It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Blurb:

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

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Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2ar90Yl
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/2aetWGA
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2ahLk8W
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/2aeuU5Q
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/2awH2vt

Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: August 2016.

When an author sets out to write a new book, I imagine it's often with the intention of challenging readers to throw their preconceived notions of right and wrong, of black and white out the window and embrace the story they wish to tell. In my experience not every author however is able to do that, it's instead those golden nuggets of wisdom and beauty that you stumble across that irrevocably change you, force you to reassess everything you thought you knew, thought you believed and ball it up and throw it out the window, because life isn't black and white, it's not even grey, it's a whole spectrum of magnificent vibrant hues that have the ability to turn our world technicolor.

"You saved my life, Lily. And you weren't even trying."

I could wax lyrical about every moment that tore my heart asunder, I could scream from the rooftops every moment that left me utterly breathless, I could tell you how I wrestled with my notions of right and wrong, but really all I can tell you is that It Ends With Us is so much more than I ever anticipated. It's more than women's fiction, more than contemporary romance, it's intensely personal, incredibly honest and hauntingly beautiful. It's more than just a story about Lily and Ryle, it's not just a story about the sins of the past or the dreams for the future. It's as much a life lesson as it is one woman's journey from childhood to adolescence to adulthood, it's a story about life and love, of growing up, of holding on, of letting go, of living purely and simply.

"There is so much more good in him than bad, and I'll do whatever I can to convince him of that until he can see it, too."

There comes a moment with those rare gems when you finish a book and have no idea what to do with yourself... realising the only thing left is to go back to the beginning and start it again. I beg you pick up this book the way I did, without reading too much about it, without reading the blurb, and promise me that if you're an acknowledgement first kind of reader, forgo it just this once, go in blind with an open heart and mind, allow Hoover to take you on the journey she intended, because I promise you, your life will be richer for it. It Ends With Us is thought provoking, raw, honest and hauntingly eloquent from the very first line until the very last page, it's sheer staggering beauty comes from the tidal wave of emotion it evokes, from the unity you feel with Lily in every moment where you find yourself questioning where she ends and you begin. The best type of book leaves you wanting more, but not needing more, as I turned the last page that is exactly how Hoover's story left me feeling, my advice to you dear reader is Buy it. Read it. Most importantly EXPERIENCE this book!

"In the future...if by some miracle you ever find yourself in the position to fall in love again...fall in love with me."

About Colleen Hoover:

I write because I need to.
I review because I want to.
I pay taxes because I have to.


Founder of www.thebookwormbox.com

Connect with Colleen on Facebook

Cream of the Crop (Hudson Valley #2) by Alice Clayton

Blurb:

New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Alice Clayton brings her trademark blend of funny and sexy to this second contemporary romance in the brand-new Hudson Valley series!

Manhattan’s It Girl, Natalie Grayson, has it all: she’s a hot exec at a leading advertising firm, known industry-wide for her challenging and edgy campaigns. She’s got a large circle of friends, a family that loves her dearly, and her dance card is always full with handsome eligible bachelors. What else could a modern gal-about-town wish for? The answer, of course, is...cheese.

Natalie’s favorite part of each week is spending Saturday morning at the Union Square Farmer’s Market, where she indulges her love of all things triple cream. Her favorite booth also indulges her love of all things handsome. Oscar Mendoza, owner of the Bailey Falls Creamery and purveyor of the finest artisanal cheeses the Hudson Valley has to offer, is tall, dark, mysterious, and a bit oblivious. Or so she thinks. But that doesn’t stop Natalie from fantasizing about the size of his, ahem, milk can.

Romance is churning, passion is burning, and something incredible is rising to the top. Could it be...love?


Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/29y7GCfy

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/29Bi0LX

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/29TmYqJ

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/29utAHS

Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/29K72Gg
iBooks: http://apple.co/1s5usLA
BN: http://bit.ly/1syeHN9

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: July 2016.

Everyone has that author, you know the one, the one you pick up to reread, the one that you know with certainty will make you feel better, make you laugh, send your heart into free flight, leave you feeling sated and yet desperate for more? Authors like that are rare gems, once you find them, you never want to let them go, with a rare blend of chick lit, women's fiction and sexy contemporary romance Alice Clayton stands out amongst the crowd, with a unique mix of scintillatingly sexy, uproariously funny and a realness that is often lacking in fiction she cemented her place in my favorite authors.

"You're the brie girl with the great big ass."

"You want to say that again? To my face."

