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.

Aestas Book Database
SIGNED GIVEAWAY of THE PROPOSITION & THE PROPOSAL

SIGNED GIVEAWAY of THE PROPOSITION & THE PROPOSAL

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To celebrate the one year anniversary of The Proposition, author Katie Ashley has offered up a signed giveaway of both books! Just scroll down to the bottom of the post to enter 😉

 ❤ ABOUT THE SERIES ❤

With her thirtieth birthday looming, Emma Harrison finds her biological clock clanging and the elusive knight in shining armor yet to appear. She’s running out of options, especially after her gay best friend backs out from being her sperm donor. Of course, there’s always a sperm bank, but Emma fears a donor mix-up might impregnate her with the spawn of Satan.

Resident company womanizer, Aidan Fitzgerald, is used to always getting what he wants, especially in the bedroom. When Emma spurns his advances at the company Christmas party, he’s determined to have her no matter what it takes. After Aidan learns of Emma’s predicament, he is quick to offer a proposition that will benefit them both. He will father Emma’s child, but she must conceive it with him naturally. Not one for hook-ups or casual sex, Emma is reluctant to take him up on his offer, but his charm, coupled with her intense desire for motherhood, wins out.

Soon their baby-making sessions become more than just physical. Aidan can’t seem to walk away from her while Emma begins to wonder if Aidan could be the one. But can Aidan leave his past behind to become the man Emma needs him to be?

Book #1 — THE PROPOSITION
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

Book #2 — THE PROPOSAL
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

 ❤ SIGNED GIVEAWAY ❤

Open Internationally.
Void where prohibited by law. Must be over 18 to enter.
1 winner will get a signed set of The Proposition & The Proposal.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review — Found In You (Fixed #2) by Laurelin Paige

Book Review — Found In You (Fixed #2) by Laurelin Paige

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“I’d never be a normal girl and Hudson would never be a normal guy, but perhaps we’d found the closest thing to normal that we’d ever be capable of achieving. And it was pretty damn good.”

If you are a fan of dominant billionaires and passionate romance, this is a must-read series!!

In this follow-up to book #1, Fixed On You, Hudson and Alayna are put to the test as secrets are revealed and their new relationship is taken to the next level. Found In You was an addictive, fast-paced, steamy ride that kept me turning the pages as fast as I could!! Readers who loved the first book will most certainly fall in love with this one too!

Be sure to read this series in order though as it is one continuous story following the same couple. The book do not end with cliffhangers soyou can start reading at anytime without fear of being left hanging.

I’m not going to talk much about the plot here because it’s nearly impossible to do so without giving spoilers. Suffice it to say that Hudson was fuckhot as ever and the things that man says and does are guaranteed to keep your heart racing!!

“If you want possessive alpha male, I can certainly comply.”

*fans self* Yes, please!

He’s exactly the kind of hero I love – the perfect blend of confident, alluring and dominant, while also quite damaged and messed up on the inside. It’s quite a delicious combination and seeing that kind of hero fall hard for his woman just gets me everytime.

But it wasn’t all hearts and rainbows. Both Hudson and Alayna had pasts they weren’t proud of and despite how open they were with each other, there were still dark secrets in Hudson’s past that he was afraid to reveal for fear that it would tear them apart for good.

“Has it ever crossed your mind that I might have done things you could never forgive?”

And to be truthful, when some of those secrets were revealed, even I was shocked! They were dark!! Like really dark… and I totally understood his reservations about telling her. That said, I absolutely loved the way Alayna handled it. I loved that she didn’t excuse it but was able to see the reasons behind his actions and was also able to see his desire to change and the efforts he’d put into doing so.

Everything about everyone raised question after question. While this wasn’t a mindfuck by any means, it was a constant guessing game at what everyone’s true motivations were. Given their pasts, could you believe everything you saw on the outside? How much was everyone hiding?

To me, this book was very much about trust. Earning trust, keeping trust, and learning to put trust in each other. The secrets that came out put everything to the test and it was harder in their case than it would normally be because given both of their troubled histories, they both were prone to deep-seeded insecurities, raging jealousies and irrational fears and had to work hard to both overcome their own personal demons and also put in the efforts towards building a healthy relationship together. Luckily though, they both were very aware of their issues and knew their weak points and because of this awareness and acceptance, they were able to help each other through some of the hardest situations.

