Reckless Hearts (Oak Harbor #2) by Melody Grace

Blurb:

“When you’re ready for a real man to show you what it feels like, you just let me know.”



It should be the offer of a lifetime: sexy craftsman Will Montgomery wants to rock my world, and boy, does he know what to do with his hands – and that filthy, delicious mouth of his…



Only problem is, I don’t believe in relationships. And Will has ‘boyfriend material’ written all over his chiseled, hunky abs. He was supposed to be an impulse fling, but now he’s shown up in Oak Harbor, NC, to put down roots, and he’s determined to make me com…mit.

I’ve been hurt before. Love always ends in tears and tequila, but Will seems different. He’s charming and funny, and did I mention that miraculous mouth of his? Despite all my better judgment, I’m falling. Hard. But can something this good turn out to be true? Or will old scars keep us from building a future together? For the first time ever, maybe I want to be proven wrong...



A sexy, heart-felt stand-alone with a guaranteed happy ending from New York Times bestselling author, Melody Grace!

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29b6O6C
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/29kFhDs
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29b8op0
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/29gUKUD
B&N: http://bit.ly/RecklessHeartsNOOK
Kobo: http://bit.ly/RecklessHeartsKOBO
iBooks: http://apple.co/28SAxAV

Google Play: http://bit.ly/28VOsL6

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: July 2016.

Reckless Hearts was my first book by Melody Grace, and to be completely honest I went in fairly blind, in fact I didn't even realise it was book two in the Oak Harbor series, in saying that, Reckless Hearts is a stand alone within the series, regardless of whether you are new to this series or a long time fan of Ms Grace this book is bound to easily captivate.

Delilah Morgan is having a rough day, first of all she lost out on a sales pitch she desperately wanted to make, then her handbag is stolen in a bar, and as if that isn't bad enough, she's hours from home with a car but no keys, no wallet or phone. When things couldn't possibly get worse a knight in shining armour appears, Will Montgomery has swagger and confidence, and the way he fills out a suit should be illegal, but the likelihood of every seeing him again is slim to none. Delilah is soon enough on her way home and will continue to go about her usual life without the interruptions of sexy Will.

"I don't know why you've got those walls built so high, But sooner or later, you're going to realize I'm not like the other guys. I don't play games, I don't run scared because a woman wants to call the shots. I can give you everything you need. EVERYTHING..."

Despite all of Delilah's false bravado, and confidence, Will see's right through her, he see's her fears and her doubt's, he see's a woman he wants to spend time with, wants to get to know her, wants to tear down the walls she's built. Their chemistry is immediate, their connection electric, their banter making Reckless Hearts impossible to put down, everything about this book had me utterly captivated, invested from the very first page, desperate for Grace to take me on Will and Delilah's journey, fun and frivolous, exciting and fresh, I absolutely needed to know if Will could convince Delilah that he was worth taking a chance on, I wanted to know if Delilah could abandon her fears and take a leap of faith, woven in between the deliciously sexy and the laugh out loud funny were moments of pure tender wonder, swoon worthy snippets that left me giddy.

"I don't know how to do this, I don't know how to be with someone, like this, for real. I've never even come close."

While moments were predictable, and at times I had to remind myself this was fast paced fiction, what I found was that I was so utterly enamoured with not only Will and Delilah but Lottie and Sawyer and everyone else that I didn't care enough to truly pause, small moments that would normally pull me from my book infatuation didn't manifest that way, I merely noted it and kept going, devouring Grace's words, mesmerised by her story, while I may have been new to the Oak Harbor series and this author, it certainly won't be the last of her work to grace my kindle, I was searching and one clicking before I turned the last page eager to find out more about this series, to experience more of Melody Grace's fun and feisty storytelling.

ALSO AVAILABLE IN THE OAK HARBOR SERIES

# 0.5 Heartbeats – A Heartbreaker Prequel Story

US:  http://amzn.to/29tfDOK

UK:  http://bit.ly/HeartbeatsAMZNUK

B&N:  http://bit.ly/28RKyRc

Kobo: http://bit.ly/28RWeUj

iBooks:  http://apple.co/1SZkWSt

Google Play: http://bit.ly/28UkqIS

#1 Heartbreaker – A Full Length Novel

US:  http://amzn.to/29tgb7q

UK:  http://amzn.to/1MKNL0r
B&N:  http://bit.ly/21P3Ysr
Kobo:  http://bit.ly/1REk88o

iBooks:  http://apple.co/1MqyB5L
Google Play:  http://bit.ly/1pNpmTq

About Melody Grace:

Melody Grace is the New York Times bestselling author of the Beachwood Bay series. A small-town girl turned SoCal beach lover, after spending her life with her nose in a book, she decided it was time she wrote one herself. She loves steamy romance novels, happily-ever-afters, and lusting after fictional menfolk. She lives in LA with her two kittens, Bucky Barnes and Steve Rogers.

Website:  http://melodygracebooks.com/

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

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/melody_grace_

Amazon:  http://amzn.to/1dU4808

Newsletter:  http://eepurl.com/bjCu0z

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6926290.Melody_Grace

One With You (Crossfire #5) by Sylvia Day - Review

Blurb:

Gideon Cross. Falling in love with him was the easiest thing I've ever done. It happened instantly. Completely. Irrevocably.

Marrying him was a dream come true. Staying married to him is the fight of my life. Love transforms. Ours is both a refuge from the storm and the most violent of tempests. Two damaged souls entwined as one.