A slow grin spread across his face. "Which part?"

"You know exactly which part."

"Oh, the part about your great big ass?

I blinked in total surprise. "I can't believe you have the balls to say that out loud."

"What, that you've got a great ass?"

"Come again?" I asked, confused.

..... "I love watching your great big ass." 

 In Nuts we were introduced to Natalie Grayson, and Oscar Mendoza, while Oscar is a man of few words, Natalie is a lady of many, fast talking, up front, say it to your face this leading lady certainly isn't a docile wallflower, Natalie has built a successful career knowing exactly how to market any product, with her smart, inventive sales pitches she's cemented herself amongst the cream of the crop, surrounded by friends and a loving family, Everything about Natalie drew me in, her sass, her confident swagger, her don't mess with vibe, her fast talking, quick thinking, and undeniably funny personality hit all the right notes for me to become a devoted fan. So often in books the heroine is either classically beautiful or undergoes an almost She's All That (yeah taking it back to a 90s movie reference with that one) transformation, you know once they remove the nerdy frames or stop dressing in flouncy, baggy clothing we see the hot girl underneath, she'll end up bringing the hero to his knee's and you'll cheer along as she does, however in Cream of the Crop, Natalie is rocking the curvy girl mantra, she's not a size 8 or 10 (I'm talking Australian sizes here) she's got curves, junk in her trunk, breasts women pay for, in a world where the media and fashion magazines tell us that big is not beautiful it's refreshing to see a leading lady sticking up her proverbial middle finger to beauty standards and saying this is me and I'm ready to rock this life. As one of those aforementioned curvy girls, watching her attitude spring forth, seeing the way she commands a room, owns her sexuality, demands respect and then hearing all of her inner most thoughts, from the down right comical to the heartbreakingly raw, left me feeling stronger, had me doubting myself that little bit less, and even allowed me brief moments of reprieve where I could admit to those days that left me feeling battered and bruised without being scared my Queen card would be taken away.

Where Natalie was lively and outgoing, Oscar is quiet and reserved, well maybe that's not entirely an apt description, Oscar lives up to his famous Sesame Street counterpart, he's grouchy and stand offish, his sometimes grunted answers and one word responses are legendary, he's untouchable, lacking a filter or any of those pesky pleasantries one would usual use he's bound to ruffle a few feather, sure he's sexy as sin, and has women just waiting to catch any crumb he may toss their way but no one ever seems to catch his eye. As Natalie bumbles and fumbles her way through their usual Saturday morning market interactions, completely losing her usual effortless cool, we see the stirrings of a man who's on the verge of change.

"Because while Oscar didn't talk much, when he's focused on something, he's all in. Fully present. This kiss, these kisses, they are lazy and unhurried, frantic and frenzied. How can they be both?"

Where Clayton could of just written the perfect romantic comedy and been done with that, she instead seamlessly blended such raw emotion that at times I found myself nodding along, sharing in her moments of heartbreak, in those quiet moments when she doubted herself, in the moments she raged, in the moments when she wandered lost and confused, in those quiet moments I felt that strong connection, the moment that catapults a book from being one I liked to one I loved, and I need to tell you that I loved this book, from the very first page I was hooked, the more I read the further I fell for these characters, the more I wanted to lose myself equally on the streets of New York and on a dairy farm, effortlessly captivating to the very last line, I devoured the words, finishing it in one sitting.
Everything about Cream of the Crop held me captive, while Oscar undoubtedly ticked all the boxes for the alpha hero, what I truly loved so much about this story was Clayton's leading lady, so many times throughout this book I found myself declaring that I wanted to be Natalie when I grew up. Fiercely strong, wildly protective, smart, funny, confident, the ability the kick ass and take names and yet still have this gentle, beautifully raw, vulnerable side, she was a shining example of the true dichotomous nature of women. This uproariously funny, supremely sexy, savvy business woman was everything I look for in a heroine, with touches of Wallbangeresque humour and Redhead heart and the sexy styling that is entirely Clayton Cream of the Crop easily rose to one of my favourite reads this year.

NUTS (Hudson Valley #1): http://amzn.to/29HwIPm
Nuts & Cream of the Crop PB Bundle: http://amzn.to/29VXOrX

GPI's review of NUTS: http://bit.ly/1N65EvJ

About Alice Clayton:

ALICE CLAYTON worked in the cosmetics industry for over a decade before picking up a pen (read laptop).

