Shen

Facebook: http://bit.ly/2OhSvp1

Twitter: http://bit.ly/2AIDyUZ

Pinterest: http://bit.ly/2oMbFsu

Instagram: http://bit.ly/2AIOiTo

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

http://bit.ly/2umcYPg

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

12
Apr
2019

Fiction Friday: Book Review- The Kiss Thief by L.J Shen

categories: Books, Reviews

The Kiss Thief by L.J. Shen

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Francesca Rossi is the daughter of the biggest mobster boss in Chicago. Her entire life has been planned. No work, no college. Just marriage to her childhood best friend, Angelo Bandini and then she needs to pop out children.
That is the way it has always been in the Chicago outfit. However things don’t go as plan when Senator Wolfe Keaton spots Francesca and decides that she will be the perfect revenge for him.
Wolfe steals the kiss that Francesca intends on sharing with Angelo before going to Francesca’s house and stealing her.
Wolfe has hated Francesca’s father for ruining his life and his family. Taking her away from her sheltered life and ruining all the plans her father has intended for her is the best way for Wolfe to avenge his family.
I saw this book recommended on Audible and was not really interested. So I do not know how I ended up purchasing a copy after seeing it on Goodreads.
However I started this book and could not put it down (so much so that I now have an ebook copy AND an audiobook).
This was an interesting read with a unique plot and beautifully crafted characters. I absolutely detested Wolfe however it was difficult to not feel sympathy for him and root for his relationship with Francesca throughout this novel.
If you are a fan of romance books, definitely give this a try. You will not regret it.

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