I finished Deep about 30 minutes ago and sat here thinking of what to write for my review. And I’m still having issues coming up with what to tell everyone. I read Lick back when it first came out. It had the originally cover. It was still an indie book. And I loved Ev and David and all of the guys. And with each book, I have fallen more in love with the characters. And Kylie because she knows how to draw me in, make me stop everything I’m doing and has a way of writing that I feel is different. Is there angst? Yes. Is there drama? Yes. But it isn’t crazy. It’s amongst the characters not because of a situation. And I love that. I love that no matter how crazy the storyline is, it seems so real. Each and every one of the characters is awesome. There isn’t one that I don’t like. Mal is my fav Stage Dive dude and after reading Deep, Lizzy is my fav chick. And truthfully, I’m really sad at saying goodbye to them. After 4 books and almost 2 years of connecting with these characters, I feel so horribly sad that I won’t be able to read another book about them. And that just means there will be lots of rereads in my future. To hear David’s sweet words, laugh my ass off at Mal, feel deep about Jimmy and love the quiet one that is Ben.
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I’m going to be honest with you, I don’t know how this review is going to sound. I don’t know if its going to make sense. But hopefully you’ll bare with me. I am a lover of all things by Tille Cole. I’ve reviewed her books before and if you go back and read them, you’ll see that. But there was something about Sweet Hope. Something that grabbed me. Took ahold of me and wouldn’t let go. Maybe because its the last book in the Sweet Home series. Maybe because it is now my favorite Tillie book. Half way through it jumped straight to the top. Maybe because Tillie just knows how to write a damn good book. Maybe its just all of the above. But Sweet Hope is amazing. It gives you the feels. It made me cry more than once for more than one reason. The story killed me. The bonus chapter gutted me. But as much as it sucks to say goodbye to them, I’m content. I’m ok with it. Doesn’t mean I already didn’t ask Tillie about a book for Levi. But no, its done and I’ll have to live with that. So back to Sweet Hope. I already warned Tillie that there will be cursing involved. And she told be to go for it. So I’m warning you, I might go for it. I’m not a fan of serials, especially when all pieces aren’t out yet. When I signed up for Naughty King, I didn’t realize it was a serial. I just love Michelle Valentines writing. But after finishing, I have to say, I didn’t even realize it was a serial. Was it short? Yes. But Michelle wrote such an amazing story that I didn’t realize it. It had a beginning, middle and an end and it also had one hell of a cliffhanger. While I wish it was longer, it wasn’t lacking anything as a first book in a series. Naughty King isn’t your typical manwhore millionaire meets secretary. Alexander is trying to buy Margo’s fathers business and as part of the deal, he has to give her a job. But she is in for blood. She wants to make sure that doesn’t happen. She wants to run the business. Is there an attraction? Of course. They try and deny it. But on a business trip to Vegas, there is only so much spark that can be denied. Michelle leaves it off it an awesomely horrible place. It’s a freaking HUGE cliffhanger. I want more. I want to know what happened and what happens next. ~Katie OMG OMG OMG. I just finished. And OMG OMG OMG. I knew, I just knew it couldn’t be that simple. That easy. This story wasn’t easy but it was. Which I know, makes no sense at all. Let me start at the beginning. This book starts off with heartbreak. But seeing how it starts, you hope it can only go up from there. Natalie just lost her husband. She is grieving. She is trying to move forward. But she with every step forward, there are many steps back. Until Liam, her husbands best friend, comes to help. And he does help. He gives her huge pushes to move forward and starting living her life again. And you see a very natural procession of them falling in love. It sounds scandalous. But Corinne Michaels did it in such a way that it wasn’t. Husband dies, best friend comes to help wife, they get together. But in Consolation, while it happened that way, it was very natural. He’s there to help her, not bed her. There was no attraction or feelings before Aaron died. They were friends. There are a lot of should we or shouldn’t we. They question. But in the end, the questions all point to yes, this is what they want. It’s so very common nowadays for a romance novel to have certain key elements – angst, tension, betrayal, etc. What if an entire book was written about death? What if the story was written with tragedy, grief, guilt, and devastation at the core? Well