She enjoys gardening but not weeding, baking but not cleaning up, and finally convinced her long-time boyfriend to marry her.

Now, about that Bernese Mountain dog.

Connect with Alice on Facebook

One True Loves by Taylor Jenkins Reid

Blurb:

From the author of Maybe in Another Life—named a People Magazine pick and a "Best Book of the Summer" by Glamour and USA Today—comes a breathtaking new love story about a woman unexpectedly forced to choose between the husband she has long thought dead and the fiancé who has finally brought her back to life.

In her twenties, Emma Blair marries her high school sweetheart, Jesse. They build a life for themselves, far away from the expectations of their parents and the people of their hometown in Massachusetts. They travel the world together, living life to the fullest and seizing every opportunity for adventure.

On their first wedding anniversary, Jesse is on a helicopter over the Pacific when it goes missing. Just like that, Jesse is gone forever.

Emma quits her job and moves home in an effort to put her life back together. Years later, now in her thirties, Emma runs into an old friend, Sam, and finds herself falling in love again. When Emma and Sam get engaged, it feels like Emma’s second chance at happiness.

That is, until Jesse is found. He’s alive, and he’s been trying all these years to come home to her. With a husband and a fiancé, Emma has to now figure out who she is and what she wants, while trying to protect the ones she loves.

Who is her one true love? What does it mean to love truly?

Emma knows she has to listen to her heart. She’s just not sure what it’s saying.

Find on Goodreads

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1Pv6BtZ

Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1tsjZdt

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Sdmk5y
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1T4tJ8n
Amazon AU: http://amzn.to/1WRQI8B
iBooks: https://itun.es/au/7mNW-.l

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: June 2016.

Taylor Jenkins Reid is often lauded for writing pieces that make the reader approach a subject from another angle, One True Loves is certainly no different. The concept at face value seems common enough, in book world I know I've read plenty of stories where a widow/widower is given a second chance at love and happiness after grieving the passing of their spouse, in fact books that deal with grief sensitively and with honor are often the ones I remember clearly long after I turn the last page, but Jenkins Reid uses this well versed plotline and flips it on it's head.

Emma first see's Jesse in high school, after pining away for him for the requisite time as is expected in teenage girl years she accepts that she may never be the object of his affection. One night everything changes, after years of doing exactly what is expected by everyone around them, Emma and Jesse find their soul mate in the other, the person who makes them reassess their lives, makes them dream for something bigger than the world they currently inhabit, corny yes, but they complete each other in a way they never dreamt possible. After school they blow the pop stand that is small town life and set out on an adventure of sightseeing a world they never dreamt existed, they grew up together in all the ways that were important, they created a life together, planned a future together, stood in front of one another and declared their undying love for each other, they swore they would forsake all others, that their bond was in sickness and in health, until death do us part. I've stood there on that alter, I've declared my love for someone, I know inherently the weight those vows hold. It's the beginning of your happily ever after, well it's supposed to be , tragically on the eve of Emma and Jesse's first wedding anniversary, whilst on a work trip, Jesse's flight goes down and he's gone, just like that, in the blink of an eye, Emma's world stops... it just STOPS... their plans for wedding anniversary celebrations - cancelled, their plans for travel and the future - gone, children and family and all the memories you imagine you will have, the years of joy and happiness you expect in your future...POOF...gone. It's a bitter pill to swallow, from having everything in the palm of your hand, to an emptiness so strong that you feel you may never be whole.

One True Loves stole my breath from the very first page, you see the story bared too many similarities to a couple I met while on my honeymoon, allow me a moment to digress, my husband and I married on 20th February 2011, while honeymooning in Fiji, we met a couple, also newlyweds, as we chatted over cocktails in the pool bar we discovered that we shared mutual friends, that M&M as I'll refer to them, actually got married the day before us, in a church not 30 minutes away, friends who attended our wedding, also attended theirs the night before, we laughed about what a small world it was, we shared our stories with each other, I learnt that M&M were high school sweethearts, their wedding was truly the beginning of their happily ever after, they radiated love for one another, they doted on one another, their love was tangible, and yet not in that nauseating sweetie, baby, hunny kind of way. We spend half of our honeymoon together, went out for meals, relaxed in a tropical oasis and just enjoyed getting to know each other, we made plans to catch up back home, we saw each other briefly over the coming year, but never had that dinner like we planned.  Unexpectedly in February 2012 M passed away, a week shy of their first anniversary, we were heartbroken for them, unable to reconcile what had taken place, unable to comprehend what M must be feeling, the pain the anguish, the devastation, we stood at his funeral and we wept with her, we wept for him, we wept for not only the loss of life, but for loss of dreams, we grieved the loss of the future they had planned. Earlier this year M walked down the aisle for the second time and married the second love of her life, for someone who once believed in one true love, life taught her that there's room in her heart for more than just one soul mate. Their story was one that floated through my mind while reading One True Loves, because while M like Emma has met two men that she loves unconditionally, and experienced that not all love is meant to last forever, for Emma she has the chance with her first love again. Years after Jesse is declared deceased, when Emma has grieved the loss of her first husband, when she moved on and forged a new life for herself, when she found love again, and once again found herself engaged to be married to Sam, she receives a phone call that will cause her world to stop once again, only this time Jesse isn't gone, this tine he's back, her husband is alive, and he's coming home for her. We're only supposed to have one true love right, that's the way fairy tales go... but when your past and your present collide, who will hold your future?