We have bared our deepest, ugliest secrets to one another. Gideon is the mirror that reflects all my flaws ... and all the beauty I couldn't see. He has given me everything. Now, I must prove I can be the rock, the shelter for him that he is for me. Together, we could stand against those who work so viciously to come between us.

But our greatest battle may lie within the very vows that give us strength. Committing to love was only the beginning. Fighting for it will either set us free ... or break us apart.

Heartbreakingly and seductively poignant, One with You is the breathlessly awaited finale to the Crossfire® saga, the searing love story that has captivated millions of readers worldwide.


Purchase Links: 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1S2ynRw
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1qe1p7c
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1UPEzQA
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1UPDRCI
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01836U3VI

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

I remember the first time I had heard of Bared to You and Sylvia Day, I was standing in Dymmocks Bookstore, I was picking up the final book in the FSOG trilogy and the helpful sales assistant placed a copy of BTY in my hands, she strongly urged me to read it, it was a new release and was garnering great feedback from staff and customers alike, I added a copy to my sale and happily walked out the door. I had just rediscovered reading, the world of e-books and kindles was a brave new world, I was hooked, suddenly I didn't have to carry around paperbacks in my already heavy handbag, I could read on my phone...regardless of where I was, it was May 2012 and I was hooked. When I began BTY I was immediately captivated by Eva, she was sassy and charming and forthright, she was sexy and owned it, even in those first moments she had a clear idea of who she wanted to be, even if she wasn't quite there yet, and Gideon, boy Gideon, with his ink black hair, three piece suits (yes you're right Mr Cross...is there any other kind) and beguiling charisma I was intrigued, because I wanted, no I needed to know more. Despite owning the paperback, I downloaded the e-book version so I continue reading even when I had pressing matters like work and a husband and a business to attend to, now as I sit here writing this review, I can honestly say not only had my love for this pair grown in leaps and bounds, but so has my collection of both Australian and International covers of this series, but also my e-library, spanning across different platforms.

"I hadn't even known Eva was out there, had been afraid to even dream of finding the one person in the world who would accept and love every facet of me."

There are authors I will automatically drop everything for, there are series I will do the same, as I eagerly awaited the final instalment hitting my kindle, and my bookshelf, I found myself rereading my favourite lines, my favourite passages, reconnecting with Eva and Gideon, watching their growth both independently and together, seeing their relationship blossom despite the almost constant wave of trials they faced, on the surface the Crossfire series is about a billionaire business man and a young woman who is certainly not new to wealth and power, but when you pull back the layers there's something inherently beautiful here, there's two people who have lived through horrific, traumatic experiences, they've found ways to continue on, to continue living a life that while may have seemed fanciful on the outside somewhat of a bland existence in reality. While Ms Day's writing may be deliciously sexy, gripping and at time tumultuous, ultimately this is a love story, a grand, sweeping tale, of two people who have fought in every sense of the word, for their mental health and stability, for their pasts that can't be unwritten, for themselves but ultimately for each other, for a reader that thrives on living the journey not just relishing the destination, Crossfire has become a favourite that I will no doubt revisit time and time again.

"You fascinate the f*ck out of me, you know that? You're never boring. A lifetime alone with you wouldn't be long enough to figure you out."

What I found most thrilling in One With You was the noticeable changes in both Eva and Gideon, for many years both used sex as a way to claim back something that was lost, the lack of control they had in their earlier lives, the intense, almost soul deep connection was never in any doubt, their bond not in question, but where sex had become a salve previously we saw two people who found intimacy in their connection, where natural instincts begged them to shut down and back away, it was that pull, the magnetism, the siren call they seemed to elicit only for each other that led them back, time after time, heartache after heartbreak, and for each seemingly insurmountable obstacle that they overcame together, the stronger they became both independently and together.

"She hugged me so tightly I could hardly breath. But I didn't need air. I had her."

There were so many moments that I had to take a breath, set my book down and just smile, so may times across a series spanning five books that I sighed as my heart fluttered, knowing what was coming next only had the ability to tear them both down, apart, if they let it, what I loved most though was that this series, these characters have become friends, for almost four years I have cheered with Gideon and Eva's triumphs, have commiserated with their heartaches,  have swooned with every one of their romantic entanglements, saying goodbye to them is bittersweet, after so much time I almost don't want to let them go, the Crossfire series truly epitomises the old adage that life isn't about the destination but rather the journey. Ms Day introduced to the world two characters that were captivating individually, they were warriors who had known darkness, been shrouded in it for far too long, letting it break them down, and tear them apart, in bringing them together she forced them to step into the light, finding acceptance and peace, but most importantly love, their journey may have come to an end, but their legacy will no doubt live on in readers hearts.

About Sylvia Day:

Sylvia Day (aka S. J. Day and Livia Dare) is the #1 New York Times and #1 international bestselling author of over 20 award-winning novels sold in more than 40 countries. She is a #1 bestselling author in 28 countries, with tens of millions of copies of her books in print. Her Crossfire series has been optioned for television by Lionsgate.
Website: www.sylviaday.com,
Facebook: Facebook.com/AuthorSylviaDay
Twitter: @SylDay.

The Player and the Pixie (Rugby #2) by Penny Reid & LH Cosway - ARCReview

Blurb:


How can someone so smokin’ hot be so bad in bed? I mean, Sean Cassidy is absolute rubbish. RUBBISH. He is the epitome of walking, talking false advertising and I want a refund! Plus he’s an arsehole. So… what is wrong with me that I can’t stop thinking about him?


The Pixie and the Player is a full-length, romantic comedy novel, can be read as a standalone, and is the second book in the Rugby Series.



