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Stepbrother Dearest - Penelope Ward

9/29/2014

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When I saw the title and read the synopsis, I really thought this book would be much more taboo. The subject matter totally is. But the book really wasn’t. It was actually really kind of perfect. 

Greta can’t wait to meet her new stepbrother Elec. She’s an only child. She’s always wanted a sibling. But the moment she lays eyes on Elec, she can’t think of him as a brother anymore. Greta is extremely attracted to him. But Elec makes her life hell. But it’s the type of hell where you can feel that there might be a something. Something more than just harassing her. But the night before Elec needs to leave, everything comes together. And they know. They know it will only be one night. 

Until 7 years later. And they see each other again. 

I think some of my favorite parts were when Greta was reading Elec’s autobiography. You learn his backstory. You learn why he and his father don’t get along. And wow. Not what I expected. 

This is the type of book you pick up and don’t put down. I read it in 6 hours. It absorbed me. I wished there was more when it ended. 

~Katie

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Unraveling - Timberlyn Scott

9/29/2014

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Unraveling is book 2 of Timberlyn Scott’s Unhinged series and I have to say I love this series. It’s intense. It’s hot. It’s like falling down the rabbit hole into Payton and Sebastian’s world.

Unraveling picks up where Unhinged lets off. And you see them falling deeper and deeper in love with each other. Their relationship is quick. Way too quick and I have a feeling in the future it will come back and bite them in the ass. They didn’t just fall for each other, they plummeted.

This is one of those reviews, I honestly don’t know how to write. I don’t want to give too much away. I don’t even really know what to say. So much has happened, but we’ve learned so little. It is keeping me sitting on the edge of my seat waiting for book 3.

Payton is the type that just goes along, living her life. She’s newly out of college. Finds a job. And then meets Sebastian. And it takes off. Even though she’s been warned not to let it happen.

Sebastian has secrets. One major one came out in this part but there are still more. And for the life of me, I can’t even think to figure it out. Timberlyn Scott has done an excellent job not even hinting at it. Or at least not in a way I have picked up. And I’m dying to know.

This book left off making me want more. Not only because it ends in a cliffhanger but because of the story. I want more of Payton and Sebastian. I want more of their story and the consequences I know will happen. They’ve been in a bit of a bubble of new relationship happiness and that bubble has to burst soon, rather than later.

~Katie

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Drops of Rain by Kathryn Andrews

9/29/2014

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Even the second time around, this book still does it for me. I read Drops of Rain in mid-August, but was lazy and didn’t write my review at the time. Since it had been a bit of time, I decided to reread in order to write this review. I can say, even the second time around, it still pulled me in and didn’t let go. It was just as fantastic during a reread as it was the first time. Although I knew how it ended, it still made me feel that wide range of emotions that it did the first go around. 

What I loved most about this book is that it didn’t have to try too hard. It’s your classic new adult romance, and I love that it is. It’s unique, the storyline is different enough that you’ll forever remember it, but what it all comes down to is the sweet story of two people that need each other. It has the romance and swoon worthy moments. In fact, it has A LOT of that. I can’t count how many times I found myself sitting here smiling from ear to ear. The things Drew Hale says…sigh. It also has your all-American high school drama. It has the perfect mean girl-type villain. Although it does have all of the elements that should make for a predictable story, the underlying issues with Ali and Drew will steer you in a completely unpredictable direction. I love that an author didn’t feel the need to add in a massive shock factor or crazy plot. Andrews wrote a real love story.  

It is very sweet and very romantic. But it’s also so hopeful. Seeing two people who need someone else as badly as these two did, and to find it in one another, makes for the most gorgeous story. Ali and Drew are both so individually broken and lost. Neither are sure how to gain control of their lives, but they do just that with the help and love of each other. I really feel like this book touched on every single emotion you can imagine feeling. Love, heartbreak, anger, humor, protectiveness, pain, the list goes on and on. So many emotions, but the story wouldn’t feel complete without all of it. It all combines perfectly.

