Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

Romance book reviews. Reviews of books that make my heart race, have a beautiful love story, and a happy ending.

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$100.00 “THANK YOU” GIVEAWAY for 35,000 LIKES!!! ♥

$100.00 “THANK YOU” GIVEAWAY for 35,000 LIKES!!! ♥

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WOW guys!!! We reached 35,00 Facebook likes a few days ago and I wanted to say “Thank You” to all of you lovely readers who support this blog. So… here’s a chance to win a $100.00 Amazon Gift Card!!! 😀

I can’t tell you how much I love running this blog and how much I love chatting with you all each day about the books I love, and the books you love, and the books we’re all excited to read next. You are all such an awesome bunch to hang out with so just…. Thank You for being here!! YOU GUYS ROCK!!!

And remember, you can follow Aestas Book Blog at all the links below…

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Book Review — Worth The Fall by Claudia Connor

Book Review — Worth The Fall by Claudia Connor

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“I love you, and nothing and no one could keep me from you.”

What a gorgeous, heartfelt story!!

If you’re looking for a book that’ll make you SWOOOOOOON, this is it!!!

The hero, Matt, is an injured Navy SEAL vacationing at a beach where he meets a single mom there with her four little kids. Something about her draws him to her, and in the space of a week, Abby and the kids become such a part of his heart that he can’t imagine being without them. However, they live completely opposite lives. With his job, he spends most of his time overseas on missions, while she’s tied to her home and her children. But what they have is worth fighting to keep and this is their story.

Let me tell you, there’s something about a big, tough, protective Alpha man who accepts kids who are not his own into his life with such complete openness and love that is absolutely heart-melting!!!!

Just take a minute and picture this gorgeous, badass Navy SEAL guy sitting on a beach helping a tiny little girl who is crawling all over him with her Barbie doll and loving every minute of it. How sweet is that??

“It was impossible not to notice his broad shoulders, the way the muscles in his back and arms flexed when he threw Jack across the pool. At least three women tripped walking past him from the bar. Wrapped up in kid games, Matt gave no hint he noticed.”

Every moment between him and those kids was just gorgeous. I loved the way he was with them and I loved the way he treated Abby. There’s a bit of a twist to her situation too and I loved that he wanted every part of her. He fell in love with not only her, but with everything and everyone she came with. He accepted them all in his heart as they accepted him into their family.

“Just tell me you feel it too.”
“I feel it.”

This book was such a joy to read! I loved the way their relationship developed so naturally. He just spent time with them because he couldn’t stand not to until it got to a point where it didn’t feel right from him to ever be away. It was a really gorgeous progression to watch.

“I’m here because I couldn’t stay away.”

It wasn’t all easy for them though. Despite how much they loved each other, they had struggles to deal with because she was a woman who’d been left or abandoned by everyone she trusted and he was a man whose job quite literally called him away constantly and put him in dangerous situations so they had a lot of trust to build and priorities to discover. But I loved the experience of reading through their journey.

“I can’t breathe when you look at me like that.”

“Like what?” He traced her cheek with his thumb. “Like I love you? Because I do. More than I ever thought possible.”

I laughed out loud, swooned over and over again, and even teared up in a few of the more emotional scenes. This book genuinely made me care so deeply about these characters — for each of them separately, and for all of them together. Their entire family worked their way into my heart.

He took the front steps two at a time and then he had her. In his arms, in his life… “Never again,” he whispered into her hair, her neck. “Never again will I be away from you like that.”

The pacing of this story was perfect. It payed close attention to the important details while always moving forward. There was a strong focus on family and each of the children got their own time to shine while still allowing for plenty of focus on Matt and Abby’s romantic relationship. The balance between everything kept me constantly connected to the story and I completely loved it from beginning to end.

I highly recommend this for all fans of romance! It’s a gorgeous story full of beautiful emotions and all kinds of love. Matt McKinney is guaranteed to melt your heart!! I can’t wait for more by Claudia Connor!