THE PIXIE
Lucy Fitzpatrick doesn’t like rugby.
As the little sister of Ireland’s most infamous rugby player, Lucy can’t seem to escape the championship-sized shadow cast by her big brother, or her mother’s frequent attempts to micromanage her future. Her rainbow hair is as free-spirited as her quest for inner peace, yet overbearing expectations keep bringing her down. And when she’s down, her compulsive little problem lands her in seriously big trouble.

THE PLAYER
Sean Cassidy is a cold-hearted brute… or so he’s been told. Frequently. By everyone.
His blonde locks, baby blues, and rock hard bod make ladies the world over drool with desire. As the rugby world’s second most infamous player, he should be basking in his success. But Sean has never been content settling for second place, and his frequent confrontations with Lucy’s big brother leave him cold. And when he’s cold, his compulsive little problem lands him in the lap of Lucy Fitzpatrick.

THE PLAN
Sean has a problem only Lucy can solve. Lucy has a problem only Sean can fix. The solution seems obvious: you scratch my back, and I’ll bail you out of jail. But when their business arrangement unexpectedly leaves Sean scorching hot and Lucy on the precipice of inner peace, can they convince the world—and Lucy’s big brother in particular—that this is the real deal?

Either way, both the Player and the Pixie are about to teach each other some pretty monumental lessons about family, life, but most importantly, love.

Purchase Links: 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/231666i
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RUOtzL
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1RFSzX5
Amazon AU: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B01DPMWBFQ


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2016.

I'm going to be entirely honest here, I've been struggling to read of late, my ability to devour a book the way I once did has been sorely lacking, my speed reading skills seem to have taken a holiday, and I've been finding my concentration poor, I've been ill and exhausted, in short I'm burnt out, I find myself trying to read, and within a few pages I'm staring at the words on the page as they dance across the screen, my mind frazzled, feeling dejected because the thing that has maintained my sanity isn't working the way it used to, picking up and setting down title after title just because, when new books wouldn't capture my attention the way I'd hoped, I'd return to old faithfuls, rereading paragraphs of text hoping to reignite my passion for reading.  When The Player and the Pixie hit my kindle I felt that zing of anticipation, followed quickly by the dread of "what if I can't get into this either".... I'll be honest I was cautious, I told myself to just give it a go, if I couldn't get into it I'd put it down and take a breath, one page turned into two, two turned into three, three turned into five chapters, and before I knew it I was lying awake at 2.30am this morning, my eyes drooping, my brain begging for just one more page. There's something about Penny Reid and LH Cosway's writing independently that draws me in, after falling in love with Cosway's prose years ago when I first picked up Painted Faces I instantly became a bona fide fan, similarly Reid's quirky Knitting in the City series enticed me, but it was her Elements of Chemistry series and the aloof but ultimately charismatic Martin Sandeke that made her an automatic one click author for me. Creating stories that readers love is no small feat, dreaming up fictional worlds the reader can get lost in is monumental in itself, but two authors crafting a story that is cohesive, that drags the reader into it, that feels organic and real, that flows from one sentence to the next...well that for me is mind blowing, Reid and Cosway may not be the first to collaborate or co-write a novel, but they certainly are an unstoppable force in contemporary romance, and one of my automatic must read recommendation duo's.

Lucy Fitzpatrick and Sean Cassidy felt like old friends to me after meeting them both in the first book in the Rugby series, Lucy was flighty and lovable, ethereal and quirky - everything about her set me at ease, unaffected by wealth or societal standing Lucy was a joy, beneath her outlandish appearance lurked a quiet temerity, Shakespeare's words ring in my mind when I think of her "Though she be but little she is fierce" - with her diminutive stature but loud personality everything about Lucy screams that she's a silent warrior, she knows her flaws, see's her faults and yet she keeps trying to find ways to better herself, but more than that, she's desperate to effect change in a world that often lacks humanity, refusing to fight hate and aggression with venomous vitriol, she endeavours to do good, to be good, to find the good in people even when they are desperate to prove to the world that they are nothing but bad.

Sean Cassidy is cocky and aloof, his vehement distaste for most of his acquaintances is clear, he has a tenuous relationship with most of his family, his connection to the women whose bed he shares is apathetic at best, and a well documented aggressive relationship with his team captain Ronan Fitzpatrick means there's very little for him to hold dear. Sean is meandering through life with zero expectations, he has wealth and prestige but as he already knows all too well, money only gets you so far, it certainly doesn't keep you warm at night, nor does it allow you to dream about a future filled with a life you are eager to experience.

Everything about Sean and Lucy is wrong, the woman who finds the inherent goodness in her surroundings, and the man who is trying to prove to the world just how much of a jerk he is, their connection is immediate, there's a pull there from their first reconnection that catches both of them off guard. Moments of candour interspersed with snarky barbs set the tone for two people inexplicably drawn to one another and yet desperate to keep their distance.

"It was a completely insensitive thing to say. I am insensitive. But I'd like to be otherwise, with you, if you'll give me the chance."

The more they explore their blinding sexual chemistry, the more cracks appear in Lucy's resolve to keep Sean at arms length, when the man who has never wanted for anything suddenly knows what it's like to have someone who feels like coming home, we see the metaphorical shackles breaking as he finally figures out the lengths to which you can be willing to go when you find someone who colours your world. Despite his earlier childish pranks, his smart remarks, his outward disdain for almost everyone he knows, there's a softer side to Sean that was thrilling to unravel, my heart beat faster, my breath stilled every time I saw a glimpse of the kind of man Sean truly was under the armour he put on for the world.

"Now you have two people in all the world who will always be there for you."