I also loved the connection the two had with each other, as well as the connection with Drew’s brothers, specifically Beau. It’s very much so Ali and Drew’s story, but you’ll care about the entire family by the end of it. You hurt when they hurt. You can tell when they’re in pain, and how much it hurts Ali. She’s not just an outsider, she’s a part of their family. It was a huge plus as far as I’m concerned that the author didn’t build the entire story around two characters, but rather a group of characters. 

This is so silly, or maybe it’s not, but there’s one thing that stands out more than anything else in this book for me. Hopefully this isn’t a spoiler because if you’re reading a romance novel, this is bound to happen at some point in the book. When Drew tells Ali he loves her, he says it a certain way. He doesn’t make a huge sweeping declaration. He simply says, “Love you.” I swooned every single time. It made him real, in my opinion. Sure, those massive speeches all of our male leads give will make your tummy flutter, but how many of us can say we’ve ever honestly been on the receiving end of one of those? Not me. “Love you” is so very Drew Hale. It’s simple, direct, and no nonsense. It’s everything you need to know about that character summarized into 2 words. Told you, kinda silly but I loved it. 

Overall, Drops of Rain is the classic tale of two lost teens finding their way through love. They both begin the story so lonely or with hidden secrets and guilt, but overcome many different obstacles and better themselves in the end. It’s beautiful, heartwarming, sad, but above all else, it’s just plain romantic. I loved it the first time, was reminded of how much I adored the characters the second time, and now I absolutely cannot wait to dive into Beau Hale’s world in Starless Nights. Yay for more of the Hale brothers.

<3 Erin

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Locke by Harper Sloan

9/29/2014

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Maddox Locke. The book you’ve been waiting for. The answers you want. The fire you’ve seen between Emmy and Locke smoldering , getting ignited. The perfect ending to one my most favorite series. The tears I cried when it was done. Saying goodbye to a family that you’ve fallen in love with. The perfect epilogue. The anticipation for the follow up series. Loving Harper Sloan even more because she wrote the perfect book, the perfect ending to a great series and she left you wanting more.

Those were my first thoughts when I sat down to write this. I feel like I should say no more. But I will. I so will. But it will be brief. I’m not going to give anything away.

First things first, OMG Emmy. I did not expect at all her history. Nowhere did Harper hint at Emmy’s history. And wow. It was not what I expected. Nowhere near what I expected. And that sweet, quiet, loving Emmy came from that, wow. Blew my mind.

And Maddox. There have been hints of his past. Not so much about his family but about what happened while he was fighting for his country. But when I finally read about Maddox. And I finally read about his childhood. And what I finally read about what happened with his first love. It made me think that Maddox Locke is one of the strongest people ever.

This is Maddox and Emmy’s story but you also get to see the Corps Security family. And Harper Sloan has a way of showing you the future. 5 years down the road. 15 years down the road. This is a family I’ve falling in love with. That I want part of. And one that I can’t wait to see their future. Every single one of them.

~Katie

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Again by Lisa Burnstein

9/27/2014

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I seriously enjoyed my time spent with these characters, and living in their world. It’s like the stereotypical New Adult romance novel, with a spin on it. It has the anticipation, the romance, and the angst. There’s no shortage of what we’ve all come to know and love from this genre. But Burstein took it a step further with the storyline, and it makes the entire experience stand out. I’ll just mention a few things I really loved. 

Like I mentioned above, it’s not your same ole same ole. We’re used to our heroines having a rough past to overcome. We all know that story. What about a heroine that tries to rewrite it? There’s an idea, and it turned out perfectly. I LOVE that it’s so different. It’s unique, and will be a memorable tale for me because of that. Basically, without explaining too much, Kate is a drunk, sleeping with her married boss, and just an all-around mess. Her life wasn’t on track quite how she wanted, once she took a step back and looked. So she tries it again. How many of us have at least one or two moments that we wish we could go back and get a redo? Well that’s what Kate does. She’s 29, but goes back to college and claims she’s 19. She’s determined to do things right this time around, after flunking out the first time around. I just loved the entire premise of this book, and it didn’t disappoint after having finished. 