"I am who I am because I loved you once."

I want to tell you about every moment that made my heart soar, from those delicious first moments of young love with Emma and Jesse embarked on what would become a love of a life time, I want to tell you all the ways that this book broke my heart, in those moments where grief and pain bubbled to the surface, when we felt every emotion Emma felt as she tried to navigate life in the early days after Jesse's passing, I want to tell you about the real, raw anguish as Sam felt as he had to let Emma go to decide who she wanted as her future, the sense of unjustness that Jesse felt as he struggled to reconcile where the missing years had gone and the impact his disappearance had on Emma's life as well. I want to tell you how I was so enamoured by this story that I read it cover to cover twice because I wasn't ready to say goodbye, because I wanted to revel in Jenkins Reid's words just a little longer, how I felt that Emma and Jesse and Sam deserved more than me just putting down their story and moving on with my life, that I felt someone had to celebrate this incredible journey. I want to tell you how I kept my husband updated throughout the story because despite being an ardent non reader, he could tell by my reaction to this book that it was something special. I want to tell you my favourite quotes and how they are scored on my heart, but I also want you to read this book without knowing any more than is mentioned in the blurb. Over a year ago, a trusted friend described TJR as an author of life lessons, an author who pushes you to think outside the square, who begs you to leave your preconceived notions of right and wrong at the door and trust her to take you on a journey, and after losing myself in this story I unequivocally agree. One True Loves is without a doubt a PLATINUM read for me. Raw, unapologetic and poignant, a must read for ANY book lover.

About Taylor Jenkins Reid:

Taylor Jenkins Reid is an author and essayist from Acton, Massachusetts. Her first novel, Forever, Interrupted, was named one of the "11 Debuts We Love" by Kirkus Reviews. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Alex, and their dog, Rabbit. You can follow her on Twitter @tjenkinsreid.
Connect with Taylor on Facebook

Sweet Filthy Boy (Wild Seasons #1) by Christina Lauren

Blurb:

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away.
Find on Goodreads

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: April 2014.

I received an arc in exchange for an honest review.
Hmmm...where do I start with Ansel Guillaume - my sweet filthy boy?? I am a huge Christina Lauren fan, their Beautiful series had my laughing, swooning and fanning myself all over the place, but as much as I loved, no adored the Beautiful series, SFB for me was on another level, and in my opinion Christina Lauren's best work yet.

Mia Holland takes off to Vegas with friends for the weekend, one last hurrah before the responsibility of adult life takes over. But when you let loose for the night anything can happen, including a group wedding, with Mia ending up marrying the sweet talking, sex Frenchman Ansel, and during your drunken haze telling him under no circumstances to allow you to dissolve this marriage, instead to give it a chance for the Summer.

What I adored about Mia is her strength, her resilience, she has lost her way, maybe following the path set in front of her isn't the one meant for her. When Ansel gives her opportunity to follow him to France for the summer how can she refuse? As much as I loved Mia, I adored the transformation in Ansel from confident, worry free, sexy as sin Frenchman in Vegas to professional, suave, business man in France. Seeing him reconcile two different sides of his personality, trying to be everything to those who depended on him, both professionally and personally.

Sweet Filthy Boy had me laughing out loud, swooning like a love sick teenager and praying to the Gods of writing that I wouldn't have to throw my kindle against the wall. Christina Lauren you surpassed every expectation I had for Sweet Filthy Boy.

