Whoa. What a ride this book has been. A ride that I loved every single moment of. A Whole New Crowd is everything I normally wouldn’t read. It’s dark, it’s intense, it’s not overly romantic in the way that you might think, but it was absolutely perfection. It’s so addictive! So so addictive.

In a nutshell, this book is about Taryn. Taryn has lived in foster homes, and she wants a family. She wants to love and be loved. She wants to know that she can trust people. The problem is that she’s a bit rough. She’s a thief, she has a past, and although she’s trying to let that go, she can’t seem to entirely remove herself from that life. She’s finally given the chance to move on and start a new chapter. The world of drugs and illegal activities she’s coming from versus the new life she’s going to when she’s adopted couldn’t be more different. Rich family, popular, so on and so forth. But that’s not really Taryn. What happens if her two different worlds collide though? What if things aren’t as they appear and her past entwines with her future? It makes for a crazy story.

As far from the norm as Taryn is, I adored her. She loves so hard. She’s also a badass, and she doesn’t care what people think of her. As rough around the edges as she is, she’s so caring. She takes responsibility for so many different people, and just wants to help. She helps in…a different manner than some others might, but she means well. She’s loyal and honestly, the best friend you could hope to have. She wants to do right, but her world makes it hard. She’s having a hard time fitting in with the new popular crowd that she’s been thrust into. They aren’t like her, and she likes the fact that she’s not like them. And Tray? Oh Tray. Tray is the hot, popular guy. You’d assume these two wouldn’t get along right? No. They understand each other though. They appear as the least likely couple, but they work. They click. And it couldn’t be more right.

I loved how exciting this book was. Every page was something new and different. The storyline never got old. It never became predictable to me. It was a page turner, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. It’s like this crazy puzzle that you have to piece together and you’re certain it isn’t going to end well. I loved the ending and thought it was the perfect ending to this crazy journey that Taryn and Tray endure. I also loved that it wasn’t about sex. So many nowadays, even if they don’t call themselves erotica, it’s just SO much. Too much sometimes. A Whole New Crowd isn’t like that at all, but it works and flows so well. The story will keep you so enthralled, you won’t miss it. You can feel the tension, you know how much they care for one another, and you see how their bonds are strengthening.  You don’t have to see it written out in words in a sexual way, and I love that. This story is so much bigger than that. It’s about family, loyalty, and responsibility. An intense kiss every now and then is just enough, in my opinion.
 
I don’t usually do dark. Every so often, one grabs me. A Whole New Crowd not only grabbed me, but it completely obliterated me. It took hold and I was a goner. I just couldn’t get enough. I wanted it to never end. This book is deep and intense. It’s a lot of fun to read, even though the story itself wouldn’t be described as “fun.” It’s an exhilarating tale, and you’ll feel like you need a massive breather after finishing. I can’t say enough great things. Love love loved this one. Hard.

<3 Erin

So I just finished You’ll Think of Me by Lucia Franco and the first words out of my mouth were “That’s it?” Because I seriously wanted more. It didn’t end in a cliffhanger or feel incomplete. I just wanted more. But the page wouldn’t turn. I fell in love with this second chance story. It was done is such a way that it felt real and relaxed and not like they were pushed back together. It was natural.

I love the way Lucia took you back in time. She weaved the present with the past so that you could see what went wrong but also seeing them come back together. It wasn’t all past chapters followed by present chapters. I love seeing them in the past. In a lot of second time books they talk about the past and why they didn’t work out, but in You’ll Think of Me, you get to see it.

These were strong characters. I also loved that. You see in the past that they were young, and didn’t talk it out with each other, mostly because they thought the other didn’t need to know because they would always be together. But then you see it go wrong. Maybe Luke overreacted. Maybe Olivia should have told him all along that she was applying to medical school in NY. But they were young. They had been together for 4 years. They were going to be together no matter what. But then it blew up. And it all went wrong.