“I need you to know that I’m trying and I’m not going to stop trying until I get there. Do you hear me? Don’t give up on me.”

It was interesting though because since the whole story is told from Alayna’s POV, we’re always connected to her and always know what’s going on in her head – we know when she has fears and insecurities, we know when she’s lying and telling the truth, we know everything. But with Hudson, we only saw him from the outside – specifically, through Alayna’s eyes – and there was so much in his past that made trusting him a bit of a gamble. I felt like I was putting my heart out on the line along with Alayna.

But I just loved them both so much. Y’know, they were messed as individuals but every single thing that happened still made sense. And by that I mean that I always understood the reasons behind what was going on even when it hurt and made me frustrated (except with one character who I won’t name but seriously I have NO idea what is going on with them!! And I really, really freaking want to know!!).

I really just wanted to hug them both. They were so “dysfunctional functional” if that makes any sense. They both wanted so badly to make things work and both honestly put in a ton of effort to work through things together even. You really got the feeling that it was them against the world.

“Our pasts will always threaten to come between us. But nothing can come between us unless we let it.”

They’re just one of those couples who I just believe in. I feel very strongly for them and respect them enough to trust that even though they’ll mess up, I think they’ll always find their way back to each other. It’s a really wonderful feeling to have as a reader and I’m really just loving the journey of watching them sort their issues out and build their relationship.

“I’d never be a normal girl and Hudson would never be a normal guy, but perhaps we’d found the closest thing to normal that we’d ever be capable of achieving. And it was pretty damn good.”

Overall the pacing was excellent – the story was constantly moving forward and developing, there were no slow points and nothing that I felt I needed more or less of. The writing was strong – I really felt quite connected to Alayna and Hudson and stayed fully immersed in their story. And the plot was intriguing – it had twists I didn’t see coming and some truly epic scenes that had me laughing and squeeing out loud.

The sex was just off-the-charts HOT!!! The chemistry, the intensity, the variety… everything about it just had me fanning myself from start to finish! I did also really like that despite the story being quite erotic, I felt that the balance between sex and character development was very well handled.

There is a huge HOLY SHIT moment in the last section of the book that had me gasping!! What an epic clusterfuck! It was a total one-two punch of reveals, one of which I’d suspected and the other that I just never saw coming!

The ending was not a cliffhanger. Relationship-wise, Hudson and Alayna are in a good place at the end but we do learn something which has my mind racing already and definitely looking very forward to the final book in this trilogy! But, I’d say it’s very safe to jump right in though if you want.

I really loved the overall message too — that even people with broken pasts, who’d messed up and done thing they’d forever regret could still work their way back to a good place and still be able to be a part of a healthy relationship. I found it extremely heartwarming.

If you’re a fan of the Crossfire series, then I’d call these books a must-read because they have very much of a similar feeling to them despite the plots being different so definitely check them out if dominant, fuckhot Alpha male billionaires make your heart race. Hudson Pierce now has a place on my favorites shelf along with Christian Grey, Gideon Cross and James Cavendish.

Highly recommended!

4.5+ stars

 

** SERIES READING ORDER **
This is now a completed trilogy.

BOOK #1 — FIXED ON YOU
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

BOOK #2 — FOUND IN YOU
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

BOOK #3 — FOREVER WITH YOU
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback | Read my Review

COMPANION NOVEL — HUDSON (his POV)
Buy for Kindle | Buy in Paperback

FOUND IN YOU PROMO FB

 

Book Review — When It Rains by Lisa De Jong

Book Review — When It Rains by Lisa De Jong

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“When it rains… Think of me.” 

When It Rains is a well-written, highly emotional story about love, loss and healing. It’s gut-wrenchingly sad at times but also has many beautiful moments and is the kind of story that really make you feel.

This is going to be a very unconventional review for me though…  it’s the kind I always find so scary for me to write but honesty always comes first with me even if I run and hide in a corner after posting it :/

I feel very torn about this book and, to be honest, I actually would not have read it of my own accord had I known the details of the plot in advance because, in my eyes, this is a love triangle romance and personally, I’m just not usually a fan of them. There are certain exceptions to the rule for me but they are rare and the majority of them just don’t appeal to me. In the interest of being fully open though, I’ll say that different readers have varied outlooks as to whether or not this book counts as a love triangle though and the person who recommended it to me did not see it as one. I respect their opinion but simply feel differently about it.