Rating: 4.5 stars. Standalone (first of a series of standalones).

PS: If you’re a fan of Brody from Room For You, then you have to meet Matt in this book (and, vice versa). This story was completely different but, if you love one, you’ll love the other. I’m sure of it!

WORTH THE FALL claudia connor

Book Review — Becoming Calder by Mia Sheridan

Book Review — Becoming Calder by Mia Sheridan

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“If I were just a boy and you were just a girl, I wouldn’t kiss you once like you asked… Eden, I’d kiss you long, and I’d kiss you often.”

OhMyGod. OhMyGod. OhMyGod!!!!!!! This was OUTSTANDING!!!

Captivating. Powerful. Unique. Thought-provoking. Unforgettable. My heart was racing from the first word to the last. Mia Sheridan’s flawless writing is something every reader should experience. Calder and Eden’s love story captured my heart and this is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read!!

There’s a special feeling you get right before you start a book by an author you love. The anticipation makes your heart beat a little faster, you get butterflies in your belly, you smile to yourself, and excitedly dive into the first chapter. That’s how I felt before starting this book and from the first few pages, I was utterly captivated and felt every word of the story. It grabbed a hold of my heart and didn’t let go even for a moment. I think it’s truly the sign of a gifted author when she can make you feel completely connected to the characters from the very beginning, even before you’ve gotten to really know them or their story.

We begin the book with a girl lost in the city, with nothing to her name but a few precious keepsakes from a life she was forced to leave behind. As we read more of her story, little snippets of her memories are inserted in. Heart wrenching glimpses of a powerful love that was torn away from her. But why was she here? Where was the boy she loved now? What had happened to them? …. This book is their story.

There is a place in modern day America with no electricity, no plumbing, and no modern conveniences. In this place, there is no room for dreams, no space for self-expression, and no tolerance for ambition. 

In this place, there is a boy with the body of a God and the heart of a warrior. He is strong and faithful and serves his family honorably. But he dares to dream of more. 

In this place, there is a girl with the face of an angel and a heart full of courage. To her family, she is the vision of obedient perfection. But she dares to want that which she has been told can never be hers. 

Becoming Calder is the story of good versus evil, fear versus bravery, and the truth that the light of love has always found its way into even the darkest of places… From the beginning of time, to the end of the world. 

In a secluded community isolated by choice from the rest of the world, Calder’s people live a life without modern conveniences based on pure faith in their gods and true devotion to their leader. Selfish desires are seen as sinful and free choice is not even a consideration. But the teachings instilled in them from childhood make them live this life willingly and believe that what they’re doing will lead them to paradise.

It was in this world that Calder, a lowly worker, first set eyes on Eden. Though they were both children when they first met, a strong connection grew between them, even just at a glance. But they were not destined for each other for she was promised to another. Their powerful leader claimed that it was foretold that he should marry her when she came of age so any feelings between them were strictly forbidden.

“I’d never have him. He’d never be mine — not even his laughter.”

But love is an emotion strong enough to overpower all others. As they got older, hidden meetings, stolen glances, secret kisses, and every single moment together grew into an unstoppable love that forced them to chose between the life they were told to live and the dream of a life together they so desperately craved.

“I had loved him for so long… Somehow… it feels worth the risk.”

This is the story of two people whose love for each other was so strong that it gave them the power to fight for the life they wanted and the freedom to choose how to live it, to walk away from the teachings they’d grown up with and to find the courage to try build lives of their own even if their future was unknown.

“I’m going to take you away from here, to a place where my bed is your bed, and my home is your home. And in that place, I’ll never be more than an arm’s reach from you.” 

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MY. HEART. WAS. POUNDING!!!!! With every new page, the emotional intensity grew until it felt like I couldn’t breathe. Some lines would be laced with so much emotion that tears would fill my eyes and I’d have to stop for a moment to gain composure. I felt every word of this story with every part of my heart.

