Our hearts are made up of all different broken pieces that belong to others, and when we find the right one, they show us how they can all fit togetheOur hearts are made up of all different broken pieces that belong to others, and when we find the right one, they show us how they can all fit together again.
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Happily Letter After is a complete standalone, featuring the kismet/fated romance of Sebastian Maxwell & Sadie Bisset. It all started with a letter to Santa from a sweet little girl for Sadie to decide she had to step in to make this little girl’s wishes come true. What she didn’t know is how deeply connected she would become and how that connection would lead her to their doorstep. She didn’t realize that Birdie wouldn’t be the only Maxwell to steal her heart, she didn’t realize her chance at HEA might come from a family that had once belonged to another woman. Now if only she can get Sebastian to open his heart and take a second chance on love.....
“Just my daughter? Does that mean you have bad intentions with me?” Uh, yeah. I have very bad intentions when it comes to you.
I don’t have the best experience with these two as a duo, having only truly loved a duet (Rebel Heir) from them out of everything I’ve read that they released together.....Apart? For some reason, the track record is much more positive. When it comes to their dual projects, I always tend to love the male lead but really dislike the heroine and find the overall story okay at best. Yet I CANNOT QUIT THEM..... [image] .....which brought me to the newest from them. I loved the concept, it seemed so sweet and I was in the mood for sweet. I definitely got that with Birdie (the highlight of this entire book) and absolutely adored the relationships between her and our two mains....but once again, pretty much everything else was a letdown for me. IDK why I can’t LOVE their duo work as much as everyone else.
Book Facts: Told in: Dual POV, all present day. Type? Complete standalone. Triggers: Grief from the loss of parent/spouse. Ends in: HEA ending with extended epilogue.
The Main Players: Sadie Bisset: ⭐️⭐️ They say people come into your life for a reason. Maybe Sadie and I were meant to meet because her personal experience mirrored ours.
Sebastian Maxwell: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ There was something just so beautiful about a man who saved the best parts of himself for the women in his life. I knew . . . because he reminded me of another man I adored.
What I liked: ❤️Birdie was “it” for me....maybe that’s why despite how absolutely disturbing Sadie’s actions when it came to her were ignored by almost every reader because we all felt the “magic” that was sweet Birdie. Anytime she entered the scene I knew I would either laugh at something she said..... “Daddy, Sadie saved Marmaduke’s life! He was choking on a ball, and she did the hymen remover.” [image] .....or that she would say or do something that absolutely melted my heart and revived the story..... “That one came out really nice. I think it’s my favorite of the five you made. You said it’s for your best friend, right?” She nodded. “What’s her name?” Birdie held the bracelet out to me. “Her name is Sadie, silly. It’s for you.” [image] .....even those who will end up hating this book are going to at least find one positive, Birdie.
❤️Sebastian’s struggles as a single father/mourning husband were the other positive for me in this book. It broke my heart and made me smile seeing him try his hardest to be the dad Birdie deserved..... Last night, I told my dad that I really want someone else to braid my hair besides him. He doesn’t know how to do it right. Then I caught him watching a YouTube video on how to braid. ....and at the same time knowing this dude was barely surviving instead of actually living.... “Happy” wasn’t exactly the right word. Stable, maybe. Holding things together, maybe. Not burning down the house, maybe. But happy? There wasn’t any time for happy. Happy didn’t live here anymore. [image] .....I feel like I disliked Sadie just a little less because she had the ability to make this man (and his daughter) truly happy again.
What I didn’t: ***it will get a little spoil-ey from this point forward (but not even to ruin the story)...... ...more
“I can’t remember when he went from being the boy who held my hand and dried my tears to the man I can’t live without. I only know he’s owned my heart“I can’t remember when he went from being the boy who held my hand and dried my tears to the man I can’t live without. I only know he’s owned my heart as long as I’ve been able to love.”
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This will be my 3rd read by Tia but it wasn’t until my last one (Wait for Me) that she entered “follow” territory. Once I finished that one, I desperately wanted another book that took me back to the LaGrange family & their peach orchard. Tia did an incredible job with Taron & Noel’s story, one that had me emotional throughout while making me feel as though I was physically there with these characters as they lived their fictional lives......that in itself is a HUGE gift for an author to have, everyone wants to “feel” something genuine when they crack open & invest in a book. But getting back to this one......
As much as I LOVED the romance at the center of Wait for Me, my favorite part was the family dynamic displayed by three orphaned (adult) siblings. I didn’t want to say goodbye, so I was on cloud 9 when I saw this was taking me back to one of my favorite “settings” of 2020 to tell the love story of the oldest LaGrange & his little sister’s best friend. Could Sawyer & Mindy top Taron & Noel? It was going to be tough, but I was ready to ugly cry & cheer them on to a HEA. Unfortunately this one did not get me to that ugly cry level. It was more than a surface level romance, but I just didn’t connect with it on the same level I did Taron & Noel’s. I didn’t FEEL the pain or any of the emotions I so desperately sought. But more on that later......
“Fall with me, Tannis. I promise the world will catch you.”
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4.5 Eternal Stars!
This is one of those rarities that I came across totally by chanc“Fall with me, Tannis. I promise the world will catch you.”
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4.5 Eternal Stars!