that’s something else entirely and after finishing The End of All Things Beautiful, I think I’ll find myself looking at all future books differently. This one is very unique, but breathtakingly beautiful in every single way. There are few books that can truly take you away from this world and transport you someplace else. That’s what The End of All Things Beautiful did for me. It completely took me away to the world that Campbell lives in, starting with her memory of a specific day. A day that will haunt her and change her for the next nine years. I swear, I could feel her pain and my heart ached for her. Not just during the flashback to a younger time, but also in her day-to-day life. The story was written so well and you’ll find yourself 110% connected without even realizing it. The thing you have to know before you start is that this book isn’t sunshine and rainbows. It’s not, and the fact that it isn’t made me love the story and characters even more. They struggle, and some don’t win. It’s heartbreaking and will make you reevaluate a few things in your own life, but in the end, it’s all about forgiving and the future, knowing you’ll never forget. It’s a very deep, emotional, and intense tale, but I have no doubt, you’ll love every word. Jessie Evans can do no wrong when it comes to writing the couples of Lonesome Point, TX. I have loved each book more and more, each couple more and more and when you’re finish reading each book, you sit patiently (or not so patiently if you are me) waiting for the next book to be out. She completes each book leaving you content. But then, you know there is more to come. She leaves little hints in each book about the next couple. Introduces a character, you see an event happen that you know that it needs more. And to me, that is an example of an excellent author. In Chaps and Chance, you go back to two characters you have met in previous Lonesome Point books. But you get to know Layla and Cole so much more. You get to know more of their back story. You get to see the who, what, when and whys of their story. You get to see them reconnect and fall in love. Chaps and Chance is a second chance story. They may have never dated before but they had a connection. And after a bad marriage for Layla who is in desperate need of protection from an insane (and mostly likely could be certified that way) husband, she and Cole come back together. And the feelings they felt so many years before are still there. I’m one that doesn’t read synopsises very much. Especially when its a book within a series I love. And maybe I took a quick look of the synopsis of This Much Space but the most I remember is that it was Olivia’s story. But when I started diving into This Much Space the book took on so many things, its amazing it is all one story. That it’s a story of two people coming together. Falling in love. Learning to lean on each other. When learning about these characters, you would think the angst would be from Olivia. She’s overweight. And she’ll tell you that herself. But she’s accepted it. She loves her body for what it is. And you should too That’s her attitude. You can call her fat. She’ll even say it herself. But that doesn’t stop her from having some of the best self esteem. She has actually made me stop and think and want to work on some of my own issues. She is strong, she is mighty, she is outspoken, she is a creative genius, she is loving. And when Olivia loves you, she loves you. So, to be honest, I just went back and read the synopsis. I don’t want to give you spoilers. But I want to tell you about Thierry. When you first meet Thierry, you think typical jock. You type cast him. You think he’s going to be similar to what you normally read it books. In all honesty I really thought it would be sports star meets overweight girl, she has a crush, he just sees fat, they are put together to work on a project and he realizes there is more to her that then and they fall in love. End of story. But I should have know K.K. Hendin doesn’t do that. She puts a spin on everything. Excuse me for a second, while my racing heart slows and my tummy stops fluttering. Black Number Four is the epitome of a new adult novel. It’s got it all, plus some. While many focus on only the angst or shock factor in the new adult genre, Steiner has written a well-rounded novel that will cover all of the emotions, from heartbreak to frustration, romance to humor, and a whole lot of excitement. Skyler and Kip couldn’t have been more perfect for each other. They’re both so witty, so sarcastic, and they play off of each SO well. For much of the book, I had a smile on my face or found myself laughing out loud at things they would say to one another. They’re adorable, and their relationship is one of my favorites in recent history. Their connection is smoking hot, yet also so tender and loving. You can feel it