OMG… I fell in love with this story and I fell hard. I loved everything about it, from the all-consu[image]
“The rest is still unwritten…”
OMG… I fell in love with this story and I fell hard. I loved everything about it, from the all-consuming love story, to the heart-wrenching emotions that this story evoked, to the flawless storytelling and the unbelievable characters that brought The Birthday List to life. It doesn’t happen very often when an author and her stories live up to the hype. I had heard amazing things about Devney Perry’s Jamison Valley series and after reading this phenomenal story, I now have the series waiting for me on my kindle. It doesn’t happen very often when an author lives up to the hype and you instantly fall in love.
Poppy and Jamie are college sweethearts, madly in love and are set to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary, well that is until tragedy strikes. Jamie leaves one night to run some errands when he is murdered during a liquor store robbery.
Poppy, who was starting to get worried when Jamie didn’t arrive home when expected developed a sinking feeling in her stomach. Then there was a knock on her door, a knock that would change her life forever. A uniformed police officer appeared to deliver the grave news, a young wife’s worst nightmare; that her husband would never be coming home again. Little does Poppy know at this stage that the police officer delivering her the worst news of her life, might also be the man to save her life.
“I wanted to do this for Jamie and let it go. Every day, I was getting stronger. I was getting back on my feet. I was starting to live again – for me. And until the list was done, I’d still be living for Jamie.”
Prior to his death, Jamie had started a birthday list, a list of things he wished to achieve by each birthday. Some activities on the list were extreme, some were silly and some were scary. Five years have passed since that horrible night and Poppy makes the decision to conquer Jamie’s list and achieve what he never got the opportunity to do. This list becomes a coping mechanism for the grieving widow, and she hopes it will help her move on with her life, the way Jamie would want her too.
One of the items on Jamie’s birthday list was to take a Karate lesson and when Poppy arrives at the lesson, she is not prepared to face the man who not only delivered her the worst news of her life, but also the police officer who stayed with her all night to make sure she was ok and to look after her.
Cole is the police officer that had the unfortunate job of delivering the horrible news to Poppy and he can’t believe that she is standing right in front of him in his Karate school. He is drawn to her by unexplainable forces and has never felt this undeniable attraction and electricity towards anyone before. Cole knows Poppy feels something for him too, but will wait as long as it takes until she is ready to let him into her heart.
“Jamie would have wanted you to be happy and have love in your life. And I think it’s time for you to open your heart again to that possibility.”
Cole is the perfect swoon worthy hero who is a patient and understanding man with a heart of pure gold. I loved how he took his time with Poppy, gave her space when he felt she needed it and was there for her. He proved time and time again that he would move mountains for Poppy if she needed him too. I especially loved how he never once wanted to take Jamie’s place in Poppy’s heart, but just hoped one day Poppy would find room for him too.
The Birthday List was such a beautifully written love story that pulled at my heart strings big time and captivated me from the very start. This heart-warming story about love, loss, healing and ultimately giving love a second chance really moved me beyond recognition and showcased that even after going through the ultimate loss and grief, you can move on and give love a second chance by entwining your past with your present and future. If you’re anything like me and love your slow burning romances then I urge you to one click The Birthday List, because I have a feeling Cole Goodman will be melting hearts around the world.
“I’m afraid of this. It’s insane that I’m here. You’re the last person I should fall for.” “Don’t you know all great love stories never
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“I’m afraid of this. It’s insane that I’m here. You’re the last person I should fall for.” “Don’t you know all great love stories never should have been? That’s what makes them great.” “Is that what you think this is…the start to a great love story?” “Do you want it to be?”
[image] Hunt Me Down is a stand-alone novella in the Fight for Me series and having just recently read Show me the Way, and loving it, I knew I had to read this little unexpected surprise. It only took me a little over an hour to read and just like the novella itself, I am going to keep this review short, sharp and sweet.
Broderick Wolfe is gorgeous beyond belief, determined and when he wants to sink his teeth into something or someone, as the case may be, he will stop at nothing to get exactly what he wants. He sure is a force to be reckoned with.
When Broderick comes into contact with the feisty and tenacious Lillith Redd, he has certainly met his match. They start to play a game of cat and mouse and Broderick loves every minute of it. Lillith is the epitome of a strong woman and has no problem standing up to the big bad Wolfe.
The attraction and lust between Redd and Wolfe is undeniable, you just feel it with every interaction the two had. How long will it be before hate turns to love?
Hunt Me Down was such a fast, sexy and fun take on the fairy tale classic Little Red Riding Hood. I am loving this series so far and cannot wait to get my hands on Follow Me Back, book two in the Fight for Me series. If you are looking for a quick ‘sexy as sin’ novella to grab your attention, then look no further than Hunt me Down.
“She’s a starlet with secrets. He makes scandals go away. Together, they’ll make sparks fly…”
One of the things I love most about r [image]
“She’s a starlet with secrets. He makes scandals go away. Together, they’ll make sparks fly…”
One of the things I love most about reviewing books is the authors and stories you uncover, that you never have come across before. A.M. Hargrove is a new to me author, so when the opportunity arose for me to read Craving Midnight, I jumped at it. Based on this book, this author can seriously write fascinating and thought provoking page turners that keep you fully captivated and intrigued right until the end. This story will definitely have you craving for more.
Midnight is an up and coming Hollywood actress who is set to take the world by storm. She is a relatively unknown starlet about to make her mark on tinsel town with her up and coming Hollywood release. Midnight has not had the easiest of roads leading up to stardom and as a result is harbouring many skeletons in her closet. For me uncovering all of her layers added to the intrigue and depth as I discovered the ins and outs of Midnight.
When the night from hell threatens to ruin her career before it’s even had a chance to take off, she is in dire need of reinforcement. Someone to take charge who knows what they’re doing and someone who is a professional at cleaning up Hollywood’s many indiscretions. Harrison is definitely the man for the job, he has seen and dealt with it before, there has never been a scandal or situation he hasn’t solved.