This is one of those rarities that I came across totally by chance. After reading Lovers by Fiona Cole and discovering it was originally part of a multi-author series called Cards of Love, I went down the rabbit hole to discover what I could be missing out on from this series.....I saw one of my newly favorited authors and knew I needed to read this one. I’m not a fan of anything paranormal in romance (not since Twilight at least). But for Tabatha, I was willing to take a chance.
That chance definitely paid off. This book is on the shorter side BUT it told a unique and fascinating story that I can truly say I’ve never experienced before. A heroine who has been promised to a God since the day she was born? [image] It could have gone so incredibly cheesy, but Tabatha was able to spin a tale that had just the right paranormal element without taking it to “wtf is this” territory. I loved Ari, I loved Tannis, and I loved the twist that I honestly didn’t see coming.
“You are innocent to my world. And it’s not a world I want to bring you into.”
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I’m sure it’s strange to see a new review on a book that is appr“You are innocent to my world. And it’s not a world I want to bring you into.”
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I’m sure it’s strange to see a new review on a book that is approached its 7th “birthday”. Let me explain how I got here. I needed a book to meet a very difficult prompt for a reading challenge, anything from Torre would meet the criteria. I met the “movie-adapted” version of De Luca in Hollywood Dirt (movie not book) and liked him, but it was both his & Julia’s appearance in Twisted Marriage that truly made them a couple I NEEDED to know on a deeper level. I decided not to stall any longer, the intrigue was too strong anyways.
It’s always a little strange to read a book about a character (or couple) you meet in a book or series that features their “future selves”. We all know a majority of all romance ends with HEA, so it’s not a matter of knowing they end up together. The strangeness comes from knowing specific or intimate details that are probably meant to be BIG plot twists but aren’t because you already know. Turns out, it wasn’t a big deal. I may have only given this book 3 stars (for reasons I will explain later), but don’t let that scare you away from this trilogy. I devoured this book, I couldn’t put it down.....I lost sleep because I was addicted to turning the pages. [image]
Overall Story/Plot: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Plot Pace/Speed: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Brad De Luca: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ Julia Campbell: ⭐️⭐️1/2 Steamy Scale:...more
“Even if forever wasn’t real for us, we had for now. And for now, I wanted all of him, good and bad.”
This ended up on my radar and honestly? I don’t e“Even if forever wasn’t real for us, we had for now. And for now, I wanted all of him, good and bad.”
This ended up on my radar and honestly? I don’t even remember how it got there, only that it had mixed reviews.... of those, the negative ones are what really spoke to me, promising the type of story that broke my heart & infuriated me in the best of ways. I knew it would be angsty, I knew it would likely seem hopeless at times, & I knew it would end with some kind of HEA. It was the details of those moments every five years when life brought them back together that I became obsessed with discovering.....& as luck would have it, I needed a book that also included an Audible version bc I couldn’t spend another day wrapped up in a book and nothing else.
So here I am, diving into a story where some reviewers call the heroine a weak pushover & the guy a selfish a-hole....only by experiencing it myself could I discover if I agreed or not, and I COULDN’T WAIT A MOMENT LONGER. You’ll see my “official” verdict further down, but I had so many issues I could write my own book going into detail about them. The narration being AWFUL.....seriously they sounded as into it as they would reading an encyclopedia. The writing, the characters, the “plot”, etc etc.....it all came together to be one big letdown..... [image]
***I’m skipping my “ratings” section bc it wasn’t going to be positive anyways....in any “scale”.
Book Facts: POV: Dual About: A time-jumping, second chance standalone romance spanning across 20 years. Lily fell in love with Aiden at 13 & then he skipped town and left her broken-hearted. Every 5 years on her birthday he reappears, where they pick up where they left off only for something to force them apart again. On her 33rd birthday, he shows up again....but this time he isn’t alone & he needs her help. Could this be the time he stays forever? Or will the past repeat itself once again? Safe Read? Does feature drug use/addiction (overdose as well). What kind of ending?(view spoiler)[These is an extended epilogue with a HEA. (hide spoiler)]
My Thoughts: Let’s skip the lists this time & get right to it....I need as much space as I can get for this. Here goes..... Writing: The “idea” was great, the execution was not. There is ZERO believability or foundation for this “timeless” love. You know what they do every 5 years? Abandon all responsibility & lock themselves in her apartment to have sex NON-STOP (it was so much I skipped most of it & saved half my reading time). Meaningful conversations? Yeah right, who needs those when you are having so much sex. And they wonder why their reunions are short lived, yet I’m supposed to believe they ride off to this perfect cookie-cutter HEA? [image] ......Yeahhhh okay. Aside from the above, my other major writing issue was repetition...we aren’t talking using the same words or phrases too often throughout, although if I had to hear how she was his “fix” or the only drug he needed one more time I was going to hunt this author down (okay maybe not but you get it). I felt like they thought we were stupid, that we had to be constantly reminded. NOPE WE GET IT. The following examples show exactly how frustrating & how ridiculous the repetitiveness got...... “She would fight my demon. But I didn’t even want to fight my demon. My demon and I had a mutual agreement of sorts.” [image] .....am I reading a Dr. Seuss book? “He had a monster grip and looked like a monster.” [image] .....what? Lily: I thought Luca in Dirty Letters was the worst heroine in history, but Lily is just as bad but in different ways. This girl is the WEAKEST PUSHOVER in the history of romance fiction. I’m serious......this chick not only takes him back every time, she has put her life on hold waiting on the next time he will be there. She is a HOT MESS, it’s pathetic & sad and not at all romantic. He just has to push her against a wall & kiss her and she’s willing to sacrifice her career/jobs and everything else for sex... [image] .....all I have to say is he must have the worlds best D. Them Together: They aren’t in love, this is co-dependency at its worst. It would be one thing if they matured (emotionally) as the years went on, or if we saw them connect in a way that wasn’t sexual. You will wait for that moment you just know they are “ready” for HEA, but it never happens. They get an extended epilogue, where they are both successful & where they want to be & have this cookie cutter life....however it didn’t align in any way to the characters we got to know or their “relationship” in the book.
