Showing posts with label 5 Stars. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 5 Stars. Show all posts

12/05/2018

Review: Undeniably You by Jewel E. Ann

Undeniably You by Jewel E. Ann
★★★★★
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Format: ebook
Source: Kindle Unlimited
Buy it: Amazon

One crazy dog—one awkward vet—one naked pool guy—and one life-changing month in California to make friends, fall in love, and twist fate. 
Who gets paid to walk a dog and recline by the pool all day? Sydney Montgomery, aspiring museum curator and professional house-sitter, that’s who. 
When her aunt and uncle need a house and dog sitter for thirty days in Palo Alto, Sydney can’t turn down the chance to be closer to her sister in L.A. Within twenty-four hours of her arrival, Sydney’s cleaning up runny dog poo, taking an uncooperative pooch to a handsome yet awkward vet, and being rescued from the bottom of the pool by a naked “pool guy.” 
Lautner, “pool guy,” has a hot body and a cool persona. With eyes of iridescent blue oceans, he is mesmerizing, sexy, and addictive. What he is not—the pool guy. 
Dr. Lautner Sullivan is a college wide receiver turned pediatric resident. He knows how to woo a woman with flowers, pastries, and sweet tea. Lautner is every girl’s dream, but Sydney is not every girl. She’s immune to rainbows, fairytales, pixy dust, and the “L” word. 
The attraction is immediate, the friendship is earned, and the love is undeniable. Thirty days is their forever, but forever is not long enough. 
A standalone Contemporary Romance novel! 
*This book contains adult situations and explicit content 17+

My favorite Jewel E Ann book! Even though I wanted to punch someone a lot while reading it.

I absolutely LOVED this book. It got a little angsty there in the middle and I may have been pulling my hair out, biting my nails and losing my mind but.. it’s Jewel E Ann, so it’s all good.

I was consumed by this story from the second I started it. Sydney’s character was fun and spunky, with just enough crazy.  She's house sitting for her Aunt and Uncle for a month and isn't looking for something serious. But along comes a guy claiming to be the pool guy, spoiler, he's not. Then throw in a shy but hunky vet and you've got my kind of love triangle! But, thankfully it's a well done love triangle!

It’s a soul crushing and all consuming love story that you are chanting on from the first glance and I just can’t get it out of my head. Through the drama and hardship and right back to the love and emotions that pour from each page, I was obsessed and read it well past my bed time. Jewel E Ann manages to take my breath away with every book I’ve read of hers and I can’t wait to read more!

7/12/2014

Review: Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher

Mud Vein by Tarryn Fisher
★★★★★
Release Date: April 5, 2014
Age: Adult, 17+
Genre: Dark, Contemporary, Suspense, Kidnapping, Mystery, Thriller, Romance
Format: ebook
Source: purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
($.99 ebooks for limited time at Amazon and BN)

When reclusive novelist Senna Richards wakes up on her thirty-third birthday, everything has changed. Caged behind an electrical fence, locked in a house in the middle of the snow, Senna is left to decode the clues to find out why she was taken. If she wants her freedom, she has to take a close look at her past. But, her past has a heartbeat... and her kidnapper is nowhere to be found. With her survival hanging by a thread, Senna soon realizes this is a game. A dangerous one. Only the truth can set her free.
When I was reading this book, I felt like I was holding my breath. I was suffocating in a need and then I was part of the story. I was so involved in Tarryn's words that I was affected wholly around every corner and every surprise. This book will stay with me and haunt me and possibly take over my brain at some point. There aren't words to describe the tight feeling in my chest when I look at the cover or the chills that consume my body when I think about the plot.
"You are a stillness. And I tried to move you. It didn't work. But that doesn't mean you didn't move me. " 
This book is a secret. A dark and twisted secret built and built and built on pain and self reflection. It's a book that you as a reader will try to figure out and wrap your head around but until you finish the story and put it down you will be so absorbed and lost that coherent thoughts may not be possible. It's beautiful and it's broken, and I loved it.

Of all the books I've read, this book has by far the most highlighted passages.
"Every minute you spent getting to know me, I got to know me."
Not only is Mud Vein dark it is also a beautifully imperfect love story, a story about the tie that two people have and the pain it causes and the suffering it endures. Soul mates. The story is not words on a page it is a movie playing in my brain, Tarryn's words are exhausting. They're perfect and digestible, they're memorable and painful. She's the best and if you disagree, we can't be friends.

I spent this review talking about my feelings for the book as a sort of therapy, I can't get over this book. I did not dissect the story because I want you to be just as lost and miserable as I was. Go on.

I recommend this book to fans of: Karina Halle, Tarryn Fisher (duh), C.J. Roberts, Kathryn Perez, and J.A. Redmerski.

4/03/2014

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover
★★★★★
Release Date: March 18, 2014
Publisher: Atria
Age: New Adult
Genre: Music, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction, College
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
At twenty-two years old, aspiring musician Sydney Blake has a great life: She’s in college, working a steady job, in love with her wonderful boyfriend, Hunter, and rooming with her good friend, Tori. But everything changes when she discovers Hunter cheating on her with Tori—and she is left trying to decide what to do next.
Sydney becomes captivated by her mysterious neighbor, Ridge Lawson. She can’t take her eyes off him or stop listening to the daily guitar playing he does out on his balcony. She can feel the harmony and vibrations in his music. And there’s something about Sydney that Ridge can’t ignore, either: He seems to have finally found his muse. When their inevitable encounter happens, they soon find themselves needing each other in more ways than one…
I kind of stalk Colleen Hoover and as soon as she mentioned another book I may have, definitely did, squeal and freak and sit quite impatiently waiting for the release. Which felt like it took FOREVER. Then, on release day, I bought the book but waited a few days to start it and seriously read it the slowest I have ever read a book. Yes, I was excited, but I was savoring every second and detail. No lie, this book took me over a week to complete. I KNOW. For me, that's nuts. But, I didn't want it to end, I was enjoying the story and characters way too much.