“I don’t want cautious. I want abandon and desperation and I want you unhinged, uncontrolled.”
I found Craving Midnight to be quite addictive, once I started reading I actually couldn’t stop until I reached the conclusion. I loved Midnight with her web of secrets, lies and obstacles that stood in her way and Harrison who strived to help her during her darkest hours only to be dragged deeper into her world past and present.
Craving Midnight was an intriguing and thrilling ride full of many twists and turns that kept me engaged right until the end. The attraction and steamy chemistry between the two characters was off the charts hot and I just could not get enough. I will definitely be reading more A. M. Hargrove stories in the future, especially if they make my heart race as much as Craving Midnight.
****Warning: This book contains sensitive subject matter that may not be suitable for all readers.****
From the first moment I read Amie Knight’s beautifully articulated words in The Line, I knew I would literally jump at the chance to read ANYTH [image]
From the first moment I read Amie Knight’s beautifully articulated words in The Line, I knew I would literally jump at the chance to read ANYTHING that Amie released next. WOW! A Steel Heart did not disappoint; I just fell in love all over again with Amie Knight’s carefully crafted words; the way she is able to draw me in, she has the ability to make me feel absolutely everything. This story literally consumed me in every way and I want everyone to know about the amazing story that lies within these pages.
“I never expected that eleven years later my one would finally come for me. It wasn’t on my list that he’d come charging into my life, practically railroading me with his presence. Simultaneously, he’d obliterated my list and smashed it to smithereens, while snatching my heart right out of my chest and stealing it for his own, all the while keeping his hidden behind the steel fortress he’d built around it. It wasn’t on my list that he’d crush me. That he’d change my life so irrevocably. It wasn’t on my list that I’d love him so fiercely, he’d break me.”
There are so many aspects of this story that I could gush over and I would literally talk the ear off of anyone who would listen about the magnitude of this story, but I won’t because you just need to read it and not read about me retelling it in a review……
I adored both Miranda and Holden; they are the true epitome of why I love to read romance novels so much. Miranda was a sweet, kind-hearted soul who had such a positive outlook on life that I could not help but admire and be inspired by her. Even though I loved these traits of hers, this by no means implies she is a doormat or a push over. She most definitely had a backbone and proved this countless times. Miranda is the kind of heroine I love to read.
Positively swoony Holden, was moody, less tolerant and such a beautifully broken and tortured soul. But underneath all the macho bravado and attitude, truly lies a man with the biggest and most beautiful heart. Being ex-military, he’s been through a lot of pain and suffering and has lost everything that means anything to him. His road to recovery was a long one and was hard to read because I really felt his pain and hoped he would ultimately heal.
Miranda loved Holden unapologetically and with so much tenderness, passion and intensity. I was so invested in this story and for me it was so beautiful; it was like I was on this journey of healing and self-discovery with them. Holden loved Miranda immensely, even when he struggled to show it.
I imagine this would have been quite a difficult story for Amie to write, because if some parts were hard for me to read; then how would it have felt writing it? I felt their pain, but it was written with such integrity, thoughtfulness and emotion. That sort of prose only comes with true talent.
I think it’s pretty safe to say I adored this story and if you, like me, love your broken tortured heroes and your kind-hearted and empathetic heroines who can hold their own, then you need to check this one out ASAP. It was the perfect mix of humor and deep emotion for me and I can’t wait to read what Amie Knight delivers next.
“…from as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been the other. The other friend, the other employee… the other brother. For once in
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“…from as far back as I can remember, I’ve always been the other. The other friend, the other employee… the other brother. For once in my life I want to be the only.”
If you have ever followed any of my reviews or the kind of books I love, then you will be aware that I am a big Meghan Quinn fan……HUGE, in fact. Three from three books all rated five stars shows her quality. We have met Aaron before as one of the three best friends, Tucker from My Best Friends Ex, Racer from Twisted Twosome and now Aaron (Smalls) from The Other Brother. Any of the above mentioned books can be read as standalones, but Meghan is so awesome you’ll definitely want to read them all. From the other two books Aaron always appeared to be a friendly and sweet giant with a massive heart and I waited in anticipation to finally get to know him in The Other Brother.
The Other Brother is a heartbreakingly beautiful tale of second chance love when you least expect it. Aaron was such a beautiful character and he seriously stole my heart. He hasn’t had the easiest of lives to date; being brought up in a home environment that was less than desirable but he managed to come out the other side relatively unscathed.
Despite the many obstacles Aaron has had to account for, he has worked his butt off to make something of his life which includes running a construction company with his two buddies, but in order to get there he has had to give up an awful lot and that includes the girl who owns his heart.
“I pushed her away to achieve her dreams. Little did I know, breaking up with her would send me in the biggest downward spiral of my life.”
Amelia had to leave the life she knows in the city to return to her hometown and be closer to her father who is living in a nursing home and is unwell. I imagine it would be no easy feat to leave not only your home and job, but to leave your boyfriend of the last eighteen months. However, Amelia knew she had to leave because her father, the man who has helped her and shaped her into the woman she is today, needs her and she has to be there for him.
Aaron and Amelia have a past and once upon a time they envisioned growing old together, but unfortunately luck and circumstances were not on their side and they both walked away with broken hearts.
Fate has other ideas when it comes to this couple and has brought them together once again, though this time as neighbors. Situations become awkward between the two as true heartache and regret sets in. Little do they know that things are about to get even more awkward considering Amelia is in a committed long-distant relationship and with none other than Aaron’s biological brother, not that either of them knew this fact… Awkward much? Which brother will own Amelia’s heart?
“Yes, I was able to pursue my dreams, as he obviously did his. But at what cost? Could we not have done that together? He seems happy for me now, almost as if he is sorry he let me go.”
This was such the perfect five star love story for me. The humor, emotion and many feelings I encountered drew me in and kept me fully engaged thanks to Meghan Quinn’s talent, imagination and humor. The chemistry and intensity between Aaron and Amelia was electrifying, the way they were drawn to each other was epic.