The world they lived in was so stifling it made me want to scream. And when I realized what was truly happening to them, it felt like I was watching a train wreck without being able to save them. There’s more to the story I’m not telling you. I don’t want to give it away too much but the last line of the blurb is a big hint and it added a dangerous edge to the already-overwhelming intensity of their forbidden love.

We started the story when they were kids and the way their connection in this part of their lives was described was incredibly beautiful but still naturally very innocent. But as they got older, their feelings grew into a powerful, passionate, all-consuming, undeniable, desperate love. When they finally came together, it was explosive!!! And as a result, I would absolutely call this an adult read. Guys, it is HOT!!!!

“I’ve wanted you for so long. So long. Every waking minute, in my dreams, too. I want to bury myself in you, drown in you, and never come up for air. I want you to be mine, and only mine… You trust me, right?”

I was completely swept away in the intensity of Calder and Eden’s love for each other. So desperate for them to find a way to be together. I felt their emotions projected onto me as though they were my own.

Calder kissed me in a way that made me believe I had not only always been his, but I would be his forever. In this life or any other. In his kiss was the promise that wherever he and I existed, we would belong to each other.

At times, my heart ached too much to even keep reading. I loved them so much and I couldn’t watch this happen to them. I was so scared for them. Worried. Angry. Terrified. Desperate for them to find a way out of this nightmare. I was practically shaking. It was almost TOO MUCH to bear. I’d have to stop and put the book away for a moment. Then desperately grab it again and read more. Freak out again. Close it. Grab it back and read more. I was scared to read the next page but too desperate for more to stop reading…

This book literally took over my life and my heart. It consumed me. Captivated me. I didn’t just read the book, I lived this story through Calder and Eden’s eyes. It owned me. AND I LOVED IT!!!!!

“My heart is yours. My life is yours. My body is yours…
You own each and every part of me.”

When you read this book, please remember to be open-minded about their culture. You’re not supposed to relate to it, you just need to understand where they are coming from. It’s a totally different world than the one most of us live in. Respect it for what it is and accept that they’re trying to find their own best balance between what feels right to them and what they want out of life. It’s their journey. And it’s a beautiful one.

“Promise me once we get out of here, we’ll never say goodbye again.”

Becoming Calder is the first book in a completed 2-book series. Both books will be released on the same day. I fully understand why they were separated because this book alone was a full length novel and every single word mattered. It’s also has a beginning, middle, and end. And while it will leave you desperate to dive into the next book immediately, it also makes complete sense to have them as two separate books. I do however how so much respect for Mia Sheridan for choosing to release the two books together. To me, this is a sign of an author who is thinking of her readers and her story first by giving a complete reading experience by allowing the emotions from the first book carry through to the second without delay.

Mia Sheridan is truly one of the most gifted authors I’ve ever read. Her unique stories, flawless writing, and the deep emotions she conveys through her words stay with you long after you finish the book.

Calder and Eden’s love was so intense, so passionate, so forbidden, and so powerful. The writing, the story, the emotions, the message, everything came together so beautifully. This was an unforgettable, captivating must-read!!! The only word to truly describe this book is EPIC.

Rating: 5 STARS!!!! Contemporary Adult Romance.

Click here to read my review of the sequel, Finding Eden.

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BOOK #1 — BECOMING CALDER
Buy for Kindle | Read my Review

BOOK #2 — FINDING EDEN
Buy for Kindle | Read my Review

BECOMING CALDER mia sheridan

SALES, NEW RELEASES, & RECOMMENDATIONS

SALES, NEW RELEASES, & RECOMMENDATIONS

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Here are this week’s latest new romance book releases, sales, & my top recommendations!!

  • UPDATE ::: I added a brand NEW FEATURE to the blog ➜ 24 LISTS of RECOMMENDATIONS Looking for a book that’ll make you cry? A sexy bad boy romance? Forbidden love? It’s all LISTED!!

