Review: Untamed by SC Stephens

Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

The spotlight doesn't only shine. Sometimes, it burns.

Being the bad-boy bassist for the world's hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife, Anna. The one thing it hasn't brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient, that his talent will win out. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine.

Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he's caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos. One that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Anna has always found his unpredictable behavior sexy, but lately he's seen an ache in her eyes--and it has his soul in knots. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers . . .


Buy NOW on Amazon

My thoughts; First off I want to start by saying, this is a favored series for me. I always, always recommend it. It is solid five stars for me from beginning to end. If you have yet to read it get ready for a roller coaster ride. Angst and drama are just the tip of the ice burg. Even when you absolutely hate everything that is happening you still can't put it down.

This book was no exception. For those who know this series and its characters, you know the mess that is Griffin Hancock. I have always loved his character in a, well aren't you "special" kind of way. He is an egotistical, narcissistic, well ... Douchebag. I spent the beginning of this book rolling my eyes so hard, seriously, I think I pulled something. Griffin is like a toddler that throws a tantrum because he doesn't get the toy he wants. I wanted to throttle him through probably 70% of this book. He is literally like that person who you just look at and think, "his mouth isn't attached to a brain, is it?" How can someone be so completely oblivious? Being inside his head was possibly the most frustrating thing I have ever done. At first, it was funny and then it just wasn't anymore.

But then something miraculous happens...

Griffin became an adult! And I fell in love with his character in a completely different way. I began to see him in a completely different way. And I ended this book thoroughly satisfied.



This would be the part where Griffin would say something way inappropriate. *wink*

Previous books in this series...

  

Review: Ascendant, The Cuspian Saga Book Two by DC Hall

Photo Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

Fraternal twins Kendal and Kennedi Myles are desperate for their broken lives to return to a time when stolen kisses, football games, and an overbearing parent was normal. But being the most powerful Cuspians—a superpowered subspecies of humans—in America isn’t exactly normal, and that time has passed from their lives forever.

Kennedi has spent her summer training for the inevitable moment when Beau—the Cuspian she loved and then betrayed—returns to kidnap both her and her brother for The Conservatory, an agency desperate to acquire the strongest of their kind at any cost. But Kennedi refuses to be collected like vintage couture. She’s ready to protect the ones she loves most—at whatever cost.

Kendal is fed up with waiting to be attacked for his role in the near-fatal assault that left three of The Conservatory's operatives in bloody pieces. With the threat of vengeance around every corner, he hacks into The Conservatory's database, yielding disastrous results. As new clues into his mother’s death emerge, Kendal must decide just how far he's willing to go to uncover the truth.

Focused on their individual quests, the twins’ attention is divided and their weaknesses are exploited. Every decision they make drives a wedge further between them, and the pair soon realizes something they can never unlearn: the price that comes with power is often too high to pay.



Buy NOW on Amazon




My Thoughts; Basically, I am a fan! I know I will have to elaborate, but that pretty much sums it up in very few words. I was pretty blown away by the first book in this series. It was everything I love about a good YA paranormal. You can see my review for Cuspian: Book One HERE.

I waited patiently(ish) for this book to come out and jumped in to reading it fairly quickly. It took me a few extra days to read it because, holidays, but once I got the time to sit down I devoured it. At this point in my relationship with these characters I feel comfortable enough to tell them how I was really feeling about them during this book so here goes.

Kendal, why for the love of all that is holy do you not communicate with your sister. I mean you can even be a typical man and just clam up... she will still hear you. Telepathy is a wonderful thing. I was proud of you toward the end of the book but for the first half, my side-eye was on retainer for you. I was literally mumbling to this book while reading. Kendal and Chance's relationship is on a rocky path during this book and it makes for some stressful thoughts from me.

 Kennedi, on the other hand, I was loving on her this time around. Book one had me feeling all kinds of ways. I do have a much easier time getting into her head while reading. #GirlPower. I love the relationship she has with Jacen they really make me laugh. Chance is a little brooding this go round, I have my theories on him but I am a NO SPOILER type of girl so I reserve those for myself and fan-girling with friends *grins*

And last... Daniel, I still hate, no despise, no loathe, abhor, detest you. I find you completely repugnant. That is all.

I wish I could go into more but I do not want to accidentally spoil anything. I will say there are a few twist and turns and one point when I was rejecting everything I was reading, but it turned out okay in the end. I would like to thank DC Hall for not leaving me hanging off the side of a cliff this time but I am going to have to ask you to hurry up with book three *tee hee*. Unless you want to work out some type of chapter by chapter arrangement. I will totally be down with that *winky face*.

If you have not yet began reading this series check out book one in the Cuspian Saga

Review: Blood Kiss by JR Ward

Photo Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

The legacy of the Black Dagger Brotherhood continues in a spin-off series from the #1 New York Times bestselling author…

Paradise, blooded daughter of the king’s First Advisor, is ready to break free from the restrictive life of an aristocratic female. Her strategy? Join the Black Dagger Brotherhood’s training center program and learn to fight for herself, think for herself…be herself. It’s a good plan, until everything goes wrong. The schooling is unfathomably difficult, the other recruits feel more like enemies than allies, and it’s very clear that the Brother in charge, Butch O’Neal, a.k.a. the Dhestroyer, is having serious problems in his own life.

And that’s before she falls in love with a fellow classmate. Craeg, a common civilian, is nothing her father would ever want for her, but everything she could ask for in a male. As an act of violence threatens to tear apart the entire program, and the erotic pull between them grows irresistible, Paradise is tested in ways she never anticipated—and left wondering whether she’s strong enough to claim her own power…on the field, and off.