If you are anything like me and love nothing more than delving into a great second-chance love story where the writing flows and is so effortless to read, then definitely check this one out. I adore Meghan Quinn’s writing style and the plots and characters she creates; her stories always have the ability to make me laugh out loud. I really do adore her sense of humor. Make sure to one click this because I have no doubt Aaron will melt hearts around the world.
“He appeared like a white knight, unshaven, unshowered, ready to do battle for the people he loved. He exuded manliness and safety, lik
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“He appeared like a white knight, unshaven, unshowered, ready to do battle for the people he loved. He exuded manliness and safety, like a king swearing to protect the realm.
It was a beautiful thing and yet, troubling. I didn’t know where my place was in his kingdom, or if I wanted a place in it at all.”
CD Reiss is one author I have been meaning to read for a while now. I generally enjoy my Hollywood based love stories and the synopsis sounded really interesting with the whole stalker aspect and the bodyguard, who would risk his life to save hers… how could I not jump on this bandwagon?
Emily and Darlene are the ultimate BFF’s and have been since childhood; they met during gymnastics camp and bonded over their love of singing and dancing instantly. They both had the same dream, being a singing and dancing superstar. They both moved to LA to ‘make it’ and had the same auditions, the same agent and also were a duet at one point.
Unfortunately for Emily stardom was not to be. When she started a relationship with a really possessive and jealous guy, she decided to give up her dreams, as he didn’t like people staring at her and did not like her in the spotlight. She made the hard decision to move behind the scenes and use her talent to choreograph dance routines for Darlene instead. Sick and tired of being weak and insecure Emily ended the relationship.
Ending the relationship was just the start of Emily’s problems as he became a crazy stalker. Darlene is about to go on tour and everyone, including Emily, is busy preparing for the upcoming shows, so they have decided to hire added security… Enter sexy as sin bodyguard Carter.
Carter is an ex-LAPD, tall, dark, handsome and mysterious guy and is the most beautiful man Emily has ever laid eyes on. Their connection and attraction towards each other was instantaneous and they literally could not keep their eyes off each other. The way the two would steal glances of each other across the room was too cute and they seemed to quickly understand each other. I knew it was only a matter of time for Emily and Carter to give in the growing attraction.
The mystery and anticipation of the crazy stalker ex kept me on the edge of seat along with the man who was hired to protect her made me positively swoon. The story was fast-paced and well written with interesting characters, secrets, twists and turns that will keep you enthralled, entertained and flipping those pages as quick as humanly possible. I absolutely recommend you one click this one if you love your hot, single dad, protective heroes and you’re heroines who find their way and become stronger when you least expect it.
"A scandal is the last thing my family needs. But a scandal is what we’re going to give them. And oh, what a beautiful chaos it will be
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"A scandal is the last thing my family needs. But a scandal is what we’re going to give them. And oh, what a beautiful chaos it will be."
Wow, just wow. Scandalous was well worth the wait, in my eyes. I just love those HotHoles and couldn’t think of anything better than delving into Trent’s story and… I mean seriously, with a cover like that, how could I not. Right?
L. J. Shen has really saved the best for last, so much so that I took my time devouring every word written. To say that I’m sad we’ve come to an end of the HotHoles journey would be an understatement, but you know what they say, all good things must come to an end. This series, even though each book is a complete standalone, has been immortalised as one of my favorite series of all time. I had a distinct feeling Trent’s story would leave me breathless, I just couldn’t fathom the extent to which it did.
Edie is a broken and lost girl who will do absolutely anything she can in order to survive, but she is clearly not stupid. Edie has been accepted into a number of out of town universities, some of which are Ivy League, but nothing on this earth can make her accept and attend any of them, especially not her wealthy, cold and cutthroat father. As a result of her decision not to go to college, Edie’s father has informed her she will come to work with him at Fiscal Heights Holdings.
“You make me feel wild. Fearless. Like I’m someone. Someone strong”
Trent Rexroth (AKA The Mute) has not had an easy life and knows all too well what it’s like to struggle, but along with the help of his best friends, he has worked darn hard to achieve what he has to date. Trent is calculating, ruthless and is called The Mute for a reason. He speaks very little, but he doesn’t really have to, his eyes and his demeanour say it all. Sometimes it’s the quietest ones who have the most to say. From an outsiders point of view Trent appears to have it all; wealth, luxury and his pick of any woman at his disposal, but things aren’t always as they appear though.
“I was opening up to someone who wasn’t my parents or my three friends, feeling the walls of something disastrous closing down on me.”
Trent is a single dad to his beautiful three year old daughter Luna, who actually doesn’t speak at all. Her silence could all come down to the fact that her mom took off and she hasn’t seen her since. Having your mom desert you and never look back can have lasting psychological effects on a child and she doesn’t speak as a result. Trent’s love, compassion and patience he demonstrates when it comes to Luna is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
Scandalous to me is… EVERYTHING. It took me on a wild ride from start to finish and I just could not put it down even if I wanted to. I absolutely loved everything about this story from the writing, the characters, the emotion and the angst.
“We stared at each other, almost smiling. What a fucking way to break my rules, with a girl who was both at my mercy and tasted of betrayal.”
The feels were real and everything these characters endured I felt deep down to my core. Stories or series like this epitomise why I love to read so much; especially allowing me to escape reality and get so invested in the story and the characters that I feel everything they do.
I would talk the ear off of anyone who would listen to me about the magnitude of awesomeness that is the Sinners of Saint series. I have to say that out of all the Characters within the series, Edie and Trent have to be my favorites. Trent, because of his profound love of his family and the way he has overcome his past and struggles and Edie, who is so mature beyond her years, strong and determined (serious wow factor).
So as I write this review, it is also with a heavy heart, because we have come to the end of an epic series. I know without a doubt that these characters I have met along my journey will stay with me forever. If you are yet to meet the HotHoles, then I’m jealous because you get to experience how awesome this series is for the first time. I obviously loved it and obviously could not recommend it enough.