But what probably topped it all would be the many times (especially the following quote) that the author used other characters to try to convince us that Lily was everything she’s not.... “Because a woman like this is once in a lifetime.” [image] ....are we being serious right now? Once in a lifetime what? Ohhhh, she’s the only woman in his lifetime to put up with his shit and act like a puppy waiting on her owner to show her attention. She doesn’t even handle his addiction or recovery properly. No amount of secondary characters boosting her ass up will make her anything other than what she is....a pathetic doormat.
Verdict: [image] If the above “rant” didn’t accurately display exactly what I thought about this book, I wouldn’t recommend my worst enemy to read this book. I can’t say there wasn’t anything I didn’t like about it, and honestly I was so entranced by the epic trainwreck these two were that I couldn’t stop reading even when I desperately wanted to. Looking back though? All it did was piss me off I wasted so much time & frustrated that I was more invested in these two characters futures than they were. This one is a DUD.
“Remember, my Lily, my flower… this moment. Always… this moment.”...more
“No one wanted them to be together. None of the gods approved. Who’d love the king of the underworld?” “The right person.”
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I waited for this bo“No one wanted them to be together. None of the gods approved. Who’d love the king of the underworld?” “The right person.”
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I waited for this book to release.....I felt like it was going to be one of those that would crush my heart BUT do it so well it would be a sure in for all time favs. The blurb was just fascinating, I mean of the hundreds of books I’ve read I had NEVER seen one similar to what this hinted to. My plan was to abandon anything the moment this released so that I could devour it....because I knew it would be one I couldn’t help but binge read.
Then I read ONE positive review that gave me a reality based fear I have yet to have in books (which is shocking in itself because I have read some DARK shit)....it’s something that I’m going to share because of how much I appreciated the warning. The heroine’s tragedy is being drugged and sexually assaulted at a party. Consider me triggered.....even writing this (getting ready to dive into the reading) has my heart rate up & that panic setting in. You see, I was drugged & assaulted and it took me a very long time to even accept it happened. The panic & fear of this style situation is so traumatizing because you spend the rest of your life with nothing but fuzzy memories and very little details about what happened to you, always being forced to conjure up the absolute worse scenarios of the time you were passed out at some asshole’s disposal.....but enough about me. As you can see though, I had a valid reason to be scared......yet I knew I just HAD TO READ THIS, or at least try. This was a heroine that I could totally relate to on a level that I haven’t been able to in real life. So I put on my big girl panties & woman-ed upped.....I would not miss out on this read. So did I make it out the other side?
Rest easy my friends, she does not include the actual assault in this book.....instead picking up at that terrifying moment of waking up in utter confusion. She was respectful with how she treated this topic, putting in the effort of researching extensively to get it right. What we get is the aftermath of it all, the after the violation against her. If you have any reservations like mine, please give it a chance.....otherwise you are missing out on one of the best written books of the year.
“Our story is not one that fairy tales are made of . . . it’s raw and real but the truest kind of love nevertheless.”
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I’m no stranger to Vi & P“Our story is not one that fairy tales are made of . . . it’s raw and real but the truest kind of love nevertheless.”
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I’m no stranger to Vi & Penelope, especially when they tag team a story into existence. The Rebel Heir duet is a fav of mine after all. Despite them not being favs of mine, I do enjoy their writing enough to pay attention when they release something. This book has been on my radar since it came out but I never could find the time to read it....I wasn’t overly excited about it but thought the blurb sounded good. Recently it popped up once again & fit a prompt on a reading challenge so here I am....
From the blurb I expected something like Punk 57 by Pen Douglas but without the bully dynamic & more concentrated on current letters. Total transparency? I almost gave up on this book in Chapter 1....Luca bored me to death. [image] But all Griffin had to do was come in with that British accent (I switched back & forth between listening on Audible to reading) and the statement of “YOU SUCK” to save the freaking day. I thought Luca would get better, but Griff is why I finished this book. She has claimed the spot of my least liked heroine ever, the first one where I truly wished there HEA didn’t include her in it but more on that later....
“I guess we’ll see just how vengeful you are, princess.” He presses his mouth to my ear. “Let the battles commence.”
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After reading a emotional/“I guess we’ll see just how vengeful you are, princess.” He presses his mouth to my ear. “Let the battles commence.”