For the record, my definition of a love triangle is when two people are in love with the same person but only one of them can be picked. In the case of this book, there were two guys in love with the same girl and she had to choose between them. It was an unconventional triangle but it still was one to me.

The specific part that bothered me here though was the heroine’s decisions throughout the book regarding the two guys and so personally I will say that this book was not for me.

However, I realize that a) many of you are fans of love triangles, b) some of you might not see it as one, and c) that those of you who don’t like triangles should know what this is about in order to help make a decision about whether or not you wish to read it….

So, in an effort to be fair to everyone, I have written a 2-part review. The first part will be for readers who do not usually enjoy love triangles, and the second part will be for readers who do. Each part will have a separate rating because regardless of my own personal feelings, I feel I owe it to the book to look at it objectively.

 

But before anything, here’s a little about the book…

The basic story line follows the heroine, Kate, who has grown up living next door to a guy, Beau. They’ve been inseparable best friends and as they got older, they both knew in their hearts that they were each other’s forever. Unfortunately, one rainy night without Beau there to protect her, a guy rips away a part of Kate’s life, taking something from her that she could never get back.

“My once picture perfect view of the world was gone, and all that remained were a bunch of broken pieces that I couldn’t glue back together.”

Ashamed and confused, she kept her nightmare hidden from everyone in her life for over 2 years not even telling Beau despite how desperately he cared for her and tried to get her to open up to him about it. He knew something was wrong but he didn’t know what and he was willing to wait for her, be there for her and support her no matter what.

“I love you. I think I’ve loved you since I was five…. If you ask me to stay, I’ll stay,” he says, searching my eyes. I’m always worried that he’ll find the truth buried in there somewhere, but he hasn’t yet. I pray he never will.

But Kate didn’t feel worthy of his love and kept pushing him further and further away… and finally when he left for college, she severed nearly all their ties wanting him to go on and find his happiness without her.

At this point in her life, Asher walks in. Gorgeous, mysterious and totally into her, he pushes her to face her fears and get back the pieces of her life that were stolen from her. For whatever reason, he is the one she can accept help from and she falls hard for him. But he is hiding a huge secret… one that that quite literally changes everything…

Spoiler Inside Show

Ok, so here goes…

PART #1 – FOR READERS WHO DO *NOT* LIKE LOVE TRIANGLES

Rating: 2.5 stars

First, if you are a fan of triangles or if the idea of the story I mentioned above doesn’t bother you at all, just skip straight down to Part #2 because chances are high that you’ll actually love this book.

I’m not going to lie though, when I first finished the book, I was pretty furious. As a reader who desperately seeks commitment and a stable, solid relationship between characters, I found this to be a very hard read.

I think the problem was how strongly I connected with Beau in the beginning and how much I believed in their future and as such, I was honestly just incredibly frustrated with Kate. I mean I tried to be understanding of her given the horrible trauma she’d suffered but, at the same time, her decisions just did not sit right with me. I hated the way she kept pushing Beau away — it hurt so much — and I tried not to be judgmental because everyone copes with pain differently but it still broke. my. fucking. heart.

“I don’t know why I keep him at arm’s length when it’s obvious he just wants to be there for me, but I also don’t know why he lets me. He just wants what’s best for me, but I hate that he keeps sacrificing his own happiness to give it to me. I don’t deserve it.”

I felt absolutely terrible for Beau and the whole situation really just made me sad because here he was desperately in love with this girl who wouldn’t tell him what was hurting her and kept pushing him away. He wanted to help her so badly but she wouldn’t let him. I kept trying to think of the story from his perspective and thinking of that just made my heart bleed.

See, I’d have understood it if Kate hadn’t been able to let anyone in (relationship-wise) but she pretty much just let Asher in instantly. And I won’t deny that what Asher did for her was beautiful – he healed her inside and out and if I hadn’t been feeling so broken-hearted over Beau, I would have enjoyed the Asher parts of the story SO much more. He was a gorgeous character with a huge heart and what he helped Kate get back was admittedly priceless.