I have been a Staci Hart fan for a while, so any new book she releases I’m guaranteed to read[image]
“We weren’t supposed to fall in love”
I have been a Staci Hart fan for a while, so any new book she releases I’m guaranteed to read. I always enjoy her characters and storytelling and adding a single dad to the mix, how could you not want to devour this. I went into A Little Too Late completely blind, I didn’t even read the synopsis prior to starting, I just saw Staci Hart, so I automatically started reading it. Staci Hart plus that beautiful cover, it was fait accompli.
Hannah is an au pair from Holland trying to make it in the big city of New York and if that isn’t hard enough, poor Hannah has also had a very rocky start to her career being a nanny in the US. She had to abruptly leave her original family due to inappropriate behaviour and as a result, has landed herself on the doorstep of Charlie seeking employment.
“I always believed evil could be seen, sometimes in the smallest, quietest places. But those quiet places were also where you could see courage, strength, goodness.”
Charlie for me was such a likable character; he was warm and kind, but completely broken. He is trying to raise his two kids plus working like a Trojan and therefore surviving one day at a time. I really felt for him and I wanted nothing but the best for him; I wanted him to be brought back to life.
I loved both Hannah and Charlie, the emotion, humor and heartbreak that came with every beautiful written piece of prose that involved these two. It was such a joy to read how these two healed each other and the way Hannah swept in like a modern day Mary Poppins. Charlie was at his wits end with work and caring for his two small children, the lessons he learnt from Hannah were priceless. The sweet and tender moments they shared were breathtaking and whilst I knew they were meant to be, the anticipation and angst kept me captivated until the very end.
“I’m afraid. That’s the bottom line. I am scared that I’ll do all of this wrong, take a wrong step, and I’ll lose you.”
If you’re anything like me and love to delve into a beautifully written contemporary romance then I suggest you one click this one. I really felt everything while reading A Little Too Late, literally like I was living and breathing it and that just goes to show what a vivid picture Staci Hart has created for us to enjoy. I first fell in love with Staci Hart after reading A Thousand Letters and it continues with A Little Too Late. Make sure to check this one out.
“She needed someone to protect her. That someone was me.”
My Image of You is the first story I have read b[image]
***3.5 Stars***
“She needed someone to protect her. That someone was me.”
My Image of You is the first story I have read by Melanie Moreland. When I read the synopsis all those month ago I knew this was something I wanted to get on board with. In the end though, it was just ok for me. I did find parts really enjoyable and found it engaging at some spots, particularly the start and the end, but as an all-round story I just found it dragged a bit and I lost interest in parts. Having said that, the ending I loved; it was insanely good. Any readers who love their second chance romance trope should give this one a go.
Adam is a dare devil photographer, who jet sets around the world in search of the perfect story and snap shot. He has no issues risking his life for the perfect photo and this is where the story begins…
“Her giggle made me happy, her kiss was filled with warmth, her touch love personified. She was mine.”
Adam has a serious accident and injures himself badly while on location in Toronto and has to be rushed to hospital. There he meets a beautiful nurse, Alexandra “Ally” Robbins and she soon becomes his very own Florence Nightingale.
There was an insta-connection and chemistry between both Adam and Ally and they both fell hard. Ally soon consumes Adam’s every thought and he wants to know everything about her and protect her for the rest of his life. Things unfortunately don’t always work out as planned and circumstances pull the two apart. I’m not going to go into too much detail as to not reveal any spoilers, but some aspects of the story surprised me and I actually didn’t see coming.
“I only met you a couple of days ago, Ally, but I’ve been waiting for you all my life. Waiting for you to find me.”
While I didn’t LOVE the story as much as I had hoped to, I still found it somewhat enjoyable, romantic and definitely pulled at my heart strings. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves second chance romances and even though overall I’m rating it 3.5 stars, the ending on its own is worth a solid 5 in my opinion.
A new sports romance… hell yes! Sign me up. I love a great sports romance; there’s just something about these hot and athletic guys that draws [image]
A new sports romance… hell yes! Sign me up. I love a great sports romance; there’s just something about these hot and athletic guys that draws me in from the start and I want get to know absolutely everything about them. If you are after your next read to be a fast paced, sexy, forbidden sports romance then I would definitely suggest one clicking Hot Stuff, because it is sure to satisfy your craving.
Lucas lives and breathes football and has been recently drafted as the quarterback for the Chicago Bears, much to his dismay. Chicago is Lucas’s home soil and he wants nothing more than to leave Chicago and be drafted by the New England Patriots.
“And let’s not forget I was here because I loved to play football.
Because it was my life.
What I had to remember was now that my head was on straight – I had to prove it. Prove that I was here to play professional ball, and only that.”
When Lucas is drafted by Chicago, he has a slight chip on his shoulder and quite a bit of attitude too. However, Lucas knows in order to keep his dream alive and secure a contract with the NFL, he has to pull his head in or risk the possibility of being dropped and missing out on his dream.
Gillian is not only an intern athletic trainer, but is also the coach’s daughter and therein lies the problem… she is completely off-limits. When Gillian is responsible for injuring the new Chicago Bears quarterback during their summer camp, she has to take charge and help to nurse him back to full strength.
The intensity and sexual chemistry was off the charts and it kept me completely engaged. I loved the forbidden aspects of the two main characters and the anticipation of what was going to happen. Will both Gillian and Lucas risk it all to be together?
Ok… so I’m not American and know absolutely nothing about the NFL (much to the disappointment of my husband) and the football aspect of this story was a pretty high priority. When I say I know nothing I mean it. I had to actually google New England Patriots and the Chicago Bears and do some research whilst reading. One thing I did find out during my research was that Tom Brady is the quarterback for the New England Patriots and I was so happy because I actually knew of an NFL football player, but I think it has more to do with who he is married to. My reason for this little titbit is that I know nothing about American football and I still adored this story and these characters Kim Karr has created for us to enjoy.
If you are a fan of sports romances and forbidden love stories then definitely one click this, because I am sure you’ll devour it as much as I did. It was angsty, hot and will make you swoon.