 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1ocDt3I
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1ocDy7q
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1R106Bj
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1WiRCa4
Amazon AU: bit.ly/1R10kby

About Christina Lauren:

 

Christina Lauren is the 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 twelve New York Times bestselling novels. Their books have been translated into 28+ languages. (Some of these books have kissing. Some of these books have A LOT of kissing.)

 

Website

 



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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Appealed (The Legal Briefs #3) by Emma Chase - ARC Review

Releases: 19th January 2016.

Blurb:

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate - and prized - parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Christian Louboutins.

Brent has never let the loss of his leg in a childhood accident affect his ability to lead a fulfilling life. He sets high goals–and then he reaches them.

And now he has his sights set on Kennedy.
**
When Kennedy looks at Brent Mason, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue-worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell.

She’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore - she’s a DC prosecutor with a long winning streak behind her. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case and she thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out that way.

Because every fiery exchange has her wondering if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. Each argument and objection only makes him want her more. In the end, Brent and Kennedy may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.

APPEALED is a sexy, humorous romance about first crushes, second chances and the final verdict of the heart.

Purchase Links:  

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1N7U2GH
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1jfkXnZ
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1PUORdY
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1N7UMvH
Amazon PB: http://amzn.to/1PUOGzB
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1U9WvQK
Kobo: http://bit.ly/1X83bWn

Purchase the other books in the Legal Briefs series:

Overruled (#1): http://amzn.to/1N83utH
Sustained (#2): http://amzn.to/1N84yxO

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: November 2015.

When an Emma Chase book hits you're kindle you do a little fist pump and mentally organise your schedule so you can have some down time with Brent and Kennedy... last night while I lying in bed willing myself to sleep, I decided to start Appealed...just one chapter I told myself, I'll just read until my eyes get heavy and I'll put it down, less than two hours later I put my kindle down on my bedside table with a satisfied smile after reading The End.

Brent Mason is somewhat of an enigma, I adored the bond he and Sofia shared in Overruled, I laughed his quick wit in Sustained, but in Appealed I absolutely fell in love with him, with his dirty mouth, his illicit thoughts, his buff and toned body, the way he didn't expect special treatment after losing his leg at a young age, the way he didn't let the world swallow him up or wallow in despair, Brent is proof that the only person who can hold you back from what you want to achieve in life.

Kennedy Randolph was once the object of Brent's childhood and teenage fantasies, years have passed since they last set eyes on each other, there was a time when Kennedy would of followed Brent anywhere, but that time is past, now she's back home, a successful Prosecutor in her own right, she's shed the mousey nerdy image she once wore like a cloak, and she's determined not to repeat the same mistakes she once made.

"I'm not sure..."

"All you have to do is take my hand." 

Second chance romance .... check
Childhood best friends .... check
Witty banter and snappy dialogue .... check
Sexual tension that seeps from the pages .... check
Friends to lovers .... check

Appealed is pretty much my kryptonite, every thing about this book from the friends to lovers, the second chance romance, the childhood besties....these are the things that make me giddy in anticipation desperate for the chance to dive in, there's more to this story than just a super sexy romance, Brent and Kennedy have a past, they share a history, it wasn't always pretty and they both got hurt, but that history has shaped who they have become, they aren't one dimensional characters on a page, they are larger than life, they are vivacious, they are strong and independent and reading their witty banter had me laughing out loud, I adored everything, every shared glance, every soft smile, every small gesture, every snappy comeback, their connection undeniable, the sexual chemistry palpable, everything about Chase's writing drew me in and left me wanting more.

"I said...I said we had to keep riding...because the ride was the only thing that made the falling worth it."

There's no denying that I am a huge fan of the author, she is without a doubt a go to for me when I want something funny and sexy without losing depth or story, and while I'll always be a huge fan of Drew, Appealed has rocked it's way to the top of the Legal Briefs series and is giving Tangled some major competition. Every new book Chase releases the more hungry I become for her words, her comedic timing impeccable, her ability to create something sizzlingly sexy and yet heartfelt and real never fails to leave me sated and yet excited for what she does next. Kudos Emma Chase for once again capturing my attention, for making it impossible for me to put this book down, for giving me Brent and Kennedy to fall in love with, for reminding me that sometimes you need to be brave, sometimes you have to charge out on your own, and sometimes you need to let someone else slay your dragons for you.

About Emma Chase:

By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother of two who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night she is a keyboard crusader, toiling away the hours to bring her colourful characters and their endless antics to life. She has a long standing love/hate relationship with caffeine.

