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
SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of March 15, 2016

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of March 15, 2016

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6-STAR RECOMMENDATION: A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole (Read my Review) 
WOW. WOW. WOW!!!!!! ** SOBBING ** Heart-breaking, breathtaking, beautiful, and unforgettable, this book made me truly believe that real LOVE can last forever. HOLY FEEELS. I cried my way through most of the book because almost every scene was filled with the most INTENSE EMOTIONS you can imagine. The sheer, undying strength of the LOVE they shared overwhelmed me. I LOVED EVERY SINGLE WORD and the ending was absolutely PERFECT for their story. This is one of those books that I know will stay in my heart forever. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND it as my first 6 STAR RATING of the year!

Also, A Thousand Boy Kisses was JUST released in print for the first time!! Get your copy here!

 
BREAKING NEWS UPDATES:  

  • Elastic Hearts by Claire Contreras was just released today!! It’s a standalone romance! — “He’s the most sought out divorce attorney in LA. She’s the soon to be ex-wife of Hollywood’s biggest star, his latest client and his boss’s daughter… In such a high profile divorce, they can’t afford any extra drama. Luckily, neither one of them has anything to hide. Unless you count the mind blowing sex they had… Once. Twice. Three times all those years ago.”
  • She Dims the Stars by Amber L. Johnson was just released!! — “She randomly showed up outside a window one day and turned his whole world upside down…”
  • Life in Reverse by Beth Michele was just released! Second chance romance! — “I didn’t ask for her. Still I found myself wanting her. Needing her. Craving her. I just couldn’t have her.”
  • Bound by Steel by Connie Lafortune was recently released! He rescues her in the woods!
  • Reign by M. Forgy, a biker MC forbidden romance, is on sale ($2.99) for this weekend only in anticipation of the sequel, Mercy, releasing soon! — “One night in her bed made me a traitor…”
  • Go to: List of All 12 Books Releasing Next Week

 
5 RECENTLY POSTED REVIEWS:

 
THE BRONZE HORSEMAN — TV SHOW!! In case you didn’t know, they’re making a TV miniseries of my #1 FAVORITE SERIES!! The author says things are underway. There’s no casting yet (I’ll share when it’s announced) but they are officially scheduled to start shooting this year in 2016 and it’s confirmed that Paullina Simons wrote the screenplay herself which makes me SO excited because that tells me that the TV adaptation WILL be true to the books. This series is literally THE MOST EPIC LOVE STORY EVER TOLD and if you’re looking for an absolutely life-changing read, this is it!! (My Reviews & Info)

*** WEEKLY NEW RELEASES RECAP ***

 
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$50.00 GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY — Celebrating release of LOVE, CHLOE by ALESSANDRA TORRE

$50.00 GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY — Celebrating release of LOVE, CHLOE by ALESSANDRA TORRE

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To celebrate the release of Love, Chloe by Alessandra Torre, the author has generously offered to giveaway a $50.00 Amazon Gift Card to a lucky winner! Be sure you check out all the details on the book too. It’s available for purchase and is a sexy, light-hearted standalone. Witty, sassy, smart fun!

You know girls like me. You hate girls like me. The privileged blonde who skips her Ivy League classes when she’s had too many Soho martinis. The one draped on the asshole’s arm because he drives a Bugati and screws like a champ.

I was that girl. I loved being that girl.

Then, my door was broken in. Literally.

And in that moment? Everything changed.

WARNING: This sexy standalone has jaw-dropping moments, crazy sexual chemistry, and will make your cheeks hurt from smiling. Read at your own risk.

BUY KINDLE | BUY PAPERBACK | READ REVIEW

  GIFT CARD GIVEAWAY 

Open Internationally. Void where prohibited by law.
Must be over 18 to enter.
1 winner will get a $50 Amazon Gift Card.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review — Love, Chloe by Alessandra Torre

Book Review — Love, Chloe by Alessandra Torre

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“The wealth of the city lived in a different bubble than the rest of us. One where there were no worries of minor problems, the majority of which were easily solved by money. One comprised of beautiful women, powerful men, the drug of success heavy in the air, punctuated by diamond, caviar, and ego. For the first time, I was an outsider…”

Alessandra Torre is, without a doubt, one of my favorite authors. She’s such a skilled writer that whatever she writes is always a joy to read. Every sentence and paragraph is so well-crafted and always draws me in.