“I love you. Fiercely. Possessively. Crazily. Always.”
After finishing The Outskirts I waited with great anticipation for the second [image]
“I love you. Fiercely. Possessively. Crazily. Always.”
After finishing The Outskirts I waited with great anticipation for the second book The Outliers to be released, because I just had to know how this amazing story would conclude and what would become of Finn and Sawyer. One thing that drives me crazy is a cliffy and I guess that is partly because I can be somewhat of an impatient person and need to know the endings, but that’s what you get with duets. The Outliers was well worth the wait and certainly did not disappoint.
The Outliers consisted of so many different layers, twists and turns and suspense that I just loved. It kept me captivated throughout, but the thing I loved most about this read was the timeless, passionate and unapologetic love that continued to grow between Finn and Sawyer.
“My entire being reacted to him from my nose to my toes. From my heart to my soul.”
I’m not going to write a detailed and in depth review because it’s really difficult to do without giving away spoilers from book 1 or book 2. It is a duet and therefore a direct follow on, but I urge everyone to check this out (and the previous if you haven’t read it yet).
If you are looking for a duet to read that will keep you fully engaged from start to finish with all the mystery, twists and turns, and a love so hot and passionate it will almost set your kindle on fire then this is the duet for you. I loved Finn and Sawyer and their unbreakable connection, but I also loved a number of the side characters, especially Josh, Miller and my absolute favorite Critter… Sigh! T.M. Frazier’s writing is second to none, her imagination and the different directions she takes her readers on throughout is always amazing. It was a fabulous duet which I highly recommend.
Wow! This book was everything I was hoping for and more… much more. I am a huge fan [image]
“Who knew things could be painfully beautiful?”
Wow! This book was everything I was hoping for and more… much more. I am a huge fan of Brittainy C. Cherry and have been ever since reading Loving Mr. Daniels a few years ago, and then I fell even harder for her after each one of the Elements stories. Behind the Bars is a phenomenal story of love, hope, friendship and two lonely souls coming together through their love of music. If there is one book you need to check out this year, or ever, it is this one. Brittainy C. Cherry’s writing is sensational and I felt this story on such a deep level, right down to my very core.
“I didn’t see him at first- I felt him, felt his music crawl along my skin. The chords and bars of his saxophone sent chills down my spine. It sounded magical, the way the notes danced through the air, so hauntingly beautiful.”
Elliott was a sweet boy who felt music; he was someone who had one of those connections with music that meant he lived and breathed it. Music was a part of him and he was a part of music, especially Jazz music and he could play the saxophone like nobody else.
Elliott’s high school years were rough to say the least. He was repeatedly bullied, harassed, name called and humiliated. Elliott wanted nothing more than to be invisible and just try to survive each day. Bullying is never ok and what Elliott suffered was utterly heartbreaking, but he learnt to accept it as a way of life, which is devastating and sad beyond all belief.
“He was so skinny and fragile, and I swore I weighed three times as much as him, but he loved me just as much as I loved him. He was all bones, and I was all meat. His skin was painted caramel, and mine was as white as cream. We were polar opposites. We weren’t meant to fall for one another, but when we blended together, we were some kind of beautiful.”
High school was Jasmine’s happy place; time away from her overbearing mom who worked Jasmine to the bone and was a place where she felt free. Jasmine was beautiful and popular and to the outside world had very few problems, but looks can be deceiving. Jasmine’s mom was living vicariously through her in the hopes that her daughter could make her dreams come true by becoming the next pop star. Was it really what Jasmine wanted though? She lived and breathed soul music, but according to her mom there was no money in soul.
“I knew I was young, and I knew it was stupid, but in that moment, I began to fall in love with the quiet boy who quietly cared for me. The boy who was scared and still strong. The boy who stood up for me when he was surrounded by reasons not to do such a thing.”
You can live your whole life surrounded by people, but still be the loneliest person in the world. This was life for Jasmine, maybe people just didn’t understand her.
When Jasmine and Elliott met there was such a profound connection between the two that it literally seemed like they had found the other part to their soul. They were both different in so many ways, but together they found strength and hope in a lonely and hopeless world.
Some aspects of this story I found hard to read as it dealt with the devastation of bullying and the horrific treatment of another human being. I felt deeply, I cried and my heart broke as the scenes unfolded before me about what happens when bullying is taken to the next level.
This was such a beautiful and heart wrenching story that completely consumed me, broke me and healed me all at once. This story means so much to me on such a deep level and I know without a doubt I won’t ever forget this story and I urge everyone to read this story as you will no doubt feel similarly to what I felt.
“All moments matter. We just rarely know how important they are until the chance to act on them has already passed.”
I have not read [image]
“All moments matter. We just rarely know how important they are until the chance to act on them has already passed.”
I have not read an A.L. Jackson book in what feels like a lifetime and right now I am kicking myself because this woman can serious write. This story had all the ingredients of a great romance for me; a hot tortured hero who is good with his hands, a strong heroine who can be feisty at times, a bit of angst, a pinch of intrigue and some seriously hot and steamy sexy times. I loved this story and if the rest of the books in the Fight for Me series are half as good as Show Me the Way, then we are in for a cracker of a series and I’m already anticipating the release of book 2 Follow Me Back.
A few years back Rynna packed her bags and turned her back on her home and the only family she has ever known, her Gramma. She did this because of a traumatic turn of events; it was the only way she knew how to deal with what had happened and the only way she knew how to move forward and deal with the pain she was going through. While she was away, not a day went by where she didn’t think or speak to her Gramma.
Rynna has now returned home after the passing of her Gramma, but with her return are also the painful memories of her past life there and things are about to get even more complicated when she sees her brooding new neighbor, Rex Gunner.
“He needed someone to revive his faith just as desperately as I did. Because looking at him? I suddenly knew he had none of it. That something had gone dim inside of him. That was the thing about chances. We didn’t know their outcomes. If we’d succeed or if we’d fail. It didn’t matter. I had to take a chance on him.”