I just felt so indredibly conflicted because on one hand I loved Asher and what he was doing for Kate, but on the other hand, the price (breaking Beau’s heart) was just too great for me to as fully be invested in it as I would have wanted to be.

There are readers who did not see this as a love triangle though because technically Kate wasn’t in a relationship with Beau at the time that she started being serious with Asher. But I guess for me, that was just a technicality. I actually felt like she actually was in love with Beau from the start but, because of her trauma, she didn’t feel worthy of him and couldn’t admit it to herself. She’d wanted what was best for him but given how she didn’t feel worthy of him, it basically felt to me like she was pushing him away for his own good, but not because she didn’t love him… add in the fact that Beau was certainly in love with her while she was letting Asher into her life and all of this for me turned into the kind of love triangle that I didn’t enjoy.

Also, like I mentioned above, there was a huge twist with Asher which I honestly guessed even before starting the book. By looking at the book cover and reading the one quote that was posted everywhere in association to the book → “When it rains… Think of me.” ← I put two and two together.

While most of my frustration lay with Kate, Asher also did something that rubbed me the wrong way in that when he saw (in person) just how deeply Beau loved Kate, he had an opportunity to come clean about his secret and he didn’t. At that point, I really felt like he should have been open about it. It was his chance and he didn’t take it.

I couldn’t stop thinking about how Beau must have been feeling throughout this all and it just broke my heart. I’m hiding the rest of this paragraph as a SPOILER because it reveals Asher’s secret AND who Kate ends up with.

Spoiler Inside Show

*sigh. I cared deeply for both Beau and Asher in their own way. I guess I just really really wish they were not in the same story 🙁

 

PART #2 – FOR FANS OF LOVE TRIANGLES

Rating: 4.5+ stars

I truly believe that if you are okay with love triangles, is a good chance you may absolutely love this book so I’m going to try and write this as fairly as I can because if the story line doesn’t bother you, then really this is a beautiful, heart wrenching and very well-written read.

The flip side to everything I wrote above is that people are not perfect. Nobody is. And everyone reacts to trauma differently. When something that life changing occurs, it hard to judge how it affects people so in that respect, I tried to be more understanding of Kate (and Asher to a certain extent).

Regarding the story’s presentation, I have to say that I loved this author’s writing style. She conveyed the emotions so vividly and was able to make me connect me very strongly to these characters right from the beginning. I’m always very impressed with a book that’s able to have me nearly in tears in the first 10% because that just goes to show just how quickly I became totally invested in the story.

The whole book had a constant deliciously angsty feeling. It was thrilling, a little mysterious and very beautiful in many respects. It also absolutely broke my heart and made me ache when the twist played out.

As much as it made me sad to see how much Kate pushed Beau away, I have to admit that what Asher gave her was truly beautiful. He was insistent, pushed his way into her life and pulled her out of her shell.

“I want to know you. I want to know what it is that made you cry, but more than that, I want to know what I have to do to make you happy again,” he says, his voice soft.

He healed her, help her find herself again and brought her back to life. He gave her a second chance, he really did… I just wish he didn’t have to break someone else’s heart to do it.

The ending is bittersweet but, as I said, people aren’t perfect and life certainly isn’t a fairy tale. Sometimes it throws curve balls that change everything you’d planned, and sometimes it hands you a lifeline that helps you survive. Overall, the writing is beautiful, and the story is very well put together and truly made me feel. 

 

CONCLUSION

Even though this story may not have been for me, in all honesty I do believe that many people will love this book. It really puts your heart right through the ringer and I can see it ending up on many readers’ favorites list for sure. My intention here is really not to deter you from reading this book.

Had I had a more accurate understanding of the direction of the story line before reading the book, I would simply not have read it because this is not the type of story line that appeals to me personally. That does not mean there is anything wrong with it. Every person reads a different book and no two people’s reading experience is the same. I encourage you to check this book out and see for yourself because who knows, you may end up absolutely loving it.

when it rains promo

 

$0.99 SALES & BOOK NEWS RECAP

$0.99 SALES & BOOK NEWS RECAP

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Here’s a quick recap of a few of the latest new releases, sales, news & recommendations.