Emma is an avid reader. Before her children were born she was known to consume whole books in a single day. Writing has also always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true.

Visit Emma Chases Website: http://www.emmachase.net/

November 9 by Colleen Hoover - ARC Review

 

 

Blurb:

 

Beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover returns with an unforgettable love story between a writer and his unexpected muse.

Fallon meets Ben, an aspiring novelist, the day of her scheduled cross-country move. Their untimely attraction leads them to spend Fallon’s last day in L.A. together, and her eventful life becomes the creative inspiration Ben has always sought for his novel. Over time and amidst the various relationships and tribulations of their own separate lives, they continue to meet on the same date every year. Until one day Fallon becomes unsure if Ben has been telling her the truth or fabricating a perfect reality for the sake of the ultimate plot twist.

 

 

 

Purchase Links: 

 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1kFuK7J

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1Oz1PiX

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1kkjUEF

Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1gYxxak

iBooks: http://apple.co/1lQ7wAQ



Amazon paperback: http://amzn.to/1PknsU8

Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: November 2015.

Where do I even start with November 9? I am a huge Colleen Hoover fan...HUGE... FSOG may have been the book that got me reading again but Slammed was the one that kept me reading, I've read thousands of books since then but one I always come back to is Slammed so to say with each new release my expectations are high would be an understatement. My paperback is a mess of coloured tabs and highlighted quotes, ones that immediately stood out as something I needed to remember and revisit.

November 9 is set on the premise that Fallon a once upon a time child actor, and Ben an aspiring writer, meet as eighteen year olds on the day of Fallon's cross country move, they meet and the world seems to tilt on it's axis, they connect on a level neither has seemed to have ever experience before but Fallon is about to embark on a new adventure, one that will hopefully see her life change, they set each other tasks for the coming year with a plan to meet back up in one year's time. They block each other on social media, they don't swap numbers, they are only armed with a plan to see each other again on November 9 the following year, where they can compare notes on the year that has passed and hopefully everything they have accomplished in the time that has passed.

It's an exciting premise, one born out of a greater need to find out who they truly are, to find their place in the world, and figure out who they want to be. Fallon citing her mother's advice as her reason for leaving this connection behind, the theory that you change exponentially from eighteen to twenty three, Fallon wants to find herself again before falling in love, before being lost in someone else, leaving her with five years to find who she is and what she wants to be.

"You'll never be able find yourself if you're lost in someone else."

November 9 isn't just a date that these two will continue to reconnect over the course of the coming five years, nor is it just the title of this book, November 9 holds special relevance as the day Fallon's life changed dramatically as and as result it's a date that holds a darker meaning for her, but with this new and exciting connection with Ben pushing her to test her boundaries, he's succeeding in replacing her sad memories with something to look forward to.

There's so much beauty here in this story, in true Hoover fashion I was instantly swept up in her words, making me forget everything going on in the world around me and truly lose myself in the world she created.

"I missed you, Fallon...A lot. And screw it if I'm not supposed to admit that, but I tried the whole alpha male thing for two seconds, and I just can't do it. So you don't get alpha Ben today. I'm sorry."

With lines like these it's hard not to be swept up in their albeit unconventional romance,  a friendship born out of the unlikeliest of meetings, one that transcends time, one day a year to spend together, a handful of hours to say everything they've both been thinking and feeling never quite feels like enough and yet every moment they share seems better than the last, and as I sped through the pages I didn't once question their connection, because I could feel every emotion seep though the pages, I could feel it hammering through my blood, telling me that what they'd found in that restaurant on the first day was real.

But as with time, life moves forward and as much as every year they meet up and their bond strengthens, them having to say good bye again becomes more and more difficult. I felt myself dreading their goodbyes as much as they did, and I kept repeating over and over in my mind that they should just void their plan, they should stay together, they should be with one another, and they could write whatever story they wanted together.

"I thought I was tougher than a word. But I just discovered that having to say good bye to you is one of the hardest things to do."

Nothing about November 9 ever felt forced, there was never a time that I felt like the author threw in angst for the sake of it to fill the story, there were moments that I was wearing my biggest swooniest grin, other's when my heart seemed so full I almost expected it to burst out of my chest, and there were moments of pure and unadulterated heartbreak, because as Fallon so eloquently described not all romances mean that the hero and heroine have to end up together, as long as they are happy whether it be together or separate that's all that matters.

"Your hands touch someone who isn't me. Your lips make promises against skin that isn't mine."