Rex is a beautifully tortured soul and has been through so much pain. The only females he will give his time for are his daughter and his mother. He doesn’t trust women and has sworn off them completely. His daughter is his whole life and he won’t let anything or anyone come in and destroy what they have.
After meeting his neighbor, Rynna, he can’t deny the feelings she brings out in him and he doesn’t trust himself around her, so he does the only plausible thing he can do; he pushes her away.
Rynna is drawn to Rex like a magnet, not only is he the most beautiful man she’s ever seen but she can feel his pain, anger and bitterness rolling off of him. She would like nothing more than to ease the pain he is feeling and attempt to heal this beautifully broken man.
The attraction and chemistry Rynna and Rex felt towards each other was electric and the push and pull between them kept me enthralled with anticipation. They have both been through so much pain and suffering and I wanted nothing more than to see them heal and learn to love again. They were just the perfect couple and I was desperate for them to get their HEA.
One of my most favorite characters whilst reading this story has to be hands down Rex’s little girl, Frankie. She literally stole the show for me and I could just imagine this little innocent firecracker in a pink tutu that has yet to be tainted by this world.
This was such a beautifully written and emotionally driven story about second chances at love and learning to overcome all the pain and hurt. I became addicted to this relatively slow burn romance story from the first page and just couldn’t get enough of these tortured characters and watching their relationship change, it was beautiful watching them learning to trust again. I would absolutely recommend this story to all fans of second chance love stories and I predict Rex Gunner will melt your heart.
“Maybe a little darkness will turn us both back toward the light.”
I was really in the mood to delve into something a bit different [image]
“Maybe a little darkness will turn us both back toward the light.”
I was really in the mood to delve into something a bit different…..something a bit dark. I absolutely found it with Jade West’s newest release Bait. It was raw, gritty, dark and emotional; it was everything I was looking for and more. I was taken on a ride through this dark world of fantasies and desire to discover the monster that lives within.
From the moment I started this story I was utterly captivated and I just could not stop reading it even if I wanted to. I was so addicted to read and learn more about these characters, their deepest darkest fears, their fantasies and their desperate need to bring these desires to life.
On one hand Abigail is fragile, broken and lost, but on the other hand she is strong and determined. She knows what she wants and how to go about getting it and is finally living out her dreams and fantasy. She craves and needs the pain and fear beyond anything else; she hopes that she will be able to finally move past the pain and darkness to be able to live her life again.
“I’m seeking my monster in the darkness. I’ll run but you’ll run faster. We’ll play cat and mouse until you catch me.”
Abigail goes online and calls herself Bait. The username reflects her intention to meet a stranger who will be willing to chase her, hurt her and to make her feel both pleasure and pain. She meets Phoenix online through her search for her monster and during their brief encounter, he makes Abigail feel things she hasn’t felt for a very long time and the thrill of the chase is just too tempting to ignore.
“My demons are running free, dancing with the devil on my shoulder. My sensibilities are long put to bed, and in their place is a wildness I don’t yet recognise as me, but I want to. I hope this wildness stays. This freedom stays. I want to feel this high forever.”
Phoenix appears dark and dangerous on the outside, but underneath the dark eyes and tattoos he has a sweet heart. He has been through his fair share of heartache and pain. He has an underlying need to unleash the monster within him and is all too willing to chase his bait. He just hopes Bait is ready to be caught.
One thing I loved most about this story was the characters, how they fit so well together and the level of trust they had for each other was inspiring. In true Jade West fashion, the steam was out of this world hot and the tension caused by them living out their fantasies had me on the edge of my seat. The suspense was literally heart racing.
“You brought me to life again. Being with you gave me hope when I had none. I can’t go back.”
Bait is about two lost and broken souls who come together to find solace within the dark world they create. It was a thrilling ride and captivated me from the first word until the very last. If you are looking for your next read to be a dark erotic and somewhat suspenseful story, then definitely one click this, it is sure to draw you into this dark world as it did me.
“Our souls had met five years ago and whispered about each other ever since.”
I took one look at the cover of Nate and I was complet [image]
“Our souls had met five years ago and whispered about each other ever since.”
I took one look at the cover of Nate and I was completely done for… I mean seriously? What is it about book covers with a hot as hell guy in a leather jacket, smoking, that does me in? No idea. But I was drawn to it instantly and did I mention his smouldering blue steel gaze? I know you should never judge a book by its cover, but I just could not resist.
Ok… well I kind of had high expectations for this one as you can imagine; everything from the yummy cover, to the synopsis and to how impeccable Celia Aaron’s writing can be, I just had a distinct feeling I was going to really enjoy it. So it is no surprise that I absolutely did. It was intriguing, suspenseful, action packed and had lots of sexy, hot and steamy scenes to get your motor running.
Nate has been appointed as the new mob boss of the Philly syndicate and takes his business seriously. He is certainly not someone you would want to cross, because he is a shoot first, ask questions later sort of guy. Five years ago he saved the life of a thirteen year old girl and swore he would do everything in his power to protect her; to keep her as far away from the mafia business as possible. To demonstrate this, Nate sent her to the best boarding school money can buy to ensure her safety and where she’d get the best education.
“He kissed me again, and I let myself go. Gave myself over to him, not wasting the moment worrying about whether he felt it too. Even if he didn’t, I had enough love for the both of us, and I would be happy to share it for the rest of our lives.”
Sabrina is no longer the scared and timid thirteen year old. She has returned to Nate’s life, and much to Nate’s despair, is a sexy, sassy, flirtatious eighteen year old. Sabrina has returned with the intentions of showing her saviour how much of a woman she really is, if you know what I mean.
Nate knows the feelings he is developing for Sabrina are wrong, but he knows from the moment he sees her again he’s done for. He should be hell bent on keeping Sabrina as far away from him and his ‘business’ as possible and not wanting to keep her close. He attempts to push her away and avoid getting involved with her, but with no success. He feels this pull and attraction toward her that he just can’t escape; he soon becomes addicted and needs her like he needs his next breath (or cigarette.)