SPECIAL NEW RELEASES

   

  • Stinger by Mia Sheridan — This is the latest New Adult Romance Standalone release from the author of Leo & Leo’s Chance. While it continues that series, the story/characters are not connected to the rest of the series and you do NOT have to read any other books first.
  • Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan — As part of a special deal with her readers, this book was released early! This is the third book in a gritty Motorcycle Club/biker romance series. I haven’t read them yet but the first two books in the series are Undeniable and Unbeautifully.

 

RECENT $0.99 SALES – new sales since the last post

  

  • $0.99 sale — Keep Me Still by Casey Quinn.  I haven’t read this yet but the blurb looks so good!! It’s a New Adult romance that can be read as a standalone but there will be more coming in the series.
  • $0.99 sale — Inky (The Leaves #1) by JB Harnett. I haven’t read this either but have had it rec’d to me a few times. I was holding off on posting because it has a giant cliffhanger, but since the sequel, Cole, was just released, I’m going to take a closer look now!
  • $0.99 sale — Playing With Her Heart by Lauren Blakely. I’ve heard lots of good things about this book and it has VERY high ratings!! It’s “a sizzling and addictive story of a woman with a broken past and the man who can’t fight his attraction to her…” Note: This is part of a series but each book is about a different couple and can be read on it’s own as a standalone.
  • $0.99 sale – Axel by Harper Sloan. If you’re a fan of Kristen Ashley, you’ll love this one! It’s a badass Alpha male second-chance romance standalone. Read my review. And also, the next book in the series (telling Cage’s story) was just released: Cage (Read my review).
  • $0.99 sale — Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken. This book made me laugh, cry & swoon. Everyone should read it!! It’s a standalone New Adult romance with a HEA. Read my review. “I can tell you have a good heart… because the minute I met you, I wanted to fight for it.”
  • $1.99 sale — Connected by Kim Karr. “What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice?”  This New Adult Romance is on sale in anticipation of the sequel, Torn, releasing on October 1st.

 

SPECIAL LIMITED EDITION HARDCOVERS – mmm… holiday presents, maybe?

  • Losing Hope by Colleen Hoover. These are signed limited edition hard covers. The author says that “there aren’t very many of them so if you want one, grab one.”
  • Red Hill by Jamie McGuire. This is a signed limited edition hardcover of this upcoming romance set in the midst of a zombie apocalypse.
  • Bared To You by Sylvia Day. This special edition hardcover is 27% off  at the moment and there is a pre-order guarantee: If the price lowers after you pre-order, you get the lowest price!

RANDOM RECOMMENDATIONS

  • Surviving Raine by Shay Savage. If you’re looking for something completely different than the norm, try this one! It’s about two people stranded on a life raft in the middle of the ocean struggling to survive and dealing with their growing feelings for each other. Read my review.

BOOK NEWS

  • Freebie alert!! The first book of this YA paranormal dystopian series is free. I’d heard it’s amazing and has a beautiful forbidden romance, lots of action and an Alpha vampire hottie. It’s a completed series with a HEA. Here are the links:

CAPTURED | RENEGADE | REFUGEE | SALVATION

  • EL James posted a little bonus scene in celebration of Ana’s birthday.
  • Jennifer L. Armentrout’s young adult Covenant series just got a TV deal!! The series is about a teenage “half-blood” descendant of the Greek gods and has a forbidden romance in it!
  • Cover Reveal for The Ever After of Ella and Micha by Jessica Sorensen. This novella in the Secret series will be out Dec 3rd, 2013. “It’s Christmas. It’s Ella and Micha. It’s a wedding story!” Here’s the reading order:

THE SECRET OF ELLA AND MICHA | THE FOREVER OF ELLA AND MICHA
THE TEMPTATION OF LILA AND ETHAN | THE EVER AFTER OF ELLA AND MICHA

 …

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EPIC LIST of BOOK SALES, NEWS & NEW RELEASES

EPIC LIST of BOOK SALES, NEWS & NEW RELEASES

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WOW!! There is a LOT going on in the book world right now!!! Here is a huuuuuuuuuuge list of sales, new releases, upcoming pre-orders and book news!!! Enjoy! ♥♥

** NEW RELEASES **

      
     
 