Buy now on Amazon

  My Thoughts; When I first heard about this spin off series I was over the moon excited. The idea that we would get MORE BDB each year was beyond epic. And then to hear that the Brothers, that we have all fallen in love with, would be the calmer side characters/sub plot was even better.

  I was crazy excited to get back to the training center. I mean.... This is where I truly fell in love with my John Matthew. Watching him progress from who he was when we first met him in Lover Eternal (BDB book 2) to where he is today. So, yes the idea that we would be back to the "old days" was an amazing feeling.

  We first meet Paradise and Craeg in The Shadows (BDB book 13). She is working as a receptionist for her father, Abalone; First Adviser to The King aka Wrath. Craeg comes in to get an application for the training program and she is smitten right away. Blood Kiss picks up where her side story in The Shadows leaves off, we get to follow along on her journey to the training center and everything that follows.

  As the "featured" Brother, Butch aka The Dhestroyer and his Shellan are having a bit of a bumpy road and their story is intertwined with Paradise and Craeg's HEA. There is not a lot of POVs, it sticks to these two couples jumping back and forth between the characters.

  I fell so in love with Marissa after this book. She was never one of my favorite shellans from the (original) series but that has definitely changed. Butch is as he always has been. You love him even when you are shaking your head with utter disappointment. (oh Butch....SMH).

  I admire Paradise. She is such a strong character. She was sheltered, as any child of the Glymera would be, but she has risen so far above that. She has chosen to be her own person and pave her own path. She is outspoken and brave. I love her. I had a little harder time with Craeg, it took time for me to really care for him. This is probably the first couple that I have more love for the female. Craeg came a long way and in the end I did really grow fond of his character. However, love would probably be too strong a word.

  The original BDB series has transformed into such a complex story line, with twists and turns, new characters and character development. The world has grown leaps and bounds and icludes multiple storylines in each book; reading them can be very intense. This book, for lack of a better phrase, was palate cleansing it slows things down a bit and that is completely refreshing for a wait between one BDB book and the next. I think any true BDB fan will love this book. Anyone who remembers the old "Slices of Life" JRW used to do will definitely enjoy this book. It is a steady pace of drama, falling in love, levity, and Lassiter-type-shenanigans. I strongly recommend this book.

*Note-- the girls and I believe this book (in our opinion) could be read without having read Black Dagger Brotherhood series. You would not know all of the original characters in as much detail as someone who has, but you could totally enjoy this story alone. 

***For more from JR Ward check out our "PLR's Favorite Author" post. This will give you a complete list of all of her books as well as reading orders for her series.

Review: The Bourbon Kings by JR Ward

Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Black Dagger Brotherhood delivers the first novel in an enthralling new series set amid the shifting dynamics of a Southern family defined by wealth and privilege—and compromised by secrets, deceit, and scandal.... 

For generations, the Bradford family has worn the mantle of kings of the bourbon capital of the world. Their sustained wealth has afforded them prestige and privilege—as well as a hard-won division of class on their sprawling estate, Easterly. Upstairs, a dynasty that by all appearances plays by the rules of good fortune and good taste. Downstairs, the staff who work tirelessly to maintain the impeccable Bradford facade. And never the twain shall meet.

For Lizzie King, Easterly’s head gardener, crossing that divide nearly ruined her life. Falling in love with Tulane, the prodigal son of the bourbon dynasty, was nothing that she intended or wanted—and their bitter breakup only served to prove her instincts were right. Now, after two years of staying away, Tulane is finally coming home again, and he is bringing the past with him. No one will be left unmarked: not Tulane’s beautiful and ruthless wife; not his older brother, whose bitterness and bad blood know no bounds; and especially not the ironfisted Bradford patriarch, a man with few morals, fewer scruples, and many, many terrible secrets.

As family tensions—professional and intimately private—ignite, Easterly and all its inhabitants are thrown into the grips of an irrevocable transformation, and only the cunning will survive.


BUY NOW on Amazon

Now is the time when I try and write a coherent review. Which will then be followed by loquaciousness via ~I 

   My thoughts: I think I had set my expectations really high for this series. I probably shouldn't have, because that usually only ends in disaster, but this book not only met them but surpassed them.
   I will start by saying that the first (maybe) 20% of this book is a little slow going. You are meeting new characters and getting familiar with the settings etc. But once the initial "introduction" is out of the way- BAM off we go.
   This book was amazing. It was unputdownable for me.

• Drama
• Scandal
• Backstabbing
• Snobbery
• Intrigue
• Did I mention scandal

   But more than that, at the heart of this is a cast of some really great characters. The ones you love, the ones you know you will love to hate, the ones that you hope are killed off by the end of each chapter.

   I cried while reading this book. Hell, I sobbed while reading this book. I felt real hate while reading this book. I also felt unconditional love while reading this book. I talked out loud to these characters, I gasp, I held my breath and I realized there is a fine line between "Fangirl" and "Psychotic" and then..... I rejected that line. 

   I NEED book two, like, physically, NEED it. I have so many thoughts and theories and things going on in my head. I honestly can not remember the last time I have been this way over a new series. The speculations are endless. I want to keep this review spoiler free so I will bring it to an end. 

   But first I want to say this..... If you were reluctant to get this book because it's not her usual Paranormal, or even something as simple as the higher eBook price, I would strongly advise you go ahead an get it. The book is worth the price and you will not miss the paranormal aspect. It is fantastic.

Happy Reading!!

~S

And now for the review that actually covers the story (FACE PALM) unlike some people ^^.