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After reading a emotional/heartbreaking book, I always have to offset it with a dark or bully read. This one was my next up on my TBR list & in an effort to stick to my list order, I dived on in. I’ve read 2 books by this author, one was a stand-alone and the other was the first installment in the Rydeville Elite series. I never finished that series, not because I didn’t like it BUT because I heard some things that didn’t seem like my “thing” about the other installments. You know when aspects of a book feel like they are there for shock value instead of being important pieces to the plot? That’s how I felt about those certain aspects I heard about......maybe I missed out, we will never know. [image]
What I did know is that I liked her writing enough to give this one a shot, which is where I am now.....diving into another series that will give me two cliffhangers before I get the HEA (will there be one?). Tragedy, broken-ness, bullies, darkness, gangs, & maybe even a little reverse harem in the mix (at least a little group play)? I had HIGH HOPES.....those hopes ended in mixed feelings I am still trying to sort out over 24 hours later. I know it’s fictional, but I normally need it to feel at least a little bit logical.....like whatever is going down could really happen somewhere on this planet. This is not one of those logical stories.....while I actually like her story idea, it is way too freaking busy without it being necessary,. Her characters that are so far fetched & in an absolutely ridiculous way yet there is a certain appeal to them that’s irresistible. However her writing style is something I have to get used to.....it’s all hard edges & statements instead of flowing feelings & dialogue if that makes sense. It’s the best kind of trainwreck, one I am unashamed to admit is my new guilty pleasure.
"I didn’t know which way love would take me, quietly or with the roar of a freight train. I should’ve known. I should’ve realized the moment I saw him"I didn’t know which way love would take me, quietly or with the roar of a freight train. I should’ve known. I should’ve realized the moment I saw him."
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I'm not super familiar with Tia Louise, having only read one book by her. This wasn't on any of my most anticipated lists or even on my radar, it was the cover that made me check it out. In case you don't know my thoughts on well-designed covers, they have the power to make a book worthy of a closer look for those that don't already know the author or what the book is about....its SO important. I read the blurb & saw that it completed a prompt in one of my group's reading challenges, immediately adding it to my Kindle. I wasn't sure what kind of read it would be, so I dived in with no expectations......
By the 2nd page of the Prologue I was reduced to trying (& failing) to hold back my tears in the carline to pick up my daughter from school, being looked at by other moms like I must have just received a life-altering text or something. It had me questioning if I was truly a masochist, subconsciously picking these reads that broke my heart long before they ever brought me happiness. Tia Louise knows how to use a Prologue to set up a story, something plenty have yet to figure out. But would the story that followed be just as powerful?
This book had me crying at times not knowing why the hell I was crying at all.....I connected with this book & these characters on a level I NEVER would have imagined. It felt authentic, it was so easy to believe in every moment because that's how incredible it was written. I felt like I was there in the orchard watching it all happen, that I was there cheering them on & also there trying to pick them both up when one moment changes it all. It was just another example of how 2020 has been a great year so far when it comes to insanely emotional & beautiful reads.....and I am totally here for it! [image]
“You find your purpose when your love for someone else becomes bigger than your fears.”
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Have I been living under a rock? The fact that I am jus“You find your purpose when your love for someone else becomes bigger than your fears.”
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Have I been living under a rock? The fact that I am just now discovering Jackson is equal parts surprising & equal parts frustrating....I had no idea there was another author who wrote like she was in it to check all my boxes for those coveted masterpieces for me. I finished this book over 48 hours ago and still don’t have the right words to convey exactly how much this book touched every crevice of my cold heart. The masochist in me was jumping up & down in glee, while the rest was seriously in such an emotional pain it became physical.....
This book captured my attention solely by the cover (why is it only a select few authors who understand how to put out a beautiful cover?) & the blurb intrigued me enough to add it to my Kindle.....but still, I stayed away. I didn’t know until I cracked it open, but it must have been my subconscious that was terrified of it....it is on the level of what Broken Knight did to my heart & my soul. So the moment I recognized the voice that beautifully brought Knight Cole’s painful journey to life was also narrating Evan’s equally painful one? I KNEW this would stick with me forever.
"We were lost and broken, each in our own way, and she needed us as much as we needed her. We’d die for her."
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Lets just say, if I see a good amt"We were lost and broken, each in our own way, and she needed us as much as we needed her. We’d die for her."
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Lets just say, if I see a good amt of 3 & below star ratings on a new one from Pen....I KNOW I am going to love it. She has a unique mind that dreams up unconventional stories that not all fans (or readers) are going to understand or like. I guess my "weird" matches her weird and what do you know? This ended up being my fav from her so far!
I view very few authors as true "Queens" of their craft, but Penelope Douglas is one of those select few. She is a true master, able to bring to life a story through characters that feel like they live in the real world & not only within the pages of a book. I KNOW when she releases a book that it is one I need to drop all plans for....if I don't, I will obsess about it until I load it up on my Kindle. Its literary crack, & I am totally okay being an addict of her words.
So....Credence. I was equal parts estatic & nervous for this one, its been a LONG time since my Pen reads haven't included someone from the Devil's Night series. All I knew is I HAD to know these characters, I HAD to see if this was a legit reverse harem. What I couldn't have EVER expected was how she took a sub-genre that I am kinda "meh" about, turning it into something so incredibly beautiful, nothing RH that comes after will ever be able to touch it.....its like she went inside my head, creating a RH story the way I wanted it, & maybe that is why she will continue to be one of "those" authors for me.