And then circumstances bring them back together. And the attraction is still there. The love they felt is still there. But so is the hurt. The feelings of the past are still there. The heartbreak is still there. But you can tell, they are destined to be together. And Lucia Franco does a great job showing that. And showing the struggle of them finding their way back to each other.

~Katie

Sweet Fall is one of the most beautiful but heartbreaking books I have read. It tears to pieces. Breaks you down. And by the end, builds you back up. In my opinion, this is Tillie Cole’s best book to date. The writing. The emotion. The gut wrenching sadness that is in these pages. She did an amazing job putting Lexi and Austin’s story together.

Having read Sweet Home and Sweet Rome, I knew of Lexi and Austin. But I have to say. I had no clue what was going on in their lives while reading Rome and Molly’s books. You just knew them as friends of the main characters. But wow. What they had going on in their own lives is astounding.

You read in the beginning about how Lexi’s story is based on Tillie’s experiences. And while I wish Tillie never went through the struggles and fight that Lexi went through, I don’t think she could have written this book and made me feel the emotions I felt if she hadn’t. You can tell this was more personal experience then research. You can feel every single word. Every single word.

Austin’s story is heartbreaking but at the same time uplifting because he was able to pull himself out and make a life for himself. He beat the odds. And not only did he beat the odds, he succeeded higher than most.

I always feel very vague on my reviews. Only because I want you to experience the book for yourself. And this is one book you will feel every up and every down. Tillie Cole did an amazing job telling their story. I don’t know exactly how to describe it anyway. I could tell you but I couldn’t give Tillie’s words justice. This is a book you need to experience on your own.

~Katie

Where have I been?! How did I not know about S.P. Cervantes. Seriously. Seriously! Give me a second to be wow'd. This woman can write a love story. She makes you feel. She pulls out every emotion you can fathom. She'll make you cry heartbroken tears, but put that broken heart right back together again. I'm in love with this author.

Wished Away is the second in the A Broken Fairy Tale series, following Dust to Dust. It could be read as a standalone but I can't say it enough - Don't short yourself. Read Dust to Dust. Both of these books are leaps and bounds above so many others out there.

I loved Camryn and Holden in Dust to Dust. I was certain there was no way she could top that story. Of course any scene with Jess in it was always so fun and exciting, but I just couldn't imagine liking two characters from their world more than I did Cam and Holden. I was so wrong. So so wrong. Jess and Gage's story grabbed me and didn't let go until the very end. Throughout the pages, you'll feel and experience so many different emotions. It's not all butterflies and rainbows the entire length of the novel, but every page still felt so hopeful. Their connection, their love, their passion. It's just...I use this word so often, but it really felt like they were perfect for one another. They were made for each other, it just took some tragic events and learning experiences to get there. But when they do get there? Sigh. It's breathtaking. Absolutely beautiful.

I’m not even sure how to write this review. I enjoyed Filthy Beautiful Lies. I did. But did I love it? I don’t know. That’s a weird answer when it should just be a simple yes or no, but I just don’t know how I feel. My mind is so confused! There were things I loved and didn’t like so much about it, so I’ll just lay those out there and let you decide. Where some things drove me crazy, you may not worry about that so much. I think if you like a fast read that doesn’t dive too deep but is hot with a touch of mystery, this book is for you.

 I won’t summarize the story because the synopsis is right up there. It’ll definitely tell you what you need to know. There’s really no beating around the bush as far as what this story is about. That was a large part of why I wanted to read and review this. It sounded so different and I was intrigued. I don’t want to use the word disappointed but…it wasn’t exactly what I expected. That’s not to say it was bad, it just wasn’t what I thought it would be, which makes no sense because it fits the synopsis to a T. That’s my own fault and not the authors.
 
A few things I LOVED about this book – Colton. Any and every word spoken by him or chapter written from his pov stood above the rest. He’s so sweet but intense. Dark and mysterious. There’s a lot to the guy, and I really enjoyed his parts in this book. I also loved the writing style. Many chapters were only 2-3 pages long, but it flowed really well. To some, it may seem choppy but for me, it fit. I think the idea was fantastic, and Ryan nailed the ending. I hate cliffhangers but this one didn’t infuriate me, it just makes me want to know more.
 