 Thoughts by ~I: It’s safe to say that most of you know that we are J.R. Ward’s super fans… As such I waited for this book with much hope and a little trepidation. I mean I am accustomed to extreme vampire sexiness.. could she hold my attention by writing a story about mere mortals??? UMMM Hello! This is J.R. Ward….. ABSOLUTELY…

I will not lie. The beginning of this book was slow going but expected I mean we are being introduced to everyone. It’s also a little misleading.. The main character, Lane is presented as the epitome of a rich bachelor. Poker, booze, and women seem like the norm for him until he gets the phone call that he is needed at home… Enter DRAMA…

We are introduced to Lizzie, (Lane’s HEA) the horticulturist … I laughed at this… of course she’s the gardener LOL  and his family which includes his childhood nanny (who he considers his mother) and GASP his wife.. yeah you HEARD me.. WIFE…. Insert MAJOR side eye on this one…. Internally I was like… this CAN NOT BE.. I never root for the homewrecker *picture my palm on my forehead and me shaking my head…* but I pressed on and immediately felt better.

The drama, lies, backstory and character development made this book amazing! Ten minutes in I was crying because you could feel the love and loyalty between certain characters followed by anger and despair towards the manipulative and deceitful ones… I’m looking at you Chantal AND CREW….

These characters are flawed and some seem damaged beyond repair but there is a glimmer of hope and resilience within them that I am dying to see develop.


~I

Hashtags by ~I
#hotsammie
#wheresmaxwell
#shoveltotheface
#haveseveralseats

#preciousboy

Review: Bound by Flames (Night Prince 3) by Jeaniene Frost

Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

Play with fire, pay the price.

Leila’s years on the carnie circuit were certainly an education. What she didn’t learn: how to be a vampire, or how to be married to the most famous vampire of them all. Adjusting to both has Leila teetering on a knife edge between passion and peril, and now the real danger is about to begin…

Vlad must battle with a centuries-old enemy whose reach stretches across continents and whose strength equals his own. It isn’t like Vlad to feel fear, but he does…for Leila, because his enemy knows she is Vlad’s greatest weakness. As friend and foe alike align against him—and his overprotectiveness drives Leila away—Vlad’s love for his new bride could be the very thing that dooms them both…








Buy NOW on Amazon

My Thoughts; I am absolutely in love with this series and characters. I don't even know how to write out how I feel. 

  I have been reading Jeaniene Frost for a few years now; beginning with the Night Huntress series, where I eventually met Vlad Tepesh (swoon). I have sat on ready for every single one of the books in this series. This one, however, is by far my favorite to date. This series (and its companions) are also my introduction into the world of audio books. My very first Audible book ever was This Side of the Grave, narrated by Tavia Gilbert. I have to say that she is fantastic, and her narration brings a completely new level to the books themselves. Try them, you will not be disappointed.

  I have cried and laughed and gasped and held my breath. They are never boring and always keep you on the edge of your seat. And did I mention.... VLAD TEPESH??

If you are a fan of vampires, or just paranormal in general, I highly recommend this series of books.  It is intertwined with another series so there could be a spoiler here and there. If you are interested in discovering this multi-series experience from the beginning check out the reading order listed... *HERE.

*Author recommended reading order for Night Huntress universe: (copied from Author's website linked above)

HALFWAY TO THE GRAVE

ONE FOOT IN THE GRAVE

AT GRAVE’S END

DESTINED FOR AN EARLY GRAVE

FIRST DROP OF CRIMSON

ETERNAL KISS OF DARKNESS

THIS SIDE OF THE GRAVE

ONE GRAVE AT A TIME

ONCE BURNED

TWICE TEMPTED

UP FROM THE GRAVE

BOUND BY FLAMES 

~S

Review: Archer's Voice by Mia Sheridan

Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

When Bree Prescott arrives in the sleepy, lakeside town of Pelion, Maine, she hopes against hope that this is the place where she will finally find the peace she so desperately seeks. On her first day there, her life collides with Archer Hale, an isolated man who holds a secret agony of his own. A man no one else sees.

Archer's Voice is the story of a woman chained to the memory of one horrifying night and the man whose love is the key to her freedom. It is the story of a silent man who lives with an excruciating wound and the woman who helps him find his voice. It is the story of suffering, fate, and the transformative power of love.

THIS IS A STAND-ALONE SIGN OF LOVE NOVEL, INSPIRED BY SAGITTARIUS. New Adult Contemporary Romance: Due to strong language and sexual content, this book is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

Buy Now on Amazon

My thoughts; This is going to go straight into my highly recommended category. When I finished this book I held my iPad to my chest and just loved it a little longer. I wish I had a million well written words as to why you should read this book but all I have is.....

thoughts

feels

reasons

more thoughts

 all of the feels 

and

so many reasons

Please read this book and love it the way I love it. I showered love onto my book group friends who recommended to me and I am paying it forward by recommending it to everyone. 

I know this review is vague and I am sorry but the truth is, I want you all to experience it the way I did, going in blind and coming out in love. I had never before read one of Sheridan's books, and this will not be the last.

~S

Review: Nocte (Nocte Trilogy 1) by Courtney Cole

Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars


My name is Calla Price. I'm eighteen years old, and I'm one half of a whole. My other half-- my twin brother, my Finn-- is crazy. I love him. More than life, more than anything. And even though I'm terrified he'll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me. I'm doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I'm drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. Dare DuBray. He's my savior and my anti-Christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I'm afraid, where I belong, where I'm lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. He has the power to destroy me. Maybe that's ok. Because I can't seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. Why? Because of a secret. A secret I'm so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. You won't either.

Buy NOW on Amazon

My Thoughts: When I finished this book last night I thought about all of the things I wanted to say. All of the things I was feeling. But as I turned to the author note at the back I decided to just write a short review with not much detail. 

I could bleed my heart and soul into this review. I could let the tears I am trying to pretend aren't in my eyes at this very moment, spill onto my keyboard, but I won't. What I will do is tell you this....