REC - 24 NEWb

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*** NEW RELEASES ***

Uncivilized by Sawyer Bennett — New Release!!

Dominant hero alert!! This standalone sounds HOT!!! The hero is an “uncivilized” savage warrior from the rainforest. The heroine is an anthropologist hired to help him transition back to modern society. But the only thing he wants is HER!! ➜ “I f*ck with dominant force and absolute control. I demand complete surrender.”

This is a standalone and the blurb says it’s loooong!

 

Priceless by Raine Miller — New release!!

Oh wow!! This is LIVE EARLY!!! It’s a contemporary romance Blackstone Affair spin-off (the hero is Ethan’s cousin). He’s a rich aristocrat – a celebrity – who stays hidden behind his public image. But when he falls for a certain woman, the chase is on, and his dominant side isn’t taking ‘no’ for an answer…

This can be read on it’s own, but if you want to start with the Blackstone Affair series (about Ethan Blacksone), just click here.

 

Bang Bang by Rachel Van Dyken — New Release!!

This new book Mafia-themed romance sounds awesome!! It’s a part of the Eagle Elect series but can also be read as a standalone. And, its only $0.99!!

He was my best friend. Until he became my enemy. All within the span of one night. Bang, Bang, Bang, Bang. This is the Mafia. He was dead. Now he’s back. Alive. And he wants something… Me.

 

The Hook Up by Kristen Callinhan — New Release!!

Football player alert!! This sounds good!! ➜ The rules: no kissing on the mouth, no staying the night, no telling anyone, and above all… No falling in love. Too bad he’s committed to making her break every rule…

This is the first standalone in a series of interconnected standalones. The blurb says this book has a HEA. The next book will be out in 2015.

 

Damaged Goods by Nicole Williams — New Release!!

“He isn’t the same boy she remembers growing up by in the next trailer over.” … He used to be a bad boy but now he quietly works on cars by night and takes care of his ill mother during the day… She finds out that he isn’t who he used to be, he’s someone else entirely. He’s become… Damaged Goods.”

This can be read as a standalone. It’s the second standalone in the series though, the first one, Hard Knox, is on sale for $0.99.

 

Boarded by Love by Toni Aleo — New Release!!

Hockey player alert!!!! A bad boy with no intention of settling down falls for a college girl with a secret… Sounds good!! ➜ “He’s trouble… I don’t know what I’m thinking, but from the moment I meet his gaze, I’m his. You may think you know how our story ends, but you have no clue.”

This is a spin-off of the Assassins series but can be read on it’s own.

 

The Suit by BN Toller — New release!!

This seems to be kind of an “enemies-to-lovers” romance. The hero is a suit-wearing law school graduate from the city who has to spend 3 months working in the country to settle an old debt… which is where he meets HER. — She thinks he’s an arrogant yuppie. He thinks she’s a simple farm girl. And he’s moving in with her…

It’s the first book in a series of standalones.

 

Rock Addiction by Nalini Singh — New Release!!

Rock star!! He’s a tattooed bad boy and the hottest rock star on the planet… and it was just meant to be a one-night stand …

This is a contemporary romance by a very popular paranormal romance author so if you liked her previous work, be sure to check this out! It’s the first book of a new series but can be read as a standalone.

 

Beast (Part 3) by Ella Frank — New release!!

This is a dark and erotic, modern-day twist on the Beauty & The Beast fairy tale!! — HE was once a movie star but a 10-year prison sentence turned him into a Beast. Ruthless, and cunning, he now runs the prison from the inside and his word is law…. and only SHE can save him. Annabelle, the warden’s stepdaughter. — I’m very intrigued!!!

The full story will have 4 parts. Reading order: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

 

Melt For Him by Lauren Blakely — New Release!!

Sexy, brooding firefighter alert!! The woman he wants turns out to be his best friend’s sister and she’s sworn to never fall in love with a firefighter!!