This book’s origins are a little different than usual though. It began as an online serial for Cosmopolitan where the author would write one episode (chapter) at a time and they’d be posted a few times a week over the course of a week. Consequently, this book actually has 100 chapters, or episodes in Chloe’s life. After it was finished, she took that whole story and cohesively bound them together into one standalone book.

I actually didn’t know that fact until after I read the book, but now that I do know, it makes perfect sense. You’ll notice the pacing of this book is a little different than normal. This is more of a “life story with romance”, than specifically a Romance novel. To explain it another way, if you could compare a normal standalone book to a movie, then this book would be better compared to a TV show. Y’know? Like where the characters have episodic things they go through over the course of the story that are sometimes tangential but overall, when you put them together, create a larger story arc that makes it into a complete story. So there are things that you just might not necessarily see in a ‘normal’ style book. But it worked! It totally worked! And it kept me reading the whole day on and off. Honestly, I kind of felt like I’d just binge watched a NYC-based TV show by the end of the day. It was a lot of fun! Witty, sassy, smart fun!

The story is about Chloe — a nice but materially spoiled girl from a rich family who had come to take a lot of things for granted in life simply because she’s never really had to work for anything she had. When her parents get involved in some shady business, their money evaporates and she goes from riches to rags overnight. Now, stuck with tuition that needs to be paid off before she can get her diploma, no job and no home, she has to navigate life in NYC starting from pretty much scratch. So, she gets a job as a personal assistant to a snooty socialite (*chuckles* just wait til you get to that part) and slowly but surely her life starts to come together and she even falls in love along the way in the last place she’d ever have expected…

“You know, you’re different than I expected.”

I stopped listening to the sounds of the city and turned to him, our hands still linked. “In what way?”

“I don’t know.” He looked away, back up at the sky. “I’m still figuring that out.”

“Good luck.” I let out a soft laugh. “I’m still figuring it out too.”

While this is certainly well described as a ‘sexy standalone’, you could almost actually call this a coming-of-age story too as Chloe figures out her life and navigates love’s ups and downs. Chick lit really. But I do have to admit that as much as I liked reading Chloe’s story, all my favorite parts of the book were about her and Carter. I’m a romantic at heart and a Romance genre addict so those were definitely the highlights of the book for me. And you should know that while the focus of the book is not solely the romance, the romantic parts are very hot and steamy. No closed doors here! Much sexy! Here’s an intro to the hero…

I was late to work, a piece of banana in my cheek, unprepared to meet perfection. But there he stood, one hand on my doorframe, his head lifting when I opened the door. Pure beauty, dripping with masculinity. Real dirt on the work boots that shifted on the carpet, real wear on the jeans that hugged his thighs and hips, tan skin, and biceps that bulged when he pushed off the doorframe and put his hands on his hips. I stood in place, my jaw hanging, and stared.

“Miss Madison?” His voice was gruff and sexual, the drawl you wanted to hear right before he bit your earlobe, the rasp that, should he moan your name, would combust panties.

I swallowed. “Yes?”

The chapter headings and Instagram pictures incorporated throughout the book were an awesome touch! So much fun and totally fit the “personality” of Chloe and the overall vibe of the book. A few examples…

2. Interview With a Condom Heiress
7. Canines, Couture, & Conversation
10. Prawns & Porn
22. Have Morals, Will Sell
29. How to Lie Without Lying
40. Codeword: SugarTits
54. Just The Two Of Us
57. Getting Clean Never Felt So Dirty
63. Negotiation Works Best Naked
76. Breaking Up With Balenciaga
82. Finally Saying The Words
88. Chanel No. WTF
98. Chloe & Carter, Sitting In A Tree

… and so on! I liked how you really felt like you were right in Chloe’s head. We see this girl go through a complete life transformation when her privileged life abruptly ends leaving her penniless, in debt, and in need of a place to live in one of the most expensive cities in the world. Her struggles to find a job and pay the bills, as well as navigating her love life, made for a wonderful afternoon read. Even though this isn’t typically the kind of book I’d go for, I really enjoyed it!