This book hit me on such a deep personal level. In the end I was not thinking as much about the book characters and what was happening to them, I was thinking about how their story was affecting ME. How even though I had pretty much figured out what was happening I still couldn't handle it once it was revealed. It is always hard when you see things you have thought, things you have felt, poured onto the page of a truly captivating story. I can't say that this book will affect everyone the way it did me. But the link between things that have happened in my life and the things Calla is experiencing throughout this book are so so close to home. What I can tell you is that if you read this book, you will grieve, you will fall in love and you most definitely will want the second book. 

I have my theories about what I believe will be revealed in book two. And I am pretty confident that I am correct. I apologize for my review being so vague, but I do agree with the author, you need to experience this book firsthand. 

Pre-Order Book Two on Amazon

Expected Publication- Feb 2, 2015

Review: Bad Romeo by Leisa Rayven

Photo credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time.

Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks.

BUY NOW on Amazon







My thoughts: This was the last book that I read in 2014, and I am so hungover from it that I am considering making it the first book I read in 2015.

This book has so many things that I usually hate about a book. The past/present storyline, the cliffhanger, ok well that is only two things but whatever. I am in mourning.
 
   Lets talk about the past/present for one second. When I am reading a book and I am completely and totally engrossed in the story and I turn the page to find myself in a different time period, I usually cringe. But this book was written with such perfect balance between the two that I loved it, no I craved it. When it begins it is the present and Cassie is having a mild panic attack over seeing Ethan again. The entire time I am sitting there wide eyed thinking, "OMG, what did he do?". And then suddenly you are transported back six years to the moment they met and you meet this boy and you are instantly intrigued. He is a bit of an ass, very blunt and outspoken, but you can see his vulnerability and you just want more. You are so deep in what's happening between them and suddenly you find yourself back in the present and you yell to yourself, "WAIT!! Go back." only to become engrossed in the present. And the cycle continues. I just could not wrap my head around what he could have possibly done in the past to turn things into what they are in the present.

  Ethan is a standoffish personality, afraid to let anyone get too close because he is afraid of getting hurt or hurting them, but it seems this is exactly what happened. Meanwhile, I am left dumbfounded going back and forth craving more and more and more story to see what happened in the past and what is going to happen in the present.
  In the past Cassie, is so open and willing to give herself to Ethan.... in every way... almost to a fault. Like, for real, if there was one thing about this book that bothered me it was he single minded mission to lose her virginity. I found myself thinking, "Slow down whorezilla". But the childish aspect,for me, adds an innocence to her character in the past. She was young (19) and naive. For her everything was simple and could be fixed with a good make out session. And in all honesty that is how most teenage relationships work. The problem being, Ethan is older than her (21) he has experienced love and heartbreak and he has internalized all of it, become jaded. When you switch to the present Cassie is now the who who is hurt and jaded toward the whole idea of a relationship, especially a relationship that involves Ethan and he is determined to have just that.

   This book was 100% unputdownable for me. I devoured it word by word and when I turned the page and realized it was the end I almost gave my iPad a flying lesson. I am counting down for book two Bad Juliet due out April 2015.

Review: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

5 Stars
When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly.

Buy NOW on Amazon

My Thoughts: I want to start out this review by saying this.... I have read several one-two line reviews saying that this book was way better than Maybe Someday. That this was the best book Colleen Hoover has written to date. I am not sure that I agree with either statement, but regardless, this was definitely a FIVE STAR read.

I went into this book with high expectations. One, because of the reviews I saw trickling in said it was awesome. Two, because Colleen Hoover had mentioned that this was not like any of her other books. And three, it is Colleen Hoover. My expectations were more than met and all of the above are true. I found myself pretty much engrossed within a few chapters and I didn't want to put it down. The relationship, as it were, between Tate and Miles is unfolding while the reader is simultaneously reliving the past Miles is trying so hard to forget. You are not only falling in love with who he is but also who he once was. And you keep falling over and over again.

I don't want to go into to much detail because, as you all know, I loathe a spoiler no matter how minor. I will however say this..... 

Colleen Hoover does not only know how to write a breathtaking story, she knows how to take that story and arrange the words on the page in such a way that they aren't just words. They become a feeling, a life, love, heartbreak, and every other emotion. She was given a gift and I am so glad that she decided to share that gift with the world.

Now I want to talk about a couple of things that I couldn't help but wonder while reading. I will also take this opportunity to warn everyone as well. This book is indeed NOT like others Hoover has written. There are quite a few naughty bits and for anyone who has read her previous books we know that that has never before been at the forefront of any of her stories. And that being said it leads me to this thought...

Are the naughty bits what is making people refer to this as her best work yet? Has this become a prerequisite by which we judge all New Adult books? I guess we will never really know. I have to admit I prefer the 'lighter side' of her previous books because that is just what I am use too from her. However, because of the type of relationship Miles and Tate began with I can see how this more steamy aspect is true to the story and I would never suggest it not be taken to that depth. This story is by no means ever going to be categorized as erotic. It is steamy and sexy and at times a little naughty but it is never smutty.

If I had to find one thing that I did not like about this story it would have to be the fact that Miles's past relationship very much resembles his relationship with Tate. Rules being set, rules being broken. The secrecy of the 'relationship', that sort of thing. But over all this was a fantastic book and as always I look forward to what she has in store next. :)


P.S. Ridge still holds the number one spot for me ;)



~S

 

Review: Making Faces by Amy Harmon

5+ Stars
Ambrose Young was beautiful. He was tall and muscular, with hair that touched his shoulders and eyes that burned right through you. The kind of beautiful that graced the covers of romance novels, and Fern Taylor would know. She'd been reading them since she was thirteen. But maybe because he was so beautiful he was never someone Fern thought she could have...until he wasn't beautiful anymore.
Making Faces is the story of a small town where five young men go off to war, and only one comes back. It is the story of loss. Collective loss, individual loss, loss of beauty, loss of life, loss of identity. It is the tale of one girl's love for a broken boy, and a wounded warrior's love for an unremarkable girl. This is a story of friendship that overcomes heartache, heroism that defies the common definitions, and a modern tale of Beauty and the Beast, where we discover that there is a little beauty and a little beast in all of us.