I love that it’s not necessarily instalove. It’s instaconnection. Kate and Carter just “get” each other. Carter also has a past that he’s trying to overcome, but feels stuck. To see how they help one another face their pasts and look to the future was beautiful. They each make the other open their eyes to who they truly are, and it gave me the tummy flutters in nearly every scene they were in together. It’s sexy, it’s romantic, but it’s also got some tough moments that they have to work through together. It’s full of lies of omission and hidden secrets, but you can just tell that these two characters will be okay. You hope anyway, because they sure do fit together. Their connection jumps off of the page. 

I thought the pacing was just right, and the writing was fantastic. It makes you feel all of those emotions Burstein intended for you to feel. Hopeful and saddened. Protective and loyal. Anxious and completely in love. It runs the gamut, and I love that Burstein can do that. She doesn’t have to add a ton of side characters or different storylines. It’s Kate and her chance at starting over. It’s Carter and his quest to forgive himself. It’s so simple, yet so intriguing. Burstein did a great job, and I’m officially a fan.

Overall, I really enjoyed Again. It was such an easy read, and you’ll find yourself completely swept away in their world. You’ll be rooting for Kate to figure out her life, and you’ll hope she can do that with Carter. It gripped me from the first page and didn’t let go. It’s the perfect heartwarming tale of not overcoming your past, but completely rewriting it and discovering yourself in the process. I highly suggest this one. Ooh and this quote sums it all up pretty much perfectly - 

“Out of everyone on this campus, how did the two biggest liars find each other?” she asked.
I brushed a stray hair away from her forehead, “Maybe because we’re finally ready to start telling the truth.”


Love. Go give Again a try. I’m betting you won’t be disappointed.

<3 Erin

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Rouse Me - Crystal Kaswell

9/25/2014

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I feel like I can breathe finally after finishing this book. I’ve been on pins and needles for the last few hours as I read this book, and it feels so good to finally get that answer and see how Alyssa’s tale ends. And now I’m supposed to write about this?! Argh! This book is exciting. It’s almost got an overall sad feel to it also, which completely contradicts the story. It’s a wild ride, but I enjoyed it way too much.

Alyssa is in a completely loveless relationship. She’s with her fiancé, Ryan, almost as an obligation. I won’t really go into it because the synopsis does a great job of explaining the general idea. Basically he saved her, and she feels scared to try and survive without him. She openly says there’s no love in their relationship. No romance, the sex is very mediocre, and he uses her as his trophy wife. He’s controlling to the extreme. That sure sounds like a happy future huh? Yeah, she agrees. Which is why she takes a liking to Ryan’s colleague, Luke. Luke is delicious, can charm her right out of her panties and into his bed, and isn’t afraid to let everyone, Ryan included, know it. He wants her, she wants him, and she won’t leave Ryan. That’s what it all boils down to.

Huge massive point here – If you don’t like cheating, you’re gonna want to go ahead and probably skip this one. I never ever say that in reviews, because I feel like every book should be given a try, even if I don’t like it. But if you’re someone that is very anti-cheating, there’s no way around it in this one. It’s in your face. There’s not much “will she won’t she” hanging in the air. It’s an affair, plain and simple. Let’s say you ARE into that though, which I am. If someone asked me what my favorite storyline types are in books, it’s cheating. I love it. Let them get caught. Let it have angst. Make it flip your world upside down. Rouse Me has all of that and more, which made me a very happy camper. Luke and Alyssa’s relationship is hot from the very beginning. It’s passionate and wild. They let go and just enjoy one another, in every sense. I loved how intense the story was. I loved the anticipation of their next meeting, their text messages to one another, and the overall feel of these two characters together.