And then there are the cons. I hate even having to type this paragraph because I feel so guilty writing non-glowing reviews. I’m too nice for this. The biggest thing is that I never really felt connected, besides with Colton, which his pov’s are minor compared to Sophie’s. I just never really clicked with her. You get some of her background, but it felt like I needed more to really get to that place where I felt like I was IN this world with them. I felt like an outsider the whole time. When I start a book, I want to be so drawn into their world that I can feel it, breathe it, and live it. I didn’t with this one. I also found Sophie to be a bit annoying. That sounds so harsh, especially because she’s honestly a sweet girl who’s trying to do the right thing. Just something about her character never set quite right with me.
 
Overall, I’d say I did enjoy this book. It has the romance and sexiness we all look for. I wish there had been more romance rather than just some thoughts running around in their minds, but instead actual moments that weren’t always necessarily sexual. I do think that Kendall Ryan grabs you by that last page, and will have me coming back for more. So I guess what I’m trying to say is this – I liked it. I didn’t love it. I wouldn’t try to sway you from ever reading it yourself though, since everything I didn’t love may be completely wrong in your eyes. It’s worth the time to give it a try, and I hope you do.

<3 Erin

Ahhhhh new Nicole Williams! Can’t breathe? Check. Can’t stop clapping like a 13 year old at a Backstreet Boys concert? Check. Can’t stop jumping up and down? Absolutely check. Of course, Hard Knox did not disappoint. God, this book! It was so much fun to read. Every page was exciting and fresh. It was clever and witty, yet so heartbreaking plus a touch of mystery. It is perfection rolled up in 300ish pages. Nicole Williams has done it again, y’all.

Short summary - Meet Charlie, the sarcastic, intelligent, over the top journalist for a college newspaper. She’s writing a story and needs to research the amount of alcohol consumption at a party. That leads her to meeting Knox Jagger. Knox is the resident bad boy of Sinclair University. Everyone knows him, everyone loves him, or in some cases, some people hate him. One way or another, he’s the playboy that every girl wants. He’s got a reputation to uphold. A few things happen, I won’t go into it, but after Charlie being drugged twice in two weeks at different parties, she and Knox join up to investigate and figure out who’s trying to get to her. This leads to them becoming roomies and…yeah, you get the idea. But it goes much deeper than two roommates who seem so opposite. So much deeper. Charlie’s given an assignment that could ruin everything and Knox has a past that he has a hard time overcoming.
 
These characters are so freaking perfect for each other, even though they couldn’t be more opposite from the outside. I want to be Charlie Chase when I grow up. She’s one of the niftiest characters in a book, and I love her for it. She doesn’t back down. She’s not afraid. She’s such a smartass, but she’s so smart about it. She’s quick-witted. I could go on and on. I love her. And Knox. Give me a moment to swoon before I type a single thing about that man. On the outside, he’s the stereotypical college bad boy. He’s overconfident, he sleeps around with evverryyonnee, and he doesn’t have a care in the world. You’re also sort of led to believe that he’s up to no good, in an illegal serious sort of way. My, how wrong I was when assuming all of the above. He’s not that AT ALL. But it’s uncovering all of those layers and seeing the true Knox Jagger that will make your heart melt. The guy is so broken. He’s strong. Under it all, he’s caring, protective, and romantic as all get out. There were a few lines that made me stop, reread, and swoon…again and again. I also love any scene where Knox and Charlie go head to head with their one liners. They hate letting each other get the last word, and many of their interactions because of that are hilarious. Knox just went on my top 5 book boyfriend list. He’s a keeper, that one.
 