Buy Now on Amazon





My Thoughts; I noticed this book trending and getting rave reviews. I one clicked in on Amazon and let it sit for a little bit. I kept waiting for a low rating, for someone to say the hype was only hype and then I would read it and give my own opinions. Well I never once saw a low rated review (until today, I will come back to it in a bit) and I had it just sitting there so I thought..... maybe it will be me, maybe I will be the one to read it and have to write the dreaded ONE STAR. I was wrong.

I will admit that the beginning of the book was a bit boring for me. We are meeting new characters for the first time and also (for me) a new author. I had to get into the flow of the past/present story line, which for me is a lot of time a huge turn off, before the story really begun to take shape. But all of that aside there was something about it that kept me coming back to read, curiosity maybe? Maybe it was the fact that at the time I had seen only stellar reviews and I just had to see where it was going. When I read reviews I am extremely careful about how much or how many I read. Most of the time I want even read the review itself but only the little "tidbits" a reviewer gives pre-review, so I knew nothing other than what the books synopsis gives away.

This book is told from the third person POV so there is never a singular set of eyes with which we view everything. Every character gets there own piece of the story. I think many people would argue with me on this but I did not read this as a love story, to me that was not the main focus. There is a love story that happens with Fern and Ambrose but the truth is, for me, this story was about heroism and the fact that you don't have to be the strongest or the most handsome to be the biggest hero in someone's life. 

Ok so now that I have made myself teary eyed I need a moment.....

Let's talk about the characters for a bit and I will also be mentioning a couple of points from the low star review I read earlier.

Fern is the awkward girl everyone laughed at in school, she wore thick glasses and braces, she was lanky and not curvy like the other girls. She did not turn the heads of the shallow teenage boys. Fern sees herself as ugly and she thinks everyone else sees her the same way. Especially Ambrose, the most gorgeous boy in school. We all went to school with this boy, all the girls wanted to date him all the guys wanted to be his friend. He was good at everything without even trying. That is Ambrose Young, and he is also the boy Fern has had a crush on since she was 7 years old. She met Ambrose at her cousin Bailey's house. Bailey, who is also Fern's best friend, has a form of MD and by high school has been confined to a wheelchair. Bailey, in my opinion, is the true hero in this story. He has touched the life of every single one of the characters in this story. He is the one who always says the thing that needs saying, he never feels sorry for himself and he would do anything within his power to protect the ones he loves. He is strong, independent, caring and self sacrificing and I love him above all the other characters.

The low star review I read earlier says that Fern's character is an insult to all redheads. I disagree, her red hair and freckles are one reason Fern finds herself unattractive, but they are not THE reason. Her red hair is just another thing about her that is different, and she feels that it sets her apart from the "norm". The same reviewer says that she feels like there is little growth with her character, that she keeps the same schoolgirl crush on Ambrose that she harbored since grade school. This I can sort of agree with. But I can't help but attempt to put myself in her shoes. She has loved this boy, no matter how childishly, all her life. I can see how she would continue to hold those same feelings for him. And the fact that she has basically shut herself off from everyone but Bailey, due to her insecurities, I can see how her character can seem immature. Fern has stayed by Bailey's side their whole lives, if he couldn't - she didn't. It was just the way of things.

This same review calls Ambrose selfish for 'convincing' his friends to join the army with him. I can agree but if you read the book Ambrose himself has this same feeling. But I have to disagree with the 'convincing' part. Those boys went because they chose too. Does Ambrose hold that kind of power of persuasion... of course he does. But the truth is these boys are his closest and most trusted friends and had the roles been reversed I believe he would have gone with them too. This review also mentions the nonchalant way one of the boys says, "Why not? Chicks dig soldiers and I have nothing better to do...." To me this was a typical teenage boy response, especially considering the character who says it.  As I read this review there were lots of points that she made that I can completely agree with. Did I think it before reading her review.... absolutely not. So my advice is to go into this book with a clear head, don't read to many reviews that give away a lot of detail and make up your own mind about it. I am stickler for keeping as much of the storyline out of my reviews as possible, I hate spoilers and I never ever wanna spoil anything.

All that being said, this is one of the best books I have read all year and I will be recommending it to lots and lots of people. If you are looking for a steamy romance, this isn't. If you are looking for a book that puts you behind enemy lines and in the heart of a war zone, this isn't. If you are looking for it to follow Ambrose throughout his recovery after his injury, this isn't it. This book is not about PTSD, I never saw it that way at all and I really don't think the author intended that to be the main focus either. However, if you are looking for a book that will tug at your heartstrings, one that feels "real", one that will most likely stay with you for a long time after you have finished it, then this is definitely a brilliant choice.

~S

Review: Closer to You Series by AL Jackson (Book One and Two)

Since I read these books back to back I decided to do a dual review. I am going to try to keep it as spoiler free as possible, however, I may let a little tidbit in here and there. Just wanted to make sure you all knew :)

5 Stars
Aleena Moore is content with her life. She has goals and dreams and an easy smile. She also has a secret she holds locked inside.

Jared Holt believes he doesn’t deserve to love or be loved. He destroys everything he touches. Haunted by the mistake that shattered his life, he’s fled from the memory of that pain.