My most favorite part of all was the epilogue. The whole book up until this point is told from Chloe’s perspective, but the epilogue is Carter’s, and it was such a beautiful, heart-felt look back on their lives together from the moment they met. I could have easily highlighted the whole thing. All the swoon!

I smiled, laughed, and swooned the whole time I was reading. If you’re looking for a fun, light-hearted, sexy, and well-written story, then definitely try this!

“You could have had that life, either with him or a million other guys in this city. But you didn’t. You stayed with me. You didn’t even hesitate… I love you, Chloe. Everything else fades away from that.”

Rating: 4 stars! Standalone.

LOVE CHLOE promo

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of March 8, 2016

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of March 8, 2016

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NEW REVIEW JUST POSTED: Love, Chloe by Alessandra Torre (My Review) 
This was such a FUN book!! I’ve loved this author’s books for a while, and if you’re in the mood for a sexy, light-hearted and well-written story, you should definitely try this!! The heroine goes from riches-to-rags overnight and is suddenly faced with with realities of life, bills and rent so she gets a job working as the personal assistant to a snooty socialite and even manages to find unexpected love along the way with a gorgeous, swoony guy who she might’ve never given a chance before… This book is a little different than the usual romance novel, but it’s so fun!! I smiled, laughed, and swooned the whole time.

 
3 NEW (ARC) REVIEWS JUST POSTED:

LATEST BOOKWORM NEWS UPDATES:

*** WEEKLY NEW RELEASES RECAP ***

 
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SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of Mar 01, 2016

SALES, NEW RELEASES, RECOMMENDATIONS, & PRE-ORDERS — Week of Mar 01, 2016

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*** WEEKLY HIGHLIGHTS & RECAP ***

 
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COVER & BLURB ANNOUNCEMENT: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
This is my most highly-anticipated book of the year!!

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most… Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

Pre-order a Kindle copy and/or Pre-order a Paperback copy!

 
COVER & BLURB ANNOUNCEMENT: Swear On This Life by Renee Carlino
This sounds unique and amazing!!!

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly… Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction?

Pre-order a Kindle copy and/or Pre-order a Paperback copy!

 
COVER & BLURB ANNOUNCEMENT: Ginger’s Heart by Katy Regnery

Once upon a time there were two cousins:
one golden like the sun, one dark like midnight,
one a protector, one a predator,
one a Woodsman and one a Wolf…
both owning equal, but different,
parts of a little girl’s heart.

In this modern retelling of “Little Red Riding Hood,” the woodsman and the wolf are cousins, and Little Red is the girl with whom they both fall in love.

Beautiful Ginger McHuid, daughter of Kentucky’s premiere horse breeder, grows up on her family farm, best friends with Cain Wolfram, the son of her father’s stallion manager, and Cain’s cousin, Josiah Woodman, son of a local banker. Throughout their happy childhood, the three are inseparable friends, but as they mature into adults, complicated feelings threaten to destroy their long history of friendship and love.

Pre-order a Kindle copy!

 
JUST FINISHED READING: So Much More by Kim Holden
OH WOW!!! *deep breath* I just finished reading an early copy of this BEAUTIFUL book. I’ve been meaning to read one of this author’s books for AGES now and when she announced this one, I couldn’t resist and… HOLY FEELS!!! I mean woah. I went from SWOONING in love to literally SHAKING with anger to shedding tears and back to swooning. The writing was gorgeous. I have 64 highlighted quotes!!!! It tackles (with stunning insight) topics such as marriage, divorce, love, loss, family… and at the story’s heart is the overwhelmingly POWERFUL depth of a father’s love for his children. My GOSH. I guarantee that you will fall in LOVE with this hero. It’s impossible not to. He will straight-up steal your heart. This book is a standalone releasing this month and I LOVED IT!!!! Be sure to pre-order!