I love Nicole Williams, in case you didn’t catch that up top. She writes stories that tug on all of your emotions, from laughing so hard you’re snorting to tears running down your face. Hard Knox was no different. She makes you fall in love with these characters. She makes you feel and believe in them, even when the story itself is telling you not to. She’ll keep you on the edge of your seat with this one. There was no down time or skimming. There wasn’t a lull in the story. Every single chapter will wow you and keep you excited to learn what’s next for these two characters.

Overall, I couldn’t put it down. Physically, couldn’t put it down. It’s such a captivating story and it doesn’t let go. It’s such an easy read because of that, and time just flies by. You’ll find yourself so enthralled with their story and what might happen, you won’t even realize that you read the entire book in one sitting until you’re finished. At that point, you’ll be heartbroken it’s over. While so much of the book is fun and games, there’s a lot of romance, tension, mystery, and angst thrown in there. I couldn’t get enough and love love loved Hard Knox.

<3 Erin

This is one of those, don’t judge a book by its cover. Because what I saw on the cover is not the story that was told. Not saying anything negative about either, just that this book completely surprised me.

This book was great. I really fell in love with the characters. H.J. Harley did an excellent job giving the characters an identity and developing them. I knew what was going on with Jordie all the time and could actually start predicting her reactions to things that were happening. Not because it was repetitive but because I felt like I knew the character. Like I had met her and became BFFs immediately.

I love how Jordie said whatever. She just said whatever was on her mind. I love her relationships with her friends. I love the way she mothers her daughter, Emma. And I loved the way she fell in love with Nathan. It took her by surprise but she went with it. She didn’t fight it. It was quick but it was easy. They were made for each other.

Sweet Destruction has ruined me for all other books for a bit. It’s Paige Weaver. I knew chances were good that I’d love it because it is Paige. I had read reviews, I knew people were raving about it, but it hung out on my Kindle all summer. Big mistake. Big. Huge! This book should have been read the moment it was available. It should have been devoured and enjoyed. I kind of want to kick myself right now for letting it sit for so long. This is without a doubt one of my top 5 books of the year. It is absolutely stunning. So let me say this – If you have this book on whatever device you use, stop what you’re doing and start Sweet Destruction. You won’t regret it.

K, in a nutshell – You have Samantha Ross, her brother Bentley, and Bent’s best friend, Cole Walker. They live a rough life. Both have parents that don’t care for them the way they should. Sam and Bentley’s mother turned to alcohol and drugs after their father left them. They barely survive, having to fend for themselves since their mother doesn’t care. They don’t know if the electricity will be on or whether there is food in the fridge or not. Cole’s mother died of cancer, and his father turned to alcohol while also becoming abusive. The three try their best to survive in their world, with so much violence, drugs, etc surrounding them. All the while, something is brewing between Cole and Sam. They both deny it, but is there something there? This is the story of not only their pasts but how two people who were terrified to love try to learn how to do just that.

I’ll just put it out there from the get go. I love Lori Otto. I love every word she has ever written. I expect to love every word she writes in the future. If you’ve read anything by her before, chances are you agree with me. The thing I love the most about Lori is that she doesn’t write JUST a novel. She doesn’t write a couple of characters that you may or may not connect with. She doesn’t pull you in and you walk away when finished. Lori builds a world. She builds a world that characters your certain must be real live in, and you’re a fly on the wall, watching their lives unravel before you. It’s not words on a page. She writes unforgettable characters with problems that all of us have gone through, in one way or another. She gives it her all, and you can feel that on every single page. So yea, I’m a fangirl.

This book. I have the biggest book hangover after reading Olivia. Have you ever read a book, and although it is sad and you might have cried for the characters, how you feel is beyond even those characters? I finished Olivia, and burst into tears. Like rolling down my cheeks, seriously crying tears. I think part of it is because it’s the first Lori Otto novel I’ve read in a long while, so to continue their story but to have new work, it was just…a lot. I think it was also partially due to the fact that Lori creates such a magical world, and I wasn’t ready for it to end yet. You know how everyone talks about how they feel after reading a new CoHo novel or whoever their favorite is? That’s me tonight.