This is ON SALE for $2.99 this week only (going up to $3.99 after). Also, 50% of the proceeds from release week will be donated to a Firefighter Support Fund!!

 …

Read More  >
Book Review — Assumption (Underground Kings #1) by Aurora Rose Reynolds

Book Review — Assumption (Underground Kings #1) by Aurora Rose Reynolds

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“This is me. I protect the people I love.”

Sexy, action-packed, Alpha male fun!!

Teehee!!! I really enjoyed this!! The hero was a total Alpha male (bossy, possessive, bit of an ass, huge heart) and the heroine was hiding out at his house because she’d witnessed a mob hit which naturally brought out his uber-protective side 😉 But, as per the title, they both made assumptions about each other that got them off to a rocky start. They both judged. He assumed she was a stripper. She assumed he was an asshole. Neither of them were completely wrong but they also did not have the right idea either. And the fun process of seeing them untangle their assumptions from reality began….

I loved the whole set up of the story. This was one of those books where I tested out a chapter to see if I liked it and then I just never put it down and kept flipping those pages right through ’til the end!

Some scenes had me laughing out loud for pages on end, and others would hit right in the feels. Lots of sexy hot steaminess, sweetness, ‘omg-he-did-not-just-say-that’ moments, all mixed in with a healthy dose of badass action. Roll all that together with great dialogue and a fast-paced plot and you’ve got a really fun read!

“You should never judge, sweet cheeks. I was a sniper. I know how to kill someone with one finger, and I guarantee nothing will happen to you while I’m here.”

Kenton Mayson was about as badass as they come. Dangerously protective. That man was willing to go to any lengths to protect his woman and was way more concerned with justice than he was with the law. But he loved her completely and you could see that in all his actions towards her. It was seriously endearing.

Autumn was the kind of girl who didn’t let life get her down. She had some hilarious moments (that bed/balcony scene? LOL!!) and I liked that she wasn’t afraid to stand up to Kenton no matter what he did.

Most of the story is from Autumn’s POV but we also get key scenes/chapters from Kenton’s side of things. And I really loved that we had a nice, long epilogue at the end!! — There were a few things here and there that I wanted a little ‘more’ or a little ‘less’ of, but overall, I really enjoyed it and will absolutely be looking forward to more books by this author!!

If you’re in the mood for a fun, Alpha male romance with a badass hero, a feisty heroine, and a great blend of action, steam, and romance, give this a try!! 🙂

Rating: 4 — 4.5 stars. Can be read as a standalone.

This is a standalone and the first book in a new series of standalones that spins-off of The Until Series, which SO many readers have told me they loved!! This was my first book by this author however, and you could totally either start with this one or read it on it’s own. 

ASSUMPTION promo

Book Review — Broken by Lauren Layne

Book Review — Broken by Lauren Layne

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A girl with secrets…
A guy with scars…
And a love that could save them both.

SQUEE!!!! I loved this book!!!

Fun, sexy, and heart-wrenching, with a unique modern-day “Beauty & The Beast” twist to it, this was exactly the kind of book I was looking for!!  A story of redemption, forgiveness, healing, and love. With its brooding, tormented, and scarred hero (LOVED him!!) and strong, sassy heroine who would NOT take any of his shit (LOVED her too!!), this is definitely one of my new favorites!!

You know that feeling when you just connect with a book? Yup, well, that happened here. We bonded, the book and I. Instantly. I fell in love with it on the first page, and by the second, I was already squeeing.

While I definitely chuckled my way through many chapters, I also was genuinely intrigued by the deeper story as well. What was this girl’s secret? What had made her run from her privileged life? Who was this guy? What kind of person was hidden beneath his scars? What was his story? And why did he come off as such an asshole? And, why was he also making my heart melt? …. In every way, I. WAS. HOOKED. 