 

There wasn't a word in this story that I didn't adore, nor a moment when I felt that all too familiar panic set in, telling me my concentration was waning, that I was ready to set it down to move onto something else. I fell deeply, hopelessly and irreverently in love with Sean and Lucy, from Sean's clueless bumblings in the bedroom, to Lucy's klepto tendencies, to the sweet smiles, soft sighs, shared looks and warm caresses they made me smile, but more than anything they made me desperate for more, they made me want to keep reading, they had me losing track of time, and just being in the words, getting swept away. The Player and the Pixie was tender and heart-warming, funny and exhilarating, and sexy as sin, the balance of heat, heart and humour was a winner for me, one that left me feeling both sated and invigorated, with a smile on my face long after I turned the last page.

Review: The Hooker and the Hermit

About the Authors:

Penny Reid

Penny Reid is a USA Today Best Selling Author of romantic fiction. When she’s not immersed in penning smart romances she works in the biotech industry as a researcher. She's also a full time mom to three diminutive adults (boy-8, girl-6, and girl-4 months), wife, daughter, knitter, crocheter, sewer, general crafter, and thought ninja.

Connect with Penny Reid on Facebook

LH Cosway

L.H. Cosway has a BA in English Literature and Greek and Roman Civilisation, and an MA in Postcolonial Literature. She lives in Dublin city. Her inspiration to write comes from music. Her favourite things in life include writing stories, vintage clothing, dark cabaret music, food, musical comedy, and of course, books.

She thinks that imperfect people are the most interesting kind. They tell the best stories.
Connect with LH Cosway on Facebook

Finding North by Carmen Jenner - Review

Released: 25th February 2016.

Blurb:

Red Maine’s blue-collared bad boy, North Underwood, has a dirty little secret—Will Tanner.

Friends since kindergarten, North had been the one to jump first, and his fall into Will’s bed ten years ago had been no exception. Will and North had been inseparable, but things change, people grow apart, and even a blazing flame can dwindle to a dying ember over time.

The more things change the more they stay the same.

After a run in with a bottle of Bundy rum, Will and North find themselves in a compromising and all too familiar position.

Blurred lines, bad decisions, and one wrong foot after another lead these two down a spiral of sarcasm, secrets, and sex, but when North’s hetero status is called into question he can’t figure up from down. And despite Will telling himself he wouldn’t fall again, he’s head over heels and wandering without a compass.

Love is love.

Love is truth.

Love … shouldn’t be this damn hard to figure out.

Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1KMDLYO
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1RytLUy
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/242eXme
Amazon AU: bit.ly/1VbnvkE
iBooks: apple.co/1R161pY
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1NDhCvy

B&N: http://bit.ly/20Jv3Q5

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: January 2016.

"North was my childhood. My first love. But he's nothing to me now. We're nothing. We stopped freefalling, and now we're standing still."

I've read quite a lot of MM over the past few years, and while most undoubtedly have got me hot under the collar, feeding off a raw sexual magnetism that the characters possess, few have truly found a place in my heart for examining what it means to find a bond with someone that so much of the world tells them they shouldn't be attracted to, for me so much of the MM I've read has focused solely on the sexual connection, without focusing on the soul deep connection. We live in a world full of stereotypes, of ideals like falling in love is joyous, and yet accompanied by addendums like, only if the person you fall for doesn't deviate from the preconceived norm, it's a unfortunate fact that even in 2016 people still fear what they don't understand, and the reality is there is so much fear and repression surrounding homosexuality, it goes against so many religious and cultural teachings, as far as the story goes boy and girl meet, fall in love, get married, have babies, that's it, the end... but what happens when despite all you've been taught growing up flies in the face of what you feel, what you have no choice but in feeling, in knowing to be true?

"Hell, I didn't fall. I'm still f*cking falling, and there isn't a safety net in the world big enough to catch me."

For Red Maine's resident manwhore North Underwood, life is well...it's pretty average actually, he spends his days at the mill doing physically demanding work, he drinks at his local after knock off, he's had his fair share of willing women to warm his bed, what he doesn't have is a connection to his once best mate Will Tanner, the once inseparable pair now have little to talk about, they certainly aren't friends, their conversation is limited to ordering a drink across a bar, years of friendship during their formative years is a distance memory, until North is given a chance to reconnect with Will, and he'll be damned not to take advantage of it, despite the lewd comments that get thrown around touting Will's sexuality as anything other than normal, despite the hate speech and vitriol that his homophobic father and co workers are sure to send his way, there's a sense of longing for what was, and of hope for what never may be.

"When his eyes meet mine they're both furious and full of fear. That's all he is: fear. From head to toe, a frightened little boy, so afraid to feel. So afraid to be found out as a faggot."

It's no big secret that I often listen to music when reading and reviewing, there's a line in Hanging By A Moment where Jason Wade croons that's he desperate for change, starving for truth, there's a feeling that in that moment it's both Will and North he's singing about, Will having spent so many years waiting for North to admit what he was feeling and North desperate for the courage, the strength to go after what he's wanted, when Wade sings "I'm closer to where I started, I'm chasing after you." there's that sense of being on a merry go round, the sense that the past twelve years apart have faded into dust, that North has got one foot out the door, and Will is still standing in the same spot he was all those years ago, still chasing after the idea of something that could be great but only if they both are willing to take a chance.

"I'd go through all of that for just one day of not having to hide, but it doesn't matter, because North will never change. Twelve years on and I'm still his dirty little secret. And the thing that tears me apart is the knowledge that this is all I've ever be."