I loved both Sabrina and Nate. The passion and sexual chemistry between the two was electrifying. I loved reading Nate’s softer side when he was with Sabrina; he was protective, caring and sweet on one hand, but also a dominating, bad ass alpha on the other. Sabrina’s bratty, smart mouth was right on point and how she loved to push Nate’s buttons to get a rise out of him. This made for a humorous and fun read… but will Sabrina be prepared to step into Nate’s world which is full of brutality and violence or will she run for the hills?
“But I didn’t see anything but you. Being strong. Doing what you had to do. No matter what, I always see you.”
Underneath all the suspense and intrigue, lies an epic love story that I just devoured. All they ever saw was each other and nobody was going to stand in the way. Underneath all the violence and brutality, can true love really exist and will it triumph over all else?
If you’re looking for your next read to be both light and fun mixed with darkness and suspense, then definitely give this one a go. It has a little bit of everything for everyone. I highly recommend you jump on the Nate train, you are sure to enjoy the ride.
“Monica Morgan is off limits. One-hundred percent untouchable.”
Is this seriously Isabel Love’s debut novel? Surely not… well it is [image]
“Monica Morgan is off limits. One-hundred percent untouchable.”
Is this seriously Isabel Love’s debut novel? Surely not… well it is and I can’t believe it. It was superb and I keep asking myself “why oh why did it take me so long to read this?” Untouchable just ticked all the boxes for me and contained some of the many tropes I love; forbidden romance and office romance. This story literally sucked me in from the start with its perfect balance of angst, steam and humor.
Monica is not only a doctor but is also the director of the ER, so not surprisingly work takes up most of her time and her life is a mix of huge amounts of stress and countless responsibilities. One night though, she throws caution to the wind and decides to go dancing. This is the perfect escape for her from reality.
“Each piece of him – his muscular chest, sinewy arms, tapered waist, and strong thighs – completes my checklist for the perfect man.”
While dancing the night away and relishing the temporary freedom, the beat of the music puts her at ease and she comes in contact with a stranger…. A tall, dark and sexy stranger. He is quite possibly the most beautiful and perfect specimen of a man Monica has ever come across.
When Monica is back at work she meets one her new male nurses, Max. Max in none other than the perfect hot stranger she met whilst dancing at the club. She never expected to see him again, let alone have him working for her. I knew then that things were about to get really interesting…
“What does that make her? My boss? No, my boss’s boss. Translation: Untouchable. Fuck. I want to touch her again.”
The sexual attraction and chemistry between Monica and Max was instantaneous and out of this world crazy hot. There is most definitely a force that is greater than them that is pulling them towards each other and it is obvious they desire one another intensely. They both know the attraction is forbidden which in turns makes them both untouchable to one another (pardon the pun.)
“I love the combination of gentle and rough, the way he talks dirty to me while giving me more pleasure than anyone ever has before.”
I loved this story and it really captivated me from the start. I loved these characters and I especially loved how the heroine was the boss for a nice change of pace. So many forbidden love/office romances the boss is the hero, so it was a nice change to this much loved trope. Monica was such an admirable heroine; she was strong, determined and hardworking and Max had a beautiful heart, really sweet and so sexy. He can give me CPR anytime…
If you are looking for your next read to be the perfect mix of hotness, angst, emotion and hilarity then definitely give this one a go. Recommended for all fans of forbidden office romances consisting of stellar writing and characters you can’t help but fall in love with. GO ON… One click this one, you know you want to…
“The most beautiful man I've ever seen is the one who can ruin everything...”
I love Sarina Bowen and in my opinion her colabs with [image]
“The most beautiful man I've ever seen is the one who can ruin everything...”
I love Sarina Bowen and in my opinion her colabs with other authors have always worked and I have enjoyed those books. So it is no surprise that I couldn’t wait to read Temporary, a collaboration by Sarina this time with an author that is new to me, Sarah Mayberry. This book was a fun and easy read and kept me fully engaged with great character development. The more I read about them, the more I loved them. It had some emotional and intense parts which just added to the dynamic mix that is Temporary.
Grace is working as a temp for the company Walker Holdings in the hope that by working hard, she proves herself and in turn lands a permanent position and a steady income. That income is not only to support herself, but also to support her fifteen-year-old sister, whom she is singlehandedly raising.
An opportunity presents to Grace to prove herself to not only her immediate manager, but also to the CEO of Walker Holdings, Victoria Walker. Grace is approached by Victoria to take over the dealings of the estate of her recently passed away brother, Jack.
When Grace arrives at Jack's apartment to start the appraisals, she meets Callan, Jack’s nephew. Grace is automatically attracted to the hot Aussie, but she won’t let that cloud her focus. She has a job to do and is determined to do it well… but the hot Aussie is becoming too damn hard to resist.
“The day we met, I’d been disgusted by my mother hiring a temp to dispose of Jack’s life, Now I understood that hiring Grace had been her greatest gift to me. My mother didn’t know it, but she had changed my whole outlook on life.”
The more time Callan and Grace spend together the more their relationship develops into something so much more. The attraction and chemistry between the two was intense and even though they come from two different walks of life, they worked well together. “Will they stand the test of time or will it all fizzle if Callan’s snobby mother finds out? What’s going to happen with Grace’s job?” These were questions I kept asking myself and the intrigue of what was going to happen meant I simply could not put this story down.
I’m a 100% born and bred Aussie and I’m always a little worried about reading stories with Australian characters; whether the author will use correct slang and terminology synonymous with Australia. Having an Aussie co-write Temporary though, was the icing on the cake because it made it that much better for me; more natural and realistic. I am in complete agreeance with Callan, Tim Tams are so much better than iced Vovo’s.
Temporary was an enjoyable story from start to finish; I loved the lighter, fun side and the more heavy and emotional side. It was just the perfect mix for me. The writing was flawless which kept me engaged and I loved the characters, their passion and steam. I definitely recommend this story to anyone who loves their contemporary romances about two different people, from two different backgrounds coming together and finding love and comfort within each other, which at times is not always easy and sometimes things get worse before they get better. I can’t wait to read what this dynamic duo comes up with next, I have a feeling it’s going to be a cracker.