Amber Hart. You don’t even realize it because we’ve never spoken, but I just went through an entire relationship with you. Ups and downs, falling and hitting hard, convinced I’m breaking up with you, and then suddenly I love you again. Geez, I’m tired just from reading a book, but it was worth it. You’ve officially shot onto my new favorite list.
 
Okay so super short summary – You’ve got Faith, who lives a lie. She’s fake and only shows the side of herself that she feels the church and community thinks she should be. She has to appear perfect when she’s actually very far from perfection. The things she’s done and the places she’s been haunt her, but it also pushes herself forward. She meets Diego, who also has a past that he’s trying to leave behind. Coming from Cuba and having a rough life before moving to the states, he’s trying to start anew. When the two meet, it’s sparks from the get go. They help one another overcome their demons. They show one another how to look to the future, while also coming to terms with their pasts.

This book grabbed me from the very first page. There’s something always exciting about starting a new book, because you don’t know how the pacing will be, it’s all new, and you’re going in blind. This one started out perfectly, and didn’t stop. The pacing was just right. It never felt like it was dragging, and it kept me excited to read Faith and Diego’s story on every single page. Although you cover a lot of ground with both of their stories and point of views, it all just fit so well together. Hart has a quirky way of writing also, which made it even more fun to read. Dare I say, she even reminds me of a certain author that just released a book this week about an ugly sort of love, with her off the wall descriptions that work beautifully when all laid out. She’s eloquent and so much fun. Where one author may have used a phrase to describe something and you’d “get” it, she takes it above and beyond. You don’t only “get” the picture she’s trying to build, but you feel it, breathe it, and live in it.

I’ve had I guess a blogger’s version of writer’s block all day today. I’ve tried to write this review 5 different times, but I end up sitting here with a blank Word document open. It’s not because I didn’t love this book, because I did. I just can’t seem to figure out what to say. So this will be my shortest review to date, and Lia Riley, I’m sorry I couldn’t give you a more in depth review. It’s not you, it’s me. You were fantastic.

In a nutshell, you’ve got Talia, who takes a trip to Australia to basically get away from her life. She wants to be someone she isn’t, because who she was in California wasn’t shaping up so well. Her sister was killed in a car accident, her father has sort of shut her out, and her mother ran off to Hawaii. On top of it, she slept with her sister’s love and she suffers from OCD. She’s over being Talia (I don’t blame her, I would be too. Poor girl) and sets out to be Talia 2.0. While in Australia, she meets Bran. Oh Bran. Bran Bran Bran. I haven’t said his name enough so just give me one more time…Sigh Bran. Bran has a past as well, although very different from Talia’s. They’re both scared to move forward but know they can’t live in the past. Seeing their relationship bloom and mature is something…well…something romance novels are made of. It’s the epitome of a love story, in my opinion.

This is a book I’m not quite sure how to review. I’m actually sitting here, trying to figure out what to tell you about Blurred by Kim Karr. In no way am I saying this book is bad. It’s good. Maybe I’m most confused because it’s not a love story like the rest of the Connections series. It’s not what I expected. But that’s what makes it so good.

This is Ben’s story. It’s filling in all the blanks of what happened throughout the other books. It’s necessary. I don’t think the series could continue without this book. It’s all Ben. It’s him telling his story in the past with flashbacks and in the present.  It’s not a happy love story with some angst in it. This is dark and gritty. It’s also healing. You see Ben heal. You see his demons and him working through them.  It’s not easy. This book is not easy.

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, Kim Karr does an amazing job with novellas. She puts so much information into them but you don’t feel rushed. It feels complete.  And I feel like that is an amazing skill and one not every author has. 

~Katie

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Whew. Let me catch my breath. That was…a lot. A lot in a very short amount of time. I just need to think for a second. This is so weird but I’m not sure what sort of review to even write for this. I liked it, then wouldn’t love it so much and wanted to stop, then bam…I’m hooked again. I’m so torn. I’m thinking overall, it’s a yes for me, but with a few but’s thrown in.