I will say that a few things did bug me. Alyssa seemed very wishy-washy to me. She was leaving Ryan, then she wasn’t. She was ready to start a life with Luke, but she wasn’t. It was a lot of back and forth. For me, I feel like it would have flowed better without so much changing of decision. I also felt like they were in love much too soon. Yes, it hit hard and fast and took their breaths away, but it still felt very quick for me. Maybe it’s one of those “If you know, you know” kinda things. I’ll tell myself it was.

I really loved the writing. It was just the right balance of passion with heartbreak. It kept me intrigued. I did find myself skipping a sentence or two a few times, but not entire pages. The pacing seemed right beside the insta-love that I mentioned above. I’m definitely a fan of Kaswell, and can’t wait to read future novels by her.

Overall, it’s intense, it’s a sucker punch to the gut if you’re not prepared for it, but you won’t be able to put it down. It’s one of those books where you feel a bit dirty reading it but you don’t dare stop. Should I enjoy betrayal and the grittiness of an affair quite so much? I’m not sure, but Rouse Me is top of the line as far as that goes. It’s romantic, sexy, and heartbreaking. It may even make you step back and reevaluate your own life through this tale. You’ll get sucked in and won’t be able to put the book down until you see what choice Alyssa finally makes. I couldn’t get enough, and thoroughly enjoyed Rouse Me.

<3 Erin

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Saddles and Sin - Jessie Evans

9/24/2014

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Have you ever read a book that you thought, wow, they are moving really fast? Too fast. But for some reason, it all works. And works really well. That’s how Saddles and Sin is. The love between Marisol and Bubba happened so fast it made my head spin. But for some reason, it worked perfectly. Jessie Evans never made it felt like it was pushed and forced. She made it seem perfect. Kind of like, when you know, you know. And why hold back.

Marisol has had some bad luck. Not only in relationships, where her ex is an ass to the highest proportions, but in her family life. She’s been disowned by her family because of what her ex did. Never given a chance to explain that it was all a mistake. But when she meets Robert aka Bubba, she can’t help but fall for him. As much as she denies wanting him, she just has to go for it.

Bubba is an up incoming country star. But when he meets Marisol, deep down, he knows she’s the one for him. He just has to wait for her to figure that out. And she does. And from that day on, they never look back.

This is the book for you when you’re looking for something quick. Some undeniably love story. Some hot sex. Oh and cowboys. This book takes place on a ranch. I recommend starting with Leather and Lace, book 1 in the Lonesome Point series. Yes, Saddles and Sins could be read as a standalone but I think you should read Leather and Lace first. It helps to introduce the characters. And totally recommend both of them. You won’t be disappointed.

~Katie

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Damaged Goods by Nicole Williams

9/22/2014

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I’m very torn on how I feel about this book. I’m not even totally sure how to write my review for it, because my opinions are so opposite and changed throughout the book. I despise writing not glowingly positive reviews, but luckily, only half of the book wasn’t a 5 star read for me. It’s no secret that I adore Nicole Williams. As in, nearly cried when I met her this summer, couldn’t stop shaking, I love every word she has ever written, etc. I love her. So it hurts to have to say this, but Damaged Goods just wasn’t ENTIRELY up my alley. I’ll tell you why.

The first half of the book seemed very slow for me. Williams does a great job of helping you understand why Liv left the life she had, how she felt about it, and the reasons why she never wanted to return. There’s no doubt as to why things are playing out currently in her life how they are. Maybe it was because Liv is definitely not portrayed as this warm and fuzzy character. She’s rough, she’s not really always looking at the silver lining of situations, or super cheerful. But that doesn’t mean she’s a bad person, because she’s so far from that. She puts everything on the back burner for her sisters, meaning not only a relationship or a job but her actual education. She takes on the motherly role and does everything she has to do to make sure her sisters are cared for. So Liv is a very caring character, but something about her just…didn’t sit right with me and I’m still not even sure what it was. I didn’t fall in love with her, even though I wanted to.