Within these pages I found myself in yet another Pen created world that made my heart swell with love and ache with the pain that I yearn for from books, yet rarely find. I went on a journey that healed four very broken people all wearing very different scars. A journey where they are put back together using each other's pieces, where the broken truly fix the broken & everyone comes out better because of it. And you just KNOW the moment that two of those souls collide, its going to be one that sticks with you....where words aren't necessary yet the actions are what tell their love story. The way Credence is written reminds me why I PATIENTLY wait for Penelope to be done..... this kind of storytelling can't be forced, it can't be rushed, & it makes me thankful beyond words that Pen has the guts & the support to write how she wants. She can write one book a year if this is the experience I get, because Credence is a once in a lifetime book. [image]
"She was like the only fucking mirror in the world clear enough to show me what a piece of shit I was. Maybe that should’ve scared me away, but I like"She was like the only fucking mirror in the world clear enough to show me what a piece of shit I was. Maybe that should’ve scared me away, but I liked the sting of it—of seeing who I really was."
I was instantly drawn to this cover & the authors name being known to me.....I truly thought I had read some of her work but discovered I was wrong. Nevertheless, I added it to the list without paying a lot of attention to the blurb, which leads me to now.....
Being 100% transparent here, I almost cancelled plans to read/review this because I was terrified at just how intense the bullying with me towards a heroine bound to a wheelchair with a ton of medical problems. I can take A LOT of dark stuff, but that's one line even I can't stomach being crossed. But I had this urge to just TRY it out....I could always stop reading if it went there. So, how was it? Did it cross those lines? Get thrown in the DNF pile? Or did I make it out the other side thankful I gave it that chance? Well....... [image]
"I was playing with fire—I knew that—but I couldn’t find enough willpower to stop."
Another new to me author, one that pulled me in with my most favori"I was playing with fire—I knew that—but I couldn’t find enough willpower to stop."
Another new to me author, one that pulled me in with my most favorite literary "carrot".....the promise of the level of angst that can only come from an enemies-to-lovers or bully romance. This sub-genre is my current fav to read which is the reason I find myself giving unknown (to me) authors a chance without first checking them out (ratings/review wise). Its also possibly the reason I may be more critical when it comes to these books. I WANTED this one to check all the boxes for me..... the blurb had me super hopeful.
Buttttt it ended up being the first one in 2020 I can say disappointed me.....not because it was boring or poorly written, but because I had such high hopes & it didn't deliver. It was a page turner plot wise, however it missed the mark on other necessary categories that are vital to produce a 4 or 5 star read.
Review to come. I still don't know how to feel. On one hand, I loved Cobra's entire POV & the actions/events within. But Izzy's was disrespectful & inReview to come. I still don't know how to feel. On one hand, I loved Cobra's entire POV & the actions/events within. But Izzy's was disrespectful & insensitive in so many ways when it had the opportunity to really make a strong impact. ...more
"We weren’t an itch we could scratch. We were fire that would never extinguish, and we’d burn anything in our path to keep getting what we wanted. Wha"We weren’t an itch we could scratch. We were fire that would never extinguish, and we’d burn anything in our path to keep getting what we wanted. What we needed."
4.5 Painfully Angsty Stars!
As popular as Ella Fields is & the fact that she's been called "Queen of Angst" in almost all reviews I've read paired with her impressive catalog of work, I was a little shocked that none of her books were on any of my GR shelves. This book has been praised by many, so it was only natural for me to be intrigued......
The cover was unique, not relying on a hottie with a smoking body to reel in the reader....a definite plus for me. But it was the blurb that gave me those butterflies that only come when a book has the potential to turn my world upside down & leave me on the hunt for anything that can top it. To put it in simple form, I NEEDED to read this book to preserve my own sanity. I NEEDED a book to break my heart in a way that only a single one before this had. I just hoped I hadn't doomed it from the start with my possibly unrealistic expectations & it would instead blow those out the water..... [image]
“In what world could you possibly think I would belong to you?” “In the one we make together.”
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This book sat unread in my Kindle library for qui“In what world could you possibly think I would belong to you?” “In the one we make together.”
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This book sat unread in my Kindle library for quite a while. I loved the cover, I kinda liked the blurb.... but there was just "something" that made me anxious yet hesistant to read it. I went back & forth a lot, only to decide it was the least likely in my collection to break my heart & my heart NEEDED a rest.
What I didn't expect was a book that featured so many characters truly passionate about real world issues, a book that was so inspirational both within & outside the love story. A book that challenges the reader to really SEE issues that are so often ignored, making those vital points just as important as the romance itself. A love story involving two people who come from opposing "worlds", two people who society would say weren't a match yet are exactly right for eacg other. It is impactful. It has the power to pull on so many different emotional strings yet still gives you what you need to believe in fate & hope for the future.
But what this book features that was the most phenomonal was a heroine that was a powerhouse & took a stand when so many wouldn't. One that despite it causing the reader a bit of misery, didn't just take what was offered but settled only for everything she deserved..... one that refused to be silenced or sacrifice her life's work to make others comfortable. THIS is the kind of heroine we hope our daughter's will be, & in a world of docile & submissive female leads Nix is the breath of fresh air that was absolutely needed. [image]
"This is the end of us. But this has always been the story of a girl desperately in love with a boy. Irrevocably and unrequited. I’m ready to leave th"This is the end of us. But this has always been the story of a girl desperately in love with a boy. Irrevocably and unrequited. I’m ready to leave these well- worn pages behind."
I wouldn't call myself a fan of Harloe's but that doesn't mean I don't like her work, I just haven't read enough of it. Only having read 1 (maybe 2) of her books but from what I can remember I had only positive things to say. That paired with the fact she seems to run in the same author circle as some of my most fav authors, its only a matter of time she lands on that list as well. I was instantly drawn to this one but the blurb and recommendation from Shen & Huntington made me move it to the top of my TBR list. It seemed to have all the things necessary to make it a fav of 2020..... so I went into it all in, confident this was going to be a potential 5 star in a year I promised to be more stingey & selective with my 5s.