I’m getting a little ahead of myself here…

Paul Langdon, once a popular, hotshot quarterback, was now a 24-year-old ex-Marine, permanently wounded and scarred both on the inside and outside by a war that also claimed the life of his closest friend. Angry, brooding, and utterly closed off, he wanted nothing more than to retreat from the world, but was forced into an ultimatum by his wealthy father: if he wanted to get his inheritance, he had to play nice and put up with his new caregiver. If it was just for him, he would have walked away in a heart-beat, but he needed the money to help someone else dear to him so he stayed, begrudgingly.

I’m no longer Paul Landgon, hotshot quarterback and all-American hero off to war. I’m Paul Langdon, disfigured recluse and of no use to anyone. Hell, I can’t even be of use to myself. I can’t even fucking walk.

Olivia Middleton was born into a wealthy family and lived a life of priviledge. But just short of graduating with her degree, she suddenly decided to leave her life of privilege and accepted a job in Maine as a private caregiver to an injured war veteran. For her, this was about penance and redemption.

When Olivia showed up at Paul’s house, he was the last thing she expected…

I haven’t even seen the guy in full light yet and I’m about fifteen seconds away from asking if his offspring would like to take up residence in my uterus.

I should run. Instead, I move closer.

“Let me guess. You were expecting an old dude in a smoking jacket?” he said gruffly.

… and there she was. Beautiful. Gorgeous. Free to live her life however she pleased. She represented everything he no longer was and everything he was trying to get away from.

This girl is exactly the sort of person I exiled myself to Maine to avoid. She’s tempting. Not just in the sexual way… But with that briefest of glimpses, she tempts me with something worse: she makes me long for normal.

Every scene just drew me further and further in. Everything from the addictive writing, to all the secrets, to their explosive chemistry had me desperate to keep flipping the pages and see them fall in love.

He growls and moves closer, pinning me against the door with his body as his tongue slips into my mouth.

I totally loved Paul!! Gah, he was just so grouchy and tormented!! A “golden-boy-meets-jaded-war-hero” with PTSD. He was angry on the outside, seemingly dead on the inside, and yet Olivia sensed something more in him. I loved the way she shook up his world, threw him off his guard, and pulled him out of his downward spiral. And even more, I loved seeing her slowly bring him back to life.

She’s touching my scars. And I’m letting her.

Because the story is told in alternating POVs, we genuinely see why Paul is the way he is. I love characters with deeper layers and while he may have come across as quite rough, when I learned the reasons why, it was heart breaking and I couldn’t help but feel for him. Don’t get me wrong, he really was a complete jerk at times but the damaged guys are my weakness. I love them, even with their mistakes. And, being able to read his thoughts allowed me to remain always sympathetic instead of being angry or frustrated.

She’s not mine to protect but… I want her to touch me… I want her to be mine to take. And when she’s looking at me like that, I can almost believe it’s true.

Their banter was PURE GOLD!!! It perfectly balanced the more emotional side of the story. Every time things got serious, suddenly I’d be laughing at something one of them said. Then add in the sexy, intense hotness and the love/hate, push/pull vibe between them and, of course, the emotional undercurrents of Paul’s painful past and this whole book was just a delightful mix of everything I love to read about.

“Oh I’m sorry. Were your bear growl and caveman antics supposed to send me running away? Did you expect that I’d faint at your glower?”

I also really loved this author’s writing style! Not only was the way she conveyed emotions and described scenes so vivid but her specific word choices also made me smile over and over again. My only complaint is that I wanted just a little bit more from the last few chapters. Don’t get me wrong, it’s a standalone with a resolved ending, but I really would have wanted an epilogue. Still, this is absolutely a new favorite for me!! Such an awesome story and I’m SO glad I read it!! Highly recommended! 😀

No matter where I look, my walls are crumbling, and this damned girl keeps presenting me with the most dangerous element of all.

Hope.

Rating: 4.5 stars. Standalone romance.

PS: there is another related book in the series called Isn’t She Lovely. But my recommendation is to start with this book (Broken). It was my first book by this author and it’s meant to be readable on its own.

BROKEN lauren layne

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