“I knew it wasn’t me she was seeing. No matter how much I wished it was.”
Ok… I first have to explain the tardiness of this review; [image]
“I knew it wasn’t me she was seeing. No matter how much I wished it was.”
Ok… I first have to explain the tardiness of this review; unfortunately the dreaded influenza has been ramped up through my house in the last week or so and has hit me for six and prevented me from getting this review out as planned, so I apologise.
I’ve always enjoyed Melanie Harlow’s stories, but to be honest, when I first read the synopsis of From This Moment, I was a little unsure as to whether I would like this one not. Falling for your deceased husband’s identical twin brother seemed a little bit creepy to me, but I always try to hold off judgment and read with an open mind. I loved this so much more than I thought I would and to be honest it blew me away and captured my heart.
“I wasn’t always this pessimistic. Once upon a time, I had hopes and dreams, and life stretched out ahead of me, full of possibilities. After all, I had love, and love conquered all, didn’t it? Love could solve any problem, heal any wound, move mountains, build bridges, tear down walls. But it couldn’t save my husband. It couldn’t give my daughter back her father. And it couldn’t fool me again.”
Hannah has suffered a most immense pain and loss with the sudden passing of her husband. Each day is a struggle for her as she goes through the motions day in day out, knowing she still has to care for her six year old daughter, Abby. The only social situations’ Hannah becomes involved in is through her local support group, where other woman know and understand what she is living every day. Things soon become very complicated when Hannah bumps into her husband’s identical twin brother, Wes.
Wes reminds Hannah in every way of her husband, especially due to the fact that they are a mirror image of each other. What is Hannah to do knowing just looking at Wes causes her intense pain? Well, she attempts to avoid him at all costs (who wouldn’t). Hannah can only keep that up for so long, because she realises it’s not healthy to keep her daughter away from her family just to protect her own heart.
Since the passing of his brother, Wes has been dealing with his own grief and coming to terms with the fact he has lost his twin and best friend. I’m not sure there is any greater bond on earth than that of a twin; they share so much more than a birthdate.
Whether Hannah and Wes want to admit it or not, they have a force so much greater bringing them together. They own each other’s heart and soul. Their hurt and pain has bonded them together, but their chemistry has sealed the deal. For Wes, Hannah was the one that got away and she has always held a piece of his heart, but he loved his brother, so was more than willing to give up the love of his life for him. Will both Hannah and Wes get another chance at a happily ever after or will the ghost of Drew keep them apart?
From This Moment was a heartbreaking, raw and beautiful story. The road to a happily ever after is not always smooth, but sometimes the reward is worth the rocky road to get there. This was such an amazing rollercoaster ride and I could not recommend this second-chance forbidden love story enough.
“Fear and love are very much the same. They both make your heart race and your body shake. They make you tremble and anticipate. They make
[image]
“Fear and love are very much the same. They both make your heart race and your body shake. They make you tremble and anticipate. They make you frantic with thoughts that consume. Embracing fear is the same as embracing love. It hurts. It ends. All is lost. All can be found again.”
The Outskirts is part one of the new duet from T M. Frazier, and when I really enjoy a book, I thank the writing Gods for making it a duet because I know for sure that there is more greatness to come. T.M. Frazier is a new author to me and after reading the synopsis, I knew deep down this was going to be a story I was going to really enjoy. I convinced myself very early on that I was going to love her work and I’m so glad the high expectations I had for this story were fulfilled.
As soon as I started The Outskirts I was transported to the dark world Sawyer lived in day to day. She is the daughter of a religious, alcoholic and abusive father, and a mother who was unable to stand up for either of them. Sawyer constantly lived in a world clouded by fear, rules and helplessness.
An opportunity arises for Sawyer to make her big escape and she takes it, because let’s face it, if she continues to stay she may not make it out alive. The courage it took for Sawyer to plan and leave the only home and family she has ever known was truly inspiring. It is no easy feat though, knowing your every move is being watched by your controlling father. I know I’m really invested in a book when a key nail biting scene occurs and I have to remind myself to breathe.
With not much more than a rusty old truck, a tiny campervan and a deed to land her mother has left her, she sets off to find her freedom; freedom from abuse and from her father’s tyrannical rule.
Finn is now a shell of the man he once was; when you lose someone close to you it’s hard to see the light shining through the darkness and despair. He is now a recluse living in a run-down shack in the middle of a swamp and drowning his sorrows at the bottom of a bottle. He is alone and wants to keep it that way. Beware anyone who enters his space and disrupts his wallowing.
“Looking past his blue eyes I spoke directly to the hurt in them.
“I was thinking that I didn’t know a naked man could be so beautiful.”
The last thing he wants is for a feisty girl who dresses like a nun taking up residence as his neighbour in a campervan. To say Finn was angry about this intrusion would be a massive understatement, but the sweet, innocent Sawyer in her search for independence and freedom, is determined not to go anywhere. She makes her mark not just on Finn, but on the town of Outskirts, Florida.
I absolutely loved everything about both characters; Sawyers, naivety, innocence and her bravery. Rather than running from her past, she is running towards her freedom. Finn is broken and he is the way he is because he feels deep pain and regret due to what he has had to endure. This couple, even though on a rocky road, are perfect for each other. They have both been through so much, but together they can start to heal. I also loved the third character in this story, the town of Outskirts, Florida. The town has been through its fair share of betrayal and the writing was so vivid and real that I felt for what this town had endured.
After reading The Outskirts, I know one thing for sure, I want to visit the bar in the sleepy town of Outskirts, Florida and write some Tings. If you want to know what that is, then you have to read this captivating story to find out. I wait with baited breath for part two of The Outskirts duet, The Outliers, because I cannot wait to find out how T.M Frazier will conclude The Outskirts journey.
Megan✦❋Steamy Reads Blog❋✦
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