What I discovered? This from Harloe sums up everything that is Grady & Sutton and their story....."The road isn’t easy, reality isn’t fair, and happiness isn’t guaranteed. But with the right person by your side, everything is possible. I’m obsessed with how their love conquers so much." I am a obsessive lover of all things alphahole & antihero, but Grady captured my heart without being either of those. Sutton is inspiring with her steadfast loyalty & devotion. Their story is a beautiful mix of sweetness and heartbreak, but its a worthy ride from start to finish.
"Desperation sends me to his door. Blood will bind my promise to him. Hate will help me survive."
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Another new author to me....one that might be"Desperation sends me to his door. Blood will bind my promise to him. Hate will help me survive."
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Another new author to me....one that might be new period? If this is her first published book, sign me up for whatever follows! I wasn't overly excited about the cover (something about the crazy blue eyes), but the blurb hooked me & demanded I give it a chance. It captured my attention from the very first sentence. It was absolutely fascinating and had me eager to learn more about these characters and the world they lived in. She created what is the definition of a page turner. It is masterfully written in a way that leaves you enough crumbs to keep you all in without revealing too much at once. With this one book, she created a "world" & characters that could carry on through interconnected books that I would devour as soon as I could get my hands on them.
"I got what I wanted, but at what price? I just made a deal with the Devil."
Book Facts: Told from our heroine's POV, this standalone is about a young woman who finds herself in front of the one man responsible for her broken heart, willing to make a deal in order to save her mom and keep her family home. Cora hasn't seen Alexander since he broke her heart by betraying her in the most cruel fashion in school, but desperation brings her in front of him agreeing to deal with the devil. She needs to hate him to survive, but what if everything she thought going in is wrong? What if the monster she fears is the very one that can give her the HEA? This book does end with a HFN-ending, with the option of a story continuation if the author decides to.
"He’s the boy who broke my heart and the man who threatens to destroy it completely."
Timeline of Thoughts: Starting:I am going in blind bc I don't remember the blurb at all. 11%:This is an absolutely fascinating read so far. 14%:“Challenge accepted, Carrie,” he murmured before clenching the shell of my ear between his teeth and biting down. Hard. ***something so small freaking HOT. Jesus this has the makings of my first true fav of 2020. 27%:Went back and read blurb and all I can say is so far this is so much better than the blurb promises. 31%:I absolutely LOVE Zed. I'm going to need a book featuring him as the lead ASAP. 40%:Hopefully I'm about to learn exactly what he did that qualified as the 2nd worst moment of her life. Why do I always think they aren't as bad as they are made out to be? I'm gonna go out on a limb here & say whatever it is, he actually loved/cared for her and had a reason for doing it (no matter what it was). 54%:The singular issue I have with this book? Cora and her refusal to get the f over it and give him a chance, instead spending all her time questioning his motives, looks, actions, words, etc and reminding herself she is supposed to hate him. 63%:Seriously? I get it was awful, but I am willing to bet there is a lot more to this. 71%:The actual "betrayal" and the details are an interesting twist. What annoys me slightly? How fast the overall resolution happens. 85%:How does he say the sweetest cheesiest things yet they are sexy af coming from him? 92%:I'm actually happy for this little twist.....I was afraid it would be a little too HEA long before the epilogue. Finished:I LOVE their ending but want more! I need this to be made into a series w the other guys, Melody, & Nate!
"The Five" Quotes: “Give me your goddamn terms,” I say. Then, because I know it’s the only way he will ever agree, the only way he will ever help me, I add, “What’s wrong, Allie? Do I need to go to your father? We both know he will make me a deal.” -Cora
“Challenge accepted, Carrie,” he murmured before clenching the shell of my ear between his teeth and biting down. Hard. -Alexander
“You want sex?” “I want you, but I will take what I can get.” -Cora & Alexander
“You’re not going to break my heart, are you?” I giggled at the crazy notion that I would be the one breaking hearts, and he frowned. “People always lie to me, Cora,” he said, “whether they mean to or not.” -Alexander
"If I cannot change the will of Heaven, then I shall move Hell." -Alexander's tattoo
Final Thoughts: 1. Fav Part of Book: Most of what comes out of Alexander's mouth. Least Fav Part of Book: Cora's insistence on constantly bringing up the past in her mind. 2. Cora & Alexander: Alexander is painted as the devil reincarnated. Yet the present-day & even "flashback"Alexander is never cruel or bullying to her (aside from a singular moment). I loved him....the things he says (from the sweet cheesy things to the absolute filthy ones) were the highlight of the book to me. He doesn't play games and he makes it clear exactly what he wants and how he feels. Cora seems to live a lot in the past (in regards to Alexander & the guys)....at times you just want her to either get it out & in the open so it can be resolved OR for her to get the f over it & live in the now. I did have massive respect for the fact that she is willing to do anything for her mom & their home. Together they seem to have been written to bring out the best & the necessary in each other. It didn't feel forced at all. 3. Positives: The overall plot, the pace of the story, the secondary characters, Alexander's sweet & sexy words, happy ending, devour-worthy writing. 4. Negatives: Some typos/grammar errors (in my ARC copy), Cora living in past. 5. Writing: The writing style is one I haven't seen from authors I'm not already obsessed with (and those authors that are already well known). This is the first "newbie" (to me) that has shown off such a phenomonal way of using vocabulary to create such developed dialogue and fascinating characters. She is the first author that I've read that puts so much emphasis on taste and smells.....her descriptions are as much a part of the book as the characters and I LOVED it. It allows the reader another way to "experience" the book. I like that the current drama is singular in focus and doesn't drag on or take up the room that should be devoted to the romance aspect. I think she has developed enough interesting & likeable secondary characters to make a series of their interconnected standalones.