Jared doesn’t know why he’s compelled to return, but finds himself drawn back to the place where it all began. The exact place where it ended. When he runs into his childhood best friend, Aleena’s older brother Christopher, he agrees to share Christopher and Aleena’s apartment while he looks for a place of his own.

Aleena is no longer the little girl Jared remembers from his past and evokes feelings in him he never wanted to feel again. Terrified of destroying her, he fights to keep her away. But her touch is something he can’t resist—the touch that sealed his fate.

Their pasts are intertwined and their futures uncertain. The only truths they know are the secrets they whisper in the night.


4 Stars
A second chance at life…
A second chance at love…

Jared Holt never thought he deserved either—until he found both in the arms of Aly Moore. Aly has loved Jared for as long as she can remember, and she’s more than ready for the future they’re making together. But Jared can’t help remembering his own family. And he’ll never forgive himself for what happened to them. How can he allow himself the very happiness he once destroyed?

To live a life worthy of Aly, Jared knows he has to stop running and finally put his past to rest. But when he decides to face his demons head on, he encounters more than he bargained for: a dangerous mix of jealousy, lies, and dishonest intentions. When those intentions threaten Aly, Jared loses all control, giving into the rage that earned him his bad boy reputation years before. And he’ll fight to protect her no matter what it costs…even if he destroys himself in the process.

Buy Now on Amazon
Come to Me Quietly: The Closer to You Series

Come to Me Softly: The Closer to You Series

My Thoughts; I had Come to me Quietly on my TBR list for quite a while. I had every intention or reading right away but found myself getting other books and this one kept waiting. Fast-forward to the release of Come to me Softly and me thinking OMG seriously??? You let book two release before reading book one? So, finally, I One-Clicked and started..... one chapter in and I was engrossed. I was captivated by Jared, finding my new best friends in Aly and Christopher and hopelessly wishing there was something magical that could fix Jared's broken soul.

I am always a sucker for the broken boy, the one who needs the perfect girl to fix all the wrong in his life. But what I was figuring out while I read was that there was not going to be an easy fix for Jared. There were no magic words that would make him see that everything was okay, that sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. Jared made a mistake, one that cost him so much, and he has been punishing himself ever since. He has built up a wall of self hatred and disgust and he pushes away anything that is good in his life. Until Aly.

Aly is everything in his life that he wants, and everything he has convinced himself he doesn't deserve. She doesn't care what ghost haunt him, she doesn't care how broken he is or the things he has done in his life. She simply loves him no matter what. She sees the beauty in his soul and the kindness in his eyes. He is hers on the deepest level. Reading these two books and travelling this road with Jared and Aly was breathtaking, I fell so hard and so fast for them individually as well as separately. And now that I have read both of these books I am glad I waited to read them together. 

Okay, book one vs book two breakdown...

Book one was so good, I did not want to put it down and at several points I flipped real life the bird because it wouldn't just wait till I was finished. I was heartbreakingly in love with Jared and I needed to read it until I had devoured every single word. When I was nearing the end I was glad that I had book two waiting because I was not ready to say goodbye to the characters yet. Book one ends on a solemn note so had I read earlier and would have had to wait, I would have been okay with that. I gave it 5 Stars because it was unputdownable for me and I could not stop thinking about it. The writing was great and you can see the work that the author put into the entire process.

Book two picks up at basically the exact moment that book one ends. Jared and Aly are in that same peaceful place and I was ready to settle in for the rest of their story. Most of the book was calm and you begin to see them build their life together, Jared still harbors so much hatred toward himself and it slowly begins to worm its way into their daily lives. Insecurities come to life and their relationship is tested to almost the breaking point. You begin to see a bit more of the side characters and I loved that because I love Christopher. Jared and Aly's story comes to a peaceful 'end' as the two of them finally find that place they need to be and Jared begins to deal with his demons. I rated this book a 4 because I thought the pace was a bit slower and I also felt like some of the issues kept repeating, almost like.... I just read this last chapter..... but the book as a whole was really great and I loved it beginning to end. I am super excited to get Christopher's story beginning in the next book Come to Me Recklessly. I do not know if there will be books beyond book three. I will just have to practice patience.

~S

Review: Come to me Quietly by A.L. Jackson

5 Stars

Aleena Moore is content with her life. She has goals and dreams and an easy smile. She also has a secret she holds locked inside.

Jared Holt believes he doesn’t deserve to love or be loved. He destroys everything he touches. Haunted by the mistake that shattered his life, he’s fled from the memory of that pain.

Jared doesn’t know why he’s compelled to return, but finds himself drawn back to the place where it all began. The exact place where it ended. When he runs into his childhood best friend, Aleena’s older brother Christopher, he agrees to share Christopher and Aleena’s apartment while he looks for a place of his own.

Aleena is no longer the little girl Jared remembers from his past and evokes feelings in him he never wanted to feel again. Terrified of destroying her, he fights to keep her away. But her touch is something he can’t resist—the touch that sealed his fate.

Their pasts are intertwined and their futures uncertain. The only truths they know are the secrets they whisper in the night.

Buy NOW on Amazon Come to Me Quietly: The Closer to You Series

My Thoughts: My very first thought is...Thank you AL Jackson.... my second thought is I probably shouldn't sing that to the tune of  "Sorry Ms. Jackson by OutKast" in my head. *ahem* This goes out to all the author's mamas, author's mamas mamas - Thank you AL Jackson, I am for real........... 

annnnnnnd I'm back.

When I started this book I was a little bit down because I had just set a book aside without finishing. To some this might not seem like a big deal, but for me it is huge. I rarely, if ever, leave a book unfinished. Even if I end up hating the book in the end, I still feel like I have totally disrespected the author and the book itself if I leave it. So, that being said, I waited a week before I started a new book, THIS book. I can not even describe to you the level of emotion that this book poured into me. I fell so hard and so fast for every single character.