and breathe it in from the very first time they meet. They just work. I do wish we had a smidge more of Skyler’s background since we do end up learning so much about Kip, but it worked as it is. The games they play and the lies that are told are frustrating (in a fabulous way), but seeing how those issues are handled is even better. You just sort of know it’ll be okay, because it’s Skyler and Kip. It has to be. The storyline is out of this world. You know the same ole same ole where you have two broken characters who fix one another? Uh yeah, that’s not this book. While these characters do find their true selves in one another and really step back to reevaluate everything they thought they knew, the tale of Skyler and Kip is so far beyond that. At the core, it’s about two people who both discover what truly matters the most in life. And that story? It’s beautiful. It’s touching and will make you think. There’s honestly nothing like that feeling when you finish a book, and you really, seriously enjoyed it so much. Maybe it isn’t a constant stream of happy moments. Maybe you will cry. But at the end, your heart feels so full and you can’t help but smile. Needless to say, I’ve got a very large smile on my face after finishing Wild Reckless. This story is a perfect YA/NA-ish novel. I say “Ish” because there are parts that may be considered a bit too adult for the YA crowd, but it’s still very much that sweet, first love romance sort of tale. For me at least, it’s everything I’d want. Swoonworthy moments that make my heart and tummy flutter. Angst that had me biting my nails or physically shaking my head at my Kindle. Heartbreak that hits home more than many others before it. It’s got it all, and every single moment was exactly as I had hoped. I don’t like to compare because each and every story from each and every author is so different, but if you love love love Jude and Lucy in the Crash series by Nicole Williams, you’ll love this one as well. It’s got that same feel that I adore. Four words: Malcolm. Saint. Owns. Me. That’s pretty much all I’ve got. I’m still – almost 24 hours later – in awe, my head is still spinning, I’m still pissed off at that cliffhanger, but more than anything, I’m still completely swept off of my feet. I’m madly in love with this book. On the front cover of Manwhore, Sylvia Day is quoted with “Meet your new addiction. A sizzling, decadent, tender love story that kept me up all night. I call dibs on Saint!” That is the most perfect description. This story has a bit of it all, and it’s a five star read in every single aspect. It’s just the right mixture of sweet and sexy, with a whole lot of fun tossed in the middle. So I was all excited to write this raving review. I still am. But I have to put this out there first. The ending left me hanging. It felt so incomplete. There was so much left open. And best I can figure out, it’s a standalone. And because of the ending, I’m feeling kind of down. But up until the ending, seriously the last page, I loved this book. The humor of Mismatched is awesome. I laughed so much while reading. I especially loved the all the talk about Big Dick. You see, Big Dick, is a horse. Now just think of all you can say about a horse named Big Dick, including riding him. In all seriousness, Mismatched rivals the humor of Wallbanger by Alice Clayton and Snacks and Seduction by Tara Sivec. After reading so many serious books recently, it was just what I needed. So while Mismatched is a love story with a great romance, it really is a book about friendship. And an awesomely amazing friendship at that. It is told from the POVs from 2 best friends, Erin and Ridlee. And it about their adventure of going back to Erin’s home of Ireland and trying to find the person her grandmother left half the bar Erin runs to. And it is an adventure. With a ton of humor. Nothing goes right, the cast of characters you meet along the way and the circumstances they find themselves in all make for an extremely funny story. Oh and all the Guinness they drink. That helps with the antics. I totally loved this book. Step-Lover is not just a step sibling romance. No it is so much more. It is a second chance romance that even when you know they are step siblings, you put that aside and root for them to make it. Honestly, the step sibling issue bothered the characters more than me, the reader. I love the back and forth in this book. The past and present. You get to see how Aria and Blade meet. You see them with their wild weekend in a hotel room. You see them reuniting. You see the instant lust that is still there. And you see them falling in love both then and now. And while it might seem controversial that step siblings fall for each other, Bella Jewel did it in such a way that it doesn’t matter. Its just part of the story, not the story. I have to say though, the prologue, gutted