"I am breaking apart, ripping in an ugly tear that leaves jagged edges. I hate him. I crave him. I need more."
Overall, I actually loved this story and these characters. I stayed up hours after my bedtime because I couldn't put it down. The reason I couldn't give it 5 stars? My ARC copy had a few too many typos/grammatical errors. Their ending? So perfect for them but just made want more of them & the secondary characters we got a peek of. Can we make that happen? [image] ..... seriously please!!
“What’s this one for?” I ask, touching the globe. “Because you are my world, Cora Jean.”
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I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
I've never read anything from Dakota but when I see a new to me author with "bestsellin"Because she’s mine now, mine completely, mine forever."
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I've never read anything from Dakota but when I see a new to me author with "bestselling" above their name, its like a sign insisting I have to read to see what I'm missing out on. Virgin romance isn't really a fav of mine but also isn't something I shy away from, but what got me was the blurb & the interesting story it promised. It delivered on a few of those promises....it was safe (no cheating), ended with a sweet HEA, featured an innocent young virgin (21) and a heartthrob mechanic, and it had some sizzling hot scenes. However, there were also some major points from the blurb that didn't at all match with the story told..... [image] ....I don't know how I feel about that. And while I did feel this story was sweet and to the point, it also left me with a mixed opinion about the overall romance featured.
"I know two things at once: one, that I care for her in a way that scares me— that I always have, and two, that I’m going to get her back."
Please note: The male lead IS NOT a bully (nor was he her former bully). Any bullying that occurs is by secondary characters or just brought up in present-time dialogue. All "bullying" is very minor and necessary to the story & plot.
"I want his wildness, his total abandon."
Timeline of Thoughts: Starting:I'm confident this is going to be a smutty read and I am totally here for it. 11%:I like when time isn't wasted.... sure the deed is far from done BUT none of that dragging feet to show attraction. Side Note: not sure how to feel about Brian. 28%:With this happening so fast in the story, here are my theories from here: 1. Accidental pregnancy. 2. Dad passes years later bringing her back & they reconnect. 3. They decide to be together now BUT things are hard giving us the angst necessary to get through the rest of book. Let's see. 46%:I don't get this whole "mom" history thing being what has caused this girl that thinks the way she does.....also her "scene" with Ellis is so cringey bc she can't be that clueless. 49%:This is not normal thinking for a girl her age.... seriously this is bugging me out. 61%:It makes a little more sense now that she "talked it out". 67%:Its hard to connect w her bc she seems so immature in her thinking process. Side Note: although I know its not intentional, this book kinda lowkey makes Brian look like a predator.... using her insecurities & worries to his own advantage. 85%:Its already epilogue time? Finished @ 87%:Well that was an adorable ending perfect for these two.
Final Thoughts: 1. Fav Part of Book: The Epilogue Least Fav Part of Book: The "Ellis" scene 2. Darcy & Brian: Darcy annoyed me, I couldn't help but be bothered by her immature thought process.....I felt like she was a 12 year old trapped in a 21 year old body, and maybe that's how it was supposed to be. As for Brian, I did actually like him a lot but at times I thought he was taking advantage of the situations. He didnt want her to think negatively about herself sexually (to think sex was wrong or made her a slut) yet he seemed to concentrate a lot on their sexual relationship vs their emotional one. All in all though, he works hard to help her discover herself. Together they are absolutely adorable.....it brings the overall sweetness factor way up! 3. Positives: The sweetness factor, not drawn out. 4. Negatives: No connection with the characters, Darcy's immaturity (thinking & actions), the backstory. 5. Writing: I appreciated that at no point in this story did the author drag her feet or slow the plot down to lengthen the book. From the very beginning its clear this story intends to get down to business and take a very clear path to the HEA. There wasn't any unnecessary drama or added plot points that didn't directly relate or directly help push the main plot along. The first issue I had were the fact that I had no connection with either main character, the emotion just wasn't there. The other major issue I had was the backstory. It is a driving force in Darcy's journey in this book, but it also ended up causing some of the very problems I had with her immaturity and the way she is portrayed.
"I wish I could help her walk this journey she’s on, but know I can’t. This is her path to navigate. All I can do is be there on the other side."
Overall, this was a fast read with a sweet romance. It does contain some erotica but there is a story there outside the dirty deeds in the bedroom. I can't see this landing on a lot of "favs" lists, but it does deliver an enjoyable read without you having to devote a ton of energy into getting through it.
“I feel like I don’t belong anywhere,” she says. “That’s because you belong with me,” I say, pulling her back to my chest.
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I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review....more
"He had no idea what I went through because I knew him, because the wrong person found out I knew him. I was here because of that sick and twisted som"He had no idea what I went through because I knew him, because the wrong person found out I knew him. I was here because of that sick and twisted someone."