Lines like that is why I read, it's why I get so lost in a Colleen Hoover book, it's lines like that that have goose bumps prickling my skin, setting fire to my heart, causing me to stop and just breathe in her words, it's those moments that I crave when I read, to be totally lost in a book and it's characters.

I was head over heels with Fallon and Ben, with their journey, with their torment of being apart despite it being of their own doing, of them both battling their own pasts to find a way to be whole on their own and then together, and there were so many moments that truly stole my breath, and left me wanting more, but the last thirty per cent felt rushed, I wanted more, I wanted more from Ben, I wanted to recreate that swoon worthy feeling he gave me in the beginning, I wanted to feel his desperation more keenly. I didn't want to put this book down at any point, sitting at a family party on Sunday afternoon, when my husband noticed my forlorn appearance, he urged me to pick up my book so I could keep reading, I dove back in immediately needing to know more, I know this book will hit all the right notes for so many readers, I loved the pacing, I loved the way we didn't get bogged down in everyday life for Fallon and Ben instead focusing on their time together each year, but in the end the final quarter didn't finish as strongly as I had hoped. Without a doubt Colleen Hoover continues to excel as so much of this showed her growth as an author, as always I'm excited to see what's next for her.

 

About Colleen Hoover:

#1 New York Times bestselling author of books that make you feel good. And bad. But mostly good.

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Ms. Manwhore by Katy Evans - ARC Review

 

Blurb:

 

 

Katy Evans returns with a sexy novella, the final installment of the unforgettable love story that began in MANWHORE.

What lies ahead for Chicago's most envied couple, Malcolm Saint and Rachel Livingston?

Sparks flew between them in MANWHORE.

Separated by deception, the intensity and heat of their attraction turned up in MANWHORE +1.

Will Chicago's wealthiest and most notorious player finally settle down, or will one woman never be enough?

Find out in MS. MANWHORE, the ultimate conclusion to their electric, breathtaking story.

 

 

Purchase Links:

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1jc5JR3
Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1L92Xp9
Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1OnFeUp
Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1OyRPEk
Amazon Paperback: http://amzn.to/1GxUXK5

Read Manwhore
Read Manwhore +1



Kristine's Review:
Reviewed: October 2015.

I wasn't entirely sure what to expect here with Ms. Manwhore, where would Katy Evans take Rachel and Saint? Would she throw in unnesscary angst just to fill the word count, or would she fill the novella with sexy times to pad it out? Where Ms. Manwhore could of been beating a dead horse so to speak, this felt fun and swoony. There was no unnecessary angst, no pointless drama, just a fun escapade into the craziness that is Saint and Rachel's life. 

Rachel may have come a long way from the shy, innocent woman she was pre Saint, she's still incredibly dedicated to her craft, and the causes close to her heart but in letting down her walls and surrendering to the intense connection with Malcolm has changed her, she's more confident in her skin and seems more sure of herself than ever before, it was refreshing to see this side of Rachel, the one who still feels like a fairy princess but is sure in her love for the quintessential sinner.

There a sexiness to Evans' writing like we've come to expect but there's also a softness to her alpha males, reading the easy camaraderie between Saint and Tahoe made me desperate for more, I'm eager to see if there's more to come for Saint's best friend and what kind of trouble he could get into with Gina, I'm excited for more of these smart, sassy, feisty characters.

I thoroughly enjoyed this adventure into what happens after the question is popped, when the planning begins, and dreams for forever start, plenty of super sexiness to keep you wanting more, lots of sweetness that leaves you swoony, and all the laughs you've come to expect from this series.

 

 

 

 

About Katy Evans:

 

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Website

Beautiful Secret (Beautiful Bastard #4) by Christina Lauren - REVIEW

 

Blurb:

AN UPTIGHT BRITISH EXECUTIVE. AN ADVENTUROUS AMERICAN NEWBIE. A SEXY INTERNATIONAL SCANDAL IN THE MAKING.

New York Times and #1 internationally bestselling author Christina Lauren’s Beautiful and Wild Seasons series hook up in Beautiful Secret for an erotic intercontinental romp that celebrates the best of both worlds!

When Ruby Miller’s boss announces he’s sending her on an extended business trip to New York City, she’s shocked. As one of the best and brightest young engineers in London, she knows she’s professionally up to the task. The part that’s throwing her is where she’ll be spending a month up close and personal working alongside—and staying in a hotel with—Niall Stella, her firm’s top urban planning executive and The Hottest Man Alive. Despite her ongoing crush, Ruby is certain Niall barely knows she’s alive…until their flirty overnight flight makes him sit up and take notice.