I DID love Will from the get go, but it’s not Will’s story, it’s Liv’s. You see everything through her eyes, so that electric feeling I got anytime Will was in a scene wasn’t as often as I would have liked. You venture through many different experiences with Liv and her two sisters, and you’ll feel for them. The hardships they endure, and watching them try their best to survive was heartbreaking. Even if the story was slow, there’s no lack of emotion. Williams does a great job of making sure you feel what she wanted you to feel. But overall, the first half of the book was very…I don’t want to use the word disappointing because it wasn’t, but it wasn’t quite what I hoped for.

And then you hit the second half, and things changed. Everything picked up speed. The connection between Liv and Will started to evolve much more, the relationship between Liv, Paige, and Reese started to become deeper, and it felt like things were finally feeling “right” to me. It had the romance that you look for in these novels, as well as the anxiety and that feeling of just being happy. There was some mystery added in that kept me guessing, but it felt like everything else in Liv’s life was shaping up. I enjoyed the second half of the book much more than the first. 

Holy…crap… Okay, backtrack for a second. Some books try to toss in some big shocker, and for me at least, it never works out. I’m never really shocked. Maybe the foreshadowing was much too obvious or maybe the author didn’t REALLY want you to be as shocked as it appeared, but it never really works for me with other books. OTHER books, but not this one. Geez. Damaged Goods blew my mind. There’s one massive reveal at the end that I didn’t see coming. At all. I was entirely blind to the situation, and I’m still sitting here trying to figure out how I missed it. Williams did such a fantastic job of blending everything together that I never caught on. When it’s revealed, I had one of those wide eyed, gasping, can’t breathe, tingles kind of moment. Then immediately, I started thinking “Was I seriously that oblivious or did an author FINALLY shock me?!” So after you have read Damaged Goods, shoot me a message and tell me if you agree. Was I really that clueless and everyone else saw what was going on? Or did Nicole blow your mind too? I’m betting she’s gonna blow your mind.

Overall, I enjoyed it. By the end, I would even say I loved it. I wish the first half had carried as much as the second half, but at the same time, I get it. Those books that toss you head first into a situation sometimes (most of the time) don’t work as well. You need the buildup, but it felt like the pacing on the first half was a bit off for me. Once the excitement builds and their lives start changing though, the story took off. I loved every minute of the last half, and especially the last 20% or so. Like with all Nicole Williams novels, it has the quirky writing that I can’t get enough of, the meaningful characters that you’ll find yourself in love with by the end, and the story that grips you and doesn’t let go. Unfortunately, that grip came a bit later than I expected, but it DID happen. I would definitely suggest giving Damaged Goods a try, and see what you think. I might be wrong and that’s okay, but I’d love for you to experience it yourself. I don’t regret a single moment of my time while reading Liv and Will’s story, and am still sitting here shaking my head over that shocker. Well done Nicole!

<3 Erin

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Boarded by Love by Toni Aleo

9/20/2014

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Jude Sinclair. 
JUDE.
Jude…
J. U. D. E.

He has stolen my heart, and I don’t even want it back. 

I try really hard to make sure my reviews are somewhat cohesive and kinda sorta make a bit of sense. Not happening with this one. I’m just going to fangirl for a second and let loose. Wanna know what I loved about this book? EVERYTHING. But let’s assume you might want to know more than that. Let me tell you the pieces that I specifically loved about Boarded by Love.

First and foremost, the connection between Claire and Jude. It’s the epitome of an intense, serious first love. It’s the butterflies. It’s the sweet moments that make you swoon. It’s the first time you KNOW you can’t live without that person. It’s the nervousness knowing your first fight is coming, and terrified of what might come of that. It’s how completely head over heels in love you can fall without even trying. They have that sort of relationship. I don’t know about you, but for me, that’s what I want in a book. Does it get a bit cheesy? Absolutely, and I ate it up. Every single second of it. I wouldn’t change a single thing. 