My favorite thing about Colleen's books is the surprise journey she leads the reader on. Reading the blurb I always think her books sound pretty straight forward and then.. she does the Colleen thing and just completely blows my freaking mind.

The added element to hear the songs created in the story was so fun and it introduced me to another artist to follow. You need to read this book and I know a lot of you have or will, but those Colleen-virgins seriously need to jump on the bandwagon. You know who you are.

11/23/2013

Blog Tour: Remy


Remy by Katy Evans
★★★★★
Release Date: November 26, 2013
Publisher: Gallery Books
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Fighting, Love, Illness, Boxing
Format: ebook
Source: SUBClub Books
Preorder: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Underground fighter Remington Tate is a mystery, even to himself. His mind is dark and light, complex and enlightening. At times his actions and moods are carefully measured, and at others, they spin out of control. Through it all, there's been one constant: wanting, needing, loving, and protecting Brooke Dumas. This is his story; from the first moment he laid eyes on her and knew, without a doubt, she would be the realest thing he's ever had to fight for.
With my limited presence this month, I feel like all I've posted are book review for Katy Evans books. This is not a bad thing, not at all. We should just rename November to Remy-ember! Remy is the third book (kind of) in the Real series by Katy Evans. Book 1 is Real and book 2 is Mine.

Remy is a continuation/companion novel. Included we have Remy's point of view from Real and Mine (which all I can say is OMG) and then we have some bonus future (present) chapters in the midst of the past. Reading the first and second books is definitely a must. I am a huge fan of Katy Evans' writing and these characters have become some of my favorites. Her words flow right off the paper and get lodged into my heart, it's just an emotional and world rocking ride.

To be inside Remy's head and feel and understand exactly what he was going through at certain points was amazing, he's all sweaty one-tracked mind guy and then; he's more, so much more. He's such a complex and complicated character that for Katy to get in there and get her hands dirty molding and shaping what his thoughts are like was just really incredible. Seeing Brooke from his point of view and through his eyes was also intriguing since we just spent the last two books looking through hers.

Assuming if you're reading this review you've already read Real and Mine, I want to discuss why these three books impacted me so much and why I think all 3 deserve 5 stars (because they definitely do). This next part will contain spoilers for the first books so PLEASE do not continue if you haven't read both books 1 and 2. Remy has a problem that isn't just his to bear, it affects all of those in his life. He works so hard to control the manic behaviors but still battles and struggles with it everyday. This is also a problem that so many people in the real world face. I grew up with depression and battled to overcome the darkness that lurked in every nook and cranny of my mind. I also had a best friend who was bipolar and it's a whole other world of emotional turmoil. Anyone overcoming, living with, managing and dealing with anything remotely close to this fictional character are my heroes. We are not defined but these ailments but what we do to overcome them and Remy's struggle is so much deeper than words on paper for me, he is represents real (go Katy). What I absolutely admire Katy for is not wrapping it up in a bow and being done with it, because that doesn't happen. They may live happily ever after but we know there will still be bumps in the road and obstacles to overcome. Life isn't easy.

All three books are just well written dramatic examples of the strength we have as humans. These characters may be fictional but their lives reflect everything of the nonfiction world. Thank you Katy for sharing their stories with us! :) I look forward to reading and reviewing more by Katy Evans!



TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY


ABOUT KATY
Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

11/13/2013

Blog Tour: Mine by Katy Evans


Mine (Real #2) by Katy Evans
★★★★★
Release Date: November 5, 2013
Publisher: Gallery Books
Age: Adult, Mature 17+
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Illness, Lust, Boxing
Format: ebook
Source: The SUBClub Books
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

“I will do anything to make her MINE.” —Remington Tate 


In the international bestseller REAL, the unstoppable bad boy of the Underground fighting circuit finally met his match. Hired to keep him in prime condition, Brooke Dumas unleashed a primal desire in Remington “Remy” Tate as vital as the air he breathes . . . and now he can’t live without her.


Brooke never imagined she would end up with the man who is every woman’s dream, but not all dreams end happily ever after, and just when they need each other the most, Brooke is torn away from the ringside. Now with distance and darkness between them, the only thing left is to fight for the love of the man she calls MINE.
Are you ready for this? You can't be. You can't be prepared for the sexual tension, frustration, teeth grinding, eye squinting, and overall scream worthy events that occur in this book. My disclaimer: DO NOT READ UNLESS YOU ARE READY TO BE CONSUMED. Do not read if you don't have room in your life for the Drama that is Remington Tate. This man makes me crazyyyyyyy!! Freaking unbelievably heart stopping CRAZY.

At the end of Real I went through a few stages of grief. I was crushed, obsessed, and NEEDED MORE. The wait to read Mine felt infinite, when the time came I put all other book boyfriends aside and immersed myself in the world of Remy and Brooke. And holy crap, Katy Evans. I'm starting Remy, the next book in the series, RIGHT NOW

I loved this book! Mine is an excellent addition to the Real series!! To get to read about Remy and Brooke again was exciting and Katy Evans successfully filled the giant shoes she created after writing Real, and then she made them bigger. How? You ask. Well, that's a surprise. All of those emotions and feelings are back ten-fold, prepare to be wowed people. Prepare to be wowed.

Full of the sexual attraction and chemistry that I loved about Real, but with more assertiveness; Mine was [to repeat myself again, I hope you're getting my point] an even better read than the first. When sequels surpass my expectations I get giddy for future reads. Katy Evans has a fan for life in me. There are some serious plot twists and nail biting corners in Mine. I will not spoil anything, some of which I saw coming, some blew me away.

About Mine, as mentioned it is the second in the series. YOU MUST read Real first. Must, must, must. Must. Must, Must. Mine continues Remy and Brooke's story and builds on it. After the ending of Real I couldn't wait to pick this one up. The story picks a couple months after the first book ends. We follow Remy and Brooke through their romance, drama, and crazy life. With everything readers adored from book 1; Remy's badass self and his huge heart, it's a favorite of mine for sure. I recommend this book, Real, and I can't wait to let you all know what I think of Remy (my review will be live November 23rd!). Go forth and read, read anything you want but make sure you also read this series!!