There's a strangling sense of repression in Finding North, much like the title suggest, Jenner's latest work examines more than just coming out and sexuality, more than predetermined gender roles, bravely looking at sexuality as fluid, as more than black and white, as more than I like men or I like women, it takes a look at small town life, where sometimes the most convenient way to live is buried deep in the closet, where discrimination is more than just shouted words, or rude gestures, it's hatred, and violence, and destruction, it's FEAR.

"The fear, a blackness that roils constantly in my belly, threatens to overcome me and all I want to do is sink to my knees and sob. Instead, I fall into Will, and I find it's a pretty soft place to land."

There's so much more here than two men fighting and falling for each other, there's more than childhood bestfriends realising that there was more there for them, there's more here than a man who isn't quite sure what he identifies as or who he is. Finding North captivated me from the very first page, Will's voice full of innocence and wonder cemented that I couldn't put it down. Jenner's writing continues to go from strength to strength, her multi dimensional approach to contemporary romance means that Finding North is about more than steamy MM sex scenes, while are present - there's a element of it feeling natural, raw, unscripted, and more than that, her ability to create places like Red Maine that feel so inherently real that you can feel the dust swirling around your skin, sense the sun beating down hot on your face, but the thing that cements her place as author who leaves me giddy with anticipation for what's coming next, is her ability to create characters that are flawed, passionate, selfish, nervous, angry, sarcastic, loving, desperate... relatable...REAL...characters like Will and North, who wear their pasts, their indiscretions, their faults and their flaws like a badge of honour, saying this is who I am, I'm not perfect and that's okay, because who I am is enough.

 

This story gives a voice to anyone who has ever felt alone, unaccepted, unloved, it begs them to believe a little more, to accept those parts of themselves that cut like shards of glass tearing away at their strength, at their hope, Finding North tells the reader that we're all a little bent, a little broken and that's okay.

 

 

About The Author:

Carmen Jenner is a thirty-something, USA TODAY and international bestselling author of the Sugartown, Savage Saints, and Taint series.
Her dark romance, KICK (Savage Saints MC #1), won Best Dark Romance Read in the Reader’s Choice Awards at RWDU 2015.
A tattoo enthusiast, hardcore MAC addict and zombie fangirl, Carmen lives on the sunny north coast of New South Wales, Australia, where she spends her time indoors wrangling her two wildling children, a dog named Pikelet, and her very own man-child.
A romantic at heart, Carmen strives to give her characters the HEA they deserve, but not before ruining their lives completely first … because what’s a happily ever after without a little torture?

Website / Facebook

Last Call (Bad Habits #3) by Staci Hart - Review

Released: 15th February 2016.

Blurb:

Once Rose Fisher makes a decision, that’s it. End of story.

Like when her ex, Patrick, dumped her out of the blue, then showed up with a super hot, tatted up sex kitten on his arm. Then it was over for good. The end. Poof. Dead to her. Except he was everywhere — down the hall, at the bar with their friends, worming his way into her dreams.

But with their friends paired off, they’re left alone more and more. Rose is determined to keep him friendzoned — doesn’t matter that he stares at her with a smolder that drops all panties in a ten foot radius. She’s over him, and she’ll prove it by getting back into the dating game, Patrick be damned.

Patrick Evans is no stranger to consequences. When your mother walks out, your dad drifts away. When you leave home, you’re on your own. And when you run away from the girl you love, you lose her. He finally has an opportunity to rebuild the bridge he burned, and it’s not one he’ll take for granted. But he’ll have to fight for her, even if it hurts. Even if it means he’ll walk away brokenhearted. Because deep down, he knows that she’s it for him.

The trick will be to get her to admit she feels it too.

Find Last Call on Goodreads 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/20SD9op
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1W9ArYz
Amazon UK: amzn.to/1Sd6okp

Currently on sale for 99c *at time of posting*

Purchase: With A Twist (Bad Habits #1)
Purchase: Chaser (Bad Habits #2)

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2016.

When I picked up With A Twist last year I was smitten with Staci Hart's words, by Chaser I was utterly hooked, the way every emotion bleeds into her stories, the way West and Lilly connected - a connection that comes from years spent together while hiding behind the guise of friendship, to the raw and unyielding chemistry between Maggie and Cooper - the kind you can try to run from but never escape, but what truly intrigued me was tenuous relationship between Rose and Tricky, this relationship that had once been so sweet that had soured and left a poisonous void between them, when friends become lovers and everything falls apart, what you're left with is a connection that won't let you breathe, try as you might to move on, it holds you captive, the friendships you've built around it leaves you held hostage inside your own grief, inside the torment of what was and what it could have been, while you wear a mask, one that shows the outside world you're okay, while you're still crumbling inside.

"So I stared in his direction, wondering how I'd gotten to where I was, lying across from the boy who I couldn't escape but couldn't have."

The second I opened Last Call I was mesmerised, Rose had always seemed like such a strong, infallible woman, and she was, but reading her thoughts, slipping into the story, as her words and thoughts invaded my mind like ink sinking into my skin, I saw all of her, her joy, her sadness, her grief, her strength, her tenacity and her strong will, it was impossible not to love her from the very first page, Rose had loved and lost, and it had hurt her, it tore her heart from her chest, but she refused to wallow in that soul crushing pain, she stood strong even when she felt weak, Rose embodied everything I look for in a heroine, she made me think, made me feel and had me in her corner, cheering her on, not just for Tricky but for Rose, from that very first page, I wanted Rose to find her happy regardless of what that might be, so often I find leading ladies happily ever afters tied up in the hero, but what I found here was that what I wanted most of all was for Rose to be okay, and not a shadow of her former self.