Let’s talk about Jude because he makes my tummy flutter. So I have a list of my top 5 book boyfriends. That list has been pretty set for coming up on 2 years now. I can’t seem to let go of those original guys I met when I started reading this genre. One book switched things up a bit a few months ago, so I assumed that was it for a while. I didn’t see Jude coming because he just demolished that list. I’m so in love with this character. He’s everything you hope for. He’s the hot college playboy. He’s great at everything he does, whether that’s as the star of the hockey team or bedding 75% of the female population at the University of Bellevue. He’s cocky and has reason to be. On top of that, he adores his family. He’s so loyal and protective. He calls his mom because he’s worried about her! I mean, come on! But then you add in that powerful emotion of love and bam, totally different guy. And meeting THAT Jude? Swoon. Heart = Melted into a puddle on the floor. I can’t even. He’s perfection. He’s not afraid to change and welcomes it. He’ll proudly show how in love with Claire he is, and that just makes my little feelings tingle. I. Love. Him. That’s all there is to it.

I also love Claire. I love how determined she is, whether that’s in her relationship with Jude or with her career choices. The girl knows what she wants and that’s what she gets. There is no middle ground, and I think that’s pretty amazing. Granted, part of her reasoning for her career is sad and stems from her horrible past, but she still stays headstrong, and I love that. She’s a fighter and has overcome so much. To see her finally let go and enjoy just being in love was so heartwarming. I wanted to stand up and cheer for her throughout so much of this book. She’s definitely one of my favorite book heroines.

And and and…it’s Toni Aleo. Toni Aleo writing HOCKEY! Is there honestly anything better? I’m gonna say no. I had heard that this was her best book yet. Not to say those people are liars, but I had a hard time accepting that Claire and Jude could be better than Shea and Elli, or Phillip and Reese. Those books blew me away. The reviewers that stated that? Dead. On. It IS her best yet. And what’s even better is that not only is the story her best yet, but you still get all of those Assassins we love as well. Phillip looks great in the fatherly role. To see him in this book, as well as the other characters, was so much like coming home. I loved how protective he was of Claire’s heart. He’s a hard ass towards Jude, but knowing how much Claire means to him and how much he cares…sigh. And he wasn’t the only one protecting her. This quote was one of my favorites:

“I just got threatened by Shea Adler.
That is so fucking cool.”

Love it. I was hoping there would still be plenty of cameo’s from the old gang in this story since it’s a spin-off, and I wasn’t disappointed. Lots of the girls, their hunky players, and their personalities. 

Another unique and memorable part of this book is the music. She weaves different songs into certain scenes and it enhanced the entire experience for me. It’s almost like a soundtrack to the book. You won’t be able to help but look up the songs you don’t know, or listening to the ones you do, as soon as it’s mentioned. Not a Bad Thing by JT is now owned by Toni Aleo as far as I’m concerned. You may have remembered a post from me late at night a few days ago that mentioned giggling like a little girl in the middle of the night? It was that scene with that song. You’ll know it when you read it, and it’s as sweet as it gets. 

Overall, in my opinion, this is what romance novels are made of. Those picture perfect, romantic moments? Check. Anxiety and heartbreak? Check and check. The warm and fuzzies throughout the entire book? So many checks. It’s tied for my favorite book of the year. I can’t get enough of Toni Aleo hockey players, and she has outdone herself with Boarded by Love.

<3 Erin

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Beyond the Orange Moon by Adrienne Frances

9/17/2014

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UGH! 3% in and I don't want to keep reading. But I do because I want to know how this all goes.

Those are the words I wrote to Erin at 2:40 this afternoon. It is now 1 am and I just finished Beyond the Orange Moon. This is probably one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read. The prologue broke my heart. Truly, utterly heartbroken. As you can see, I didn’t want to keep reading. But I knew this was going someplace. And that place was beautiful.

Without giving the story away, this is a book about loss and love. The lowest of lows and the highest of highs. The prologue will wreck you. The body of the book will build you back up. The epilogue will make you soar. It comes full circle. The journey that I took with the characters had me crying and laughing.