ABOUT KATY
website | facebook | twitter
Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!


TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY



10/20/2013

Real by Katy Evans Mini Review

Real (Real #1) by Katy Evans
★★★★★
Release Date: September 3, 2013
Publisher: Gallery Books
Age: Adult, Mature 17+
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Illness, Lust, Boxing
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher for Review
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Remington Tate has a bad-boy rep in and out of the ring, a granite-hard body, and a raw, animal power that sends his female fans into a frenzy. But from the moment their eyes lock, the only woman he wants is Brooke Dumas. His desire is pure, all-consuming, and REAL.

Hired to keep his perfect body working like a machine, Brooke finally has the lucrative sports therapy job she's been dreaming of. But as she tours the dangerous underground fighting circuit with Remy and his team, Brooke’s own body becomes alive with the most primal of hungers. If what happens between Brooke and Remy is ever as light as a flirtation, it quickly becomes an erotic obsession for them both, and promises so much more.

But their white-hot lust has a dark side;and when Remy's deepest secret comes to light and Brooke's familial duties demand action, will the pair be able to hang on, or will everything that once seemed so real suddenly fade away like an illusion?
Um. So this book was a phenomenal read for me. I was nothing short of obsessed while reading and after finishing. I did have my moments of; we get it Brooke, he's hot. But, it didn't stop me from enjoying every sexy moment.

For fans of Jamie McGuire's Beautiful Disaster, Real offers a heart pumping and crazy ride of lust and attraction. It's sexually frustrating, nail biting, drama-filled and unforgettable. Remy's dealing with a lot and the way he handles himself made sense when his secrets were laid out on the table. He stills the show and I found myself wanting his presence on every page. Brooke is a great character too, but Remy is the star.

This book is not for the faint of heart and definitely an adult read, 17+. Everything about it makes me want to reread it, which I plan on doing soon. Mine (Real #2) comes out November 5, and I'm part of the blog tour so look for my review on November 13th!

9/02/2013

Series Review: Darkness by Claire Contreras

 There is No Light in Darkness (Darkness #1) by Claire Contreras
★★★★★
Release Date: January 10, 2013
Age: Mature New Adult, Adult, 17+
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Best Friends, Orphans, Family, Drama, Crime, Love, Suspense, Drama, Famous
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble Currently only $.99!!
A past hidden in darkness. Her present cloaked in secrets. The future holds the only truth that cannot be escaped.
After the mysterious and violent death of her parents, Blake Brennan finds comfort with an unconventional family. As the dramatic loss of her parents continues to haunt her—and hinders her from reciprocating love that others give freely—Blake embarks on a harrowing journey in search for the truth.
Living in a constant state of fear and need for control, vivid nightmares reveal details that lead to perilous situations. The past begins to collide with the present, and Blake must decide if the truth is worth losing the ones she loves.

Can love conquer all as her past comes to light? Or will Blake realize that there is no light in darkness?

Darkness Before Dawn (Darkness #2) by Claire Contreras
Plus Epilogue (which is amazing!)
★★★★★
Release Date: June 2013
Age: Mature New Adult, Adult, 17+
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Best Friends, Orphans, Family, Drama, Crime, Love, Suspense, Drama, Famous
Format: ebook
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble Currently only $.99!!
Is love ever enough?
Faced with obstacles she could have never imagined, Blake is brought to darkness and back by forces in her past she never knew existed.
Desperate to stay connected to the only thing he loves, Cole is forced to revisit his past and align himself with the people who knew about Blake’s disappearance.
Separation has forced both Blake and Cole to learn how to live under the worst circumstances, each of them alone in their own hell.
When they reunite, can they be the same two people they were before darkness swept upon them?
Told in separate points of view, Darkness Before Dawn is the continuation of Blake and Cole’s fight to make it to the light
I started and finished this series yesterday, I know. And, I'm still speechless and in awe of how much emotion I felt for these fictional characters. Claire Contreras BLEW MY MIND. I knew this would be a good read because of all of the recommendations I'd received for it from fellow book lovers, but I wasn't prepared for how much it would take over my life! I am consumed with thoughts about the books, I can't pick up another book, I can't sleep, I had to come into my office sit down (bang my head on the desk a little, and it's a glass desk!) and get it all out before moving on with my life (which really guys, it somehow seems impossible right now to continue living as I did before). I'm going to attempt to turn this into something productive and not just a gushy mushy love-fest on how you just need to skip everything I say AND GO BUY THE BOOKS YOURSELF. 

ATTEMPT #1:

WOW...

UMMM...

UNABLE TO FORM COHERENT SENTENCES AT THE MOMENT...

K...

ALMOST READY...

PROCESSING...

When I began book one, There is No Light in Darkness, initially I was confused and flipping back and forth between new and old pages. I was rereading passages and trying to A. Figure out who was who and B. Figure out the whole story (because that's what I do). Umm.. Yeah. Claire Contreras is a SUPER SECRET SPY and you can't crack her code. No really. The way she unfolds events is on a mastery level that even I, avid reader and code cracker, was unable to pick. She shocks and overwhelms and then beats you on the head with the emotions pouring out of your chest! Just to do it all over again. The beginning was confusing, trying to figure out who was who, because Blake is a girl and Aubry is a guy and.. the way Claire constructs the introductions of everyone (or lack thereof, in the beginning) was mind boggling. Don't misread my feelings, I loved this and it was a fun start, diverse and kept me on my toes. Who needs to be spoon fed? We're all adults here. I went into the story blind, I feel like I'd read the synopsis before (like when I purchased book 1) but seeing as I don't know when I bought it, it could have been months ago. So, I didn't really know what I was getting into, just that I wanted to get into it. This book owns me right now, no exaggeration. I am pwned (no that's not a typo, it's a joke).