  • Shards of Us by KR Caverly. This book has one of the most intriguing blurbs I have EVER read and it’s only $0.99 for a limited time!! I can’t wait to read it!!
  • Worth The Fight by Vi Keeland. New standalone MMA fighter book!! “But what can the tattooed, hard-bodied MMA fighter and the beautiful and always steady attorney have in common? A lot more than they bargained for.”
  • Love and Lists by Tara Sivec. This is the first book in the Chocolate Lovers spinoff – Chocoholics: The foul-mouthed offspring tell their stories.
  • Red Hill by Jamie McGuire. A phenomenally written story of survival and love set against the backdrop of the zombie apocalypse. 5 stars!! <3 “When the world ends, can love survive?” Read my review.
  • The Wager by Rachel Van Dyken. This is book #2 in The Bet series which are both romantic comedy standalones. I’ve heard good things about them! Here is Book #1, The Bet.  Each book is about a different brother.
  • Promise Me Light by Paige Weaver. This is the conclusion to the story that started in Promise Me Darkness ($0.99 sale). I haven’t read them yet but they’re on my TBR. I’ve heard great things about them… Bad boy… post-apocalyptic world… I’m curious!!
  • Strange Case by Lauren Stewart. This is the final book in the Hyde series. It’s an urban fantasy series with a hero who I hear is baaaaaad!!!! I’m excited to read them! Book #1, Hyde, is on sale for $0.99.
  • Stinger by Mia Sheridan — This is the latest New Adult Romance Standalone release from the author of Leo & Leo’s Chance. While it continues that series, the story/characters are not connected to the rest of the series and you do NOT have to read any other books first.
  • Unattainable by Madeline Sheehan — As part of a special deal with her readers, this book was released early! This is the third book in a gritty Motorcycle Club/biker romance series. I haven’t read them yet but the first two books in the series are Undeniable and Unbeautifully.

 

** BOOK SALES **

      
     
   

  • $0.99 sale — Fixed On You (Fixed #1) by Laurelin Paige. Any Crossfire series fans here desperate for something new to read?? If dominant and controlling yet tortured heroes make your heart race, then this book will rock your world! Even though it’s the first of the series, there is no cliffhanger at all!! Read my Review. Plus, the second book in the trilogy, Found In You, was just released so you can read them back to back!!
  • $0.99 sale – Axel by Harper Sloan. If you’re a fan of Kristen Ashley, you’ll love this one! It’s a badass Alpha male second-chance romance standalone. Read my review. And also, the next book in the series (telling Cage’s story) was just released: Cage.
  • $0.99 Sale – Cage by Harper Sloan. Book #2 in the Corps Security series. It’s a standalone but should be read after the first book, Axel which is listed above and also on sale. I loved them both! Read my review.
  • $0.99 sale — Gemini by Penelope Ward. This is a standalone romance with a twist on sale right now because the sequel (about a side character from book #1 will be released soon). Read my review.
  • $0.99 sale — Keep Me Still by Casey Quinn.  I haven’t read this yet but the blurb looks so good and several readers have told me that I have to read it! It’s a New Adult romance that can be read as a standalone but there will be more coming in the series. It’s high on my list!
  • $0.99 sale — Hyde by Lauren Stewart. I’ve had my eye on this series for a while but was waiting for the final book to be released and that just happened (#3 Strange Case) so I’m bumping this up my reading list now. It’s an urban fantasy series and “it includes lots of cursing, descriptive sex, biting sarcasm, and dark themes. HYDE was inspired by Stevenson’s novella but is not a retelling, in part because he and this author have very different definitions of ‘bad boy’.” This is the first of the series, the next 2 books are: Jekyll and Strange Case.
  • $0.99 sale — Everything I’ve Never Had by Lynetta Halat. I’ve heard wonderful things about this book!! I can’t wait to read it! From the blurb: One night. One song. One kiss. The perfect trifecta to unleash the floodgates of a forbidden attraction between the widow and her husband’s bad boy cousin, Adrian. 
  • $0.99 sale — Beneath The Burn by Pam Godwin. Dark, gritty & INTENSE, this book has a tortured rock star hero, captivity themes, and a second-chance romance… it’s a wild ride!! Do read the warning label on the blurb though! Read my Review.
  • $0.99 sale — Inky (The Leaves #1) by JB Harnett. I haven’t read this either but have had it rec’d to me a few times. I was holding off on posting because it has a giant cliffhanger, but since the sequel, Cole, was just released, I’m going to take a closer look now!
  • $0.99 sale — Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken. This book made me laugh, cry & swoon. Everyone should read it!! It’s a standalone New Adult romance with a HEA. Read my review. “I can tell you have a good heart… because the minute I met you, I wanted to fight for it.”
  • $1.99 sale — Connected by Kim Karr. “What if a ‘Once in a Lifetime’ could happen twice?”  This New Adult Romance is on sale in anticipation of the sequel, Torn, releasing on October 1st.
  • Series Price Drop — All 3 On Dublin Street novels are currently $5.99 (down from $7.99) including the pre-order on the upcoming latest one! They are interconnected standalone romances. Here are their links: #1 On Dublin Street, #2 Down London Road, #3 Before Jamaica Lane.