I was able to review Under the Orange Moon back in March. The characters you read about in Beyond the Orange Moon are part of Under the Orange Moon. And for that reason, I don’t feel right telling you what happens. I haven’t read the synopsis. I usually don’t. So I’m not quite sure what you learn from that. But as a reader, I won’t tell you what happens. You need to have these feelings in real time. As you read this book.

I think the best thing about this book is that Adrienne Francis did a beautiful job on a very hard story. I applaud her on breaking my heart 3% into the book. I know that’s a really odd thing to praise an author about, but to me, it shows how great the author is. If you can break a reader’s heart right off in the beginning, good for you. But what’s even better, she repaired my broken heart by the end. There is nothing in this book I would add or take away. It’s absolutely perfect.

~Katie

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The Storm by Laura Lexington

9/14/2014

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Hurry. Hurry and go one-click The Storm. I’m planning on writing a full review, but I want to get straight to the point ASAP – GO ONE-CLICK THE STORM!

In our little world full of dominant CEO’s, hot musicians, and gritty motorcycle clubs, The Storm is so unique and stands out from the rest. I mean, I love Kellan Kyle to the point that it’s maybe a bit obsessive and I would gladly go in Christian’s Red Room of Pain with him, but sometimes it’s nice to think outside the norm. Two successful people who are overwhelmingly in love, but have obstacles such as gender discrimination and suicide to deal with? I told ya, different and absolutely beautifully done. That’s the one word I keep coming back to. It’s beautiful. Gorgeous storytelling at its finest. Laura Lexington is going to be something major one day, so jump on this one.

I loved these characters, and felt so deeply for Jana specifically. She’s intelligent and successful. I love that she’s strong enough to accept what’s really happening in front of her face, rather than turning the other way. She’s not scared of confrontation, although she’d rather not have to. But when she decides to set her mind to something, she makes it happen. And on top of it, a large part of the book happens while Jana is pregnant or with a newborn at home. I just can’t imagine going through those experiences with all of those extra emotions on top, so it just shows how strong she really is. I also adored her relationship with Andrew. There was no doubt how deeply they were in love. It was so enjoyable that no matter what happened to Jana, you knew that Andrew would be there for her. Their connection and love was unwavering through all of the ups and downs they endure. No two people in a book could have been fit for one another and help one another more than these two. It’s honestly what I think all of us hope our marriages could be.

That leads me to probably what I loved the most about this book. It’s definitely 200% a romance novel, but it’s not about them. It’s about everything else in their world. It’s about hope, trust, love, and believing that things will work out for the better in Jana’s career and personal life. Like I mentioned before, CEO’s and hot guitar players are fun, but there’s nothing better than a novel set around reality. Gender discrimination is real. The fight to prove your worth is real. Bipolar disorder and suicide is VERY, very real. I love that Lexington wasn’t afraid to jump out there and touch on these topics. She didn’t shy away, and I think it made a simple love story that much stronger. Don’t get discouraged that it sounds too “serious” though. It has so many goofy moments tossed in. It definitely felt like it was perfectly balanced between Jana’s issues and the fun side of their relationship. 

Laura Lexington has written one of the most beautiful stories I’ve read. I started trying to highlight phrases, but it ended up taking too much time because there was something to highlight every few sentences. Lexington’s descriptions used are unreal, whether that be for an emotion that Jana is feeling or how a sunset looks/feels. She builds a world, and we’re just lucky enough to get to live in that little world a few hours. She will make you feel their heartbreak, joy, and everything in between. 

Overall, this novel wowed me. It’s always an exciting but nervous feeling to start a debut novel by an author. Will you hate it or love it? I promise you, The Storm is way above the normal debut. Lexington has written a gorgeous, romantic, and hopeful story that everything works out for a reason. 

<3 Erin

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Stealing His Heart by Diane Alberts

9/10/2014

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I love Diane Albert books. These books are the perfect mix of sexiness, hotness, intrigue. They are always just the right length. They satisfy all of my book requirements. Utterly perfect.