Not one for letting loose and breaking rules, recently divorced Niall would describe himself as hopeless when it comes to women. But even he knows outgoing California-girl Ruby is a breath of fresh air. Once she makes it her mission to help the sexy Brit loosen his tie, there’s no turning back. Thousands of miles from London, it’s easy for the lovers to play pretend. But when the trip is over, will the relationship they’ve built up fall down?

 

 Kristine's Review:

Reviewed: April 2015.

GOLD LIPSTICK RATED

To say I have loved every single step of this series would be a huge understatement, Beautiful Bastard drew me in, Beautiful Stranger had me swooning with delight, Beautiful Player had me fanning myself and now Beautiful Secret has me wanting to shout from the rooftops my obsession with anything this dynamic duo writes. Their ability to not only craft the kind of fictional leading men that could only exist in my dreams, but the kind of kick arse heroines I want to be when I grow up. Their characters are real, sexy, balanced, snarky, sweet, vulnerable, and hilarious, seamlessly blending the perfect amounts of charm and heat, that they not only seep through the print into your bloodstream but they leap right off the page and straight into your heart.

In all honesty I'm not sure what I was expecting from Beautiful Secret, laughs...for sure, hot sex...heck yes, characters I wanted to fall in love with, definitely, but what I got was so so much more. Niall Stella seems to be steadfast, sure and confident, while he is very much the self assured man in all things business, his personal life is an entirely different matter. Recently divorced, Niall is floundering, not because the love of his life walked out and he doesn't know how to move on, but rather because he should feel something more than relief at the dissolution of his decade long marriage. The thing with public perceptions is that they are seldom correct, often what we think from the outside looking in fails to be true.

Ruby Miller is young, bright and has a promising career ahead of her, she has the skills and thirst for knowledge that will ensure career advancement. She's self assured, strong, the daughter of successful psychologists, Ruby has been raised to be direct and honest, working in London, across the other side of the world from family and friends Ruby seems to have the world at her feet, she only has one slight problem, she has a massive crush on Niall Stella, VP at her company, but up until today he has never acknowledged her presence, and she is about to spend the next month with him alone in New York for work conferences and meetings.

Where Christina Lauren have excelled at instant attraction, chemistry and lust in the past, Beautiful Secret is stripped back, it's a slow burn of almost teenage like courting, at times awkward fumbling, as Niall and Ruby navigate a relationship while in New York, away from the drudgery of an office filled with over eager ears and snide comments. Niall's innocence and naivety to not just sex but intimacy, to communication and relationships was endearing, for a reader like myself who is often drawn to the alpha type hero, Niall was a refreshing change that caught me off guard. Ruby's youth and effervescence made her instantly likable, her confidence and poise drew me in, but ultimately it was her vulnerability that came through despite how much she fought to keep it hidden that had me falling head over heels.

Christina Lauren have quickly become my go to authors for when I'm feeling down and low, for when I just need to laugh, for when I want something that's deliriously sexy that doesn't sacrifice it's storyline for that sizzling heat. I would almost expect after reading my tenth book by this writing couple, that the effects of their words, the impact their stories have on my mind, would somehow have dimmed, that I wouldn't feel the level of excitement I do when I see a cover reveal for a WIP, or when a copy of their newest book shows up on my doorstep or pops up on my kindle, but after finishing and revelling in Beautiful Secret I think my need, my thirst for their words has grown ten fold. There are books that you read, ones you enjoy, ones you experience, then there are books that take you on a journey you weren't prepared for, that captivate your heart and mind, books that leave you feeling lighter, and yet somehow stronger, changed. Beautiful Secret is the kind of book that leaves you envious of all the readers who get to pick it up for the first time as they experience what you already know to be true... that some books stay in your heart and mind long after you turn the last page.

Purchase Links:

Amazon US:  http://amzn.com/B00LHA1HHW

Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00LH9Z986

Amazon AUS: http://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B00LHA1HHW

Audible: http://adbl.co/1BVHahm

Target Special Edition (US only): http://www.target.com/p/beautiful-secret-paperback/-/A-16559559#prodSlot=medium_1_1&term=beautiful+secret

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/beautiful-secret-christina-lauren/1119886144?ean=9781476778006

 

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 nine 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.)


Twitter @seeCwrite for Christina and @LolaShoes for Lauren

 

website

http://www.christinalaurenbooks.com/