 
MORE BOOKWORM NEWS UPDATES:  

 
AMAZING eREADER SALE PRICE:
Amazon has a Kindle Fire tablet going for ONLY $49.99 right now!! This is a fantastic eReader and you can see the full list of it’s features at this link! If you’ve been wanting a new eReader, this is a great deal on one. Definitely be sure to check it out!
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Book Review — Midnight Lily by Mia Sheridan

Book Review — Midnight Lily by Mia Sheridan

by · 31 Comments

“Thank you for coming for me,” I said.
“Always.”

Mia Sheridan is one of the most talented and compelling authors of the contemporary romance genre. Her writing is captivating and enthralling, and you can always count on her love stories to be entirely unique. No matter which book of hers you pick up, you’re guaranteed to be taken on a ride unlike any before!

This is a spoiler free review, but here’s where it gets tricky. This book was SO different that it’s nearly impossible to talk about in any context without giving away a crucial plot twist, or being misleading.

Here’s what you go into it knowing: it’s a contemporary romance standalone, and it is NOT paranormal. Here is the blurb…

Holden Scott is the prince of professional football. At least he was before he lost it all . . . or more to the point, before he threw it all away. Now he’s out of a job, out of the public’s good graces, and perhaps just a little out of his mind. So when a friend offers up his remote lodge in the wilds of Colorado, giving Holden some time away to get his life back on track, he can hardly say no. The last thing he expects is to see a beautiful girl in the woods—one wearing a white, lace dress who appears in the moonlight, and leaves no footprints behind. Is she a dream? A ghost? A product of his muddled imagination? Or something entirely different?

Intriguing, right?? That made me desperate to read it. So there’s something going on. It’s not paranormal. But then, this is the prologue…

I saw her everywhere. Walking down sidewalks, in crowded restaurants, once in a brief flash of dark hair and white lace right before an elevator door closed. Without thinking, my heart thundered in my chest, I’d run up four flights of stairs only to find it was someone else. Someone holding a little boy’s hand. She’d pulled him close to her side as she’d exited the elevator, looking at me warily as if I might grab him and run.

Those were the times I still doubted my own sanity, still questioned whether she had ever existed at all. But then I’d remember the feel of her fingertips on my skin, the slippery silk of her hair, the sound of her laughter, and the way I loved her still, and I’d know, I’d know, deep down to my soul that she was real.

I dreamed of her, and in the darkness, she held me in her arms. In the darkness, she whispered that I was strong enough to hold on to, that I was worthy of the love she’d given, and she reminded me of who I was before I was anyone at all…

Because now, just as then, when the daylight came, she was no longer there.

So… what could it be??? I guessed, I theorized, I flipped the pages as fast as I could to try and get answers. I needed to know what was going on! Even though I was desperate for answers, this is one of those books that you should just dive into blind. Even if I just describe to you what the story is about, then by default whatever I say will be either misleading OR inaccurate. Because of that crucial twist I mentioned earlier… In actual fact, the last paragraph of the blurb is the most accurate description of the book imaginable.

Midnight Lily is the haunting love story of two lost souls reaching for each other in the dark. A tale of healing, acceptance, and the worlds we create to protect our own hearts. It is a story of being lost, of being found, and of being in the place between.

I was completely captivated by the story. I could NOT put it down. The first half of the book made me swoon and fall in love while a dozen theories formed in my mind. At the halfway mark, that first twist left me reeling — WOAH!!! And the second half of the book flew by as I tried to piece together everything that was happening. In the interest of honesty though, I will say that I was not satisfied the ending. I finished the book feeling… confused. I’m the kind of reader who loves twists, but by the end of the book, I want to fully feel like I’m “in the loop”. I felt there were a lot of blanks that I was left to fill in on my own, and my personal preference would be that, even if it was right in the end, the reader had been ‘let in’ on what was actually happening in a more direct and explicit manner. Like, I still have questions. To clarify, I really enjoyed this book as a whole and wouldn’t want a single thing that already exists in it to be changed. Everything there is amazing, unique, and beautifully written. However, I felt it needed a more at the end to round out the story and bring it full circle… Just a little more explanation and clarity.

But however you look at it, one thing remains undeniable and that is that the message this book drove home about love finding a way no matter what the circumstances was beautiful. Truly beautiful.

Where do you land?
In your arms. I land in your arms, and you land in mine.

Rating: 4 stars. Standalone.

MIDNIGHT LILY promo

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