 This series is dark and deep and a messy messy emotional battle. It's not a light and easy read; it's intense and real, so empty some space out of your heart because you will need it. These books will hold you prisoner until the very last page. It's heartbreaking, earth shattering, and a paranoid little disaster of a story with broken pieces that throughout the story find their place among the rubble. I can't put down in words how deep this book ran in me and I can only try to express my love for the darkness that emits from the pages and buried into me. These characters are now part of me, this phenomenal writer has written her words directly onto my mess of a heart.

Blake and Cole. Blake and Cole. Blake and Cole... Oh Goodness. I have this thing for best friends turned lovers. I mean seriously guys, I married my best friend. And, this is just the type of romance that I ADORE. This book is by far MY NEW FAVORITE love story. The beginning whole book gives me butterflies just thinking about it. Their easy banter, teasing, and sexual chemistry was enough to hook me until the very end. The jealousy that rivets and the make up sex that follows, ahh, so much awesomeness. This is romance done 100% right. The best!

Blake has this family, the people she loves that she can count on one hand. And, I loved them too. Through everything they're there for her and each other. They all drop everything and come together constantly. Stemming from broken homes and meeting in the life and loving arms of a woman with the biggest heart ever, they build their own unit and prosper greatly. There is no shortage of secondary characters and each one is just as important as the leads.

Surrounding this series, especially in book 2, is major drama. Like, criminal drama. Crazy stuff. Crazy bloodlines and suspense and just so much intense action and sadness. I cried big fat crazy person tears all alone while my husband would walk by and wonder what in the world was wrong with me. Then he'd walk by and see my laughing hysterically; and know I'd gone off the deep end. Oh man. I was a big huge mess.

I'm giving this series 5 million stars and I'm placing it on my favorite, reread and will never forget shelves in my head. I was, am, and will always be blown away by this series created by Claire Contreras and I am DEFINITELY going to be stalking/following/reading everything she writes-from now on.

8/27/2013

Dare You To Review

Dare You To (Pushing the Limits #2) by Katie McGarry
★★★★★
Release Date: May 28, 2013
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Age: Mature YA
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Abuse, High School, Relocation, Opposites
Format: ebook
Source: Author via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Ryan lowers his lips to my ear. "Dance with me, Beth."
"No." I whisper the reply. I hate him and I hate myself for wanting him to touch me again....
"I dare you..."
If anyone knew the truth about Beth Risk's home life, they'd send her mother to jail and seventeen-year-old Beth who knows where. So she protects her mom at all costs. Until the day her uncle swoops in and forces Beth to choose between her mom's freedom and her own happiness. That's how Beth finds herself living with an aunt who doesn't want her and going to a school that doesn't understand her. At all. Except for the one guy who shouldn't get her, but does....
Ryan Stone is the town golden boy, a popular baseball star jock-with secrets he can't tell anyone. Not even the friends he shares everything with, including the constant dares to do crazy things. The craziest? Asking out the Skater girl who couldn't be less interested in him.
But what begins as a dare becomes an intense attraction neither Ryan nor Beth expected. Suddenly, the boy with the flawless image risks his dreams-and his life-for the girl he loves, and the girl who won't let anyone get too close is daring herself to want it all...
I absolutely, positively fell in love with this book! It is definitely a must read!

Pushing the Limits, the first book in this series was amazing! It was one of my favorite reads and led me to a new favorite author (to stalk), Katie McGarry. Pushing the Limits was a down right angst packed emotional overload. And, Katie McGarry has once again created a phenomenal story in Dare You To. In this sequel/companion the reader gets to follow Beth, Noah's friend, through a rough time in her life. When Beth relocates out of Louisville and into the small town of Groveton, her life is given a second chance but it's something she doesn't want. All she wants are her old friends back and the chance to help her mother.

This story happens after PtL and we get to see slivers of Noah and Echo, and we also get Beth's POV on their relationship. But, this is all Beth's story not theirs. It was nice to hear about them in passing.

After a stint in jail Beth goes to live with her baseball star uncle, whom she wants nothing to do with. She moves out of the city into a rural setting and is supposed to cut all ties with her past. Her best friend Isaiah isn't having that. Their relationship is filled with kisses and they lean on each other, but for different reasons. Isaiah's feelings may be running deeper than Beth's. I really loved the growth of relationship between Beth and her uncle; and the growth in Beth in general. To hear about their past together and see how much he truly cares for her. Beth is rough around the edges, she's mean and downright dirty, all claws and bite; but she's still a teenage girl who needs stability and love.

There were a lot of labels in this book. The characters are immensely different and have these preconceived notions about one another. I really had to step back and think about the importance of Katie adding them in throughout the story. I felt that the labels served as a reminder to all of us that what you see is never what you get. When walls and barriers come crashing down it didn't matter what the other person wore, no one changed their appearance; they were loved for who they were. This book became a powerful love story and a story about one girls struggle with family and life. Such an impacting and forceful read, I hung onto every word; it didn't let me go.

There's so much to discuss from this story from Beth's mom's monster of a boyfriend, Trent; to the mean girls at school and everyone in between. Beth's "I don't care attitude" is cocky and full of it and the way she treats her uncle's wife is obscene and awful, all of these elements and character traits make this book three dimensional and real. Real, raw, and unforgettable.

This book is definitely filled with mature material and concepts and not something that I'd consider for younger YA. It's a mature and gripping read comprised of adult elements and situations. I fell in love with the broken lead character and her flaws, I also fell hard for Ryan and his charm. It's books like this that make reading and reviewing an amazing part of my day!!

Also, check out Crossing the Line a Pushing the Limits novella

8/20/2013

Shooting Scars Review

Shooting Scars (The Artists Trilogy #2) by Karina Halle
★★★★★
Release Date: August 20, 2013
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Age: Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Dark, Suspense, Drama, Con Artist
Format: eBook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
Sometimes the right choice can be the deadliest.