It is not often that I love the female lead as much as I love the male lead. Usually I fall so hard for the guy that the girl is just pissing me off at every turn. But Aly...... this girl was made for Jared. She is every single thing in this world that he thinks he doesn't deserve and absolutely everything he needs She never once wanted to change him, make him into someone he will never be. She only wanted to hold him and love him, even though he is unable to love himself.

Jared, ah this boy, he had my heart in so many pieces throughout this entire book. It is no secret that I fall hardest for the damaged boys when I read. They are the ones my heart beats faster for, the ones I can't stop thinking about when I have finished the book. Jared is no exception, the problem with Jared is that what has broken him can't be fixed. There are no words in the English language, or any other for that matter, that can make him feel any less hatred for himself. Aly accepts this, wholeheartedly, and I love her for it.

I could go on and on and on about these characters but the only thing I really want is for you ALL to read this book!!! I, myself, am about to read book two. Not because I was left with a huge cliffhanger, not because 'OMG what happens next' (ok, well a little this), I simply want to get lost with Jared and Aly again for as long as the next book lasts.

Because I would almost bet my house you will need this.... here is the link to book two.

Come to Me Quietly: The Closer to You Series

~S

Review: Taint by SL Jennings

5 Stars

Right now, you’re probably asking yourself two things: 

Who am I? 

And, what the hell are you doing here? 

Let’s start with the most obvious question, shall we? 

You’re here, ladies, because you can’t f*ck. 

Oh, stop it. Don’t cringe. No one under the age of 80 clutches their pearls. 

You might as well get used to it, because for the next six weeks, you’re going to hear that word a lot. And you’re going to say it a lot. 

Go ahead, try it out on your tongue. F*ck. F***ck. 

Ok, good. Now where were we? 

If you enrolled yourself in this program then you are wholly aware that you’re a lousy lay. Good for you. Admitting it is half the battle. 

For those of you that have been sent here by your husband or significant other, dry your tears and get over it. You’ve been given a gift, ladies. The gift of mind-blowing, wall-climbing, multiple-orgasm-inducing sex. You have the opportunity to f*ck like a porn star. And I guarantee, you will when I’m done with you. 

And who am I? 

Well, for the next six weeks, I will be your lover, your teacher, your best friend, and your worst enemy. Your every-f*cking-thing. I’m the one who is going to save your relationship and your sex life. 

I am Justice Drake. 

And I turn housewives into whores. 

Now…who’s first? 

BUY NOW on Amazon

My thoughts: I read the synopsis during the cover reveal for this book. I was instantly intrigued and knew I was going to be reading it ASAP. 

My first thoughts before reading were, this is either going to be the cheesiest book I have ever read or one of the steamiest. My expectations were pretty high. On release day, I posted in my online book group so I could get a group read going. Several ladies joined in and the general consensus was.....WOW!

This book not only met my expectations, it surpassed them. It was neither the cheesiest book I have ever read or the steamiest. What it was was completely unexpected. Based on the synopsis I assumed I was going to get a pretty erotic novel with a man whore and his merry band of desperate housewives. But what I got was so much more. I don't want to go into detail too much so I will give you this..... 

Is there cheese? Definitely, but it is totally the good kind 

Is there steam?  Justice Drake enough said

Desperate housewives? Of course 

Angst? Yep

Heartbreak? Yes

Happy ending? Mmmm Hmmm

There is even lobster, but you have to read to understand that one. *wink*

Over all this has been one of my favorite reads this year. I am so glad I happened across it on facebook. If I have to make one complaint it would be this (also the biggest complaint with book group). The ending..... it just came to soon. It was just to quick, I wish there had been a bit more to that last part than there was. But it did not detract from the overall book, so it is really a minor complaint. Although, if the author were to write more I would gobble it up without a second thought. *hint hint*

Blog Tour w/Review: A Song for Us by Teresa Mummert

 5 Stars

In this highly anticipated follow-up to White Trash Damaged, Cass and Tucker have finally found their happily ever after, but can Eric, the band’s brooding drummer, ever let go of his past and find love?

From a small-town boy with fantasies of superstardom to rock star on tour with the suddenly famous band Damaged, Eric’s life has not been an easy journey. Now he struggles to let go of his past of physical abuse, a past that still haunts him. His anger is causing him to spiral out of control and he risks losing everything he has worked so hard for.

Only one person has ever gotten him to open up about his past: Sarah, the lead singer of Filth, the opening act on their first national tour—a fellow rocker with a confident façade that masks her own painful secrets. But their bands’ rocky past and Sarah’s tumultuous relationship with her bandmate and boyfriend Derek force her to keep Eric at a distance. As their friendship begins to grow into something more, Eric has to find a way to let go of his tortured past, or it could jeopardize his only chance for a happy future...

Goodreads

Purchase now on;
Amazon
Barnes and Noble




My Thoughts: I have had a long standing love affair with this series. I read White Trashed Beautiful (book One) back in October 2012, when the cover still looked like this......

*Click HERE see my review originally posted on my former blog*

 I was instantly hooked and knew I had found a new author to stalk. Since then it was picked up for publishing and had a makeover (sssshh I prefer the original cover, our secret). I have also read several other books by this author and have yet to be disappointed. I will slowly work my way through all them.

When book two White Trash Damaged released I was in happy dance mode. Could not wait. Kids can feed themselves tonight. TIME TO READ. Opened the book and THIS happened.....

Yup, see the highlighted area... ME! There are no words to describe seeing your  name in a book you have been dying to read... Ok now let's get serious.