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I have a love/hate relationship with Tijan.... more so than with any other author I've experienced. Most authors I can divide their work into 3 piles: loved, liked, hated. Tijan only has two piles, I either love or don't find it good enough to finish.....I've never just liked one of her books. Because of this, I find myself kinda avoiding her stuff. [image] .....call the firing squad, I know I'm in the minority here. She has a way of telling an interesting and unique story BUT she just doesn't put the emotions behind the characters or dialogue I am used to from authors like Shen or Rose or Huntington.
"I was okay now. Now. Maybe not tomorrow, the day after, but now. Right now, I could stand. I was here."
With that said, her covers always get me.... they pull me in despite my fear of what's beyond that cover. When I saw this one, I knew it would be one I would at least try out. So did I love it? Hate it so much I couldn't finish it? Or was it one I could finally put in that elusive "liked" catagory missing under her name? [image]
“I’m not Dust to you. That died a long time ago. My mom died, Stone! Your father fired mine so he didn’t have to pay the medical insurance and my mother died so your dad could keep more money in his pockets.”
Timeline of Thoughts: Starting:I either love or hate her work.... let's hope this is love. 11%:For once can the heroine not be the socially awkward shy kid who is beautiful underneath all the other stuff? I want a dang heroine who is already a badass and wanted b4 the guy decides she is. 15%:This is where the Stone thing doesn't make sense.... they hadn't been friends since 6th grade so why suddenly are we expected to believe a famous pro-football star "wants" the same girl he could care less for growing up? 23%:Okay this makes a lot more sense. Side note: I like Wyatt a lot. 36%:I'm going to need her to stop being so damn difficult with him. 47%:She might not have a way with "emotion" for me compared to other authors, but god her sex scenes are EVERYTHING. So fucking hot. 60%:I love him. I like her.... but I NEED them together. 69%:I loved this moment. Hell I was excited and it isn't "real". 72%:OMG these two are a special kind of stupid? Why does this generation NOT want to feel? It makes no sense. 82%:I actually hate her in this moment. I might slightly understand it, but nope not to this extent. 88%:YES I needed his POV--- desperately! 93%:So so sweet. I have a literary crush on Stone for sure! Finished:Such a sweet ending BUT I need to see a Colby & Cammie story.... maybe even Jared, and Apollo, and even Cortez & Jake.... let's make this a series okay?
"The Five" Quotes: “I care. Fucking hell. I care, okay? I wouldn’t be doing any of this shit if I didn’t still care about you. Those people didn’t give a fuck about you, except the one girl. Not a goddamn one of them, and you’re asking me to look away from that? I can’t. Me being a guy and caring about a girl, I can’t do that. It’s not how I was raised.” -Stone
“I would give you up in a heartbeat to get them back.” Still, he remained silent. A beat. Then, “So would I.” -Dusty & Stone
“Stone,” I was sobbing, my hand on his chest. “Stone. I can’t!” -Dusty
“Don’t call me when you’re needing someone’s dick to help chase away the nightmares, Dust.” -Stone
“Good. I like you standing.” His eyes flashed, growing molten. “I like you in other ways, too, but I want you fighting the most. I need you to fight again.” -Stone
Final Thoughts: 1. Fav Part of Book: The game with her brother scene. Least Fav Part of Book: Her lie to try to push him away. 2. Stone & Dusty: I definitely loved Stone more than Dusty, but I liked her well enough. Stone is a no nonsense kinda character....he doesn't play games and he doesn't skirt the truth. Hes hot too so that helps. As for Dusty, she is a complex character. She has been through some serious shit.... enough to break anyone. She is so stubborn and prideful that it causes more problems and hurt for herself than is necessary. She is a little quirky, a little odd--but I did love that she wasn't shy or not confident when it came to sex --- she is a temptress. These two together were fire..... they might have difficulty communicating most of the time, but you can feel their chemistry for sure. 3. Positives: Stone, the backstory, the pace of the storytelling, the sexy scene hotness, no cheating/no "games", HEA. 4. Negatives: Dusty's stubbornness and pride, not a lot of emotional connection through the dialogue. 5. Writing: While I don't feel like Tijan possesses the same gift that authors such as Shen do, where you can FEEL the emotion through the words/dialogue, that doesn't mean she doesn't deserve to be on a higher level along with those caliber authors. She may not be an emotional writer, but she has a great way of telling a story. I haven't found better sexy scenes written by anyone other than her. [image] ..... they are so realistically HOT. She tells a story in a way that doesn't require a ton of drama or excitement yet is just as obsession worthy as one that was. Her 2nd unique talent? Writing male leads I like far more than I do their female counterparts.
“Because you’re not the long game.” He flinched, as if I’d slapped him. “Because I could fall in love with you, and I know that you don’t love me. You’ll never love me. I’m a body you think fondly of, and if you care anything about me, give me that much honesty.”
Overall, this one was more than a like but not quite a true "love". While there were plenty of things to love (Stone, the sexy scenes, my NEED to know more about these secondary characters, etc), there were a few issues I had that kept it from being a 5 star read. It definitely gave me more incentive to give Tijan more of a chance, I might even go back and read some oldies from her.
“I love you and I want you to let me love you and I want to make you mine. My woman. Just mine. All mine. I don’t care what you want. I can’t let you be someone else’s. Mine, babe. Mine.”...more
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