When Ellie Watt made the ultimate sacrifice for Camden McQueen, she never thought it would be easy. But walking away with her ex-lover, Javier Bernal, in order to ensure Camden’s safety has brought a whole new set of dangers. With Javier’s plans for Ellie growing more secretive by the moment, Ellie must find a way to stay ahead of the game before her past swallows her whole.

Meanwhile, Camden’s new life is short-lived. Fueled by revenge and pursued by authorities, he teams up with an unlikely partner in order to save Ellie. But as Camden toes the line between love and retribution, he realizes that in order to get back the woman he loves, he may have to lose himself in the process. He might just turn into the very man he’s hunting.

Told in dual POV from Camden and Ellie.
Shooting Scars is the follow-up novel to Karina Halle's Sins & Needles. If you've read Sins & Needles you already know that Karina had some big freaking shoes to fill with Shooting Scars. How do you improve upon perfection? Well, if you're Karina Halle that's pretty easy; just do what you normally do and then shake everything up!

Shooting Scars is in one word, INTENSE. It's filled with nail biting twists, anxiety creating adrenaline, and CAMDEN MCQUEEN. Karina is not afraid to be raw and real; she's also not afraid to do what you least expect and I'm pretty sure she doesn't care if you like it or not because in the end YOU WILL LOVE IT! I'm a huge Experiment in Terror fan and a huge fan of Karina's in general and this book simply rocked; it's a great sequel and I'm now anxiously awaiting book 3, Bold Tricks!

We follow Ellie and Camden's POVs in alternating chapters. We see where each of them are in this sequel that takes place right after the end of Sins & Needles that jumps right back into the story. In SS we really get to know Gus, and I must say I am a Gus fan! We also really get to know Javier and get inside Javier and Ellie's past and I must say I'm not okay he's growing on me entirely a Javier fan. I KNOW I KNOW, I'm having mixed emotions. Damn you Karina and your mind bogglingly (is that a word?) excellent writing, I SO DO NOT WANT TO LIKE HIM! I'm still rooting for Cam, and that won't change, but I'm... I don't even want to finish that sentence.

I found myself glued to the pages in the second half of the book and I was unable to look away. I was full on engaged in the story and am just a huge fan of Karina's writing style and these characters. Dex and Perry are awesome but I don't know; there's something about Ellie and Cam too. Karina is just fantastic, people; she is a writing Goddess and I promise she will suck you into this story and into the worlds of these characters and you will become an addict (like the rest of us)! So read EiT, read Sins & Needles, read Shooting Scars, and Keep Calm and wait patiently for the release of Bold Tricks! Haha, calm! Never!


7/03/2013

Losing Hope ARC Review and Hopeless Giveaway

Losing Hope (Hopeless #2) by Colleen Hoover
★★★★★
Release Date: July 8, 2013
Publisher: Atria Books
Age: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Love, High School, Realistic Fiction
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Preorder it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
In the follow-up to Colleen Hoover’s #1 New York Times bestseller Hopeless, the charming and irresistible Dean Holder tells the passionate story that has melted thousands of hearts.

In Hopeless, Sky left no secret unearthed, no feeling unshared, and no memory forgotten, but Holder’s past remained a mystery.

Still haunted by the little girl he let walk away, Holder has spent his entire life searching for her in an attempt to finally rid himself of the crushing guilt he has felt for years. But he could not have anticipated that the moment they reconnect, even greater remorse would overwhelm him…

Sometimes in life, if we wish to move forward, we must first dig deep into our past and make amends. In Losing Hope, bestselling author Colleen Hoover reveals what was going on inside Holder’s head during all those hopeless moments—and whether he can gain the peace he desperately needs.
I have to start this review here, with my review of HOPELESS. That book blew me out of the water, I can't express how much it affected and tore me apart. The revelations and discoveries were heart stopping and I was utterly overwhelmed and consumed by the book that Colleen Hoover gifted to us, because it is a rare gift and an extraordinary treasure. If you haven't read Hopeless, really you could read Losing Hope as it is mostly a retelling from Holder POV BUT! I recommend Hopeless, I recommend it to everyone to read, and I think you'll love this book that much more if you already love these characters and are familiar with the events of the first book.

This review may contain spoilers from Hopeless, just a warning.
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Are you sure you want to continue?
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I really think you should go read Hopeless first and by should I mean have to.
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Hopeless is only $.99 for Kindle at this moment, I think it's worth a go! Get it at Amazon !
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How about I host a giveaway for Hopeless.
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Okay, I'll get back to business now.
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JUST GO BUY HOPELESS ALREADY!!!!! Then preorder this one ;)
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Losing Hope starts in the before. Before Les conquers her battle with the demons of her past. Before Holder sees Sky. Before, before, before. We get a glimpse into the emotions that Holder faced through the 2 most, I won't say devastating, life altering events of his life. The events that leave him Hopeless, until the sky opens up for him.

My favorite thing about this book are Holder's journal entries. Getting inside his head and seeing his grief morph into something close to living again, his life and Sky's change together and it's beautiful and broken at the same time. Reliving the disastrous ending of Hopeless was hard for me, what these characters go through was so intense and horrible. Those emotions rocked me and while it was easier to read the second time, it was still hard to digest.

I live and love Dean Holder. He's this solid unmoving force in Sky's life and even when she wanted to push him away, he made her resolve crumble. And, to me this meant that deep down somewhere she knew who he was and what he really meant to her.

This book is all kinds of epically great and just the BEST companion to Hopeless. Colleen Hoover is one of my favorites because she seems to pour a piece of herself into her books and she just nails the emotional turmoil and drama on the head. I loved Hopeless and I love Losing Hope just as much. Yes, this review is just turning into a love-fest.

At the end of Losing Hope we get a glimpse past the last page of Hopeless. Just as the beginning was before, this is after. After the truth is exposed, after it all. It's a truly perfect ending, and theirs this beautiful note left from someone very important and it just gave me all kinds of crazy butterflies. Just, way to go Colleen!