I knew when I read WTD that Eric was going to break my heart into a million pieces, he is the wounded soul that we all can't help but fall in love with. He is kind and gentle and loyal to the ones he loves. And when he loves, it is deeply. The problem is Eric doesn't think he is good enough for the one he is in love with. The bigger problem he KNOWS the one she is with... is NOT even close. Sarah's boyfriend Derek is the a-typical asshole. He is a liar, a cheater, and emotional abuser. Oh, he has a moment or two of "sweet and tender" but they are fleeting at best. Basically I wanted to rip off his man bits and set them on fire.

Sarah and Eric are pretty much the epitome of soulmates they just need to realize that. And getting there is three-quarters the battle. I was brokenhearted and torn apart through a good part of this book. Talking out loud to the characters was a must, however, they did not listen to me. I will have to work on that skill later. All in all this is a wonderful series and I recommend it to anyone who loves a good rocker book and even those who aren't huge fans of the genre. You will fall in love with these characters I guarantee.

I do have to admit I am wildly curious what happens with the twins, these are two boys I would love to get to know better. Maybe that is just a bit of HINT HINT to the author. *wink*

~S



About the Author

I was a Russian spy at the ripe age of thirteen, given my uncanny ability to tell if someone was lying ( I also read fortunes on the weekends). By sixteen I had become too much of a handful for the Lethal Intelligence Ensemble (L.I.E.). I was quickly exiled to the south of France where I worked with wayward elephants in the Circus of Roaming Animals and People (C.R.A.P.). I was able to make ends meet by selling my organs on the black market for pocket change and beer money. At the age of twenty three I decided to expand my horizons and become a blackjack dealer in Ireland. I loved the family atmosphere at Barney's Underground Liquor Lounge (B.U.L.L.). People couldn't resist the allure of Liquor up front and poker in the rear. Eventually I became tired of the rear and headed off to the United States to try my hand at tall tales. That is what brings us here today. If you have a moment I'd like to tell you a story.
(This bio is not to be taken seriously under any circumstance.)

Website: http://www.teresamummert.com/
Twitter: @teresamummert
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/TeresaMummert
 Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5214793.Teresa_Mummert

White Trash Beautiful (Book One)

White Trash Damaged (Book Two)

Review: Maybe Someday by Colleen Hoover

5+ Stars

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…



From #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoover, a passionate tale of friendship, betrayal, and romance—and the enchanting music that inspires one young woman to put her life back together.

From the author of the New York Times bestsellers Slammed, Point of Retreat, Hopeless, This Girl, and Losing Hope, Maybe Someday is destined to become another bestseller and long-lasting fan favorite.


Includes a free original soundtrack by musician Griffin Peterson.


BUY NOW

My thoughts; WOW, just wow. I can not believe I am once again sitting here struggling to put all of my thoughts into words. At this point I am determined to think Colleen Hoover in incapable of writing a bad book. I sorta wish she would, just so I can finally be convinced that she is an actual human being. Again.... WOW.

There are two things that I have always connected to on an emotional level, books and music. It never fails when I am in a certain mood I relate to one song or another and I can hear my own feelings being put to music. And then, reading.... my passion, what makes me tick, what gets me through all the bad days and keeps me smiling on the good ones. I could never put into words (maybe a light pun intended) how I feel on some days but these two things never fail me. 

That being said, Colleen Hoover (and Griffin Peterson of course *swoony sigh*) has taken those two things and made them ONE. I don't think I have ever experienced this level of emotion while reading, ever. I don't know that I can say this is the best book I have ever read, but I can tell you that this is by far my most epic reading experience to date. To have a book not only grab your heart and sense of imagination with the story but also your sense of hearing and deep emotion with the music that accompanies it. Again.... WOW.

I don't want to say a lot as far as the story line is concerned because I feel like each person should learn every new detail as they read, and listen to the words of each song. From the first moment Sydney sits on her balcony listening to him play, to the first text, to the very last line of this book. I hope you all can feel that without spoilers and without preconceived ideas.  

Happy Reading!! :)

~S

P.S. Be sure to leave us a comment and let us know what you thing our our reviews

Review: Pretty Little Things by Teresa Mummert

4.5 Stars

I was young enough not to understand that my life was different. Colin became the one person that I could count on to protect me. He suffered for the both of us by carrying the burden of our secret. 

We were the lucky few that got a chance to start over. A fake family, a new home and a pretty little life built on lies. But while our lives continued to intertwine, we were put on very different paths. Now it was only a matter of time before they collide and the beast behind the beauty is exposed.

AVAILABLE NOW
Amazon
B&N







 

   My Thoughts: I have been following Teresa Mummert's work for quite a while now. I am a huge fan, and I have been slowly working my way through all of her books. Watching her posts (via facebook) on this particular book coming together was actually pretty fun. It was pretty much love at first cover sighting. It is beautiful to say the least but you just KNOW it is hiding a dark secret deep within its pages.

   I started this book with pretty high expectations and I was not disappointed. It was well and beautifully written. I could tell right from the start that Colin was going to be that "anti-hero" type of character that I enjoy from time to time, but I could also see a vulnerability to him as well. Annie is an innocent, that is pretty clear from the very beginning but she is by no means "soft". She can push every single button Colin has without even speaking a single word.

  The multiple POV in this book gives it just the right amount of depth and dimension without making you feel bombarded with excess story-line. You feel the dark, twisted, and maybe even forbidden aspect of this story page after page and no matter how much you think maybe this shouldn't happen, you can't help but bite your nails in anticipation. 

  

  I love when a book gives me the butterfly tummy and so far, Teresa Mummert has not failed me there. I look forward to reading more from her in the future. And I would recommend her to anyone who likes a quick read with tantalizing story lines.

Be sure to check out the Author Giveaway that is happening over on our facebook page.

Click here to enter!!

~S