** UPCOMING PRE-ORDERS **

       

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Book Review — If Forever Comes (Take This Regret #2) by A.L. Jackson

Book Review — If Forever Comes (Take This Regret #2) by A.L. Jackson

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“She was mine.
She’d always been.
And I was going to make sure she always was.”

If Forever Comes tells the conclusion to one of the most beautifully written and emotionally charged romances I’ve ever read!! AL Jackson writing is simply exquisite! Please note: this is not a standalone and should only be read after Take This Regret.

I will admit though that I started this book with a mix of excitement, anticipation and fear.  These characters were so dear to my heart and I’d seen them get through years of hardship and together build their second chance that I wasn’t sure I could handle anything coming between them. But AL. Jackson had never steered me wrong before so I trusted she would give them the ending they deserved… and I dove in.

The first chapter gutted me. Everything that Christian and Elizabeth had built together seemed to have fallen apart and I had no idea why. It started off ten months after the ending of Take This Regret and clearly something devastating had happened that was big enough to have driven them away from each other. As Christian said though, “this wasn’t about betrayal, not something she or I had caused. This was something that neither of us could control. This was unfair, unjust. This was torture.” So I flipped the pages as fast as I could trying to find out what could possibly have come between them.

As with the first book, this one is told in both a mixture of flashbacks and present day story lines, as well as alternating POVs between Christian and Elizabeth, weaving together all the pieces of the story.

Seeing how blissfully happy they were together in the earlier flashbacks made me wonder how they could have ever been torn apart. There was never any doubt that Christian and Elizabeth were soul mates. They were completely and utterly in love with each other and even when things got rough and when it was too hard for them to admit it, deep down they were always connected. In this book, they were faced with a gut-wrenching tragedy they had no power to stop and it put the true strength of their love to the ultimate test.

“Anger and regret…
Pain, prominent and suffocating.
Underneath it all was the love that would never let us go.”

While I was reading, the anticipation, the dread, the heart break, the sheer longing for things between them to be fixed consumed me. I was furious with Elizabeth because I largely blamed her for how far things had broken between them (not for what had happened of course, but for how she reacted afterwards) and while I was also upset a little upset with Christian, I did feel like I understood where he was coming from in this book a lot more. The thing is that trauma affects us all differently and, in times of extreme pain, few people are rational. Pain blinds us and sometimes we lay blame where it isn’t deserved as a way of coping.

But what it all came down to, what it had always come down to with Christian and Elizabeth was that they both loved each other with all their hearts. There may have been dark spots in their past, months or years stolen away by extreme pain but they had a soul deep connection that nothing could break.

Life isn’t perfect. Love isn’t perfect. But the beauty of Christian and Elizabeth’s story was that in the end their love withstood everything and got them through even the darkest of times.

At the end of the book, we are treated to two beautifully detailed and very long epilogues that took the time to literally show us their happily-ever-after. After everything they’d been through, this was like an affirmation of their love, proving to us that what they’d held onto, what we as the readers had held onto, was real and forever.

“You belong to me just like I belong to you.”

AL Jackson’s stories are filled with heartbreaking intensity and beautiful passion. Her words speak straight to your heart. I love this series, I love these characters, and I love the writing.

4 stars

Casting:

** SERIES READING ORDER **

Note: Take This Regret can be read as a standalone.
Lost To You is a prequel but should be read after TTR.
If Forever Comes is the conclusion to the story.

#1 TAKE THIS REGRET
My Review | Kindle | Paperback

#0.5 LOST TO YOU
My Review | Kindle | Paperback

#2 IF FOREVER COMES
My Review | Kindle

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