I want to quote the crap out of this book! I want to share my favorite lines and your sure to be favorites as well. As this is an ARC I will wait; but rest assured that as soon as my copy of Losing Hope gets here next week (it's out MONDAY!) I will be creating a post of my favorite lines from Losing Hope, my highlighter is READY. Most are ramblings inside Holder's head. My favorite of them all is how Holder is explaining how he's falling in love with Sky one piece at a time. Ahhh! I can't wait.

So, for more than obvious reasons this book is a 5 star for me. Those Hopeless fans probably already have it preordered; if you don't, get on that. :)


GIVEAWAY
If you don't have a dollar to spend right now; I'll spend it for you!
This is for a Kindle copy of HOPELESS by Colleen Hoover, gifted from Amazon.

6/28/2013

Blog Tour: Come Alive Review and Giveaway



Come Alive (Experiment in Terror #7) by Karina Halle
★★★★★
Release Date: June 23, 2013
Age: Adult, 17+
Genre: Horror, Suspense, Romance, Paranormal Romance
Format: ebook
Source: The Book Asylum & Reading Books Like a Boss
Buy it: Amazon | Smashwords
It’s one thing to bring the woman you love back into your life. It’s another to try and keep her there. For Dex Foray, convincing Perry Palomino to open herself to their burgeoning relationship has been more challenging than hunting ghosts, battling demons and stalking Sasquatch combined. Add in the fact that the only way they can keep their Experiment in Terror show running is to take on a third partner in the form of the mysterious Maximus Jacobs — all while investigating a sinister voodoo sect in New Orleans — and you’ve got the perfect Southern storm and a recipe for disaster. Luckily, Dex has never been one to back down, even when his life –and heart — are on the line.

Come Alive is told from Dex’s POV.
Waiting, for what felt like forever it really wasn't that long, for this book to come out was PURE TORTURE. The books before this one were already released when I was ready to read them. Since Darkhouse, book 1,  I have been hooked and involved whole heartedly in the adventures of the beloved and crazy Dex and Perry (or Derry). The reputation and following they have garnered as a ghost hunting filming duo and a sexual-tension-filled-with-chemistry pair is amazing! Karina Halle does a bang up job in this seventh book of the Experiment in Terror series. Yes, it's number 7. If you haven't read the books before this one, DO SO NOW. Darkhouse is FREEEEE.

All the action of Come Alive takes place in New Orleans, one of those places I have always wanted to visit (and it's not just for my family ties into Voodoo/Santeria). It's rich in culture and some crazy ass shit. Oh and the craziest of all that shit is our dear gingerballed foe Maximus, who I must say kind of grew on me a tad. With some new characters, zombies, and all of Dex's hilarious godliness this book ranks high in my EiT favorites!

About half way through this book I was pulling my hair out, I was messaging Megan and I was spewing incoherent babble. Yes. I was that girl. I was pissed, I was scared, and I was dying to finish the story but frightened of what Karina had in store. The tension was KILLING ME. It's one of those books where you're muttering, no no no no to yourself in public. By the end of Come Alive I had exhausted all of my energy going through wave of emotion after wave of emotion. I was spent, in a good way, books that take it all out of you are A+ in my book.

The Experiment in Terror books are entertaining and fun, they are freaky and crazy, they are sexy as hell, and they are my favorites. Following Dex and Perry through this labyrinth has been so much fun, as exhausting as it is, I look forward to the future and can't wait until the next book which will be told from Perry's POV. If you're looking for a kick ass story line that is getting better and better, characters to follow to the end of the Earth, and a leading man who knows his way around the bedroom then I HIGHLY and COMPLETELY recommend this series and especially this book!!!


TOUR WIDE GIVEAWAY
Reading Books Like a Boss & The Book Asylum are giving away signed books!
 US ONLY! This is NOT an international giveaway.
(1) And With Madness Comes the Light – 1 winner
(1) Into the Hollow – 1 winner
(2) Darkhouse – 2 winners
The entire Experiment in Terror series in e-book format
a Rafflecopter giveaway

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
The daughter of a Norwegian Viking and a Finnish Moomin, Karina Halle grew up in Vancouver, Canada with trolls and eternal darkness on the brain. This soon turned into a love of all things that go bump in the night and a rather sadistic appreciation for freaking people out. Like many of the flawed characters she writes, Karina never knew where to find herself and has dabbled in acting, make-up artistry, film production, screenwriting, photography, travel writing and music journalism. She eventually found herself in the pages of the very novels she wrote (if only she had looked there to begin with).

Karina holds a screenwriting degree from Vancouver Film School and a Bachelor of Journalism from TRU. Her travel writing, music reviews/interviews and photography have appeared in publications such as Consequence of Sound, Mxdwn and GoNomad Travel Guides. She currently lives on an island on the coast of British Columbia where she's preparing for the zombie apocalypse. 
Karina is represented by Scott Waxman of the Waxman Leavell Literary Agency
Author social media links:




A HUGE Thank You to


and of course the brilliantly ballsy and fan-freaking-tastic Karina Halle!


6/19/2013

Blog Tour: The Art of Love Review

The Art of Love by Anne Whitney
★★★★★
Release Date: June 17, 2013
Age: New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Drama, Abuse, Art
Format: ebook
Source: Book Brats
Buy it: Amazon | Smashwords | Kobo
Marina Phillips has spent her entire life as her father’s victim. But enough is enough. All it took was one moment of realization to send her fleeing across the country into the unknown of New York City with no plans and no money. A new life without the constant torture is all she wants, but what she finds waiting is something she never expected.

Fitz is New York’s premiere playboy artist. Sexy, tattooed, and coveted by women and men alike, his performances are heralded as the coming of a new god of modern art. But when Marina wanders into his show, she becomes the inadvertent piece he’s always waited for – a girl to sculpt, to change, and to craft in his own image.

She never expects to fall head over heels into the world of parties, drag queens, agents, and artists craving for her and her benefactor. She didn’t even expect to begin falling in love with someone like Fitz, the sexy, pretentious man of her nightmares.

Above all, Marina never expects her father to stage a cross-country mission to paint her as a kidnapped girl taken by a psychopath.