"I didn't know which was worse. The truth, or the lie we'd been telling ourselves."

Tricky the inked up man of few words, everything about Tricky intrigued me from the very first mention of him in With A Twist, to say that I was desperate for more of him would be a gross understatement, from the smouldering glances he levelled at Rose, to the easy camaraderie he had with West and Cooper, everything about his outward appearance may have screamed back off, but those secret smiles...gosh those secret smiles made me want to crawl inside his mind and know everything about him, Tricky seemed like that kind of man that was forever trying to do the right thing, even when it was to the detriment of himself, and I wanted to know why, what made him tick, what made him guard his heart so closely especially when it was clear that the Bad Habits crew loved him, that even Rose despite the pain of their past still cared for him deeply, but most of all I was desperate to know what happened that a man whose eyes tracked Rose's every movement, eyes that told the story of hurt and regret, of pain without a chance of absolution would willingly walk away from her.

"Rose doesn't love you for any reason other than she does. You didn't have to do anything. Don't you get it?"

Last Call was a strange concept for romance novels, so often we start at the beginning hoping that the hero and heroine will find each other, will find their happily every after, instead Hart invites the reader to what could possibly be the end, Rose and Tricky have already had the passionate love affair, they tried and failed, where any romance reader salivates for the elusive HEA, the author begs you to leave your preconceived notions at the door and take a journey that is just as much moving forward as it is looking back, as two broken characters try to navigate what they were and who they are, as well as what they could be, whether together or alone. When Rose and Tricky battled to just keep moving through the pain of their past, the fear of the unknown threatening to drown them, the waves of trepidation crashing angrily against them, the unfettered joy of second chances, of making up for lost time, I felt that, I felt it wash over me, I felt it chip away at my heart, knowing with certainly that like Rose and Tricky, whatever happened I would never be the same.

There are books that make you laugh when you desperately need it, books that leave you reading through blurry teary eyes, books that make you want to slam down your kindle, cursing the characters and the world, and there are books that make you forget time and space, that draw you in, make you feel something bigger than yourself, they hold you captive and demand your attention, they remind you why you love to read, they remind you what it feels like to truly become invested in someone else's words, they take your heart, and hold it, knowing it's precious while being unafraid to take you on the journey they need you to go on. Staci Hart reminded me that sometimes we need to get through the pain and hurt to find what we truly need on the other side, that sometimes time and perspective is what we need despite how much we just want to forget and move on, but most of she reminded me that sometimes endings are really just the beginning of something new.

"Cheers to the end, because every story that ends begins another. Cheers to beginnings that they may be full of hope and love..."

About Staci Hart:

Staci has been a lot of things up to this point in her life: a graphic designer, an entrepreneur, a seamstress, a clothing and handbag designer, a waitress. Can't forget that. She's also been a mom, with three little girls who are sure to grow up to break a number of hearts. She's been a wife, even though she's certainly not the cleanest, or the best cook. She's also super, duper fun at a party, especially if she's been drinking whiskey. Her favorite word starts with f and ends with k.

From roots in Houston, to a seven year stint in Southern California, Staci and her family ended up settling somewhere in between and equally north, in Denver. They are new enough that snow is still magical. When she's not writing, she's sleeping, cleaning, or designing graphics.

Visit Staci's Website: http://stacihartnovels.com/

Wicked Sexy LIar by Christina Lauren - Review

Blurb:

When three college besties meet three hot guys in Vegas, anything can—and does—happen. Book Four in the New York Times Wild Seasons series that began with Sweet Filthy Boy (the Romantic Times book of the year that Sylvia Day called “a sexy, sweet treasure of a story”), Dirty Rowdy Thing, and Dark Wild Night.

For two people ambivalent about dating and love, they sure get naked around each other an awful lot . . .

London Hughes is very content to surf daily, tend bar, hang out with her group of friends, and slowly orient herself in the years after college. Everything’s going great and according to the non-plan.

But when a wave knocks her for a loop one morning, then Luke Sutter’s flirtatious smile knocks her for another that evening, she veers slightly off course…and into his path. Sure, he’s a total player, but the Why not—it’s only one night is a persistent voice in her ear.

For his part, Luke’s been on hookup autopilot for so long that he rarely ever pauses to consider what he’s doing. But after an amazing time with London, he realizes that he hasn’t been moving on from a devastating heartbreak so much as he’s been drifting to wherever—and whomever—the current takes him. With London he wants more.

Every relationship involves two people…plus their pasts. And as much as she enjoys her fling with Luke, when London learns about his past—more specifically, who’s in it—everything becomes the brand of complicated she strives to avoid. It’s up to Luke then to change some things in order to try and ensure he’s not something she’ll outright avoid as well.  

Find on Goodreads

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: February 2016.

Okay, I'm just going to admit it, I am crazy fangirl for Christina Lauren, truly I look all put together on the outside, but every time a new book is announced I do a little happy dance, I still remember hearing about Beautiful Bastard years ago and umming and ahhhhing about it, reviews were mixed, I couldn't decide, but this writing duo had a cult like following, I purchased the book and dove into Chloe and Bennett's world, I felt as though I barely drew a breath, I was instantly hooked, I purchased every remaining book in the series that had been released at the time and read them back to back, then I watched social media waiting for the slightest hint for what was coming next... not much has changed since then, when news of London and Luke's story hit social media, I again did my happy jig, and I've been checking my mailbox obsessively so waiting to get me greedy little hands on it, the second the trusty postie dropped it on my frontdoor, I was tearing into the wrapping so I could dive in. I didn't move, I read Wicked Sexy Liar in one sitting, savouring the words, and speeding through it at the speed of light because I couldn't get enough. I was convinced this book would be fun and sexy, and then reading lines like this, left me no doubt that the authors were going to give me more than I bargained for.