me. Ripped me apart. And set up so much of Aria’s story. The need to make everything ok. Not to rock the boat. To stay on course. But it’s what made me the way she is. It set the course of her life. Bella Jewel wrote what should be a controversial story, not controversial at all. Aria and Blade being step siblings is not ideal but if it wasn’t for that, they never would have been brought back together. Their story is a story that is meant to be. Two people who are meant for each other. ~Katie I loved Getting Dirty! I was intrigued before I rested my little eyes on a single page, solely because of the mystery behind this author. My little ears perked right up, wondering what the deal is with this book, who is Mia Storm, so on and so forth. Then I started worrying… what if I didn’t like it? What if it didn’t live up to the hype? What if what if what if… No, no more what ifs. I freaking loved it. The main thing I need to get across, if nothing else – this book is hot, hot, hot! It’s sexy. It’s one of those that you’ll need your husband or significant other nearby while reading, because…yeah. But even with that, it’s not about sex at all. The author weaves this tale that does get hot and heavy, but can hold it’s own without it just as well. The characters are so interesting. Each on their own make for fun, unique characters, but together? They’re explosive. Their connection, the angst, and the situations they’re placed in. All of it. I also really liked that with the dual point of view, you knew they were longing for one another and that never wavered. Even when others pop into the story, you just KNOW….it’s about each other, always. I loved Caiden but I might have a girl crush on Blaire. She’s a badass and not afraid to speak her mind or go after what she wants. I think we could all take a bit of a lesson from her at one point or another in our lives. B.N. Toler, why must you do this to me? Why?! There have been two reviews in the last year that I absolutely bawled like a baby while writing. One was Bright Side by Kim Holden, so I mean…really, can you blame me? The other? Wrecking Ball by B.N. Freaking Toler. Now we can add a third. She’s a pro at causing the waterworks, I tell ya. Where One Goes has caused such a chaotic whirlwind of emotions, I’m not even sure which way is up right now. Devastated? Yep. Warm and fuzzies? Those too. Tension and angst? You bet. You’ll encounter it all, so the easy answer would be to say that this book is very, VERY emotional. That feels like such an easy way out though because it really doesn’t even begin to touch the amount of different feelings that will wreck your heart, body, and mind. So let’s just say this: Wanna feel something? One-click this one. This story is so very unique and different. It’s creative and fresh. I’ll be honest, I don’t do paranormal, but even if you don’t like paranormal, it’s okay. The entire premise of the storyline revolves around paranormal aspects, but it still feels 110% like a romantic novel. It’s about the falling and the question of who will be there to catch the main character, Charlotte. It’s how one person can save the life of another, and how that bittersweet circle continues on. It’s sweet, sexy, and everything in between. The tension is off the charts. There’s a few touches of suspense or even a thriller. But under all of that, it’s a love story through and through. Ok. I just finished A Different Kind of Fine. And really? Really, KK Hendin? Really? Loved the book. Loved seeing Hayley and Nate together and working through all of their issues. At least, as best as they could. But I was left wanting so much more. And I felt like it wasn’t complete. I have so many more questions than answers at this point. And while that is bugging me, in many ways I’m ok with that. Is it a happily ever after? In some ways yes. Because deep down, you know what’s going to happen even if you don’t see it. But in other ways, it’s not. Its not that it’s not happy. The ending just left me wanting to know so much more. And I feel like that was done on purpose. Or at least I hope it was done of purpose. Because, here is me begging, KK Hendin...please please please give us another Hayley and Nate book. Pretty please with a cherry on top. Because I love this couple. And I love how they work. Or don’t work. But how it works for them. I want to know more. I want to know their future. I want to know more of their struggles even though they kill me. All of that to me, says how awesome KK Hendin is as a writer. She gave me just enough information to be happy but didn’t give me it all and left me begging and wanting more. And doing that, that is awesome. I can’t wait to read more of her writing. And learning more about the people in this series. It has made it into my top 10 series I’ve read. ~Katie |
April 2016
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