With her life on the line, Marina has no choice but to accept Fitz’s proposal – change everything she is, inside and out, for the chance to start anew. But Marina has plans of her own. Plans that will rock her world forever.
This book.. Oh man, this book! It turned my world upside down for the 2 days I spent trapped in its pages and then it took another 2 days to recover from it! The Art of Love is raw and real, it's brutally honest and a thousand times broken. I am a fan, a huge fan!

Marina has had an upbringing that is unimaginably horrifying, and it affects her everyday. She picks up and leaves after an especially awful night and puts her old life behind her as she enters New York City without so much as a second thought or money. Once there she becomes a fixture in the lives of 3 artists who take her in and transform her into something new, something she doesn't recognize and hopefully neither will her past.

The first and most important of these artists is Fitz. He is eccentric and endearing, he's this crazy naked beautiful tattooed man with a history of secrets all his own, and he may know a thing or two about transformations. As a nude performance artist his work thrives when he gains a muse of his own, only Marina won't let herself open up completely and feels unworthy of love. Their relationship is tested throughout the book and I found myself screaming and yelling at these characters, who I wanted desperately to be together, to work it out. Fitz is a character that you can't help wishing he was real.

Derek is another performance artist, only not the nude kind. He wears clothes to his performances. Virdian is a painter, a Cuban painter! I never read about Cubans, which is crazy because we're AWESOME! As a Cuban myself I couldn't help but appreciate her goals of leading her own life and not succumbing to the future her family has laid out for her. She's kind of badass and protective of Marina, she rounds out the 4-some perfectly. The best part about this book is the family that these 4 characters make together. When Marina gets thrown into the mix it's like she's been living in NY all along. When her confidence builds it's like watching a baby bird learn to fly.

This book is just a phenomenal read, filled with cheeky moments and quite a bit of male nudity (who doesn't love that). We see everything in Marina's eye, as she is the narrator, but it would've been fun to have a looksie into Fitz's mind! It's a sweet and emotional story that is deep at times but quite funny at others. I'm head over heels for these characters and their daily lives and it makes me want to up and move and follow my dreams. Holding nothing back Anne Whitney delivers an exciting New Adult romance and coming of age that is leagues ahead of others in the category and features a dynamic set of characters in a new favorite story. If you're looking for a sweet and sexy romance, built around a deep and inviting plot this book is definitely for you!!

6/14/2013

Left Drowning ARC Review

Left Drowning by Jessica Park
★★★★★
Expected Release Date: July 16, 2013
Publisher: Amazon Children's Publishing
Age: New Adult, 17+
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Drama, Family, Friends, College, Death, Depression
Format: ebook
Source: Publisher via Netgalley
Preorder it: Amazon
What does it take to rise from life’s depths, swim against the current, and breathe?
Weighted down by the loss of her parents, Blythe McGuire struggles to keep her head above water as she trudges through her last year at Matthews College. Then a chance meeting sends Blythe crashing into something she doesn’t expect—an undeniable attraction to a dark-haired senior named Chris Shepherd, whose past may be even more complicated than her own. As their relationship deepens, Chris pulls Blythe out of the stupor she’s been in since the night a fire took half her family. She begins to heal, and even, haltingly, to love this guy who helps her find new paths to pleasure and self-discovery. But as Blythe moves into calmer waters, she realizes Chris is the one still strangled by his family’s traumatic history. As dark currents threaten to pull him under, Blythe may be the only person who can keep him from drowning.
Ever since I read Jessica's Flat-Out Love, see my review here, I've been a stalker blog and facebook follower of hers. When I was on Netgalley and saw this title up for review I jumped for joy and thanked my lucky stars that I'm auto-approved for Amazon titles because I don't think I would've survived waiting for approval!

Just a heads up, this book is an all consuming ball of fire that will light up your life, and darken it too. Throughout this story you'll want to drink, you'll want to cry, and then you will cry. You will laugh, smile, and grow to respect and appreciate the loved ones in your own life. You will become a Jessica Park obsessee like myself and you will spend so much time going over the occurrences of this story that you will know each day by heart. You will rant, rave and recommend it endlessly and then you will want to email me so that we can compare notes. I'm not joking. I'm in love with unperfected perfection, I'm in love with faults, and I see beauty in excess baggage; lucky for me this one has it all. Left Drowning is one of those books that you read and it never leaves you, and you don't want it to. It's unforgettable.

My initial reaction after closing this book was pure sorrow. Only because I seriously missed these characters after barely finishing the last page. I didn't want it to end. From the very beginning when Sabin crashes into Blythe's life I knew I was going to love him. Then when we meet Chris I knew this book was going to be an all-time favorite, and it is. It is re-read worthy and every bit as fabulous as one would expect a Jessica Park novel to be. She takes fictional families and makes the reader feel every ounce of emotion she pours into the pages, it was an extraordinary experience to be introduced to these characters and I'm having a hard time letting go.

Blythe and Chris share one of those truly epic love stories. One built up from the beginning and all consuming, that have readers grinding their teeth and blushing at the same time. I would compare it to the feelings from Tarryn Fisher's novel The Opportunist, the early Liv and Caleb when they're in college. I loved Chris, he's beautifully broken with a painful past that mirrors and shadows Blythe's own horrors. Then I found myself waning to punch Chris in the nose. Then I couldn't stop crying and I had to put the book down to compose myself before diving back in. The connection that is clearly drawn between these two reaches farther than I ever thought it would. Way to go Jessica Park, I'm a mess.

From an unforgettable slew of characters to a beautifully damaged romance to discoveries and connections that will shock and surprise anyone, this book sits on the shelf among my favorites.

5/31/2013

Reason to Breathe Review

Reason to Breathe (Barely Breathing #1) by Rebecca Donovan
★★★★★
Release Date: June 2012
Age: Mature YA
Genre: Drama, Contemporary Romance, Abuse, Family, Friendship,
Format: Paperback
Source: Purchased
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
"No one tried to get involved with me, and I kept to myself. This was the place where everything was supposed to be safe and easy. How could Evan Mathews unravel my constant universe in just one day?"