"Do we ever see the big things coming, though? A predictable life never changed anyone."

London is confident, sassy and one of those women who just seem to have life figured out, she's got a college degree and qualifications behind her, but instead of suiting up and doing the 9-5 grind she's surfing all day and bar tending by night, London does what she wants, when she wants, she's made new friends, and life is good, with no time for men or the delude of heartache they bring with them, London is focused on keeping her no muss no fuss life exactly as it.

Luke once had life mapped out, he was other half of everyone's favourite couple, but when Mia was involved in the accident, everything changed for more than just Mia, in the blink of an eye, Luke lost everything he had planned. Side note, I'm going to be honest, I didn't much like Luke in the previous books in this series, sure I felt bad for him when Mia moved on and found her happy with the sexy French man and he seemed to still be hanging on to the past, I had my reservations whether I could truly care about his fragile male ego, the glimpses of London we had in Beautiful Stranger and Dark Wild Night cemented for me London was definitely a new favourite heroine of mine, but Christina Lauren had their work cut out to convince me that there was more to meet the eyes with Luke, but from the very first interaction I found myself rooting for him, I was either giggling at his stupidity, rolling my eyes at his naivety or swooning at those moments that showed me, without a doubt that this dynamic writing duo know how to redeem a character, make you cheer for them, make you want to console them when things go wrong, make them feel real, and honest. Watching the Manwhore Luke meet someone like London, who both drew him close and pushed him away in equal measure made me love them both all the more.

"falling in love isn't about who makes you feel the best, but who could make you the most miserable if they leave."

Everything about Wicked Sexy Liar drew me in, I wanted to know more about Luke, I wanted to know why London shied away from the chance of letting people in, I wanted them to find something that opens you up to new experiences, that changes the way you see the world, and I wanted to follow their journey, through their eyes, and Christina Lauren did that, I felt every moment of trepidation that London felt, every inch of joy that Luke felt at rediscovering love, that all encompassing feeling that bolsters your spirit, the butterflies that buzz in your tummy, the anticipation that builds when you can't wait to see the other person. I felt it all in spades, every second of the this wicked sexy story left me sated and yet desperate for more.

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1UJ3IIY
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1JXx8Tz
Amazon UK: amzn.to/1NPq3z1
Amazon AU: bit.ly/1PgeFOE
iBooks: apple.co/1MoUWOa


About Christina Lauren:

Christina Lauren is the combined pen name of long-time writing partners/besties/soulmates/brain-twins Christina Hobbs and Lauren Billings. The coauthor duo writes both Young Adult and Adult Fiction, and together has produced eleven New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 23+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

Contact Christina Lauren on Twitter @seeCwrite for Christina and @LolaShoes for Lauren

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Crazy, Beauitful by Jessica Serra Huizenga - Review

Blurb:

Kinsley Moore and Lucas Graham make great friends.
They make even better friends with benefits…

Kinsley Moore doesn’t believe in love. As an independent, self-determined entrepreneur, she has
other things to worry about. Besides, she knows guys are incapable of commitment, so there’s no
use getting close.

But when she meets Lucas Graham, her new landlord’s flirty, sexy son, she’s more than up for
some casual fun.

Lucas is in no way looking for a relationship either, so when he’s offered a no-strings, strictly
friends-with-benefits hookup with a beautiful girl, the opportunity is too good to pass up. He’s
not able to give his heart away, so it’s perfect Kinsley prefers to keep emotions out of their
arrangement.

Except when Lucas and Kinsley start to feel something more, their complicated pasts threaten to
overshadow any chance they might have at a future together.

Can Lucas prove he’s capable of love?
Can Kinsley believe she is enough?

Find Crazy, Beautiful on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1UIMrzI
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1KWgQ8e
Amazon AU: bit.ly/1RZyJL2
iBooks: http://apple.co/1S1UH04
Signed Paperback: http://bit.ly/1SEm8gj


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: January 2016.

Have I mentioned before my love of the friends to lovers trope?? How about my obsession with friends with benefits?? How about romantic comedies?? I know you're all well aware of these tropes and genres being akin to my crack...Crazy, Beautiful was like hitting my trifecta and I'm not even a betting woman... The premise here is simple really, two strangers meet, witty banter ensues, cue sexy times and *BOOM* they might just have found something neither of them knew they wanted, and therein lies the beauty of this delightful debut, because while the friends with benefits plot has been done copious times before, Crazy, Beautiful, was fun, sexy and witty, with enough angst to draw you in, and keep you turning the pages, nothing about this book felt overdone, nothing felt tired, the dynamic between Kinsley and Lucas captured my attention, the chemistry between them felt real and raw, their friends hijinks kept me giggling and I. COULD. NOT. PUT. IT .DOWN!!

Kinsley has her life together, she's started her own successful business as a floral designer for weddings, christenings, funerals and such, she's just moved into a place she can call her own, life is good, sure there's no men beating down her door, but she's content focusing on her career. Lucas is focused on his career too, after starting up a capital investment firm with his best friend, time is a commodity he doesn't seem to have much of, his company is going from strength to strength, he's played the field and sowed some oats but right now staying away from the fairer sex seems to be working for him. Their chemistry is undeniable and when the opportunity to explore the budding connection between them arises, a sure fire FWB deal seems like the way to go.  As their physical relationship continues and their friendship grows stronger, soft touches, and sweet smiles come to mean more, until they can't deny that what they have is deeper than just sex.