Normally I’d summarize the story sort of right here but the synopsis nails it. Best friends, one guy, he plays them both, they seek revenge. It sort of sounds a bit predictable. You KNOW the authors won’t seriously let two best friends end a relationship because of a guy. Right? Yea. It does play out like you’ll expect it to but with a few twists and turns thrown in for some added quirkiness.

Okay so these characters…I can’t remember the last time I hated a character as much as I hated Luke in this book. In the story, the two women are supposed to be falling head over heels for this guy, and he’s supposed to be this charmer who can make it happen. For me, he was just really a huge jerk. Obviously as a reader, you know what’s happening so you’re supposed to feel that way. But even his “charming, wooing” moments with each woman individually was so…yuck. I felt slimy reading any scene he was in. That takes us to the women, Savannah and Brooke. They’re amazing. They’re fun, witty, complete smartasses, and I love them. I want to be the third in their little pow wow. They’re both so different yet mesh so well together.

I think because I loved Savannah and Brooke so much, seeing what Luke was doing to them made me physically ill, but in a good way, sort of. The anticipation was just…too much. Seeing the close calls and the little web of lies Luke was weaving, it was all very intense. It was still a lot of fun to follow along with, but I was absolutely terrified to get to the point where they figure it out.

I was almost to my wits end because I couldn’t stand Luke, and was ready to call it a day, but then it happened. IT happened. The girls put 2 and 2 together, and began Operation Destroy Luke Wellington. Ahh, SO good! So much fun. These girls are creative and I was wow’d by their crazy ideas to make Luke crumble. The book did a complete 180 from that point on for me. I almost sort of wish they had cut to the chase and started that earlier, but I get how you wouldn’t have been as invested in their little scheme if you hadn’t experienced Luke’s asshole-ness to begin with. I get it, but I think it would have made for a much more entertaining book, rather than some parts that were almost too much angst and anticipation.

Here’s my one little thing, besides my hatred for Luke. I didn’t love the writing style in some parts. Some areas were fantastic. The authors pulled me in and I could swear I was sitting in the offices of Hourglass magazine. My complaint is that it felt like they jumped around a lot. They would go from ending a sex scene to the next sentence with the characters being on a plane, then the very next one is a week later. It didn’t flow quite right for me, not all of the time, but just every so often.

Overall, sigh… I liked Hourglass. I didn’t love it. I didn’t not like it. I don’t even know how to describe what I feel. It was a quick, fun read in some parts, and frustrating (could be seen as a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it) in other sections. I wanted Luke to get what was coming to him SO badly, and in the beginning when it just isn’t happening yet, I wanted to throw my Kindle. So if you’re wanting an exciting book that may make your tummy flip? This is the one. Go into it expecting to go through a wide range of emotions. It’s a lot to take in, but by the end, I was glad I read it.

<3 Erin

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Oh. My. God. This book. It is now in my top 10 favorite books of all time. Possibly top 5. That’s how awesome it is. Seriously, this needs to be on the top of your TBR NOW!

It’s different. It’s hot. It’s sweet. It’s everything you want in a book but done so much better. This is my first Erika Ashby book and now I’m off to read the rest of them. That’s how much in love with her and her writing I am now.

First you have Lucy. Lucy is awesome. She is trying not to be her mother. Trying to be the complete opposite in her life choices. And that has made her a bit of a prude. Until she meets Brent. And until she gets an assignment that changes her life. Living with and interviewing Brent, the porn star coming out of retirement. Brent brings something out in Lucy that she pushed down so much.

I have to say I love the way this book is written. It’s Lucy telling her story. Literally telling her story in an interview.  It goes back and forth between the present and the past. And it’s the perfect way for it to happen.  And what happens in the end, her becoming Lotus Raine, I never expected. Which you would think is odd with what the title of the book is. But I truly didn’t think what happened, was going to happen.

This is the top book of the summer for me. It’s a must read.

~Katie

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