He knows there’s something more to the girl sitting in the back of the class the moment he sees her. She’s beautiful, intelligent, and athletic – but she slips quietly through the crowded halls, trying not to exist. Determined to get to know the elusive girl, Evan soon discovers… Emma Thomas is hiding a terrible a secret. Reason to Breathe is an electrifying page turner from start to finish, a unique tale of life-changing love, unspeakable cruelty, and one girl’s fragile grasp of hope.
I am still in awe with this story. I love everything about it. I think about it constantly and am slightly obsessed with the relationships in the book.

Reason to Breathe follows Emma through a traumatic and life changing junior year of High School. Suffering from an unimaginably brutal home life she keeps to herself wanting no attention because once people notice her they may notice the secrets she has hidden. She's smart yet quiet and best friends with one of the most popular girls at school who is one of the best friends a girl could have. When Emma opens her heart to the idea of being close with people she lets in a lot more than a normal high school life. Shaken and stirred Emma's invisible existence is turned upside when she's thrown into the spotlight at school which leaves her in the storm at home.

I was an emotional wreck throughout this book. Emma has got to be one of the strongest characters, I'd put her up there with Nastya from Katja Millay's Sea of Tranquility. She endures a lot and slowly begins to let people into her life.

Book 3 will be out in July, I'm almost done with book 2 and cannot wait until I get the chance to read the next book. I'm telling you now that if you read this book have the next book ready to read immediately after because you won't want to waste anytime. The cliffhanger is epic.

I love this book, Rebecca's writing and story is AMAZING. This breathtaking read will touch your heart and settle in deep. I highly recommend it to those looking for a drama filled contemporary romance set in a high school about a girl who is needing to be saved and a boy who is willing to only be her friend even when he wants so much more. I will definitely be checking out future Rebecca Donovan reads!

5/10/2013

Blog Tour: Lost and Found Review and Giveaway




Lost and Found by Nicole Williams
★★★★★
Release Date: May 7, 2013
Age: Mature YA/ New Adult
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Drama, Family, Love
Format: eBook
Source: AToMR Tours
Buy it: Amazon | Barnes and Noble
There’s complicated. And there’s Rowen Sterling.
After numbing pain for the past five years with boys, alcohol, and all-around apathy, she finds herself on a Greyhound bus to nowhere Montana the summer after she graduates
high school. Her mom agreed to front the bill to Rowen’s dream art school only if Rowen proves she can work hard and stay out of trouble at Willow Springs Ranch. Cooking breakfast at the crack of dawn for a couple dozen ranch hands and mucking out horse stalls are the last things in the world Rowen wants to spend her summer doing.

Until Jesse Walker saunters into her life wearing a pair of painted-on jeans, a cowboy hat, and a grin that makes something in her chest she’d thought was frozen go boom-boom. Jesse’s like no one else, and certainly nothing like her. He’s the bright and shiny to her dark and jaded.

Rowen knows there’s no happily-ever-after for the golden boy and the rebel girl—happily-right-now is a stretch—so she tries to forget and ignore the boy who makes her feel things she’s not sure she’s ready to feel. But the more she pushes him away, the closer he seems to get. The more she convinces herself she doesn’t care, the harder she falls.

When her dark secrets refuse to stay locked behind the walls she’s kept up for years, Rowen realizes it’s not just everyone else she needs to be honest with. It’s herself.
Nicole Williams is an author that I sit on the edge of my seat when she announces new titles. I would stalk and follow her around like a lost puppy if I didn't have a job to get to and children to teach. And, the best part? This lady is INCREDIBLY sweet and easy to talk to! Meeting her last at RT was seriously the highlight of my year (and years to come).
"Rowen? Is something wrong?" He sounded like he was about to start snapping his fingers in front of my face. "Because your eyes are doing something kind of crazy right now."
That's because you're practically naked and were descended from gods.
Lost and Found is a story about a life changing move for Rowen Sterling. Relocated to a ranch in Montana Rowen agrees to work for the summer but has no idea what's in store for her. She trades in her fishnets and mini skirts for some jeans and boots and begins a journey of self discovery and ultimately finds herself and someone to love like she's never loved before. Shedding a negative skin and self image Rowen's transformation is uplifting and freeing, while she becomes better to and for herself she doesn't change who she is inside just makes herself a little better and adds some self worth.

Nicole does troubled boys right, we learned that with Jude Ryder; but what she does even better is troubled girls. Girls with secretive pasts, buried secrets, demons, problems, and mommy issues. Girls who wear their emotions in their makeup and hair color. Her characters in Lost and Found are immensely diverse from each other and the other characters of hers we're familiar with. The only similarities I found was that Garth made my skin crawl like Anton did. Nicole's writing and the way she builds up her characters around each other amazes me with each new book of hers I read, she is a GENIUS.
"That was one hell of a dance."
I loved the way Jesse and Rowen meet, I love the shock she receives when she finds out who he is, and I love the way their relationship forms. I also enjoyed his back story and his close relationship with his family. His mother, Rose, is amazing and one of my favorite characters in the book. Everything about this book screams masterpiece! Seriously. There isn't anything I'd change. Except maybe his inexperience, but that made the story just a little bit unexpected.
"I love you, and I'm sure, Rowen. Now why don't you help me figure out how thiat whole rocking-your-world thing works."
I'm no stranger to Nicole Williams writing and as a huge fan I can say that other fans will not be disappointed in this new love story. So, read on and share the book love! Then go read all of Nicole's other books (Up in Flames, Great Exploitations, Crash, and Eternal Eden[FREE]) you will thank me later!

ABOUT NICOLE
I'm a wife, a mom, a writer. I started writing because I loved it and I'm still writing because I love it. I write young adult because I still believe in true love, kindred spirits, and happy endings. Here's to staying young at heart *raises champagne glass* . . . care to join me?





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