"You're crazy"

"And you're beautiful." 

Crazy, Beautiful was the perfect balance of sexy and sweet, it was funny and light while still tugging at your heart strings, everything about this book was  enjoyable, I didn't want to put it down, and as I turned the last page, I couldn't help but hope that I hadn't heard the last of these characters, with their quirky and spirited friends. If you're looking for something light, fun and sexy, Crazy, Beautiful definitely won't steer your wrong.

About Jessica Serra Huizenga:

When she’s not making confetti as head honcho over at The Confetti Bar (theconfettibar.com),
co-dreaming with creative women through Monarch Workshop (monarchworkshop.com), and
blogging about her health & wellness journey going sugar-free at Simple Unsweet
(simpleunsweet.com), Jessica loves to spend her nights getting caught up in imaginary worlds.
She lives in central CT with her husband, Clifford, and the cutest cat EVER, named Curious.
She loves colorful things, making people smile, things that smell good, and is obsessed with
lemon water. And glitter. Lots of glitter.
She also loves, well…love. (She’s a sucker for a sweet story.)
You can check out what she’s up to at jshbooks.com and on Instagram (@jshbooks)
Want to know anything else? Feel free to say hi at lovejshbooks@gmail.com

Connect with Jessica on Facebook

Chasing Spring by RS Grey - Review

 

 

 

Blurb:

 

 

I thought I’d left Blackwater, Texas behind for good. I didn’t belong in the small town, but my dad wouldn’t listen. He dragged me back home in his beat-up truck and dropped a bomb along the way: Chase Matthews was moving in with us. He was the golden boy of my high school, my former best friend, and the last person I wanted sleeping across the hall. His presence was too great a reminder of the ghosts I was trying to forget.

I didn’t ask for a hero. I don’t want to be saved.

To me, Lilah Calloway meant late nights sneakin’ out, moonlit hair, and sparklers in July. She was my best friend until the day she left and I’d assumed Blackwater had seen the last of her. Then, like a tempest, she rolled back into town for the final half of senior year. The chopped hair and dark devil-may-care attitude warned most people away, but I knew if I fought hard enough, I could find the lost girl.

I didn’t want to be her hero. Some girls don’t need to be saved. 

Find on Goodreads.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1RUVRu9
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1PKOY8e
Amazon AU: bit.ly/1nHe6aa
Amazon UK: amzn.to/1SSB3Dw


Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: January 2016.

Where do I even start with Chasing Spring, I had grown accustomed to Grey's quirky yet heartfelt romances, and I was expecting more of the same, I was expecting light and sexy, while still packing an emotional connection that I often find in her work, and instead I found so much more. Lilah left her old life in Blackwater Texas, sure that she would finally be free of the guilt, pain and sorrow she felt there, but when he father advises her that she has to return home to finish her final year of high school, the new carefully constructed life Lilah had created for herself looked to be slipping away, not only was she back home and struggling to hold on while the inner turmoil she felt was threatening to pull her under, but her once best friend, Chase Matthews was now living in her family home, with only hallway separating them, Chase had always been the golden boy, and Lilah was determined to steer clear of his light, instead preferring her own darkness.

Everything about Chasing Spring stole my heart, breathtaking in it's entirety, Grey's words eloquent and inspired, I left my preconceived expectations at the first page, and took the journey that Lilah and Chase begged me to take with them, Chasing Spring is a poignant, often times heartbreaking coming of age story, that showcases how resilient the human spirit is, with moments of sheer brilliance where Lilah can see past her mother's sordid past, past the lies and deceit, past the guilt and fear, to the golden boy that she's always loved, to the man that's standing before her now, begging her to give him a chance, to give them a chance, to cut the ties that bind her to a future that can only be filled with heartache and misery, as it threatens to shackle her to a past that is not her own. These characters may be young, but they have both faced more than most of us will in a life time, with a wisdom that surpasses their years, Chasing Spring's raw emotion, it's ability to sucker punch you right in the feels, to break your heart, and simultaneously piece it back together for me came from Grey's ability to show that dichotomy of not only Chase and Lilah and the way they face their collective pasts, but the warring sides of Lilah's mind as she seeks to protect herself, with almost a devil may care attitude, while also holding Chase above all else, her need to ensure his heart is protected is tantamount to a sacred oath she made with herself.

"I thought you said you wanted to give me a happy ending?"

"Maybe instead I have to satisfied with a happy middle." 

Grey shows her depth here, while I have LOVED every book of hers, the fun, the quirky, the sexy, the emotional, nothing has gripped me the way Chasing Spring did, the way Chasing Spring has, because it's been days since I finished, and I find myself idly reading quotes, smiling wistfully as I remember moments, that so perfectly detailed the joy and heartbreak of first loves, of love in general, Grey has publicly spoken about the two years that she's been working on Chasing Spring, the fear that she had of ever publishing it, and I have to say, Ms Grey, your fears may have pushed your limits, but Chasing Spring will stay in my mind for a very long time to come.

"Think about it. Does the ending even matter? Shouldn't the middle be the happy part? It's the biggest chunk of our life..."

About RS Grey:

I am a lover of books, chocolate, reality TV, black labs, and cold weather. Seriously, if I had it my way, I would be curled up on the couch with all of those things... everyday.

I live in Texas where I spend my free time writing and reading. My favorite authors include Mindy Kaling & Jonathan Safran Foer. I'm a comedy geek and love all things "funny". Women like Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, and Mindy Kaling are definitely the biggest inspirations for my writing, though I think my work tends to skew a bit smuttier than theirs.




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