In Stealing His Heart, you have Tara, a thief. And you have Jake, an ex-thief, ex-military, current private investigator currently very very hot. Jake and Tara grew up together. And then he went to Afghanistan.  And they never saw each other again. Until Jake needed Tara. Needed her to show him how she went around security that he implemented. And all those flames from so long ago were still there.

Diane Alberts writes so sexy sex scenes. I would call them love scenes but they aren’t always that. These scenes are HOT! But they make sense. If that makes sense.

I have one complaint about this book though. And it’s a silly complaint. With how hot this book was, how it held my attention completely, how perfect I think Diane Alberts books are, this one ended cheesy. But the cheesiness actually made sense. It worked. 

~Katie

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Perfectly Broken by Maegan Abel

9/8/2014

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I’ll preface this review by saying that Maegan Abel is a very good friend of mine, and I adore her. Having said that, I’ll also say that I’m probably the worst friend of all time. I’ve had Perfectly Broken on my bookshelf since February and hadn’t read it. Until this weekend. Eeek! Finally. I told myself that if for some crazy reason I didn’t like it, I’d still be very honest with Maegan and in this review. That’s what friends do, yea? So in a very sweet, nice way, I’d tell her if I didn’t enjoy it.

Not even an option. Not an issue. 

AT. ALL. 

Holy crap, this book. I wasn’t prepared. I wasn’t prepared for the intensity, for the moments that moved me, for the impeccable writing, for these characters that are unlike anything else out there. I wasn’t prepared for any of it, and I’m absolutely blown away. Blown away.

The story of Lili, Zane, and the world they live in is…gah. Heartbreaking. Intense. Captivating. Very romantic at times. This story grabs you from the first page. There isn’t a dull moment, and you definitely won’t find yourself (or I didn’t anyway) skimming and skipping pages. The characters are so unique and so opposite of what you usually find. Lili is strong. Not like…has a good comeback every so often and smarts off “strong”. She’s physically, mentally, emotionally so strong. She’s unlike every other book heroine out there, and because of it, it makes me love her that much more. I’m fairly certain I fell in love with Zane from the moment we meet him. He’s loyal and tries so hard to do the right thing. Does he always succeed? No, but it makes him human. You’ll find yourself being emotionally connected to every single character in this book. The brother, his girlfriend, and Zane’s young son. You’ll care about all of them, and that in itself should show what kind of book this is. No detail is left untouched, and no character is left in the dark and forgotten. 

Ahh the writing. I’m such a Maegan Abel fangirl, which is hilarious to me because I have dinner with her every month and I’ve heard her talk about this book and these characters constantly. I was proud of her. I’d gladly promote her and help her in any way. But it’s different now after having read it. I kinda want to squeal and freak out when I see her next. Maegan builds an entire world that these characters live in. It’s dual point of view so you see everything, but it’s beyond that. You feel and experience it all so deeply. Her writing is so eloquent. She knows exactly how to describe the emotions that her characters are feeling, and they jump off of the page. I also enjoyed that it wasn’t your all-american romantic tale. It’s intense. It’s got a lot of up’s and down’s. But more than that, you see the whole picture. It’s not all about the relationship between Lili and Zane. It’s about the situations they’re both separately placed in and how they deal with that, together and apart. 

You know those few authors you have that you require recovery time after reading? Colleen. Jessica Sorensen. Kristen Ashley. I have a handful that I can’t imagine picking up a book after reading one of theirs. It’s like they ruin me for a moment and I need a bit to just…breathe. Maegan Abel is now in that group. Read Perfectly Broken, and you’ll see exactly what I mean. She’ll ruin you and it feels so good. 

Overall, I LOVED THIS FREAKING BOOK! I want to write it over and over again. Scream it from the rooftops. Get a dang tattoo across my forehead. Loved it. Enjoyed every word and I can’t wait to read any and everything that Maegan releases.

<3 Erin

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